HALFWAY THERE!

Name that song. Okay so! Wow. Crazy week. First of all, I'm sorry I was so scatterbrained when we skyped my mind was going 100 mph but I am so grateful I got to see you guys! Also sorry about all the tears...I promise I'm getting back to normal. Lol. Also I'm sorry I talked so much. After I got off I was so sad I didn't get to hear more about your life and what was going on. So forgive me please. But skyping was El mejor dia! (Best day ever).

So we get to go to the temple every week and I love that I went so much at home because now every time I go it's like a little piece of home :) I love it. So I memorized the first vision in Spanish!! So that was like super duper exciting!!! So yesterday morning we had these sandwich things and you had to cut the rolls open, well it's like 7 in the morning...so I'm still half asleep and I went to cut the roll with this HUGE bread knife...I missed and cut my thumb instead. So that was fine. I'm all good I just laughed it off. Even though it hurt. Like real bad.

Today we get 4 new elders and 2 new sisters :) they´re the Russian speakers from Provo MTC So that's super fun! And then next week we get 15 new sisters and 3 elders lol sisters are taking over the world man. They're the native Spanish speakers so they're only in here for 2 weeks. I'm halfway through with the MTC that's insane. I can't believe it. So in Preach my Gospel my favorite line is "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." It's so true. Everything that is unfair can be made right. I know that's true.

So on Saturdays we go to the park and honestly this week I didn't want to go. I didn't feel like I knew enough Spanish and I just wanted to stay in the MTC. Well I had such a good day! There was this lady who looked so sad and we talked to her and nothing amazing happened but I got her to smile. And honestly that's enough for me. I loved it. Also we sing in the park, singing in Spanish is harder than I thought, not that the actual singing is different but they like combine words into one note and it's just super confusing and I don't like it at all. But I'm getting the hang of it. On Sundays we have singing hour and we practice and then go on the temple steps and just sing :) It's so awesome. Also! On Christmas Eve we went to a nursing home to sing and we were on the news :) So I'm on Spanish tv...nbd ;)

So we have this thing called TRC which is "referrals" and we teach them on Saturday night and we taught a teacher we don't have and after they give you feedback on what you could do better and what you did good. Well he told us "your Spanish is way better than I thought it would be, like way better, like I was talking in my normal speed (fast) and you understood and answered. For third week that's really good." That was so nice to hear! And what's funny about that is we planned a lesson and he totally went off topic so it was all from our heads :) I've realized this week how much Spanish I actually know. I know way more than I thought I did and can speak it! I'm not fluent or even close but I've definitely learned a lot! AND I've gotten way better at conjugating :)

Well I love you all, I pray for you! Have a good week. Pday is back to Thursday next week! Ask me questions or something so I know what to answer or something..idk haha

Love, Hermana Terrazas :)

One More Week Down

HOLA FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!!!!!

This week was so good but so hard. So I wrote things down so hopefully this email will be less chaotic. So on p-day right after I emailed you guys we got to go to the mall in Spain it was the biggest mall I've ever seen!!! Also I got a giraffe :) I just had to.

So we teach investigators that are really teachers but my favorite part of the mission so far is everything we do is for the investigator. Nothing you do on a mission is for yourself. I love that so much!

So we play soccer almost every day for sports. It´s so much fun. The foreigners (Finland, Austria, Scotland) are so into it it's hilarious. But usually I don't play with them, there's two fields and it's funner to play with the people who aren't as good. I scored the first goal the other day..so that's cool :)

We had a devo by Elder Bednar and it was amazing. It was all about knowing if it was the Holy Ghost or us. It was exactly what I needed to hear. He said Quit worrying about it, press forward, be a good boy, be a good girl. One of our teachers is so spiritual. and the other night he told us he'd been thinking about us and shared scriptures with us and it was awesome.

Hna Giorgino is my favorite teacher. She is so spiritual and so caring. Last night I was having a hard time. I just had a break down and every night we go around and say something we're grateful for and I skipped because I just couldn't think of anything, honestly. Well as we go up to bed she gives all the hermanas hugs and she hugged me and said you didn't share and I stared to tear up and told her I just couldn't think of anything and I walked away. Well as soon as I got to my room there was a tiny knock on my door and it was her. She just hugged me and talked to me until I calmed down. it was such a tender mercy. She also gave me chocolate...which helps :)

My favorite scripture this week is Ether 12:27 go read it. So on Sunday we had a special devo by...David Archuleta. So that was cool!!!! He´s a great guy. So humble and spiritual he sang 3 songs and talked about his mission. President told him he should wrap it up so he could rest before he went to do a fireside and he was like no, I love being with the missionaries please can I talk more. It was amazing. Also he was in the temple with us this morning haha.

This week was hard, but in the park I handed out my very first Book of Mormon! It was such an amazing feeling. "Already a baptism" (for those who don´t know thats a quote from best two years...hahaha.) The park is scary but during it, it is so much fun!!! I love it. I sent one picture I'm going to TRY to send more but I'll probably just send them to Bekah and she can post them on the blog since it´s hard to send things here.

Well I love you all, be good. Have a good week.

First Week!!

WHAT THE I´M A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I´m sorry I didn't respond to you all individually. I honestly have no time it´s so stressful and this will be short cause I only have like 10 minutes. It hasn't hit me yet that I´m in Spain weird right? But I do love it here. I´m homesick BUT I´m using you all as motivation not to depress me :) so motivate me by writing emails/letters ;) SHOUT OUT TO RACHEL MOM AND SAVANNAH. You made my life. Mom your the best for sending me those things I forgot I was so depressed when I realized on the plane. I almost asked them to turn the plane around...haha and thank you rachel and savannah for the letters. They helped me so much.

It´s hard here I feel like I´m never going to learn the language but I have to remind myself I´ve only been here a week...that´s not very long. But I am improving. The gift of tongues is real. I mean I can´t like go off in spanish but we are learning faster than the average person and I KNOW it´s not because I´m a genius haha

So we basically go to classes all the time. I love my district and my companion (Hna. Steinfeldt). There´s only 8 elders in the MTC and 24 sisters. They said this is the first time that´s ever happened! haha But I love how small it is everyone knows everyone. It´s great. There are 6 of us in my room (my district) and then 2 elders in my district. We´re all really close so we get distracted a lot...its frustrating because I try really hard to study but it´s difficult when everyone is talking, but I love them nonetheless.

We get to go out around town during lunch or dinner and do whatever they're pretty relaxed here. We go out side to play soccer everyday at 5 which is so nice to get out but my knee is in pain every night so that´s a bummer. I love my teachers they are hilarious. And so sweet. I have never felt the spirit more than I do now. I love it. We have pday on Tuesday this week so you´ll here from me soon :) also I get to skype on Christmas my time 9pm so like 1 your time? I think that´s how it works at least. I am so sorry this is scatterbrained. The time limit literally stresses me out. I don´t like it. If I don´t know why I was here (and I didn't until I got here) then there´s no way I would be able to handle this. It´s HARD the hardest thing I've done waking up at 6:30 knowing I´m going to a day full of classes and teaching ´´investigators´ (teachers) is hard but I've also never felt like I belonged some place more. Not that I fit in, I don´t quite feel like I fit in with all the hermanas but I know I belong here. My MTC President told me ´you belong to your companion you belong to your district, and you belong to me.´ That man is called of God. I love him.

We get to go out exploring for Pday today I´m so excited! Oh on saturdays we go to the park to teach...talk about TERRIFYING. I don´t know spanish. But it wasn't as bad as I thought! I'm sorry this is so scatterbrained. But that's how my brain is. Maybe next week will be better.

I love you all. Thank you for the encouragement. I´m sorry I didn't respond to everyone but know I love you and those emails were the only thing that got me through this week and will get me through next week. I love being a missionary. I´m so grateful God trusts ME little old Ruth who is a spaz and always gets hurt and can´t speak spanish to go testify to the people of Spain that he loves them. Talk about a blessing.

We had a Christmas devo from Elder Holland (I think last years?) I'll ask, you all need to watch it. So powerful. My mission doesn't end in spain. This is for forever. I´m learning things here that I will use my entire life.

So every week everyone has to prepare a talk on an assigned subject in SPANISH and you don´t know who´s going to talk until sunday during church.  I DON´T SPEAK SPANISH PEOPLE but of course...I got called on to talk. It was terrifying but so good to get it out of the way. And I still felt the spirit.

One of my night time teachers (Hna. Giorgino) is the best blessing here. She is so loving and I feel the spirit every time she talks. She is my favorite I feel so close to her. Also my MTC President & his wife are so great. >They´re hilarious they call themselves our mission ´mom and dad´and they are. They treat me just like my parents would (don´t worry I´ll always love you more) but it helps so much on days when I just want to give up. There´s always someone here to pick me back up.

We also get to go to the temple every week, it is such a blessing. The Madrid temple is GORGEOUS. The prettiest temple I've ever been to. Well I love you all, please continue to write/email me, I could use the encouragement and motivation I´m sorry again for how scatterbrained this is. I´ll try to plan or something next week I promise :) I love you all so much and am so grateful for your support, I need all the help I can get.

I know Heavenly Father watches over ALL his children and he listens to prayers. There´s not a doubt in my mind that he isn't watching over me. I am so humbled to teach the Spanish people in the spanish language. I was called to speak Spanish to be humbled, every day you hear one of us saying ´why can´t i say this in english it would be so much easier I could do it in spanish´but I know I wouldn't rely on the Lord as much. That´s why I´m here. I love you all, be good make good choices and don´t forget about your Hermana in Spain.

Love Hermana Terrrazas :)

ps. all the teachers and everyone here says they like me the best because they can actually pronounce my name. Oh yeah. Hey dad would you be willing to send me grandaddy bobs email? I don´t have it. Okay bye for real.

I'M SAFE

Well I´m safe and sound at the MTC! I didn´t email everyone because I dont have my address book and we dont have much time but Im sending it to the peoples I remember. <good thing my memory is pretty great huh? ;) But I´m here I didn´t get lost in germany so thats always good. 

First off please tell everyone THANK YOU for writing in the book. Seriously it was a lifesaver. I was laughing and crying and Im pretty sure the people thought I was bipolar. But oh well. The flights were LONG and people thought I was dutch or something and so that was confusing but oh well. <there was one Elder on my flight from LA to Germany so that was cool but super awkward. Apparently I´m already awkward, or maybe thats just my normal self I´m not sure. <there was 10 sisters and 2 elders from Germany to Madrid so that was super fun! It was so comforting already knowing faces...seriously such a huge blessing. I can´t belive I´m here. I didn´t sleep a wink on the plane so I´m running on zero sleep but thats okay. 

Oh My Gosh I´m a real life missionary guys. It was harder to leave than I expected but I also pulled myself together pretty dang fast if you ask me. (meaning I had stopped crying by the end of the Santa Maria flight. Mostly because I was laughing from all the notes. I AM SO BLESSED FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Shout out to Savannah for doing that for me. The sweetest thing ever seriouisly. It means the world to me. I love you all so much you are the best. I can´t say that enough. 

Well I´m not sure what else to say. We´re about to have interviews with the President so that´s exciting and also scary. Also this keyboard is like major confusing so sorry for the random things in there...I don´t know how to work. Also everyones speaking spanish so I don´t understand a thing.Its exciting!! Well I love you all have a good week I´ll email you on Pday :)  

           Love, Hermana Terrazas :)

ps...everyone should email me ya? :)

PS We don´t get a Pday this week so the next time I email you won´t be until next Thursday...so you´ll have plenty of time to email me :) But just so no one worries! It´ll be over a week.

Mission Call

After waiting for about 4 months to receive a mission call I finally got it on July 25, 2014!

I was originally going to wait until Saturday night to open it (I got it Friday) so that all my siblings could be there but I couldn't wait. I probably waited about 15 minutes for Savannah to get there & that was enough waiting!



Dear Sister Terrazas,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Spain Barcelona Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You should report to the Spain Missionary Training Center on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

            

 I know without a doubt in my mind that the Spain Barcelona Mission is the exact place I need to be. I know that the timing is perfect and I could not be more excited to go serve the people of Spain! I'm so blessed to have this opportunity!

What it Means to be a Member

A lot of talk is going around about Ordain Women and Kate Kelly. I usually don't talk about my thoughts or feelings about this things but I felt it was necessary at this point.
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we promise to "stand as witnesses of Christ" to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and to serve him. While I do not agree with the Ordain Women viewpoint I am in no way happy that Kate Kelly was excommunicated from the church, I am quite sad in fact. I pray and hope that one day she will come back, I don't agree with anyone "trash" talking her or saying she deserved it. But that being said, I also don't agree with anyone bashing any of the leaders or doctrine of the church. As members of this church we SUSTAIN our leaders, that includes the prophet and apostles AND local leaders. Local leaders are called of God to act as CHRIST would. I can assume that no one would say that Christ was being malicious in his council, well when a Bishop or Stake President makes council they are doing that as Christ would, therefore we should follow it as we would if Christ was telling it to us face to face. Now this does not mean that we are forced or should just do everything robotically, it is okay to ask question and not understand something, but we should seek answers by talking to our Bishop or Stake President, reading the scriptures, and praying. That's what those wonderful tools are for. But when Bishops and Stake President make council, or certain discipline they are doing it out of LOVE and in no way for malice. I can be positive that it did in no way make any of Kate Kelly's local leaders happy that they excommunicated her, actually I'm sure it hurt their hearts. She, like all of us, is a child of God and should be treated like so.
I LOVE being a member of this church. I have never ONCE felt forced to do anything or like I was not able to ask questions. Quite the opposite actually, I have been taught that I have agency to choose from the time I was little. This church has brought me so much joy and has taught me that everyone is a child of God regardless of who they are or what they have done, and everyone deserves to be treated as such.

Sisterhood

This is something that I have been thinking A LOT about. And today I just felt overwhelmed with emotions about the sisterhood I feel belonging to this church. As I fail to try to sleep a lot runs through my mind but one thing it always comes back to is gratitude. There is a Facebook page for sister missionaries, it is for girls preparing, girls who are just thinking about going on a mission, sister missionaries now, returned sister missionaries, & moms of sister missionaries. Holy cow it is the best Facebook page I have ever come across. The immense love and sisterhood on that page is unbelievable I have never felt such love from strangers. It is one the greatest blessings to me as I prepare to serve a mission myself. Everything is on there from questions whether that be about a mission, what to bring, or anything to calls about where people are going to people asking for advice to people posting uplifting messages. And the comments they are tremendous. Many of us have started becoming Facebook friends and you truly do feel a connection with these sisters. We are from all over but we all have one thing in common: we LOVE the gospel. And it shows. Sisters offer to help like none other, it never fails anytime there is a post there are MULTIPLE comments either giving advice, words of encouragement or love, or telling that sister to message them so they can talk so they can help! It is my favorite part of Facebook. It is truly showing that social media is not just for the bad, but it can truly be used for good. The hymn "Sisters in Zion" truly applies here. And we all know it. We are sisters. I am so grateful for this page & for these wonderful girls who always give words of encouragement & advice. Through this we all know that we are never alone & there is always someone who has gone through what your going through.

Postponed.

My mission papers were officially submitted May 2nd and I had been waiting patiently {kind of?} for my call to come, well some time had passed and so the Stake President called the mission department to see what was going on. It turns out that after someone has a panic attack they have to wait 6 months to even submit papers. My last one was in January...so I was told I have to wait until the end of June and then resubmit my papers. So many emotions ran through my mind: disappointment, anger, sadness, confusion, and finally peace.

Its hard being excited about something and then being told that the good efforts you are trying to make aren't enough. I know I will go on a mission and technically a month isn't that long but it feels like an eternity to me. Honestly. All I could think about was going to church and having everyone come up to me asking me if I heard any news or had gotten my call yet, and while I am so grateful to be surrounded by loving, supportive people all around me it's very disheartening to always have people asking you questions you can't answer. And then having to tell everyone why I had to resubmit my papers. Not that its a bad thing but it is personal, and not something I told hardly anyone, I mostly kept it to myself and liked it that way. Mostly I just didn't want anyone worrying about me. [so don't worry, I'm goooood] 

As I mentioned earlier five main emotions passed through me, disappointment, anger, sadness, confusion, and finally peace. The first four are pretty self explanatory as to why I was feeling those but the last one not so much. While this news was pretty sucky to hear, after waiting almost a month thinking I was going to get my call any day hearing that I would have to wait another month to even submit my papers and then start this waiting period over was not exactly the highlight of my day. After feeling sorry for myself for a little bit I decided to stop it. There was no point in being sad and all sorrowful when there was nothing that I could do about it. No matter what I had to wait until the end of June to turn my papers in there was no getting around that, nothing I could do could make it go faster. Life happens. "If we were given everything we wanted right then, what would we work for?" Mostly I was disappointed because I had everything planned out and I wanted it to go exactly how I had planned (not because I'm stubborn or anything......) because obviously, I know best. WRONG. Oh I was so wrong. I don't know anything, let's be honest. I should have known by now that when I try to plan things like this in my life they just don't work out the way I plan them to, I should expect this by now. I know everything will work out better than what I planned simply because it's not in my hands. I know that I will serve my mission where and when I need to serve. I was talking to a good friend about all this when I was still feeling all sad for myself and he said "If you know what God wants you to do, there is literally nothing that can stop you. Simple is that." And as much as I hate to admit it, how right is he? 

So yes my mission is going to be postponed a little bit, but that's alright. It's better actually! Things will work out the way they need to. I have faith. I'm going on a mission to serve God so shouldn't I go when he needs me to? 

Mission

Hello! So I decided to make this my mission blog because my other blog is my personal one and this one was used for a religion class so it's perfect for a mission!
As of today my papers are officially in. Oh. My. Goodness. Excited is an understatement, I am overjoyed to be going on a mission. I'm not going to lie, it's been a really hard trying experience. I have never once (since I decided to go) doubted that I wanted and needed to serve a mission, but that doesn't always mean it's easy. There have been plenty of time when other {worries} have crept into my mind, especially when it comes to family [not that I'm worried for my family or anything] but just all the things I'd be missing out on. Here was my main list:

•  Babies. (Sarah's child that is in her belly and if anyone else gets pregnant while I'm gone). This one hit me hard-- to not even MEET my niece/nephews for a year and a half that's a long time to miss out on.
• Simply being able to spend time/call my siblings/parents whenver I wanted/needed to. I rely on my family so much and the strength, love, and support I have always received from them. Not being able to communicate regularly will be difficult. 
• Marriages-- don't get me wrong I would be so happy ecstatic if any of you got married while I was gone! But it would also be extremely hard to not be able to be there with you. {I was already promised to be a cardboard cutout for picture ;) that eased my worries a little}
• Being away from school-- I came home to prepare for my mission and while I am so happy to be at home I miss school, roommates, friends, and my sisters up there. It is hard to see everyone up there having a blast making memories and not be there. 
• Relationships-- this one is interesting. I know I need to serve a mission and I want to serve one but in the back of my mind there is this little corner of worry that maybe I'm missing out on a relationship that could be a future husband, but then the smarter part of my brain knows that I don't need to worry about this and it will all work out after I serve a mission. 

That's my list, it's not very long but everything on there is extremely important to me, I knowt things will be different when I come home I've learned to accept that people will be married/have babies and many other things I probably wouldn't even think would happen, will, but that's life. As I've talked to people/prayed about my worries I've come to one conclusion: 

I'm going on a mission, the Lord will bless me so all these "worries" [if they do happen] won't matter. The Lord will give us nothing we can't handle. So why would this promise not be the same for missionaries with these worries? I know that going on a mission is the right thing for me so these worries will all be okay. Yes, it might still be hard but life is hard. If I chose to stay home I would still face hard things, so why not face them while doing the Lords work?

One night I was having a rather hard time, I was thinking of every possible thing to worry/doubt and having a panic attack. I sat down and decided to make my doubts real. I wanted to make them real so that I could find a way to start doubting my doubts instead of my faith. So I wrote them down I decided to say a prayer, write them down, and have faith that the Lord would ease my mind or answer my doubts. Wow was I amazed. As I went to write them down all those worries that I wrote above vanished, to the point where I didn't even think they were a big enough deal to write down. All I could think of were two doubts {only two} out of everything racing through my mind that night (and the past couple weeks) it came down to two.
Before I could even finish writing down my first doubt the answer to take that doubt away came to me. And same with the second. I wrote them down in my journal so if I ever doubted again I could look back and either add to that list, or see that whenever I have doubt the Lord will give me peace.

So, if you are ever feeling doubt, worry, or anything unsettling: pray. I promise that the Lord will give you rest, he will ease your mind and take away your doubts.

The Savior's Instructions about the Holy Ghost

1. What did the Savior teach about (1) what the Holy Ghost does and (2) what disciples must do to receive the Holy Ghost:

• John 14:15-17- the Holy Ghost is a comforter. To receive the Holy Ghost disciples must keep the commandments. 
• John 14: 26-27- he teaches, he gives peace. Disciples must not be troubled or afraid.
• John 15: 26-27- he testifies of Christ,. Disciples must bear witness of Christ.
• John 16: 7-8- he reproves the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgement.
• John 16: 13-14- he will guide you in all truth, show all things to come, glorify Christ, and show it unto you.

2. Add to your list above as you study the following resources:

• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, "The Holy Ghost Brings Man to His Fullest Potential" (pg. 168)- The Holy Ghost helps with everything even wisdom and intellect. It develops everything of good nature like sympathy, joy, kind feelings, and affection. The Holy Ghost inspires virtues such as kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, charity, and virtue. It beautifies everything it touches even people. The Holy Ghost is everything to us, as the manual said "It is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."
• Institute student manual Points to Ponder, "As a Messenger of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost Teaches Faithful Members" (pg. 168)- The Holy Ghost is a likeness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, he instructs and enlightens the minds of those who keep the commandments, he bears witness of the truth and reveals mysteries of the kingdom of God to those who have made covenants, he is a special messenger. Disciples must be faithful in keeping their commandments in order to have the Holy Ghost. 
• Bible Dictionary, "Holy Ghost" (pg. 704)- The Holy Ghost is a power and a gift. The power is the convincing witness that the gospel is true it's what we get testimonies from. The gift is a cleansing agent that purifies us from sin. Disciples have to be baptized and conferred to have the gift of the Holy Ghost, they have to be worthy of the companionship.

3. Review your list of what the Holy Ghost does. Then write responses to the following tasks: 

• Describe how the Holy Ghost helped the Apostles fulfill their missions after the Savior's death and resurrection. 
• After the Savior died the Holy Ghost helped the Apostles fulfill their missions by letting them know what to do. The Spirit guided them in what they should teach and who they should teach, instead of having Christ there to help teach them what to do the Holy Ghost was their new companion.
• Write a paragraph about a time when the Holy Ghost blessed you in one of the ways you listed above. Give an example of how the Holy Ghost has inspired you. 
• I have been lucky to have been blessed by the Holy Ghost on multiple occasions in multiple different ways. One specific incident that I remember quite well because it just happened this semester was the Holy Ghost guiding me in truth and showing me what I was to do. I was having a really tough time deciding whether or not I needed to move to Utah or stay at BYU-Idaho, I couldn't decide what was right. At first I felt like I needed to move to Utah and I felt super strong about it and then as things started falling in place my parents told me they didn't support that idea anymore. I was very confused. I fasted, prayed, read my scriptures I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I got a blessing and it still didn't tell me. I was at a loss, and then one morning I was doing my homework and it just popped in my head loud and clear that I needed to stay in Idaho. I tried to ignore it saying it was just me saying that but it would not go away. I couldn't focus on my homework because the thought was so loud. I put down my homework and read my scriptures and felt good about staying in Idaho even though it wasn't what I wanted at first. I still don't know exactly why I'm supposed to stay in Idaho but I know that I will be happiest here because the Holy Ghost confirmed that to me.
• The Holy Ghost has inspired me many times. It has inspired me to say something to someone or to leave nice notes for my roommates when I wasn't sure why and then I would find out later they were going through a hard time and really needed words of encouragement. 

A New Commandment

1. Others will know that we are disciples of Christ if we show love to everyone, Christ has never ending love to everyone and so we need to show that same love.
2. If someone were being ridiculed or made fun of for the way they dressed I feel like Jesus Christ would stand up for that person. He would make sure that they didn't feel alone and try to stop the others from ridiculing without being mean. He would make the person being made fun of feel loved.
If someone were new at church I feel like Jesus Christ would go up to them introduce himself and be their friend. He would show them where their class was and sit by them so they wouldn't be alone.
3. I hope that by the way I act everyone I come in contact with knows that I am a disciple of Christ. I am going to focus on my old roommate who is on a mission and write her a letter of uplifting words because she is having a hard time with her new companion. So I am going to try to be like Christ and uplift and love her so hopefully she can love her companion!

Preparing for the Savior's Second Coming

1. Mark 13: 5, 9, 23, 33, 35, 37 and identify the words take heed and watch in each verse. List at least three things from this chapter that believers could watch for in order to be prepared to meet the Lord.

Three things that believers could watch for in order to be prepared to meet the Lord are:
1. Men trying to deceive you
2. Being brought before rulers and kings for Christ
3. What the Lord has already warned us for

2. Explain in writing any other additional truths that are taught in the following references about how to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

• D&C 87:8- It cometh quickly so be prepared now, stand in holy places be immovable.
• Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:32- Listen to the voice of the Lord he will strengthen you during the destruction, he has promised that if you listen to his word he will fight your battles for you.
• Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:37- Treasure the Lords word and continue to endure to the end if you do the angels will protect you.
• Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:46-50- Always be prepared for the Second Coming of Christ, be a faithful and wise servant.
• D&C 33:17-Be faithful, pray always, always be prepared- have oil in your lamp.
• D&C 45: 56-57- Have oil in your lamp, receive the truth, do not be deceived. 

Temporal Marriage and the Resurrection

1. The Sadducee's believed there is no resurrection, no spirit, or angel. I believe that that means that the Sadducee's question was sincere, they were truly curious as to what would happen since they believed there was no resurrection.
2. Matthew 22:30 does not say there will be no eternal marriage in the resurrection just that no marriages will be performed, there is a difference because marriage will be eternal we know that but that is why it is so important to go to the temple in the life.

• "In the resurrection there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity."
• Doctrine and Covenants 132:15-16 help us understand Matthew 22:30 because it goes into much more depth about how it's not that there is no marriage in the resurrection but that we have to bind that marriage on Earth in order for there to be an eternal marriage. 
• I feel like the main reason there is not marriage in the resurrection is because we are commanded to have temple marriages here and we have to live worthy to have those and continue to live worthy which shows our obedience and dedication to the Lord whereas if we knew we could just get married in the resurrection we wouldn't strive as hard to live worthy and make that covenant now. 

Earthly and Heavenly Rewards

1.

• The indications I got that the young man decided not to follow the Savior were that when the Savior told him all he needed to do was to sell all he had to the poor he went away sorrowful because of all the great things he had instead of gladly going and selling his possessions.
•  The Savior promised that those who make sacrifices to follow him will sit in the throne of glory, will receive an hundredfold, and have everlasting life.
• The Savior tells Peter that anyone who follows him and puts the Lord above all else will receive an hundredfold more than they ever had on Earth. It can be hard to put aside the things of the world and follow the Lord, to completely get rid of all worldly things but with what he tells Peter its worth it. Our reward in heaven is so great if we can make the sacrifices here on this Earth. 

2.

The hours the laborers were hired	How much they agreed to pay	Hours worked	How much they were actually paid
Early in the morning	Penny a day	Twelve hours	Penny
Third hour	Whatsoever is right	Nine hours	Penny
Sixth hour	Whatsoever is right	Six hours	Penny
Ninth hour	Whatsoever is right	Three hours	Penny
Eleventh hour	Whatsoever is right	One hour	Penny

3. The Lord doesn't care when we join his kingdom as long as we come unto him and serve him eventually. This can bring comfort to converts because sometimes converts can feel like because they haven't been in the church that long they don't know as much or aren't as good as the people who have been members their whole life but this parable shows that the Lord doesn't matter when we come unto him, the reward is the same.I would tell someone who thought it was unfair for each of the laborers to be paid equally that the Lords time is different than our time, he doesn't care about the time we've spent he cares about how righteous we have been in that time, he looks in the heart, not on the world.

Being A Disciple of Christ

1. Being a disciple of Christ means a lot of things, it's not an easy task but it is the most rewarding. From the reading these were the main points I got of being a disciple:
-serve others
-give to your neighbor
-seek the kingdom of God, don't worry about worldly things
-strive to enter into the gate
-forsake all you have
-have prayer with Heavenly Father
-have faith
-read your scriptures

2. The one I would like to apply to my life more would be to seek the kingdom of God and not worry about worldly things. This one is hard because even though I love the gospel and Heavenly Father it's hard to put aside the natural man inside of me. Sometimes in life things come up and you know the best option but the worldly one is just so much easier. Not saying I'm making major bad decisions but just the everyday little things its hard to always remember to be seeking the kingdom of God and totally forgetting worldly things. I know that if I apply this then I will be much happier. Yes it may be hard sometimes but in the long run I will be happier and life will be easier because I will always have the spirit with me.

3. Ultimately to be a disciple of Christ we need to come unto Christ in everything. We need to lay aside the worldly things and realize everything that we have is because of him, we are forever indebted to him. Our bodies are his and to be a disciple we need to use them the way he would have us use them. We need to never give up, to give to others, to constantly be serving, being a disciple of Christ means to have joy.

The Savior Healed a Young Man

1. Jesus rebukes his disciples for not being able to heal the man, he tells them three things needed to heal, those were faith, prayer, and fasting.

2. 3 Nephi 18:20 - in this reference it talks about how prayer is needed for miracles to happen, we need to ask the Father and then believe that it will be given unto us.
D&C 50:29 - we have to be purified from sin before we ask for a miracle to happen.
D&C 42:48 - the last one is we have to have faith.

Walking on the Sea

1. The reaction of the Apostles when they first saw the Savior walking towards them was fear, they thought that it was a spirit and were afraid.
2. Peters first response was to say well if it is really you then let me walk on the water to you, that indicated that Peter had faith that all things were possible through Christ, that if it really was Christ then he would be able to walk on the water.
3. Peter began to sink because he got scared, he saw how bad the winds were and was fearful, fear and faith cannot live together.
4. As soon as Peter began to sink he cried unto the Lord to save him and then Jesus immediately put forth his hand to save Peter. He didn't let him wait it out, as soon as he cried out the Lord was there.
5. In this verse it says "if your eye be single to my glory" the principle I got from this verse was if we focus on the Lords will then we can do all things through him. When Peter first asked to walk on the water he had faith that through Christ anything is possible, he didn't have his own will in mind or his own fears. This can be applied in my own life to help me through my storms for comfort. That I know storms are going to come, and they're going to be scary but if my eye is single to his glory then I have no need to fear, I just need faith and he will help me through it. I know that if when I'm going through these storms if I reach out to God I will get through it and anything is possible, but if by chance I do let that fear creep in the second I reach up my hand and ask for help my Lord will immediately reach his hand down to save me.  

John the Baptist

1. John sent two disciples to find Jesus Christ, when they found him they asked, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Jesus sent them back to John and told them to tell him what they saw and heard, the three things I would have told John the Baptist had it been me would have been:

1. The blind received their sight
2. The gospel is preached to the poor
3. The lame walked

2. John sent his two disciples to Christ not so he could know of a surety, he already knew, but he sent them so that they would know. His disciples were having a hard time letting go of John and clinging to Jesus so he sent them to him so they could see that he really was the Christ and he was the one they needed to cling to. 

3. In Matthew and Luke Christ is talking about John the Baptist and says, " Among those that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Joseph Smith then talks about why John the Baptist was one of the greatest prophet he says 

1. He was entrusted to prepare the way for the Lord 
2. He was entrusted to baptize the Son of Man
3. He had the keys and all the power, he was the only one who had the proper authority in the affairs of the kingdom. 

4. John 3:30 says "He must increase, but I must decrease" John knows that his mission was to prepare the way for the Savior, he is not angry that he doesn't get the glory but instead is convincing his disciples of how much more importance Christ is than he. We could take this attitude in our lives by quitting the whole "I know best" attitude. By fully letting God's will take over, knowing that he has a plan and if we let him increase in our life and we decrease then we will be happier in the long run. If we can set aside worldly things to let him increase then our will will decrease and there will be more room for him in our life. 

Miracle's Are Evidence of Faith and God's Power

Reference	Miracles of the Lord	Who Demonstrate Faith
Matthew 8:1-4	Christ healed a leper	The leper
Matthew 8: 5-13	Christ healed the centurions servant.	The centurion
Matthew 8: 14-15	Christ healed Peters wifes mother who had a fever.	Peter’s wifes mother
Matthew 8: 16	Christ cast out the devils with his words and healed those that were sick.	Those that were sick and had spirits in them
Matthew 8: 23-27	Christ calmed the sea	The disciples in the boat
Matthew 8: 28-34	Christ cast evil spirits into the swine.	Two men possessed with devils.
Matthew 9: 20-22 Mark 5: 25-34	Christ healed the woman when she touched his garment	Woman with blood disease
Matthew 9: 27-31	Christ healed the blind men who could not see.	Two blind men
Mark 2: 1-12	Christ healed a man with palsy and forgave his sins.	The man with palsy

Knowing that God has this power strengthens my faith tremendously, I know that when I am sick if I have faith I can be healed. Of course, not always will God heal me like he in the Bible but through blessings I  can be healed. God will heal those who have faith and believe in him. 

We Must Be Born Again

John 3:1-8; Mosiah 5:7

• What is the difference between "seeing" the kingdom of God and "entering" the kingdom of God?
• In order to see the kingdom of God you have to be born again but if you want to enter the kingdom of God you have to be born of water and of the Spirit. Seeing the kingdom of God is like being almost there, you can see it and know its there but are stuck somewhere else, but to enter the kingdom of God you have to be able to inherit it. 
• What did Jesus Christ teach Nicodemus that he must do to enter the kingdom of God?
• He taught Nicodemus that he needs to be born of water and of the Spirit.
• What does it mean to be "born of water"? 
• Being born of water is being baptized. 
• Read Moses 6:59 and list ways that baptism is a symbol of rebirth. Read Romans 6:4 and list how baptism can be a symbol of death.
• Baptism can be a symbol of rebirth as a symbol of being born into the kingdom of heaven, you are sanctified of all sin, like a baby you are brand new. 
• It can be a symbol of death because we are buried with him by baptism like he was raised up after death we walk in our new life. 
• What does it mean to be "born of the Spirit"?
• Being born of the Spirit is to have the Spirit with you all the time. 
• What natural element does the Lord compare with the Spirit? Why is it an effective comparison? 
• The Lord compares the Spirit to the wind, it is a very effective comparison because it is everywhere yet you can't see it, only feel it.

Review John 3:14-17, 35-36

The Father loves all of his children, he loves the world so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to save the world and so we could have eternal life. The father loves the son so much that he gave him power over all things, he put his trust and faith on the Son. The purpose of the Savior was to grant eternal life and that through him the world my be saved. Whosoever believes in Christ will have eternal life. 

The Premortal and Mortal Savior

John 1:1-14; 17:1-5

• The doctrinal connect between these two references is the work that Christ did through Heavenly Father for us. He is the light and through Christ we can receive eternal life.

• Premortal Jesus Christ: 
• The light and life of men
• He is the Word of God
• He created all things 
• John was sent to bear witness of him
• His light shineth in the darkness
• Mortal Jesus Christ:
• He came unto his own and they received him not
• To those who believed he gave power to become sons of God
• Full of grace and truth
• Power over all flesh 
• Glorified through God

• Christ- the annointed, a sacred title, identical to Messiah, expressive of our Lord's divine origin & Godship
• Messiah- identical to Christ
• Jehovah- means "Self-Existent One" or "The Eternal" in ancient Jewish practice it was not to be spoken for fear of incurring divine wrath.
• Immanuel - means God with us, a prophecy of Jesus' birth into mortality. 
• The Word - The Father declares him "the word of my power"