Hello! Oct. 7, 2013
GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS
AWESOME!! Loved it. Oh my goodness :) We watched
the Saturday sessions in the Weston Chapel because it's about 5
minutes away from our apartment. Some of the highlights
from Saturday were, "Look ahead and believe." Edward Dube.
Elder Bednar's WHOLE talk. That's one I'm stoked to study. And of course,
President Uchtdorf. We had an investigator at the morning session, so I loved
it every time he said, "Come. Join with us!" S. Gifford Nielson's talk
was super enthusiastic! Exclamation point! :) (The hermanas in the spanish ward
kept saying that the whole day! Hahaha.) Jeffrey R. Holland's talk was really
touching especially because we are teaching a guy that isn't all the way there
mentally, and later that night after we got off the phone with that
investigator Sister Crandall just looked at me and said, "One day he (the
investigator) will stand before us with a perfectly sound mind..." And
that's all she said before we both started crying because we knew it was true.
M. Russell Ballard... THANK YOU! His talk was phenomenal! I loved when he said,
"Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do." I did
not understand the importance for missionary work until I came on my mission to
Canada. I promise you don't have to leave the country to experience the blessings
of being a missionary.
The Sunday morning
session we watched in the Brampton Stake Center. I would have to agree
with President Monson that it was one of the most powerful and spiritual
conference sessions I've ever seen. I loved in Elder Eyring's talk when he talked
about the grandmother with the wayward grandson and when she was praying on the
way to visit him in prison she had the thought, "I gave him to you because
I knew you could and would love him no matter what he does." I thought
that was powerful. I loved when Elder Oaks talked about ultimate priorities.
And that was the first time I heard Bonnie Oscarson speak! Man she's awesome!!
I love the doctrine and concept of conversion, so I loved her talk a whole
lot. I liked when Richard G. Scott talked about fortifying our weaknesses.
When the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang "O Divine Redeemer" I thought
of my Grandma Robinson. That was one of her favorite hymns. It was sung at her
funeral and ever since then it's become one of my favorites as well. I loved
President Monson's counsel "Pray to Him and listen to Him EVERYDAY."
What a perfect way to end such an amazing session! We went back to Toronto to
watch the afternoon session because we had a less active coming, Skye. She
loved that Kevin Hamilton and Adrian Ochoa's talks! She looked up
Ether 12:27 and highlighted it. She texted us later that
night thanking us for inviting her to conference. It was really sweet :) I
think David M. McConkie's talk was one of my favorites from the afternoon. It
was extremely applicable to us as missionaries because what we mainly do is
teach! Conference was just uplifting and exactly what I needed. I received so
many answers to prayers and questions that I had. I know every one of those
messages was inspired. I'm excited to get the Ensign with all the conference
addresses so I can study them further.
One of the answers to
my prayers came Saturday afternoon. I know President Monson is a
prophet called by God Himself, but that morning I prayed to have that witness
reconfirmed. At the end of the afternoon session the camera was on President
Monson as he was walking our shaking the apostles hands. He was close to the
entrance when he leaned over the ledge where he was standing and shook the hand
of a small, blonde boy. He spoke with him briefly then waved and left. I cried
a little bit while watching this tender scene because I knew this was an answer
to my prayer. Thomas S. Monson cares about the individual. He is the President
of Christ's Church. A prophet, seer, and revelator of our day. I know he is.
Kelly was able to
watch all four sessions of conference in a members home with a group of people
from the ward. I was so grateful to that good member!! Kelly is doing amazing!
We met with her twice this week and she is so excited about her baptism on the
20th!
One of the questions I
took to conference was about my purpose as a missionary. Our purpose is to
"Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the
restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance,
baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."
When I was in the MTC, I had a realization that a missionaries purpose is not
to invite others to go to Christ. We're inviting them to come.
Implying we stand with Him, walk with Him, and strive to become like Him. I
studied this a bit further on Sunday morning and found this quote
from David A. Bednar that pretty much sums it up. "Coming unto Christ is
not a single event with a fixed point of beginning or ending; rather, it is a
process that develops and deepens during a lifetime. As an initial step in the
process, we certainly must obtain knowledge and learn about Jesus and
His life, teachings, and ministry. But truly coming unto Him also requires
consistent obedience and striving to become like Jesus in
our thoughts, motives, communications, and actions. As we 'press forward' on
the pathway of discipleship, we can draw near unto the Savior with the
expectation that He will draw near to us; we can seek Him diligently with teh hope
that we shall find Him; we can ask with confidence that we shall receive; and
we can knock anticipating that the door shall be opened unto us." I
learned that coming unto Christ involves learning and becoming. I'm glad we have
a lifetime to learn heaven and become worthy to go there.
I hope you all have a
great week! The Church is True! :)
Love and Prayers,
Sister Felix
PS. P Day next week
will be on Wednesday because of Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving
is this Monday but everyone celebrates it on Sunday... I think
that's how it works. Not really sure :) But you'll be getting an
email next Wednesday.
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