Flashback #23: Learning to Face Reality

This was from way way back towards the beginning....
 
A few days ago I asked what it means to be blessed. When it get's right down to it, a blessing is 'something good.'

Well friends, now I have come to see how a blessing is so much more than simply a good thing. It truly is a gift from God. I know that my mission has been one of the greatest blessings I have ever been given in this life.

I have a dear friend of mine- actually my very first mission companion from the days of the Missionary Training Center- who asked if all of us sisters who came to Tennessee together at the same time could write a post about our experiences and what we've learned.

Well... she just HAD to remind me.

I've kind of been in denial in some ways. I have so many mixed feelings about going home. Regarding what I could post, I have thought about it, and thought about it, and thought about it. I think that even if I wrote the most elaborate, tear-jerking, emotional post, it really wouldn't do justice to my whole experience as a missionary.

Over this process and pondering, I have come up with a small handful of gems:

There are some things in life that cannot be gained in any other way but by experience. I can testify that a mission is one of those things! Gaining a testimony and spiritual knowledge of the Jesus Christ and His gospel is another. I am told that motherhood is another one, and I know there are many other examples. If you have the opportunity to go on a mission, I can promise you that serving a mission will bless and positively influence every other major life event you will encounter. Ask the Lord, and you will have your personal witness testify to you of the importance of your call to serve.

People are real. This might come as a shocker to some. I have been able to see real people, living real lives, overcoming real challenges. Having a companion 24/7 has also taught me a lot about myself and how I build relationships with others, and I am so grateful that I have learned how I can build and strengthen relationships with friends, family, and others for the rest of my life. This principle has also taught me much about Jesus Christ and how real He is, and how He thinks about us. Think about what you are doing right now, or what you will be doing ten minutes from now. How would Jesus Christ do it? How would the home of the Savior look? How would He feel if he saw what you have done so far with your day and with your dealings with others? The Savior is more than just a man who died for our sins. He knows each of us, and He knows us well. So does our Heavenly Father.

The Gospel is TRUE. I have also come to know what it means to be true. I have heard many philosophical comments and I have read many talks and listened to sermons that say truth is subjective and relative. I am here to testify that truth is NOT subjective, nor is it relative. There is indeed perspective in this world, but actual events and reality cannot be altered. I don't know if many Christians realize what they are saying when they casually say that the church is true. I can't even do it justice to describe what it means. I suppose that the adjective that I go to most is real. God is real, He is tangible, Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in 1820. The Book of Mormon is an actual account about a real ancient American civilization. Faith is an actual principle given to us by God. Repentance works, baptism is essential and powerful for the remission of our sins, the Holy Ghost does in reality communicate and protect us, and once a man or woman knows this, the gospel cannot be forsaken, neither should spiritual progression be stopped. That is not the plan of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints truly is God's church and has the authority therin.

There is always a choice. I love to change. I can also testify that change can be difficult. It can require the difficult challenge to humble one's self before God and sometimes our fellow brothers and sisters. Try to change though! If you are upset, just smile. Try to sincerely smile. President McKee has often said that we can change our attitude as easily as we can change what we wear. I KNOW that we cannot always control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to what happens to us, and when we do that in a manner pleasing to God, then we are on the path to mastering and overcoming the natural man.

Only the Savior knows how we feel. This kind of ties back in with the first point. I have come to... strongly dislike the phrase, "I know exactly how you feel." No one does. Our lives and personalities are so unique that no one can possibly know but God. There are some that may be able to empathize or relate, but it is not possible to know exactly how someone else feels. Instead, I have learned that the best way to handle a delicate personal situation is to just say to the person, "I can understand why you feel that way" or "I have felt similar (not to be confused with exact) feelings like that before" and then you can bridge that situation to the gospel. This default in life is part of God's plan. We need to turn to the Savior and no one else to feel completely consoled and light from our burdens. Time is also an essential part of God's plan. If we could go back in time or remember things perfectly, we would learn much less and rely on the Savior very little.

I have learned so many other things. My understanding and knowledge of Christ's church and His gospel has expanded in a way I couldn't have predicted or understood a year and a half ago. I understand better the why of the gospel and how I want to exercise and use each principle in my life and with my family. I have also learned how I can have greater faith, and I have learned the importance of waiting... a lot.

So, dear friends, this post isn't goodbye. Yet. I still have a small handful of weeks. As a dear friend of mine reminded me, although my service as a full-time missionary is coming to an end, I am not going back to my old life, but I am looking forward to a new life with many wonderful opportunities, and many more blessings to look forward to and be grateful for.

Dear friends, the church is true. I can promise you that. I hope that you will take the time to find out for yourselves.

I pray that each of you will have an action-packed, blessed day!
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #19: Have you heard???

HAVE YOU HEARD????

 

GENERAL CONFERENCE IS TOMORROW!

How great is that?!

  Sister Franson, what is General Conference?

This is a time when we get to listen to men that can be compared to Moses and Noah and Abraham. They give us personal guidance, and it is a time that we can receive personal revelation or enlightenment for us on an individual level or for our families that we give care for. What better choice can you make than to turn to the servants of the Lord to receive answers to life's questions?

So, take a question! "Prove me now, herewith!" See if it doesn't happen!

The big point is that God speaks through a prophet today! He hasn't left us to fend for ourselves or take the best guess at what his gospel really is or what the scriptures mean. I have felt the Spirit of the Lord testify to me that these men truly are inspired, and I know that as I follow their counsel, that my life has been blessed, and I have stayed protected from spiritual and physical danger. I am so grateful that I have these men to receive guidance and counsel from! See? Don't they look happy?

It doesn't hurt to have a peek :)

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the  Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that  wait upon the Lord shall  renew their  strength; they shall mount up with wings as  eagles; they shall  run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

*Scripture thought found from November 1, 2011

Have an action-packed day! And take good notes of General Conference!
Love love! Sister Franson

My Testimony

... can I just say something today??

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's true church on the earth. It has the fullness of the gospel. Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in 1820 in Palmyra, New York. Through the power and care of God, he RESTORED the true gospel and with it also organized the dispensation of the fullness of times. As the prophet of God, Joseph Smith also translated the Book of Mormon, which book I also testify is true. It contains that full gospel, restoring and bringing to light many truths that have been confused, twisted, or in some case lost through the many translations of the Bible. I reiterate the promise that a man can get closer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book. 

 I also know that the aforementioned restored church is still alive and guided by a living prophet. His name is Thomas S. Monson. When we heed his counsel and also the teachings of the living apostles, we are heeding the counsel of the Living God. These men cannot and will not lead us astray. 

  Most importantly, I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that He lived His mortal life in Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth, Galilee, Jerusalem, and in all other places that are witnessed and testified of in the Bible. His miracles were and are of the greatest divine influence. One of our greatest purposes and honors is to strive to live as He did and walk as He would walk. I testify that nothing is impossible, no task to great, no trial too difficult, no pain, no fight, nor any other earthly trial in this mortal existence impossible for a man when God is on his side. I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. He suffered for us in Gethsemane, He died as part of the Plan established by His Father. Were He not to die in the circumstances that He did, the Plan would not be perfect. More important than His death is His resurrection on the third day, and as a special testimony and full-time servant of the Lord, I know that He lives today. I have seen His hand and influence in the lives of so many people. Were it not for Him, this church would flounder. I know that because this is His church, sanctified by Him that it is growing as others are coming to a knowledge of the truth. I know that Heavenly Father loves us. I know that He listens to prayers, and I am so grateful to know that He also answers those prayers according to our faith and also according to His great power and purposes. 

 My dear friends, and my many hopeful readers, I promise you that these things are true. Every word. I invite you, that if you question this testimony, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon, attend church services, meet the involved members, study the scriptures, meet the missionaries, ask questions, and most importantly, pray with all of your spirit to know these things as well. I know that you will be answered, and you can feel the overwhelming and incredible love from your Father in Heaven, as I have. I please pray that you do. And, if you have come to this knowledge, be not afraid to share this message with those you love. We need everyone to be there, hand in hand, as the Savior welcomes us back into His presence. 

Of this I testify in the sacred name of your Savior and mine, Jesus Christ, Amen.