Once again missionary work has been CRAZY busy and we have been working as hard as we can. The weather here the other day was so beautiful and sunny that the snow melted and no coat required... but that was just for a day or two and then the other night it snowed again. So, the coats came back out of the closet! I am surprised at how often people tell us it's cold out without letting us in, Ha ha! No worries though, I'm sure missionaries don't get as cold as normal people. :) We have one of the greatest wards EVER! They are like family to me and to those around them and I am seeing that more and more! People out here are so busy and they still seem to make time for us!
This is my challenge the week is that those of you out there make time for what is truly important to you. To make time for the people that you love and care about. The might not always be around and often times we don't realize how precious time is. I keep reading in the scriptures about how parents take time to teach their children. (Best exemplified by the 2,000 Stripling warriors...."they doubted not for their mothers knew it") And how husbands and wives love each other and talk with one another even through the hard times. (Adam and Eve, Lehi and Sariah. Zacharias and Elisabeth.....) Look at our modern day leaders. A very powerful couple that comes to mind is Elder Holland and his dear wife Patricia. Their is a great article in the March 2011 Ensign by them about Relief Society. What a great example of how a couple focuses and teaches together.
I have found one of the reasons why the Lord has commanded that we gather together at Church and why it is a commandment. Going to Church together as a family and learning about the church and discussing it through the week truly makes our families more loving and closer together. Along with that is that we are able to uplift other families and individuals that are in need. It is not about the building or the structure.... it is about the people. As we gather together and talk of Jesus Christ and pray together and fast together we are strengthened both spiritually and temporally. "I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.” (Mosiah 4:26.) I cannot tell you how the wards I have been in in the past and how the ward that I am in now have become my family and have strengthened me through hard times. I love them and I know that they love me. Because of the love that I feel at church, I have been able to realize that God loves me and that He is very mindful of my needs. I want to relate a true story I recently heard (first hand) about someone that I care about very much. (Now keep in mind this is not word for word and I hope they don't mind that I share it.)
A young woman and her family were struggling financially to make it. she was the breadwinner of the household and she just could not figure out how she was going to make ends meet. She prayed and did all that she could, but still... there was not enough money. Well, this woman and her family went to church and the Bishop called her into his office. Worried that she might be asked to take on another calling she was nervous.... she couldn't figure out how she would have time for more. She was already too stressed. The Bishop told her "I've had a strong impression that I should call you in and ask how the ward can help you." The woman said "Oh I'll be fine." The Bishop again asked, " How can we help, we would really like to." The woman thought... I need about $200.00, but that is too much to ask. So she replied, "Just pray for me." The Bishop paused for a moment and pondered. After a while he said, "Ok..... but would it be okay if I give you $200.00 as well, just to help out?" The woman began to cry and realized that her Heavenly Father really does hear and answer prayers, and that he had used a very inspired Bishop as an instrument to answer her prayers and to help her through.
Joseph F. Smith said: “Charity, or love, is the greatest principle in existence. If we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed, if we can aid those who are despondent and in sorrow, if we can uplift and ameliorate the condition of mankind, it is our mission to do it, it is an essential part of our religion to do it” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1917, 4). When we feel love for God’s children, we are given opportunities to help them in their journey back to His presence.
I know that part of the reason I want to do what I should is so that I can help the Lord to answer prayers.
I want all of you to know that I love and and I pray for you daily. You are wonderful people and have helped me so much to be the person I am today. I hope you are all doing good and truly know that I love you.
God be with you till we meet again,
Love,
Sister Gordon
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Joy!
Oh my goodness! Time flies so quickly here! I am almost at the end of my 2nd transfer. Wow! I still feel like I just got here a few days ago. I am loving this area especially as it has been getting warmer. (No coat today) Sorry for all of you stuck in the freezing cold... but rest assured Utah does truly have the best snow on earth! The snow here is heavy and wet and icy. :) I have loved getting mail and things from all of you! You have no idea how much it brightens my day and brings joy to my heart. I love all of you my family and friends. I apologize that the last few weeks have been so crazy! I haven't had a chance to write out hand written letters. I will do that as soon as I can. (probably not today because we have appointments this afternoon.) You are all so wonderful and I miss you tons! But the work out here is good and I can truly see that there is happiness entering many lives! It is such a joy to see the happiness this gospel brings when it is understood.
Many people think that church is a way to tell them how to live. I like to think of it more as a way that God has to show us what he wants for us. When we follow God's commandments and the doctrines that Christ taught we are able to experience more joy. (2 Nephi 2:25) I love this scripture because it says that Adam fell that men MIGHT be and men are, that they MIGHT have joy. When Adam partook of the fruit he chose to stay with Eve that they could multiply and replenish the earth.. So that they could have a family and that their children could have children. And so each of us is born. We are, that we MIGHT have joy. Joy is not just a temporary happiness or a moment of fun. Joy is something that is lasting... that survives hard times and difficulties. Joy is the peace we experience knowing that Christ is always there for us no matter what. That He has experienced what we have experienced and that we can lean on him for support. Joy comes not from what the world can offer but only from what God can offer. However, We know that we must experience bad to understand the good. ( 2 Nephi 2;11 "For it must needs be, that there is an aopposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.") We are here for an experience that will help us to grow and to become more than we are at this moment. And sometimes growing hurts.... a lot. But if we are truly trying to be like the Savior we must expect to experience our own Gethsemane at times. How could we be like the Savior if we didn't? In a talk by Hugh B. Brown January 1973 (New Era pg. 14) he says "I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and went after it, and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it, and smiled, and said, “What are you crying about?” You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this: “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me, because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’ ” God knows what is good for us and what we need to be able to grow and become strengthened... and better than what we could be on our own. He loves us and He wants us to be amazing. :) And I want you to know that all of you are. You are amazing and wonderful people. I have so many memories of the amazing people that I have been able to call Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, and Friend. I love you all so much and want you to know that you are some of the greatest people on Earth and that I feel very priviledged to know you. Keep living the wonderful lives that you do!
I would like to end with a favorite quote of mine from Jeffrey R. Holland from the last general conference. "My thanks to all you wonderful members of the Church.... for proving every day of you life that the pure love of Christ never faileth." He ends his talk as I would like to end my letter. "seeing your example, I pledge anew my determination to be better, to be more faithful-more kind and devoted, more charitable and true as our Father in Heaven is and as so many of you already are."
I love you all very very much.
God be with you till we meet again.
Love,
Sister Gordon
Many people think that church is a way to tell them how to live. I like to think of it more as a way that God has to show us what he wants for us. When we follow God's commandments and the doctrines that Christ taught we are able to experience more joy. (2 Nephi 2:25) I love this scripture because it says that Adam fell that men MIGHT be and men are, that they MIGHT have joy. When Adam partook of the fruit he chose to stay with Eve that they could multiply and replenish the earth.. So that they could have a family and that their children could have children. And so each of us is born. We are, that we MIGHT have joy. Joy is not just a temporary happiness or a moment of fun. Joy is something that is lasting... that survives hard times and difficulties. Joy is the peace we experience knowing that Christ is always there for us no matter what. That He has experienced what we have experienced and that we can lean on him for support. Joy comes not from what the world can offer but only from what God can offer. However, We know that we must experience bad to understand the good. ( 2 Nephi 2;11 "For it must needs be, that there is an aopposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.") We are here for an experience that will help us to grow and to become more than we are at this moment. And sometimes growing hurts.... a lot. But if we are truly trying to be like the Savior we must expect to experience our own Gethsemane at times. How could we be like the Savior if we didn't? In a talk by Hugh B. Brown January 1973 (New Era pg. 14) he says "I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and went after it, and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it, and smiled, and said, “What are you crying about?” You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this: “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me, because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’ ” God knows what is good for us and what we need to be able to grow and become strengthened... and better than what we could be on our own. He loves us and He wants us to be amazing. :) And I want you to know that all of you are. You are amazing and wonderful people. I have so many memories of the amazing people that I have been able to call Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, and Friend. I love you all so much and want you to know that you are some of the greatest people on Earth and that I feel very priviledged to know you. Keep living the wonderful lives that you do!
I would like to end with a favorite quote of mine from Jeffrey R. Holland from the last general conference. "My thanks to all you wonderful members of the Church.... for proving every day of you life that the pure love of Christ never faileth." He ends his talk as I would like to end my letter. "seeing your example, I pledge anew my determination to be better, to be more faithful-more kind and devoted, more charitable and true as our Father in Heaven is and as so many of you already are."
I love you all very very much.
God be with you till we meet again.
Love,
Sister Gordon
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Gratitude
In the Sunday morning session of October General Conference 2010, President Thomas S. Monson said, "Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
So I wanted to express my gratitude to all of you. Those that I love and especially those that are willing to take the time to look at this blog. I want to tell you all thank you for being there for me through both good times and bad; for short times and long. Thank you for being there to cry with me and to console me. And even better than that thank you for being there to make me smile and laugh! Thank you for being dear to me. Thank you for letting me be dear to you. I know, I know, this is like a super bad Hallmark Card, but I do truly appreciate you. I love you and I am so grateful that you could be a part of my life. I know that I would not be the person I am today without each of you. My dear family and friends... I love you with all of my heart!
And I know that the Savior loves you as well. Because I know this I would like to share my testimony that He does live and He loves each one of us dearly and individually. He suffered for each of us and He saw each of our faces. He knows what you go through each day and He wants to be there to help, even when nobody else can be there. Let Him help you with each day of your life. He loves you.
" He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved."({President Thomas S. Monson, October General Conference 2010.) Of this I also testify, I love you all and am so grateful for your lives and the blessing you are in mine.
God be with you till we meet again!
Love,
Sister Gordon
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Friends in D.C.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Talents
I am so excited for a VDay package! Wow! I am so blessed. Oh MY! So there is a cupcake place here! It is called Georgetown Cupcakes! Look at their website! They are so yummy! (Nikki loves gourmet cupcakes) One of our members bought us a cupcake for dessert! DELICIOUS!
Well, this will be another short week because I only have about 10 minutes. I love this work so much! I have found that I have a knack for making people feel at ease. I realize that God gives us each gifts that we are meant to share with others. (Doctrine and Covenants 46:8-9. ......seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given. For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; .......) How important it is to share our gifts! Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and Glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:16) I have realized that we live in a wonderful world full of wonderful people with wonderful things to share. And at the same time we often miss it for a few reasons. One we fail to recognize that this Earth was made for us to inhabit and that God has provided a place that provides for our needs even if it doesn't always provide for our wants. Everyday I used to look at the sky and realize that it was so beautiful --- even if it was stormy the sky was exquisite. This is one small and simple way that it has been testified to me that God does love me and that He has created something like the beauty of the sky to remind me of that. (All things denote there is a God.) Two we fail to recognize that we are ALL children of God. He loves each and everyone of us. This makes us all brothers and sisters. So each day we should be recognizing that each of the people we meet is of value and we should treat them as such. (The worth of souls is great!) And Three we fail to recognize that we have sharable talents. This is the saddest of all. There is a quote by either Marrianne Williamson or Nelson Mandela or both that says, "Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, It is that we are powerful beyond measure.... (please find the rest of this quote for me)" How true this statement is. We should not shrink from the abilities that we have. We should share them. If we, as a people, would share our abilities with those that surround us always doing good our world would become a better place and a happier place --- We would allow others to be their greatest selves, to rise above what is expected by man and to reach the potential that God has given each of us to be powerful beyond measure. I know that God wants this for each of us and as brothers and sisters we should want this for each other. We should reach out a helping hand with the talents that we have and lift those that we meet and we should allow them to do the same for us.
I love the thought that we could live in a world where we can use our talents for the benefits of others. I love the thought that we could encourage others to do the same. I love the thought that as we do so we could live in a society free of comparing. When we compare ourselves with others nobody wins. So I challenge each of you to look for the good that you can do and to look for the best in yourself and then to look for the best in others. Make a list of your good qualities and the talents you can share and then express them. As you do this I know that your life will take a positive spin. You can see the good around you and develop an attitude of gratitude. I also know that as you do this you will allow others to do the same. Let us all encourage one another to be happier with ourselves and those around us. In a conference talk October 2003 Sister Bonnie Parkin says,
We also lose sight of that good part when we compare ourselves to others. Her hair is cuter, my legs are fatter, her children are more talented, or her garden's more productive—sisters, you know the drill. We just can't do that. We cannot allow ourselves to feel inadequate by focusing on who we aren't instead of on who we are! We are all sisters in Relief Society. We simply cannot criticize, gossip, or judge and keep the pure love of Christ.) This is a great article worth looking up and reading.
We also lose sight of that good part when we compare ourselves to others. Her hair is cuter, my legs are fatter, her children are more talented, or her garden's more productive—sisters, you know the drill. We just can't do that. We cannot allow ourselves to feel inadequate by focusing on who we aren't instead of on who we are! We are all sisters in Relief Society. We simply cannot criticize, gossip, or judge and keep the pure love of Christ.) This is a great article worth looking up and reading.
I love you all very much and pray for you daily.
God be with you till we meet again.
Love,
Sister Gordon
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