Farewell Talk

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today was a big day for my family and I. Today I got to deliver my farewell talk before I leave on my full time mission to Cleveland Ohio. My theme for my talk was : "Member missionary work."

I know that a lot of you that read this were already there, but I wanted to share what I said for those of you who didn't get to be there! Here is the file: farewell talk

I love you all so much! If you have any questions for me before I leave please shoot me an email or leave an anonymous comment and I'll reply! Thank you each of you for all of your support and love. I couldn't have gotten here without you and your example and love. Every single one of you is amazing. I know Heavenly Father loves you and He will bless and guide you as you choose to follow Him.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen farewell talk

Love,
Samantha

Experiences this week

You too can preach the Gospel. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This week I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in many wonderful mission type experiences. I would like to share some with you briefly.

First, my family had the opportunity to have the full time Elder missionaries at our house for dinner and a short message. It was a wonderful experience for my family and I to be able to ask questions and learn more about the things I will be doing in only a few short weeks. The Spirit that we felt with them in our home was great. I was so happy that I was able to have them over so that my family could see what things I will be doing when I go out to Cleveland Ohio.

Second, one of my good friends was baptized, and today will be confirmed a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch and experience his baptism with him, and oh what a joy it was. The Holy Ghost was present and I felt the Savior's love for my friend. Watching my friend grow and change has been absolutely amazing; I know that his example has strengthened my testimony and faith.

Third, I was able to spend time with family and friends as we helped prepare for Christmas. The Spirit that I feel when I am with family and friends and we are serving others is the best feeling in the whole world! Being able to serve those around us with those I love is awesome. When we are serving others, we are really serving our Heavenly Father. (Mosiah 2:17)

Fourth, I had the opportunity to go to the temple with a great friend of mine. We had the opportunity to do work for those who have passed on without their temple work being completed. I love being in the temple to do this work for those who cannot do it without our help. These people are counting on us and all we have to do is give of ourselves a little time each month, or week (however much you can give) and go to the temple and do their work. They are waiting and only we can do this for them. This work is the difference between paradise and prison for these people.

In conclusion, I just want to say that I am so thankful for this time of year and that I have been so fortunate to spend it with those I hold most dear. I know the Lord has a plan for each and every one of us and His timing is perfect. The timing of the beautiful experiences I got to participate in this week are heaven sent; they are happening now for a reason. I am so thankful for the restored Gospel and I know that it is true, and I cannot wait to share it with the people of Ohio.

I want you to know that your participation in this the Latter Days is crucial. What are you doing to help the Lord further His divine work, and how can you do better? We need to be actively engaged in this great cause, especially at this Christmas season. I want to invite each of you to think of a person or family that needs you this Christmas, and give them your love and service this season. Be a friend to all, and not just now but every day of the year. Heavenly Father needs you to be His missionary too, full time or not: we can all be missionaries today. What will you do? I have shared some of my simple experiences. Be not afraid, open your mouth and it shall be filled if you are continually feasting upon His words. You will be prepared, and the Lord will be able to count on you.

Of this I bear testimony, In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

Something Short

You have to open the door. Trust Him. He loves you.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Power of Hope & Comfort in Trials are two videos that helped me in difficult times. I hope they can help you too.

These past few days have been especially emotional for me, as will the weeks leading up to my departure for my mission. I have been feeling very inadequate and unprepared to leave, and having desires to stay home. But every single time The Lord graciously reminds me that He needs me out there in Cleveland and that I am enough and I do know enough. Every single time He answers my spoken and unspoken prayers. He rescues my wandering heart; He carries me through every storm I cannot stand on my own. He is my Savior and I love Him.

Today I chose to share these videos to remind you this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Christ is knocking at the door and all you have to do is let Him in. All you have to do is have faith in Him and patience in His timing for you and for others.

I want you to know that I know that My Heavenly Father lives and that He knows me and loves me personally. I know that He sent His son, my Elder Brother and Savior Jesus Christ, to live and die for me. I know that the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and it can cleanse and heal every wound and help strengthen anyone who may be struggling with anything weather it be big or small. Everything any of us face, we face with the Savior. He walked our paths personally when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is not one thing in this whole world that He did not face before you did, and He did it all for you. Because He loves you. I promise you that. I know that no matter what is going on, it will all work out; it will all be okay because He lives. Stay close to Him, listen to His Spirit- He will never mislead you.

I want to leave you with this, my testimony of the Savior and His divine role and purpose in our lives.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

Stake Conference

Elder Larry R. Lawrence 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to go to my local stake conference, where Elder Larry R. Lawrence from the quorum of the seventy spoke. Along with Elder Lawrence, we had many other speakers address us. Today the message I wish to share with you is what I learned from them today.

President Camp, our stake president spoke about when he was young, he lived on a farm and he had to help his dad make furrows for watering. He explained that his father was very particular about making sure his furrows were nice and straight; not crooked. The way to do this was by first choosing an object across the field to focus on; line up the tractor nose and never take his sight off that object. Then after the first furrow was made he had to line up the tractor with the path he had already made and keep his paths straight. If he got distracted for even a little bit, the furrows became crooked. He compared this to our lives, how we have to focus our lives on the Savior and every path we walk must line up with His so we can make it back home if we endure till the end.

President Kilpack, the mission president for the mission area I live in, shared this scripture that goes along with President Camp's talk. Isaiah 40: 3-5; 29-31

"3 ¶The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

"29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

President Camp shared 5 ways we can keep our paths straight:
1- Follow the Prophets and Apostles
2- Study Holy Scriptures
3- Participate in Temple Worship
4- Sabbath Day Observance
5- Being Honest

As our concluding speaker, Elder Lawrence spoke about how we can keep Satan from getting in the way of doing the things President Camp instructed us to do. He reminded us that we are all in the midst of an ongoing spiritual war, and we cannot afford to be distracted. He reminded us that in order to adequately fight the war against sin we need to know the enemy's tactics. He shared with us 4 of these tactics and how we can fight each one. They are as follows:

1- He uses direct temptation. The way we fight this is by: sending him away. We have power as Christ's people to say to Satan: "Satan leave me alone! Get away!" Christ did this when He was praying to the Father and Satan was trying to tempt Him. Jesus then, after casting out the devil, quoted scriptures to fill Himself with the Spirit. It is very important that we study, and memorize scripture daily.

2- Satan uses lies and deception. Satan will often tell us that we need to try everything "just once" to experience everything. THIS IS A LIE! We fight this by never trying harmful and potentially addictive things such as drugs, pornography, etc. Not even once!!

3- Satan uses contention to get to us. We must fight this by stopping and making peace, solving the problem right away to halt all contention and anger. We must not seek fault in others.

4- Lastly, Satan uses discouragement to hurt us. We must fight this evil by recognizing that our loss of joy is coming from Satan and doing something to change it. We must be happy. We need to do things to keep us happy and healthy such as exercise, listening to inspiring music, saying sincere prayers, and receiving priesthood blessings. We must learn to bridle our tongue, because Satan only knows the words we speak, not our thoughts. So we must not murmur so the enemy does not find our weakness'.

To conclude, we must always remember that we are in the middle of a war, and we CANNOT afford to become distracted. Remember that if we are on the Lord's side, we will win. Do not quit now, we are almost there. Stand strong. I know that Heavenly Father will help us and love us. We need to remember whose side we are on and fight valiantly and courageously until the end. I know that we can do this. I add my testimony to that of Joseph Smith, and our living Prophet today, Thomas S. Monson that He Lives. He loves us, and He will help us. I know these things are true.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha