Lifted Up

Their hearts continued to be opened. As we explained the resurrection it all seemed so completely new to them. I had forgotten that these people don't know how beautiful it will be. How perfect it will be. They were speechless. Maria, Mauro, & Lucia are so willing to listen, to share, & to act. Yes, they wondered about it & that is okay. They must ponder & pray. Maria keeps explaining to us how she prayed about the church & got the answer that anything that leads her to God is from God. She kept saying it in the sense that she didn't need what we were teaching. What I realized that day is that she is already getting her answer. These things can get her closer to God than she could be. But what made me the happiest, she came to church. A few weeks back she explained to us that she wouldn't just go to the church to make us happy, but if she had the desire. & Mauro turned 21 & celebrated his birthday on Saturday. They slept way late & honestly, we thought she wouldn't make it. Well just at 10, Maria came walking in & it was my greatest joy. We are seeing the light that is just flooding into her life. Her heart & mind are ready. Now it's time to help her with the next important steps.

Our friend Cristian is going through some trials in his life. Lots of changes & he has been feeling pretty down. This week we went to visit him & as we listened, we were given the words that he needed. The spirit works like that & it amazes me. The thoughts just fill my mind & I know I couldn't do it without the spirit. We taught him about faith. He told us he is going to be more constant because he knows he's been lacking. He promised us he would come to church. It was real. But Satan is working here too & he won. Cristian got sick & wasn't able to make it. He is so prepared & I know the little adversary knows that.

On exchanges with Hermana Briceño, I learned so many things. She is the most loving, outgoing, free soul there is. She has the coolest story & chose to be baptized just 4 years ago. Whenever I get thinking about the people who choose to serve being so new to the gospel, it brings me peace. They really are converted to Jesus Christ. The most important conversion needed. We went visiting the people & as I listened to her that conversion flowed out of her. She is able to connect with these people on such a special level. Well, as we spoke with Maria (our other Maria), she did just that. We spoke about knowing these things are true through prayer & by the feelings in our hearts. Maria had explained the way she felt when she was in the church, since we came by, & the connection she feels with us. We told her about how sometimes before this life, we promised people we would come find them. She seemed to know that & trust in that as well. She is also so prepared. Such a sweet soul.

As we went visiting the people who had talked to missionaries before, we came across a woman who I had never passed by. Knocked her door, she opened her window. We told her we are missionaries & she said oh wait a minute & shut the window. A minute later she opens the door & tells us to come in. We didn't have time honestly but she had us sit down & explained that she is married to a member & her daughter is baptized too. We had no idea. & then her daughter came out. She's about 20 years old & for years she hasn't gone to church. She was baptized at 8. Right off the bat, we mentioned a mission just because of her age & she seemed so interested in that. We kept talking & she explained to us that a little while back she had the desire to pray but didn’t remember how to do it & so she just did it how she thought it was. We taught her how to pray & it was pure. A few hours later we sent her a text & she told us she was just finishing her prayer. She is going to come to church next week & it will be so special.

I found myself studying so much about the resurrection this week as our friends had questions & it was so special. The knowledge that we have about what is to come means the whole world to me. I know that our friends had some doubts. They have never heard of such things. But I have no doubts. I can testify of these things on & on because I know in my heart that they are true. Our bodies & our spirits will be reunited again. There is no question about it. We will be made whole & perfect. There is no question about it. We will be put face to face with our Maker. We will be judged of our works here on the earth. It will be a perfect judgement full of love. Jesus Christ will be there & His grace will save us so long as we repented every single day. We will be put in a kingdom that is where we deserved to be. & we will live forever. Never to be separated again. Jesus Christ will lift us up, just like He always has & just like He always will.

3 Nephi 27:14 "And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works."

It was all part of the perfect plan our Father in Heaven created from the beginning. I have no doubt about it. The scriptures testify of it always. Pray & ask God. He has all the answers. He always answers. Study the scriptures every day. You can find your testimony, but you have to read them to know.

Oh how much I love all of you. Be safe & be like Jesus. I pray for you.

With all my heart,

Hermana Morley <3