Merry Christmas, again!

Merry Christmas (again!) my dear family!!

It was sooooo wonderful to talk to you on the phone this weekend. I love you all so much, and it was fun to get a little glimpse of what Christmas was like at home this year. I'm so glad you were all able to be so happy and have so much fun together. It also brought me SO much joy to read an overview of all the 12 Deeds of Christmas you did this year. Seriously, thanks for doing that, and thanks for sharing your experiences with me :)

One fun Christmas activity I forgot to tell you about was a mission activity we had this week on Thursday. All the missionaries in the southern half of Taiwan gathered together in ZhangHua to see a huge Buddha and traveled around to LuGang to for some street market shopping and to see some more temples. Then we went to a huge Chinese buffet, kinda Mongolian barbeque style with lots of other yummy things to eat as well! Lots of the "sight-seeing" and shopping was old school to me, but it was still so much fun. The BEST part was re-uniting with the missionaries I served with in the MTC and just talking and talking, sharing with them my experiences from serving in Idaho, and hearing about their adventures of serving here for the past month. I almost felt like Ammon when he got reunited with his mission buddies... and I thought to myself, "man, if I feel this much intense joy from seeing my missionary buddies after serving for only 2 months, how much more intense will it be after a year and a half?!" I really just might faint, haha :)

I also didn't realize how many people I already know in this mission, and how many connections I already have! Jordan Hoffheins found me, and I found Liz from Hong Kong (I forgot her last name...with the really long hair), and someone from my Chinese 212 class, and someone from my First Aid class at BYU, as well as Sister Ith, who knows SO many of my friends from growing up (Cameron Gygi, Ee Chien, and other people... it's crazy how many people we know without having ever met before!) Man, it's so fun to serve with such amazing friends, and to make even more!

Mom, you asked about how the biking weather was. It's actually pretty good, with the exception of the first full day I had with my companion. It was raining and FREEZING and we accidentally bought "xiao pengyou" ponchos that barely reached past our elbows and not quite to our knees... sounds pretty pathetic (and it probably was) but we laughed the whole day about it. Needless to say, I bought a coat so I wouldn't be freezing the next time it rains, and we know now to look carefully for what size poncho we buy! Other than that it's been good, and my skirts (mostly) work for biking :) I'm going to buy some gloves so my hands don't get so cold on the handlebars. I love riding my bike. It's awesome!!

Thank you so much for the painting of Christ waiting for me when I get home. That is one of the best Christmas gifts I could receive. I love to fill my life with Christ and His teachings, and doing the things He does because that brings the most happiness. He, with all His perfect knowledge, showed us the most perfect way to live that will bring the most happiness and will lead us safely through this life, and through eternity.

I love you all so much, and I think about you often. Thanks for your prayers too. I need that strength. The work is hard, but I know that the Lord is blessing and sustaining me, much of which is because of the prayers in my behalf. My prayers are getting answered in miraculous ways too. I love the Lord and His merciful, loving care for me. I pray that He will continue to bless each one of you too, in the most perfect way that He does. I pray that each of you will be able to have the strength to follow His teachings more closely, for that is when He is able to bless us most. That is what I strive to do every day of my mission.

I love you more than I can say! Thanks for writing, and thanks for sending me Jordan's talk. I laughed so hard when I read about the tithing settlement experience, haha :) I'll write more to each of you next week!

Love, love, love,

Amie

Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone!!

It's crazy that Christmas just snuck up on me. It's funny how missionaries have absolutely no concept of holidays and when they are because your mind is elsewhere. Holidays are usually a big deal for me (as you would all know!) but this year it's kinda been fun to not have to do all the waiting and all the sudden they pop up! I thought I was sending my Christmas gift to you all really early, but it's a good time I sent it when I did otherwise I wouldn't have had the opportunity to send it on time. Wow, it's been so crazy to move SO much over the last 2 months. I'm excited to finally be able to stay put for a while! President Bishop said that he tends to keep missionaries in areas longer so I finally felt ok about unpacking my bags completely :)

Upon arrival in Taiwan there were SO many memories that came flooding back to me. I didn't realize that I would be landing in the same airport that we always flew into as a family! I could vividly remember when we moved here the second time and the moment I stepped outside I felt like I was going to drown by breathing because it was so humid! Luckily this time around it wasn't that humid... either that or I'm just used to it now. :) The drive down to TaiZhong was also so fun. Sister Fleming and I got really personalized time with President and Sister Bishop because we got here separately from the rest of the missionaries in our transfer. While we were talking I really enjoyed looking outside and remembering the roads, sights and everything. I felt so at home, like this wasn't new to me at all. There was even a part of the road where I thought to myself, "Hmm, LeoFoo Village should be somewhere around here," and not 10 seconds later we saw the sign for it! Everything from the signs, traffic, white tile buildings, window guards, light switches, plants, and the smell of the mission home were just screaming "You're in TAIWAN!" to me the whole ride home and the moment we arrived at the mission home.

It seems like I've been here a lot longer than a week, but maybe that's just because in reality I've spent years here! But here are some adventures we've been having since I arrived. First off is street contacting, where we talk to people on scooters every single time we stop at a red light. It's kinda crazy and there's so much that you want to say but you only have 30 seconds to say anything! I just have to remember that when I have the Spirit with me He will guide me to say what each person needs to hear, and that I shouldn't be discouraged if people reject the message. My job as a missionary is to find those who are prepared and willing to listen. If I have to talk to 100 people to find that one person, my work will not have been in vain.

It's truly been a miracle that the Lord has blessed me with confidence to do what I thought would be intimidating things. It's interesting to compare my feelings on my mini-mission in Hong Kong to now as a set-apart missionary. Things that scared me to death (particularly contacting people on the street and calling people on the phone) are not as scary as they once were. I feel like the Lord is dissolving my comfort zones so I can overcome my fears and work in faith and love instead. By no means am I perfect, and there are still times where I'm scared to do things, but I know that those things can be overcome. That is one of my biggest goals on my mission: to be able to say I've done all the Lord has asked me to do. I'm slowly learning what that requires, and slowly overcoming my inhibitions and fears to rely on His strength to do what He requires of me.

I got to try boiled bamboo for lunch today, which was not bad, but I don't know if I'll ever order it on my own accord again. I feel like I'm getting much more of the Chinese food experience than I ever have before, which is definitely eye-opening, and exciting at times, haha :)

My companion, Sister Weinheimer, is so awesome. She has been such a wonderful trainer, showing an incredible example of diligence, love, teaching with simplicity and power, and following the Spirit. She helps me learn very well and is incredibly encouraging and helpful. I love her so much and am learning so much from her, especially how to show love for people through missionary work. We have a lot of the same goals and feelings about missionary work, so it's a huge blessing to be so unified in purpose. We're helping each other grow a lot.

I've already seen several miracles happen. The two that are most apparent are 1. having no trouble with jetlag, and 2. being able to understand and communicate more than I thought I would be able to. Never in all my years of travel have I ever been void of the effects of jetlag, but this time it's as if I didn't even change time zones at all. Truly a miracle and a huge blessing in my eyes so I could get straight to the work. I'm definitely seeing the gift of tongues unfold as well. There were several times this week where I thought to myself "I should not be able to understand this right now, but I am." There is still a lot that I don't understand, or can't say, but I know that if I've seen this much growth in the first few days of being here that I will be able to progress a LOT by the end of my mission.

I had a special blessing in my setting apart that I would master the language in a short amount of time. I know that in order to receive that blessing I have to work hard in exercising my faith to obtain it. This week I've been working on an intense language study plan that I know will push me, but I'm relying on faith and miracles to help me learn and grow and obtain that blessing.

Already I've started receiving inspiration for our investigators. 2 particular times come to mind where Sister Weinheimer asked me "is there anything you think we should teach?" and very specific things came to mind. I'm so grateful for the Lord helping our companionship to meet the needs of our investigators. I'm so incredibly grateful for this opportunity to serve Him and do His work. The Lord has been blessing me richly already, and I'm so excited to work hard and see the fruits throughout my mission.

The Christmas season has been wonderful for me so far. Before I left Idaho I got to go to an incredible Night of Nativities put on by the church kinda like the one in Hong Kong where they had all sorts of nativities set up from around the world... except it was huger and better! They had close to 600 nativities from ALL OVER the world. It was particularly special to see nativities from countries that are not currently open to the gospel such as China, and countries in the Middle East and Africa. Christ is one central figure that all cultures celebrate. As I saw those nativities displayed, the Spirit really touched me that Jesus Christ really is the Savior of the world. Not just Christians or countries that have His gospel, everyone. No matter the culture, race or religious beliefs, Christ has sacrificed His life for all that we might be able to repent, change our lives for the better, and be worthy of all the blessings Heavenly Father wants to give His children. As I've been able to focus more on the real reason for the Christmas season, my life has been richly blessed. It is one of the biggest blessings of my life to be serving Christ full-time right now, with all my heart, might, mind and strength.

I love you all more than I can say. I hope that this Christmas is not sad because I'm not there, but instead, gives you a greater reason to focus on Christ. That's who I'm serving, and as you learn about and serve Him this Christmas season, you'll be having Christmas with me, in spirit. I've been so incredibly happy to hear about your 12 Deeds of Christmas. Each time I hear more about them it warms my heart that yes, indeed, my family has been focusing on serving others as Christ did. As you continue coming closer to Him, you'll be able to feel His love--the love I'd like to send to you this Christmas.

All my love,

Amie

Photos

 With Sister Bishop and President Bishop at the mission home.

 Hooray!  We finally made it to Taiwan!

 Me and Sister Fleming with the couple that picked us up from the airport.

At the mission home... me and Sister Flemming.

I finally made it to Taiwan! I traveled on Monday and met up with Sister Fleming at the Los Angeles airport for the long flight. Sister Fleming and I entered the MTC together on the same day, and we both had to wait for visas. She served in Texas for a month, and I was in Idaho (Spokane Washington Mission). Travel went well and I'm ready to get to work in Taichung!

Happy Thanksgiving from Moscow, Idaho!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our district got to do a service project on Thanksgiving morning to help clean the entry ways to an apartment complex. That evening we got to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Stake President's house. We also visited some members (one of whom gave us an entire pumpkin pie all to ourselves!) and were able to share a message of gratitude with them based on President Monson's recent conference address The Divine Gift of Gratitude. One thing I learned from discussing it with my companions several times throughout the day was that the greatest way we show our gratitude to the Savior is also the biggest blessing. And so it is with everything the Lord asks us to do. When we show our gratitude to Him by following Him, He richly blesses us in return. There is nothing selfish in what He asks us to do--it's all for our benefit. I truly am grateful for all the Savior has done for me and for the opportunity to serve Him. Our mission is working on a Christmas give for our Mission President in which each of us recorded a short testimony with the theme of "I Am a Disciple of Christ" (our theme scripture is 3Nephi 5:13). This is what I said:

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. He has comforted me, guided me, loved me, strengthened me, and given me every blessing I have. Most of all He's healed me and forgiven me. Because He sacrificed His life for me, I'm giving my life to Him. And that is why I AM A DICIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST.

Sorry I don't have much time to write today, but here's a few little tidbits that I wanted to add. First of all, it's been snowing like CRAZY but luckily I haven't been freezing. I've been praying that I'd stay warm, and I've been receiving that blessing. So I think I should be fine without my winter clothes from home---unless it gets much colder :) ... I'll let you know. The On-guard oil saved me from another cold, so thanks for sending me with that! And one last thing: we get to move apartments next week! We get to move to a nicer apartment (not that the one we're in is bad or anything) that even has our own washer and dryer. It's definitely an upgrade--they're so good to us here :) So a lot of this week will be mega cleaning and packing our apartment, but we've had lots of members offer to help, so it should go smoothly.

One cool thing my parents found out this week on Facebook is that Sister DeVictoria's mother and my father served in the same Taiwan mission (Taipei) at the same time (27 years ago)! Imagine that...MTC companions whose parents also served at the same time in Taiwan. I think that's awesome :)!!! The work is moving forward and miracles are happening, including the most amazing experience we had with one of our investigators this week. She totaled her car recently and was in desperate need of a new one but kept getting turned down because of financing. Finally out of desparation she said, "God, if you're there I need help," and then continued to search. She still went home empty handed after doing everything she could. The next day she got a phone call from one of the dealers that said they had a car for her--and it turned out to be even better than any of the other ones she had been asking for, and had no problems with the financing! She knew at that point that God existed and loved her. The rest of the lesson was a miracle as she expressed her desire to change. We invited her to be baptized, after which she took a long pause to think about it. She told us later that during that pause she was having a mini conversation with God that went a little like this: "Should I?" "Yes, you should." "Are you sure?" "Who are you talking to?! Of course I'm sure!" We all had a good laugh, and a special experience as she accepted the invitation. The Spirit was strong and we left there as happy as can be. I love you! More than I can say. Thanks for your letters :) I want to keep hearing how you're doing :) Love, Amie

IT'S DEFINITELY COLD HERE IN MOSCOW, IDAHO!

MY MTC DISTRICT BEFORE WE ALL LEFT

MY 2 AREAS OF SERVICE:

2 SIDES OF THE GLOBE!

Moscow, Idaho!

Oh my goodness, I LOVE being a missionary, especially where I'm serving! I really didn't know what it would be like to serve a state-side mission, English speaking, but it's WONDERFUL! My compaions are awesome, the Mission President and his wife are amazing, and the people here are wonderful. I felt so welcome the moment I stepped foot out of the airplane walkway.

 

It's cold here, and snowing a lot, although not as much as it's snowing in Draper!! I'm so incredibly grateful for the coat, gloves and boots Sister Palmer lent me, and the hat my companion is letting me borrow :) I bought a sweater today, which will also help a lot. I have kinda mixed feelings as I think about how long my visa will take to get here. I want it to get here fast so I can get out of the cold (at least it won't be snowing there!!), but it makes me want to cry when I think of leaving the people we've taught so far. They are all so incredible, and we've seen lots of miracles happen this week to help them progress. The best part was when Jessyka, a married student with an adorable daughter, decided to get baptized! She's been investigating for about 3 years and used to be an atheist, so it's truly a miracle. We promised her that if she would give up all the things that were holding her back from baptism (drinking wine, being scared of opposition from her family), the Lord would give her all the strength she needed to overcome those obstacles and that she would get her answer. So she's putting it to the test, and she'll be baptized on December 31st as her new year's resolution. We know she'll receive all the blessings we promised if she's faithful. That's always the pattern of the Lord. What a comfort to know that when we do our part, the Lord will always do His.

 

It's been nothing less than a miracle to use my Chinese here. I really didn't think there would be many Chinese people here, but they're all over the place! It's almost like they jump out of no where, just because I'm part of the companionship! It started from day one. The day I got there was P-day so we only went out tracting from 7-9 (we had dinner with a member before that). We chose an apartment complex and after we knocked on the first door one of my companions puched me up the step and said, "there ya go, sister!" I knew that was coming, but still, it's different hearing about companions doing that on your first night out than them actually doing it! But no one answered. We tried a few more doors, and after 5 doors and a rejection, we tried another door, which to my complete surprise was someone from China! I could hardly believe it... we found them within 10 minutes of my first time tracting in the field! It was then that I KNEW I was sent to the right place and that it was NO coincidence I was sent here. I stammered with my Chinese, trying the best I could to introduce ourselves and share my testimony. The Chinese man was very nice and seeing I was trying so hard, but not quite getting it he said, "Oh, come in." I could hardly believe it! We continued to talk, and although he said it was hard for him to believe in God because he'd been raised all his life to believe otherwise, he would let us come back and teach once his wife and daughter arrived on December 2nd. I'm hoping and praying like crazy that they will be open and their whole family will want to learn the gospel.

 

I've had several other opportunities to speak Chinese, as well as witness many miracles with the rest of our English-speaking investigators. It's amazing to see how the Gospel blesses and changes people's lives. It's incredible to see so many miracles, witness prayers being answered, and have people's lives change before our eyes on a daily basis. The Gospel is true, and my testimony gets strengthened every day. There's nothing that could convince me otherwise, because I can't deny the way I feel when I live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. It's the biggest blessing in my life, only second to being able to serve the Lord full time!

 

I love you all so much, and I miss you all. Thank you so much for your letters because I love hearing how each of you are doing and what's going on at home. I pray for each of you a lot, and know that the Lord will bless you in greater measure, especially as you turn to Him. He is the ultimate source of peace, comfort, strength and lasting happiness.

 

All my love,

Sister Morey :)

Big News!!!

So I have some big news! This week the district got travel plans to Taiwan! ...Well, everyone except for me (and the other sister that came at the same time as me). We went to the travel office to find out what the deal was and they said our visas haven't been completed in time so we'll be temporarily reassigned somewere in the US or Canada until they're ready to go. Crazy, huh? I was disappointed at first, especially since I had my heart set on that extra transfer in Taiwan, but the Lord has really blessed me to overcome that disappointment and be really excited to serve wherever I'll be temporarily. It's like getting a mission call all over again! I don't find out where I'm going till Wednesday or Thursday. I'm really excited about it all except for one thing... I have no idea what weather to expect! I might have to do some scrambling... I'll just have to see!

It was a really interesting week because of this new development. The day we found out was hard. But the Lord always helps us overcome our trials if we turn to Him. The lesson we had in class that day (and my visa situation was completely unbeknown to our substitute) was on humility. We read Alma 5 with each of us thinking "What do I need to do to be more humble?" Verse 13 stood out to me because I really needed to have more humility by having trust in the Lord. It was really tempting for me to think at first that Heavenly Father had forgotten about my visa, or that something had gone wrong, but I felt powerfully through that verse that Heavenly Father knew EXACTLY what was going on and that I simply needed to put my will aside and trust that He knows what He's doing. Since then I have felt a lot more peace, excitement, and hope that the Lord will use me in specific ways that he needs me and is using this time to tutor me and prepare me for things that will happen later.

My companion Sister Demordaunt said something that also really stuck out to me. Whenever we have trials it's all about how fast we will turn ourselves over to the Lord and say, "what do I need to learn from this?" The faster we show patience, faith and submission to whatever trials we have, the quicker He will lift our burdens, or at least make them light enough to bear. The story of Alma and his people when they were trying to escape from brondage really stuck out to my mind (Mosiah 24, especially verse 16--read it!). I decided that this would be a miserable experience for me if I kept resisting and wondering why this was even happening to me, so instead I've chosen to make the best of this unexpected circumstance and change my heart. As I've sought to do that the Lord has truly made this "trial" easy to bear, and I can honestly say I'm excited!

I love the Lord and that I know I can overcome any trial, obstacle, weakness or guilt through His Atonement. The test is simply how long it takes to turn to Him for that relief. I testify of that. I know it's true because I've seen His hand in miraculous ways in my life as I've turned to Him for help, no matter how big or small the problem, no matter how "temporal" or spiritual the matter. He helps with everything, and I love Him for that.

I love you, Mom, Dad, Adam, Jake and Jordan. I pray for you often and miss you. I'm loving your letters! Keep writing, and know that I love you with all my heart :)

Love,

Amie :)

Apostolic Blessings and Following the Spirit

Oh my goodness, this week was absolutely wonderful. I learned a lot about so many things. This past week my district made a goal to learn how to follow the Spirit better and it was amazing how Heavenly Father knew our goals and helped us reach them. Guess who came to the Tuesday Devotional? Elder Scott! As soon as I saw him walk in I knew we were about to learn just what we needed to hear about following the Spirit because that's his favorite topic... and sure enough. He gave one of the most powerful talks I've heard, along with four Apostolic Blessings. The first was a blessing of protection directly to the Sisters, contingent on our listening for promptings of danger and following them. The second was the Gift of Tongues. He said, "If you don't already have it, now you do." He said he had "installed the capability" but we had to develop it through our faith. That completely reinforced the blessings I've already been given, and gave me even more strength to exercise my faith. The third was that we would have the confidence to know that we had been prepared for our missions and for the rest of our lives better than we could've dreamed. And the fourth was that we would be able to remember the experiences we have on our missions so we could learn from them and use them throughout the rest of our lives. I could hardly believe he had given us all those special blessings. It surely was a sacred night.

Throughout the rest of the week my companions and I (along with the rest of the district) really tried hard to follow the Spirit. The culmination of it all was the teaching experience at the TRC on Saturday. We had been diligently preparing all week to know how and what to teach, and when we started teaching, it seemed like the words to say, the questions to ask and the scriptures to use came easily to my mind. The Spirit was so strong in that lesson, and as we listened to the investigator's concerns we found answers for them in the scriptures. As we each bore our testimonies throughout the lesson, the Spirit taught and lifted us all. I felt like I was walking on a cloud after the lesson was finished! I KNOW the Spirit is critical in teaching effectively and in meeting the personal needs of those we meet.

Throughout that experience and the rest of the week I've come to learn even more about how this gospel is so personal. The center of the message is that Christ sacrificed His life so that He could understand our difficulties, pains, loneliness, temptations, and everything else we experience. Because He chose to take upon Him our pains, he completely understands and knows how to comfort, relieve and rescue each one of us. Individually. I have experienced that in very specific ways in my life. I KNOW that my loving Heavenly Father is watching me intently and loves it when I communicate with Him through prayer, and that He delights to answer me through the whisperings of the Spirit, and scripture study. Answers to ANY of life's problems can be found in the scriptures, especially in the Book of Mormon, and through modern and personal revelation. The whole point of the Gospel is to help each individual through this life successfully. It's a gospel that blesses individuals who follow with blessings untold. And the best part is that I don't have to prove that to everyone. It proves itself to those who test it out with real intent.

The gospel has blessed my life immeasurably as I've received comfort, gudiance, joys, and rich blessings from following Christ and living the gospel principles. I know that no matter what difficulties come my way, there is one who understands, is sympathetic, and will help me overcome each time if I come to Him for help. That, perhaps, is the greatest knowledge I could ever have.

2nd Letter from MTC, 10.25.2010

October 25, 2010

My dear, dear family!

Thank you SO much for all your letters! Dear Elder is working out great! I found out that if you send one before noon, it gets here on the same day :) Except for weekends--then it doesn't get here till after emailing time is done. And YES! Emailing is stressful!! It's like a race every week and even if someone touches you you freak out! Ha ha, but it's all good :) I'm glad I even get the opportunity to email :)

Oh my goodness, thank you for the PACKAGE!! I just about died when I opened it... it took me straight back to Taiwan!! Especially the choco-pies. I remembered that whenever I found one of those in my lunchbox it TOTALLY made my day! The other sisters went crazy too and the sisters that had never been to Asia at all were really excited to try everything. Oh, and thanks for including the penguin--Jake was inspired, cuz that was my favorite part :P

I can't believe I leave 3 WEEKS from tomorrow! It's flown by so fast. But yes, I'm grateful I'll get an extra transfer in Taiwan. Mom asked where my companions were from: Sister Fleming is from West Jordan, Sister Demordaunt is from Idaho (although she travelled internationally till she was 12; one of the countries was Japan!) and Sister DeVictoria is from California. I'm growing to love each of them more and more. We also have Korean missionaries on our floor, so every time we pass them I think of mom's "onions on your sneakers" so thanks for that, mom!! We also have Thais on our floor so it's fun to pass them saying "Sawadee kaaa" :)

Funny story: this Saturday as we were teaching in the TRC we had 2 native Taiwanese women. The situation we were given was that one of their husbands had passed away so we were teaching her the Plan of Salvation and that she can find hope through the Atonement. We were teaching them how to pray so they could know that God was there and that He knew their struggles and so they could feel His love. ...finish later...

This week has been harder. I didn't feel like I was making as much progress as I wanted to and I started to get discouraged. It seemed like everything came crashing down all at once. But my companions were extremely helpful and took the time to listen to all my concerns and disappointments and really helped me get through it. Ultimately they helped me realize that Heavenly Father was helping me be humble and that this was a growing opportunity. The next day one of my teachers pulled me aside for an interview and read a scripture to me that completely addressed how I was feeling. It was Alma 32:40-43 (read it). Basically my teacher said to me that I shouldn't abandon the nourishing process just because you don't see the fruit yet. It is through faith, diligence and patience (repeated 3 times in 3 different verses!) that you reap the rewards. As I've turned my focus to faith, diligence, and patience instead of the things I can't say yet, I've discovered that more words are sticking than I thought, and I've been making a lot of progress. REALLY. Multiple times each day a word comes to my mind along with a little voice saying, "See, it's because you're being diligent and patient, and you have the faith." Sometimes we just need to be humbled so we recognize we need the Lord's help. I'm so grateful for that humbling experience that has helped me to grow more than I could have otherwise.

I love you so much. Thank you for your prayers. People keep reminding us that so many people are praying for us, and each time I think of you. I keep praying for you too. By the way, Elder Nelson spoke at our Tuesday Devotional and he said that the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve say thank you to the families for all of the missionaries here. I also say thank you. Keep going. The Church is True :)

Love,

Sister Morey

MTC - Letter #1

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!! Oh my goodness, it's so amazing to finally be here at the MTC. It's so weird though because it seems like I've been here for weeks already even though it's only been 5 days! Each day seems like it's a week long, and when I get to my room at night I can barely remember what happened in the morning. I guess it's good I feel like I've been here for so long though because I found out that I'll only be here for 4 weeks after all... I leave on November 16th. Crazy, huh?

The first time I walked into my room I already felt SO loved by my companions because they had left notes on the door and another trail of notes on the floor and all sorts of treats on my bed, including a little surprise box! I was in such a hurry I didn't get to open it right away though. When I met my companions later they asked me (laughing) if I like their present and I was telling them how I loved their notes and treats so much! I found out later why they were laughing when I opened the box and found two little locks of their hair, one brown and one blonde that they had given me to show how much they loved me! Hahaha it was really funny, and we laughed a long time about how I didn't even know what they were talking about when they asked me if I liked it. :)

I spent most of the first two days with Sister Fleming, another sister who got bumped into the accelerated program. We bonded almost instantly and the more I got to know her the more I found out we were basically twins! We both have a passion for the language (she taught English in China with ILP) and we have very similar personalities. We had the greatest time going to all the orientation meetings together. On that first night we were walking past a class room and heard some missionaries singing (in their own language) "There Is Sunshine in my Soul Today" and I turned to her and said, "That's exactly how I feel!!" I wanted to burst into song, but I restrained myself and asked if we could sing hymns that night as we were getting ready for bed. When we got back to the dorm she handed me a Chinese hymn book and said, "song gei ni" which means "this is a gift for you." That totally made my day!

Now Sister Fleming and I are split up into different districts with our own companions so we can get some experience from the older missionaries. We each have a 3-some. I love my new companions as well (the ones who gave me the locks of hair), although I really hope that Sister Fleming and I get to be companions again someday!

I also love my district and the other Elders and Sisters in my Branch. We have 22 new missionaries, most of which are going to Taiwan, and 1/3 of which are Sisters! They're really packing Taiwan with Sisters! I have been absolutely blown away at how the Elders treat the Sisters here. They respect us so much. They hold open doors, take our trays, and the meal lines even stop till the Sisters go through--it's amazing. I feel like a princess here!

We also have a lot of fun and laugh a ton. One time when we were in the classroom and speaking a little more English than we should've been, one of the teachers walked past (in fact, it was Jeremy Perkins!) and said, "Waaa, ni de ying wen tai bang le!!" (Your English is amazing!) We all burst out laughing... and then got back to work. It sent the message.

I LOVE speaking the language all the time here. It's something I've always wanted to do but never had the confidence for. Now I feel like I can do it as much as I want and never feel like an idiot :) I have felt my language skills improving more than I ever have in my life. All the promises that were made to me in Priesthood Blessings about learning the language quickly are already being fulfilled, even though it's only been 5 days. It's incredible, and I honestly didn't expect to learn so quickly. I can see how much Heavenly Father is helping... and whenever another missionary compliments me on how well I speak I always say, "It's not me!"

I had an incredible experience on Friday when we were doing a contacting/teaching activity. We were simulating the TRC and practicing shopping for clothes and then inviting people to learn more about the gospel while we were shopping. I didn't think I'd be able to participate much in the lesson portion because I didn't know many gospel words (I could go shopping just fine!), but as thoughts came to my mind of things I should say I just tried to say them and the words just flowed out of my mouth. I really couldn't believe how I knew how to say the things I did. So yes, Heavenly Father is helping me a lot.

I also learned something neat this week. My companions and I started having a conversation about the difference between having enough faith for something to happen vs. other people's agency limiting the outcome. Later another sister joined the conversation and said that in the Christlike Attribute test is asks you to rate yourself: "I have the faith necessary to help make good things happen in my life or the lives of others" which shows that no, your faith is not limited by other people's agency. (Ether 12:12-18) If you have faith that means you have hope in Christ and correct principles. I know that's true. Just have faith.

I love you all so much and I'm grateful for your prayers. I keep praying for you too :)

Love, Sister Morey

Finally to the MTC!

True Repentance (My Farewell Talk)

My purpose is to help us understand the true nature of repentance, then to uncover the lies that Satan would have us believe, so we can more fully recognize his tactics and overcome them. I pray that each of us can invite the Spirit to teach us individually what we need to know.

The purpose of this life is to become the best we can be. Ultimately we are aiming to become perfect, like our Father in Heaven. Because He is God, He “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (Alma 45:16), so He holds us to a perfect standard, and every time we mess up, we fall short. Already you can easily see the predicament we’re in. But our loving Father would never send us here to fail. Even before the world was, He prepared a way for us to correct our mistakes (1 Peter 1:20), through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, so we could continually progress and have our weaknesses become strengths (Ether 12:27). “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Satan, who opposes everything our Father does, does NOT want us to progress and will do anything he can to hold us back, thus the word “damned” is applied to those who don’t repent. Damnation is being held back, not able to progress. But since progress is the purpose of our existence, being held back is torture to our spirits. In addition, when we disobey, we distance ourselves from Father’s Spirit and protection, leaving us vulnerable to the merciless influence of the adversary (Mosiah 2:36-37). Thus sin inevitably brings unhappiness.

But Christ, in accordance with the plan of mercy provided a way to escape and be restored to happiness. “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I. …Wherefore, I command you again to repent… lest you suffer these punishments …of which in the…least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit” (D&C 19:16-20). Our Savior, through the Atonement, provided a way out. “He loves us and understands us and is sympathetic to the fact that we face temptations” (Elder Theodore M. Burton, "The Meaning of Repentance," Liahona, November 1988). “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). If He is so willing to succor us, it is our choice to let Him. The condition is repentance.

In its simplest form: “by this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43). To me that means when I recognize something in my life that is inconsistent with Heavenly Father’s expectations, I humbly acknowledge my fault to Him (and to others I may have wronged), and then do all I can to abandon that practice, and make it up to those I’ve wronged. It means constantly changing to become better.

Similarly, Elder Anderson said, “The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to ‘re-turn’ toward God. It is the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten to be more than we are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments” (“Repent…That I May Heal You,” Ensign, November 2009).

All too often we DO think of it as chastisement and we fear that punishment is associated with repentance. On the contrary, punishment is the natural consequence of the SIN, and grows in severity for the unrepentant. Elder Theodore M. Burton of the First Quorum of the Seventy said, “The Lord does not punish us for our sins; he simply withholds his blessings. …The scriptures tell us again and again that the wicked are punished by the wicked” ("The Meaning of Repentance"). We bring that punishment, anguish and suffering to ourselves by dismissing the Spirit and giving the adversary power in our lives when we sin. God doesn’t punish us or make us suffer, rather, He seeks to save and protect us from those things. When He extends a pronouncement of misery, He is simply warning us of what the adversary will do if we don’t listen and obey God’s will.

Already you can see how Satan can twist this into a lie: that repentance brings suffering and punishment, when in reality it’s SATAN that’s doing the punishing before repentance is complete (“The Meaning of Repentance”). After all, wickedness never was happiness (Alma 41:10), and the only way to be restored from sin to happiness is through repentance—changing our ways to follow the Lord’s will.

Satan has no power over the righteous—but as soon as we give in to his temptation, the Spirit leaves and we are in the adversary’s power (Mosiah 2:36-37). The adversary will do anything to keep us from repentance because he covets that power over our lives. Consider the vice of any addiction as just an example of the power he craves, whereas our Father seeks to free us from those things. Satan will seduce us with pride, fear of punishment or humiliation, and try to convince us that covering up our mistakes or simply hiding them will save us from suffering the consequences. I learned from Sunday School a powerful lesson from the story of King David. As the Spirit taught me during that lesson, it became blatantly apparent to me how Satan uses his tools of deception to keep us from repentance, and that an unrepentant heart is more serious than the original transgression.

We all know the story of David and Goliath and we see David’s courage as an example of incredible righteousness. But Satan certainly doesn’t leave the righteous alone. Years later when David was faced with a temptation to look at something inappropriate, he gave in and didn’t turn away. I’m sure he felt little nudges inside to rid his mind of those thoughts—but he didn’t. Ignoring the impressions and letting those seductive thoughts dwell in his mind eventually led him to break the law of chastity. Terrorized by the wrong he had done, instead of repenting he let fear of being discovered run wild and did everything he could to cover up his sin. He ended up murdering someone he had wronged (2 Samuel 11).

Pride and fear are Satan’s #1 tools. He will use those to keep us from repentance, increase his power, and desensitize us to following him more. But when we hide from God, in reality what are we hiding from? We are hiding from miracles, healing, love, peace, compassion. Aren’t those all things we want in our lives? In King David’s case, was the problem the temptation or the sin? NO. Although giving into the temptation and committing the sin was wrong, it was his refusal to confess and forsake that brought greater consequences and led him to greater iniquity. We ALL sin. But the difference between the righteous and the wicked is that the righteous repent and ultimately sin less and less, until they “have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2).

To David’s credit, he did eventually realize that the only way out was repentance through the Atonement (Psalm 51). He realized he could find healing through the Savior. But repentance was much harder than if he had chosen to turn from his mistakes in the beginning. Similarly one day we will have to face our guilt and we will realize that we must repent (Alma 5:18, 21). I pray that day will be sooner rather than later so we don’t have to suffer as much as David, or Alma the Younger, or even Christ himself. For surely in the end we must “[choose] Christ’s manner of living or His manner of suffering” (Scott Woodward, EFY Session Director).

When the Spirit helps us identify something we should change, we have two options: follow the enticements, or rationalize them away. I’ve learned that rationalization = spiritual unhappiness and desensitization. Alma warned, “Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point” (Alma 42:30). When we rationalize, we’re not only forfeiting the opportunity to be better, but we’re shutting out the Spirit’s influence. Our hearts become hardened and are desensitized, bit by bit, until we are “past feeling” (1 Ne 17:45). The scriptures are full of stories that show the fate of the hard hearted. Instead, let us “yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” (Mosiah 3:19) by responding to the invitation to change. The Lord promises, “if ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you…unto a remission of [your] sins” (Alma 12:33-34).

When I was a Young Woman I used to wonder, what if I’m trying as hard as I can to change but I keep messing up? Elder Anderson said, “Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. As if we are climbing a tree-covered mountain, at times we don’t see our progress until we get closer to the top and look back from the high ridges. Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting” (“Repent…That I May Heal You,”). Satan and those persuaded by him will lie to you that the process is not helping, that it does not work. Do not believe his lies. Do not abandon the process.

Another tool Satan will use is guilt to debilitate instead of motivate. Sometimes we believe we’ve done things so wrong in the past that the consequences haunt us every day. Surely we need to feel remorse for our choices, but we must not feel we are forever captive to the consequences. Do you think our loving Heavenly Father would want us to dwell on sadness and guilt? Certainly not. His is a gospel of hope. No matter how we have done things in the past we can change, and MUST change if we are to be relieved of those horrible feelings. Obviously you already recognize your mistakes and feel genuine sorrow. As we’ve learned, the next step is to abandon that behavior. That’s where the faith comes in—faith that it’s possible and that help will come, instead of accepting Satan’s lie and believing “nothing I do now will help.” Forgive yourself and move away from it. Have faith that your best efforts are sufficient for Christ’s grace and healing.

One of Satan’s nastiest tricks is to convince us “It’s just the way I am—I can’t change.” Or even more pridefully, “This is who I am. I have no need to change!” But these beliefs are contradictory to the Atonement! The very fundamental nature of the Atonement is to make change possible, to become better than we are, to rise to a higher level. We are made with imperfections and weaknesses, but don’t think for a moment there is a challenge you can’t or shouldn’t overcome (D&C 64:2; 1John 5:4-5; Romans 12:2).

Illuminated by the truth about repentance, don’t these lies seem silly? Like Nephi, I feel like saying, “Why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul?” (2 Nephi 4:27-28). When you see clearly the tactics of the adversary it is so much easier to resist them and instead turn to the Savior for healing. Let us respond quickly and humbly to the enticements of the Spirit to change. Start NOW and do anything you must do.

The lyrics to one of my favorite songs read,

You might think that no one’s been through what you’re going through.
And you might think that nobody’s made the same mistakes as you.
You are feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders—turn it over.
You’ve tried hard to hide from the past and to bury it deep.
You’re overwhelmed by all of the things that you know you should be.
Just believe, mistakes of the past don’t define you—He refines you.
Just have the courage to take one step.
Someone’s going be there to help with the rest!
To start is the hardest, but it’s something that only you can do.
Don’t carry the burden as the years go by,
You don’t need that crushing weight in your life.
Have faith to pray for the strength to finally see this through.
There’s One who knows youperfectly,
He can take the hurt away.
The healing starts within, just let Him in, and let it begin.

(“Let it Begin,” Courage to Stand Strong, EFY 2010)

I testify that it is the process of repentance that refines us as the Atonement removes our guilt and shame and replaces it with joy and peace of conscience (Alma 24:10). I know this because I’ve experienced it in my own life. I know the Savior lives and loves us, and is continually reaching out to each of us. We only need to reach to him to feel of his love and healing power as we change our lives to do his will.

A Pattern In All Things

I learned an interesting principle this summer in a seemingly simple way, but it made a profound impact on me. It all started with one of my Session Directors as I was working as an Especially For Youth counselor this summer.

During one Sunday-night devotional our Session Director gave an analogy as follows. If you want to sew several t-shirts there are a few ways to go about doing it. You can picture in your mind how you think they should look, then go about sewing them, trying to copy the one you made before. Or you can find a good example of a t-shirt, study it carefully, and try to sew each one as closely to the original as possible.

Or perhaps the best way would be to get a sewing pattern, trace, cut and sew your fabric carefully, following all the instructions intently, and have each replica as near perfect as possible. Patterns make a way for us to get it right the first time and each subsequent time instead of replicating imperfect copies.

Such is the pattern of our lives. We can picture in our mind the way we think we should go, do, or be, but surely that would give the roughest end result, try as you might. There are many wonderful examples we can study who will indeed lead us in the right direction. But there is one perfect pattern who, if you follow intently, will help you become as perfect as possible: our Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ. "He is like the Father, the great prototype of saved beings" (Joseph Smith).

As I pondered that concept that week I began to see other analogies with similar messages, such as the service project we did each week with the youth. We made simple fleece blankets for orphanages by cutting slits around the edges of the fabric and tying the pieces together. Special instructions and patterns were provided in each case.

That week as I watched the youth enthusiastically go to work, many left the pattern quickly after realizing the extra effort and time required to match it up and cut around it.

At first I thought, "Sure, they'll get it close enough, and it'll save time." After all, the first few cuts looked just like the patterned ones. But as they continued to cut, each one deviated a little more, getting wider or thinner, shorter, more crooked or uneven than the last. I still kept thinking "It's ok, it'll all look the same when they're tied. They're cruising, and we'll be done in no time!"

But the trouble came when we tried to tie the knots. The short, fat fringes were nearly impossible to tie, and the long, skinny ones were more flimsy and less elegant. All the sudden our work slowed dramatically as we tried over and over to finish those difficult knots. We were among the last groups done, and although the blankets still looked nice, they were definitely less than perfect.

I couldn't help but think of how much easier it would've been to have followed the pattern diligently from the beginning, and to have urged the youth to do the same, even though they didn't understand why and were eager to do it on their own. Now I could see the reasons behind the method, and the difficulty that could be avoided. All they had to do was trust that I knew better -- had experience, that I wasn't just trying to be old-fashioned and make their lives difficult. And if they didn't, they'd have to deal with the consequences. I'm sure you're catching my drift, because yeah, the parallel hit me over the head too.

The pattern of the Gospel our Father in Heaven has given us is designed so we can live the happiest way possible and avoid many of the unnecessary difficulties. There are no shortcuts to living with true happiness. In reality, the pattern that's set is the shortcut because it saves the time trying to correct the mistakes (remember, we were among the last to finish). Any time we deviate there will be difficulties and imperfections. Luckily they don't have to be as permanent as a cut piece of fabric. But that's a topic for another post :)

All we must do is carefully follow the instructions our Father has lovingly given us and trust that He knows all things.

As soon as I saw that pattern, I quickly noticed how well it worked, repeatedly. Week after week youth from all over the country would come from the widest variety of backgrounds you could imagine. But no matter their previous experiences, as they immersed themselves in the gospel-centered activities of the week, they were beaming with joy and love by the end. I can't even express the difference I could see. And not only in them, but me too. I remember distinctly thinking that I was always so incredibly happy by the end of each week. Especially the Friday of my last week. I was singing and dancing and about ready to explode with joy, and the funny part is, I'm not even exaggerating!

The pattern of frequent prayer, personal and group (family) scripture study, serving others, learning about the gospel and then sharing it with others brought the Spirit into our lives so strongly. We received answers to our prayers, we found comfort and encouragement in the scriptures, we felt such a strong love for all around us (even though we barely knew them!), we felt the courage to make needed changes in our lives and be unwavering examples to others. Such are only a few examples of the many blessings that come from immersing ourselves in the gospel.

Just a few weeks ago I read an article in the Ensign entitled "To Returned Missionaries" that solidified all these things I'd learned. Elder L. Tom Perry was petitioning returned missionaries to "press forward with the zeal" they once had as a full-time missionary. All too often they come home and slump back into their old habits and then wonder why they aren't feeling the same spiritual high they felt on their mission. The exact same thing could be applied after EFY! I know because it happened to me several times.

It was no surprise to me when Elder Perry outlined the same basic principles to keep that spiritual vigor:

1. Frequent, consistent, and mighty prayer
2. Individual and companion (family) scripture study
3. The joy of teaching the gospel

This was an important lesson for me to learn. Looking back I've seen the difference when I haven't followed the pattern. And now I recognize why I'm so ridiculously happy when I do! Just follow the pattern. Heavenly Father knows best. People are the happiest when they're immersed in the gospel.

What Prayer Means to Me

Two weeks ago I got a message on Facebook from a friend in response to my status I had just posted a few hours before. My status read, “Amie Morey would not be able to survive without prayer.” My friend asked a simple question, “How does prayer strengthen you?” and I sent him the following response:

Thanks for the question. I would love to answer it because it gives me an opportunity to reflect on what prayer means to me, why it’s important and why it’s valuable to me. Because you asked, I’ll share the experience I had that elicited my statement on Facebook.

Last night as I was driving home to Draper I was in the car by myself and decided to not turn any music on or anything so I could just have some quiet time to think. I’ve had some questions and concerns that have been on my mind lately so I wanted to take the time to reflect on them a bit. When I was about half way home, I all the sudden had the urge to talk to my Father in Heaven about them. Right there in the car I started talking out loud and saying everything that was on my mind, expressing my feelings, thoughts, fears, and hopes, basically as if I was venting to a close friend.

From an outside perspective it would’ve looked like I was mental or something, crying and talking out loud to myself, but to me it was one of the most comforting things to know that I wasn't just talking out loud to myself. I felt a very real connection and knew that Heavenly Father was in fact listening to every word I was saying and understood exactly how I felt. I just talked the rest of the way home and even a little longer after I pulled up, and by the end of my prayer I had a very quiet sense of peace about everything I had been expressing. Nothing overpowering or overwhelming, just that quiet peace that everything would be ok.

Even though this seems like a dramatic example, and certainly not every prayer I say is like this, it still illustrates the principles that have given me strength. In the Bible Dictionary under “Prayer” it says, “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part.” In my experience I felt the urge to talk to my Father because of just that—He is my Father! I knew He cared, would understand, and wanted to help. And not only that, but He knows all the answers! And even if it wasn’t the right timing for me to get all the answers, at least He’d listen and give me the comfort I needed to keep going and be patient.

As I’ve tried to think of prayer as simply talking to my Father (or any close friend) it has changed the way I pray. It becomes more real instead of the same thing over and over again. I can go to Him and say, “You know what, I had a really hard time today, and this is why.” Or “I’m really sad about this, can you help me?” (of course using the formal pronouns). As I’ve really gone to Him with my joys, sadness, concerns, fears, etc, I’ve felt a lot of comfort and strength in knowing that He’s always there to listen and to help, just as my earthly father would listen and help if I wanted to talk to him about all these things.

The reason I said I wouldn’t be able to survive without prayer is because without that blessing of being able to speak with my Heavenly Father I’d be left to figure things out all by myself. I wouldn’t have those questions and concerns resolved, and I wouldn’t be able to feel the peace and comfort that comes from talking to the One who knows all things. I’d feel helpless, hopeless, and wouldn’t be able to turn anywhere for any absolute answers. I survive on prayer because that’s the only source from which I can find complete peace and rest from all the hardships of life—because He’s right there with me helping me through it.

Prayer has been an incredible strength to me both in big and small things. As I’ve been through some of the toughest challenges of my life this summer, prayer has been the way by which I received guidance as to what I should do and the means by which relief came from heartache. But there have also been countless times where I’ve lost keys or something silly like that and I’ve prayed for help to find them and the image of where they are will pop into my mind and even before I end the prayer I thank Him for helping me find the keys because I know they’ll be there when I get off my knees.

I just had another experience today when I was looking for a specific shirt I wanted to pack for my trip to Disneyland this week and I couldn’t remember where on earth I had put it. I decided to pray and expressed to my Father that I wanted to find that shirt because it would help me be modest, and when I was done I had an impression to check my laundry basket again even though I had already looked there more than once. When I looked through it more carefully, sure enough, there it was. THAT is why prayer is such a strength to me, because I know that whenever I have a problem, big or small, there will always be a constant source of comfort and guidance. He cares about it ALL, and wants to help if we’ll just ask.

There's a talk about receiving answers to prayers that I absolutely love because it so clearly outlines the principles upon which Heavenly Father answers our prayers. "Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer" by Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign, November 1989. I'd encourage you to read it and try to identify the principles taught in your past experiences. I know that if you look closely, you'll see that our Father has answered you many times too. Keep looking and keep praying and you can have as sure of a witness as I do that Father in Heaven loves us more than we can imagine and wants to help us every day of our lives.

The Healing Miracle of Fasting

A little over a week ago I started getting sick because I've been under so much stress. It started with a sore throat, which I knew would lead to a cold and most likely stick around for a few weeks like it usually does for me. I was really worried and thought, "Not now!! ...I've got finals coming up and I'll be working as an EFY Counselor the week after!" I've been working really hard throughout the school term and want to do my best on finals. I've also been really looking forward to being an EFY Counselor and putting every ounce of energy into having tons of fun, learning a lot, and most of all, teaching the youth and helping them grow spiritually. I knew I wouldn't be able to perform my best during finals if I was sick, and I knew I wouldn't be able to give my all as an EFY Counselor if I wasn't feeling well, and that made me sad. I knew from past experience that even when I tried my best to eat right, get more rest and cut out sugar, colds still take at least 3 weeks to get over, for me. So I did the only thing more I knew how to do: fast for the special blessing that I would heal quicker.

I've learned in the past that whenever we ask for a special blessing we should do all within our power to make it happen, and then trust that the Lord sees our efforts and rely on Him to bring about the miracle. So, in order to do all I could to have this special prayer answered I ate as healthily as I could, got as much sleep as possible and took the best kind of cold medicine I could find.

Within days my cold was already moving faster through the stages than it normally does. On Friday (just 5 days after I fasted) I made the comment to my voice teacher that it was literally a miracle I was able to sing that day. She agreed -- the last time I got sick in April I hadn't been able to have voice lessons for 3 weeks! A little while after my voice lesson my mom called to check up on me and see how my cold was doing. I happily reported that my cold was almost gone and that it was a miracle it was going away so quickly. "What was the trick?" she asked, eager to learn the secret I had discovered. After running all the remedies through my mind I shared the one thing I had done differently than in the past: "Honestly, it was because I fasted that I would be able to recover quickly."

It was true--all the other times I've gotten sick I've tried to take cold medicine, get more rest, eat more fruits and vegetables, and I imagine it helps a lot, but still it persists for weeks. I knew I couldn't just rely on my own efforts if I wanted to get better in less than two weeks for finals. As I turned to the Lord for help, even physical help, He heard my prayers, recognized my sacrifice in fasting, and blessed me with the miracle of healing. I know that was a direct answer to prayer and that it wasn't just a coincidence.

I know Jesus Christ has the power to heal anything, whether spiritual or physical, if we exercise faith in Him. He suffered "pains and afflictions... of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. ...And he will take upon them their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy... that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11). Because of the Atonement, Jesus suffered everything for us, not just for our sins. Because of that He has the power to heal us physically and spiritually, and give us the strength to endure and overcome any challenge. I know that because He's done it countless times for me. And He did it again this past week as He took away my sickness and replaced it with comfort and strength. I know there is power in prayer and fasting, and miracles still happen, even to ordinary people like me.