Dig Deep

I had a very interesting and amazing interview with President Pickett this week. Among other things he shared with me, he asked if I would be willing to stay in Greeneville for transfer... number 5, in total 7 1/2 months. I said yes I was. And so... I will be welcoming to 417 Fairgrounds Rd. a fairly new missionary Hermana Mccune who has been serving in a Spanish area for 6 weeks. Which means
1. I'll finish up her training on how to be a missionary
and
2. She'll train me on how to speak Spanish.
Sounds like it's going to be a good companionship.

The other counsel I received that I want to talk about was about dun-dun-dun MARRIAGE.
President Pickett loves, I mean LOVES to talk about marriage.
He looked me square in the eye and said, Sister Hall you shouldn't look for stuffed shirts, it's not all about muscle, you need to marry someone with DEPTH.  He repeated this counsel at least three more times during the course of our discussion and needless to say left me with a LOT to think and ponder about. Now my first reaction is well I don't need to worry about marriage right now there is nothing I can do about it except pray and prepare myself. Which is true. However I was sitting doing some personal study and my mind turned back to that counsel and I found myself asking myself: what is depth?

I went to the dictionary and wasn't satisfied with its definition of depth. So I went to the ultimate dictionary, the dictionary for life, the scriptures. I looked up in the topical guide depth. And it lead me to a famous parable in Mark. The parable of the sower. Most of us know how it goes: a sower sows seeds some fell by the wayside, some fell in good soil, and yet another had no DEPTH.

HMM...

Mark 4

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Now we know that Christ spoke in parables so that the meek and humble would understand and the proud and lofty would be confused. The Savior later explained to his questioning apostles that:

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended


So at first I was proud and lofty hearing this counsel from President Pickett I didn't understand what he meant but as I've been more humble and prayerful and meek I now understand. That having depth means being able to take root in the gospel but also in YOURSELF and stand firm and continue to grow even when scorching sun and trials and temptations come. That is who I need in my life and that is someone I need to be. Someone who can take the heat and won't whither away over time. Someone who has depth. Who is: genuine, sincere, confident in themselves and the Lord, refuses to turn their back on people and on the Lord when questions arise. Someone with depth doesn't get offended. Someone with depth digs deep and stands firm in the faith and stays true to the faith and themselves.

I think this counsel was dual purposed. It's something I need to work on myself I want to have more depth. I don't want any part of me or my personality to be considered "superficial"

I want to be deeply rooted in my testimony and the gospel. I want to be deeply rooted in myself.

Notice how I keep saying "I want..." well that shows desire, Alma says (in the other famous sermon about seeds) that

"...if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

So if I continue to let this desire work in me and believe that I can be more rooted and have depth and take the heat then it will begin to grow and as I nourish it I will grow in depth.


I want to share a family history story about someone with DEPTH. Many of you know of the man John Rowe Moyle. Some of you may not so I'll share a summary by President Uchtdorf: 

John Rowe Moyle was a convert to the Church who left his home in England and traveled to the Salt Lake Valley as part of a handcart company. He built a home for his family in a small town a valley away from Salt Lake City. John was an accomplished stonecutter and, because of this skill, was asked to work on the Salt Lake Temple.

Every Monday John left home at two o’clock in the morning and walked six hours in order to be at his post on time. On Friday he would leave his work at five o’clock in the evening and walk almost until midnight before arriving home.

One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg.

Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile (35-km) journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.

His hands carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” that stand today as a golden marker to all who visit the Salt Lake Temple.

John did not do this for the praise of man. Neither did he shirk his duty, even though he had every reason to do so. He knew what the Lord expected him to do.


John Rowe Moyle dug deep. I love that last paragraph the most. He did not shirk his duty even though he had every reason to do so. He knew what the Lord expected him to do. He had depth.

Sometimes it's hard, sometimes we do not know how to keep walking when difficulties blindside us, sometimes we have no idea how to move forward but when we continue choosing the right continue seeking the Lord's will we find strength and we find happiness, we find holiness. We have depth.


Finally to wrap up I want to share another story about depth I love. My beloved Anti-Nephi-Lehi's... talk about a people who dug deep! They were so converted so rooted in the gospel that they chose to be further rooted in themselves by burying their swords and their sins DEEP within the earth. They covenanted with God that they would rather die than sin. Many of them did give their lives in keeping that promise. Can you honestly imagine seeing the enemy coming with swords drawn to kill you and you stand there and dig deep and then fall to your knees in prayer reiterating your commitment to serve God and leave your swords buried?!

Well guess what? We can do that, every day! Every day is a fight, everyday the enemy comes with swords and weapons temptations and sin ready to spiritually destroy us. Are we rooted in the gospel and rooted in ourselves that we bury our sins bury our fears, our doubts and frailties and trust the Lord? Fall to our knees in prayer? Put our very lives on the line, our carnal lives? That's digging deep that's having depth.

I hope that we might all dig deep and keep walking even when difficulties arise. It may not be easy, but it will most certainly be worth it.

Because He who was made low and dug the absolute deepest that is humanly and godly possible continues to dig deep and nourish us. He is there, He is real. He will help us. Of this I have no doubt.

Have a great week and dig deep!

Love,

Hermana Hall








LIFE IS GOOD, GOD IS GOOD

Help Where You Can, Pray Where You Can't

 This past week we went by an investigator's house that we hadn't seen  in a long while and she was sitting on her front porch... score! It was definitely a right place right time situation because this woman needed a listening ear and between Sister Beare and I we had four so it worked out. She told us about her growing up life. She is the youngest of 11 children, her oldest sibling is currently in his 80's. This woman is almost 40 but her father was formerly married and quite a bit older than her mom... 20 years or more older. As a child she was beaten and abused and ultimately at 11 years old dropped off at the courthouse in town with a black trash bag. Ever since then she has been a fighter. She was placed in over 15 houses growing up and ended up graduating high school, got married, had two kids, got divorced, is still working to get through college and working at that same courthouse she was once dropped off at. Needless to say she has an amazing story, still in the making. It would be really great if the climax could be that she accepted the gospel and found home. Because the most heartwrenching thing she said during her entire retelling, in my opinion, was "I was laying in bed thinking the other night that no where I have ever lived has felt like home." Oh my gosh!!!!! Rip my heart to shreds!!!!!

 We were able to testify that this gospel feels like home, this message leads us back to home, coming to church feels like home. And invited her to church. She went to North Carolina to be with an aunt this weekend but hopefully in the future she will be able to experience the feeling of home that church and this gospel brings. It's so true, even though I am 1,500 miles away from home, I feel it every time I walk in the church building doors that I am home. This ward here  feels like family sometimes that is the only thing that gets me through a tough, hard, way too long week is: walking through those doors and knowing I am home. And that I'll get about 20 hugs from my Greeneville family and that it's exactly where I am supposed to be. Everyone should feel that, it's why we are out here, to help people come in and come back home. That's ultimately the purpose of life, helping each other back home.

I love in Elder Uchtdorf's last conference talk he addresses the inner desire we all have to return home. It's called "A Yearning For Home" in it he says:

I believe that every man, woman, and child has felt the call of heaven at some point in his or her life. Deep within us is a longing to somehow reach past the veil and embrace Heavenly Parents we once knew and cherished.
Some might suppress this yearning and deaden their souls to its call. But those who do not quench this light within themselves can embark on an incredible journey—a wondrous migration toward heavenly climes.

I LOOOOVE THAT!!! This life is an incredible journey, a wondrous migration, we are all on together, at different points with different paths and bumps in the road but yet all headed toward the same destination. And we can know for a surety that when we are headed behind and for the Savior that we are going the right way.

During another part of our conversation with this woman we were talking about many of her family members who have strayed from their paths. She said it has been horrific for her to see, to watch nearly every family member she has enter and exit jails and prisons. But she recognized that her reality didn't need to be the same, she said "That would be the easy way out." She had to cut ties and work to build a life greater than she had been brought up in. It's not glamorous by any means but she has what she needs and her life is hers.

She talked about how she still wants to help her family but she also doesn't want the evil influences and temptations they are entangled in in her life and in her children's lives. She talked about how she has to love them from a distance.

I found myself saying to her, "We can only help where we can and then pray where we can't" I don't know if that is a quote from someone else or where that came from but I love it!!!! We can't change people and we can't want something more for them, they have to choose to change and have a desire to be better. Only they can as President Monson would say "rise above mediocrity," all we can do is help and then pray.

I have seen that so much in my life but especially in my mission. Prayer has been my saving grace, after all we can do, we pray.

We help people come to church, and then pray they come.
We help people learn, and pray they feel.
We help people discern, and pray they trust.
We help people pray, and pray they continue.
We help people have hope, and pray they have faith.
We help people read, and pray they understand.

The list goes on and on. I am so grateful for prayer and the way it has changed my life.
I know that prayers are answered. There have been too many times to count that mine have.

I love this poem:

   I know not by what methods rare,

But this I know, God answers prayer.

I know that He has given His Word,

Which tells me prayer is always heard,

And will be answered, soon or late.

And so I pray and calmly wait.

I know not if the blessing sought

Will come in just the way I thought;

But leave my prayers with Him alone,

Whose will is wiser than my own,

Assured that He will grant my quest,

Or send some answer far more blest.

                                             - Eliza  M. Hickock

It was read my first Sunday in Greeneville and has blessed my life ever since, even now nearly six months later. I am forever grateful for the experiences I have had and shared with so many here in Tennessee. I am grateful for this wonderful journey were are all on, and for the chance we have to help one another where and when possible and pray where and when it's not possible.

I love y'all and am so deeply grateful for your prayers and love and support. They mean the world and are felt and received with gladness.

Love and pray for y'all too!

Love,
Hermana Hall

Happy Valentine's Day





And... Happy Chinese New Year... Gung Hey Fat Choi- Year of the Dog








We helped package Spaghetti



Some sights about town....




And lastly some thoughts....
Have a blessed day!

Cien Dias

Once upon a time I remember emailing back and forth with my girl Morgann Holt over a year ago when I was still pretty fresh and green in Tennessee. I remember proudly announcing to her that I had survived 100 days on my mission. I clearly remember her response! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN OUT 100 DAYS! It's almost comical at this point because that seemed like such a landmark, and it was... don't get me wrong... personally I think every day is a landmark. Its just funny because I realized that here I sit 348 days later and today marks the day that I only have 100 days left... that is crazy talk!

You might have wondered why I chose to title this letter cien días? Well you may have forgotten that I was called to speak Spanish here in Tennessee. (It's ok if you did, sometimes I do too;) I went to Mexico to learn Spanish, and train to become a missionary for 6 weeks. It was there that I did some major stretching, growing, and was pushed to my breaking point and right past it and I found that I could overcome and that Christ was right there the entire time. I learned how to rely on Him. It's safe to say I learned so much more than Spanish during my time there. I knew leaving the CCM that even if I never spoke one word of Spanish during the rest of my mission I NEEDED to go and have that experience. I NEEDED to meet the people I did. Districto 6B was something else, I have such a testimony that your call report date is just as inspired as your call destination because it lines your paths up to cross with others' that the Lord needs you to influence and needs you to be influenced by. Again I learned so much more than Spanish while there. I know Mexico has been essential to my deepening conversion. 

Ok so then fast forward to my Spanish experiences in the field out here in Tennessee. It was 3 months into my mission and I had been able to talk with and teach one Spanish guy. Not that my trainer and I didn't try to find them, we did. But there weren't many to be found. The next 3 months with my next comp we found what some fisherman call a "honey hole" a pond or bank where fish always are, ours was called the Piggly-Wiggly. Straight up not lying that is the name of the convenience store it is where a lot of local Spanish workers come to buy snacks and groceries after work. We would camp out outside on days when we were out there. I'll never forget the experience handing out my first Spanish Book of Mormon to a guy there. It was super broken Spanish but he was kind and gracious. I learned the reality of the scripture in 1 Corinthians 14:19 "I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, then ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." Our few words by the spirit were more important that 10,000 fluent and empty words. I learned that influence is more important than fluency and this was proven... We got his number but could only talk to him if he called us because it was a Mexico number and missionary phones don't do international calls. HOWEVER, months later when I was in a different area I heard from my former companion that she got news that that same man we had shared El Libro de Mormón with was in contact with missionaries and learning back home in Mexico! No effort is wasted.

I left that area, to go to a new one, this time with an English speaking companion. Bless her pea picking heart! I will NEVER forget the day we got a referral from the nearby elders for a woman who spoke Spanish. I remember I studied as if to teach the Restoration, yet when I began talking to her all in Spanish (my dear sweet companion supportive and by my side:) it was apparent the Lord needed me to share about the Plan of Salvation. So we stood on her porch in the blazing July sun and thick humidity slick with sheens of sweat pouring over our entire bodies and taught this woman about God's plan for her. And shared the Book of Mormon with her. Every time we went to revisit her she wasn't home. It was disappointing yes but I know that experience was needed, for her and us. It was hard it was hot it was uncomfortable. But a wise man once said "you grow in the FURNACE of affliction. NOT bathwater!" (Duff Yauney my trainer's dad).

Ok so then that brings me to the lovely area of Greeneville. Population um maybe like 5,632 people and I feel like I know them all! Haha! Not really because we continue to meet and find people and lately they have been, wait for it... SPANISH!!!!!!! Now this, this, is what I have been building up to, these experiences right here. They have been complete game changers. There are three.
1. Last week when we were car-less we went with a member to go try to contact a girl who hadn't been seen by missionaries for over 600 days. Well turns out she no longer lived there, BUT the man who did opened the door only spoke Spanihs, he took one look at us and said: No hablo ingles! Sorry pal that doesn't work for me! Immediately I nearly stuck my foot in the door as I said AHHHH bien, somos misioneras para la iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los ultimos dias...  and boom out of no where standing in the freezing freezing cold in the pitch black dark the Spanish words flooded my mouth. I just let them flow, was it perfect? Uhhhh let me put it in Spanish for you... NO. But it was the gift of tongues, pure and simple, pure and powerful. We set up a return appt with this guy and were ecstatic at witnessing the Lord and the Spirit work. I'll never forget that experience. Unfortunately when we returned back to go see him, he wasn't there and hasn't been each time we have returned. BUT no matter what happens I know that we were meant to be there and I cannot deny the experience of the gift of tongues guiding my words. It was amazing. Again the power of few words spoken and guided by the Spirit is incredible.

2. Each time we go to visit this other Spanish guy missionaries met with in the past we never know what to expect. He hadn't been seen in hundreds of days when we first went to see him, when we went to visit him we went wiht the intent of dropping him from our teaching pool if he didn't answer. We went, left a card, hit the drop button on our digital teaching records and went to try another person when 10 minutes later a text came in from the guy saying he saw our card and wanted to meet with us that next week! Yay!!! Since that time he has continued to surprise us, we teach a good mix of Spanglish because He is pretty much fluent in both Spanish and English. But the Spirit is present the most when we speak in Spanish, I truly believe that people are supposed to hear the gospel in their native tongue, it is how it rings true to them, and feels familiar, he connects more to our message when it is delivered in Spanish. "For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ." -D&C 90:11

3. Ohhhh my goodness. Another experience I will never forget. We received a referral from the Elders hear for a man that only spoke Spanish. We went to visit him and he wasn't there the first two times, the last time we were going to drop him from our records, when the door actually opened and a woman answered. She did not know the man but when we began sharing our message she listened intently and invited us back. She only speaks Spanish. I studied my tail off in preparation for our appointment. We had tried to get a member of the ward to come with us that is originally from Mexico but she was unable to make it. That means I like Paul "was alone in weakness and fear and in much trembling, and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," 1 Corinthians 2:3-4. Somehow however traveling to that lesson I felt a sense of peace. When we knocked on the door no one answered, I was disappointed. But as I pulled out my stickie notes to attempt to leave her a note... a car pulled up, and there she was! Just getting back from picking her two daughters up from school, she invited us right in! We said a prayer and I with the Spirit and Sister Beare praying silently for me the entire way shared with her the message of the Restoration. Not going to lie, when I asked her questions there were parts of her responses that I did not understand, I guarantee you that there were many things that she did not understand when I would speak. BUT I know that the Spirit was there, I know that He made my broken spanish and few words more than what I could. He carried them into her heart. I invited her to be baptized and she said she would study more first. But she invited us back again. We left her with a Book of Mormon and wow, again I will never EVER forget that. I have come to realize that even though I may not go home fluent, and my experiences might be far and few between with Spanish, the ones that I have had have been pretty remarkable. I am so grateful. If I never was called Spanish and never went to Mexico, I simply would never have these experiences. And I am so grateful that I do have them.

It's been a good 448 days, y'all. At times I've been pushed to and past my breaking point, stretched to my limit and then more, and yes beat and belted by the Bible and sweet and dedicated Southerners. And shaking in my boots before Spanish people that are always so kind but make me feel so vulnerable not bein able to communicate they way I would like to. But I would not trade it for the world. Every pain and hardship really is worth it, even though sometimes it is grueling and horrid in the middle it does get better and it really does administer to our growth. I am so grateful for the growth I have experienced and lessons I have learned. And I know that many more are coming.

So who knows what awaits me in the next 100 days? Hopefully more Spanish opportunities! I know I have at least until the end of the month here in Greeneville. Beyond that I have absolutely NO idea if I will stay or go. It's certain that Sister Beare will be leaving because she will be leaving for home. Back to California.To hug her parents and enjoy her pool. Haha, yes we have daily conversations about these types of things. Yes I am still standing strong and not falling into the "trunk funk" (I despise the word trunky. To me it just sounds gross, I would use it to describe someone who has a large rear end, not a homesick/lifestylesick missionary) Yeah so not my favorite word. But back to what I was staying, she is for sure leaving, which means I will either stay ANOTHER transfer, totaling 7 and 1/2 months in G-Ville, OR I will also leave which means that two new missionaries will come in and try to pick up where we left off. I can honestly say I don't know how I feel about either situation...

Either way, for these next 100 days I have added a letter the lyrics to a familiar hymn. "I'll Go Where You Want me to Go Dear Lord"

To say.

I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord,
Over mountains or plains, or seas.

I'll s(t)ay where you want me to s(t)ay dear Lord.

I'LL BE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE.

No matter where I go, or where I stay I know He has a plan for me. For the people I am surrounded by and for those I have yet to meet. I am grateful for His love and mercy and His enabling power. I have felt more strength and qualification for trial these past few weeks than ever in my life. I know He is helping me be what He wants me to be, and I know He is helping you be what He wants you to be. And He really and truly does carry us even when... no especially when... we don't feel like He is. "Those times are when I carried you..." isn't just a line from a poem (Footprints) no, it's real life.

And I am so very grateful. Estoy muy agradecido.

Love y'all! Los amo a todos!

Have a great week! Tienen un gran semana!

Love, Con Amor,

Hermana Hall




TANG!!! The cure all!


BLESS YOUR PEA PICKIN HEART

Join The Kingsport BOM Squad

Helloooooooo to all my homegirls and homeboys, family members, and friends! How has your week been? Ours has been cold, car-less, and slightly sickly but we made it and are here to tell the tales! I'm going to jump right into it so try to keep up! Approximately one week ago we drove to the local autoshop and dropped off our car to get repaired from the little fender bender we had back in December... Don't worry the story goes that our car was parked in a member's driveway and they forgot it was there and slammed right into the back left side as they went to back and turn around. Oops. But hey, it was defiinitely not my fault so at least I don't have that weighing on my conscience. Anyway we took it to the sweet southern family owned company and received the news that it would be finished at least by the end of the week but hopefully sooner. Primetime... Thankfully, oh so very praise and glory thankfully our sweet Greeneville ward members came to the rescue and were able to provide us with rides all over Greene county! It was stressful trying to coordinate, and not made any easier with all the flu bugs and sickness swirling around but we made it and we had some incredible experiences working with the members. I want to share a few.

But before I do I need to explain and share some amazing things that are going on in our awesome Kingsport Zone and Stake. There is a humongous emphasis on the Book of Mormon right now. Last Sunday we had Ward Conference and our incredible Stake President (I know I have ranted about him before) stood up at the pulpit in a maroon suit that only he could pull off, and gave a great talk all about the importance of the Book of Mormon as a keystone of our religion, our lives, and our testimonies. In closing of his talk he extended to us three commitments.
1. Read and study again the last conference addresses of President Monson: "The Power of the Book of Mormon" President Nelson: "The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It?" and Elder Callister: "God's Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon"
2. Write your testimony in a Book of Mormon and give it to a friend in the coming year.
3. Participate in the 20 year challenge.

Ok so let me elaborate. The first two are pretty self explanatory. However the last one the twenty year challenge needs some explaining. President Bauserman has a friend who once told him that every day for twenty years he had gone running at least 2 miles. Every day... for twenty years!!!! President Bauserman said that that was remarkable yet it caused him to reflect and ask himself: "If he can run two miles everyday for twenty years than shouldn't I be able to read the Book of Mormon every day for twenty years?" It's been 8 years and he hasn't missed a day since he made that commitment. How amazing is that?! I want to invite all who read this to gear up and participate, commit to reading starting today everyday for the next twenty years. And let me tell you it does not have to be lengthy study.

We had a chaotic day one day and my studies led me to some other scriptures and conference talks in order to prepare for the day and upcoming experiences and lessons. So when it came down to it I was unable to read the Book of Mormon to the extent I would have liked to, but I said a prayer and flipped open to it randomly. The one verse I read wouldn't have mattered to anyone else but it mattered to me it so perfectly described my situation and things that were on my mind. It was no coincidence. No such thing. One verse makes a world of a difference I can wholeheartedly testify of that!

Now backtracking a bit I want to share a little bit more about commitment number two. Keeping all three of these commitments in mind Sister Beare and I attended Zone Conference. As part of our conference we have what is called a "breakout session" where we gather together as a zone and circle our chairs and discuss what goals we can set together to increase success and spirituality. Sister Beare and I have spent a lot of time talking and praying with the Zone Leaders about what we need to emphasize as a zone. Right before President Bauserman issued his commitments we had decided that we felt that the Lord's will for us was to emphasize the Book of Mormon. We felt like that was a good goal for us to talk about together and we planned to discuss it all together with our zone at zone conference. Which we did. And the spirit completely took over the meeting. People threw around ideas about how we can better share the Book of Mormon and how we can get members involved. At one point Elder Macdonald one of the Zone Leaders called on an elder to stand and give his testimony of the Book of Mormon on the spot. He did so and I cannot even describe the Spirit that entered that room. He talked about a passage he had just studied that influenced his life. He bore a sweet and sincere testimony that it was true, and I promise you it affected every single person in that room. We were able to point out that there is power in the Book of Mormon we had all felt it, and that is what the people in Eastern Tennessee and the surrounding states need to feel. We determined that we would use the commitments of our Stake President to our advantage and that we wouldn't let a day go by that we didn't read from and share something from the Book of Mormon. Each of our companionships in our zone went back to their areas and came up with a companionship goal regarding how to better use to Book of Mormon the rest of these next 6 weeks.

Sister Beare and my goal is to have each Book of Mormon that we hand out have a written testimony in the front of it. As we have spent quite a bit of time with the members in our ward this past week we have been able to have some pretty incredible experiences with it and I want to briefly mention three of them.

A sweet member couple picked us up and took us to dinner last Tuesday night, it was right after Zone Conference and we felt so excited and pumped up about the work. We shared a meal with them and then asked them if they would write their testimonies in  a Book of Mormon. They did so and we were able to go with the Sister and deliver it directly to a referral we had received the day before. A woman had requested a Bible online and we delivered her one with the Book of Mormon. She wasn't available to talk when we got there her mom spoke with us and accepted both books and our information. We plan on returning back to see if we can meet her and talk with her more. Regardless it was amazing to see the easiness of sharing a testimony it all took place in less than twenty minutes of writing it down someone had a ward members testimony in their home. Who knows what good could come of it? SO AWESOME!!!

I mentioned last week that a sweet elderly couple in the ward knew the woman we were guided to a few weeks ago that was a former member. Last week we had invited them to write down their testimony in a Book of Mormona and then we would take it and deliver it to her. We did this past week and she was very touched by it. She invited us back to share a meal with her and her non member husband and we were overjoyed that she is still welcoming to us. We know we were guided to her house for a reason. AND get this. She shared with us that the day after we stopped by their daughter that was in the hospital sick with cancer was released and doing better. She said she knows it was because we came by and offered words of comfort and prayed with them that she was released. Prayer works. We are so guided, guided by angels. I can never deny that. I also know that there is a strengthening power in the Book of Mormon, she said she still reads it even though she no longer attends with us. I know that even though she isn't a member anymore and her husband never was that because they have the Book of Mormon in their home we are still able to feel the Spirit, I know that. I am excited to go back and hopefully read it with them.

Finally, we went and had a lesson with a young couple in the ward that just announced they are pregnant. They are so sweet and are planning on moving soon but are very missionary minded. He never served a mission because he went into the marines and has since become a recruiting officer. (Side note: The parallels between what he does as a recruiter and what we do as missionaries are amazing, so similar! The major difference is we aren't trying to recruit we just invite... but I guess in a kind of way we are trying to recruit people to come and serve in "God's army"... hmm that is interesting to think about). Either way we had a great discussion with him and his wife who is a convert. We asked them how their lives have been blessed and changed by the Book of Mormon and they both shared how it helps them accept their situations in life, he shared that it helps him be less angry and she said that it helps her be more in tune to spiritual promptings and to pray more sincerely. I absolutely love that! And I agree! We invited them to write their testimonies in Books of Mormon and either give them to a friend or give them to us on Sunday and we would give them out. Well guess what they came to Church on Sunday and caught us in the hallway and handed us the two books with their written testimonies in them! YAY!!!! I LOVE IT when people actually keep their commitments it makes my heart so happy. We were able to head out to a far away part of our area and were guided to a secluded road with only one house on it. A sweet young mom answered the door and told us that she had a Mormon friend in highschool and had actually been out to the Visitors Center in Salt Lake, she wasn't interested but accepted a Book of Mormon and when we showed her the written testimony of that couple in the front her outlook completely changed. She took it and we know that no matter what happens to her in the future, she will never forget that. They say that it takes most people about 7 times to encounter the church before they accept anything... I don't know if that stat is true but I do know that she had had at least two run ins before we met her, than us, and when she opens that book and reads that testimony there is another one.

I know that there truly is power in the book. I know that it is true, it has blessed my life countless times and I have taken it for granted more than I should. I have since repented and can say I have been reading it every single day and sharing it every day and that is something I never want to lose. Whether I share it with a non member or a member, with a family member or a friend I want to read it and share it every day for the rest of my life. I am so grateful for the peace that enters my mind and heart when I open it, and for the lessons I learn and parallels I draw. I don't understand how a 20 year old girl could relate to men and women thousands of years ago if it wasn't true. I don't know how I could feel peace and assurance if it wasn't true. I don't know how I could have a sometimes almost tangible desire to do and be better, to find and follow Christ more fully if it wasn't true. It is true. I know it. I can't deny it. I love it. It has changed my life, and continues to do so. Why would I ever want to give that up?

I echo the words of Elder Callister, "God's fingerprints are all over the Book of Mormon" I find Him in it's pages daily, I find His attributes, His guidance, His mercy, His love, and His will. How could I ever not want those things on a daily basis? How can I not commit to reading it every day and somehow sharing it every day?

I want to commit all who read this to take part in the commitments that we are working on here. You can even help us with our goal. I've invited my family to write their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and send them to me in the mail and Sister Beare and I will paste them into a Book of Mormon and hand them out. If any of you feel prompted to do so as well please send your testimony to me at

11320 Station West. Rd. Farragut TN, 37934
Or get them to my mom and she can send them to me (hopefully that's ok mom:)

I promise as you commit to a more enhanced study and desire to share the Book of Mormon that the light will increase in your life and so will the light in others. You just never know the influence you have. I recently read about a  family that picked a random address (I'm not sure exactly how this worked) but they sent a Book of Mormon with their testimony over seas and a young girl received it in some country in Asia, she read it, it changed her life, she shared it with her family, all were baptized.

Personally I think there is a reason there is a blank page right at the first of the Book of Mormon. It is for your testimoy. Your personal witness. Yes there are the testimonies of the three and the eight witnesses as well as Joseph Smith's but I don't find any coincidence why Heavenly Father left a page blank for your testimony and witness. It's because He depends on us to do His work and spread His words.

How grateful am I for the chance to do this 24/7 for the past 14 months and for the next 4 I am so grateful.

May we all be a part of what our zone calls ourselves the "BOM squad." Without being disrespectful we really do consider The Book of Mormon to be "the bomb" both in slang terms but also literal terms because it really can and does destroy evil and floods the earth with light.

I know it is true.

And so is this Church.

And so is my testimony.

I hope y'all have a blessed week. Read, and share, lift and light this increasingly dark world with The Book of Mormon.

Love,
Hermana Hall

When The Fog Rolls In

Who's up for another random analogy from the life of a Tennessean missionary aka, me!?! Ok here goes, last night we were driving back from our last appointment, we were out in the country taking the twisty back roads home. It had been raining off and on, and it also has been warming up... hallelujah!!! BUT the combination of those two things created a dense fog that rolled in from seemingly no where. We were driving along and all of the sudden hit a patch of fog and the feeling that resulted was eery, definitely uncomfortable, and kind of on edge. Our dear sweet Corolla's lights are not very good as is and let me tell ya it most certainly does not have fog lights so all we could do was take it slow and watch the lines on the road as closely as possible. What was strange to me is there would be a huge patch of fog and then it would clear for a while and then we'd hit another bend in the road or go a few hundred yards and hit another patch. There was no predicting it, all of the sudden you were completely surrounded by it.

At one point as I was straining to see the lines in the road I said "How in the world would you get through this stuff without lines in the road?!" The thought of that made me literally sick to my stomach. Those lines were the only thing that was helping us make it through the winds and curves and bends and straightaways. I knew the lines ran behind us because I had seen them before and I trusted they were going to be in front of us as long as we kept focused on them instead of looking around and trying to navigate on our own. A few moments passed and I then said, "There has to be an analogy in all of this." And there was! There is! You see, sometimes in our winding journeys of life fogs roll in... Trials, difficulties, hard times, expectations of the world, leave us surrounded by a fog which can be eery at times, definitely uncomfortable, and on edge. No one likes to be confused or feel lost. And sometimes out of seemingly no where we feel that way. Much like our drive through the country we will be traveling through life and things are clear and then time passes, some distance is gained and all of the sudden we find ourselves in another patch of trial and hardship that cannot be predicted... so what gets us through? How do we navigate out of it? By focusing on the lines! The line upon lines and precept upon precepts of the Gospel. The basics of prayer, scripture study, and keeping the commandments.  Yet I would also say another interpretation of what the lines in the road in this analogy represent is that they are: our experiences with Jesus Christ...

I will elaborate. I have had some thick fog roll in at random times this past week. We will be going along great and then all of the sudden hit a patch of difficulty that surrounds us and leaves us discouraged, confused, lost, and on edge. And I will tell you this much, there was one day that the only thing, the ONLY thing that got me through it, was remembering that Christ has helped me before and He will do it again. Like those lines I knew that He has been guiding me in the past,  and I know if I keep looking for Him, keep focusing on those guiding experiences then I will see that He continues to guide me. Continues to guide each of us, but the moment that we look away and try to do things on our own, by our own navigation is the moment we get caught up in the fog get caught up in the "mists of darkness." It's like Peter walking on water, when his focus changed, when he looked at the storms around him instead of the Savior before him, he sunk. We've all felt that way. We've all been overwhelmed, feeling like we're sinking. But I know and I can testify that there is no such thing as too far gone, there is no such thing as too lost to be found, there is no such thing as too deep of waters. Christ goes the distance, Christ finds the lost sheep, Christ walks on water. He'll help us, and when we look for Him, when we reach out and up to Him we'll find He was already right there ready and willing to help and guide us only if we are ready and willing to receive that guidance.

And guess what? This morning when we woke up it was a bright an sunshiney day, we didn't know that was going to happen the night before when we were surrounded by fog. But it did it got better, the light came and it feels warm and happy and free. And that's life. Sometimes we get surrounded by mists of darkness and fogs of hardship and feel scared, confused, and on edge. But "joy cometh in the morning," there is always a new day ahead and when the sun shines we feel safe, aware of, and happy. But we have to have both to be able to fully appreciate the good. How would we know how good a clear bright day is without ever experiencing what a dark foggy day is like? We can't. So the reality is they are both going to happen, but decision that is ours to make is how are we going to respond? Will we focus on the lines, focus on Christ and keep a hope for the sunshine that lies ahead? Or will we give into the darkness and the fog and the confusion and become gloomy and sad and down? The beauty of this life is that we get to choose everything about life. Including and especially our reactions to what happens to us.

How many times have my dad's words echoed through my head over the years 
"Only you can choose. Only you can change. And only you can make your situation better."

So let's choose happiness! Let's choose to focus on Christ, remember that He has guided us and will guide us, let focus on the lines and precepts of the Gospel! And let's trust and have hope in a bright future ahead!   

To wrap up I want to share a couple of fog to sunshine, gloom to glory experiences we had this week.

On the particularly trying day we were out in the country contacting people who had formerly met with missionaries, many of them were not there and one house had even burned down and been abandoned so they were definitely not there. I sat behind the wheel on our way to yet another house feeling a little saddened, a little downtrodden, a little confused, and otherwise discouraged. I hit a foggy patch. That is when I prayed in my heart and put my trust in the Lord and reminded both He and myself that He has helped us before, He has guided us before, and I have faith He can and will do it again. As we prayed as a companionship we asked specifically that we could set up a return appointment for this week with this family. Guess what, they answered and agreed on the day we asked them for. In that moment the fog dispersed and sunshine shone.

It was a rough morning yet we were scheduled to go and have a lesson with a woman who comes occasionally to church but has a lot of health problems which prevent her from coming more regularly. She loves missionaries and adores when we come over. She had requested a month ago that we get a conference issue of the Ensign for her, I had my mom send one over, and we have been faithfully bringing it to church to give to her but she hasn't been. So we took it over with us and read from it with her. As we went to leave she hugged us with tears in her eyes and thanked us for taking time out of her day to come and spend time with her. It meant the world to her, and it changed my world. Gloom turned to glory and gratitude. From something so simple. 

We were confused why our angel lady that I shared about a couple of weeks ago never reached out to us. Then one night wr found ourselves at a dinner appointment  at a member couple's home that she had mentioned knowing. We were talking with this couple about the Book of Mormon and a challenge our stake President had given us to write our testimony in a Book of Mormon and give it to a friend in the coming year. They said they used to have a stack ready to hand out and they had given their last one to a man a couple of years ago. As they described who he was his story sounded familiar to us, we asked if he happened to be the son of our angel lady. And it was, we told them that we had been guided to her house and she had told us about her son and they were so excited. They said that she was formerly a member, and when we asked if they would be willing to write their testimony in a Book of Mormon for her and her husband they were ecstatic. We plan to go and deliver it to her and check in and see how she is doing. There again even in fogs of confusion there is sunshine to be found ahead!!!!

I know that Christ does guide us and He watches out for us. I know that no fog is too dense and no time is too dark that can separate us from his outreach and love. I am grateful for this knowledge and for the opportunity to share it with so many that we talk to each day.

I hope y'all have a blessed and sunshiney week!!!!

Love,
Hermana Hall

Get Real!!!!

So this week we went to go see a less active that is pretty homebound because she has chronic sinus infections and a weakened immune system so winter time cold and flu season is risky for her to be out in public. But she honestly is so sweet she has a powerful testimony and adores the gospel. She gets so animated and giggly when talking about it. She will start bouncing in her chair  so excited to share her experiences. She says she has always loved testifying of Christ and His gospel especially when people "kick the door open" for her to insert her testimony. For example if she ever meets anyone who says they don't believe in God she says: "Oooh buddy you do not know what can of worms you just opened with me! What do you mean you don't believe in God where do you think you came from? You think your body, all the plants and animals on the Earth just happened??? GET REAL PEOPLE!!!" I lost it when she said that: GET REAL! There are so many people I would love to say that to. GET REAL!

This week I want to share a few experiences when things: "got real..." real: exciting, humbling, frustrating, humbling, cold and humbling again.

Exciting: we were trying to follow up with a lady where we couldn't find her address so we decided to knock on one of her neighbor's doors. Mind you this was a farming community so neighbors are pretty spread out, and the house we chose to knock on was on a gorgeous piece of property and was really nice on the exterior, had an outdoor fireplace and living area out back.  It was niiiice, and so often missionaries avoid going to places like this because we assume instant rejection. But that is such a stereotype, proven by this experience. We said a prayer hop out of the car and walk the rest of the driveway to the front door but didn't make it there because as we did so the residents rolled up the driveway, which always makes for a nice awkward encounter, IF you let it be! Fortunately we didn't, we were friendly and introduced ourselves and to our shock and excitement they invited us RIGHT IN! We sat down in their living room shared a little bit about our basic beliefs and a lot a bit about what we do as missionaries and the organization of our church. We instantly connected with the mother of this family, she is the sweetest little southern belle, she showed us her scrapbook room (which made me think of my mom) and their indoor theater with movie posters and really cool ceiling lights (also made me think of my mom and family:). But towards the end of our visit she talked about how we should go and visit her neighbor who is in poor health. She said that she had been meaning to go and take her a Christmas present but hadn't made it over, to which we asked if we could schedule a time to come back and go with her next week to visit the neighbor. So basically we are going on a "non-mwmbee team-up" meaning we are teaming up with a non member to go and visit another non member, if you haven't heard of that before that's ok because I haven't ever, but we are really excited about it and this family. They would be such a strength to the church and the ward here. And she has a lot of concerns with other churches because of the way they argue over points of doctrine and are set up as ways to earn money and gain popularity. Everything in me wanted to just say "WELL WE HAVE THE MESSAGE FOR YOU!" And fix all of her concerns right there, but like on of my favorite scriptures in Corinthians says we have "milk before meat" little by little we learn and understand and change. But seriously this experience was so awesome, we walked out of there just in awe of God's goodness. Because it is real... He is real... GET REAL! 

Humbling: we went to go find a woman who had been met by missionaries in the past but had the flu and asked them to come back later and they never were able to get back in touch with her. We had a driveway encounter with her as well she pulled up as we walked up and she also invited us in. This woman, oh my goodness, she is incredible. So wait, back up, as she pulled up in her car she had this huge dog in the back of her car and as she got out it got out too and it was the biggest Great Dane dog I had ever seen!!!! And get this... it is a service dog. She has MS and can't walk very well but there is a program in another state that raises and trains great Danes to honestly be like a cane. She described it like he is a piece of furniture that walks around with her to keep her steady and so she doesn't have to be in a wheelchair. And she has a meals on wheels route that she goes on with him to do service for others, and pay it forward. She is so Christlike! We shared the light the world video and she was very touched by it. She is moving to florida but we were able to get her contact info and will refer it to missionaries there so they can help her move in and hopefully teach her more. It was just so amazing to see people being humbled by weakness yet allowing it to help them reach out and serve those in weakened and humble circumstances as well. Like the classic scripture in Ether 12:27 says, her weakness is now a strength to many. Listening to her and being in her presence was so humbling, definitely got real.   

Frustrating: all of our baptism dates dropped this week. We've been working with two little kids who are over the age of 8 but not quite 9 and neither of them were blessed as a baby. So our Bishop turned them over to us to teach and prepare for baptism, however we learned this week that they are considered ward baptisms so they don't "count" but at the same time they do. We are going to continue to work with them regardless of whether or not it "counts" in numbers we know for a fact it counts to Heavenly Father. And we know that she will provide a way for us to continue to meet people and work with them and help them to progress towards baptism, He has a plan I know that it's real.

Humbling: we went and followed up with a bunch of people in a low income housing apartment building. There was this one woman that was probably 50 and told us about how she was an orphan and it was so heartbreaking. We were able to testify that she was a child of God so loved and aware of and that even if her earthly circumstances were hard and she felt unloved she has a Father in Heaven who loves her so much. The spirit came and it definitely got real.

Cold: This week was full of snow and bitter cold. It was so dang cold! And our poor Corolla is not equipped for the icy roads. We still were able to do work even in the snow and meet and talk with a lot of people who thought we were insane for being out. Oh well the work does not stop for snowflakes or icicles. It's pretty wild that we are having a more severe winter than back home though, I was not expecting that! Get real!   

I wrote about being humbled so much because I think that is ultimately the result of when things "get real" we are reminded how small we are in the grand scheme yet how much we matter in the grand scheme as well. Cue my favorite Mosiah 4 scripture again... Mosiah 4: 5-6
When we get real and realize what really matters or more importantly who really matters, it's humbling. It's so humbling to trust people, to trust Heavenly Father to give up your will and trust in His goodness and His plan. It's a strange phenomenon because we know He is good and aware of us and that He has a plan we say that all the time, but when it comes to acting on it, we hesitate... in sacrament meeting this week non-coincidentally our Bishop talked all about Faith and Trust. Gotta love it when Heavenly Father speaks exactly and directly to your concerns with a way to fix it, and that way is usually what...? Oh yes: HUMBLING! But... I know that so much of our experiences in life test and try us and are set up for us to learn how to trust. Trust in him trust others and trust yourself. This time is a time to prepare, a time to remember, and a time to trust. It requires a humble heart and a will and desire to follow more what Heavenly Father wants for us than what we want for ourselves.

I think Abraham 3:25 says it best:


25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

Proving that we will follow the Lord and His commandments is an ultimate goal of life, it requires humility and it requires trust. Many times there are situations that cause us to GET REAL. To reevaluate, and rethink, and realign ourselves with Him. It's humbling yes,  but it is the way that we can become something so much more.   

Stay humble and trust Him. He won't let us down.

Love y'all!

Love,
Hermana Hall

Angels Among Us

This email is going to have a pretty serious tone, I feel prompted to share about one of the most guided and incredible miracles I have witnessed in my mission and in my life. I pray that all who read it feel the spirit testify that they too are so very aware of and that there truly are as the song says and the verse testifies there are "angels among us," (Alabama) and who are "round about us to bear us up." (D&C 84:88).

I found it interesting that, that was something that was referenced at the funeral of President Monson. He loved and appreciated the verse in D&C 84:88 about guiding angels. He knew it to be true and President Uchtdorf explained that it guided him in all that he did and made him optimistic and gave him confidence. With that in mind I went about my day as a missionary leading up to a long conversation with my companion who is struggling with the thought of going home in 6 short weeks. The result of our conversation was a prompting for us to both receive priesthood blessings the following day.

Which we asked for, and we received. I am so grateful to be serving near worthy and willing elders who answered the call and provided the desired and needed blessings. I went into the experience hoping and praying that my companion's prayers would be answered, which they were. However, I was not anticipating the reminder and guidance that I received.

 The elder who gave me the blessing said that I should remember that I have angels around me, some are even past family members, and they are guiding me. . . Wow.

A specific person instantly came to mind as he said those words. Someone who has passed away since I've been on my mission. Someone I was very close to, someone I still am very close to. This week marks the year mark of her passing and I have had her on my mind for quite some time, I just didn't realize that I was on her mind as well.

Because as we left the Church that day and went out to work, we had a good lesson with a member family who lived in a part of our area we don't go to very often. It was cold, it was windy, it was gloomy. And after that lesson we had 4 hours until the next one and we didn't know what we should be doing or where we should be going. We were pulled over on the side of the road, in the boonies, growing in frustration by the minute. Not wanting to just fill time, but to use it effectively. But we didn't know how. As we prayed both vocally and silently. I remember asking Heavenly Father, "Am I really guided? I don't feel so now." Soon after, my companion grabbed the GPS typed something in and said, "Ok I picked this road let's go." Off we went, to a road that had three trailers and a house on it. The first one, the very first one, yelled at us and told us to leave. The next one was busy, the third one was abandoned, and the last house we were able to talk to the guy who had never seen missionaries out that way, but was kind enough to chat with us in the bitter cold for about 15 minutes but still turned us away after explaining to us that he was always forcefed religion but that he appreciated we weren't there recruiting just inviting and if he was ever interested he would call.

We walked back to the car and pulled away and Sister Beare turned to me with a smile and said "Alright, your turn, pick a street." I pulled up my map, zoomed into where our next appointment was going to be, and found a street that stuck out to me above the rest: Swecker Rd... Problem was I had no idea where that was in relationship to us, I had no idea where we were in the boonies, we were just following the spirit. And our GPS didn't like Swecker Rd, it wouldn't pull it up. So I tried another but still felt like we needed to go to Swecker. I asked Sister Beare if she could pull up where we currently were to see if we could wing it and go based off of the map not our GPS. She did and non-coincidentally (because there is no such thing as a coincidence) we saw that we were going to pass right by Swecker Rd. on our way out to the main road...

So we headed that way, turned up the street, I scanned and prayed and chose a house, who had the cutest big black jumping dog that we played fetch with. Unfortunately his owner was not jumping up and down with excitement to see us and turned us away. As we walked back to the car I looked across the property and saw a cozy looking house tucked away next door. I knew we needed to go there next. There was no questioning, it was: we are going there, right now.

So we did. An elderly couple answered the door and thought we were representing a different church and quickly threw out three excuses as to why they couldn't talk to us long. But we clarified we were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and to our surprise they said "Oh! Well step inside!" I was completely shocked. And even more shocked when the woman explained that she had a son that was a member, and a grandson on a mission in California. I will openly admit that sometimes I get skeptical about people when they talk about how they have family members out on missions as well because a lot of the time their "mission trips" aren't LDS missions so they aren't really that familiar with the Church or missionaries. But this lady was... as we continued to talk to her it was evident that her son really was a member of our church and that her grandson really was a missionary for the Church in California. This woman was really familiar with our beliefs and even knew a lot of the local ward members, and asked for us to tell them hello. It finally occurred to me to ask her, as she was speaking... how she knew these people.

Her response was almost amusing as she said, "Oh I used to go to that church a little bit about 21 years ago..." Again we were shocked, she said that she wasn't sure of her schedule but wanted to give us a call and have us come back and share a message and a meal with her and her husband. She then gave us her name which had changed since she was coming to our church because she had been remarried in those 21 years. We took down her information and she asked if we would say a prayer with her, which we did, and we headed out back into the cold. We knew we had been guided there, there was no denying it. Yet as I was plugging her information into my tablet as we sat in their driveway I turned to my companion and asked her if I had the right last name, she said it was and asked why I was questioning it.

Her name was the exact name, first and last, of my angel.

I said a heartfelt and tearfilled prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father for showing me, in my frustrated and doubtful state, that He is aware. That He meant what He said when He shared with me in that blessing that I really do have angels guiding me. He knows us, He cares about us. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to feel loved. He wants us to help each other. And He gives us every opportunity to do so. He answers prayers, He is patient when we doubt, patient when we lack. He blesses us when we don't deserve it.

A scripture a missionary once shared with me sums my feelings up perfectly

Mosiah 4: 5-6       

5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—
6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body

7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.


I have been awakened to my own sense of nothingness in relation to God. I have come to a knowledge of His goodness, His matchless power, His wisdom, His patience, and His long-suffering towards each of us, but especially towards me. I also have learned about the Atonement, through which grace is provided that if I put my trust in the Lord, be obedient and have faith in His promises and the promptings of His Spirit, this is the way to salvation. And not just salvation in the next life. But this is how I'm saved on a daily basis, from doubt, from despair, from concern, worry, regret, hate, and temptation.

He guides us through all of the elements of a fallen world, and He shows us that we are not alone.

I've always loved the quote by Spencer W. Kimball:
"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs."

This week I have come to a faith and a knowledge that those people that "meet our needs" and answers our prayers are on both sides of the veil. There are so many around us, there are so many who love us, who want to help us. We shouldn't ever feel alone, humbled yes. Alone, never.

I know this is true, there are angels among us, they go forth paving the way of happiness before us, showing us how we can more fully follow the Savior, follow Him home to live with Him, with Heavenly Father, and with them.

I'm so grateful for the Plan of Salvation, for the miracles I witness on a daily basis and for the ones I don't even recognize because I know they are there. I know He is there, I know They are there.

I love and pray for y'all and thank you for your prayers. I'm sure many of the experiences I have are an answer to your prayers in my behalf. My heart is full and I know I am loved.

Thank you.

I hope you each can have experiences this week and into the future which leave you unable to deny that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and your own army of angels know you and help you,  guide you and bear you up.

Alma 26:37 He is oh so very mindful.

Have a great week!

Love,
Hermana Hall