June 23, 2025
From Abby - Dust of the earth 
Beautiful Humans
This email is being written in somewhat of a somber attitude even though this week was out of this worllld amazing.Its 7:20 AM on this wonderful June morning.
Today marks 9 months as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Halfway unless I extend :))
Last Pday we went through the temple!!!!!
My favorite part about the temple is the celestial room. Often times the sun is streaming through over the white walls and furniture while individuals read, pray and contemplate... While I was in the temple I read Mosiah 2:23-25
23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.
24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast? 25 And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.
We are already SO BLESSED to be alive, to breath to run, to exist. and on top of that he gives, and loves, and lifts.
The rest of Pday Sister Peterson and I ran a TON of errands. We went to indi Clover where I aquired $7 running shoes and a CUTIE dress that I think basically incapsulates me as a human being.
We also went to quick quack, deseret book, walmart, MISSION OFFICE (our car numbers mysteriously dissapeared), we also spontaneously went to staples, and in and out
We were pretty much cooked by the end of it
In the evening we were visiting with this older couple (Mind you Sister Peterson is still kinda getting over her sickness) and bro starts talking about how his immunity is GARBAGE and that if someone is sick he'll def catch it.
we just looked at eachother and didn't say a word XD (Criminal)
We also went visting with a member and we ended up knocking in the door of this less active lady with a cross eyed cat! We talked all things potential leadership corruption, LGBTQ inclusion, and church history (Funnnnn)
She was actually really nice and shared with us many a powerful spiritual experience..
We also went visting with a member and we ended up knocking in the door of this less active lady with a cross eyed cat! We talked all things potential leadership corruption, LGBTQ inclusion, and church history (Funnnnn)
She was actually really nice and shared with us many a powerful spiritual experience..
Just reconciling those questions can be SO HARD. I feel for her
SAME night we BOOK it over to the kemps house to try and have a desperate lesson with our cute little friend Georgia.. When we walk in she's SLEEPING on the couch and we're like "Heyyy Sister Kemp"
We tried to get her up but the program planning was pretty much unsuccesful.
Sister Kemp was like "We got all the people here! Thats a win!" As we all watch Georgia dose off on the table XD we figured it would be better to plan later.
Side note we walked out to see a strawberry on the mountain :) (projector for strawberry days)
Tuesday Sister Peterson and I spent WAY too much time laminating my Preach My Gospel (why we went to deseret) and adding prety stickers to it :) Sister Peterson ate it up and made it all pretty and laminated..
As we're doing this we get a call from Sister Dimitrov and Harris and they're like "We're coming over!" and we're like "HOW?!" and they're like "Our own two feet!"
They literally walked from Firebird (a resturaunt in our area) GIRL- it was a wonderfully pleasant suprise and they spent weekly planning with us
ahhh I just love them
SAME night we BOOK it over to the kemps house to try and have a desperate lesson with our cute little friend Georgia.. When we walk in she's SLEEPING on the couch and we're like "Heyyy Sister Kemp"
We tried to get her up but the program planning was pretty much unsuccesful.
Sister Kemp was like "We got all the people here! Thats a win!" As we all watch Georgia dose off on the table XD we figured it would be better to plan later.
Side note we walked out to see a strawberry on the mountain :) (projector for strawberry days)
Tuesday Sister Peterson and I spent WAY too much time laminating my Preach My Gospel (why we went to deseret) and adding prety stickers to it :) Sister Peterson ate it up and made it all pretty and laminated..
As we're doing this we get a call from Sister Dimitrov and Harris and they're like "We're coming over!" and we're like "HOW?!" and they're like "Our own two feet!"
They literally walked from Firebird (a resturaunt in our area) GIRL- it was a wonderfully pleasant suprise and they spent weekly planning with us
ahhh I just love them
Sister Dimitrov <3 ^
We were able to have a SOLID lesson with Georgia and her Dads signature for her baptism!! Georgia came out in her dinosaur slippers and bed head but we had a great chat on the grass about tihing and the word of wisdom :)
When we explained the word of wisdom she said in a SHOCKED mannor "My dad does not keep that." We had to explain that he was still a good person he just didn't keep that law.. It was sweet
WE LOVE GEORGIA
Right after the lesson we were able to join some strawberry days festivities!!! The park right by our area had this HUGE gathering, free strawberries and cream, and T-shirt stands.. as well as a Giant strawberry mascot, food trucks, ETC
We learned pretty fast that we're bad at public contacting and that the first world problem of being a missionary in Utah comes out.
We got free gourmet hot dogs and someone bought us EACH a $40 SHIRT. CRAZY.
When we got back in the car we DEVOURED our hot dogs while chatting on the phone with bishop to make sure he was good to baptize!! It was EPIC.
at one point during the week we were also able to meander around these booths for special needs awarness, there was a petting zoo, and little games and activities.. I LOVE MEANDERING
We had cleaning inspections this week with this cutie little couple named the pinkertons (I just thought it was a cute name I had to share)
This is us slaying
The tempuratures this week were KILLER
The hottest day was pushing +38 C and neither of us are here for it. CRIM.
we had a BUSSIN ZDC on thursday where Sister Peterson cheffed up some semi sketchy brownies and we celebrated elder sonbouls birthday!! We were able to have lunch with the Sisters after and I made Guac while Sister Dimitrov fried up some tortillas and Sister Peteron and Sister Harris sat and chatted :)
So idylic, so yummy.
FRIDAY was crim. We were on bikes and had an appointent early in the morning... we biked 8 solid minutes ZOOMING down hill and sweating as the heat blasted me (Yes warm wind exists :((((() only for the person NOT to answer. we were thoroughly bummed and decided to sort dots in that area until lunch.
The tempuratures this week were KILLER
The hottest day was pushing +38 C and neither of us are here for it. CRIM.
we had a BUSSIN ZDC on thursday where Sister Peterson cheffed up some semi sketchy brownies and we celebrated elder sonbouls birthday!! We were able to have lunch with the Sisters after and I made Guac while Sister Dimitrov fried up some tortillas and Sister Peteron and Sister Harris sat and chatted :)
So idylic, so yummy.
FRIDAY was crim. We were on bikes and had an appointent early in the morning... we biked 8 solid minutes ZOOMING down hill and sweating as the heat blasted me (Yes warm wind exists :((((() only for the person NOT to answer. we were thoroughly bummed and decided to sort dots in that area until lunch.
We determined that Chubbys was MUCH closer than the 16 minutes uphill.
For the second time in my life I purchased a beef paddy burger and we munched while observing all of the people who obviously had come from the rodeo (Mullets galore)
We also made eachother guess where random verses were in the book of mormon which spurred a lengthly debate about which ammon was with which king.. Because there was an ammon who discovered King Limhi.. and there was an ammon who chopped off arms for king lamoni.. confusing stuff.
We convinced sister Kemp to come pick us up before Georgias Baptisimal interview!! (she passed)
We also went to visit Miss Tillman!! We had a lovely conversation and somehow got onto the topic of the church we used to go to in texas! She says casually "Would you like to see my pastor?" And we're like "yeah!" thinking it was going to be a picture or short video.. She pulls up Youtube and looks up her church.. GIRL whips up a 45 minute sermon from her previous pastor?! THEN she's like "Let me get ya'll some fruit" and proceeds to get this little table which she puts in between us, and goes to the kitchen to get fruit XD eventually we had watermelon, canteloupe, and grapes to eat while watching this faith sermon.. Did we Sit through the entirety? yes. Do I have regrets?
Honestly not really. It was the basically the doctrine of our church just without the priesthood, and Brenda was super happy saying amen and worshipping! I also just have eternal ove for miss tillman so :)
Saturday morning Sister Peterson convinced my to go RUNNING WHATTT. I woke up with a terribly stuffy nose and sneezing up a storm but I still gave it my best :) as we were driving there Sister Peterson said "If it makes you feel better i've never gone running congested and not finished with a clear nose.." I was like "...Slayy.." *sneezes*
Easy to say it was humbling but we ran and walked for 20 minutes and thats better than what I was before.. which was NOTHING
There was also a STRAWBERRY DAYS PARADE on saturday morning. We were invited to a ward breakfast that was helld a couple of hours before the parade and as we were driving this police lady stops us and is like "You can't go past this point. You'll have to walk.. Sorry Sisters" We were like "SLA-" and walked the 10 minutes to the street where the parade would be held.
We approach this MONSTROUS crowd of people cluttered together (Probs got there at like 7:00 AM) Some have been saving their spot for weeks, others are scrounging for a spot now and everyone is in the basically religious strawberry days spirit. Sister Peterson and I felt like CELEBRITIES. Everywhere we walked people were like "Sisters!!" "OMG sisters! Hi!!" "Have you heard about the church of Jesus Christ?" "Sisters! You're more than welcome to join us for the Parade!!"
At one point we were trying to cross the busy street and the cars werent quite seeing us.. This policeman notices and hes like "Sisters! Are you trying to cross?" And we're like "Umm Yes~" And he emmediatly walks to the middle of the intersection and stops the cars!! As we walk by hes like "You have a wonderful day Sisters" LIKE WHAT
Serving in Utah is Mega Insane.
We didn't stay for the parade (Although some elders in the neighboring stake did *Coughs* Elder Marinelli and Stansel)
But decided to do our morning studies outside in the shade of a tree by the churchbuilding down the hill from us :)
This older couple whips past on their golf cart and we wave.. 3 minutes later they zoom past, but the other direction and pull into the church parking lot to invite us to lunch XD
For the second time in my life I purchased a beef paddy burger and we munched while observing all of the people who obviously had come from the rodeo (Mullets galore)
We also made eachother guess where random verses were in the book of mormon which spurred a lengthly debate about which ammon was with which king.. Because there was an ammon who discovered King Limhi.. and there was an ammon who chopped off arms for king lamoni.. confusing stuff.
We convinced sister Kemp to come pick us up before Georgias Baptisimal interview!! (she passed)
We also went to visit Miss Tillman!! We had a lovely conversation and somehow got onto the topic of the church we used to go to in texas! She says casually "Would you like to see my pastor?" And we're like "yeah!" thinking it was going to be a picture or short video.. She pulls up Youtube and looks up her church.. GIRL whips up a 45 minute sermon from her previous pastor?! THEN she's like "Let me get ya'll some fruit" and proceeds to get this little table which she puts in between us, and goes to the kitchen to get fruit XD eventually we had watermelon, canteloupe, and grapes to eat while watching this faith sermon.. Did we Sit through the entirety? yes. Do I have regrets?
Honestly not really. It was the basically the doctrine of our church just without the priesthood, and Brenda was super happy saying amen and worshipping! I also just have eternal ove for miss tillman so :)
Saturday morning Sister Peterson convinced my to go RUNNING WHATTT. I woke up with a terribly stuffy nose and sneezing up a storm but I still gave it my best :) as we were driving there Sister Peterson said "If it makes you feel better i've never gone running congested and not finished with a clear nose.." I was like "...Slayy.." *sneezes*
Easy to say it was humbling but we ran and walked for 20 minutes and thats better than what I was before.. which was NOTHING
There was also a STRAWBERRY DAYS PARADE on saturday morning. We were invited to a ward breakfast that was helld a couple of hours before the parade and as we were driving this police lady stops us and is like "You can't go past this point. You'll have to walk.. Sorry Sisters" We were like "SLA-" and walked the 10 minutes to the street where the parade would be held.
We approach this MONSTROUS crowd of people cluttered together (Probs got there at like 7:00 AM) Some have been saving their spot for weeks, others are scrounging for a spot now and everyone is in the basically religious strawberry days spirit. Sister Peterson and I felt like CELEBRITIES. Everywhere we walked people were like "Sisters!!" "OMG sisters! Hi!!" "Have you heard about the church of Jesus Christ?" "Sisters! You're more than welcome to join us for the Parade!!"
At one point we were trying to cross the busy street and the cars werent quite seeing us.. This policeman notices and hes like "Sisters! Are you trying to cross?" And we're like "Umm Yes~" And he emmediatly walks to the middle of the intersection and stops the cars!! As we walk by hes like "You have a wonderful day Sisters" LIKE WHAT
Serving in Utah is Mega Insane.
We didn't stay for the parade (Although some elders in the neighboring stake did *Coughs* Elder Marinelli and Stansel)
But decided to do our morning studies outside in the shade of a tree by the churchbuilding down the hill from us :)
This older couple whips past on their golf cart and we wave.. 3 minutes later they zoom past, but the other direction and pull into the church parking lot to invite us to lunch XD
^morning studies us
Friday night we had this whole conversation about Polygamy and how we would never have the faith to share our man XD NEXY DAY we ended up leaving a waterbottle at some service that we did and when we went to pick it up from the member who grabbed it for us we ended up chatting for a while
TURNS OUT she spent like FIVE years of her life studying polygamy and spat bars about the poineer women of that time and also the circumstances of some "Sketchy church history"
In one conversation she shifted my entire perspective of polygamy. It was insane
We felt chastized by god :)
And then the next day some super old guy told sister peterson "Your hairstyle reminds me of a polygamist wife!!" CRAZY.
Friday night we had this whole conversation about Polygamy and how we would never have the faith to share our man XD NEXY DAY we ended up leaving a waterbottle at some service that we did and when we went to pick it up from the member who grabbed it for us we ended up chatting for a while
TURNS OUT she spent like FIVE years of her life studying polygamy and spat bars about the poineer women of that time and also the circumstances of some "Sketchy church history"
In one conversation she shifted my entire perspective of polygamy. It was insane
We felt chastized by god :)
And then the next day some super old guy told sister peterson "Your hairstyle reminds me of a polygamist wife!!" CRAZY.
Not the out of pocket old man.
Sunday was GEORGIAS BAPTISM
Sunday was GEORGIAS BAPTISM
We sat with Georgia at church on sunday morning and she was sooo cute in her little white dress.
We got to the church at 6:35 (Baptism at 7:00) And ran into Bishop Willardson (Who Georgia wanted to baptize her) he had the keys for the jumpsuit closet and we rifled through the white while we waited for Georgia.. Sister Kemp came with Georgia and we found her a cute little jumpsuit!
We went to the bathroom that connects to the font, we wanted to show Georgia so we peeked into the font and saw the crystal blue water, still as can be, the light from the window streaming over the white tile and water illuminating EVERYTHING with a soft warm glow. I heard Georgia say "Whoa.." as she stepped on the first step and tested the tempurature with her toes XD we hung her dress on a little pink hanger and then went into the main room only to discover that the room was being FILLED and people were setting up additional chairs to the ones we had set up!! Young women, Primary kids and leaders, friends of the kemps, people i've never met, Georgias family..
We went to the bathroom that connects to the font, we wanted to show Georgia so we peeked into the font and saw the crystal blue water, still as can be, the light from the window streaming over the white tile and water illuminating EVERYTHING with a soft warm glow. I heard Georgia say "Whoa.." as she stepped on the first step and tested the tempurature with her toes XD we hung her dress on a little pink hanger and then went into the main room only to discover that the room was being FILLED and people were setting up additional chairs to the ones we had set up!! Young women, Primary kids and leaders, friends of the kemps, people i've never met, Georgias family..
I watched Brother Gygi hand out programs, Primary leaders were decorating the room with strawberry decor (For strawberries and cream after) the pianist (Who we forgot to confirm with) was playing soft and beautiful prelude, Bishop showed Georgia how her hands would go and how to bend her knees ETC
BEFORE MY EYES the baptism was coming together. And people were STILL streaming into the room.
Then it was time for the baptism
The two of them enter the font, the sun streaming over them dressed in white.. With his arm to thr square he says "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
Georgia is calmly and carefully lowered into the water, her short brown hair floating up around her, and then in an instant up again! As she walks up out of the font she exclaims "Yipee!!" and everyone LAUGHES
Ahhhh It was one of the most sacred experiences i've ever been a part of.
I remember the first day I met Georgia and to see her journey was the greatest of Gods gifts.
SUNDAY NIGHT
TRANSFER NEWS
Sister Peterson and I SPLIT up. She's staying in Pleasant Grove and i'm being booted to Lindon, on a bike, on a hill, follow up training Sister Moleni (from Tonga!)
I was VERY underwhelmed, maay havve cried myself to sleep...
I wish I could Glory in tribulation as well as Paul.
No more commentary from me. I think i've yapped even the keenest of readers ear off
BEFORE MY EYES the baptism was coming together. And people were STILL streaming into the room.
Then it was time for the baptism
The two of them enter the font, the sun streaming over them dressed in white.. With his arm to thr square he says "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
Georgia is calmly and carefully lowered into the water, her short brown hair floating up around her, and then in an instant up again! As she walks up out of the font she exclaims "Yipee!!" and everyone LAUGHES
Ahhhh It was one of the most sacred experiences i've ever been a part of.
I remember the first day I met Georgia and to see her journey was the greatest of Gods gifts.
SUNDAY NIGHT
TRANSFER NEWS
Sister Peterson and I SPLIT up. She's staying in Pleasant Grove and i'm being booted to Lindon, on a bike, on a hill, follow up training Sister Moleni (from Tonga!)
I was VERY underwhelmed, maay havve cried myself to sleep...
I wish I could Glory in tribulation as well as Paul.
No more commentary from me. I think i've yapped even the keenest of readers ear off
Bye
-Sister Smith.
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