Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Week 12

Hermana Hill and I were fortunate to see a lot of little miracles and tender mercies this week!  All of our plans and appointments with investigators, members, and recent converts all worked out 3 days in a row!  Believe me, that’s a miracle.  We also met the Mission Standards of Excellence numbers as set by the President.  This was Hermana Hill’s first time hitting the goal also, so we both were super stoked.  We also had 4 people say yes to baptism—no dates set yet.  This week was a perfect example of the blessings and miracles that come from hard work.  God will give us success but we have to work, work, and work.  Hermana Hill and I also talked a lot about prayer this week so I wanted to share a little about what I learned.

We know when we pray we talk to God.  What an amazing blessing we are given to communicate our thoughts, desires, and fears to a waiting and loving father.  We are taught, and reminded in the scriptures to strive to pray sincerely, with real intent, and with “all the energy of heart”.  An effective prayer requires effort.

Moroni 7:9,  “And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart, yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.” 

Any mundane, repetitive prayer that is mumbled half asleep, drooling on our pillow, God does not receive.  We need to stay awake!  Speak sincerely.  Have a heart full of gratitude and voice your thanks for the gifts and talents we have been given.  Pray for guidance, pray to overcome temptation, pray for your family.  Then listen and wait and be willing to act on the answer you receive, which could be instant, or in time.

One of my favorite quotes my Mom sent me is by President Eyring :  “Before you begin your prayer, take a few moments to think about what you want to say.  Consider questions you might have or things that have been bothering you—you can even write them down so you don’t forget.  Use this time to clear your mind from the rukus of the day so you can focus on the gentle impressions of the Holy Ghost.  If your mind tends to wander while you pray, try to visualize Heavenly Father listening.  Speak in specifics.  Also, leave a few minutes at the end of the prayer to listen to the promptings of the Spirit.  You might write down your impressions in your journal.”


I remember my parents (mostly Mom, hehe) would stay up and wait for me when I got home late on the weekends.  We would talk, sometimes laugh and cry, and talk a little bit about the day.  Our Heavenly Father is waiting for us to do the same.

Also, start preparing for conference and keep reading your scriptures!
The Church is true and the book is blue.
Ire’ y Hare’ y Sere’
Hermana Charlesworth

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