Howdy y'all!
This week was amazing! Miracles happened every day! I would like to
start off by sharing an experience I had on Wednesday. I went on an
exchange with Hermana Feldman in the McNeil ASL area, and I was so
excited to get to use my sign language throughout the day in the
lessons that we had etc. But when we were out trying to contact
someone that lived in the area that was deaf, we knocked on a door and
a Spanish man answered. I got so nervous realizing at that time I was
the only one out of the two of us that could speak Spanish, and I
wasn't really expecting to speak any Spanish while on this exchange...
but oh it was amazing! I just started speaking and the Spanish was
just coming out of my mouth, and I could also understand everything that he
was saying. I was able to teach him! I needed that experience this
week. I know now that I can speak Spanish I just need to trust that I
can do it (believe in myself) with the Lords help, and also with
the Spirit there to testify to them that what I am saying is true.
The gift of tongues is REAL!
This week was amazing! Miracles happened every day! I would like to
start off by sharing an experience I had on Wednesday. I went on an
exchange with Hermana Feldman in the McNeil ASL area, and I was so
excited to get to use my sign language throughout the day in the
lessons that we had etc. But when we were out trying to contact
someone that lived in the area that was deaf, we knocked on a door and
a Spanish man answered. I got so nervous realizing at that time I was
the only one out of the two of us that could speak Spanish, and I
wasn't really expecting to speak any Spanish while on this exchange...
but oh it was amazing! I just started speaking and the Spanish was
just coming out of my mouth, and I could also understand everything that he
was saying. I was able to teach him! I needed that experience this
week. I know now that I can speak Spanish I just need to trust that I
can do it (believe in myself) with the Lords help, and also with
the Spirit there to testify to them that what I am saying is true.
The gift of tongues is REAL!
This week I was reading a General Conference talk by Thomas S. Monson called
"Charity Never Faileth". I love the section in the talk when he says this, "I begin with a
short anecdote which illustrates a point I should like to make. A young couple,
Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were
eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor
hanging out her wash. “That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor
doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!” John looked on but remained
silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa
would make the same comments. A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to
glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her
neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John--she’s finally
learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.” John
replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested
to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”
Tonight I’d like to share with you a few thoughts concerning how we
view each other. Are we looking through a window which needs cleaning?
Are we making judgments when we don’t have all the facts? What do we
see when we look at others? What judgments do we make about them?
Said the Savior, “Judge not.” He continued, “Why beholdest thou the
mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that
is in thine own eye?” Or, to paraphrase, why beholdest thou what you
think is dirty laundry at your neighbor’s house but considerest not
the soiled window in your own house? None of us is perfect. I know of
no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite
our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of
others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.
There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the
circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason
to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”
doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!” John looked on but remained
silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa
would make the same comments. A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to
glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her
neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John--she’s finally
learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.” John
replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested
to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”
Tonight I’d like to share with you a few thoughts concerning how we
view each other. Are we looking through a window which needs cleaning?
Are we making judgments when we don’t have all the facts? What do we
see when we look at others? What judgments do we make about them?
Said the Savior, “Judge not.” He continued, “Why beholdest thou the
mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that
is in thine own eye?” Or, to paraphrase, why beholdest thou what you
think is dirty laundry at your neighbor’s house but considerest not
the soiled window in your own house? None of us is perfect. I know of
no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite
our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of
others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.
There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the
circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason
to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”
I have been working on the Christ like Attribute Charity this month. I
have thought about this question... What is charity? The prophet
Mormon teaches us that “charity is the pure love of Christ.” In
Preach My Gospel it states that Charity is God’s eternal love for all
His children. We are to seek to develop that kind of love. When you
are filled with charity, you obey God’s commandments and do all you
can to serve others and help them receive the restored gospel. Thomas
S. Monson said, "I consider charity--or “the pure love of Christ”--to be
the opposite of criticism and judging." As I have focused on not
judging but loving everyone, I have come to love more fully with all my
heart for these people. Everyone is a son or daughter of God. I
challenge all of you to see the good in people and to love everyone
more fully. As you do so your love for everyone will increase. On
Wednesday I gave a training in our district meeting that went really
well. I really applied what I was learning in my every day
missionary work last week and I have found a difference. I gave a
training on "teaching when you find and finding when you teach." I
studied some of the chapters in Preach My Gospel on this topic and
read some conference talks etc, and it was amazing how much I learned
and then applied, and then saw the results from "teaching when you find
and finding when you teach." In chapter 9 of PMG it says..."the Lord
is preparing people to receive you and the restored gospel. He will
lead you to them or He will lead them to you." I believe this to be
true. I know that there are people who are prepared right now in
their lives! The Lord loves every person who might hear his message
and He knows the hearts and circumstances of each one. He knows what
correction, what encouragement, and what gospel truth will best help
each person to choose his or her way along the path to eternal life.
I have a testimony of the restoration of this gospel. Joseph Smith
was called of God to restore this everlasting and true gospel in these
last days. Through diligent study and prayer and the many wonderful
experiences that I've had my testimony has grown so much. I know this
church is true. I will not deny it! I have a testimony that Jesus
Christ is the son of God. He is our Savior and Redeemer. I will
continue to have faith as I go about this week and know that I will
see miracles!
I love y'all so very much! Have a great week!
Con Amor,
Hermana Mann
have thought about this question... What is charity? The prophet
Mormon teaches us that “charity is the pure love of Christ.” In
Preach My Gospel it states that Charity is God’s eternal love for all
His children. We are to seek to develop that kind of love. When you
are filled with charity, you obey God’s commandments and do all you
can to serve others and help them receive the restored gospel. Thomas
S. Monson said, "I consider charity--or “the pure love of Christ”--to be
the opposite of criticism and judging." As I have focused on not
judging but loving everyone, I have come to love more fully with all my
heart for these people. Everyone is a son or daughter of God. I
challenge all of you to see the good in people and to love everyone
more fully. As you do so your love for everyone will increase. On
Wednesday I gave a training in our district meeting that went really
well. I really applied what I was learning in my every day
missionary work last week and I have found a difference. I gave a
training on "teaching when you find and finding when you teach." I
studied some of the chapters in Preach My Gospel on this topic and
read some conference talks etc, and it was amazing how much I learned
and then applied, and then saw the results from "teaching when you find
and finding when you teach." In chapter 9 of PMG it says..."the Lord
is preparing people to receive you and the restored gospel. He will
lead you to them or He will lead them to you." I believe this to be
true. I know that there are people who are prepared right now in
their lives! The Lord loves every person who might hear his message
and He knows the hearts and circumstances of each one. He knows what
correction, what encouragement, and what gospel truth will best help
each person to choose his or her way along the path to eternal life.
I have a testimony of the restoration of this gospel. Joseph Smith
was called of God to restore this everlasting and true gospel in these
last days. Through diligent study and prayer and the many wonderful
experiences that I've had my testimony has grown so much. I know this
church is true. I will not deny it! I have a testimony that Jesus
Christ is the son of God. He is our Savior and Redeemer. I will
continue to have faith as I go about this week and know that I will
see miracles!
I love y'all so very much! Have a great week!
Con Amor,
Hermana Mann
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