Blessings of the Gospel

Happy, happy Thanksgiving! Is everyone excited for turkey, pie, and stuffing?? I am!

For Thanksgiving, member families sign up to have sisters from Temple Square for dinner. I will be going to my mom's uncle and aunts apartment! They requested to have me because they knew I was serving here. They live right next to Temple Square, so we don't even need to be picked up. We will have from 12pm-6pm to spend with the members, and then it's back to the work. I'm really excited!

First things first, I saw the Savior of The World theatrical production last Wednesday. If you have the opportunity to see this, please go! It is phenomenal. The spirit was so powerful. It is a great way to remember the Savior this Christmas season. By the way Angela and Julie, Dallyn Vail Bayless played the role of Joseph! He is so amazing! I think he sings in the original cast of the musical album, so go check it out on Lds.org.

Some of the family was down here for Brady's wedding (my cousin), and I heard that Brooks was walking around looking for me. This is for you Brooks: palangga ta ka! Nahidlaw na ko sa imo! I went on an exchange with a sweet sister from Bacolod City, Philippines--the city of smiles. She is certainly full of smiles. She taught me how to say "I love you" and "I miss you" in Illongo. :)

I ran into the Johnson family after Music and the Spoken Word! I am in what we call the "announcing choir" and we sing right before the sisters announce tours in their native tongue, so I was able to run into them! It's was really fun seeing them! They all looked so happy for Brady and Emily getting married! Oh, on Friday morning I was on my way to the North Visitors' center and we decided to enter the North gate, which we never do. Right as we went through the gates we ran into Brady and Emily! They were looking around for me and after searching decided to leave. I really think God sets these things up. 

Emily and Brady about one week before their marriage!

Alisha's Aunt Lisa and Uncle Kurt's family (Lisa is her dad's sister.)

I have an awesome story to share! I met a member, Christine, who is a convert of about four years and she shared her conversion story with me! It inspired me and helped me to have a stronger desire to share the gospel. So before Christine joined the church she was very involved with a Christian church. She was close with her pastor and the members in the congregation. At some point she said that she was sitting in church and she knew that some of the things being said weren't true. She thought, "Alright God, if this isn't true, now what do I do now?" She said that God put a member of the LDS church in her life. Christine noticed that somethings was different about her and she began to ask her questions. When she found out this friend was LDS, she was very skeptical. But one day she called her friend on the phone and they talked for 45 minutes about the church. Christine said she was pulling up to her driveway when the call ended, and not 45 seconds from when she got out of her car and went inside her home, there was a knock at the door. Guess who? It was the LDS missionaries!  They had an appointment with her roommate actually, but that's how it all began for her.

The most amazing part of this story is that she had tried for so long to find the peace that Christ talks about in the Bible--"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." -John 14:26--but she just couldn't find it. She would wake up at night in cold sweat because of horrible nightmares, and she would memorize passages of scripture to help. But as soon as her thoughts would leave the scriptures, the horrible feeling would come back. Two weeks after her baptism she was relishing in the peace she felt. She called the mission President's wife who played a role in helping her learn the gospel, and she said to her, "Is this feeling going to go away?" The mission president's wife said, "Christine, that's the Holy Ghost. Every member of the church gets to have it." Christine said, "You mean everyone can have this gift?!" Christine is so, so thankful for the gospel. She treasures it like rubies or diamonds. It makes me wonder how much to we take for granted the blessings of the gospel? We know how to find peace and happiness in this life and the life after. 

Hearing her story truly humbled me and made me more courageous to share it with all people. Christine said to me that if people knew what the gospel had to offer them, they would come running and begging me to teach them. I am so thankful that I ran into this wonderful member. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to not only share the gospel but hear the testimonies of the members. 

Well, that's all for now folks! I love and miss you all. Have an extra piece of pie for me! :)

xoxox, 

Sister Butler