I was reading a talk that my mom sent me called, "Look Unto Him In Every Thought" by Joy D. Jones. This is a talk she gave during BYU Education week and after reading her talk and listening to her words in General Conference I have grown to love her a lot. She really speaks to my heart. But as I was reading her talk about using our agency to "look unto [Him] in every thought" (D&C 6:36) she quoted James 1:2 that says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;" That verse hit me. There have been many times on my mission where I have read the scriptures and one or more of the verses "sunk deep into my heart" (Enos 1:3) like Enos describes while he is hunting in the forest. But that has become my new motto and it has honestly helped me so much. Whenever something happened and I usually would have gotten frustrated or angry. But with that new perspective God gave me some "opportunities" to see how I would react ;) He's really good at that, but hey, that's we're here right?
But really this week has been amazing! We had interviews with President Polley over Facebook Messenger video chat and it was just awesome. He asked me, "What do you look forward to in a day?" I gave my answer, but the next day I was thinking about that and I found a better answer. I look forward to seeing what miracle God is going to show me. Every single day I am just waiting for God to do some amazing things, and guess what? He always follows through!! It was amazing to see how He was helping us through all of the canceled plans, all of the lessons, allowing us to meet some amazing people and to help strengthen the members that have wandered away from the joy of the Gospel.
I know this because there is something that has happened to me on my mission. Every time we go out on the streets to find people or we are walking from our car to a lesson, or really anything on the street, I always find pennies or quarters or dimes or nickles. It is something really weird, but when I find one I always day, "somethings good is gonna happen, just wait Hermana Duran!" And guess what? Something great always happens!!! I think it is one of the small ways that Heavenly Father shows me that he is there.
That makes me think of a story I read this week. It is called, "Forgetting My Pen at General Conference Changed My Life" I want to attach the story. Please read it, it really touched my heart.
"“Do you have a pen?” I asked my dad. It was the first session of general conference, and we had just sat down in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Dad shook his head. I kept digging through the gum wrappers and receipts at the bottom of my bag. I knew I had brought one. I had specifically put a notebook and pen in my bag the night before so I wouldn’t forget. And since I had my notebook, the pen had to be in here somewhere. I mean, we had driven straight here … I stifled a groan. The car.
“So much for taking notes,” I grumbled. But just as I reached down to put my notebook away, the elderly man next to me stuck out a beautiful ballpoint pen.
“It’s your lucky day,” he said. He turned back to the front for a moment, hesitating, before facing me again. “You want to hear something funny? As I was walking out of my hotel room this morning, I heard a voice tell me to bring an extra pen.”
I was caught off guard. I thought, “God inspired this random guy to bring me a pen?” I was a bit puzzled, given that my “notes” were usually half doodle, half writing down the speaker’s name. I rarely looked at my notes again after conference.
He seemed to sense my surprise. “You know,” he said, “if God cares enough to tell a complete stranger to bring you a pen, He must have something important to tell you.”
His words repeated in my mind as we waited for the start of the session. I quickly resolved to pay better attention this conference than I ever had before. For the first time, I went into conference absolutely certain that the Lord had a message for me.
With the first few notes of the opening song, I felt the Spirit flood the room. Thoughts came to my mind, and I started remembering past experiences and revelation I had forgotten. I started writing. This continued throughout the session. At times, I almost couldn’t write fast enough to record the inspiration. By the end of the meeting, I had pages and pages of notes. The handwriting wasn’t pretty, and the ink was smeared in some places. But it was some of the sweetest revelation I had ever received.
“Thank you so much,” I said to my neighbor after the closing prayer. “I wrote down so many things. Most of the stuff wasn’t even what the speakers said.” I started to hand back his pen.
“You keep it.” He grasped my hand and looked me firmly in the eyes. “Whenever you feel like God has forgotten you, I want you to look at this and remember that He loves you enough to tell a stranger to bring you a pen.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I thanked him again and left, pen in hand.
I still look back on the notes I took that conference. They have served as a comfort and guide in times of difficulty. And I still keep the pen on my desk. I don’t use it to write anymore—it has long since run out of ink. But on days when I feel alone or forgotten, I pick it up. I remember. I remember that God is mindful of me. That He loves me. The He wants to talk with me. And that in moments when through my own choices, my own mistakes, I put myself in a place where I can’t receive His wisdom, He will always extend a pen."
“So much for taking notes,” I grumbled. But just as I reached down to put my notebook away, the elderly man next to me stuck out a beautiful ballpoint pen.
“It’s your lucky day,” he said. He turned back to the front for a moment, hesitating, before facing me again. “You want to hear something funny? As I was walking out of my hotel room this morning, I heard a voice tell me to bring an extra pen.”
I was caught off guard. I thought, “God inspired this random guy to bring me a pen?” I was a bit puzzled, given that my “notes” were usually half doodle, half writing down the speaker’s name. I rarely looked at my notes again after conference.
He seemed to sense my surprise. “You know,” he said, “if God cares enough to tell a complete stranger to bring you a pen, He must have something important to tell you.”
His words repeated in my mind as we waited for the start of the session. I quickly resolved to pay better attention this conference than I ever had before. For the first time, I went into conference absolutely certain that the Lord had a message for me.
With the first few notes of the opening song, I felt the Spirit flood the room. Thoughts came to my mind, and I started remembering past experiences and revelation I had forgotten. I started writing. This continued throughout the session. At times, I almost couldn’t write fast enough to record the inspiration. By the end of the meeting, I had pages and pages of notes. The handwriting wasn’t pretty, and the ink was smeared in some places. But it was some of the sweetest revelation I had ever received.
“Thank you so much,” I said to my neighbor after the closing prayer. “I wrote down so many things. Most of the stuff wasn’t even what the speakers said.” I started to hand back his pen.
“You keep it.” He grasped my hand and looked me firmly in the eyes. “Whenever you feel like God has forgotten you, I want you to look at this and remember that He loves you enough to tell a stranger to bring you a pen.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I thanked him again and left, pen in hand.
I still look back on the notes I took that conference. They have served as a comfort and guide in times of difficulty. And I still keep the pen on my desk. I don’t use it to write anymore—it has long since run out of ink. But on days when I feel alone or forgotten, I pick it up. I remember. I remember that God is mindful of me. That He loves me. The He wants to talk with me. And that in moments when through my own choices, my own mistakes, I put myself in a place where I can’t receive His wisdom, He will always extend a pen."
God will extend to you His love. He is waiting to speak to you. He loves you. I know He is your Father. He created a plan so that you could find peace, find lasting happiness, and find Him. He has given us a prophet to guide us and He has done just that. I want to invite you to read his words again. And if you are a woman, read the words he shared specifically for us in the Women's Session. They are invitations from the Lord Himself that will bless us if we open the door of obedience for the blessings to flow in. I know that Jesus suffered and died for you and for me, and through Him we can receive all that He has prepared for you and I in this life. "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9)
P.S. Abigail is getting baptized and confirmed this Saturday!! We are so excited for her! I will send pictures next week.
P.P.S. Sorry about the voice recording, it wasn't me... maybe I'll try it again some day... I'll make sure to send the right one haha
Photos:
- We found a huge spider in our sink on Sunday Morning!! I had never seen one that big in my whole life!!
-We made pancakes and homemade syrup for dinner before Fast Sunday
-We came to the church this morning and lightning had struck the tree in the night and it fell down!!!
-Daniela! One of the people we are teaching. She is form Columbia and is awesome!
-Hermana Duran and I :)
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