Lexie's letter
Happy Easter!
How often do we thank our Heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Ghost? It is a wonderful blessing we have to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Do we fully comprehend how much the spirit takes part in our lives? I'm positive that the spirit is always speaking to us. The still small voice isn't exactly always something we can hear, but it is something that we feel inside our hearts and our minds. The spirit will tell us all things we must do, but we need to be still and listen.
On Tuesday, I went on exchanges with Sister Jackson. YAY. It was kinda crazy being companions with her for the day because I just kept thinking back to when we were in the MTC together. Now it has almost been a year since then! That morning, we felt the prompting to go visit Marie, a less-active member in our ward. When we stopped by her house later that day, her dad answered and said that she was out of town. Then I asked if Brittany was there, and he told us to knock on her door around back. When she opened the door, her eyes were red and she didn't seem very happy. "I'm doing taxes," she said. We proceeded to ask her if she was okay, knowing that she wasn't. Brittany let us and talked to us about all the things that she is struggling with right now: school, taxes, boyfriend, moving to Utah, and problems with her best friend. She talked and talked, and poured out her feelings. We listened. "I know what you'e going to tell me but I've already been doing it and it's not working. I've been praying constantly, reading my scriptures, and going to church. I'm still stressed out and sad," she cried to us. We were then able to testify of the Savior's love and read from Mosiah 24...
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.
She choked on her tears as she read these verses. We told her that it was all going to be okay if she put her trust in the Lord. It is so so important that we listen to promptings of the still small voice. When we listen, the spirit will tell us where we need to go, what to do, and what to say. Not only is it important to listen to the spirit but it is also important to listen to the people in our lives. I have learned this principle on my mission while teaching many different people. If we don't listen, how will we know what to say or how to help them? If we don't listen, then how will the people trust us or know that we care?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “More important than speaking is listening. These people are not lifeless objects... They are children of God, our brothers and sisters, and they need what we have. Be genuine. Reach out sincerely. Ask these friends what matters most to them. What do they cherish, and what do they hold dear? And then listen. If the setting is right, you might ask what their fears are, what they yearn for, or what they feel is missing in their lives. I promise you that something in what they say will always highlight a truth of the gospel about which you can bear testimony and about which you can then offer more. … If we listen with love, we won’t need to wonder what to say. It will be given to us—by the Spirit and by our friends” (PMG).
On Easter evening, Sister Duering and I felt prompted to go visit our former investigator Rebecca (the so called atheist). Driving past her house, we saw her sitting in a chair under the porch light. We squealed for joy (because we haven't seen her in about 6 weeks), and scurried to find a parking spot. We talked to a few people while walking back to her house and found that she wasn't sitting at the porch anymore. And there was a car pulling out of her driveway. We decided to knock on the door anyway and thankfully there she was! She gives the best hugs. We came in and she told us about her fun trip to Costa Rica. She showed us pictures of the beautiful rain forest and she said she even saw elders there, "but they looked a little out of place." After catching up for awhile, we showed her the Prince of Peace video. She loved it and told us that her favorite line was "He can turn heartache into hope." Becca even said that she would love to come to Jennifer's baptism on May 6th! We are so excited. I know that Becca will be ready for the gospel some day. She is an amazing light to both of us. We love her so much.
I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves you. No matter how hard things may seem, you can do all thing through Christ! Sister Duering keeps singing this one song that says,"Your life isn't falling apart, it is falling into place." I love that! We have trials in our life for a reason! Whenever I am going through a hard time, I can always turn to D&C 122. The Savior's words to Joseph Smith and to all of us..."if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son (or daughter), that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.The Son of Man hath descended below them all."
LOVE YOU.
1. Jersey Mikes is sooo good.
2. Yup. We took a trip to Valley Center (the boonies).
3. r.i.p. RJ
😞
4. WE LOVE REBECCA! we missed her so much.
♥ Sister Alexis Skabelund
451 W Bobier Dr
Vista CA 92083-1906
United States
Happy Easter!
How often do we thank our Heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Ghost? It is a wonderful blessing we have to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Do we fully comprehend how much the spirit takes part in our lives? I'm positive that the spirit is always speaking to us. The still small voice isn't exactly always something we can hear, but it is something that we feel inside our hearts and our minds. The spirit will tell us all things we must do, but we need to be still and listen.
On Tuesday, I went on exchanges with Sister Jackson. YAY. It was kinda crazy being companions with her for the day because I just kept thinking back to when we were in the MTC together. Now it has almost been a year since then! That morning, we felt the prompting to go visit Marie, a less-active member in our ward. When we stopped by her house later that day, her dad answered and said that she was out of town. Then I asked if Brittany was there, and he told us to knock on her door around back. When she opened the door, her eyes were red and she didn't seem very happy. "I'm doing taxes," she said. We proceeded to ask her if she was okay, knowing that she wasn't. Brittany let us and talked to us about all the things that she is struggling with right now: school, taxes, boyfriend, moving to Utah, and problems with her best friend. She talked and talked, and poured out her feelings. We listened. "I know what you'e going to tell me but I've already been doing it and it's not working. I've been praying constantly, reading my scriptures, and going to church. I'm still stressed out and sad," she cried to us. We were then able to testify of the Savior's love and read from Mosiah 24...
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.
She choked on her tears as she read these verses. We told her that it was all going to be okay if she put her trust in the Lord. It is so so important that we listen to promptings of the still small voice. When we listen, the spirit will tell us where we need to go, what to do, and what to say. Not only is it important to listen to the spirit but it is also important to listen to the people in our lives. I have learned this principle on my mission while teaching many different people. If we don't listen, how will we know what to say or how to help them? If we don't listen, then how will the people trust us or know that we care?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “More important than speaking is listening. These people are not lifeless objects... They are children of God, our brothers and sisters, and they need what we have. Be genuine. Reach out sincerely. Ask these friends what matters most to them. What do they cherish, and what do they hold dear? And then listen. If the setting is right, you might ask what their fears are, what they yearn for, or what they feel is missing in their lives. I promise you that something in what they say will always highlight a truth of the gospel about which you can bear testimony and about which you can then offer more. … If we listen with love, we won’t need to wonder what to say. It will be given to us—by the Spirit and by our friends” (PMG).
On Easter evening, Sister Duering and I felt prompted to go visit our former investigator Rebecca (the so called atheist). Driving past her house, we saw her sitting in a chair under the porch light. We squealed for joy (because we haven't seen her in about 6 weeks), and scurried to find a parking spot. We talked to a few people while walking back to her house and found that she wasn't sitting at the porch anymore. And there was a car pulling out of her driveway. We decided to knock on the door anyway and thankfully there she was! She gives the best hugs. We came in and she told us about her fun trip to Costa Rica. She showed us pictures of the beautiful rain forest and she said she even saw elders there, "but they looked a little out of place." After catching up for awhile, we showed her the Prince of Peace video. She loved it and told us that her favorite line was "He can turn heartache into hope." Becca even said that she would love to come to Jennifer's baptism on May 6th! We are so excited. I know that Becca will be ready for the gospel some day. She is an amazing light to both of us. We love her so much.
I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves you. No matter how hard things may seem, you can do all thing through Christ! Sister Duering keeps singing this one song that says,"Your life isn't falling apart, it is falling into place." I love that! We have trials in our life for a reason! Whenever I am going through a hard time, I can always turn to D&C 122. The Savior's words to Joseph Smith and to all of us..."if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son (or daughter), that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.The Son of Man hath descended below them all."
LOVE YOU.
1. Jersey Mikes is sooo good.
2. Yup. We took a trip to Valley Center (the boonies).
3. r.i.p. RJ
😞4. WE LOVE REBECCA! we missed her so much.
♥ Sister Alexis Skabelund451 W Bobier Dr
Vista CA 92083-1906
United States
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