We begin to invite Alex to activities. Our ward mission leader begins hanging out with her and talking with her a lot about the gospel. She began to come back to church, but not fully there (emotionally).
We find out that Alex has a couple roommates that aren't members. We stop by and they are all home, including Alex. They invite us in and let us share a message. Alex bears her testimony to her room mates.
Fast forward to last week. Alex received a calling to be a ward missionary. Alex taught Sunday school. Alex is going to Institute every week.
This week Alex had us over for dinner with one of her friends who is not a member. Alex and us taught a lesson. Alex bore her testimony in sacrament yesterday.
I love change. I love how the love and care of fellow members can save someones life. I love how the gospel can change a persons outlook.
Alex told us last night that she had grown to harden her heart. She wasn't open to the spirit, nor did she invite it in. She thought that she was just raised and conditioned to be the way she is, but as she slipped away from her faith, she lost her identity. It wasn't what people had taught her all along, it wasn't the childhood she had, it was the knowledge that she is a daughter of God. She found that love once again, as we all can find if we open our hearts.
I am grateful for the strong and diligent examples in my life. I am grateful for the knowledge I have of my divine worth. I know that I am a daughter of God. Not because I've been told, but because I can feel.
I love you all so much and hope we can each strive to strengthen our relationship with our Savior and Heavenly Father every day! The small things...the small and simple things.
President,
The Fourth of July holiday was wonderful. As you saw, three zones got together at the park and we played sports and grilled out for a couple of hours. We then went to the institute building and watched the movie "Frozen". What's really funny is that I was making doctrinal connections all throughout. If you've ever seen it, which you should if you haven't, there are many references to the mind and heart. One of the characters is hit in the head with a magical force and needs help to fix it. They go to a special place where a troll is able to fix the damage. Later on in the movie, the same character is hit in the heart with the same force. They try going back to the troll to ask for a quick fix, but the troll is unable to fix the heart.
I've though a lot about our recitation in D&C 64:33-34...having a willing heart and mind. Recently, I can't remember where, but I gained some insight from someone concerning these things. We, as children of God, have been given everything from the cars we drive to the bodies we keep clean like temples. Everything, EVERYTHING is a gift from Him. Now, the mind and the heart are physically given to us, but as we grow and develop, they become what we shape them to be. They become ours. Our mind= our will, agency, actions. Our heart= our desires. These are the only two things that we can give back to Heavenly Father. The ONLY two things that are ours TO give.
Relating this back to "Frozen"... The troll could not fix her heart because the heart has to be fixed by ourselves. The way her heart is fixed is by her saving her sister, the sister who damaged her heart in the first place. To give our hearts is to save our hearts. I know this to be true!
Things aren't exactly booming in our area right now, but Sister Jacobson and I are giving FULLY our hearts and our minds. We may not see results at the present time, but we will continue to work hard and have faith. I know that our Savior lives. He has been here for me. He is walking every step, knocking on every door, and testifying to every person, right by my side. With this, where is there room to complain or get down? That's right, there is NONE.
Love,
Sister Fredrick
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