More info in president's email:
President,
Easter is now my favorite holiday. Before becoming a missionary, i'm sad to say that I did not focus this holiday enough on my Savior and his Resurrection. What exemplified his love for me especially this year is the beautiful message, "Because of Him." We shared this video with EVERYONE. The joy discovered by its viewers was so eminent. Clean slates, fresh starts, new beginnings. Because of Him we will all live again. Death has no sting.
Thank you for having us share this message with all those we teach. Through this request, I was able to watch it no less than twenty times. Surprisingly, it never got old. My favorite part is when the Savior appears and the music shifts. An instant smile was drawn from me and those we watched it with. So again, I just want to thank you for asking us to share this message because it opened a lot of hearts.
Sister Jorgensen and I had the opportunity to speak in sacrament this Easter Sunday. I'm not going to lie, I felt a little overwhelmed to have the responsibility to speak on such an important day. Sister Jorgensen and I both felt such desire to help the Salem Third ward recognize the power of the Atonement and the miracle of His resurrection. Though we had little time to prepare, the spirit truly taught through our words. After the meeting we both were amazed by the things we said with such confidence and love. We know the Lord blessed us with the spirit, and we are grateful for it.
Sunday night we had a lesson with a student named Sarah. She left for a few months because she was off track at BYUI. We got to catch up and see how her testimony has strengthened over time. As we spoke to her, she made us aware of many things that had transpired while she was gone, many of which were negative, but have made her stronger. One thing that really shook her was her finding out that two members she really respected, have chosen to remove their names from church records. She confused. She was told to not to trust her feelings.
As Sarah spoke, informing us of these events that had taken place, the spirit prompted me to bring up the last lesson we had with Sarah before she went home to California. We took Sarah to a church building and showed her around the different classrooms. We took her into the Chapel and shared with her the meaning behind the sacrament and the importance of partaking of it each and every Sunday. We proceeded to take her to the room where the baptismal font is. We discussed her overall feelings as we had been walking through a house of the Lord. She began to cry and told us she wanted to be baptized, and that she knew it was right by the spirit she felt.
I drew out this tender moment for her so the spirit could being back to her memory and testify to her again the need for the sacred ordinance of baptism. She thought back on that lesson and said that she had forgotten about it but it was now fully brought back to her memory. Sister Jorgensen and I then taught her how we must follow the spirit and our feelings, because those are the means by which our Heavenly Father speaks to us. She recognized this and told us she was so glad to be back with us.
To say the least, we're so glad she's back as well! I have seen Sarah from the beginning of her conversion process, to now, a pinnacle point in her path to return to her Heavenly Father. It's such a joy, true joy. I can't help but smile now as I think about the change of heart the Gospel brings to the lives of all who learn of it. We are taking Sarah back to the same room this week where she felt the spirit so strong a few months ago.
We have two baptisms this weekend, David and Tobey! The swiftness of their learning blows me away. Their faithfulness to the promptings of the spirit blows me away even more. Those I teach, teach me more than they could ever know. Learning has become my new favorite thing!!!!
Thanks for everything you do for me as a missionary, us as a mission, and the world as a leader of the Lord's command to hastening of the work.
Much love and admiration,
Sister Fredrick
LET US ALL PRESS ON!
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