Share Your Cookies!

So much snow!! It dumped all day Friday. And all our appointments canceled. We were at a bit of a loss for what to do, because it really wasn't safe to drive around a ton. So we were able to shovel a driveway and be helpful. So that was good.

We had some really wonderful lessons too. We got to teach D. He'd been taught the restoration over two years ago, so we've been reviewing it. I always love recounting the first vision, because the spirit always testifies. Which is a great tool for helping people to recognize the spirit.

This is our zone! Last transfer we doubled the number of zones in the mission, so it's a lot smaller than it used to be.

Back row: Elders Zeyer, Hallstrom, Syrett, Loveless, Clifton, Brown, Rasmussen, Draper, Greenburg, Park, Lawrence, Litster, Smith, Clapier, Anderson, Anderson, Esplin, and Adams

Front row: Sister Astle's chair, Sisters Jones, Bowen, Tolman, McKendrick, and Allen

I've been thinking about how logical the gospel is. I always do, actually, but here's a few thoughts.

There is natural cause and effect. We get blessings for keeping the commandments, and don't receive those blessings for not keeping the commandments. For a lot of commandments, it's true regardless of whether God exists or not: for example, if you keep the law of Chastity, you are significantly more likely to sidestep negative consequences like STDs, child support, parenthood tests, unwanted pregnancy/abortion, and have a more secure family situation (which leads to innumerable positive effects for individuals and society.) On the other hand there are commandments that are only logical if there is a God, like tithing. If there is no God, than there would be no good reason to give money to a church, especially when in financial straits. But that's where experimentation comes in. We pay tithing and look for the blessings. If we receive blessings, there is probably a God.

But they say that science and religion are aiming for the same thing, but religion gets there faster.

People tend to treat their denominations like political parties. "Nobody agrees with everything in their religion." But we do. We all have exactly the same testimony. We all know God lives and loves us. We all know that Jesus provided the way back to Him. We all know Joseph Smith was the prophet called to bring in the dispensation of the fulness of times. But we all know because we've learned for ourselves. Not because our parents told us, or because our pastor told us. It's always scary when people trust their parents, pastor or preacher more than they trust God.

And things are wonderful here. we've got a lot of people to teach, a lot of snow to trudge through (no car this week O_o), a lot of character to build, a lot of souls to save, and a lot of blessings to go around.

Merriest of Christmas to all! Give the gift of eternal life and eternal families: share the gospel. And cookies--share those too.

Love,

Sister Bowen