It was so great to get to listen to conference the last few days. Many members watch conference at home, but we came to the church to watch it broadcast. Mom, you and I think alike because one of my favorite talks was also President Uchtdorf's during the Saturday session. I really loved that. I really loved all of them though. It was a weekend full of the spirit, that's for sure.
So Lucy and Marvin were kicked out of their home this last week and moved to Blacksheer, which is in the other ward's area so we are going to refer them to the other Sisters. I just wanted to update you on them. But this week we were able to have a really great lesson with one of our investigators named Shanna. Sister Brown, in our ward, let us have the lesson in her home.
Sister Brown has a son named Ezra. One day Sister Johnson and I were driving and saw a few neighborhood boys playing outside their houses (one of the them being Ezra) so we rolled down our window to say hello. Ezra's friend told us that his mom was looking for a church. We parked the car and walked back from the area we were just in. We knocked on the door and Shanna came and opened it. We had just passed her right before we talked to the boys, smiled and waved (that's the unfortunate thing about driving a car). We told her how her son told us that she was looking for a church. She was a little surprised, but started talking to us. At one moment she just started choking up. I didn't really even know what to say. It was just really clear that she was going through a really hard time in her life.
Anyway, this last Saturday evening we were able to have a lesson with her in Sister Brown's home. To have a lesson in a member's home really is much more spiritual than just going to the investigator's. There is more power when missionaries and members work together. Shanna had asked us the lesson before what our idea of heaven and hell were. She told us how a dear friend of hers had told her that she would be going to hell if she didn't really come to know Jesus Christ. This troubled Shanna a lot. We shared the message of the plan of salvation. The spirit was very strong as we all were able to testify and teach. We talked about how important our decisions are here on earth because they determine our life here after. Sister Brown talked about going through trials and how God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle. We finished talking about the kingdoms of glory and then Shanna put her hands to her face and started to choke up again. Sister Brown rubbed her back to try and comfort her. After a little while of just sitting there, she said, "I have a confession. You said that God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle... I don't believe that..... My brother committed suicide when he was 18." I finally realized the magnitude of her concern about heaven and hell from the last lesson. I don't believe Shanna was troubled of the idea of her going to hell right then, but was deeply troubled about her brother being there. We were able to talk to her about Jesus Christ's infinite atonement and how he is the perfect judge of us all. She felt comforted by the idea of three degrees of glory. We were able to talk a little bit about temples and temple work for those who have passed on. The next day she joined Sister Brown to listen to the two sessions of conference.
I am so grateful for the hope and truthfulness of this gospel. God has a perfect plan for us. We must do our part, however. If we do our very best and keep our covenants that we made at baptism, everything will work out for our good. Pray for Shanna that she will have the courage and faith to come to church. It is a really big step for her. She said something in the lesson that really struck me. She just said, "I just remember feeling like there has to be something more." I can testify to you that there are people looking for that something more, but like it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, they do not know where to find it. Pray sincerely for opportunities to share the gospel, to love deeper, and to help more people experience the blessings that are awaiting them. Jesus Christ has already paid the price for them to enjoy these blessings now. So many of us have been blessed to have the gospel in our lives from the time we were born. What are we doing to repay him? How can we try harder to be a little better? We as missionaries can only do so much. I feel so deeply that we cannot reach nearly as many people if we as missionaries and members don't work together, with everything we have. These are the last days. The Savior lives and loves each and every one of us. Let us show our love for him by reaching out to his children in love.
May God bless,
Sister Jensen
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