Hi to all!  I hope everyone is doing well.  We have a semi cloudy day here, with a breeze blowing.  It’s about 70 degrees, and just lovely!  Britta’s house is a lot like mine, in that it is cooler in the house than it is outside.  It works out really well as it starts to warm up, until it’s like frying hot, then only the central air helps.  

Conference has been great so far, with only 1 session left!  I have heard in the past several conferences that it is past time to start to prepare ourselves for the return of our Savior.  We don’t even need to be fearful about it!  “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” was stated today.  The scriptures in Alma 34:30-41 come to mind.   All I know is that I am SO grateful to our Savior for making repentance possible.  All He did for us!  We are so blessed by His love, His mercy, and His grace.  We need Him so!

The theme for the just finished Sunday morning session, and others, seemed to be obedience.  A couple of things stuck out to me.  When we obey, we observe God’s law.  Obedience to that law is liberty – freedom!  I have seen that obedience = joy! 

I felt that we don’t have to be worthy to receive God’s gift of agency, He has given it freely.  What we have is a choice to which consequences we receive by what actions we take.  I also felt when I don’t obey, it’s not just not choosing to obey; it’s choosing to disobey – like in the Book of Mormon – knowingly going against the will of God.   When I don’t choose the right, I am choosing the wrong, which is sin.  Even not doing things I know I should, though I’m not , technically, doing anything wrong, I find myself in need of repenting. 

Sin will always be sin!  Disobedience will always reduce the amount of blessings we receive from Heavenly Father.   I would much rather have as many blessings as I can earn to help me through this earthly existence!  I want to do all I can to serve our Father and His children! 

I want to obey, but find myself repenting way too many times!  No – I know I can’t be perfect yet – and I can only be perfect with Christ – but I can repent as many times as I am willing to humble myself, (or I am compelled to be humble, again, the choice is up to me), confess my sins, turn from them, and ask our Father for forgiveness through His Son, our Savior. 

We are so blessed to have the ability to repent.  I have had that hardness of heart while on the mission which has caused me to be sorely repentant.  I have felt that all-encompassing joy when I have done all I can to repent and have that contrite heart and broken spirit.   I am grateful to know these truths, and that I have the ability put them into practice!  Again – the choice is up to me!

I was grateful to feel the love of our prophet for me immediately as he stood to speak.  He doesn’t know me, but I know he has that Christ-like love for me!  I look forward to the last session of Conference. 

We had a Senior FHE Monday night.  Sister Gelwix is so sweet – she had vases of daffodils out on the tables, and at the end of the evening – she gave a vase to each Sister who was there.   I think this is the only picture I have taken recently.  Other than a picture of an Elder who had surgery to fix his nose that was broken playing basketball, and even I don’t like to look at that!

 

I am busy as always – I have started to call all the Bishops in the mission to find more available doctors.  I have most of the numbers now, too.  I have a lot of text messages on the mission phone to get those numbers, so thanks to all the missionaries who have helped me in this. 

I will be coming home to attend Camden’s baptism this week, and getting to spend time with my family for a couple of days.  I have promised to make the recipe I copied from Dan’s copied recipe of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with my grandkids!  I will head back to continue the work here on Monday.

Nothing can be done about the timing, but my new companion is coming this Tuesday am, then, I will be at the mission office all day Wednesday, and then leave on Thursday around noon to fly to SLC.  Not exactly the best way to make your companion feel welcome!  It’s like “Hi!  Nice to meet you!  How are you?  See you next week! BYE!”  Too funny..
It’s time to get ready for company coming to watch conference.  Probably not a wise thing to still be in my pjs.

We've had Sister Morris leave; Easter dinner here; and cookies taken to many!  Lots of changes - lots of blessings!

I hope you all are well – I am doing SO WELL!  I just love it here – serving at the employment center and in the medical area as well!  Life is good – our Father loves each of us, and I’m so grateful to KNOW that and FEEL that!  Our Savior is helping me try to serve as He needs me to.  What a privilege!

I thank you all for you faith and thoughts and prayers in my behalf, and know they are working, and am always grateful for them.

My love to all – Sister Ure