Refresh - June 16, 2014

I can't put my feelings into words. Friday (to days prior to the baptismal date) we came to the realization that Sean is in no way ready for baptism. I was taken back to that old saying "you can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink." He's not showing the commitment level one should, we aren't seeing the fruits of repentance. It's a horrible feeling when you are prompted to cancel a baptism. We received permission to teach Sean, even though he is outside of our ward (story for another time), so we are sending him to those missionaries with hope that they might be able to help him commit. 

When you pray to understand the Will of the Father, sometimes you don't always get what you expect, but you have to follow it. We are dropping all of our investigators. They aren't progressing. It reminded me of a time in Hanover where we did the same thing. We dropped, then we found those who were truly ready. Out of faith we drop, and with faith we find. Onward Christian Soldiers!

If you want to know what's in my mind, continue reading:

I'm trying to be humble, but I know that I'm not. I realize that I could be leaving soon (2 weeks) and the new sister could be walking into an area that was just the way I came into it. I think that's one of the hardest things I'm facing in my mind is knowing I could leave this area like that. I have put everything into it while I've been here, and the Lord has used me as His tool, I know that. I have hope because I know the Lord woks by SMALL AND SIMPLE MEANS to accomplish His great and eternal purposes. I'm constantly reminding myself of page 10 in Preach My Gospel. By those standards, I know that I am doing the right thing. It's a process of repentance: you must fill your mind with positive, faith-filled thoughts to replace the self destructing ones. Satan knows that if I feel this way, Heavenly Father won't be able to work through me as well. In regards to being humble, it's just knowing that the Lord needed me here for different reasons than I planned on, and that is OK!

Anyways, carrying on!

We've been working with two less actives specifically: JoAnne, and Sister Oulette, BOTH are going to the temple this summer!! Sister Oulette shocked us! We were correlating with Bishop when he told us he had just met with Sister Oulette and that he was going to put her through the accelerated temple prep class to get her into the temple! JoAnne is planning on going in July! If I get transferred, hopefully it's not too far so I can GO WITH BOTH OF THEM THROUGH THE TEMPLE!!

"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done."

- C.S. Lewis

"Sincere praying implies that when we ask for any blessing or virtue we should work for the blessing and cultivate the virtue."

- David O. McKay

Those are two of the quotes we memorized this week, thought y'all would enjoy them!

It's green now:)

​Excerpt from my studies.

THE TRUTH... - June 9, 2014

I've been out for a year, that gives me six months left to have the authority to perceive the needs of every person around me, and to preach the Gospel by the Spirit as an authorized representative of the Savior. In one year I have recognized my true worth as Heavenly Father's DAUGHTER, and I know that this will only continue to grow. I see people differently, we are all family. I have taken in so much goodness, and am feeling that more than I ever have. Though I feel stressed, I am calm and peaceful because I know I am a servant to the Master in His vineyard and that He will use me to do His work. I can't go wrong when I am obedient and am doing the best I can do. From the inside of my soul I am filled with joy. The Spirit is with me. Regardless if anyone else feels the Spirit I feel, I am being guided by that power, and I will not change that.

I have never felt such a strong love for Joseph Smith as I did this week. We shared the first vision with just about EVERYONE we came in contact with. 

The opposition we received before and after the first vision was a testament to me that this is as real as something you can see. Nothing would happen while we would recite it, but before and after the CRAZIEST things would happen to break their attention, and to distract them from the Spirit: a strong leash on a small dog BREAKS, people would come outside with drugs and start yelling at us, they'd ask us to stop RIGHT BEFORE we would say the words "I saw a pillar of light," I could go on... It gave me chills every time. We would ask them to tell us what they saw as they looked at the picture in the Restoration pamphlet, then we'd expound, and testify of basic truths of the Gospel. 

THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS BE OPPOSED. 

THIS RESTORATION PAMPHLET WILL EXPLAIN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING

SMR is what they call the teaching method we've been taught - that's short for SEVEN MINUTE RESTORATION. We are blasting everyone with the Restoration pamphlets, and I've never seen so many open hearts and opposition. The trick is to follow the example used in 1 Nephi 11 when the Spirit is teaching Nephi. He says "LOOK!" then he establishes Nephi's understanding, expounds by explaining what he doesn't understand, then testifying. We start by asking people what they see when they look at the picture of Jesus holding the lamb. From that we already have their religious background and their relationship with Christ. We expound, testify, teach GOD IS OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER, then move to the next picture and do the SAME thing, testifying in basic statements of truth that families are eternal, and that the Gospel was created for the family, and that the Gospel indeed blesses families... We then get to the first vision and ask them what they see, it is amazing. I have given the first vision more this week than my whole mission combined. What comes out of our mouths is NOT our own voice, rather a voice of power, it is the voice of the Spirit. I have seen it in Sister Collins and feel it myself. It's humbling to know that we get to be their for the first time they hear about the Restoration. It's humbling to be a vessel of the Lord. What a sacred privilege it is to be a missionary. I never want it to end.

This is His work, because He is doing this, not me. As I type these words I feel the burning within my chest that He is closer than I could even imagine, and is more involved in this than I could realize at this moment. Now I see why the Nephites desired the Holy Ghost above all else, and that when Christ prayed, He thanked His Father that they now had that with them. It is truly amazing how the Spirit confirms to you, just as it does to your investigators/every one you see, that this is true. I am so grateful. The realization of the power of my call is coming to light, this is a sacred calling.

We have potentials that are ready, hopefully they'll progress in the Gospel. Another miracle, almost all of our potentials are FAMILIES! 

We are working with the Jeffords family tonight to help them share what they know.

Miracle story from this: LUCAS. We are at his front door and give the SMR lesson. We ask him if we could come back, he tells us that he just lost a family member and that he has a one year old son. Ether him, or his wife are working at any given moment. He wants us to come back. We are visiting him this week. 

We had dinner with the Stokers at the mission home last night. I love just being able to go over there and be with the Stokers. Also, I thought I was going to starve to DEATH and an invite to dinner was literally an answer to prayer. 

Something sad, we had 5-6 missionaries ether go home or were sent home in the past 10 days. Today they held an emergency transfer MEETING because of it. I think a lot of it is the opposition we are receiving with this new way of teaching. Satan knows how powerful it is. 

Interviews with the President were this past week. I had NOTHING to talk with President about, I was dry of ideas. I asked him how he studied the scriptures and we took that time to study together. This time reading through the Book of Mormon I want to find PRINCIPLES to apply to my life. President showed me how he did it and I've been doing it ever since. Part of me feels like I've been flooded with enough spiritual knowledge to understand the purpose behind everything. I cannot believe all the things I am learning! One scripture lead to another, and I tore it apart on paper and came to the conclusion of the most basic principles of our Gospel: OUR PURPOSE AS MISSIONARIES. It is what we teach, we teach people how to become all that God is using the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the recipe to become like Christ. 

On my year mark we went and held puppies at the pet store. I just needed to hold one.

Teaching Sean by the Merrimack River! Sean is progressing towards his date! He quit everything yesterday and is up for the challenge! We should have a baptism on June 22!





Helping Hands project at the Valley Cemetery





Sista Collins:)

June 2, 2014 PICTURES

20 scoops of Ben and Jerry's ice cream - THE VERMONSTER

Memorial - June 2, 2014

My heart is full. I feel like Nephi when he testifies to his brothers that the Lord is mightier than the earth, then why not mightier than the adversary? He gives us strength to go forward and DO his work! I believe the glass half full attitude Nephi had was due to a full heart, a heart of gratitude for recognizing the hand of the Lord. That carried him throughout his life; he successfully endured to the end. Also, Nephi had an open mind. If we have an optimistic outlook, then the Lord can use us as HIS tool. He cannot work through an already decided mind. If you decide that the person at the door you are knocking will not accept the Gospel, then sure enough they won't. Your faith begins in the small thoughts that run across your mind. It all starts in the mind, and the mind is SO powerful! If we focus on gratitude, and are seeing the hand of the Lord constantly, like Nephi, you fulfill your baptismal covenant (coupled with keeping the commandments) and you are PROMISED THE SPIRIT TO BE WITH YOU.

Interesting: the Hebrew translation of endure means to become anointed. Ponder it. It gives me goosebumps!

I'm always in AWE when I finish the Book of Mormon. Words cannot describe the feelings I had as I closed the book. I cannot describe how strong the spirit was. I want all of you to feel the way I did, and DO feel. My heart is full. Please, read. I am grounded in this Gospel and cannot move. 

Another thing about the Book of Mormon that I love is the dying testimonies of men who have ENDURED, and the things they write to their posterity (that they might know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins, and might I add, HOPE). Mormon to Moroni was about HOPE. Alma to his sons was about their purpose. Nephi to his posterity was about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the straight and narrow gait. I hope to be able to live like they do, continually PRESSING (exerting effort against an opposing force) forward, FEASTING upon the words of Christ.

When I say my heart is full, a funny thing happens, the depth of my heart extends to make space for more joy, more love, more faith, meekness, temperance, goodness... the fruits of the spirit. 

Last Monday we ended up getting 12 people up to the Joseph Smith Memorial:

From left to right: JoAnne, Sister Rufty, Brother Young, Sister Young, Sean, Gene (RC from the elders), US! Bottom row is the Estes family (a PMF we are teaching and seeing some miracles happen).

We had someone come and speak to our mission at the leadership meeting, and hearing what he said from others was amazing and has helped me to realize why our mission is the way it is: THIS IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE RESTORATION. JOSEPH SMITH'S ANCESTORS WERE HERE, AND MANY PEOPLE IN OUR MISSION ARE RELATED TO JOSEPH SMITH. Satan works HARD against these 7th generation New Englanders because they are related to him! They will come to know of the Gospel, and it is by us that they will know.

Sean, how I worry!! We'll see how everything goes this week... but he's gotta be keeping all the commandments with a repentant heart by this Sunday or we'll have to move his date, which he does NOT want to do. I will not baptize someone if they are not ready, I will NOT do that.

We wrote out 7 miracles we wanted to happen this week. For Kathy and Karen, our nonreligious neighbors, we asked if THEY COULD ASK US TO TEACH THEM. Our part was to keep every other day contact with them. Sure enough, Kathy comes down and tells us all about this book she is reading about some crazy pack between Lincoln and Joseph Smith. The author was well researched, she knew all the "mormon" terms! She had great questions! She asked that when she was done if we could come over and answer them! The Lord is workin' beside us, as He always has.

Another miracle we've been working for is with the Jefford family - that they would have a significant missionary experience. They're the only family in our boundaries that is active, so you bet we've been working with them! We've taught two FHE and played a ton of missionary games, real played, and studied PMG. Sunday Sister Jeffords came up to us and told us that they have found a FAMILY FOR US TO TEACH!!! Our commitment to them was just to invite someone over to their house for dinner within a month, with or without us. Sure enough, they kept their commitment and the Lord placed a family in their paths! They're going to have them over for dinner then have us over. Hopefully it goes well, if not, you probably won't be hearing about it ha!

Gigi's lesson was sweet this week... We were bold. I asked her (after teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and her saying that she'd already been baptized....) if she was 100% THAT HER BAPTISM WAS VALID. She hesitated and said no, then she caught herself and tried to save what she had already said. She is not going to get on her knees and PRAY to know if the Book of Mormon is true (which she already says is, what's holding her from baptism? We'll find out...) and then to be baptized. Hopefully a miracle will happen there, I'm expecting one. 

Side note, I am lost without weekly planning. We haven't had time to really plan this week and I feel like I am running around with my head chopped off. No more of this. 

DO IT UNTIL IT'S DONE. WORK UNTIL YOU CAN'T WALK. RUN RUN RUN!!!

We saw the baptism of a family this week. So sacred. So wonderful. They had me give one of the talks and I couldn't contain the Spirit I felt. It was carrying me like never before!

YOUSHOULDR​EALLYREADT​HEBOOKOFMO​RMON - May 19, 2014

I am exhausted. I don't know how I keep moving with the energy I do. I have excitement and passion, still. It's the Lord. Truly, He is the one keeping me going..

Faith is the moving cause of all action. I learned about desire. We can say, "I wish I could play the piano like you." But do we really? Do we really have faith that miracles can happen on missions? If you really wished to play the piano you'd learn it. You would practice, and lead up to your goals.

What happens when we combine with the powers of heaven to accomplish our goals? How do we do this?

Reflecting upon the scripture in D&C 4 to serve the Lord with ALL your heart, might, mind, and strength, I wondered why He said each of those, and nothing more, or less.

I left my notes at home so bear with me! ... I don't feel like it's coming together. This is just a lesson to me that I have to internalize things before I try to write about them, or teach them to someone. Ha!

We had Elder Perkins of the Seventy come and speak to us at stake conference. He pulled an amazing scripture on us, a revelation for our day! Moses 7:62. He tore it apart. He chastised the members with so much love, I was amazed. He told them "the brethren say that the members JUST AREN'T GETTING IT!" He went OFF about how this is the hastening of the work, so lefts hasten. Don't just "come and see, come and BE."

We were in need of a few miracles this week. We fasted for Patty to have real intent while reading the Book of Mormon. We took Sister Stoker with us and had an absolutely POWERFUL lesson. She is changed. What used to be taking the lessons because of her ignorance, became a real desire to know for herself what truth is. She opened up about how she thinks her religion has been corrupt for the past 60 years, and that people believe in what Holland calls, "a comfortable Jesus." She believe there is ONE way, in an absolute truth. ONE LORD, ONE BAPTISM. She was totally denouncing her religion by the end of that, which was neat because she saw truth in the Book of Mormon. She was teary when we read through 3 Nephi. HOW can you deny the Spirit that is in that book!? YOU CANNOT. When we use the Book of Mormon how it is meant to be used, with power, the Lord WILL NOT fail us. He does not forsake us when we throw everything on the line (even when it seems like we have been forsaken). There is purpose behind what we do, and how we use the Book of Mormon.

My testimony of the Book of Mormon is so set there is not a word to describe its permanence. IT IS TRUE AND I CANNOT DENY THAT. When others feel that, they can't either. It has power and power is what I have seen this week. I have seen power from heaven, poured upon those we come in contact with. Whether you consider Patty's intents changing a miracle or not, a mighty miracle has taken place. She IS ASKING GOD. She HAS been prepared. There are events that she told us that lead up to us teaching her. This is not the end of Patty's journey through the Restoration. She is taking a class through her church to become a better missionary, she asked us HOW WE DO IT. How we can do this at such a young age and do it well! The only answer is the Spirit. We cited our authority. There is no other way the Gospel could move forward without the help of God. We do not do this alone. The work goes forth as A STONE CUT WITHOUT HANDS, meaning that the Lord is able to do His own work. She's going into her class with questions and is asking the Lord for help. She is connecting with Him through prayer, and I have no doubt that the Lord will continue to work on her. She agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it, with real intent. Moroni's given us the promise, we just have to do it!

A few weeks back, Elder Sowby and Elder Warned were dropped by a lady who was ready to be baptized, so prepared for the Gospel. She received a lot of anti and felt like she'd been blind-sighted due to the history of the church. We walked over there yesterday and talked to her. Praying that she'd even let us in. Oh she let us in, and the Lord answered our pleading prayers as the Spirit spoke through us and penetrated her heart. A miracle happened. She told us to tell the elders to call her today. This is what happens when the powers of heaven guide you! We walked over to the elders apartment to tell them what had just happened and to call her and set up an appointment. Their faces were the best part of my week. Gratitude from the insides of their SOUL came flooding through them. They love the people they teach, and you could tell just by their reaction. Great moment. When they were in a trio, the lady called them her "three wise men." TOO CUTE.

Sean is doing great. He actually expressed something that came to his mind during stake conference that was an answer to our prayers! He is looking into a different job. We'll see how far this goes, I REALLY HOPE it goes through. He's praying more. He's reading so much he sounds like he's been a member of the church for a little while! He has owned gospel vocabulary. I love when that happens.

Stake conference was one of the greatest moments, I got to meet up with all the members from Hanover and THAT WAS SUCH A BLESSING. To see them and feel their love was priceless. My heart is so full.

To all of you, if you do not read from the Book of Mormon daily you are MISSING OUT ON GODLY KNOWLEDGE. If you want to be as He is, it would be wise to start reading from it's pages daily. Helaman 15:7 When you read the scriptures you are lead to faith and repentance. If you are stuck where you are, read, you will progress. I promise.

Keep smiling!

Love,
Sister Morgan

Lunch with Sister Stoker, Skidmore, and Pettingill

Seeing Ab and Megan again... Almost in tears. How I love these two! Crazy that Ab has already done a year of college and is heading out on a mission... I got to Hanvoer when she graduated high school. Freaks me out!

We fixed my hair... TERRIFYING.

RUN RUN RUN - May 12, 2014

A mission is such a short time, with immense amount of growth occurring in the lives of each missionary. I only hope to progress like this the rest of my life. I know that when we serve with a willing heart, our souls are enlarged. Our hearts open to feel more. I have seen Satan work - his tactic is to stop the person from feeling. Feeling love, hope, and peace are all gifts that come from God. They call them the "fruits of the Spirit." When we serve the Lord, the gateway to these feelings opens. I believe that's why God knows everything, because He feels everything. He knows joy, because He knows pain and bitterness. I believe the hardest and most painful experiences our Father in Heaven had were the rebellion prior to the existence of earth, and when He allowed justice to suffer upon Christ. He knows the joy that comes when we overcome the world. How neat that He has given every soul a set of commandments, and a Gospel, that insures happiness eternally. A wise man once said, "blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." To become like the Savior, which we are commanded to do, we must exert mercy. The beatitudes are characteristics of celestial beings. They are our potential. I am grateful for a path home. I am grateful that the dark, heavy veil is becoming sheer. The brother of Jared saw Christ because of his faith, I wonder if we had faith like that if we'd be able to see all that the Lord is doing here on earth. When the veil is removed from our eyes, we will be shocked to see how the hand of the Lord was working in every part of our lives.

I learned interesting doctrine this morning while reading Ether 2 and 3. If you notice, the Lord answers the first question the BOJ (Brother of Jared) asked about the air in the barges, then the Lord answers him. He then asks what the Lord would have him do about the light in the barges. The Lord responds with a question. I give it as my opinion that the BOJ was prompted to refer to the scriptures. In Genesis 6:16, footnote a, we have the answer. The Lord didn't give him an answer because He had already answered the question when Noah was building the ark. If we ask the lord a question, and get more questions as a result, we should then turn to the scriptures with that question. That is a pattern in the scriptures. Joseph Smith used that same pattern! How interconnected prayer and scriptures are! 

Another interesting thing is how did Christ show the BOJ His finger if this was prior to His birth? In Either 3:6 it says "LIKE unto flesh and blood." Our Spirits look like our bodies. 

Also notice, the light Christ's touch brings to the stones. Whatever Jesus lays His hands upon LIVES. Becomes LIGHT. Truly He is the LIGHT of the world!

Back to missionary work... GOOD WEEK.

I can't remember if I told y'all about that time we prayed for a miracle to happen at Patty's lesson, then he landscaper was outside. Well, we got talking with him... gave him our number. He gave us his, with hesitance. We called him this last week... while talking on the phone I wondered how we would invite ourselves over to give him a lesson. As soon as I prayed for guidance, Sean said, "I talked to my wife about you two. We're open to this whole Mormon thing. We were wondering when you could come over so we could learn more."

MY JAW DROPPED. I flipped open my planner and we made an appointment for this Tuesday at 4. Hoping for the best. Wondering if he is the reason why were are teaching Patty! Only sad part is, he isn't in our area.... BUT WE GOT PERMISSION TO TEACH HIM.

The assistant's potential investigator wanted us to teach her. So now we are! Her name is Leah!!! We were at the store and she told us she wants us to come teach her... AWESOME.

We were contacting a less active and a man named Jose answered the door. We asked him a lot of questions about his relationship with God. We have a return appointment and hope to see him tonight. 

NO BIGGIE. SEAN IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON JUNE 22, 2014. Mark it on your calenders. We showed him all we had to teach him still, and agreed to meet three times a week to prepare him for baptism. We've got a lot to do!

So things are picking up a LOT! Our schedules are packed this week with service and appointments. Crazy, because we've been drowning trying to find people to teach!

Sister Collins are I are tight like a good pair of jeans. I adore her. She is growing so much. it's so fun to be on this side, to see her confidence grow as I sort-of force her to taking the lead in things! She has risen to the call and is RUNNING! WHOOHOO!!!

JoAnne is doing GREAT in temple prep. I get jittery every time I think that we'll be able to take her through the Boston temple!!

Tryin'a think what else happened this week... So much happens it's hard to write it down, then when I get to the computer my mind erases the memories!

MOTHER'S DAY. Yes. That was yesterday. We walked to Skype in the burning sun (not excited for summer, can we just stay in spring or fall??), then went to dinner with Ruth and the Keplinger's and gave Ruth some new member lessons! 

We taught Ruth about MIRACLES the other week, and how to expect them. We gave her a little Target journal ($1, I LOVE HAVING A TARGET IN MY AREA) and told her to write down things she is grateful for before she goes to bed. I adore that woman!

A little note about miracles: they are a form of WORK. Just like faith is work, prayer is work, and miracles are definitely WORK. Do we ever stop working...? That term "I'll sleep when I'm dead" is false. We will always be laboring. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED LABORING IN THE VINEYARD. IT IS LABOR - EXHAUSTING, SWEATY, HARD LABOR. "Run! Run! Run!" as mom always says!

I got a heinous haircut this morning and kinda look like I have a mullet... 

Aight. I think that's it... Love y'all! WRITE ME PLEASE! 

This happened today!

Robots - May 5, 2014

THOUGHTS:

Some weeks I just can't help but turn heavenward and ask God why there are so many wicked people in Manchester.

I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Whatever questions I come up with and try to muscle through, I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ simply because of the Book of Mormon.

Make it a goal to remove yourself from conversation, action, and even thought, and you will learn how to REALLY serve.

This isn't about me at all.

If you want specific answers to your prayers, you need to be specific. 

We are moving apartments, hopefully. Sister Collins and I CANNOT take the abuse next door. Sunday we walked over to one of the members to study, for the first time in months I could hear myself think. Just goes to show that the Spirit can work through you, not always your environment. A home must be a "safe haven from the world."

On a more positive note: MARIA AND KAITANA ARE GETTING BAPTIZED IN HANOVER. If any of you remember Maria, she was the cute Irish woman, DEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP Catholic upbringing. I've never met anyone who has showed her love for people more than Maria. I am so happy for her. So happy that Sister Turley gets to see people being baptized!!

Speaking of baptism...... SEAN HAS AGREED TO BE BAPTIZED. SEAN. We have permission from President Stoker to go through with it, he doesn't have to quit his job. We drew a triangle with us, him and Heavenly Father on each of the points. We circled the connection between Him and God and told him that this is what everything is all about - building the connection between him and his Father in Heaven. We're still working on a specific date, but we are SO EXCITED.

Hopefully this week we'll have time to get around to the potential pool we've gathered. We may have some exciting news next week!!

Study revelation:

I've read Alma 7:13 probably around 500 times. NEVER BEFORE had I caught the doctrine in the beginning of the chapter! The SPIRIT could have told Christ all that we go through, but He experienced it IN THE FLESH. It's the difference between knowing what a person is experiencing during a heart attack and knowing the symptoms verses actually having the heart attack. It is necessary for Him to have experienced what He did, if not justice would have a hold on all of us. My mind wrapped around the Atonement in a different way.