4/6/15 The Things I Have Learned From My Mission

Dear Family and Friends,

Our area is a little harder than I thought. Last friday I had the opportunity to go to MLC, which is a meeting where President Alba, Sister Alba and the AP's (assistants to the president, for those of you who don't know mission lingo) all teach and present training for us to take back to our zones. The past few months, starting in January with Camp Liahona, we have had extra meetings with transfers, Elder Nelson (who spoke this past conference about his sister coming back to the church... He is an awesome man, and is a really really good teacher) came to talk about missionary work to us, and then came again to present training on the new ipads versus the way we used to use ipads for missionary work. We also have had meetings on many other important topics, such as the goal we have as a mission to talk to 20 new contacts a day, teach 3 lessons to people a day, and also to invite someone to be baptized each day. It was really neat when I was with Sister Whimpey, because we were co-STL's and so we went to all the meetings together and we both believed it and wanted it so bad. I learned so much from her example. I learned a lot about myself too. Some of the things I learned will stay with me forever. Anyway, I am rambling, but the point is, it has been really different not having that the past couple weeks. I have felt myself kind of plateauma little, and so General Conference and MLC really gave me a kick-start again.

At MLC, they did something different. The President didn't assign topics, but rather, he wanted it done like General Conference. He asked them to pray about it and study, and really ponder on what they should present. The Topics and the things that I learned were as follows:

What is it to REFLECT? To look back, to instrospect, to ponder your life and your situation with God? What vividly came to my mind as they challenged us to reflect was this: a mirror in a dark room, and a person sitting in front of it with a candle. When we reflect, we see ourselves AS WE REALLY ARE.... all the beauties and the flaws. No one is perfect, but there is also a beauty in every person that comes here to this earth. Now, I am not just speaking about phsyical beauty. Spiritual beauty is in all of us, because we are children of God. Now, whether or not that natural beauty stays with us is our choice, just like it is our choice by how we take care of our bodies. But unlike our phsyical bodies, which age and die, our spiritual beauty has no limitations. We can always be more like our Heavenly Father. We can always be more spiritually beautiful.
I also learned that the candle, the light by which we can truly see ourselves is the true Light: Jesus Christ. All who come to this earth are given the Light of Christ, and all those that are baptized and confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which illuminates our lives even more as to what direction we need to take to become more spiritually beautiful.

As I am emailing this, I feel like this is something we all need to remember, and it is something I am still striving to learn.  There is no stopping point on the path of progression.
We never have the excuse of "I go to church on Sunday, I fulfill my callings, I pay my tithing and I pay a fast offering. I am good enough. I am not perfect, but I am as good as I can get."

As I reflect, I remember that covenant with Heavenly Father I made in a sacred and holy temple whose parking lot was a place of refuge for me in my darkest times, even before I received those covenants. The Law of Consecration is something that I have come to understand on my mission so much more. It is not just about money. We have so many more things to consecrate than our money.
So as I reflect everynight when I pray, when my whole entire mission and life play out in my mind, I am constantly asking myself "Am I consecrated?.... Am I His?"

I know that He did that for me. I know that my Savior lives. And even if I am not perfect, I one day will be through Him. He is my hope. And it's not even about being perfect. It is about being like Him. I have felt the past few days that I CAN DO IT! I don't understand all the reasons for why things happen, but I do know this: I can always trust in My Heavenly Father. I know that He loves me. I know He is real. HE IS REAL. He is a real Being who we can have a relationship with. He wants that, so much more than we can comprehend. So do I understand all the pain that the people I have taught have to go through. No. Do I understand why so many of them that I love turn away under the weight of doubt in themselves. No. Do I know why sometimes, missionary work is so much harder than you think.
No. I don't know the answers. But one day I will.

This past week, I had the privilege of visiting a person that was and is very dear to my heart. I was able to address a concern that for me was once a big question. But I just went on with faith, JUST TRUSTING. And in the moment that that person brought up the concern, I found my answers. My mouth was filled, and the mouth of my new missionary companion was filled, and my understanding grew.

So are we perfect? Do we have to understand eveything? We hear the prophets speak to us... not even they understand the Atonement perfectly. But the point is WE CAN.

Jesus Christ will not ever leave us alone. This I know. He won't ever give up on us. I know this is true. When our light dims and we can't see our reflection very well, all we need is to turn to Him. He will come to our aid. In reality, He is already there, and He can see us... who we really are. He bled from every pore. He bore the burden of our sins. He underwent our physical pain. He felt the heavy burden of our emotional pain. He understands our spiritual pains and longings and even at the times where we have turned away from the light of the gospel, and we feel our hands slipping across the gritty, sandy rock ledge... He knows. He knows.

And after all that pain, all that suffering, He bore the beatings, and the crown, and the mockings and scorns of those who condemned Him. He went like a lamb to the slaughter. He allowed it.

Can you imagine the feelings of His heart?

He knew it all, even when He carried the cross... up the steps, through the streets, out to His death. As He hung there on the cross, He prayed for us, and for those who were there. He chose every bit of it. Heavenly Father couldn't force Him. Even Jesus Christ had to choose.

His body was lain in a tomb.

On the third day, He appeared to Mary.

He lives.

I know that my Redeemer lives. Jesus Christ. One day you will see Him. One day, I will see Him. How beautiful. What a moment of reflection.

 Moroni 7:48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

All this, so He could reach out and catch us.

I have loved being on a mission. I know that it has helped me. I know that this is where I was meant to be. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan. All we have to do is start to work on our relationship with Him, no matter where we are in that, and then listen to the spirit. It always comes down to this:
Make and Keep Covenants.
Remember Him
Follow the Spirit
Have Hope
Love
Faith

Endure to the End in following His example.

I know that Thomas S Monson is a true prophet of God, along with Joseph Smith. I know it. I will never deny it. The Gospel is so simple. Follow Jesus Christ.

I am looking forward to miracles this week! :) I am so ready. The missionaries I am serving with are amazing, and I am just ready to work!

Miracle of last night:
We tracted and nothing. No one was interested. We went one street over instead of giving up and going contacting downtown and we ran into a member and her non-member husband on a walk, and they had us come in and share an Easter message. Never postpone a prompting. :)
That tender mercy from Heavenly Father built my faith and I am ready to work. I know He will provide. :)

Pray for me! Pray for Davis!

His,
Sister Darby Miller