When You Look, God is Everywhere. 10-2-2014

There is so much to tell ya.  This week has been incredible. 
It's amazing how, when you look, God is everywhere. 
I'll just tell you a few quick 'lil stories about this week!

Monday, Sister Isaksen and I got a call to take a Norwegian tour. When we got to the place we were meeting the people, it was one of our investigators! Sister Isaksen has been teaching Iselin for the last couple of months because she came here as an exchange student and started going to church because her host family was LDS. But she lives 6 hours away from a church building in Norway so we've been talking to her over the phone. We had no idea she was going to be here!! Her little sister was with her too and it was so amazing to be able to take them to the Christus and we showed them the movie God's plan for families. It was such a good way to start our week.

Then Tuesday, we were just at one of the desks on the Square and this lady asked us to take a picture of her. So we did. Then we started talking to her and found out she's from California and then we started talking to her more about the Church. She just kept saying over and over how she felt like God led her here, like she needed to be here for some reason (obviously it was perfect because we were like uhh, we know why you needed to be here!!) So we got all her info and taught her about the Restoration. Come to find out her ex-husband was a member. She's amazing. Her name's Cynthia.

Then, right after Cynthia, this couple walked in the door and said: "We have to tell you two our story!" They both joined the church a year ago, December, and the whole reason they joined the church is because the woman heard Elder Uchtdorf and President Monson's talks on the Saturday morning session of last October Conference. She said she heard them speak at her friend's house on TV and went home that night, talked to her husband, and they were baptized 2 weeks later. But, she said lately they've been really struggling. At first she said everyone was so welcoming and friendly but now that they've been members for a while, people have kind of forgotten about them (member missionary work is VITAL!) but here's where her story gets CRAZY. So, her and her husband came to the Square and were walking around and decided that they wanted to watch "God's Plan for Families." They were in the North Visitor's Center, told their background story to the sisters that were going to play the movie for them (how Elder Uchtdorf's talk is why they converted), and then went upstairs to watch the movie. Two minutes later (right as the movie was
starting), a sister runs upstairs and is like: "Elder Uchtdorf is downstairs, he just walked in!!!!" So, the lady (her name was Ellen) got to go downstairs and tell Uchtdorf her story and he hugged her 3 times and it was just amazing. She said she'd been praying and praying to know if this Church really is where she needed to be and she got her answer. No apostles EVER come into the Vistitor Centers so it really was a miracle.

Last story. Yesterday we took the most amazing tour I've ever been a part of. We had these 2 German atheists in it. It was me, Sister Isaksen, and one of my favorite people, Sister Lytle. We were in a trio for a few hours. Anyways, it was the 2 Germans and 2 other couples. I don't really know how to describe the tour other than it was incredible. So, the point of taking tours is to, yes, tell people about the history of Temple Square and all the buildings but really, it's all about the Spirit. We use the facts about the buildings to bridge to Gospel truths that everyone can relate to. Like the Tabernacle for example. When were at the Tabernacle it's a perfect way to talk about how we have a living, modern-day prophet who speaks to us because (obvi) the Tabernacle was the first conference center ever built. 
Back to my story, the last place we took them to on the tour was the Christus. The spirit was so strong. At the end of the tour we said: "You know, if any of you would like a Book of Mormon, we would love to give you one." No one really said anything, so we were just like "thank you so much for coming to Temple Square." THEN the Germans started talking to us and the other people who were a part of the tour walked away and we were just in the middle of chatting about nothing spiritual anymore and one of them was like, "Could I actually maybe get a copy of that book?" We were like YES. 
So we walked downstairs to a desk to get one and one of the couples who were on our tour were at the desk talking to other sisters GETTING A BOOK OF MORMON. Then like 2 minutes later THE OTHER COUPLE comes and asks for a Book of Mormon.
I think what I've learned most this week is that I don't have to know all the facts and every little detail about the church. When you testify of what you know to be true, it's a trillion times more powerful than any logical answer you can give someone.

I just want to share with you my fav scripture. It's Alma 5:7:

 "Behold he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, they were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word."

It goes on, but that's the part I love. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes people's hearts. I feel so blessed and humbled to be a tiny part of God's incredible work here on earth. He changes people's hearts. His Spirit is so strong and I am so happy to be where I am right now.

Love you all and miss you tons.
xoxoxo,
Sister Helton

PS. I really am so happy and loving it here so much. I can barely wait for conference! I'll be at the Sunday morning sesh. I will read Libbie's blog (lifeofaconvert.blogspot.com). It's crazy because I've been thinking about her this week. I put her name on the prayer roll. I got to go the Salt Lake Temple!! It was beautiful. I loved it so much.

The pic is of me in front of the Lion House holding a slip of paper because I passed off on giving tours! I got a free meal. It was goooood. I am now an official missionary on Temple Square - haha. It's been freezing down here!