Hi Dad!
Good to hear you are still teaching Sunday
school. Those Bible videos are amazing! One day I just want to have a
Bible video marathon. Sister Mangelson and I were saying this week that
we want the Church to make Book of Mormon videos with the same actor for
Jesus from the Bible videos. I'm reading Jesus the Christ right now and
I am always blown away by how much I don't know about the Savior's
life. Sister Mangelson and I have been talking about how important it is
that we know the Savior so that we can represent Him.
Each
day we recite Our Commission: "I am called of God. My authority is above
that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a
personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master, and
He has chosen me to represent Him, to stand in His place, to say and do
what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to
the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice. My acts
are His acts. My doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what
He wants done, to say what He wants said, to be a living, modern witness
in word and in deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous
latter-day work. How great is my calling!" It's so important that I take
that to heart.
There was an incredible worldwide devotional
last night for young adults. Everyone should watch it! The message was
the culmination of so many thoughts and ideas and conversations that I
have had over the past transfer or so. Brother Ridd spoke on real intent
and living life with purpose. David, especially, should watch it. How
is he doing by the way? Is the Altima still kicking?
This week
we prayed to know where we should go after providing service at a local
thrift store. The thought came to go to a neighboring town and I
started driving, still not really sure where we should go specifically.
As I drove I felt to turn down the main road, thinking this would be our
destination but then kept driving. I turned down another street that I
felt good about and then told the Lord, "Okay, now I need a place to
park." We kept driving and the houses became more spaced out. I spotted a
car and felt I should park behind it. We got out and knocked on the
door, to meet a woman who just rented the house that day and was only
there for a short amount of time to get the heat turned on. She said she
would be interested in listening to our message as she is going through
some big life changes right now, but didn't have time then. We offered
to shovel her porch and driveway. She left while we were still shoveling
and as we continued, I knew that the Lord had directed us to her home. I
don't know much about that woman, but I know that God is aware of her. I
hope that the small act of service we provided her lightened her load.
As
Sister Mangelson and I talked about that experience later, we both felt
that the most important thing we can ever do is love God and love
others. When that love is our motive, everything else will fall into
place. I've been thinking about my own motives and intentions. Why do I
do the things I do? Is it because I love my Heavenly Father and my
Savior? Do I have an eye single to the glory of God? If I don't, my
seemingly good acts won't profit me any good. I must do the right things
for the right reasons.
In our Relief Society lesson
yesterday, I learned something new about charity. I always thought about
it as the pure love of Christ, the love that Christ has, that we all
need to be striving to be filled with that same type of love for others.
It hit me that charity can also be the pure love of Christ or the pure
love for Christ. Christ lived the first great commandment. He loved God.
If we truly have the pure love of Christ, then we will love God and
Jesus Christ. They will be our priority and our focus. That love for
Them will lead us to love all of those around us because we will see the
great love that They have for each and every one of us.
Loving God with an eye single to His glory means that we will do anything to help Him bring His children back to Him.
I hope you have a great week! Remember that Christ is the reason, and love is always in season.
Love you!
Sister Renda