Long
time, no see family!! (Since it's been a whole 3 hours...)
The parts of this week
that I didn't see you during would be best described in pictures, but there's
no card reader today so I will have to do without pictures. But you just saw me
so it's not a big deal anyway. I have learned a lot this week: a lot about
myself, a lot about the Spirit, and a lot about life. Here is some of the
things I want you all to learn too:
· Serving others will bring you so much joy! The
Stage YPMs have an even crazier schedule now that pageant is here and last
Sunday they were struggling. So we decided to write them each a note and then
we made them potluck dinner on another night. They were simple things that
didn't take much time, but they clearly made a difference. It was amazing to
see how much unity it brought us as a band to serve others, how much joy it
brought each of us who were serving, and how much it meant to each of the stage
missionaries. So serve others! It doesn't have to be something huge, it just
needs to be meaningful. The best way to lighten your mood is to stop thinking
about yourself.
· The Gospel is a Gospel of happiness and light.
I have been reminded of this over and over here in Nauvoo. We have talked about
how it's hard to imagine how we can share our testimonies of Christ and the
restored Gospel through Sousa marches and jazz music. But the way we do that is
through sharing our happiness and joy with those who see us. This truly is a
Gospel of joy. I have never been so happy!!! And I love being able to see the
light in others as the Gospel makes them happy too. 2 Nephi 2:25 teaches us
that "Men are that they might have joy!" We aren't here on Earth to
be miserable and upset and struggle, we are here to be happy and find joy. So I
challenge you to look for joy in the little things every single day. No one can
control your happiness but you. SO CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!!!!!!! :)
· Following the Spirit will change lives,
including your own. There is power that comes through following the Spirit.
Whether it be a warm feeling or a specific prompting, following the Spirit will
bring us the joy I talked about. It also is incredible to know that the Lord
trusts you enough to speak to you through the Spirit. Pay attention to it and
follow it. Even if you aren't sure if it's the Spirit or your own feelings, if
it invites you to do something good (and we all know the difference between
good and bad), then do it! You won't regret it.
· The Lord is hastening the spread of the Gospel
and all of us can be a part of it. We can all be missionaries!! We get to be in
the final scene of the British Pageant (as you saw haha) and we get to sing
Called to Serve and Redeemer of Israel. I love being a missionary and I know
that I have been called of God to serve here in Nauvoo. You guys aren't set
apart as missionaries but that doesn't mean you can't do missionary work.
Spread the Gospel!!! Be an example in everything you do! We are helping to
hasten the work of the Lord, and He is trusting us with this huge
responsibility. Members and missionaries have been instructed to work together
so let's do it!
We had lots of fun
this week like watching Megan and Nathan dance with the stage missionaries,
doing dishes with another raccoon, hearing stories about Elder Myers, and lots
of other things. I seriously wish I could send some of these pictures. Oh well.
I love you guys so
much! Thanks for coming and supporting me. I love Nauvoo so much. I am so
grateful for the Saints and the sacrifices they made that have made this such
hallowed ground. I know without a doubt that we are sons and daughters of
Heavenly Father. He loves us more than we can comprehend. I know that Jesus
Christ lives and that through the Atonement, we can be enabled to do all that
we need to. I know that through Him, we can become more than we could ever be
on our own. I know that the priesthood is on the Earth. It is so powerful and
so incredible. We don't use it often enough. I know that the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true!!! I love Nauvoo so much and I love you
all!!
Sister Holbrook
Pictures we (the family) took in Nauvoo:
Look closely at where their hands are
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