Do-better!

Hello Everyone! 

I hope you had a good week! We had an exciting week here in Woods Creek. We had exchanges on Tuesday, Zone Conference on Wednesday, and got to see a lot of our friends this weekend! We are teaching a little 9-year-old boy and he came to church with his parents this Sunday which was very exciting! 

Something that I've been thinking about this week and have come to be extremely grateful for is the Atonement of Jesus Christ and through it the opportunity to have second chances and fresh starts. My companion once said that Christ is our Savior because He not only felt everything we felt, but He overcame everything we suffer. That is why through Him all things are possible. That is why He is able to perfectly help us and succor us in each situation. That is why we need Him, because without Him we wouldn't be able to overcome any of our trials, sorrows, hardships, or mistakes. He descended below all things, and then overcame all things, making it possible for us to overcome our weaknesses as we rely on Him. Being on a mission really humbles you and opens your eyes to all of your weaknesses. But I know with each new day I have a fresh start to do better. Someone told me a story once where they didn't follow a prompting they received. They asked God if they could have a do-over. The answer they got was, "you can't have a do-over, but you can have a do-better." I invite each of you to make a commitment to God of how you can do better this week and I promise that He will help you to do better as you strive to do so. 

Love you all! Have an amazing week! -Sister Carlson

Snowed in!

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God answers prayers

 

Hello Everyone! 

I hope your week was great! This week was snowy! We were snowed in for half the week so things were a little slow. But we had an exciting weekend! We got to see three of our friends in one day and one of them came to church! I also had my first ever crab dinner and it was very good

Something I learned this week is first that God answers prayers. I mean I knew that before, but it was reconfirmed to me this week. He is always there and always listening, just be patient with Him! I promise He will answer your prayer! Second, I learned of the importance of the focus of our lives. President Russell M. Nelson said, "When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy." Last week in stake conference, the stake president shared about Matthew 11:28-30 and taking Christ's yoke upon you. He said to take His yoke upon you is to labor with Him, and like it says in Matthew 11, you will receive rest as you do that. I was also reading in Jacob 5 this week and in it it says that if you labor with the Lord of the vineyard (Jesus Christ) that "ye shall have joy with [Him]." Laboring with Christ means living as He lived. Making your will His will, and your priorities His priorities. Since being on my mission there have been some times where it's been hard, but I've learned this week that as I turn outward and change my focus from myself and my struggles to Christ, His Gospel, and serving others I can have joy and rest in the midst of the hard times, like President Nelson and the scriptures promise. I promise that each of you can have joy and rest as you also make Christ the center and focus of your life regardless of your circumstances. I invite each of you this week to ask God how you can center your lives more on Christ and I promise He will answer your prayer and give you an increase of joy as you act on your answer. 

Love you all! 

Sister Carlson

Trust in the Lord and lean not

Hello Everyone! 

I hope your week was amazing! This week has been a good one! We are currently stuck in our apartment because Washington's got a few inches of snow and when it snows in Washington everything shuts down because there are a total of two snow plows in the entire town of Monroe and people don't know how to deal with snow here haha, so we're on lockdown 👍🏻 But other than that it's been a typical week here in Woods Creek. We had stake conference which was very good and spiritually uplifting. 

This week in Come Follow Me we read 1 Nephi 3-4. We all know the story; Nephi and his brothers are commanded to go back to Jerusalem and get the brass plates from Laban. Their first two attempts to get them they fail, but they finally succeed the third time. In the Come Follow Me booklet it references Proverbs 3:5-6 in relation to this story, it says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." As I read this I was reminded of a talk by Bonnie H. Cordon from the April 2017 general conference titled "Trust in the Lord and Lean Not." I highly recommend checking it out it's a good one. But in it she defines what it means to lean, she says, "the word lean has a connotation of physically listing or moving to one side. When we physically lean toward one side or another, we move off center, we are out of balance, and we tip. When we spiritually lean to our own understanding, we lean away from our Savior. If we lean, we are not centered; we are not balanced; we are not focused on Christ." Now as I thought about how the scripture in Proverbs, this talk, and the story in 1 Nephi 3-4 related I thought about Nephi as he went to get the plate the third time. His understanding in this moment would have been that Laban wanted to kill them, they had already failed twice in trying to get the plates, and he probably would have been pretty discouraged and wanting to give up. However, Nephi did not "lean to his own understanding." Instead he trusted in the Lord. He went forth "not knowing beforehand the things which he should do" (1 Nephi 4:6). I know that as we like Nephi trust in the Lord and follow Him we will be blessed throughout our lives. At times our understandings may be darkness and confusion, not knowing what's ahead of us, but as we trust in God and take steps of faith, relying on Him with each step forward, He will guide our paths, and will not only guide us, but be with us every step of the way helping us along. I invite each of you to think of how you can more fully trust the Lord in your life this week and commit to follow Him in all things not matter how hard or impossible it may seem. 

Love you all! Have an amazing week! 

Sister Carlson 

Happy New Year 2020!!

Prayer!

Happy Monday Everyone! 

I hope you had a great week! This week was pretty good! We talked to a lot of people and did some service, same as always :) We also had a friend at church yesterday and so we were really excited about that! Our ward starts at 2pm now and it is kind of the worst, but one upside to it is that it doesn't conflict with other church services and therefore our friends can come! 

This week in my Book of Mormon reading I read in 1 Nephi 18 about Nephi and his family crossing the sea to the promised land. Laman and Lemuel tie up Nephi which causes a huge storm. In verse 21 Nephi says, "And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm." I loved this verse because it shows the power of prayer. Thomas S. Monson once said, "To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with challenges and difficulties large and small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace. Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us. Speak to Him in prayer and then listen for the answer. Miracles are wrought through prayer." Prayer is powerful! Prayer can calm your storms. It can bring peace and strength to your life. This week turn to your Father in Heaven in prayer. I can promise that He loves you and wants to hear from you. 

Have an amazing week! Love you all! 

Sister Carlson 

Happy New Year! - Book of Mormon promises

Happy New Year everyone! 

I hope you all had a good Christmas and are ready to face the new year! This week has been good! I am feeling very grateful for all of the members in the Woods Creek ward; our Christmas wouldn't have been the same without them. Transfers are this week, but I am yet to experience my first transfer because both Sister Snowder and I are staying in Woods Creek! 

We had a lesson last night with a member of our ward and we talked about the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon has been emphasized a lot the past few years. We have been counseled many times to read and study the Book of Mormon daily. In the introduction section of Come Follow Me for this coming year it gives four prophetic promises about the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith promises that you will get nearer to God as you read it. Ezra Taft Benson and President Nelson talk about the power that comes from reading the Book of Mormon daily; a power that helps you overcome temptation and weakness. President Hinckley promised an increase of the Spirit of the Lord. As I've read the Book of Mormon daily, I've seen these promises fulfilled in my life. As a mission we are reading the Book of Mormon in 100 days to prepare for general conference next April and are marking every reference of Christ. As I've done this I've been able to learn more about Christ and who He is and grow closer to Him. The Book of Mormon truly is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It brings an added measure of peace and strength into your life that is not found in any other book. I invite each of you to strive to read the Book of Mormon daily this week and this year as we study the Book of Mormon as a church. And as you do, to pray to feel of the truthfulness of it, even if you've already received a witness that it's true. I promise as you do this you'll recieve an answer that it's true and you will feel a greater peace and joy in your life. 

Love you all! Have a wonderful week! 

Sister Carlson 

Christmas in the mission field

Merry Christmas! - Book of Mormon Christmas Story

Merry Christmas everyone! 

I hope you have an amazing Christmas today! Being a missionary on Christmas is definitely different than past Christmases, but I've kind of loved it. We don't have any of the normal Christmas things like trees or family or stockings, so our entire focus is on Christ and His birth and why He came to earth. This season we've taught so many lessons about Christ and Christmas, and everytime we share the Book of Mormon Christmas Story in 3 Nephi chapter 1. It takes place five years after Samuel the Lamanite prophesied of the sign of Christ's birth. All of the unbelievers have made plans to kill the believers unless the sign of Christ's birth comes. So it's the day before all of the believers would be put to death and they are starting to get a little panicked, "but behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night." (v. 8). Nephi, the prophet at the time, who is probably so stressed because all of his people are going to be killed, "cries mightily" to the Lord in hopes of some comfort and deliverance. 

Now think of the night before you leave on vacation. Normally, it's a little chaotic trying to get everything ready. Now imagine what it would have been like in heaven the night before Christ came to earth. Sister Snowder always says, "I imagine it was a little chaotic, if it's possible for there to be chaos in heaven." 

Now as Nephi is crying unto the Lord "the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world." Christ, the night before He comes to earth, takes time out of His preparations to come and visit Nephi and comfort him in his time of distress. 

This story teaches of Christ's character. In a devotional given by David A. Bednar he describes the character of Christ. He says, the character of Christ is to look outward when the natural, mortal instinct is to turn inward. In times of preparation, trial, or distress we as mortals tend to turn inward and focus on our personal needs, but Christ's instinct is to look outward and focus on the needs of others. 

I know that Christ is always concerned with us and our needs. He is always reaching out to each of us and His arms never get tired waiting for us to reach back. He will always come to our aid, just as He did that night in a manger so many years ago. I promise that He knows you each so personally and individually and He knows perfectly how to help you in your times of need. I know that as soon as you reach out to Christ that He will run to your aid and give you the comfort and help you need. He loves you more than you can imagine! I invite each of you this Christmas to take a look at 3 Nephi chapter 1 and to think of Christ and all He's done for you and to say a prayer of gratitude for Christ and His hand in your life. 

Love you all! Have the Merriest Christmas! 🎄

Sister Carlson