So this computer has a keyboard with a super annoying space bar that doesn't work half the time, so this will be a shorter email. It's not because I don't love you, it is just out of annoyance with this keyboard. 

This week, on Friday, we had a meeting with Elder Anderson, of the Second Quorum of the Seventy (not the 12 apostles Elder Anderson. Even though that would be cool, too). We did a tri-zone conference with him and he taught us a lot, as did his wife. And of course, President and Sister Wilson!

Sister Wilson taught us about patience. We read in Preach My Gospel about patience, under Christlike attributes on page 120. You should all read it. It has a bunch of scriptures about patience and about how patience is related to faith. And what I learned from that is basically that we can't have faith without patience. Patience is allowing the Lord to perform His will on His time. If we are not doing that, we cannot have faith.

Something interesting that President Wilson did was this Book of Mormon quiz:

          Who am I?

-The son of a great prophet

-Left his home and traveled for many years in a strange land

-Went back to get the brass plates and the daughters of Ishmael

-Saw many amazing miracles

-Built a ship

-Was protected by God to arrive in the Americas

-The head of a great nation

Think about it.... The answer is.................................................................................................................... Laman, of course! He and Nephi experienced the same things and both were incredibly blessed. The difference is that Laman's attitude was terrible the whole time. Everything he did, he did it grudgingly. He did not accept the amazing blessings that the Lord offered to him. He did not have patience or faith, so in the end, he didn't have all the blessings, either. 

Also we read the story in 2 Kings 5:1-14 about the man who went to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy and Elisha told him to go wash 7 times in the river Jordan, but he gets mad and almost doesn't do it because he doesn't understand it and it seems dumb to him. He basically says, "There are a bunch of other, cleaner rivers a lot closer to here. I came all this way and he wouldn't even come out to see me?" and so on. But then some wise servant of his says something like, "Hey man, that's a prophet, right? Shouldn't you do what he says?" and the guy is like, "Oh yeah." Then he does what Elisha said and had new, baby smooth skin. Something interesting that President Wilson said is that if we need to understand every single rule/commandment, we are limiting God to who we are. I liked that. 

Then with Sister Anderson we played a Book of Mormon game and it was fun. Then she talked about how in Preach My Gospel it tells us to teach using the words and phrases of Book of Mormon Prophets. A lot of times I think that if I do that, the people won't understand and it will just confuse them. But I just have to remember, I guess, that those men are prophets. Even if they did talk differently back then, their words are the words of God. Plus, it will help my investigators to grow to love the Book of Mormon and to be able to read it better. 

She also challenged us to choose a scriptural word/phrase and think about it, ponder it, and dwell on it, every week. For instance, Elder Bednar made a whole talk about of just two words: "Tender mercies." Mine for the week is "stirred up to remembrance." I would like to extend the same challenge to all of you. It will help us come to love the Book of Mormon even more. And it doesn't have to be from the Book of Mormon, it can be from the Bible or any scripture. Just take some time to think about and ponder about a short phrase from an ancient prophet of God. 

Speaking of prophets, just about 5 weeks til General Conference! Woot woot! Get ready, everyone!

Elder Anderson talked a lot about reverence. And how we should make a habit of reverence and nurture it. If we are reverent, worthy, pure, obedient, we will be made into a conduit for the the Spirit. Especially for our callings. When we are set apart to do something, there is SO much power in that. He talked a lot about that. But the power in our setting apart does not come from us. It comes from God.  We also read in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 about being worthy to partake of the Sacrament. But being worthy to take it does not just mean keeping the commandments and coming every week to take the sacrament. Elder Anderson talked about how if we are just taking the Sacrament robotically, without thought or feeling, that is not worthy of the sacrifice of the Son of God. The scripture says if we take it unworthily, we are guilty of the blood of Christ. That is pretty intense, right? We need to take the Sacrament to be spiritually "awake," as well. "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." When we take the Sacrament and take it without reverencing it, we are weaker.

He also talked about the key to avoiding pride. The key to avoiding pride is gratitude. I thought that was super interesting and so true. If we are grateful, we will know where our blessings come from and we will always remember Heavenly Father. It was good.

Well, in case you want a good study, there's my meeting. Not a lot else happened this week. Hermana Kingsley has been sick for the last couple days. 

We also had Spanish meeting on tuesday. That was great, too. 

Oh and we helped J move this week, which was fun. We also got a lot of good support from the ward, which was SO good. We appreciated it a lot, and she did too, which is the most important thing. We also went to her husband's birthday party on Thursday and met her family and helped break down some prejudices there. She is really excited about us. But we think that she thinks were more her friends than anything else. Which is great, but not what we're here for So we are going to go over tonight and explain our purpose and what we do as missionaries. We have this member that we want to bring, and she can be her friend. But we are here to bring her closer to Christ. 

So E won't be getting baptized this weekend. We didn't get to see her at all this last week, and only once the week before. But she still hasn't gotten work off to be able to come to church, and obviously, that's not going to work out until she can. So we're going to postpone it. 

But, K spoke in church this Sunday and it was SO GOOD! She is such a champion! She used the scriptures like a pro, bore her testimony so strong, and it was just SO AMAZING. I love that girl. 

Well, I don't have any more time, but I love you! I hope you have SUCH a wonderful week. Write me letters and tell me awkward moments and cool experiences and favorite scriptural phrases! Also just everything about your lives. 

Love,

Hermana Emily Pratt

Ps Has anyone else shared the Gospel recently with a Hispanic? Or anyone?