This is Christ's living church 9-15-15

Hi!

This week Doterra had a convention in Salt Lake and so the Square smelled like lavender allllll week. Not that I can complain, they have me sold on the product. When I get home, I will definitely be investing in these oils sent from heaven. These ladies told us they'd send us a starter kit!!! Hopefully they follow through....anyways, we met some of the sweetest people on the Square. 

  What they do is actually really similar to missionary work and so we were able to relate with a lot of the ladies. All of them have stories about why they use the oils. Mainly, it's because of health. They said that the essential oils make them feel better and they want other people who are going through physical or mental pain, to be free from that. It was a perfect way to bridge to Jesus Christ and how through him, we can have peace that not only lasts for this time, but for all eternity (it's even better than the oils. haha). 

  The reason I'm telling you about Doterra is because we had Doterra miracles! We met this lady who was from the East coast and she had a friend in her oil group who's a member. Her friend asked if we would take them through God's Plan (the 12-minute movie we show all about eternal families and the temple) and so we did. 

 At the end of the movie we talked about God's love and about the authority to bind on earth and to bind in heaven has been restored. The lady who wasn't a member all of a sudden was like, "Can I keep in touch with you girls? Like, do you have Facebook or a cell phone or email or anything?" I think my mouth literally dropped and both Sister Revoredo and I were like,"yes of course! We do all our teaching over the phone anyways!" It was a huge miracle because we hadn't been able to get a member present all week and so we got our member present lesson and found a new investigator. 

Another huge highlight this week was Russell M. Nelson came and spoke to our mission on Friday morning. No one had any idea he would come and we just got a text during companionship study that everyone needed to be on Temple Square in 20 minutes and to leave any assignment we had. He shook everyone's hand and spoke to us for about an hour and a half. 

I walked away knowing with my whole heart that there is a living prophet on the earth and living apostles whom Christ directs. This is Christ's living church. I've never felt the spirit in the way I did that morning. It was like pure amazement and I just felt the love of God more than I ever have. I've had a testimony of course that there are 12 modern apostles and a prophet on the earth, but this just solidified everything. It was incredible. 

Another cool little miracle was Simone. About 3 weeks ago Sister Revoredo and I were talking to these RMs who served in Italy and we asked them if they had anyone in Italy that we could teach. 

One of the guys said he did and he told us a little bit about Simone. He had a baptismal date and wants to be baptized but his parents won't allow him to be baptized until he's 18. Sister Revoredo and I were like, "Well, we can't teach him if his parents aren't OK with it!" But we called Simone anyways just to examine the situation and see if we could help in any way.  So, we were only able to talk to him once and then he hadn't answered the phone since. Welll, 2 days ago Sister Revoredo took an Italian chat from mormon.org and it was a man named Tom. 

 As she kept talking to him, he told us his real name was SIMONE!!! The same one we had spoken with 3 weeks earlier and hadn't heard from since. So we were able to talk to him and figure more about his situation and it turns out his parents are fine with him meeting with missionaries, they just don't want him to be baptized yet. It was just so meant to be and now we're in contact with him after these weeks of not knowing how to help him. 

The flowers are beautiful here

One last little thing, yesterday in personal study I was thinking about the temple. I was having this little internal conversation with myself because I realized that I don't explain the temple well enough. 

 We always tell people how the pioneers sacrificed everything to come here and to build a temple but I don't think I help people understand how important the temple really is.   Obviously, we don't explain what happens in the temple in detail because it's so sacred, but I was just trying to figure out how I can better explain how important and special it is.

  After personal study I told my companion my struggle and she was like, "Sister Helton, what does the temple mean to you?" Then I almost started crying and I told her and she was like, "Share that with people." 

 So, I want to invite all of you to just think about what the temple means to you and write it down. Sometimes it's really nice to just think about the why of things. 

Love you all! Hope you have the best week. 

Sister Helton

I obey, I obey, I obey, then I understand 9-8-15

Seriously, the weeks just keep going faster and faster. I just love being companions with Sister Revoredo. We get to talk to Spanish people so much and it just takes me back to those precious 6 weeks I had in San Diego. 

 Anyways, we found a new Spanish investigator! His name is Tulio. He came onto chat and then we ended up calling him and our conversion was literally 40 minutes long. He said he's never felt like he's received answers to prayers or that God is there. 

 Through talking with him, I really came to understand the importance of asking inspired questions. It has never, ever been one of my strong areas but I've really been focusing a lot on how to ask inspired questions. My companion is amazing at it. 

 I was reading in PMG about it and I think in order to ask questions that really provoke thought, we have to be listening. Listening to understand what the person is saying and not just listening with the intent to respond to their question. 

 It really hit me that I don't have to ask these incredible, soul searching questions every time, but as I just take a little breath and listen, the Spirit can let me know what's in this person's heart and what they need from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

This week I have really come to love the Beehive House. 

 Last night, Sister Revoredo and I decided to do some exploring and we went up to the third floor of the house where we don't give tours. It was like 8pm so it was so dark and old but it was just so cool to think about all the history that is in that little home. 

 We have had so many miracles there as well. Last night, we took 3 people from India on a tour and they were Hindus. We had such a great conversation about the promise in the Book of Mormon that if you read and ask God, you can know for yourself that's is true. 

 The Book of Mormon is amazing, especially for those who don't have a belief in Christ. I love in the last paragraph of the introduction how it says that those who come to know this book is true, will also come to know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. It's so powerful because there is no other book in the world that has a promise like that. If you read, you WILL know one way or another. It's so black and white. 

 Anyways, the miracle was that 2 of them left us their number and address and want to meet with missionaries. 

 I just know that this work is not mine. 

 Sister Revoredo and I try not to say the same thing over and over in our tours, but we share the same message everyday and because of the Spirit, hearts really are touched.

 I have so much to work on as a missionary, but what I know is that Spirit is the true teacher. Nothing that I say changes people's hearts, the Spirit of God does. That's why it's so important to keep the Spirit with you all the time. 

 As a companionship, we have been working on being more exactly obedient. I was looking through all my old planners from previous transfers and one of the quotes I had written was by Marjorie Hinckley. It said, 

 "I obey, I obey, I obey, then I understand." 

 As we obey our Father in Heaven and the commandments he's given us, our hearts change and we come to see the benefit of living the Gospel - It makes you happier. 

I love being a missionary. I love hard moments. Sister Revoredo and I were talking about struggles that you have a missionary. 

 She said, "I'm grateful for the moments when I don't feel the Spirit because I'm able to understand when he's close to me and the moments when I need to change myself." 

 I'm grateful that there is opposites and that there is opposition in all things. 

 I'm so grateful for the opportunity to grow and change everyday.

 I'm grateful that everyday I can try harder to become more like my Savior and I'm so grateful for the second and third and fourth and a million chances He gives each one of us to change. 

Hope you have the best week!

Love,

Sister Helton

Our purpose in life... 9-1-2015

Hi!

 

This week has been CRAZY. Seriously. Like a literal roller coaster. Last Tuesday for pday, Sister Revoredo, Wentzel, Makovei, Chazen, Jarvi and I all went to the Great Salt Lake at sunset and it was sooo gorgeous. That's where the pics I sent you are from. :) 

It smelled really bad and there was tons of dead birds in the sand, but the pictures turned out really good! 

Then, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday Sister Revoredo and I went on exchanges. It was so amazing to get to learn from each sister and I just have to tell you a few of the miracles we had! 

On Thursday, I went with Sister Wentzel and we were supposed to be on the Square at 5pm but a lesson in the teaching center went a little late and so we walked out of the TC around 5:20pm.

 We realized that we didn't make a plan for where we were going to walk on Temple Square and so I just asked Sister Wentzel where she wanted to go. She was like, "Mmm, I feel like downstairs." That was exactly what I was thinking and so we went down to the Scriptures and Revelation exhibit and started talking to this elderly couple. We asked if we could explain the exhibit (the restoration) to them and they said sure! 

 So we started teaching and when we finished, the man was like, "I actually have read the Book of Mormon. I also helped build one of your chapels and I've always wanted to attend an LDS service." 

 Thennn, he started talking about how he and his wife were searching for a new church and we ended up inviting them both to be baptized and they said yes and agreed to meet with local missionaries! 

 At the end of our conversation the couple just said that they knew we were meant to meet each other and that they just felt renewed after walking around Temple Square. 

 I learned that you just never know who is ready to hear the gospel. Anyone at any age (even 78) can choose to change and to accept the gospel.  

On Saturday, I went to MLC, this little half-day training thing and it really opened my eyes. It was all about becoming more like Christ and how that is the goal of our lives. For some reason it had never really clicked for me that in order to teach the gospel as Christ did, I need to develop His attributes as best as I possibly can. So uh, I have a lot of work to do! Somehow, I just kind of ignored chapter 6 of Preach my Gospel all these months...

On a more positive note! Sunday, we walked into sacrament meeting and sat down and started talking with sisters and all of a sudden my companion leans over and whispers in my ear, "Sister Helton, look who's sitting next to President Poulsen on the stand." 

 It was Quentin L. Cook!! (One of the 12 Apostles.)  He just stopped by our sacrament meeting with his wife! He invoked the most beautiful blessing on our mission and everyone was just bawling. I tried to take notes but I seriously couldn't see anything. 

 He said something that I loved. It was so simple and so powerful. He said, "You fulfill your purpose as a missionary when you invite." 

 There are so many moments when I think to myself, "Did I do enough? Did I say the right thing? Heavenly Father I am so sorry if I just did not follow the spirit in that contact and said something that didn't help this person at all!" 

 But that little statement from an apostle of the Lord just gave me so much peace. It's the same for every one of us. 

 Even though being a missionary is just a short little period of time, I really want to live by that little quote. We fulfill our purpose when we invite people to come closer to Christ. Even if it's just a little invitation. Our purpose in life is to prepare to meet God and to become more like our Savior. Christ invited every day. We can do the same.

Another miracle we had was yesterday when Sister Revoredo and I were finally back together as companions!! 

 We were just about to take our lunch when we got a text that said, "999 2 Italians." Which means that there were 2 Italians that had been waiting for a tour for over 5 minutes and so we decided to skip our lunch and take them on a tour! 

 They both ended up giving us their contact information and took a Book of Mormon. It was so amazing because since Sister Revoredo and I have barely been together for a week because of all the exchanges, we were a little nervous about how to translate and be balanced in our teaching in Italian but the tour just flowed so smoothly and my Italian comprehension is getting so much better! It's kind of nice because it's so similar to Spanish so I can kind of understand what's going on. 

Anyways, right after the tour, we had to take an Organ Recital tour and that was the biggest miracle of the day. 

 This man joined the tour half way through and as we were walking one place to the next, I started talking to him. He told me half of his family was Mormon so he knew a little bit about the church but his family had never pushed anything on him. 

 Anyways, we finished the tour and I was talking to this one man answering some last questions and Sister Revoredo was talking to the guy who I had spoke to earlier who had family in the church. 

 So I joined their conversation and the man literally said, "What do I need to do to join the church? What is the first step?"  

  He told us his whole story and basically, he's just starting over and he's searching for purpose and an anchor in his life. It was just beautiful that even through everything he's gone through, he knew that God was the only sure source of strength and the only true anchor in this world that is ever-changing. 

I love Temple Square! Can you believe I hit my year mark? Also, where in the world did the month of August go? Conference is in a month! Love you all so much. Hope you have the best week.

Sister Helton

"Praying for some kind of guidance and here you are" & Sister Revoredo 8-25-2015

It is SO good to be back on Temple Square! There's really nothing like being next to the temple on dedicated ground everyday. 

So, my new companion's name is Sister Revoredo and she is amazing. I am already learning so much from her. We are really similar in the way we teach and so it's so nice because we already have our teaching flow down. I don't know what it is about me and Italians, but I guess Heavenly Father needs me to learn to be more bold! 

This week we have had so many miracles! 

  Our first day as companions, we were able to find a new investigator who speaks Spanish and English so it's perfect because I can keep working on my Spanish skills. But if I don't know what to say, he can understand me in English! 

  Then on Thursday, Sister Revoredo and I took our first tour in the Beehive House. Yes Mom, the Beehive House is our new assignment this transfer.:)  I'm learning so much about my heritage! 

Anyways, we had no idea what we should say because we hadn't even read half of the site guide, but the girl we took on a tour gave us her phone number, took a Book of Mormon and asked us to send missionaries to her in Chicago! 

  Then later that day, I was going through my area book and was realizing that I had literally transferred everyone over to Sister Kemple when I went outbound. But randomly I realized I had this one potential investigator that I had met on Temple Square right before I left and had never been able to get a hold of her.

  So I called her and just introduced myself and asked her how she was doing. She responded and said that honestly she wasn't doing very well. I asked why and she just completely opened up and said that her dad was admitted into the hospital last night and that her whole family is just a mess. 

  And she said 3 times, "It's honestly really freaking me out that you called me today. I've been praying for some kind of guidance and here you are calling me." 

  But it was amazing because I was able to share with her some verses that really helped me when Popo was going through everything and she asked us if we would call her again.

  She said she just felt so refreshed and peaceful even with everything that was going on. It was such an answer to my prayers because I was so sad to leave San Diego, but I just know that I need to be back at Temple Square now. 

Also, yesterday I went on exchanges with Sister Chazen who's in my district, and this guy came onto mormon.org chat and said that he wanted to learn a little bit more about Christ and the church. 

  So we asked if we could call him right then and just explain a little bit about the basic beliefs. Surprisingly, he said yes and gave us his phone number and we ended up talking to him for about 20 minutes over the phone. 

  He said he just has been feeling this pull towards the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he had no idea why because he's not very religious at all.

  He said he actually was on Temple Square last week (so crazy that he didn't talk to any sisters here) but he said ever since he's been home, he's just felt this new peace and light in his life. He agreed to meet with missionaries where he lives and said the closing prayer over the phone. He is probably my biggest miracle ever on chat. 

  It's amazing how much God really does prepare people and how big of an influence the spirit can have in everyone's life when they choose to follow it.

One more thing: last Saturday half the mission got to go to Brighton Camp for the afternoon and zip line, repel, and do all these fun activities in the woods! So those are the pictures I attached. They fed us Zupas at the end..seriously, we are so spoiled here. Love you lots!

Sister Helton

Back to T Square 8-18-2015

Ahhhh I have like no time to write today:(

I just got back to Temple Square safe and sound from San Diego and it just feels like home. 

My Ipad broke last week and so I lost all my pictures:(  Here are a few of our investigators and people I really, really love. Sister Stirland said she'd send me some of the ones from her Ipad soon.

Marcus and Daniela

 I went Mandarin speaking for a day 

(we had something called MTE's where you just go on a 24-hour exchange with sisters in your zone)

 We went out to lunch with Terry, Sister Wong's recent convert. I ate Pho and cow skin...

Dare at the Battalion

I got my new companion! She's from Italy and she's going into her 3rd transfer! Sister Campelo trained her. Ha! I know I will love her. I'm so excited for this transfer. (I'll check on Sister Kemple.)

BRIGGS AND BECCA ARE ENGAGED?!:)))))))))))))) finally. They look SO happy. That is actually quite brilliant if I do say so myself, scheduling the rehearsal dinner at the JSMB. I think that should work perfectly. I'll talk to President Poulsen this week and let you know for sure next week. 

I will update you on all our investigators next week. I don't get a p-day until next Tuesday and today wasn't really a p-day. They just said we could email home so you'd know I made it back to TSquare safely. But here's a few pics! 

Love ya so much! Thanks for your insights on the verse in Matthew. I had similar thoughts when I read that so thank you for confirming it with the words of Tad Callister. haha! Can't believe I'm back from San Diego already. The time just flies. 

Love ya, love ya!

                   The last pic is our last day at the temple

with the departing sisters and Sister Schmitt, our mission president's wife

San Diego ... I love you! 8-11-2015

Ok, how am I already going back to Temple Square? (scheduled for Aug. 18)

I LOVE San Diego and I love the ward we're in and I love my companion and I feel like I'm finally settling in and I am just going to cry my eyes out next week, I know it.

 So, I probably will not be sending any photos of my departure. 

I have just arrived at the conclusion that being a missionary just prepares you for life because the minute you get comfortable and feel like you semi know what you're doing, everythinggg changes. Anyways, I am so sorry for starting this email off on not the most positive foot. 

 I heard the greatest quote this week from a sister at the Battalion. She said, 

"When I have days that are just bad, it's obviously not my day, and so I need to make it someone else's day!"

 I thought that was the cutest thing in the world! There are lots of days that I would say "aren't my day" and I think God does that on purpose so that way I can make it someone else's day and just forget about myself and focus on them. So my little invitation to everyone is, when it's not your day, make it someone else's:)

This week has been so great. We put Bella on date for Aug. 29th!! I'm hoping that I'll be able to Skype our 3 investigator's baptisms from Temple Square.They all just have such a huge piece of my heart. 

It's been such a fast week because we have been at the Battalion so much, we did a full 12 hour shift there on Friday (usually it's just 6) so we haven't had a ton of time in our area and I used to really struggle trying to figure out why I needed to be at the Battalion because I just wanted to be in our area so bad. 

These past couple weeks, I have just grown to love the Mormon Battalion so much more. You can just say the script over and over each tour, or you can really make it apart of you and help the guests feel the power behind the faith of these men. 

 I really feel like Heavenly Father has been helping me so much because people on my tours have been giving me referrals of their friends that they want to send missionaries to and it's perfect because I'll be able to call and teach them and send them local missionaries when I get back to Temple Square! 

Also, on Sunday we had one of the biggest answers to prayer happen. So, our ward council decides the topic for each sacrament meeting like 3 months in advance, and they choose the topic based off Conference talks. 

 We have an investigator who has been learning about the church for almost a year and we just started teaching her again about a month ago. She comes to church every Sunday and we've talked a lot about baptism and she knows the church is true but she just feels so worried about being a hypocrite and not being able to keep certain commandments perfectly for the rest of her life. 

 The sacrament meeting was on President Dieter Uchtdorf's talk 'Come, Join with Us' and everyone talked about how we are all just imperfect, hypocritical people who do our best to follow our Savior, but need Him to make up the difference. 

 IT WAS PERFECT! 

 She came up to us after the meeting and was like, "Ok, do you two tell the speakers what to talk on?" We all just laughed so hard and then talked about how God really does know what she needs and how it's OK to not be perfect -

we just need to try. 

 

I love being a missionary! 

I'm excited to go back to SLC 

but San Diego really is the greatest.

Love you all! 

Sister Helton

The sacrament is essential 8-4-2015

Hi!

This week has been amazing. So much has happened! I love my companion. So on Wednesday, we stopped by this family who we added last week and we were knocking and knocking on their door and no answer. So I kept knocking and I noticed that Sister Stirland was like dead silent and so I looked over at her and she was just praying her heart out, but still, they didn't answer the door. 

 As we were walking away I asked her what she was praying for and she was like, "I just was praying that we would be able to see them tonight." 

 So we were about to leave and I was backing her out of the parking space and I looked over and this guy on the sidewalk waved at me! I did a double take and it was the member who had referred the family to us walking with the family who's door we had been knocking on! They had just come back from a neighborhood bbq. So we ran over and started talking to them and it was just so amazing. The power of prayer is so real. Sometimes I think I forget that all I have to do is ask Heavenly Father and he really will help us with anything. 

Wearing my birthday outfit Aug. 4 - I'm 20!

On Saturday, we were on exchanges. I went with Sister Anderson out to our area and we went to an ASL baptism! 2 elders in our district teach in American Sign Language and asked us to teach the restoration at the baptism. It was such a sweet experience. As we spoke, they signed and the spirit was just so strong. There really is one universal language that everyone can understand and it's the Spirit.

Then, on Sunday we added someone! It was such a miracle. We have been praying and praying to find new people to teach because Marcus and Daniela are getting baptized in 3 weeks. 

 We added the cutest little 9 year old. His whole family are members but his parents aren't active. He's been taught by missionaries before but we just really felt like we should stop by and get to know their family. 

 We went over and taught the restoration and the little boy at the end whispered in his mom's ear and said he wanted us to keep teaching him!! 

 He loves Star Wars and was comparing everything in our lesson to it. For example, the priesthood=the force. It was pretty funny. Sister Stirland and I both know nothing about Star Wars, so it'll be interesting to see what he comes up with and relates to the Plan of Salvation tomorrow. haha.

So this morning for personal study, I was studying the Sabbath day and the Sacrament. In "True to the Faith" it says that the sacrament is an essential part of our worship and our spiritual development. 

 When I read that I was kind of shocked. It says the sacrament is essential to our spiritual development. 

 It doesn't say it's probably a good idea to take the sacrament weekly, but says it is ESSENTIAL. 

 So after I read that I realized that I definitely don't understand the sacrament well enough. I've taken it every Sunday since I can remember and I've always known that you renew your baptismal covenant when you partake of it, but I feel like there's so much more to the sacrament than I ever thought. 

 I was just thinking about how beautiful it is that we pass the bread and water down the rows to one another and how at church, we really do go because we all need help. 

 We all need to be cleansed and receive strength from our Savior. In True to the Faith (I'm obsessed with this booklet btw) it also says, 

 "You do not need to be perfect in order to partake of the sacrament, but you should have a spirit of humility and repentance in your heart. As we approach the sacrament in the right way, it becomes a weekly opportunity for introspection, repentance, and rededication."

 I'm so excited to go to church this Sunday and really try to apply this! I'm grateful that Heavenly Father is so patient with me! I love this gospel and I'm so grateful that there is always something new to learn and new insights to gain. 

 Thank you for all your bday emails!:) Today has been the best day! Love you, love you!

Sister Helton 

I told them about our family tradition to start
each birthday with cake and ice cream on a birthday plate ...

So these wonderful Sisters woke me up with a 20th birthday surprise!