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 #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

Wonderful!

Sometimes sister missionaries are so busy with meetings and appointments that we don't really have time to blog. Isn't that wonderful?! 

Wanna know why we have been so busy??? Well, you see, Sister W. and I have been teaching a family for the past six or seven weeks or so. The mom has already been baptized, and as we have visited with them we have grown to love this family and have shared with them the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. And, last Saturday, the dad and two sons were...

BAPTIZED!!!

It was so special. And this family has their own goal of going to the temple in year to be sealed for time and all eternity!! Isn't that wonderful?!
This week has been so action-packed for us! Monday was my birthday (Thank you to the many who sent me cards and messages wishing me a great day!) and Sister J. and I had a fabulous day full of activities and spending time with great families (including the family that we just held a baptism for!). Tuesday was lots of hard work mixed with meetings.

Wednesday, WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE! I love how completely set apart the temple is from the world. I was able to feel so much peace there, more than I have been able to feel in a long time. I did an endowment session for someone who was born in the 1800's, and now she has almost all of the ordinances that Heavenly Father has to offer. In the Spirit World, she will now be able to be with her dear friends and family and have all of the blessings that Heavenly Father has to offer. (Sister W. did and excellent blog post about the Spirit World not too long ago!) ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL???

Today, well, we still have meetings and such, and soon now we will be back to work. I just love this wonderful work, this wonderful area, and not to mention this wonderful weather! (It's at least 70 degrees with the sun shining and the whole thing!)

So, dear friends, what is wonderful to you today? Post your comments! Inspire someone today! Look for the great things in your life! They are there, I can testify to that!

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

A Special Calling

And.... this is the big sister. This picture is sometimes how I feel about her, and this is how she sometimes feels about me. We have this understanding though, this mutual agreement that we still love each other no matter what.

     In the Old Testament, there is a story about a woman named Hannah. Now Hannah, for whatever reason, had not been blessed with children in her life. Because of this, Hannah "was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore" (1Samuel 1:10). She prayed to Heavenly Father to bless her with a son, and promised that if He did, she would give her son to the service of the Lord. The Lord then did bless Hannah with a son, and she named him Samuel. True to her word, Hannah brought Samuel to the house of the Lord to learn. He grew to be a great prophet and servant of the Lord.



    Motherhood is a divine calling. It is one of the most selfless callings that this world has. When we choose to raise our families and teach our children in the ways of the Lord, great things can happen. Hannah was later blessed with many other children in her years, and Samuel still was part of her life. Not only did Hannah's choice to teach her children of the Lord bless her family, but it was also a blessing to many other people as Samuel led them to know the Lord.



Photo by Jenn Davidson



   My older sister and her husband were recently blessed with a healthy baby boy. Because of the testimonies that I know that Brittany and Scott have, I know that they will ALWAYS choose to raise their family the way the Lord would have them. I've been told that parenthood isn't easy, that sometimes when you want the best for your children, they still have agency and can choose to make wrong choices as well as choose the right. All we can do is teach what we know and lead by example. I'm so excited for Brittany and Scott. Brittany has always been a good example for me to follow and Scott has accepted and loved our family like his own. It's through these principles of selflessness, care, and love that families can build their foundation upon Jesus Christ, "whereon if men build, they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12)