December 7, 2025
From Abby: Big Hairy Audacious Goal
Hi all :)
Happy New MonthMy greatest desire is that I won't have to be slaving over this email all day
I look forward to the day where I won't feel mentally chained to the consistency of these emails
Lets just get into this week
Lets just get into this week
We had a sisters Pday,
we went to the Timpanogos temple for an Endowment session and I can't give you words to explain how much I love the Temple and the Covenant's I have made there. I think every day Sister Williams Sr and I say SOMETHING about how much we love our covenants.
I got to visit with my mission president at the end of this week and during our interview we got onto the topic of Consecration (One of the five temple covenants) he shared with me his experience trying to decide if he should be a Mission President: If they (President and Sister Brown) chose to serve they would lose millions and millions of dollars... He explained how one night Sister Brown and him were getting into bed in the dark and she said to him "We already made our decision that we're going to serve" Taken aback president inquired as to why she said that, with unwaivering confidence Sister Brown replied "We decided when we made temple covenants"
In the interview President Brown and I laughed at the strange nature of consecration. How freeing it is to give EVERYTHING to God and trust that his way is better then what our little human brains can come up with.
How can you believe that theres an omnipotent God, and not drop everything to do what he requires of you? I don't know.
I got to see Megan Pawlenchuck and she shared with me her sweet thoughts from her heart, her mission experience, etc. I love her
We also got to bake homemade bread at brother Beutlers... I'm reminded of my mom and her homemade bread, growing up grinding wheat and kneading and letting it rise etc. I marvel at the work my mom put in to homeschool her children, small things remind me of her everywhere I go, This week it was brother Beutlers bread :)
I got to visit with my mission president at the end of this week and during our interview we got onto the topic of Consecration (One of the five temple covenants) he shared with me his experience trying to decide if he should be a Mission President: If they (President and Sister Brown) chose to serve they would lose millions and millions of dollars... He explained how one night Sister Brown and him were getting into bed in the dark and she said to him "We already made our decision that we're going to serve" Taken aback president inquired as to why she said that, with unwaivering confidence Sister Brown replied "We decided when we made temple covenants"
In the interview President Brown and I laughed at the strange nature of consecration. How freeing it is to give EVERYTHING to God and trust that his way is better then what our little human brains can come up with.
How can you believe that theres an omnipotent God, and not drop everything to do what he requires of you? I don't know.
I got to see Megan Pawlenchuck and she shared with me her sweet thoughts from her heart, her mission experience, etc. I love her
We also got to bake homemade bread at brother Beutlers... I'm reminded of my mom and her homemade bread, growing up grinding wheat and kneading and letting it rise etc. I marvel at the work my mom put in to homeschool her children, small things remind me of her everywhere I go, This week it was brother Beutlers bread :)
Our most eggregious goal is 8 baptisms for December.. EIGHT?? We said a big mighty prayer of faith, and set this big hairy audacious goal (Thats from our stake president, shoutout Jed Smith) Heres our brainstorming board:
Its been a wild debate all week.. Do we actually believe that God can provide a way for us to find, teach, put on date, and baptize 8 people in the month of December? We have to, we set the goal! God Is a God of miracles :)
Visited with a lady who had two ratty Chiwawa's and one UGLY dog named Gregory the Grumpuss.. Traumatizing visit.
We've been to 5 ward Christmas activities this week which is joyous. One mom and her sons sang a song and we all cried at how SWEET it was.
It has snowed a couple times this week but its looking like another brown christmas... Maybe even a green christmas. I marvel at the fact that I still come across blooming flowers, and green lawns and leaves. NOT allowed guys its December 8th.
We got to go to the temple again for baptisms for the dead <3
Helped an RSP spontaneously decorate a christmas tree.. She's a tad apos (In the sense that she's old and culturally insensative) but we had a ball of a time.
At one point Sister Williams Sr chose a GIANT Ornament and thought it would be fun if it was on the tree beside all the little bitty and medium ornaments.. With determined zeal she placed it at the top right for all to see.. The RSP comes in and straight up says "No." and takes it off
we all were laughing because it really was uglyXD but in a cute way?
We saw our one armed friend Victor again this week, Today he's been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for 15 days!! WOW he has a beautiful light to him. The whole entire time we met with him, teaching about the priesthood he had this glow, a noble brightness, a changed nature and heart. The spirit of God is real and it changes us.
We gave him his after baptism packet which inside contains a note from President Brown congratulating him as a new member, and encouraging him not to stop there.
After Sister Williams Sr read it outloud to him Victor smiled and said "Well thank you. What an Honour. I'm going to frame it and put it up on my wall" LOOK AT HIM
Did an emergency Book of Mormon drop of for Sister Hethocte and Sister Moleni since theyre finding lost sheep like no other
Every member should always have a Book of Mormon in their hand if we're being real.
Speaking of those two we've been joining them at the gymn for basketball and its so humbling. I did NOT gain my Dads basketball genes
Also got these XL sweat pants that are lowkey sketch (Too big) but points for the gangster vibe
SOMETHING ELSE INSANE. We met the sister missionary that taught and baptized Elder Patrick Kearon of the quorum of the 12??? She's an active member of one of our wards and we got to spontaneously help her clean up some things from her christmas decorating..
Of course we asked what Elder Kearon was like as an investigator and I think she used the word "Rascal" XD She told us of how he didn't take things seriously and even once when they took him to the temple grounds to teach of eternal families he was play actiing smoking a cigarette by the no smoking sign!!
She taught him for NINE months in London and during that time he rejected 15 baptismal invites, ghosted them multiple times, and was obviously a goomba for the times that they did meet.
It was a humbling moment to hear how a future apostle of God maybe wasn't as elect as we thought. I marvelled at the friends I was teaching that I nearly or did give up on, and wondered at what ttheir potential could have been if I stuck it out.
She said that Elder Kearon comes through town for dinner sometimes so we lowkey might beg her to join us when that happens :)
Sister Williams sr and I gave a training on the Elect and one thing thats kind of been spreading through the zone is
"The Elect are the elect even when:
-They speak spanish
Every member should always have a Book of Mormon in their hand if we're being real.
Speaking of those two we've been joining them at the gymn for basketball and its so humbling. I did NOT gain my Dads basketball genes
Also got these XL sweat pants that are lowkey sketch (Too big) but points for the gangster vibe
SOMETHING ELSE INSANE. We met the sister missionary that taught and baptized Elder Patrick Kearon of the quorum of the 12??? She's an active member of one of our wards and we got to spontaneously help her clean up some things from her christmas decorating..
Of course we asked what Elder Kearon was like as an investigator and I think she used the word "Rascal" XD She told us of how he didn't take things seriously and even once when they took him to the temple grounds to teach of eternal families he was play actiing smoking a cigarette by the no smoking sign!!
She taught him for NINE months in London and during that time he rejected 15 baptismal invites, ghosted them multiple times, and was obviously a goomba for the times that they did meet.
It was a humbling moment to hear how a future apostle of God maybe wasn't as elect as we thought. I marvelled at the friends I was teaching that I nearly or did give up on, and wondered at what ttheir potential could have been if I stuck it out.
She said that Elder Kearon comes through town for dinner sometimes so we lowkey might beg her to join us when that happens :)
Sister Williams sr and I gave a training on the Elect and one thing thats kind of been spreading through the zone is
"The Elect are the elect even when:
-They speak spanish
-They have earbuds in
-Their house is dark
-You're biking past at fast speeds etc :)
Its so fun to talk to everyone. We see miracles every day because of it!
-You're biking past at fast speeds etc :)
Its so fun to talk to everyone. We see miracles every day because of it!
Had a lesson with our friend Leah at Richie Saunders and his wifes house :O I am not a basketball gal but still lowkey so cool to be with an up and coming NBA star and hear him testify of the plan of salvation.
Our friend Leah is the DARLINGEST. You want to talk about elect? Lets talk about Leah.
When we dropped off our D&C and in her lesson she chastized us for not giving her the pamphlets for all three lessons. She explained to us that she found the Plan of Salvation pamphlet while cleaning someones house and felt like God placed it there for her :)
She kept joking with us how we're gatekeeping from her and told us to DO BETTER and give the pamphets out more often
We were all laughing so hard I love her
Our friend Leah is the DARLINGEST. You want to talk about elect? Lets talk about Leah.
When we dropped off our D&C and in her lesson she chastized us for not giving her the pamphlets for all three lessons. She explained to us that she found the Plan of Salvation pamphlet while cleaning someones house and felt like God placed it there for her :)
She kept joking with us how we're gatekeeping from her and told us to DO BETTER and give the pamphets out more often
We were all laughing so hard I love her
and the Saunders were cool too :)
When we walked outside after morning sports on friday snow was flurrying about everywhere, one of my roman empires is when flakes are coming down and the lamp post light illuminates it all cute, we had a ball
After our zone leadership meeting as we were walking to the car I had the tiniest Itty bittiest little thought that said "You should knock one more door before you go home for lunch" of course initially I was like "Bruh" looking at the time, thinking about how hungry I was etc.
I've learned a lifehack with spiritual promptings and it's simply that I NEED to say it outloud, no matter how small the thought, If i think it could be prompting Immediatly I say "I got the thought that we should knock one more door before lunch... No clue if its a prompting or not" and 99 times out of 100 my companions will say "LETS DO IT" and then I have to and I think thats a good thing.
I've learned a lifehack with spiritual promptings and it's simply that I NEED to say it outloud, no matter how small the thought, If i think it could be prompting Immediatly I say "I got the thought that we should knock one more door before lunch... No clue if its a prompting or not" and 99 times out of 100 my companions will say "LETS DO IT" and then I have to and I think thats a good thing.
Anyways, we decided to say a big mighty prayer of faith as to which door we should knock and as we prayed the thought came "Third ward, right side" pretty soon we found a dot that he had heard moved, we all felt good about knocking there so we went, with confidence :)
After we knocked the door and heard it echo through an empty house we peeked inside to see torn up carpet, wooden floors, and construction paper, as well as a big lock on the front door.. We figured no one lived there, and slightly dispayed stepped away from the house.
After we knocked the door and heard it echo through an empty house we peeked inside to see torn up carpet, wooden floors, and construction paper, as well as a big lock on the front door.. We figured no one lived there, and slightly dispayed stepped away from the house.
Slushy Utah snow began to fall in big fat flakes as we talked to this Tongan man and his son working on a car who told us with vauge direction to go see a house further down the street, as we stepped in that direction a car pulled up, we walked past at first for 10 seconds or so then we looked back to see a man walking up to the front door of a family that we've been trying to teach FOREVER. Sister Williams sr although she's short has a MIGHTY speed walk, as she walked toward him she called out with a cheery voice "Well Hello! We havent met you yet I don't think"..He turns with the same demeaner as a child being caught sneaking a cookie but engages in conversation.. We discover that its the DAD of the family, which we heard was anti against the Church of Jesus Christ WHAT?! With hands in pockets we stood in the snow with him talkinga bout connections to Canada, family relationships and the weather.. We asked about his son who isn't baptized to which he replied "He's not baptized? Text my wife and get something set up for that."
Long story long the spirit is genuinly a super power, I'm so grateful when I listen to those little thoughts and pronptings so we can be in the right place at the right time :)
Heres us after chatting with him :)
Long story long the spirit is genuinly a super power, I'm so grateful when I listen to those little thoughts and pronptings so we can be in the right place at the right time :)
Heres us after chatting with him :)
Taught the entirety of the Restoration to Kauge this week, Kauge is REALLY good friends with some members in the 5th ward called the Halls. Brother Hall is a Rockband, Hippe, Go with the flow, type guy.. If you talk with him longer than 3 minutes you're probably hear him say "Rock on" or "Throw down in the name of Jesus" or "Totally rad brother" or SOMETHING along thoses lines. Hes also an Elaborate cook and whenever we have lessons with Kauge hes SO excited to cook.. Can I please show you this text he sent? XD
Also heres some quotes from the dinner lesson:
Also heres some quotes from the dinner lesson:
"Spiritually saved but physically screwed"
"Help us just throwdown in the name of Jesus"
*Brother Hall saying the opening prayer*
"It's like if Santa Claus was on Crystal Meth"
*Brother Hall on him trying to grow a beard
Hes actually one of my favorite people and I will be back to visit his family.
Sat by a UBCR at a christmas party... I don't know why she isn't in the water
Had prez interviews this week and he sits down with me and within the first TEN seconds drops transfer news.. CRAY
He also was like "Hey, have you picked up missionaries from the MTC yet?" and I say "Prez, No. I have not." and he said "Well its about time you do!" Elation. I'm the luckiest duck for REAL
Victor got the priesthood this week.
When we walked out of church Sister Williams Senior did a lil jump and said "OH how I LOVE the sabbath!!"
I love her :)
WE GOT TRANSFER NEWS sunday night
Sat by a UBCR at a christmas party... I don't know why she isn't in the water
Had prez interviews this week and he sits down with me and within the first TEN seconds drops transfer news.. CRAY
He also was like "Hey, have you picked up missionaries from the MTC yet?" and I say "Prez, No. I have not." and he said "Well its about time you do!" Elation. I'm the luckiest duck for REAL
Victor got the priesthood this week.
When we walked out of church Sister Williams Senior did a lil jump and said "OH how I LOVE the sabbath!!"
I love her :)
WE GOT TRANSFER NEWS sunday night
Sister Williams and I are staying here, we LOST sister Williams Jr, but we're gaining a NEW trainee.
As Elder Cease would say
"Hype hype hype"
God is GREAT
2nd email coming
As Elder Cease would say
"Hype hype hype"
God is GREAT
2nd email coming
pray for me
-Sister Smith
From Dad - 'Tis the Season
It has been a little while since either of us wrote to you, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t thinking of you and that we don’t love you so much.
We are really excited to start our Christmas traditions and get togethers. Stephanie and Tyler, Margo and Bowie are traveling to be with us this Friday for five days and we are hoping for lots of snow and lots of wonderful time together.
Yesterday we enjoyed the opportunity to be at the Hinton branch Christmas party and are so pleased that over 50 people showed up. This is more than double what we had last year and we had many friends of the church come with other members and it is just wonderful to be able to celebrate the birth of Christ together. When we first walked in the first person I saw was Celeste Roberts. My heart almost burst with joy to see her. Celeste joined the church last year and has not been coming out to Church for a number of months. She hasn’t answered my texts and has been hard to get a hold of. In my thoughts and prayers I have been asking the Lord to soften her heart and help in whatever challenges she was facing. As I embraced her and we welcomed her, I couldn’t help but think of the scripture in D&C 18 that teaches how great our joy will be with even one soul that repents. I felt a small taste of that last night.
The house is fully decorated and your mom has outdone herself. We have more laurels than you can imagine all lit up and we hardly need to turn on the lights at night. I’m grateful for the Christmas season and all the fun and the joy it can bring.
Another favorite moment in the last week was going to see Amelia‘s semester play with her friends and classmates. She did so good playing multiple roles and even pulling off a cool Netherlands accent.
A few weeks ago we went and saw the second part of the wicked movie and thought of you as we enjoyed that together. We enjoyed having Megan and her sister join us.
She will always have a place in our family history, even though her and Ben have broken up again. We wish her all the best and Ben too, of course. The Lord has the best plans and the best contingency plans for all of our lives. I have a testimony of that.
Mom and I often sit and talk about each of your children and while we worry about each of your individual challenges, we rejoice in the beautiful, wonderful human beings you are becoming through the challenges and trials that you face and the hard things that you choose to do.
I have to say getting your itinerary in the mail this week was, while not surprising, a jolt of realization that you have served the Lord for most of your mission and have three more months to give all that you have. I know that you will and you are, and it is a joy to watch you grow and progress and learn. We’re so grateful for how much you share with us and it blesses our family more than you can possibly imagine.
Hope you're having a great week. Looks like you may be accepted at U of A. Log in tomorrow and check. May want to wait for the Grant Macewan reply before accepting, but check the dates. Life never stops being an adventure and many await you in the next few years. Your mission has been a wonderful preparation for the rest of your life and we can't wait to watch and live it with you.
Love Dad.
Comments
Post a Comment