October 7, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
This week was bike week. President creates acronymns for everything so the ZL's came up with an acronym for bike week. Biking Is Killer Especially When Everyone's Enjoying their Kars. I survived. No accidents during bike week. Thank goodness.
I am staying in Bartlett. Memphis is my first area and I hope I
serve the rest of my mission here but I will go where the Lord wants me
to go. As for now I am still in the same ward and same area with most of
the same people. It is a really hard area but I love the members of the
ward. They are so amazing it is really humbling to me.
Conference was amazing Elder Richard G. Scott's talk was amazing. It was kind of a slap in the face to me and I learned what I need to do to be a better missionary. Uchtdorf's talk was amazing I pretty much want to make 81 copies of that talk and take it to each one of the 81 less actives in this area and get them to church! What a powerful talk!!! I love how pretty much everyone said that there is an urgency for the work.... we can't procrastinate!!! The time is now and we need to do our best to help bring others to Christ. Missionaries are nothing without members! These 80,000 missionaries need members to help us. I was reading the talks from last general conference and there is only 35 countries or territories in the world that do not have the gospel. 35!!! When they made that announcement that missionaries can use the internet now that instantly opens those 35 areas. Even though missionaries may not literally be able to enter into those countries the gospel will still be able to spread there. This isn't a boost of missionaries. This is the final gathering.
Conference was amazing Elder Richard G. Scott's talk was amazing. It was kind of a slap in the face to me and I learned what I need to do to be a better missionary. Uchtdorf's talk was amazing I pretty much want to make 81 copies of that talk and take it to each one of the 81 less actives in this area and get them to church! What a powerful talk!!! I love how pretty much everyone said that there is an urgency for the work.... we can't procrastinate!!! The time is now and we need to do our best to help bring others to Christ. Missionaries are nothing without members! These 80,000 missionaries need members to help us. I was reading the talks from last general conference and there is only 35 countries or territories in the world that do not have the gospel. 35!!! When they made that announcement that missionaries can use the internet now that instantly opens those 35 areas. Even though missionaries may not literally be able to enter into those countries the gospel will still be able to spread there. This isn't a boost of missionaries. This is the final gathering.
I finished reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and I have been
studying the life and character of Christ and it truly is amazing how
much of an example Christ is for us. I know that he is the way. He
provided a way for us to return to our Heavenly father. He is the only
way. He suffered spiritual and physical death for us and all he asks in
return is for us to keep his commandments. I know that it may not be
easy but that is because salvation is never easy. It was never easy for
Christ. It wasn't easy in the garden when he atoned for all of our sins
and it sure wasn't easy when he was crucified for us. Salvation is never
easy. It requires some work. Don't expect going to church or reading
your scriptures or going to the temple to be easy. It was never easy for
Christ so how can we expect it to be easy for us. I challenge all of
you to read the 8 page talk. His Grace is Sufficient by Brad Wilcox. It
is AMAZING!!!
I have come to appreciate Christ's sacrifice for me. As I have
studied the character of Christ I have learned how great of an example
he is to me and to all the world. I know Christ lived and I know he
suffered for me. I know that this is the true church restored on the
earth again. I know that Christ is the way and if we follow him he will
lead us back to our father in heaven. He is the way. I know these things
with all of my heart.
Love,
~Hermana Larissa Johnson