So there's this one Frasier episode...

So there's this one Frasier episode where the radio station announces a new policy of beginning each radio program with a little "jingle". The idea is to have something probably about 15 seconds long that listeners can associate with each respective program, and to set the mood for the show. Frasier, being Frasier, resolves to write his own jingle rather than hire someone to help him, as he is eager to use his own musical talent and because asking for help would require humility. He receives some suggestions from family members but ignores them, convinced that he can come up with something better.

He quickly becomes wrapped up in the obsession of composing an orchestrated (yes, with an entire orchestra) masterpiece with a full choir and several long and complicated verses. He uses countless amounts of time and money and when he presents his completed work to his boss he is told that they were looking for something much -- MUCH -- simpler.

I am prone to over-complication. I have been given simple directives as a missionary, but also just as a person in real life. I have a tendency to ignore the things that seem hard and over magnify those bits and pieces that sound fun to me. By forgetting the "why" behind the guidance I've been given, my resulting behavior does not accomplish the objective or fulfill that forgotten "why". The new year has given me a chance to reflect and make goals to make my mission habits become life habits and how to work hard and where to focus that work -- on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Frasier had good intentions, but in forgetting the purpose behind the jingle, he eventually forgot the instruction he had been given almost completely. It's an easy slope to slip down. There is power in knowing why we do what we do.

The gospel is simple. The commandments are simple. We make them complicated by forgetting where to focus. Simple does not mean easy, but Heavenly Father helps us according to the extent to which we are willing to trust him.

In other news, we hit -20*C today! Last week, we had easily more snow fall than I have ever seen in my life and I shoveled snow for the first time. Talk about baptism by fire. We shoveled driveways and steps and dug so many people's cars out of the snow, it was amazing. It's a really fun way to street contact.

We have a new sister in the apartment, Sister Martin! She's Sister Beaumont's new greenie. She's awesome and super nice, and unfortunately the two of them have been home for a few days sick with what we're pretty sure is pneumonia. Sister Schmuhl and I are still healthy and we're praying that stays the same and that the other two sisters recover soon and quickly.

When we were at a less-active's house this week, the radio was playing while we were getting ready to go and a song by Mariana's Trench started playing -- I didn't know the song but I knew it was them so I'm assuming it was a song off their new album? It was so good; Chase was right. I took my time getting my coat and boots on and just blamed it on my Californianess.

It was a great week! Happy 2016! It's going to be a wonderful year.
Je vous aime, tous. Souvenez-vous qui vous etes, et que le Seigneur vous comprend parce qu'Il vous connait parfaitement.
Soeur Lonas