Hola Familia!!
The first day was great--I saw
Bonnie LITERALLY thirty seconds after I turned around from you all. I was still
all puffy eyed and my face was wet and she looked rather bewildered to see me,
but it lifted my spirits SO MUCH :) I've also seen since then : Kristie
Hinckely, McCall Mod, Lauren Beck, Kate Lefrandt, Mindy Wong (JUST barely saw
her--she's new today), Tori Cameron (friend from cafeteria and the bookstore,
left to Germany yesterday morning), and a million girls from high school....Anyways
our usher sister lady held my luggage and I went inside and verified that I was
who I said I was, got my badges and a bunch of otra misc. stuff. I met my companion, Hermana Christiansen from
Lehi, UT. She goes to SUU and is pre-Vet. She wants to be a large-animal vet.
We just basically go from class to
studying from dinner to planning to whatever. It's not that intense, the
intense part is making sure that you're focused and ALWAYS on time and doing
what you're supposed to. We got to see the Music and the SW on sunday morning!!
The elders go to priesthhood and the sisters go to the big room in 19M and
watch it. I was bummed jazz wasnt playing. next time i guess. it was really
great. then bonnie oscarson (new YW pres) spoke to us for RS and shared DC
84:88 which is also what Pres. Anderson said in my setting apart blessing!!! So
great. We had a great devo from some dude (I realized that I had been murmuring
in my mind a lot, and he told us not to. it was real great), but the best part
was the character of Christ talk by Bednar (from a couple of years ago from
Christmas at the MTC). It's too bad you all cannot access it because it was SO
AMAZING!!! He basicall talked about how all Christ ever did was TURN out to
help everyone else. Every example in the scriptures that you can think of--he
turned out. Even after he finished His mortal ministry, he went to the spirit
world and taught. focus on LOVE, SERVICE, AND COMPASSION, above all else. Elder
Bednar kept saying, "Who cares what you want, it's not about
you!!!!!" He compared the natural man (Mos 3:19) to the cookie monster--it
was quite hilarious. Testimony will never be enough for us--we must be
converted. That is mostly the purpose of the MTC, to help us become converted
(conversion=consistently being true to what you know). He said that whenever he
hears some dude get up and takl about his ggpa that came across the plains, he
says, "that's great, what have you done lately?" Hahaha but
serisouldy, what have you done lately? Alma 23:6--> if you're converted
you'll never fall away. He told us to get rid of the cookie monster, get outta
the way, and STOP MURMRUING. He defined conversion again as changing from
turning inward to turning outward. repenting is returning to God. Let me say
that again. reTURNing to God. He said that everything we teach is intended
to facilitate putting off the natural man and turning to others through the
Atonement of Christ. The requirements: accept that God exists. maintain a
correct understanding of the Character of Christ, and align you will with His
(found in the lectures on faith). He urged us to learn OF Him, not just ABOUT
him. We need to start by acting on our faith (even if our faith is small, act
on the ground that is already won--talk by Holland from last conference). Then
we'll eventually see some evidence, and that will eventually turn into
knowledge. Don't get discouraged, however, eat the elephant one bite at a time,
and stick the rest in the freezer (he didn't say thatpart about the
elephant.....just to clarify). The Atonement cleanses us from sin, yes, but also
INCREASES our capacity to DO BETTER. Mosiah 3:19--> become a Saint. Here's
the three things he said: honor covenants, consistently live what is
true, and become converted unto the Lord. The Atonement also gives
us strength beyond our own: we are not meant to do this on our own--we are
only natural men/women. The story of Ammon where he does not boast
of his own strength...only of Gods.. read it. When you lose yourself in
the service of others, you'll find yourself because you're not
looking. He also recommended reading the book of mormon with a topic in mind
(faith, charity...etc) and then marking it up as such. By the end of our lives
we should have hundreds of Boms he said. That was basically taken
from my notes so I hope it made sense....just thought I'd share the
best part of my week. It inspired me greatly.
Also will you please give my love and muchas thanks to GGHark for their
sweet dear elder note and Wally, Annette and fam for the chips and
salsa? Totes made my day and they are just the cutest!!! Also I met some
elder from their ward, Elder Call who thinks Wally is the bomb.com and thinks Hannah is just fab. Maybe she should write him a letter, no?
Let me know if you have any questions...it's hard to think of what to tell you when I'm here at this computer with technology.
Muchas love and amor my familia!!!!
Love, Hna Harkness
(Here are some pictures from this week)
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