Hello people of the world.
Sorry this email is coming a day late! We had mission tour yesterday, which means that President and Sister Senior, a member of the Asia Area Presidency, and all the missionaries from surrounding areas (Chiang Rai, Phitsanaloog, and Lampang) were in Chiang Mai yesterday. It was great! We learned a lot about using the Book of Mormon in our teaching and really stressing the importance of getting a firm foundation on it, not only for our investigators but for us. The Book of Mormon truly is the word of God and it really is the keystone of our religion! Without it the rest of it falls too, but with an increasing number of witnesses testifying of its truthfulness, that truth is becoming more and more undeniable. The only way people are going to know that it is true is if they read it and sincerely ask God, in the name of Christ, if it is true. You may not feel anything the first time, but keep at it. God will answer.
President Senior said something that really stuck out to me - he told us that every time he opens The Book of Mormon, he feels the Spirit bear witness that it is true through his thoughts and feelings. I made the commitment to myself that I want to feel that same way. I don't want to have a single time where I open that book without feeling the power of God made manifest through it. They are His words, this is His true restored Gospel - the only true Church of Christ on the earth today. It is the same church that Christ established during His own earthly ministry. This church holds all the gifts, powers, ordinances, and blessings that Christ's church should have. It was restored by a prophet, Joseph Smith, in this last dispensation, and it all started with a question and a prayer. How grateful I am that Joseph Smith prayed so humbly in that grove of trees and that God answered his humble prayer. How thankful I am that Joseph was willing to endure persecutions and death for the things that he knew were true. I am on a mission because I know it is true and that nothing can stop the forces of God from touching every human heart. He has proclaimed "Preach my Gospel" and I am simply heeding the call made ages ago.
My favorite part of yesterday, though, was the Sisters' meeting. We talked about how we shouldn't compare ourselves to others. There is a natural bell-shape curve and it is human nature to want to compare ourselves to both ends of the scale, which results in one of two things: Pride or Discouragement. We talked about two scriptures, 1 Corinthians 4:7 and 2 Corinthians 4:7. It is natural to have weaknesses. Imagine an old clay vase, much like they would use in Biblical times. Imagine it cracked and battered and used. This is how we are because of the Fall of Adam and Eve. We have weaknesses. We are subject to sin and death. We are imperfect vessels. We can spend all the time we want plastering over our cracks and faults to make the outward appearance better. But imagine putting a light in this patched vessel and putting a lid on it. The light is contained. Now imagine a humble vase, full of cracks and chips - experience and mortality. Put a light in this vessel and put a lid on it. The light shines through the cracks. Everyone has been given this precious light, but whether or not we let it shine through our imperfections - that is up to us. God knows we are imperfect. He knows that we are weak. He knows that we mess up all the time. But He still loves us. He loves us with our faults, and loves when we are humble enough to know that it is okay to have them. We can try to hide them all we want, but God knows what and who we are underneath it all. So does it really matter if we try to patch it all up in the first place? After we die, the plaster and paint will fade and we will be left with the same vase that we all are. We are all made equal. I want to make sure that what I do in this life reflects my love for the Savior and not simply seeking approval from mankind. I want to embrace my faults and slowly work on fixing them through the hands of the Master, who is the ultimate Healer. He is the only one that can fix our cracks infinitely and eternally. He will help us heal them once we are humble enough to let our light shine through them first.
I think this is what I have really learned on my mission. I am sure I have said it a million times already, but God really does call us for us. He needs each of us the way we are. He gives us cracks, not so we can fix them ourselves, but so we can rely on Him to let His light shine through them and so we can learn to rely on the Healer's art. The Atonement is sufficient for all, and after all we can do it is by grace that we are saved. We cannot fix all our faults in this life, but when we stop trying to withstand the will of God, we can find true joy through sharing the light we are given. The vessels are imperfect, but the light is infinite and eternal. His merits are mighty to save. It does no good in trying to hide your faults - God knows they are there and He wants to help us become perfect vessels for His light. I love that during this time of precious service I am learning to embrace my faults. I can't be perfect right now and I certainly can't even begin to achieve it without relying on my Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ. I have felt the power of His love and Atonement more and more in my life as I have learned to rely on Him and give Him everything I am. I am nothing but a light-less clay pot without Him. See the difference? We are all clay pots, but without Christ, there is no good that comes from having imperfections. I realize more and more that when I recognize that my faults are part of my human nature and that it is okay to have them, that is when I am happiest. I know that all things are possible through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God has called each of us to be his servants. I love that even though He knows we are imperfect, He entrusts us with so much. He entrusts us with not only ourselves and our individual decisions, but we have the power to influence others for good or bad. He knew that when He sent us here that all of His children would not return, but He would never consider the thought of taking away our ability to choose. That is not what He desires. He knows that we are happiest when we choose for ourselves, through our actions and thoughts, where will we go after this life. He chastens His children only because He loves us. How we respond to His chastening reflects our true feelings for Him.
I have especially learned this week that a lot of what we get out of our trials (aka whether they harm us or strengthen us) comes from our attitude in facing them. I know that complaining is easy, but I have learned that when that is all I do, I just feel even more unhappy. I don't feel like a worthy conduit for the Spirit. I feel lifted up in pride and I feel like my internal light is not just as bright. But I know that instead of complaining, if we simply consider solutions and put them into action, it makes the world of a difference. And it all starts with one thing : Attitude. When we complain we are saying that we are stuck in this situation, and we only look for the bad. When we consider solutions, we are looking to improve the situation. We are in control of our agency. Don't wait for a change in situation to become determined to learn and grow. Consider your attitude, and if it is not where it is should be, change it. I can promise that even if nothing external changes, internally it will make a huge difference.
I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! Be safe and eat lots of turkey for me! :)
I love you all, and don't forget to let your light shine (through your cracks of course) before men and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
Love,
Sister Norrell
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