True Obedience

A Thanksgiving pie from mom!!

Dear all,

It has been another miraculous week, but I have begun to expect nothing less! A speaker in sacrament meeting yesterday pointed out that we can't let miracles become commonplace and stop recognizing them, even when they happen so often. I feel blessed to have been able to develop that kind of attitude while serving our God of miracles!

Sister Johnson and me playing the piano!

I had the opportunity to go biking this week! Anyone who knows me really well probably knows that biking isn't my forte. (Don't worry, Dad, I didn't run into any parked cars. Haha!) It was truly a lesson in endurance. Whoever told me that San Antonio is flat should come and bike in the area around the temple. Those hills are pretty great! Very eye opening to just how out of shape I have become! We were riding up one big hill, and I didn't think I could ride any longer. Just as I was about to hop off and walk my bike up the rest of the hill (which would probably have been faster), my eyes caught hold of the temple. I was able to ride the rest of the way up the hill, telling myself that this was surely the last one... but then there was another one, just past the temple. I spent the rest of the day thinking about how sometimes we think that it's very difficult to endure to the temple, thinking "If I can only get to the temple, it will be smooth sailing from there!" We fail to realize that the temple is not an end, but a beginning. A beginning to a life full of events that can be harder than we would like, but only serve to strengthen us! The same can be said for baptism! It was very neat to be able to think about how that principle would apply to our investigators and less-active members we pray for every day.

I had an opportunity this week to see just how much I have grown, and as I've reflected on it, I've grown a little more. We visited a man this week who is very well versed in scripture, including our standard works. He told us that he has spent over 5,000 hours studying "Mormonism" and had some questions for us. We were understandably excited to answer questions, but I was also a little bit nervous, wondering just what his questions were. He soon dove into deep doctrine that neither my companion nor I had ever really studied in depth. We strove to give him simple answers that didn't distract from the simplicity of the message of the Restoration, but he would have none of it. He continued to hound us with more and more questions. (Here is one point that I recognized growth, because not once did I feel frustrated to the point of tears, as I did the first few times this happened to me). He finally asked us what our motives were, and if they were pure. He looked me right in the eyes, so I knew that I would need to answer his question, and not just wait for my companion to know what to say. My heart was pounding just as it used to do before I would finally decide to get up in a testimony meeting. I knew that I needed to testify. My mind immediately jumped to my name tag, and before I could really think about what I was doing, I had it in my hand and I held it out to him. I said: "The answer is here on this name tag. I have left my family for 18 months. I have left everything behind. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. But I have done it because I love my Savior and I love my God. Because I know that our Father loves us and has not left us alone to find our own way back to Him. And I will spend every breath to my very last declaring this gospel to all of God's children. I will continue to serve my fellowmen and my Father and His Son until the day I die. Out of love." Call me a horrible missionary, but I don't really remember much of what he said after that. I do know, however, that he didn't like my answer. He stared at me blankly for a few seconds before telling me that my motive wasn't enough, that love couldn't be a pure motive for anything, or something of that nature. I calmly put my tag back on, willing my heart to be calm as well. We eventually were able to leave with a prayer, leaving him with a chapter in the Book of Mormon to read and ponder. I have spent much time over the last few days thinking about his question and the answer that I gave.



It is incredible to me how much one person can change in as little as 11 months. My memory immediately jumped to the first time someone attempted to bash with me and my fearless trainer, Sister Gagon. I remember having the same feeling and wanting to testify and know what to say, but not having the courage to truly open my mouth, other than to mumble some apologies. I remember another time, this time with Sister Montclair, when I just sat and allowed my companion to testify, terrified of the woman who sat in front of us. The Lord has allowed me to grow so much, and I hardly recognized it until that day this last week. I was able to open my mouth and testify with all the feeling and surety in my heart that I love my Heavenly Father and I love my Savior and I know that They love us. There was no hesitation, no "Maybe Sister Johnson will know what to say". And because I opened my mouth, I was able to feel the Spirit confirm my words and help me know that my motive was pure, despite what the man said. There is no better feeling in this world than to feel of our Father's love, and that's what I felt that day.

But I was left to ponder what my answer would have been in the past if I had had the courage to open my mouth. All I can say is that I know it has changed, because I have changed. I have learned!

Before being a missionary, I would often think about what the hardest thing to teach people would be. I concluded that it would be the Word of Wisdom, for various reasons. When I arrived in the field, I changed my answer to the Law of Chastity. Later, I decided that it was definitely the Law of Tithing. Then I changed my answer again. And again. But now, as I look back, and especially as I've reflected over the last week... I realize that the hardest thing to help people understand is what true obedience is.

True obedience isn't following a strict set of laws and rules perfectly, and maybe even a little grudgingly. It's not doing things because you know you're supposed to, or making yourself miserable over every little detail of every little rule, hoping that one day you will be saved. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: "It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become."

True obedience is recognizing what our Heavenly Father wants us to become, and allowing Him to change us. Elder Von G. Keetch taught: "True obedience... is giving ourselves entirely to Him and allowing Him to chart our course both in calm waters and in troubled ones, understanding that He can make more of us than we could ever make of ourselves." We have to be willing to do more than sacrifice, but be willing to completely give our will to Him and make His will our own.

The first and great commandment, as taught by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry, is: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37). What does this mean to you? If we look at the commandments as a large list of dos and don'ts, are we really loving the Lord our God will all of our heart, soul, and mind? If we grudgingly throw away our coffee, or reluctantly stop mowing the lawn on Sunday are we really showing God that we love Him? True obedience starts in the heart. Again, we have to be willing to do more than sacrifice, but be willing to completely give our will to Him and make His will our own. It is then that obedience becomes less of a duty and more of a privilege.

When we come to understand this, commandments such as the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity are no longer lists of rules and dos and don'ts. We stop looking at them as barriers. We instead ask ourselves "Do I love the Lord?" Then we won't have excuses like "But I like my beer!" or "But I can't afford the rent on my own. I need to live here with my boyfriend." We will instead recognize the will of the Lord and do all we can to make it our own. Out of love! We pour the alcohol down the drain. We move out the next day. We show the Lord that we love Him with our whole heart and soul and mind.

What manner of men ought we to be? Even as Christ is. (see 3 Nephi 27:27) He lived the perfect life. He did not give in to a single temptation. He did not question the will of the Father. He loved His Father perfectly. His was the ultimate act of true obedience. In Gethsemane, our Savior prayed unto the Father: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me," but followed with perfect love, "nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done."

May this ever be our own prayer!

Love,
Sister Waite

Praise to The Lord!

Dear all,

How glorious is the work of the Lord! It brings me such great joy to be an agent of the Lord; serving Him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. The miracles are never ceasing!

This week, while I pondered things that I could work on to be a more effective servant, my train of thought led me to realize the many great purposes our Father in Heaven has for all that He does. There is not one single thing that He has ever done that serves no purpose or one purpose only. Missionary work is not an exception to this. Some purposes for missionary work that I've come up with are: 

Great and Awesome
missionaries of  The Lord
Sister Waite and Sister Johnson

1. To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel

2. To spread the light of the gospel in order to counteract ever increasing availability of wickedness

3. To strengthen the stakes of Zion

4. To increase our vision

5. To hasten the work and purposes of the Lord

6. To prepare the future leaders of the church physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually for the challenges they will face 

There are so many more! God does not create anything without a purpose. If so, He would cease to be God (see 2 Nephi 2:12). I used to only see one or two purposes for missionary work. Over my mission, my vision has expanded and been raised higher than ever before. Before I served my Master, I did not know Him. I surely thought that I did, but how little did I actually know! HE LOVES US. HE HAS SUCH A VISION. I can hardly wait to know Him even more. (see Mosiah 5:13)

Sister Waite and Sister Johnson and their car!

This week was one of miracles! We met so many people who are willing to continue learning, our investigator on date is on fire with the gospel, members are bringing family members and friends to church and sharing the gospel, and the work continues onward!

I was privileged to give a training to the new missionaries and their trainers at a special meeting this week. It was incredible to feel of God's love for His children as I studied and prayed and pondered and prayed some more about what it was that HE wanted them to know. This work is truly led by Him. I do not remember most of what I said while giving my training, but I know that it was what He needed them to know. It was neat to listen to them ask questions and to be able to answer them. It was sort of a weird double vision thing: I could see how much I have grown and how much these Elders and Sisters are sure to grow. Incredible! 

Sister Waite with President and Sister Slaughter
and all the lead missionaries at a Sunday evening training.

The TSAM is full of remarkable missionaries. I will be ever grateful for the call to serve here in this wonderful work with these wonderful people. I can imagine no greater call nor place! 

I was reading in 3 Nephi 11 this week, and had one of the sweetest spiritual experiences of my life. Oh, how I look forward to the day that my ears will hear the voice of my Father! For my ears will be open and I will look steadfastly to Him! I once had someone ask me what I would do if Christ walked into the room. I had a hard time deciding exactly what I would do. But this is my answer now: I don't know that I would have the power to do anything BUT fall to the earth and worship Him! He is my Savior! However, I do know, also, that He wouldn't let me stay there for long. He would tell me to arise and come forth unto Him. To come to know Him as the Savior, just as He did with the Nephites. What a joyful day that will be! Praise to the Lord!

Love, 

Sister Waite

P.S. Have a glorious Thanksgiving! At the risk of sounding incredibly cheesy, may I also add: Gratitude is an attitude! :) 

"Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances--whatever they may be."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Grateful In Any Circumstance, April 2014 General Conference

Goodbye, Austin!

Dear all, 

This week has been an incredible whirlwind of so much that it's gone in a blur. It's one of those things where it feels like last Monday was three years ago, yet it also feels like it was 5 minutes ago. Time is a weird thing like that. 

Why was time a weird thing this week?! Transfers, that's why! I got the news to pack up on Tuesday and showed up to transfer meeting on Thursday anxious and ready to know where I would be spending the next 5 weeks of my mission (we'll be having transfers a little early this time around because of Christmas). In the TSAM, we have two transfer meetings: one in San Antonio at 9 am and one in Austin at 2 pm. The missionaries in San Antonio gather to hear who will be going where, and it takes about an hour. Then, missionaries staying in San Antonio get to go back to work, and those going up to Austin head on up! The Austin transfer meeting goes the same way. They call out areas and which missionaries will be serving there. If your name isn't called, you know that you're either heading up to Austin or down to San Antonio, depending on which meeting you're at. (Don't worry if you're confused... I'm confused, too. We're in this together.) 

Taking A Break From Packing for Some Silly Faces!

I waited anxiously as they called names, but mine wasn't called. If you successfully deciphered that last paragraph, you know what that means... I'm now in San Antonio! It's a little different, but Texas is still Texas and I still love it! I'm in an area called Balcones Heights with my wonderful companion Sister Johnson! I've also been given the special assignment to be a historian. I have the opportunity to go to a bunch of meetings and take notes and gather blurbs from other missionaries about their thoughts and feelings on the meeting and put them all together into a monthly history of the mission that will be sent to Salt Lake and be available to anyone in the world! So lots of writing! I'm so excited! I get to catch the vision of the mission and put it into words! 

Balcones Heights is incredible! So many miracles are happening! I can hardly wait to see more and more! There are so many people out and about! That's one thing I missed about my first area. I'm so excited to talk to everyone and open my mouth and share the gospel! 

I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week and learned something new. (When does that not happen, though? Isn't the word of God so incredible?) I was reading in 3 Nephi 7:18. It says: 

"...it came to pass that they were angry with him, even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily." 

Nephi, an incredible missionary and prophet, had been teaching a people who just didn't want to listen. Yet, because of his faith, it was not possible for them to disbelieve his words! Oh that I could have such great faith as Nephi that people could not disbelieve my words! It seems unattainable, but it isn't! How can I gain such great faith? Here are some of my ideas:

    * Earnest prayers

    * Scripture STUDY, not just reading

    * Repentance

    * Obedience

    * Service

    * Preparation for revelation

These are all ideas on how you, too, can increase your faith. What are some other ideas that you have? I'd love to hear them! 

May we always be seeking to increase our faith in the Redeemer of this world! 

Love, 

Sister Waite

Doubt Not, But Be Believing

Dear all, 

What a whirlwind of miracles this week has been! It included knocking at the wrong address and finding a prepared family, deciding to visit a former investigator at exactly the right time and helping the Lord lift them, and helping a returning member get rid of books that "Don't belong in a temple," to quote her. This has been one of the fastest weeks of my entire mission! There wasn't a spare moment that we weren't rushing to and from appointments! The Lord is good and is hastening His work!

I hope all is going well for you and you are seeing the Lord's hand in your life! Isn't He so good to us all?

There are so many miracles to be found in the scriptures! Moses splitting the Red Sea, the dead brought back to life, many miraculous healings, etc. Not to mention the greatest miracle of all: the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

"I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are" (Mormon 9:11).

"Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?

Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?

And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.

And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles" (Mormon 9:16-19).

There are so many miracles to be found in the scriptures, and those miracles have not ceased today! Yet so many people claim that they have! Why would that be?

"And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust" (Mormon 9:20).

One of the reasons miracles "cease" is that we are not being obedient, but another, very important reason is that they DO NOT KNOW THE GOD IN WHOM THEY SHOULD TRUST!

Who is the God whom we should trust?

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith" (2 Nephi 27:23).

Are we trusting the promised of God? He tells us constantly that He is a God of miracles. As we trust that promise, our faith will increase and our eyes will be opened to the miracles that are always pouring down upon us. 

"...Doubt not, but be believing..." (Mormon 9:27).

If we recognize the small miracles in our lives, the mighty ones will become more apparent. Doubt not, but be believing! The miracles are there! Know the God in whom you trust! 

Love, 

Sister Waite

Repentance

Dear all, 

I am ever grateful for the miracle of the Atonement. To think that I am not left to wallow in sin or to deal with trials alone fills my soul with such sweet joy! And to think that I have been called and chosen to share that message and that joy with the people of Texas leads me to marvel at the great Plan of our Father. Again, I ask you: "have we not reason to rejoice?" "I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name (Alma 26:35)."

This was definitely an interesting week. Long story short... things didn't go according to plan! But that's okay, because the Lord always provides a way for us to see miracles. I have never felt so ineffective as a missionary, but I've also never seen such great miracles! We now have three people with a solid baptism date, we had nine investigators at church, and we continue to find! I wish I could list out for you every miracle we saw this week... but that would take too long! This is truly the Lord's work and He is so patient with His imperfect and fallen servants. I can hardly wait to continue the work this week and be the most effective servant I can be!

During a study this week, I had an interesting epiphany about repentance. We've been working with a recent convert who says she doesn't feel worthy of coming to church. That made me SO SAD. So, I dedicated an entire hour of study to repentance. The simplicity of that doctrine astounded me! I don't know why it's always been so intimidating! Repentance involves a change of heart and a desire to forsake sin and serve God. Repentance requires a desire, NOT PERFECTION. If repentance required perfection, then wouldn't we all be in a pickle? Thank heavens it doesn't! All it requires is a change of heart and a desire to change. Repentance isn't so much giving up things, it is allowing our Savior to change us so that we no longer want them. We have to be patient with ourselves. Change takes time. Real repentance comes with a change of heart. Mosiah 5:2 describes it as a "mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." A disposition to do good continually does not mean that we do not sin or make mistakes, it means that we do not WANT to sin or make mistakes. When we desire to do good continually is when we are truly repentant. And the Lord rejoices over the repentant soul. (Luke 15:3-7) He will search for and reach out to us forever! (Alma 5:60) 

Jesus Christ suffered so that we won't have to if we will only repent and allow our hearts to be changed (Alma 7:13). 

May we all consider ourselves worthy of the Savior's Atonement and utilize it daily! 

Love, 

Sister Waite