"We Are the Architects of Our Own Happiness"

Music and the spoken word

Music and the spoken word with the departing sisters and President and Sister Risenmay.

Quilting!

YAY! The South 2 zone!

HEY, HEY, HEY! 

It's a new transfer already! My compy was picked up by her family yesterday and then drove home with them this morning to Southern California. She has made the biggest difference in my life by setting an example of someone who CHOOSES to be happy! It really is a CHOICE. I like to call her the "happiness expert" because she knows how to put a smile on everyone's face, and she knows how to be happy and positive even when things are challenging. She has made all the difference in the way I approach life and missionary work and I'm forever grateful. We were talking one night wondering if we knew before this life that we would be companions someday, and we decided that we knew and we were so excited. 

I am turning a new page now and I have TWO new companions. Sister Lawlor is from Japan but she speaks perfect English. Her mom is Japanese and her dad is Canadian. She's lived part of her life in Canada. She is an awesome person and missionary--and very spunky. Then there is Sister Kemple who is originally from Italy but she has lived a lot of her life in Washington State. She speaks perfect English too. She was actually home schooled too, so we can share a lot of homeschooler jokes together. We are quite the dynamic trio! These last 48 hours have been awesome.

This past Monday our zone got to do a service project at the Humanitarian Center tying quilts. We get to do a service project outside of Temple Square every transfer now! To give you an idea of what other zones did--we didn't just have to go to the Humanitarian Center--some went to a pumpkin patch to set up for a fall festival. Some helped plant tulips. That's all I can remember, but we can get creative and do projects within 20 miles of Salt Lake. It was a little crazy at first coordinating when to go because all of us have assignments on the square and we needed to find substitutes before hand, but it was so worth it!

Today we went shopping at a mall and there were a couple members of the Church who were like, "What are you doing here, this isn't your p-day!" We were like, "We're from Temple Square so we change the rules." It wasn't really like that, but I guess things are a little different on Temple Square. :)

The secret to happiness is to live the gospel. There is nothing that will bring more joy than that. That is where happiness is, true happiness. The world tries to make us confused by saying fortune, fame, and frivolous living will bring happiness. But that is a LIE. Don't buy into that. I think one of the greatest secrets is YOU CAN STILL BE HAPPY AND AT PEACE IN LIFE EVEN WHEN IT'S CHALLENGING AND HARD. That is what Christ does for us. He's shown us the way. Do what you can to live the gospel more fully, I promise it will bring more joy into your life. 😃

Here is an AWESOME quote to leave you with from Bishop Gérald Caussé:

"You can’t control all of the circumstances of your life. Things both good and challenging will happen to you that you never expected. However, I declare that you have control of your own happiness. You are the architects of it."

(Here's a link to the full talk in case you're interested: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/ces-devotionals/2012-ces-devotionals?lang=eng)

Sorry it's a short letter, but I love you all! Keep on being amazing!! 

xoxox,

Sister Butler