"Opposition permits us to grow toward what our Heavenly Father would have us become."
Thank you Elder Oaks
for this beautiful talk.
Hello Everyone! [Hi
mom and dad:)]
I hope everything is
going good at home in good ole Tooele/Stansbury.
This week was really
good. We were able to be trained by President Nattress and I was able to have
my last interview with him... :'(
I dont want to be
trunky, but he talked with us about a lot of things as if this were really our
final/departing interview. We talked about life after the mission... {I dont
think I am going to extend...Mom: you can thank President for that.} and we
talked about marriage and choosing an eternal companion... ya it was a pretty
weird day. After interviews, which lasted all day, we went to the Chiropractor.
(dont freak out, I was just getting adjusted. He said that my back probably
hurt so much cause one of my legs was about an inch longer than the other...!!)
Then, after that, we had dinner and a relief society activity in one of our
wards. and 3 less actives showed up!! woo!
The rest of the week
was pretty normal. I do want to stress how much I love my companion and how
much she has helped me through my trials. Sister Vonnie Anderson has done
wonders for me and for my emotional health. I was struggling when
she came to the area. I was so stressed and being a worry-wart and just it was
no bueno. But she is very strong and is very solid in her faith and is just
calm as can be. So she is a blessing. Truly an angel. I am so grateful for her
and for her example to me. I hope to one day grow up and be like her:)
So here's the meat of
my email and why it is headed the way it is...
We
all face opposition.
we all have the lowest of lows, and the highest
of highs.
And all of this experience, all of these things
that we face, weather it be a blessing or a burden, a storm or sunshine... all
of these things permit us or allow us, to become like our Heavenly Father.
For all of you who are not my immediate family
that might be reading this, might know that I have been facing some mental
challenges and some mental opposition. I know by prayer and by scripture study,
that this is a gift from God for me to be able to reach my full potential and
to become who Heavenly Father wants me to become. This is my test. I have
accepted this challenge long before I was even born on this earth.
Think of it... we lived with God before we came
to earth, before we received our physical bodies. While we lived with him, we
were learning and growing to prepare for our earth life. Then there came a time
where we could not progress any longer. But to be able to become like God, we
needed physical bodies and we needed the experiences that would come with it,
no matter how hard or challenging it may be. and 2/3 of the host of heaven
accepted that plan. Anyone who reads this, or who is living on this earth, who
has a body, accepted that plan. The world was created, Man and Woman were created,
a Savior was provided, and the mortal journey begins. I am sure we knew that it
would not be easy. But we knew what was in store for us if we held out
faithful, if we kept the commandments, if we again chose our Heavenly Fathers
plan.
I know it is hard. Believe me, I know. this
world is going crazy. There are so many things that Satan tries to use to tempt
us and lead us astray. But be stong my brothers and sisters. Hope on. Have
faith. These are the latter days. The fullness of times. We will always have
the gospel and the church from here on out. The Savior is coming again. I know
that He lives. I know that He loves me and that He loves every one of us. I
know that if we endure to the end, we will have eternal life with our Heavenly
Father and with our families. I am so grateful for the Plan of Happiness, the
Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Redemption, whatever you want to call it. It was
designed for you, and for me. It is a perfect plan. It ensures that we have a
way back to our Heavenly Father.
I know all of these
things to be true. I would not know it if it werent for the restoration and the
Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, thank goodness for that man. In fact, Praise
to the man! I know this church is true! I know that the Atonement is all
powerful, all enabling, all encompassing. I know that he can heal any wound and
mend any broken heart. Of these things I testify in the name of my Savior,
Jesus Christ, amen.
I love you all. I pray
for you. I hope you enjoy your week! Count your blessings! and dont count the
days, make the days count! LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!!!
-Sister Anna Haymond
-Sister Anna Haymond
P-day hike
hiking
Gilbert AZ Temple
Wearing each other's dresses
e-mailing home
