The Book of Mormon is True!

Today has been a crazy P day! So much packing, but on the bright side I leave Monday morning for Korea! I'm so excited! However, it is hard to believe I have been at the MTC for 2 months!

This week was spiritually uplifting. Before class we always have a spiritual thought. One day this week our teacher shared her story of how she gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I decided I wanted to gain that testimony too. So I prayed and nothing happened. I felt peace, but I didn't know with all my heart. 

On Tuesday I was reading about the importance of Book of Mormon and I realized first I needed to decide why I feel the Book of Mormon is important. So I said a prayer and I began to search the Book of Mormon for my answer. This lead me to the story of Abinadi in Mosiah 17:9-10, 20. These verses take place at the end of Abinadi's life where King Noah gives him the choice between death and denying the word of God. Abinadi gave his life for his testimony. He would not deny it. This caused me to think about what I would do for the Book of Mormon.

What would you do for the Book of Mormon? Would I give my life for the Book of Mormon? As I studied the Book of Mormon in this way, it was testified to me by the spirit the Book of Mormon is true. I know it is true with all my heart and I can't wait to share this book I love with the people of Korea. I testify if you prayerfully and sincerely seek to know the Book of Mormon is true that you will receive an answer (Moroni 10:4-5).  

As you go about your week, don't forget to read the Book of Mormon. It is an incredible book that contains the gospel of Jesus Christ within its pages. I love you all and thank you for all your support. If you ever need me to pray for you, just let me know because I will.  

This week was amazing and I can't wait to get out in the field!

Sister Mustain

 

 

Remember Christ's Atonement

I can't believe I have made it this far! Tomorrow we should be getting our travel plans and then I think it will hit me how close I really am to being in Korea. I feel sad about leaving, but I feel like I'm ready. I know I have grown so much at the MTC and I needed to be here to prepare to serve God the best I can. 

On Sunday I was called to be the branch music coordinator. I did not see that coming, but I know through prayer and diligence, God will qualify me to fulfill this calling. 

My companion and I had the opportunity to act on a spiritual prompting and talk with a gold tag named Jonathan. Gold tags are real investigators who walk around the MTC.  It was amazing to talk with him and to learn about him. We gave him a spiritual thought, but we mostly talked about what the gospel has done for us and got to know him. This helped affirm my purpose as a missionary. It is to invite others to come unto Christ and through the spirit people's hearts are changed. 

On Monday I received a talk from my family on the power of the atonement in our everyday lives. Therefore Tuesday during personal study, I studied the atonement. It taught me how important the atonement is and caused me to reflect back on my experience of applying the atonement to myself. In my freshmen year of college I took seminary. We studied the first four books of the New Testament. As the semester progressed I drew closer to my Savior, but it wasn't till we studied the story of Christ in Gethsemane that I knew Christ had died for me personally. Christ knows me and he knows each and every one of us on a personal level. Tuesday night Elder Clarke of the Seventy’s came and spoke to us. He told us ten things that everyone of us needed to know. 

1. Love the people

2. Read the Book of Mormon

3. Recognize the Joseph Smith story really happened

4. Be obedient

5. Have faith

6. Remember the Holy Ghost

7. Family: The most important unit in time and all eternity

8. Believe in who you really are!

9. Remember the worth of soul

10. Enjoy the journey

All these things will bring us closer to Christ. I know this is true.  I know Christ's atonement is for us. I challenge you to incorporate it into your life as I strive to incorporate it in mine. I love this gospel and I know it has helped to make me the person I am today. I love you all and wish you the best of luck with the upcoming week!

Sister Mustain

 

Two More Weeks...

This week was amazing! For the Tuesday night devotional Elder Quentin L. Cook came and spoke at the MTC. It was amazing to hear from him. He talked a lot about the importance of our work as missionaries and how important our message is. He said we are the builders of the church not the marketers which was cool to think about. After the devotional we always have a district meeting and the one we had this past Tuesday was amazing! You could feel the spirit in that room, and it made me so grateful to all the amazing missionaries in my district. They all have added so much to my testimony. I'm so grateful I came to the MTC when I did. 

On Monday morning a group of missionaries left for Korea. Here at the MTC, there is a cycle where every three weeks a Korean group of missionaries leave and then new ones come in. To see the group leave this week was bitter sweet. I'm so excited for them to get out in the mission field, but it was hard to say goodbye because we had grown so close. As they prepared to leave, I felt as Ammon and his brethren (from the Book of Mormon) felt as they prepared to serve their missions. Alma 17: 13, "that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken."  

I leave in just two weeks, and it is crazy to think about how long I have been in the MTC, but I know that I'm supposed to be here and that I need to be here two weeks longer. My testimony in the power of faith, obedience, and prayer has grown so much at the MTC. I know my Heavenly Father wants me on this mission and through him I can do all things (Alma 26:12).  

I wish everyone the best of luck as they go about their week and remember you have a loving Father in Heaven that is always there waiting to answer (John 14:18). 

Sister Mustain

 

 

That Mountain Can Be Conquered!

First of all I want to take the time to thank everyone who has supported me on my mission with their letters and their prayers. Thank you!

I feel so much better this week. At the end of last week, I felt so low I could tell I wasn't progressing. I also was stressed about being stressed. I had a prompting to talk with our Sister Training Leader, Sister Weston. Through her, I was able to go talk to someone and get help in managing my stress.  I'm so grateful to her and my companion, Sister Sewell, who is very supportive. I'm also eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father and Savior who care so much about me. I learned I was so stressed about the language that I wasn't letting myself progress. Since figuring out what I was stressed about, I have been able to progress. I can see myself progressing in the language and getting more involved in class. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying my best. I feel satisfied with myself and no longer have any regrets. I know God answers our prayers, because without prayer I would have never made it this far in my mission. 

Our branch president, President Perriton had an interview with Sister Sewell and I on Sunday. He told us three things to remember when learning the language: 1. Over pronunciate  2. Go at your own speed  3. Be positive.  These three tips have meant the world to me in learning the language. I feel more confident in my abilities and I am happy with the struggles. I know challenges will help me grow. Mosiah 24:14 &15 explains how the Lord will help us if we turn to him. It may not be in the way we expect, but he does answer. 

This week I learned a lot about obedience and how before faith we need to be obedient. I was reading the story of the stripling warriors (Alma 56-58), it made me realize how many blessings come from obedience. Before this week, I wasn't doing SYL (speak your language) and I wasn't speaking up when I should. From changing those behaviors and becoming obedient to the things the Lord wanted me to do, I have been blessed with a satisfaction in myself. This gospel makes me happy beyond belief. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve my Heavenly Father. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. No matter what happens in my life, I know as long as I follow the example of my Savior Jesus Christ, everything will be alright.

 

Sister Mustain

My Companion Sister Sewell