God's Blessings are Sure and His Love is Real: A Parting Testimony

From Natalie Willes

Recently returned from teaching in Arizona

It has been the best, craziest, most fulfilling 18 months of my life. After 11 companions, and 5 areas later, I've come to know some of the most amazing people in the world. I am so grateful to those who have changed my life. I love Arizona, Mesa is a great place with many different characters in it. I think the main thing that I am grateful for, is the testimony that I've been able to gain. I've always had a testimony of some sort since I was a little kid. Over time it has been strengthened and built by experiences that cross my path, but in the last year and a half, it's grown immensely.

I know even better now that I have a Savior, who is my best friend. I always knew He loved me, but now I've gained the knowledge about why He does. He died to overcome the two things that would keep me from returning to live with God:  Sin and death. He suffered for me in the Garden of Gethsemane and sweat drops of blood just for you and I. He knows us personally. He heals us if we allow him to and because of this love we will never ever be left alone. I've come to the realization that it is so easy for us to forget this relationship we have with Christ. He doesn't wait for us to run half of a race before he shows his love, he is running the race along side us cheering us on every step of the way. He will buoy us up and pick us up if needs be to help us cross the finish line. Where is the finish line you may ask? Well, eternal life, living with our Father in Heaven. That's the goal, and because Christ died and suffered for us we can get there. One of my favorite scriptures of all time is found in the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi 9:13-14 which says " Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." I know this to be true.

I know that God has a plan for us. He sent us here and provides us the means for joy and happiness in this life through our families. We are a part of His, and the main goal in this life is for us to return to
live with him, and our families forever. We learn of this plan through prophets. I know that he has again called prophets in our day. I know that Joseph smith was called to restore the fullness of the gospel to the earth and that because of his faithfulness, we again have the Book of Mormon. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. It has blessed my life and the lives of those I've had the privilege to teach.

My vision for life is quite simple. I promised God that I would be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. My purpose is to come unto Christ, and I'll continue helping others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and most importantly, enduring to the end. President Monson once said "Our purpose is to steer an undeviating course towards our desired goal- even the celestial kingdom of God." and that is my goal. I want to return to live with my Heavenly Father. There lies happiness, joy and everlasting life. I can always be with my family there, and there is no other place I would rather be. I will keep doing the little things God asks me to do, and in turn it will be easier to keep doing the big things that God requires of me. I'll fulfill my roles in callings, in church, or at home. I'll keep the temple in my sights, and Christ in my daily action. I'll serve those around me like Christ would, and I'll smile everyday and laugh and enjoy life's ups and downs. God's blessings are sure, and His love is real. I will always trust Him with all my heart.

A Mission Has Changed Me Forever

From Mason Blettenberg

Teaching in Ireland

Dear Friends and Family, 

It has been a whole year since I have left the blessed land of Burley, Idaho. But I am still in a land of the spuds! Good old Ireland!

This past week we saw a mighty miracle. A man named Jerry’s heart was softened.  We had this man on tract for baptism for this Saturday, but he texted us Wednesday night and told us he did not want to get baptized. He talked with his friends and they turned him off of the idea of our church. We were DEVASTATED. There is nothing that will break a heart of a missionary so fast than someone who they love dearly falls away from God.

We asked in mighty prayer to soften this man’s heart.  We woke up Saturday all ready for the day, trying to do our best to smile.  We had a blitz in our area on Friday so we were white-boarding. All of a sudden, in the middle of the day, we saw Jerry walking with his head down. We rushed over to him and asked him to help us find with the white board. On the board was written: What makes you happy? He wrote, “The Holy Spirit”. 

Then the sisters came over and asked him why he did not want to be baptized.  He said he changed his mind! And he wanted to be baptized that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So me and my comp did everything in our power to make it happen that day and …  we made it happen! He was baptized and confirmed.

Being out for this long, serving my Father in Heaven and representing His Son, has made me understand a scripture that I read every single morning… Matthew 16:21-28: for whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall FIND IT.

I want to testify from the bottle of my heart that I have found it. And because I have found my life, I will continue - for a full year - to lose my life for others and for His sake who died so me and you can live.

I am a standing living witness of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  My mission has truly brought the good out of me so many times. I have almost been so close to going home cuz I thought I needed rest from my trials I have had on my mission. But every time that happened, the power of Christ’s Atonement came to the rescue. He is the best example we could ever dream of asking for. 

A mission has changed me forever. I want everyone to know, if you have the smallest doubt of serving a mission throw  it out the window and serve God.  Every worthy Latter-day Saint has the strength to serve a full time mission. Please serve a mission. If  you have not already, you will find your life and help others do the same.

I love my Father in Heaven . I know with all my being that, when in times of a storm,I can turn for peace in the spirit of prayer and show Him how I feel. He will heed to my needs and do what is right for me and others.  He is our all mighty father who loves me. I know my Father above would and will take the time to sit with me on a fence and just let me let it all out and truly heed to my needs the way I need. He has shown me and has given me one person to look up to and that is my Savior,  Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is a man that is and always will be my light to follow in darkness of a storm. If any of us are trapped in sin or trial or sickness or anything that brings you down, there is always a way out of our storms. That is in and through the most sacred name of the one who literally bled from every pore drops of blood so you and I could stand in holy places and be not moved.

I love this gospel and I will be devoted to it for the rest of my life and my life after that. The words of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the words that bring you and me lasting happiness for this life and the one to come. And that is all thanks to the Restoration of His Church.  Joseph smith was the man for the job. Without him, who knows where truth would have been found. For this I am grateful. I bear testimony of repentance and the sweetness of it. Whenever we hear that word “repent” we run, but though study I have understood it is a sweet word due to the fact we cannot repent without Jesus Christ and proper priesthood authority. Repentance is real and it works. In the name of who I represent for the next year, even Jesus the Christ,  Amen.  

Miracles do happen, repentance does work, and He lives and can do wonders for me and you!

Love,  Elder Blettenberg

The True Measure of Success in Missionary Work

From Hyrum Fluckiger

Teaching in California

I've had an interesting experience being a missionary here in California! It's been amazing first of all, second it's been work, and third... I have absolutely loved it!  I have amazing opportunities to
meet and be apart of so many people's lives!

After my second transfer, leaving an area only seemingly slightly better than I found it, and feeling like my time there was for naught; I arrived to my new area and had only been there for a week or two when I received a letter from an active member we worked with. While keeping details confidential ,this member expressed to me that us missionaries had made such a difference in his life and that we played a key role in helping him stay on the gospel path. 

When he hit his low, he had actually made a plan to take his own life.  He said that one night he asked us for a blessing, of course we adjusted our schedule so we could do that. He told us that was the night he was going to kill himself and the blessing was meant to be a release from this life.  But the words of the blessing were so uplifting and what he needed to hear at the time that he was restrengthened and recommitted to live and strive to improve his life. He is now attending college and working toward a mission. He has trials and temptations just as all of us do, but thanks to our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, we were able to participate in helping him along his way, and I now truly know that no effort is wasted in helping others come to Christ.

It was such a powerful reminder and testimony builder to me of many things; the authenticity and reality of true priesthood power, the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and by dedicating our all to the service and work of God, we can not fail. Missionary work is not just with non members. It's all who need to be strengthen and brought closer to Christ. The measure of success in missionary work is not just baptisms. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary, to serve God, to hold the Priesthood. I know the church is true, it's good, and pure.

No Doubt About It!

From Jonah Bench

Teaching in New York

So I had have had companions for the last six months of my mission who are struggling with obedience and motivation and desire. My current companion also struggles with obedience and diligence and is going home soon. He is my friend and I want him to have a good end to his mission. So the last four companions are struggling missionaries. I have been privileged to become a tool in the Lord's hand to help these missionaries. 

The last six months has been tough, I got sick from stress and that led to me having to go home to get my tonsils out. Now I'm back and the companions I have had are again those who need help. I have really loved seeing them change to become better! I have loved seeing the Atonement of Jesus Christ our Savior work in the lives of the missionaries I have worked with. I can't do squat on my own! I would be faced with concerns they have and things they need to talk about and have no idea how to approach it! But I'd say a quick prayer and then things would become clearer. I would be able to discern what they needed to hear. That is a testimony to me that the Lord will bless us with help and direction and what those around us need. I know this is the Lord's work. No doubt about it! Otherwise a bunch of 18-20 year old kids would have messed it up a long time ago!  

It is Amazing the Things that are Happening

From Cambree King

Teaching in Honduras 

We started making the JAS (young single adults) do activities and get together. It is amazing the things that are happening.

There is one girl whose name is Katty. She accepted to be baptized in two weeks, she is incredible. She has come to church three times with her boyfriend, and this week we taught her. As she said the closing prayer, she said that we were grateful that we could see if maybe this was the true church. She paused and changed her words and said,”Just kidding. I am completely convinced and know without a doubt that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.”

 And this Saturday, Paola is going to be baptized. When we found her, she was seventeen and we were waiting for her 18th birthday. She has been going to church for a good year with her boyfriend and knows that she needs to be baptized. She is just worried about what her family will think. But yesterday she expressed how, now that she has made the decision, she can finally sleep at night. Every talk in church, she said, seems to be directed completely to her. She is incredible and I feel like she could be my sister.