Seventy Times Seven: A Lesson in Patience

Yesterday marked seven years since my mom's passing, As the day approached I found myself pondering on the significance of the number seven. Over and again, the phrase "seventy times seven" came to mind. This phrase comes from a passage in the Bible where Peter asks the savior how many time he needs to forgive those who have wronged him. Jesus' answer? "Seventy times seven (Matt. 18:21-22)." While the lesson taught in these verses is first and foremost, patience, Elder Robert C. Oaks commented in an October 2006 General Conference address, "to forgive seventy times seven certainly take a large measure of patience."

So, patience.

I feel that I have been generally patient given my load, but I realized as I pondered that it is not over yet. The patience will need to continue. And I think that is where it begins. I have discovered that patience is an understanding--an understanding that our trials are not over and we have to to put our trust in God's plan and timing. I have likewise come to learn that patience is not reluctant. It is a willingness to submit and let someone else be in charge. It is a willingness to wait it out. And it is a willingness to be "okay" with it. By saying that we have to be "okay" with God's plan, I am not purporting that I believe God expects us to be happy about all the things that happen in our lives. I do not believe God expects me to be happy that my mom missed both my high school and university graduations. Or that she could not escort me through the temple. Or that she is not here to give me dating and marriage advice (because she freaking knew everything--ask anyone). But I do believe God asks me to be "okay" with his plan, which I choose to define as accepting it and for Pete's sake stop whining about it. And I am  "okay" with it. I am not perfect (I started packing for a June Hawaii trip in April because I could. not. wait. ...) but I am practicing patience as I learn patience which is what God asks.

So, why?

Why is this so important that I spent weeks thinking about this topic? Firstly, it is a commandment to exercise patience. God told us to do so. Dapat lang (great Tagalog phrase if you are interested in looking up the meaning). Secondly, it is a Christ-like attribute. One that I impatiently told one of my mission companions she needed to study during a companionship inventory, but that is beside the point... Jesus Christ was the only person to 100% successfully go through mortal life. I want to be successful too, I so try to follow the Savior's example. Thirdly, most of the time we cannot do anything to make our trials go away so life is just better when we are patient.

This might sound crazy, but I am grateful that it has been seven years. It has given me the opportunity to reflect more on what I can do to become more like my Savior and qualify to live in an eternal family. I dearly hope that I do not have to live 466 more years to make it to the "seventy times seven," but if that is required of me I will do my best to be patient.

Fathers' Day, Christmas and the Ultimate Dad

This year, my Dad informed me that my family would not be celebrating Fathers' Day. Instead we would be celebrating "Half-Way to Christmas." While the reasoning behind my family's choice of celebration is likely different than my musings, I cannot think of a more appropriate alternative. Christmas commemorates the giving of our Heavenly Father's most perfect gift--a Savior. In this act, our Father showed His infinite love and mercy towards us, His spirit children. Our Father allowed his only son in the flesh to experience the trials of life, to be mocked and ridiculed, to suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally, and to ultimately endure a slow and painful death reserved for the basest criminals. It must have been agonizing for a Being who loves so perfectly to watch His Son, who had made all the right choices, go through so much on an earth so far from His presence. But God allowed it because He does love perfectly. He wants us to succeed and be happy. He wants us to live with Him. He wants us to have the tools to make it through all our trials. And because of Christ, we can. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and all He does for me. I am likewise grateful for the chance to celebrate Him more fully not only at Christmas, but also half-way this year. I can't think of a better Fathers' Day.

Temples and Why I Love Them

As a missionary, there were days where I would think, "I really. need. to go to the temple!" You can imagine my delight when after returning home to good ol' Gilbert I was able to attend the brand new temple just a few miles from my house.

You may wonder, why does she love temples? Temples are the House of the Lord. In them, the Spirit abounds. The world waits outside as I bask in my Father's love and the Spirit that attends each sacred ordinance. I love that I have the opportunity to serve those who did not have the opportunity to receive the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I enjoy in my life. In the temple, families can be sealed for eternity.

I have been so blessed recently to be able to participate in and witness many happy, sacred ordinances. On Halloween I was able to take my youngest brother to the temple for the first time to do baptisms on behalf of those who are dead. It was really special to see the names of the people for whom he was baptized. The individuals lived over three hundred years ago in France. I could not help but think that they had been waiting those long centuries for their work to be done and how grateful they were to Griffin for being worthy and willing to serve in the temple. The first weekend of November, I was able to witness the sealing of my youngest cousin to my aunt and uncle. Her adoption had been finalized just a few days before. I loved watching the ceremony and knowing that she is 100% part of our family--for now and for ever. She is a Hunt! A week later, my mom's cousin went through the temple for her own endowment. I loved being with my family at the end of the session and feeling a little bit of what it will be like when we have all lived according to God's commandments and get to be together in Heaven. And last, but certainly not least, today was the dedication of the Phoenix Arizona temple. I felt so close to my Father in Heaven as well as early Saints who made sacrifices to attend the temple, those who dedicated time and means to the church in order for it to be built, my fellow temple-goers and to my Savior.

I am grateful for that little piece of Heaven on Earth.

Grandma Hunt and her oldest and youngest grandchildren.

Griffin's first time at the Gilbert Arizona Temple.

What a WEMderful 18 Months!!!--Sister Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, the excitement of the week is that I wrecked on my bike. After extensive investigation, we still have not figured out why. I wasn't touching the brakes, it wasn't more than a 1% downhill grade, there were no cars around. I just hit the ground. We have determined that it was either Satan or an angel that pushed me over. Thankfully, I was not injured too bad. I got some good road rash on my hands and a little on my elbows and chin. And my foot was bruised, but thankfully I am healing! Sister Cunningham had to drive for a few days because I couldn't grip the steering wheel well enough without being in a ton of pain. We are back to normal as of last night, though! Yay!

We found a really exciting new investigator this week. His name is Logan and he is ten, almost eleven. His dad and mother are less active members, but I guess Logan has been begging them to be baptized since he was eight years old. He loved, loved, loved the first lesson and is really excited to have more! I think a lot of the process for Logan will be to help his dad, Jason come back to church. I am hopeful though, that having Jason relearn the lessons (which he is planning to do) and Logan's excitement will be a good motivator. I am excited for them! They have so much potential and the Gospel of Jesus Christ will bless them so much.

I am happy to report that Jennifer and Jaime are still progressing. I love when we start a lesson and they say how much they enjoyed reading the pamphlet again, or the peace that the Book of Mormon has brought to their lives. 

My favorite General Conference Talk this weekend was President Monson's address on Sunday morning. I loved the reminder to just be good like the Savior. That is really what it comes down to.

I can't believe that my time in the Washington Everett Mission is so close to the end. I am torn between wanting a small break and never wanting to leave. I am grateful that the Lord has trusted me to share with his children in Everett who were and are willing to hear the Gospel. I know that it is true and the only true source of joy and peace. I always think of the last line in "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" (Hymn 19). It says, "While they that reject this glad message, shall never such happiness know." I am saddened for those who do not embrace the good word of God and rejoice with those who make it part of their lives. It is absolutely true and I know it! 

See you on Monday!

Thanks again and again! 

Love,

Sister Turley

Still Swimming in the WEM--S. Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week was a good one. We were so close to achieving standards, but our investigators were sick. Next time. We found two new investigators and the investigators that we are currently teaching are doing well. Also, since the weather has been rather Christmasy this week, Sister Cunningham and I decided to celebrate Christmas. We put up decorations and filled stockings and gave each other Christmas cards. For dinner we made mashed potatoes, chicken and rolls. We topped it off with peppermint ice cream and pumpkins cookies :) It was so much fun!!!!

Best idea ever.

Jennifer and Jaime are progressing rapidly towards their baptism date on the 18th of October. They love the lessons and have been keeping all their commitments to the best of their ability. 

We have been tracting a lot lately, and for the first time in my mission it has not been very fruitful. Sad.  However, we have seen blessings from laboring with our might. We have seen the following trend: We tract a street and then a week or two later we receive a referral from another missionary or member who has found a potential that lives on that very street that we just tracted. I am so grateful! It has happened over and over again and I am grateful that the Lord acknowledges our efforts and helps us out.

This week in my studies, I focused a lot on the question that we seem to be encountering frequently about "earning salvation" rather than being "saved by grace." The truth is, that we ARE saved by grace, however, we cannot just walk up to the pearly gates and walk in because we said one time in the middle of our lives that we believed in Jesus. Without the Savior's Atoning sacrifice, repentance and forgiveness would not be possible. But in return, God expects us to acknowledge the Savior and show our gratitude in return. As I was pondering, I thought of this analogy. Not an exact metaphor, but it is good enough to get the idea across. When a criminal is imprisoned for breaking the laws of the land (we are like the criminal when we break the laws of God), he cannot just walk out of his cell because he says that he is sorry and he wants to leave now. He has to live up to certain standards or requirements of behavior, convince the people in charge that he is changed and is often asked to spend some time on probation. Just like the criminal has certain standards to live up to in order to improve his standard of living, we must do the same to improve from our fallen, mortal state to a celestial glory. We are imprisoned by our sins and short comings, and the Savior satisfies the justice system, assuming we similarly meet certain standards of behavior. We in ourselves cannot earn our freedom. The Savior pleads our cause, did our time, and we can often skip the probationary step through the Atonement. Without some expectation on my part, I don't think salvation would be so meaningful. Repentance would be less attractive and there would be no incentive to follow the Savior. I am grateful that God gives us commandments so we can learn this lesson and enjoy the blessings of redemption.

This link is for an article in the Ensign this month. I served in this ward/building about a year or so after it was rebuilt. The Stake President's promise is so true! As missionaries we were blessed to get a lot of publicity because of the fire and held a relatively successful church tour of the new building. It definitely blessed the work there! 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/09/strengthened-by-fire?lang=eng

Love you lots!

Sister Turley

Minus One--S. Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, we were reduced back to two in our companionship on Thursday. Sister Glancy was moved to the Harbour Pointe ward. My companions just didn't want to share me. I am just too awesome.

This week was the slowest we have had in a while. It was just weird. Almost all of our appointments cancelled, and we had a crazy schedule for exchanges and interviews and then moving Sister Glancy out. I am looking forward to working really hard this week with fewer distractions. 

Sorry nothing to share :/

Have a good week! I love you all!

Love,

Sister Turley

Surprise, Surprise--S. Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, we ended up at transfers even though neither of us got transferred. About twenty minutes before, we got a text from the Assistants saying that we needed to come to the mission office and pick up our third companion. So I am three-packing again. Our new companion is Sister Glancy. She is my grandbaby (I trained her trainer, Sister Slade). Three packs are hard and we had some major drama this week, but I think the worst is over and we should be able to be happy and successful now. We got over the selfish so now we can be selfless.

We found two awesome new investigators. They are part of a Part-Member Family. The husband and mother-in-law are less active members. The husband does not have any interest to return, but the grandmother has been trying to find the church again for a long time. She somehow got lost in a move across the country. The two investigators are Shawna and her son, James. We taught the first lesson to them on Tuesday, and they said that they already believed everything we taught was true. James has even read the Book of Mormon and remembers almost all of it. It is pretty amazing. They both set goals yesterday in our lesson to read the Book of Mormon daily. I am hopeful that they will be able to be baptized soon and enjoy the blessings of the Gospel more fully in their lives.

We are trying to think of creative finding methods for three people, because tracting with three can get intimidating pretty quick. We have used the "triangle" tracting method a few times, where two knock on the door and the other street contacts in front of the house, but there are not too many people on the streets in the quiet neighborhood areas. 

This week I have really enjoyed the missionary instructions from the example of the sons of Mosiah. I have also been reading in chapter 1 of Preach My Gospel, "My Purpose." What really stood out to me is that everyone has spiritual needs. I have really tried to make an effort to understand the spiritual needs of those that we are teaching and come in contact with. Everyone has them and a lot of people do not even recognize that those needs exist and they need to be met. I really liked reading Alma 22 in this light. To help discern the needs of King Lamoni's father, Aaron asked all sorts of questions and instructed him accordingly. It is also interesting that while Lamoni lay for three days under the influence of the Spirit, Aaron raised his father almost immediately so he could testify and help meet the specific needs of the other people in the area. I also found it interesting and slightly amusing in chapter 20 where Ammon and the father of King Lamoni duel, because that was also meeting the King's spiritual needs. He needed to have his life threatened in order to receive the Gospel in his life. Odd, but God knows what he is doing and how we can help all of His children here on earth.

Yesterday, Mike Guzman spoke at cottage meeting and he did so well! The Spirit was so strong as he shared his experience coming into the church and I know he touched many as he did so. I was so proud!

Everet and Darlene attended the temple for the first time last week in Snowflake, AZ. I am so grateful that my good grandparents were able to go and support some of my best friends and represent me on this special occasion :) Thanks for doing that!

Love you lots!

Sister Turley