Family & Friends! October 5, 2013
Hello all, hope you are all doing amazing!! We just finished watching conference (saturday session) and it was amazing! I would love to hear what your favorite talk was and your thoughts please! I hope you are all okay with me sharing thoughts and feelings about conference.
Before that I'll update you on what's going on at the MTC that way I'll end this with conference review and on a spiritual high =). We got 22 newbies! =) So exciting! It's nice not being the youngest/newest district. We got one newbie from Australia! And one from the Philippines =). The incoming missionaries this wednesday totaled 590!! And last week it was 500 so its been like 500 every Wednesday! Super cool huh! 80,000!!! I was so excited to hear that! What else is new? Well I leave for Korea in 5 weeks! So excited. This Wednesday I will have been on my mission for 1 whole month!! Crazy right?!
Earlier we had our district meeting/discussion about conference and someone brought up Elder Hollands talk and being positive. I have a question......when they brought it up they said we should all be more positive but my comment was that we all have different ways of being positive/negative and so what may be negative for one person may not mean anything to another. My question is: What does it mean to you to be positive?? It is a matter of opinion? I would LOVE your input please??
Conference:
I’m not sure I had a favorite but they all said something I
needed to hear. If I had to choose a
favorite it would be President Monson during Relief Society. The reason I like
His so much is because it reminded me to pray. One part in particular hit me,
when he referenced the hymn “Did you think to pray”. My mind continued the
title/sentence……Did you think to pray when you were feeling alone, discouraged,
sad, helpless, hopeless, joy, happiness, overcome by the spirit, etc? I think this really touched me because it
reminded me how essential and comforting prayer really is. You don’t always
have to be on your knees or voice your prayers out loud. He can hear the silent prayers in our minds
and in our hearts and He will answer our pleas. He would never abandon you if
you call for Him. How beautiful it is to know that if we reach out our hand,
open the door and literally ask for Him, He will help. That is not to say He will take away our
burdens or make the world perfect, no that is not how He works because He loves
us. We are meant to struggle but we are not alone. He will strengthen us,
comfort us, He will help us do the impossible-even learning a foreign alphabet
and language. He will guide you and that
knowledge gives you hope, that comfort helps hug you and touches you when you
feel nothing else can, the strength He gives you help and you keep going even
when you feel like you have nothing more to give.
This is why
I’m here to bring the world this joy and comfort that they/we are never
alone. That we and all have a Heavenly
Father who loves us so much. He gave His only begotten son. That we all have a
Brother who gave His life that we may return with Heavenly Father and that we
could never have to bear things alone.
He suffered, bled, and died for each one of us for our sins, for our
sorrows, for our illnesses, for us. This
knowledge and truth has made all the difference in my life and in the life of
my families. Because of this blessing
this truth has been in my life I cannot help but share it with the world and
with those I love.
I think
that is a good thought to stop on until the end of tonight’s conference.
Okay so I could probably go on and on telling you about my
conference experience and feelings but I will spare you and my hand
=)(handwritten letter). But I will share snip-its and one short though of each
maybe.
President Monson (again = he is the Prophet after all)
“Never did he dwell on what he lacked but he was grateful for what he was
given” (warning: not exact quote)
Also like the poem he shared at the end.
It is easier to be selfish and have self-pity but this life
isn’t about doing the easy things, going through the refiners fire is not easy.
We must learn to turn outwardly especially in the hardest time. That is what Christ, our ultimate example
does. I am trying to do this everyday
but I fall short everyday. But my stake
president told me before I started my mission, “you never fail until you stop
trying”. As long as I do my best and keep trying really trying then I have not
failed. This is true for everyone.
My own personal thought from Elder Neil L. Anderson: “The testimony of a mother will bless the
lives of her children. You are important and a vital part of our kids spiritual
future.”
This is time for all women and father/men/boys/girls. Our
testimonies are key for our posterity so lets not let them down.
Kevin Hamilton: “When you start to consider commandment
options you are in danger.” Let’s be who we are meant to be.
Russel M. Nelson: “Decisions determine destiny”
Goes perfectly with Elder Hamilton’s quote above. It also
reminds me of a scripture. “Choose ye who you will serve as for me and my house
we will serve the Lord.” Sorry no scripture reference, but look it up.
It is true though with every decision we make we choose
whose side we are on and what our future will be. Or what type of consequences
we are exposing ourselves to.
Always,
Sister Tovar
