The Church is True, and the Book is Blue!

Wishing you all a FANG-tastic Halloween! :)  
Fangs courtesy of a care package she received...

Dear friends and family,

No snow and plenty of sunshine here in Susquehanna.  What a blessing!!

It's been another crazy but great week.  I've decided that on a mission there is no such thing as bad days, just hard ones.  But when we have faith and "try our best try," miracles are sure to follow!

A highlight from this past week was having half of our mission come up to visit the Priesthood Restoration Site. It was so, so fun to see so many missionaries together!  We had a devotional together before we took missionaries on a tour, and I wish every tour we have started off like that because the Spirit was so strong.  One of my favorite parts was the talk by Elder Walker, our visitor center director.  He talked about the importance of our site, but how it only makes a difference if we act upon what we feel, see and learn.  He invited two of the PRS sisters up to the front of the chapel and they began to sing ‘Abide With Me.’  As they sang, one companionship of PRS sisters got up from their seats and joined in until all 12 of us were singing together.

After we finished singing, Elder Walker invited all the missionaries to stand up and sing one of the verses again with us. That was one of those moments I wish I could replay over and over again because there is something so special about getting missionaries together to sing. Music is one of the best ways to invite the Spirit, and in that moment, the Spirit was so strong it was almost tangible. After we finished singing the hymn, Elder Walker explained how the Priesthood Restoration Site, how God's restored priesthood authority and The Book of Mormon can have a ripple effect on the lives of people who each of the missionaries come in contact with, their families, friends, eventually reaching out to every part of the world. Just like the ripple effect of a pebble on a pond, or the ripple effect of voices coming together in song, the Priesthood Restoration Site can have a spiritual ripple effect on millions. President Anderson (the Mission President) then announced that missionaries within 3 hours of the Priesthood Restoration Site are now allowed to treat the PRS like the temple, in that they are able to come once a month if they are bringing an investigator who has never gone with them.  Exciting news for the mission which will hopefully add to the ripple effect of our site on the PPM and the world!

When Joseph Smith first came to Harmony and was living here he was only 19  years old, and 20 years old when he began he translation of the Book of Mormon.... which makes me think of myself.  I am 19 years old, living in Harmony (now Susquehanna), Pennsylvania, trying to do the will of the Lord and teaching others about the Book of Mormon. 

Our home away from home... the PRS Visitor's Center

 There is so much comfort and joy that can come from the Book of Mormon that we can't find anywhere else.  Together with the Bible, it is another testament of Jesus Christ, and it truly is the keystone of our religion, what holds everything together.  I know that it is true and is something we shouldn't take for granted.  It gives us the "how to" on the way we should live our lives, in order to find true and lasting happiness in the life to come.  Not only can we read about our Savior, Jesus Christ, but the Book of Mormon teaches how to become like Him! When we had stake conference in September and President Nelson and his wife came to speak, Sister Nelson talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon, and how we should use it more fully in our lives by taking every opportunity we get to share it.  Sister Gomm and I have made it a goal to always share at least one scripture from the Book of Mormon when we take guests on tours.  It's one thing to talk about the book, to hold the book, to see the book, but real spiritual power comes when we read the book.  Whenever we read from the Book of Mormon with people come through, the spirit is invited and can witness to those who come through our door of its truthfulness.

This past week we had Thanksgiving dinner with the Slaters... Yes, a month early, but why only have it only once, right?

The dad asked if I'd like whipped cream with my pie.  I said "yes"...

Anyways, we talked about what we are grateful for and the Book of Mormon and family seemed to be a reoccurring blessing.  I thought about how those two things go hand in hand.  God loves us and wants to bless our families, so he gave us the Book of Mormon to teach us how to return to Him with those we love.  As families we love God and want to come closer in unity with Him and His son, Jesus Christ, so we read the Book of Mormon together.  Heavenly Father loves us each so, so much, and the Book of Mormon is just one sign of his love for us and our families, as we are part of His eternal family.

I can promise that when we seek out opportunities to share the Book of Mormon, blessings will come! It is a privilege to be a missionary and share my testimony of the restored gospel, especially The Book of Mormon, with everyone I meet and I wouldn't trade this time for anything else in the world.  Hurrah for Israel!!

Love,
Sister Larsen