Diligence

This week's blog is all about diligence... what it is and why we need it! I have been studying faith partnered with diligence, and what I have found is AMAZING!!!   Faith is a simple doctrine, yet so vast and deep at the same time. I have learned that diligence can be achieved when we take things one step at a time. I saw this MormonAd with a toothbrush with a bunch of toothpaste on it and a quote of, "I think this will be enough for the week". It was pointing out the importance of doing the small and simple things consistently, and over time to produce the desired results. We wouldn't dream of only brushing our teeth once a week, even if we used a whole tube of toothpaste, it is the same with our faith. Faith gives us the ability to be diligent and the power to be patient. We nourish our little seed of faith and then we have to wait. Most times, I think Heavenly Father's greatest lesson for us is to learn to fully rely on him,  and continue to move forward, even if we aren't seeing the results we expected. President Ucthdorf gave a most wonderful talk on faith during the women's broadcast. He taught that faith comes with a price... it takes patience, humility, diligence, and perseverance, however the results are beyond comprehension! Not only are we promised eternal life with our Father in Heaven, having faith allows us to have a happy life here on earth despite the trials and opposition that will occur.  When our faith is rooted firmly in our Savior, we not only have the ability to move mountains, we are given the strength to overcome the spiritual "mountains" of our mortal lives. This week is general conference, I invite each of you to come with a question, exercise that faith, and as you receive an answer, act on it! I know that diligence is not an easy thing, nor was it ever meant to be, however it is completely, 100% worth it!   ~ With Bunches of Love, Sister Jordan Mailing Address: 1429 Grandview Ave #24 Papillion, NE 68046

Manna from Heaven -

  This week was amazingly eye opening!! I learned so much from the simple things I saw each day. Back story...so Sister Draney, my new companion, has an amazing talent for recognizing gospel lessons in everyday situations, so I made a personal goal of recognizing a parable everyday. And the results were wonderful!!! I will share two of my most favorite parables from this week.

1. I was sitting on our couch looking out onto our balcony(we are on the third floor). And a thought came to my mind, "What if there weren't any railings on that balcony?" We wouldn't sit out here,because of the possibility of us falling. Or, if we did sit out on the balcony without any railings,  we would be soooooooooooooooooooo very careful.

Lesson: The railings on the balcony are like the commandments. At first, they may seem like a limit to our freedom, when in reality, the railings/commandments allow us to be truly free! Not just free but safe as well!

2. This morning after my prayers, I glanced over at Sister Draney and she was kneeling in light! The early morning sun was beginning to come up and she happened to kneel right in the only spot of light in the entire room.

Lesson:As we kneel in prayer and offer our hearts to heavenly Father our lives are filled with light. A light that is discernible!. Light could represent many things, testimony, knowledge, personal revelation, peace. It was so wonderful!!!!

Now, instead of calling it my daily parable, I have changed it to...My Manna from Heaven. They are sweet little moments that pass by so quickly. However, it fills my heart and soul with love and the realization that God is everywhere around me. I invite you to look for your own personal Manna and your eyes will be opened to all the wonderful things Heavenly Father is teaching you!

~ With Bunches of Love,

Sister Jordan

Mailing Address: 1429 Grandview Ave #24

Papillion, NE 68046

Families and Marriage???

So whether I like it or not, the topic of this week, at least for me, personally,  has been the importance of marriage and family. Not that I don't like marriage or family, but as a missionary that hasn't been something I have needed to focus on, at least for myself personally...but that has changed, haha. It started with my studies in Alma chapters 20-26, which is all about Ammon and the sons of Mosiah's and their missionary efforts among the Lamanites. These Lamanites became so converted to the Lord that not only did they bury their weapons of war, some even sacrificed their lives, rather than break the covenant they had made with Heavenly Father.

And a thought came to my mind, "Many of us say that we would die for what we believe!", but I think more important than dying for our beliefs, is living for them. Then the question came, "What can I do to more fully live for what I believe?"

Now you ask, what has this to do with marriage and families??? Everything! Families have been under Satan's attack since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve didn't really have the perfect family, and neither did Lehi and Sarahia, however because of their example and teachings, we have the ability to strengthen our families against Satan's attacks. And that first begins by LIVING what we believe. In Relief Society, we talked about the characteristics of a happy family. Among those were service to others, family prayer, family traditions, physically activity, encouraging language, empathy, finding meaning in negative life experiences and knowledge of family roots. By the way these were all found from google, not church sites!!

It was such a testimony to me of the security of this gospel. Not only do we have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood, but all of the activities and focuses of our church are meant to strengthen marriages and families. 

I invite each of you to reflect on your life and see what can you do to more fully live what you believe, and then take that matter to prayer. I know that as we reflect on ourselves, not only will we receive an answer on what we can do to improve ourselves, this will also be an answer on what you can do to further strengthen your families. Heavenly Father wants for us to succeed, He loves us and that is exactly why He sent his son, not only to atone for our sins, but to give us the ability to become greater!

~ With Bunches of Love,

Sister Jordan

Mailing Address: 1429 Grandview Ave #24

Papillion, NE 68046

Tough Week

Sooo...this week was one of the worst weeks of my mission. That being said, Heavenly Father filled this week with numerous tender mercies!!!:) Also some new beginnings and spiritual insights as well!!!

So, I had a cold last week, no big deal, except it came back five times stronger this Tuesday as a sinus infection. I had to stay in most of the week, but my wonderful companion took very good care of me. And there were a ton more blessings that came my way. I have learned a lesson in patience...again...I went through various waves of feeling better to feeling horrible and I couldn't figure out why I wasn't well already. And I realized everything happens for a reason and to look for the lesson in my being sick. It was very hard because when a missionary is sick, our entire work gets put on hold, our people go unseen and others go unfound because we have to be home. I felt frustrated because all I wanted to do was to be out and no matter what I tried, I stayed sick all week long. Then it hit me, Heavenly Father doesn't need me, that this work will still go on without me... that have the privilege to be used as an instrument in God's hands, that the experiences I have, are meant to build my testimony and conviction, and sometimes that happens when you are in bed all week:)

Now for the new beginnings and spiritual insights... I am getting a new companion this week, her name is Sister Draney and she is just a bucket full of sunshine.  She has only been our for about 6 months, but has been called to be a sister training leader here in Papillion, and I am SOOOO EXCITED!!! Also, with this being my last transfer (vomit;)), I have been reflecting on the changes I have made and how I want to be able to finish strong and with no regrets, and I came across this quote from Elder Holland, "Cherish everyday you've been given." And that is my plan cherish the infinite moments and the hard times, the tender mercies, and rough patches that come with this wonderful experience of a mission!:)

~ With Bunches of Love,

Sister Jordan

Mailing Address: 1429 Grandview Ave #24

Papillion, NE 68046