Remember Him and the experiences He gives us 1-28-2015

This week has been really great! Things are definitely a lot quieter here than they have been in the past, but I am loving every day! 

Sister Bellais makes our days fun. This week we've been learning so much! I feel like my English will be improving, too, because Sister Bellais asks me so many questions every day about English. It's forcing me to evaluate how I structure my sentences and whether or not they are actually grammatically correct. 

We are focusing on finding people this transfer. We have 2 amazing people who have a date to be baptized and we are SO excited!!! One of them actually lives in Layton. (I think that's how you spell it...) It's about 25 minutes away from Temple Square. His name is Caleb. One of his friends gave us his number and we ended up calling him last week and then he came to Temple Square. It is seriously the best because it is so rare that we actually get to teach someone past the first lesson on the Square. He is so open and is so excited about the gospel. It makes me excited.

A goal that I've had since I got to Temple Square is to read the New Testament. I have obviously read parts of it, but I've never taken the opportunity to read it cover to cover. I met with my mission president and he advised me to first read the Book of Mormon and then the New Testament and then the Old Testament. 

I've been able to finish the Book of Mormon. This week I've been reading the New Testament. I have no idea why I have waited so long to read it. I love it so much. 

One of the less-active members that we teach, really struggles with feeling God. It's so interesting how God works. Yesterday, in my personal study I was reading Matthew chapter 27 about Christ's crucifixion and when he goes before Pilate to be judged. 

Verse 46 is when Christ has been suffering on the cross for 9 hours and he says "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 

I instantly thought of her and how Jesus Christ, who was perfect in all things, questioned where God was at one point. She actually ended up texting us last night saying she felt so alone and like she had no purpose. We were able to share that verse with her and I truly believe that God had inspired us to read that verse that morning so we could help her.

So much of the time I think we stress about whether or not God really does love us and whether or not He is there. I know with all of my heart He is there, but I think it is normal to feel like we are sometimes alone. That is why it is so vital that we remember the experiences God gives us in our lives when we know, without a doubt, that He is there. 

I am the worst at writing in my journal. But it is one of the most important things we can do! To always remember Him and the experiences He gives us. 

As I've been thinking about the concept of "remembering" it has come to my attention that in the Book of Mormon, the word "remember" is pretty much on every single page. I think God is trying to tell us something! I want to be better at writing down those moments when I know God is with me, those moments when I know the words I am saying are not my own. 

If you have had any experiences where you've known God was there and He loved you, write them down. That way, when you feel weak or alone or doubtful, you can reflect on the moments when you have known He is there. So many of the people we talk to have had incredible experiences with God but have simply forgotten about them. God is so real. He loves us so much. I know He does. One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 30 verse 44 and it says, 

"The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

Remember it! 

Love you all so much. Hope it's a beautiful week and I hope the Seahawks win. ;)

xoxoxo,

Sister Helton