Ok, so as you all know if you've been reading my blog, hope has been on my mind a lot recently. And after that email I sent about it before (two weeks ago?) I asked my trainer whether or not it is a commandment to have hope and she didn't know but it sparked some really wonderful conversations. So hope has been a general theme of my journal entries and our spiritual thoughts with members, and I've done some studying to find out whether or not it is a commandment--nothing really intense, which is probably why I hadn't found a very direct answer. Then my mom sent me this email last week and it was just the coolest because I hadn't even told her that it was a question I'd specifically had but she sent me this quote:
"Hope is a gift of the Spirit. It is a hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, we shall be raised unto life eternal and this because of our faith in the Savior. This kind of hope is both a principle of promise as well as a commandment, and, as with all commandments, we have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives and overcome the temptation to lose hope. Hope in our Heavenly Father’s merciful plan of happiness leads to peace, mercy, rejoicing, and gladness. The hope of salvation is like a protective helmet; it is the foundation of our faith and an anchor to our souls." --- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2008
And that was just one of the coolest things I have ever read. I'm guessing my mom didn't feel like she was sending me that out of any huge spiritual prompting, but I know it was by the spirit that she did choose to send me that particular quote. It answered my pretty specific question exactly. The gospel is the coolest. Having hope is a commandment from God. God loves us so much.
On the note of commandments, it is a commandment to be perfect. We know that this is impossible because we are imperfect beings--which is why we are given the gifts we are given, that we may be made perfect through repentance by the power of the Holy Ghost and through our Savior Jesus Christ. We can absolutely be perfect, if we allow him to help us get better every day. It is not unrealistic to strive for perfection, because it's all about trying to be better every day. It is not good enough to be "good enough". You are an example to many more people than you could possibly know; be a good one.
Oh and by the way, this was an amazing week in every way. We've had some car trouble, Sister Schmuhl got sick, I've had an issue with my eyes and have been wearing my glasses for five days (don't worry, mom, it's just about better), and we walked 8 miles one day to get to a dinner appointment, but we were BUSY this week teaching less active members and investigators and we saw so many miracles. The gift of tongues is real. It is impossible to learn a language this fast without some serious help from God.
And I'm SO happy to be serving my mission somewhere where bisous are a thing! That's the thing where everyone greets each other by kissing both cheeks -- we only do it with the women because we're missionaries and all but man, it's so fun. It makes me feel so European and happy and cultural. It's awesome. I love Quebec.
Quick fun fact about my ward: they haven't had a baptism in two years, and the last couple of converts they have had either moved or went inactive. Don't worry, there are about to be big changes. But that's where we're at right now. Please pray for the ward missionary leadership.
To the YW in my home ward:
Being a young woman is really hard. I don't think I realized it was hard until I was about 17 but all of it was hard. I didn't know it was hard because I was too relaxed about my own life, specifically in my relationship with God and with Jesus Christ. It is not enough to sit back as a spectator in your own life. Act, do not wait to be acted upon. Protect your virtue and your testimony with everything you have. God will help you if you let Him. Pray for His help every day. Strengthen yourself before you need the strength, because I promise you that you will need it. I love you, as do your leaders and your parents, and, most of all, your Father in Heaven.
Being a missionary is just my favorite thing! I've never been so happy.
I love you all,
Souvenez-vous qui vous êtes,
♥ Soeur Lonas
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