April 21, 2025
From Abby - (no subject)
HEY ALL
I just devoured a HUGE bowl of oatmeal with a lot of bananas and peanut butter
Today I feel joy because I can eat a massive bowl of oatmeal with bananas and peanut butter:
Last Pday I think was one of the most idylic pdays i've ever experienced. we drove to the top of the zone (Literally the top.. AKA a MASSIVE hill)
the sun streamed down over the mountains and us, we blew bubbles all together, played football with this SUPER sweet special needs kid named Matthew, listened to an old mans advice on following the spirit, and layed out in the sun talking about anything that came to mind.. I'm in love with being a missionary in these moments of peace.
Sister Dimitrov ^
Elder Loesch and I ^
Elder Loesch is about to fly away to Macedonia! The entire zone is going to miss him its so crazy someone can be a part of the mission and then GONE in an instant. hes a brave soul
Elder Loesch is about to fly away to Macedonia! The entire zone is going to miss him its so crazy someone can be a part of the mission and then GONE in an instant. hes a brave soul
something he said in his departing testimony at zone conference was
"Change is scary, but staying the same is scarier"
I admire my fellow missionaries who constantly amaze me with insights and attitudes and comments. each is a well of knowledge that God has placed in my path for a reason, for this I thank him EVERY day :))
Whenever members inquire "Are you homesick?!" and my response is always that it Ebbs and Flows but is never terrible. This week I can declare was an Ebb week..if that makes sense.
It seems that every single second something reminds me of my home or sisters, past friendships and relationships.
I think to be homesick is to be lucky because that means theres something or someone to miss painfully and dearly and that means I am loved. Soo.. Yay for homesickness?
ZONE CONFERENCE
"Change is scary, but staying the same is scarier"
I admire my fellow missionaries who constantly amaze me with insights and attitudes and comments. each is a well of knowledge that God has placed in my path for a reason, for this I thank him EVERY day :))
Whenever members inquire "Are you homesick?!" and my response is always that it Ebbs and Flows but is never terrible. This week I can declare was an Ebb week..if that makes sense.
It seems that every single second something reminds me of my home or sisters, past friendships and relationships.
I think to be homesick is to be lucky because that means theres something or someone to miss painfully and dearly and that means I am loved. Soo.. Yay for homesickness?
ZONE CONFERENCE
This zone conference was probably one of my favorites.. EVER.
Sister Brown gave a training and she talked about Jesus Christ, what he did for us. She shared a deeply personal loss, and trembled with tears as she said
"Sometimes we're called upon to do hard things, to endure hard things, and all we can think is "Why?" "This is unfair"
She went on to say
Jesus Christ endured 'Unfair' more than any of us will EVER come to understand "unfair'"
I have never been more in awe of someone: Sister brown standing strong at the pulpit bearing a pure, powerful testmony of the atonement of Jesus Christ while bearing more grief than I think I will ever come to understand.
Sister Brown gave a training and she talked about Jesus Christ, what he did for us. She shared a deeply personal loss, and trembled with tears as she said
"Sometimes we're called upon to do hard things, to endure hard things, and all we can think is "Why?" "This is unfair"
She went on to say
Jesus Christ endured 'Unfair' more than any of us will EVER come to understand "unfair'"
I have never been more in awe of someone: Sister brown standing strong at the pulpit bearing a pure, powerful testmony of the atonement of Jesus Christ while bearing more grief than I think I will ever come to understand.
People have left the church for MUCH smaller circumstances. I admire her completely.
It makes me think of Doctrine and Covenants 122:8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
She also really emphasized
"YOU are Jesus's why. Is he yours?"
ahh I LOVE sister brown with all my heart.
It makes me think of Doctrine and Covenants 122:8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
She also really emphasized
"YOU are Jesus's why. Is he yours?"
ahh I LOVE sister brown with all my heart.
We also got to listen to author, professor, and philospher Anthony Sweat!!!
He talked about how when people think about the restoration they think about joseph smith and the past instead of Jesus Christ and the future.
THE RESTORATION IS RIGHT NOW and not something of the past, and the restoration will continue until the kingdom of god is here on earth. At the END of the millenium when the great jehova shall say "The work is done"
He talked about D&C 76:107
When he (Jesus Christ) shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.
THE RESTORATION IS RIGHT NOW and not something of the past, and the restoration will continue until the kingdom of god is here on earth. At the END of the millenium when the great jehova shall say "The work is done"
He talked about D&C 76:107
When he (Jesus Christ) shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.
So cool to think that the kingdom of god is actually here on earth- Eventually :)
LAST quote I loved
"Someday God will enlarge the miracle of easter to a cosmic scale" -Philip Yancey
And the miracle of easter is that Jesus Christ lives, and because he lives you and I will too
HOW could it get more grand then that.
This week we were able to have a lesson with Mike and his two kids Jesse and Georgia. We Showed up with Sister Kemp and invited them to listen to a message to which they agreed, we all sat at this picnic table with the light streaming as we talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ
You just hope with all your heart that some of it touches them and builds their desire to come closer to Jesus Christ :(
Sister Orton and I split up with service missionaries (I want with one she went with the other)
Sister Bernardy and I went to knock doors before a ward blitz and we knock on this COMPLETELY random door and this lady opens up... She askes who sent us.. (Normal reaction at this point.. shes a less active lady)) We make some small talk and eventually she tells us that her primary president friend lives across the street and if we schedule something with her she'll actually do it..
BEST believe that's the next door we knocked. we crashed her actual primary presidency meeting and BOOM scheduled a message! Idk it was just a fun moment
We joined a ward blitz (Inviting EVERYONE to easter sunday) knocking TONS of doors all at once is great until you have to report on PMG :D I was TAPPING away trying to remember everything and i'm pretty sure there are still gaps.. Struggle
I gave a training this week on studying which was absolutely criminal because I just stood in front of everyone and just yapped.
I've learned that if i choose to talk about something that I really care about I. WILL. NEVER. STOP.
Studying happens to be one of those things I guess!
I gave people tabs to put in their scriptures and DEF had to shoutout sister Atwood
What an infuential lil trainee (Love you Sister Atwood)
Thursday night at like 8:40 PM we knocked on this door we didn't know anything about.. This lady opens and we introduce ourselfs and ask her name.. To which inquiry she IGNORES and proceeds to explain that shes served a mission and knows what our motives are... We asked where she served (Puerto Rico) and how her mission was ETC. I ask her name again (IGNORED again) and also accepted her rejection and asked if there was still a time we could come by and get to know her
She asks: What would be your motive, or point to getting to know me?
I LOVE that we were able to have this conversation where I bore my testimony to her about Jesus Christ, If I represent his name.. and am trying to be like him, my only "Motive" is my love for God and my fellow men...
I also explained that no one builds a strong testimony or opinion of something if they exclusively surround themselves with similar thinkers..
I want to hear peoples perspectives, WHY did you leave? What do you love about catholisism, how do you worship Jesus Christ?!
I swear people see the tag and either
"Someday God will enlarge the miracle of easter to a cosmic scale" -Philip Yancey
And the miracle of easter is that Jesus Christ lives, and because he lives you and I will too
HOW could it get more grand then that.
This week we were able to have a lesson with Mike and his two kids Jesse and Georgia. We Showed up with Sister Kemp and invited them to listen to a message to which they agreed, we all sat at this picnic table with the light streaming as we talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ
You just hope with all your heart that some of it touches them and builds their desire to come closer to Jesus Christ :(
Sister Orton and I split up with service missionaries (I want with one she went with the other)
Sister Bernardy and I went to knock doors before a ward blitz and we knock on this COMPLETELY random door and this lady opens up... She askes who sent us.. (Normal reaction at this point.. shes a less active lady)) We make some small talk and eventually she tells us that her primary president friend lives across the street and if we schedule something with her she'll actually do it..
BEST believe that's the next door we knocked. we crashed her actual primary presidency meeting and BOOM scheduled a message! Idk it was just a fun moment
We joined a ward blitz (Inviting EVERYONE to easter sunday) knocking TONS of doors all at once is great until you have to report on PMG :D I was TAPPING away trying to remember everything and i'm pretty sure there are still gaps.. Struggle
I gave a training this week on studying which was absolutely criminal because I just stood in front of everyone and just yapped.
I've learned that if i choose to talk about something that I really care about I. WILL. NEVER. STOP.
Studying happens to be one of those things I guess!
I gave people tabs to put in their scriptures and DEF had to shoutout sister Atwood
What an infuential lil trainee (Love you Sister Atwood)
Thursday night at like 8:40 PM we knocked on this door we didn't know anything about.. This lady opens and we introduce ourselfs and ask her name.. To which inquiry she IGNORES and proceeds to explain that shes served a mission and knows what our motives are... We asked where she served (Puerto Rico) and how her mission was ETC. I ask her name again (IGNORED again) and also accepted her rejection and asked if there was still a time we could come by and get to know her
She asks: What would be your motive, or point to getting to know me?
I LOVE that we were able to have this conversation where I bore my testimony to her about Jesus Christ, If I represent his name.. and am trying to be like him, my only "Motive" is my love for God and my fellow men...
I also explained that no one builds a strong testimony or opinion of something if they exclusively surround themselves with similar thinkers..
I want to hear peoples perspectives, WHY did you leave? What do you love about catholisism, how do you worship Jesus Christ?!
I swear people see the tag and either
1) Assume motives
2) villanize
2) villanize
Anyways at the end of the conversation she gave us her name and said we could come back in the beginning of June!
I hope I'm still here :))
WOW I'm ranting
I MADE ANOTHER JESUS WALL
Yes I destroyed the inside of two come follow me's and defininitely spent longer than I should have creating a collage
I hope I'm still here :))
WOW I'm ranting
I MADE ANOTHER JESUS WALL
Yes I destroyed the inside of two come follow me's and defininitely spent longer than I should have creating a collage
please hold your applause I know it's just absolutely breathtaking..
Anyways :)
We also agreed to do some spontaneous service and mud for this COMPLETELY less active couple, they both totally believe and also never go to church..
We helped them sand drywall as we discussed why pride and prejeduce was a superior movie
we got DUSTY
Yes we also talked about Jesus Christ
and invited them back to church
Yes we also talked about Jesus Christ
and invited them back to church
we almost bargained with them but
we didn't
For easter we went to THREE wonderful sacrament meetings and were able to have dinner with one of the BEST ward mission leaders Brother Starr and his Wife Jodi <3
For easter we went to THREE wonderful sacrament meetings and were able to have dinner with one of the BEST ward mission leaders Brother Starr and his Wife Jodi <3
WE LOVE THE STARRS
they invited a whole gaggle of people for dinner incuding two non members we were able to chat with
Craziest beaming moment: Non member Diego to the right of me, brother starr straight across, we're munching pie and Brother starr goes "Have you heard about Joseph Smith?" and PLUNGES into the entire restoration :o
It was really cool to watch a MEMBER initiate and push the process forward
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.
I still was able to recite the first vision and bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon but I love when members have that desire to share.
Craziest beaming moment: Non member Diego to the right of me, brother starr straight across, we're munching pie and Brother starr goes "Have you heard about Joseph Smith?" and PLUNGES into the entire restoration :o
It was really cool to watch a MEMBER initiate and push the process forward
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.
I still was able to recite the first vision and bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon but I love when members have that desire to share.
They're also freaking LEGENDS: 6 natural kids, 4 adopted from Liberia, Colombia, and theyve tried to adopt from hungary :O they're in their 50's and are trying to adopt 2 more girls. CRAZY
people are so cool.
I feel as though theres SO MUCH TO SAY.
Spring has sprung and I'm in love
believe it or not she's very homesick ^
a couple days ago I learned more about "Hell"
I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 76 verse 84 which says
"These are they who are thrust down to hell"
I paused, confused as I was sure this verse was describing those that would inherit the Telestial kingdom (Lowest of the three)
How can tou inherit a kingdom of glory and also be "thrust down to hell" as this scripture so vividly describes?
What BOMB resource do i go to EVERY TIME?
The Bible Dictionary which says:
"In Latter day revelation, hell is spoken of in at least two senses."
a couple days ago I learned more about "Hell"
I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 76 verse 84 which says
"These are they who are thrust down to hell"
I paused, confused as I was sure this verse was describing those that would inherit the Telestial kingdom (Lowest of the three)
How can tou inherit a kingdom of glory and also be "thrust down to hell" as this scripture so vividly describes?
What BOMB resource do i go to EVERY TIME?
The Bible Dictionary which says:
"In Latter day revelation, hell is spoken of in at least two senses."
-1st: a temporary abode in the spirit world of those disobedient in this mortal life
-those who abide in telestial glory will feel this punishment until the last ressurection (D&C 19:4-12 clarifies that the punishment doesn't last forever in the sense of time, but is eternal in the sense of pain. Maximum anguish beyond what we can comprehend)
NOT THE ACCIDENTAL SEND
okay you'll have to endure a completely UNEDITED email I hope you enjoy.. and forgive
i'm finishing my thought :(
-2nd: The devil, his angels and those who DO NOT want to be with god (Called the sons of perdition) whos anguish continues AFTER judgement and resurection..
"The one group are redeemed from hell and inherit some degree of glory.. the other recieve No glory.. they continue in spiritual darkness. For them the conditions of hell remain."
SO
Pre resurection and judgement hell.. which ends
OKAY have a great week!!!
I love you all.
God is good
okay you'll have to endure a completely UNEDITED email I hope you enjoy.. and forgive
i'm finishing my thought :(
-2nd: The devil, his angels and those who DO NOT want to be with god (Called the sons of perdition) whos anguish continues AFTER judgement and resurection..
"The one group are redeemed from hell and inherit some degree of glory.. the other recieve No glory.. they continue in spiritual darkness. For them the conditions of hell remain."
SO
Pre resurection and judgement hell.. which ends
and post resurection and Judgement hell.. which remains forever.
Anyways.
Anyways.
This is embarrasing
i'm mostly just butthurt now
OKAY have a great week!!!
I love you all.
God is good
Jesus Christ lives
From Dad - Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven
Dear Abby,
This week I've been studying the power of sacrifice, both from the perspective of Easter and the Savior's sacrifice but also from the perspective of what happens when we choose to sacrifice in our imperfect way. I was able to speak about some of that in my Easter talk in Edson but I'm still discovering it. Alma 34 has become my new favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon. I may touch on this a bit later too.
In the meantime, I've been holding down the fort at home while Mia and Mom went on an adventure to St George to revel in the cuteness of our granddaughters. I'm happy for them even though I miss them.
I've been staying pretty busy. I dropped them off on Monday at the airport early, worked then had a really good Branch Presidency meeting on Monday. I'm grateful for good counselors who are so diligent.
Tuesday I decided to go car shopping. I hit a couple of dealerships in south Edmonton, but I somehow got stuck on wanting a Hyundai Palisade after driving one the week before. I jumped online and found one in North Edmonton. Given no one was home waiting for me, I headed up there. They were waiting for me with a really nice 2020 Grey Palisade with 126K km on it. It drove really nice and it has lots of cool "wow" features. Fortunately or unfortunately I was wowed enough to strike a deal after talking to Mom on the phone and closed at about 9:30 pm that night. I negotiated a trailer hitch on the back and so they agreed to drive it out to me when it was all done. Looks like it will be delivered this coming Wednesday.
Wednesday night I enjoyed a temple session followed by an interview with President Johnson. Thursday night, I invited Sam out for the Easter week-end and he came and joined me for Pickle ball and came out to sleep over and spent Friday and Saturday morning with me. We worked with his pressure washer and he did our siding and garage floor. Garage floor looks great!
Josh and Madison came out Saturday morning and had Breakfast with us, then stayed for lunch. Josh made some progress on the basement painting wall, starting to add Stephanie into it.
Sam and I also picked up some 4x6 pressure treated lumber to start the base of the green house. It's going to be a good gardening year!
Sunday I spent in Edson and enjoyed being with the saints there for Easter. I see the power of sacrifice in their lives as they choose to serve and attend church even when it is not convenient.
The thing that struck me the most from Alma 34 was the following chain of ideas:
- Adam to Jesus Christ the saints offered sacrifices looking forward to and in similitude to the
- Great and Last Sacrifice which fulfilled the law of Momsis and was only possible because it was done by the Son of God, Infinite and Eternal resulting in
- the moving of God's bowels of Merch allowing the
- demands of Justice to be satisfied if
- We exercise Faith unto Repentance which causes us to call on his Holy Name for this mercy
- which must be accompanied by charity and charitable acts so that our prayer is not vain.
- We are then exhorted to not procrastinate our exercise of faith unto repentance, promising that
- as soon as we choose to exercise faith and repent that immediately this great plan of Redemption comes into effect into our lives.
- Immediately.
- Now that the law is fulfilled, he asks us to live the law of Sacrifice by offering a broken heart and a contrite spirit and to
- sacrifice the things of this world to keep his commandments. Commandments like
- The Word of Wisdom, the Sabbath Day, Moral Cleanliness, Tithing and Service.
How's that for a formula? That was the essence of my talk. I really enjoyed studying it.
I had a good chat with Ben this week. He’s trying his hand at door to door window washing sales and looking forward to a busy summer of EFY.
Have a great week, Sister Smith!
Love,
Dad.
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