Flashback #24: I Believe in Family

From a long time ago when I was in Nashville:

I've been having a bit of trouble composing my posts lately. My plan is to have one post about each of my family members and talk about a Christlike attribute that I see in them. To me, there are few things in this world that can teach better than example, and they all come from Divine guidance.
   It's not that I've been homesick (sorry, Mom and Dad), but when it comes to family and home, it's hard for me not to share the most exciting experiences and the times when I have learned the most from this family member, and I want those experiences to stay special.

In my own life, there are similar times when I have learned specific lessons from my Heavenly Father. What I have learned is so great that I want to share what I know with the whole world! I am so grateful that I am able to do that to a small degree by serving a mission. I want to tell everyone that their life, their family, and any weakness they may have can be healed through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It really is that simple.  

 And then I think of my heavenly home, and my Heavenly Father. I want to stand spotless before Him one day and tell Him that I did ALL that I could to fulfill what He has in store for me.

I'm not entirely sure where I was going with this one either. I do know that I really wanted to make my parents proud. Two weeks left. Yikes. I actually said it. I don't have long. However, with the short amount of time that I do have, I know that the Lord is not wasting any time in trying to teach me the value of family and what it really means for a family to be made eternal through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This week has been a tough one for sure as I have had many thoughts and concerns that have been pressing on my mind.

I believe that I have talked about President and Sister McKee before. Last week we received some very sad news that Sister McKee is in the hospital as they are treating her for a heart attack and a stroke and a number of other things including at least two surgeries that have all taken place within the last seven days. I truly do believe that the only thing that is sustaining her other than the carefully trained physicians are the many prayers and fasts that are being offered for her sake.

My companion and I were also sad to hear on Thanksgiving, the same day that we were informed of Sister McKee's condition, that one of our very dear and remarkable sisters from our ward (congregation) passed away suddenly, leaving behind a 13 year old son, 18 year old daughter who was at college, and her husband and extended family. She was young, just 47, and a very healthy, active, energetic, and enthusiastic woman. We need more wonderful people like her in the world.

It was just a few days later, that Sunday, when we also found out that there is another dear family who welcomed a new son into the world who is fighting for his life in the NICU. It was just a month or so ago when she bore her testimony about how much she values family and that it has been a trial for her and her husband to have their own family. My heart and prayers truly go out to them as well.

I really must admit that this past week with all of this going on has really been hard for me, and there have been many nights and church meetings and a memorial service filled with tears. Selfishly I have thought to myself, "I can't leave these people now. I would feel like I am walking away from them and not supporting them at all." I have suffered loss before, and I have faced hard trials, but not like this. I do know that missionary work goes on, and God's Plan of Salvation goes on. I know that these challenges aren't intended for me. Call me crazy, but I do feel so blessed to be part of them and to witness the miracles that have come and are continuing to be poured out upon the family and friends that are involved with these three situations. I have seen great courage and character and leadership happen on levels that astound me.

There was a night, I think it was Monday night, when I really was having a hard time. I feel helpless. I did talk a little bit to a dear friend of mine. That usually helps. Right before bedtime, there were some words that came to my mind. My favorite motto that I have said over again,

Everything will be okay in the end, and if it's not okay, it's not the end.

I also recalled some overheard words of wisdom from a few weeks ago, that sometimes we don't let present trials shift and change us to be the person that God intends us to be.

My dear friends, I want you to know that I KNOW that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, families can be together forever.

No matter what happens to Sister McKee, no matter how painful it may be for the family to lose their young wife and mother, no matter how challenging it may be for the family with their child's life hanging in the balance, I KNOW that it will all be made right because of Christ.

This is what is bringing me comfort. I know that God will provide a miracle and through these trials many of us are presented with the opportunity to know Him more, and to know His plan.

My prayer is that each of you, if you have not met with the missionaries before, if it has been a long time since you have had a strong relationship with God, or if you are looking to improve your faith that you already have, or for any reason at all, I hope that you will find the missionaries to find out how it is possible to receive comfort and learn more about God's plan for families in the gospel.

I promise that you will never forget or regret your experience.

Please, go out, and have a miracle-filled day.
With much love, Sister Franson

Also please feel welcome to visit this blog (click on the picture) to learn more about Sister McKee's condition. All are invited to pray tomorrow, November 29, 2012 for her at 12 Noon Central time.

Flashback #21: Expectations and Rule Box

Ok friends. This is turning out to be quite a longer adventure than I thought. I really need to buckle down and "DO IT!" as President Kimball would say. So I WILL finish this.

I just read over this post and it was from last year, almost exactly a year ago. This one was a real challenge for me. I have found that one of my greatest weaknesses comes through my expectations.

I expect to wake up in the morning in my bed and not somewhere else. I expect that the phone will work every time that I use it. I expect that many people are reasonable and kind.

Well, sometimes my expectations don't exactly go as planned... I'd be surprised if I'm the only one this happened to. So I have since learned how to adjust my expectations when they don't happen. Let me tell you, it's great. And it's hard. One time that it wasn't so great, is right here:

Here's a little note about Sister Franson:

 As a missionary, I feel super analytical about gospel principles. The gospel of Jesus Christ is very logical and reasonable to me, even when it comes to understanding the more emotional aspects of it, like recognizing and understanding the Spirit. I can at times be very left-brained as they say. It's all a matter of following instructions and staying within the "Rule Box." And there are different levels of the Rule Box as dictated by the Spirit. The Spirit is the key to opening and selecting from the Rule Box.

One thing I love about my Rule Box is the area labeled "Absolutes." My Absolutes contains eternal doctrines and principles that will never change, such as Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. The true and standard words of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and complete gospel on the earth. And, stemming from the latter statement, all handbooks stamped with the Church logo and statements approved by the General Authorities and especially the First Presidency are added to the Absolute portion of the Rule Box.

So, this last weekend Something messed seriously with my Rule Box.

DDDAAAA!!!!!! "My brain is crazy," as one of my newest friends would say. And I want my rule box placed back in order. In fact, I want to share my knowledge and comprehension of certain principles from my Rule Box to fix the Something that shook the Rule Box. But as I am filing through the Box and placing ideas and items in their place, I find no rule, solution, or best option that can resolve the mayhem in my mind.

So, what's a Sister Missionary to do?

With the help of others who aided in the project of recompiling my Rule Box, I found the answer:

"Let it go."

NO!! I can NOT let it go! The something violated the Absolute section of the Rule Box! Life must be placed in order.

A petty life lesson, isn't it? I mean, the answer is simple and placed right in front of my face, but I don't want to do it. In fact, I feel as if I can't do it at all. I refuse. Yes, I recognize that my pride is in the way, but I am not doing anything wrong besides that. I'll just repent when I feel that I can. I have done nothing wrong. In fact, it was the Something that broke the rules from my Rule Box. Shouldn't I figure out a way to tactfully and nicely fix the Something? It's practically my responsibility! I know what's wrong with it!

But.

That is not how the Savior loves.

Sometimes... the natural man in me feels very small when the Spirit speaks.

So, I'm going to let it go.

Am I entirely happy about it? Not yet. But I will be! Soon I hope, too. What am I learning about this experience? Patience.

And patience I... am still learning!

Have an action-packed day!
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #20: Writing in the Sand

One year plus a day to this post. Hmm... it's interesting that I found this little thought because of what's been on my mind lately.

October 26, 2011

Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the [trials which] ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.  -Exodus 14:13

I had the chance on Wednesday night to go to institute: scripture study for young people ages 18-21. (More details surrounding this circumstance to come!) I must have been blessed enough to go on a fabulous night. One of the stories discussed was the woman taken in adultery in John 8. The teacher then said something that I really loved:

"The wisest choices are made when you take some time to stoop down on the ground and write in the sand for a while."

This, my friends, is so true. I once had a college English professor who taught the same concept. On the day that she would return our grated and edited papers, we were not allowed to talk to her about that grade. End of story. After we had a good nights rest, sometimes a few nights, we could talk to her. It's human tendency to react rashly to something that upsets us. Well, I'm pretty sure the followers of Moses were pretty panicked.

But then... after their patience and faith, did they not witness one of the most famous miracles of all time?

So here's for the liken part- what do YOU do with this thought?

You are most likely worried or angry or frustrated at someone. Or something. Admit it. If you REALLY have nothing, then... well, you will at some point in your life. Guarantee. Before you react harshly though, do something to "write in the sand" for a while. Set the matter aside and do something you enjoy. Read the scriptures and pray, even if you don't think that you feel like it. That might be when you need it the most. Then, it always helps for me to talk to someone that I care about. Just to chat and tell them that you care. Doing an act of service is another great thing to do! Just find what works. Then, after you ponder and pray, make your decision about what you will do. You might not do anything. Maybe God will help to fill in the gap for you.

I still haven't mastered this subject. At all. However, it has blessed my life on more than one occasion.

So dear friends, it's time to make a sandcastle, and God will take a piece and turn it into your mansion.

Have an action-packed day!
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #18: One of my Favorite Things

October 29, 2011. Almost a year ago. I can hardly believe it!

And now, to you, my few but still much appreciated and blessed faithful blog readers. I am going to ask you to do something hard. Make it purposefully hard, not so you can have the same experience that I did, but so you can see how the Savior can cater your experience for you.

Think of something you want to change about yourself. You get to choose. Be sure that it is measurable and attainable otherwise it may not work. And why do you want to change it? I don't know- it's yours. The Lord knows though. Make it a team project between you and Him.

I do love repentance! I think it is easy to forget that repentance and the atonement is not only to wash away sin, but to become a better Christlike person, and for that matter, help us to achieve anything that is good! I love it! I have had goals on my mission that I have set, and I have prayed for. I know it is because of Christ that they have happened. One of my goals was to strive to be a more outwardly happy person. I still am trying to work on that, but I had a friend last week that said to me, "You always look so happy!" And it means a lot to me because it's something I want to improve. Maybe you have a goal to eat more healthy or read your scriptures more often or give up an old bad habit- that's hard! Christ will help. If you truly believe that, put it to the test. Pay the price, put in the time. There is no better time to start than now! The sooner you feel the power of the atonement, the sooner you can feel that burden lifted.

Have an action-packed day!
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #17: A Blurb With Perspective

From Gallatin, again, last year. If I remember this correctly, it was at the end of October, possibly the beginning of November.  

I GOT A PACKAGE TODAY!! Yes indeedy, I got a package. 

This week... has been one of the most challenging weeks of my entire mission up to this point. I've had some really tough moments before, but this week it has been spread out gradually day after day. People just aren't home for some reason. We had one of the ward members who was so sweet to drive us around for two nights in a row, and we visited house after house, knocked on door after door, and Sister Anderson and I are to the point where we are trying to find people who have been taught over a year ago to try again just so we can have someone to teach. Want to know how many lessons we have taught this week so far to a non-member? One. And the member that we brought with us got along so well with that non member that they did most of the talking to each other. And that is GREAT! We love it when members come out with us! But this week that has been it. The only people who have let us into their homes this week besides that are members, active and less active. People have cancelled and not shown up to appointments. Yesterday we couldn't get a ride to meet one of our appointments, so we had two choices: walk or ride our bikes. We figured it would take us an hour to walk so we decided to ride our bikes. Up and down hill after hill we went, fixing broken chains and waiting at stop lights along the way until we finally got to the church where we were meeting our appointment. Annndd.... no one was there. We rested for a little while, tried to call, and then headed right back.
   Today has been pretty much the same. We walked to a christian thrift store that we volunteer at every week putting clothes away, hanging them on hangers, organizing, and whatever else they need us to do. It's something that I sincerely look forward to every week because I know that they can use the help. After that

I actually remember this experience all on its own without the blog's reminder. I remember it fairly vividly, actually. The day that Sister Anderson and I rode our bikes, we were late getting back to the apartment to have Sister V. from the ward pick us up from dinner, and we rode right through a cloud of gnats and I remember spitting and sputtering and finding bugs in my mouth. Sounds great, doesn't it? And even though plans were falling through and Sister A. and I were having a few bad days, we bonded closer together, and we even took a time out and treated ourselves to white chocolate bread pudding at La Riviere's, which I've been informed has sadly closed since then.

 I started this post saying that I got a package! I mean, who doesn't love getting packages from home with goodies and treats from Mom? I think that all too often we are so quick to count our crisis and not our blessings. I admit, it is hard to for me sometimes! Then I try it. I don't ignore or discount the negative, but I learn how to combat it with the positive! Doesn't the Lord always come through in the end anyway? I was once given a piece of perspective early on in my mission:

And it's all made possible by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

I could go on and on about this topic. If you want more, read this. It's quite possibly my most favorite conference talk ever given. Plus I was sitting in the audience when it was delivered. It's powerful.

Have an action-packed, blessed day!
Love, Sister Franson



 

Flashback #14: From My Personal Study...

October 5, 2011

I have been trying more diligently to read something from the Book of Mormon every day as a missionary. In the  recent weeks I have been falling short because I have been studying from the Old Testament, but especially after the council received in General Conference, I will repent and continue to study from its pages each day.

 This picture was taken about 3 weeks ago downtown

.

This morning I was reading in the book of Alma when he is giving council to his sons in the chapter where he tells the story of his miraculous conversion, when he was "in the gall of bitterness" and then his "soul was filled with joy" (36:18,20). If you go just a little bit farther, I read more of his words and powerful testimony to his son Helaman.

    "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, and God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.
    "And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever" (36:27-28)

   I just thought that was beautifully said. Putting ALL your trust in the Lord is hard, but dear friends, where is our faith? Have not the prophets and apostles testified to us time and time again that those who do put their trust in God and follow his commandments with all the energy and capacity that we have, that we will be blessed? 

Yikes. I think that one lesson I have learned is how truly difficult that could be. Well, at least for me it has been. I suppose it's possible that everyone else in the world has perfect trust in the Lord except me. But not likely.

I think it's important to remember that the promise is that we will be blessed. I do know that is true! I also think it's important to remember that we may not be blessed the way we want to be. Think of Abraham- do you think he was a blessed man? The Lord promised to bless him with posterity beyond the sands of the sea. Did Abraham have trials? Um, yes. His is one of the most famous trials of all- being asked of God to sacrifice his son Isaac. What about the Book of Mormon? Amulek. I love that man. He is my Book of Mormon hero, by the way. He was SURELY blessed. I mean, he had a prophet for a mission companion! He was also a successful man, and leaving behind the things of the world, he went to preach the gospel. And oh man, there were trials.

Dear friends, rarely will our lives be filled with black and white trials and blessing times. They will be mixed together. The Lord's promises still stand true, that through our trials he will bless us, and in many times the trials will become strengths. So trust Him. It will happen.

Have you counted your blessings today? I hope so.

Have an action-packed day!
Sister Franson

Flashback #13: Your Gift From God

I have no idea when I wrote this post or where I was serving, but it's short, and still kind of ties into what I want to share with you today.

I know that in prayer, we are not asked to speak "vain repetitions", but one thing that I always pray for is that we can listen, be receptive, and have the courage to act upon what God is trying to teach us.

Some people have this perception that anger, sarcasm,...

(finishing this thought today, August 17, 2012)... or other negative behaviors show that someone has authority or intelligence. There are people in the media all over who criticize, yell about, and put down other people and their ideas, and many other people feed into that anger and as a result... well, without me going into detail, suffice it to say that it is just ugly.

I guess that I am choosing to post this today because even as a missionary, I've been seeing so many things that are negative and put down others, and I suppose that I wish that more people would remember who they are, and remember this simple gift that God has blessed them with:

"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." Moroni chapter 7 verse 16

So, dear friends, after God has given us so great a gift to know good, should we not use it? Should we not merely acknowledge that we have that gift and that power, and actually seek to post and say good things, and eliminate the negative?

Heavenly Father doesn't give us spiritual gifts so we can throw them by the wayside. My invitation to you is to re-evaluate if you need to the things you have said or re-posted or re-pinned or whatever you may have said about someone. Feed the positive thoughts, and clear away the negative. The purpose for our Savior is so that we can one day be made pure. Isn't that our goal? I think that now is the best time to start practicing.

My dear friends, as always,
Have an action-packed day!
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #12: Hymntime

This one comes from early September of last year...

 Time for a Hymn Spotlight!

            

 One of my newly found favorite LDS hymns is called Dear to the Hear of the Shepherd. (A copy of the hymn- #221- can be found here.)The Mormon Tabernacle Choir does a beautiful arrangement of this song. It reminds me so much of my calling not only as a missionary but as one who knows Christ. One of His many titles is the Master Shepherd and we are His sheep. The hymn talks about how Christ will gather His sheep:

Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold; 
Off to the rescue He hastens, 
Bringing them back to the fold.

I love the illustration of this  found in Luke chapter 15, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, dot not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 
    

"And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing."

 Sometimes we are the obedient "ninety and nine", and sometimes we are the lost "one". However, no matter where we are in life, we all need the help of the Master Shepherd. Sometimes, the help we need from Him is for us to gather His sheep with Him. Sometimes it is challenging. It can be VERY challenging, but we can't give up. I recently read an article from the church Ensign entitled Rescuing Lost Lambs. My dear friends, it is our responsibility, it is OUR calling, to help gather the lost sheep.

Hark! He is earnestly calling, 
Tenderly pleading today:
"Will you not seek for my lost ones, 
Off from my shelter astray?"

... And the song ends with us saying to our Savior, "Yes, blessed Master, we will!"

So, have you done something to uplift a friend? A family member? Yourself? If you haven't seized the chance today, that's your assignment.

Make it an action-packed day!
-Sister Franson