Week 14

Hermana Lutze,

We're still in St. George today and will be heading back sometime tomorrow to the snow. It sounds like we got about a 1/2 foot while we've been down here. We just came back from a walk along the river in the sunshine. It felt so good after spending the last few months in the snow and the inversion. 

Mission life is sounding like the Battle of the Five Kingdoms... It's so hard emotionally because you love and serve the people you are teaching and you know how happy the gospel would make them even though they will still have trials and you want that for them. The dream Marcia had is an amazing gift. Hopefully, she will see it that way. You see it that way because you have a complete understanding of the gospel.

I really want to see Hna Rubina in her mariachi dress. So take a picture! :) 

Hannah has been orienting at her new job and has been accepted to BYU I, UVU, and the U of U. We, of course, are still waiting to hear from BYU. She only has 4 high school classes this year.

Natalie continues to practice her three instruments and try my patience at times. She hasn't been very happy to be down here in St. George. She really likes her time alone.

Jakob's team won all of their games but in the end the point differential wasn't in their favor so they didn't move on... Jakob's old Surf team was ahead of us by one point due to a shut out so they moved on and were beat by the Surf Premiere team. The brackets are really dumb this year. There's no Gold, Silver and Bronze division. They've just lumped all the teams together. But, hey, it was worth coming down here just to get some sunshine and warmer weather.

We've had fun visiting the Weights and are looking forward to them coming up at the end of January for the Provo City Temple Open House. The kids are all also going to go with Cami to a temple for baptisms for the first time while they are up and we hope to see the Ice Castles in Midway.

I've been struggling to get my lesson together for Stake Women's Conference but revelation is coming line upon line and precept upon precept. I've been extremely busy this week between work and my calling.I also have a RS lesson to prepare. We've been asked to teach in Relief Society for Ward Conferences.

Hermana Lutze I've really been thinking about the importance of fortifying ourselves against the adversary. We are at war with him and like it says in Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:22...insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant."

We are the elect and must cling to the Spirit and receive personal revelation to guide us so we will not be deceived. We do this by praying, studying the scriptures, partaking of the Sacrament, attending the temple, and following the counsel of the living prophet and apostles. 

I've also been thinking about what are my weapons of rebellion... read Alma 23:6-8. We are converted unto the Lord when we lay down our weapons of rebellion. What are your investigators' weapons of rebellion? How can you help them put their weapons down?

I love D&C 45:3-5. Christ loves us and is pleading our cause before the Father. We read, "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him-saying: Father behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of they Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life."

Another favorite this week D&C 123:17 "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." This is what a mission and life is all about. We must endure well!

I love you!

Love,

Mom