Teaching Luana

We've had a good week here at Temple Square. Probably the best part of this week was getting to teach Luana over the phone. Luana lives in the UK and she is originally from Brazil (but you wouldn't know it by talking to her over the phone--her English is perfect). We met her through RC and we could tell that she was "golden". The first time we taught her we learned that she wants to have a closer relationship with God and feel His love more in her life. So we shared with her about prayer and that we can share with Heavenly Father the desires of our hearts instead of a memorized prayer (she is Catholic). We committed her to pray like she was talking with God and also to pray about Joseph Smith to know that he is a prophet of God. So this week we called her and she said that she tried to pray like the way we showed her and she said that she likes it much better and she keeps a prayer in her heart throughout the day. It makes me so happy to hear that something we shared with someone made a difference in their life. This time we taught her about scripture study and how it helps us throughout our day. She loves to read the Bible and she turns to it when she needs council and a little pick-me-up. I could hardly believe the faith that she already has. We shared with her 2 Nephi 32:3 --

 

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."

 

It's true that the scriptures hold the answers to all of our questions. The more we feast instead of just nibbling on them, so to speak, the more we get out of them. I love the scriptures so much! So we committed Luana to read from the Book of Mormon for 10 to 15 minutes a day. She said that she would and she is excited to do it. Missionary work is the best.

 

We also found a girl named Nicole over chat this past week. I've never found someone that was so willing to change as she is. Nicole is my age and she has a friend, John, who is a member of the church that has been sharing with her about our beliefs. She wants to know how to change and how to find relief from the burdens of sin. I love being able to share about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of the Atonement we can always be better, there is always hope for a brighter future if we will just turn our hearts to Him and let Him lift our burdens. It reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures Matt 11:28-30:

 

28.  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

Repentance is such a wonderful gift that we have been given to be able to be freed from our sins. I'm so excited to be able to share with Nicole about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what it can do for her.

 

Today I was on exchanges with Sister Nakajima from Japan. She is in her first transfer and doesn't speak very much English yet. Sister Williams was with Sister Gilbert and they were singing for a youth conference. It was interesting being the senior companion for about an hour. Since Sister Nakajima doesn't speak much English it was pretty much just me contacting people. I'm glad that I'm not a senior companion right now. I still have a lot to learn.