ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL

This week was pretty good. We had more lessons with investigators in this area than we've had in a long time and that was truly a blessing. There's a lady, I think I talked about her last week, I'll call her Mary. Anyway, she is the daughter of a member and just moved in with her mom recently. We taught them twice this last week and the Spirit was extremely powerful both times. For our second lesson we watched the Restoration DVD and it was beautiful. As missionaries, we see that movie a LOT, but I consistently learn or realize something new every time. I feel the Spirit so strongly during the part when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appear to Joseph Smith. This last time I had more of a realization that God's work does not stop. It is almost unfathomable to imagine a church, as persecuted and peculiar as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that has thrived and grown since its Restoration. That is just astounding to me. There's a quote by Joseph Smith that we memorize in the mission: "The Standard of truth has been erected, no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing: persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame. But the truth of God will go forth boldy nobly and independent." There's more to it, but I love quoting it because it's so powerful and so true. His work keeps going, nothing can stop it. And the only reason it works is because it's of God. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here and no one would feel the Spirit. 

We had a lesson with a kid that is 15. His living situation is extremely poor. His parents don't really seem too involved in his life and he can kind of do whatever he wants. It was a very eye opening experience. It kept reflecting on why I was blessed to have been born into the family I was born into. My parents were smart enough to want me to be more. They didn't let me just float by doing whatever I want. Which, at the time, isn't always appreciated, but now I see. I wondered how I would have turned out if my parents hadn't been like how they were. Where would I be? Who would I be? Would I make positive choices in my life? Or would I just give in to my appetites? Then I wondered about why all of us are born into such different circumstances. Really, it all boils down to decisions. His parents decisions definitely are affecting his outcome, thus far. I think about mothers that drink while their pregnant, that's an innocent child, and it's very life is completely changed and affected by the mother's poor decision. And still, we're all God's children. I feel as if the Atonement covers more than I can imagine. When I think about people born into situations where they don't have much of a chance against the world, I wonder how it will all be in end. How much will Christ's atonement cover those circumstances? It's true, be the change you wish to see in the world. Nothing will be perfect, there are people making poor decisions everyday. We see it everyday. We go into their homes and see their living conditions, but we're there to help them. We're there to find the one. The one out of the ninety and nine. The atonement can in fact change their lives. It's sad because I think even members forget just how powerful Jesus Christ's Atonement was. If we focused on faith in Jesus Christ and how it can truly change people's natures, then we would be able to strengthen those on the path of forgiveness and healing. 

Anyway, that's my rant. I don't even know what else to comment on. 

Love you all,

Sister Smith