Hands

I saw something yesterday that broke my heart. 

Sister Warwood and I visit families day in, day out. We see a lot of people. It's just part of what we do. Yesterday, we visited a family that I have come to love and have compassion for. I think that by visiting this family, I have been able to feel more love that the Savior bestows upon His servants in a way that I never expected, and in a way that I wish I didn't have to see. 

They do not come from a perfect home. They do not come from great financial means. Although they know of Jesus Christ, they do not have a strong Christian background. 

Yesterday in our visit, the husband and wife were arguing. I could see how exasperated she was, how tired and how hard she had worked all day and felt that she had nothing to show for it. I saw how confused the husband was, seeing that this was a situation that he was tired of trying to fix. He would give suggestions to solve the problem and would be wrong. He didn't know what to do either, and he got to the point where he almost didn't seem to care. I got the impression that this was a common occurrence in their home. Their children needed attention, the mom needed acknowledgement, and the dad needed understanding. This family needed love. 

Sadly, as a missionary my stewardship only goes so far. I can't give marriage counseling, I can't take care of a home or children. I probably wouldn't be much good at any of that anyway. All I can do is share the gospel and hope they will accept it, and the family has to choose to accept and implement its principles.

As Sister Warwood and I walked away, I thought, "What would the Savior do if He was in that home? How would He feel? What would he say to them? What would He teach them?" I know how I felt, and it was not good. I wanted to help them so much. The love of Heavenly Father that I felt for them was that of deep sorrow. This family has all the access to every tool they need to build a strong and unified family, but HOW do I teach them to use it?

Well friends, I still don't know. So, I am asking something of you today. 

If there is someone you know who needs you, someone you can teach, someone you can love, someone who could use a break from the kids, someone who could use a spiritual message, someone who could use a listening ear, if there is ANYONE that you can think of who may be in need, go and be the Savior's hands for them today. You have so much power to uplift someone. The world is at your fingertips with which you click the button of a keyboard. Use those hands and see how you can heal a heart. 

 

Have a service-packed day.

Sister Franson

Where He wants you to be.

What is the most important meeting that Latter-Day Saints gather for? Is it the Temple? Is it prayer? Is it family reunions? Let's see what an apostle has to say!

"Sacrament meeting is the most sacred and holy of all the meetings in the Church... If we are to be His disciples and to be committed members of His Church, we must remember and reverence the sacrament. It allows each of us to express with broken hearts and contrite spirits our willingness to follow the Savior, to repent, and to become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ.  The sacrament allows us to witness to God that we will remember His Son and keep His commandments as we renew our baptismal covenant. This increases our love and appreciation for both the Father and the Son." -Quentin L. Cook

Because this meeting is so important, we are asked to do it every week. Not when or because it is convenient, but because we make promises with God, and we need His help. We need that blessing to "Always remember Him."

So, dear friends, have you remembered the Savior this week? WILL you remember the Savior this week and go to His house on Sunday to show Him that you are, and that you will?

You may be surprised that when you go you will see how much He remembers you.

Have an action-packed day!
Sister Franson

Whithersoever

I love scriptures like this. This is one of many scriptures that teaches us that we are never alone, that Heavenly Father is with us wherever we are. Sometimes it is exactly what we need when we feel discouraged or alone.

But what about the times when you feel happy? When you are on top of the world, and having a great day? Or what about those average days when you're surfing the internet or watching movies or reading a book or just talking with your friends. Do you ever remember that He is with you then, too?

He MOST CERTAINLY is.

So, dear friends, when you post something on facebook, when you are having a conversation with your friends, when you are watching that movie or television show, is it "virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy?"

It doesn't always have to be spiritually minded complete with a testimony and an "Amen", but what does your language say about you when you are outside of church? What kinds of pictures do you look at and find "funny" that in content mock and disrespect the commandments of God?

"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." -Articles of Faith #13

Have an action-packed day!
-Sister Franson

The Coat!!

I found this story on the Mormon Channel and I really want to share it. 

Heber J. Grant was a prophet several years ago before he passed away. I love hearing stories from the childhood of our modern day prophets! Many of the stories from our ancient prophets are found in the Bible, such as stories about Samuel and Daniel and so many others. To me, stories from the prophets of the latter days are just as inspirational. 

This story truly exemplifies charity, or the pure love of Christ. So, dear friends, how can you be charitable today?

Post your thoughts and comments! 

Have an action-packed day!

-Sister Franson

I'm grateful they called me on a mission

I had a moment today.

My sister was married in December in the temple in Salt Lake City. Yes, it was a big event. No, I wasn't able to go.

She was sweet enough to send me pictures of the reception and everyone there and for the past couple of days I have been spending much of my time looking at them over and over again, remembering so many people that I haven't seen in so long and wondering what they are up to and, for the younger ones, wondering when in the world they got so tall!

It was and sometimes still is hard for me to know that I wasn't there to tell my sister how beautiful she looked or how much I love her or how proud I am for her to live her life to be worthy to make and keep covenants with Heavenly Father.

So why don't I go home to be with my family? Why do I stay here and have those really hard days and so many rules to keep? Why do I get up at 6:30am every morning and go out and teach ALL day when I am tired and not watch television or read fun books or wear pants or go to the movies? WHY do I keep doing something so hard?!

Well dear friends, I need to be here. Not just to give up hard things and learn to go without and grow up or anything like that. Those are just side benefits. I am here, serving the one true God Almighty because people need to know. They need to know their Father and their Savior on a personal level and come to know for themselves of Their truth and divinity. Not only that, but their church has been restored! It's here! It's not just "the most doctrinally correct organization," it's not just "the happiest people on earth," it's not just "a good church doing good things with good people." The world needs to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints  is God's church complete. We believe in the Bible, we believe in Prophets past and continuing, we believe in angels, personal revelation, creating an eternal family, making promises with God, continued revelation! Isn't that wonderful?!


So why are missionaries faced with hard things? Let's hear what an apostle has to say.

 

So, my dear friends, if the Savior could do it, if He could share the gospel in spite of all His sufferings and persecutions, and STILL be the one perfect Being to ever live on this earth, so can we. What we are asked to do does not compare to what was given of Him. Take courage, and share a spiritual moment with a friend.

Have an action-packed day!

-Sister Franson