Four Months!!

Yesterday was four months since I entered the MTC! It's hard to
believe I've been out for that long, even though there's still a long
way to go.

It's been an interesting week! We had our mission tour on Thursday-
Elder Johnson of the Seventy came and spoke. He talked a lot about
cleaning out our area books of people who are not progressing- someone
will be led to them when they are ready, and then we can use that time
to reach out to people who are ready. Thinking of that, I've been
looking at our list of investigators with new eyes and seeing that
some of them are not moving forward like they need to be.

We have had a lot of time to find people- we knocked on a lot of doors
this week! And we got two sunny days, which made a huge difference-
people were actually outside! It was cold, but cold and dry is much
better than cold and wet.

We found one new investigator- we were knocking doors right before
dinner and she answered and we talked for a bit and then she asked if
we had a message, and so we shared the Restoration with her, and then
she asked if we had any pamphlets, and we said we did, and gave her a
Book of Mormon and set up a time to go back! She seemed pretty excited
about what we shared, and it will be interesting to see what she says
when we go back!

Other exciting things this week- I went on splits for the first time!
Sister Slattery had a bad cold, so she stayed in Friday and I went
with Sister Winks to visit some people and to our one appointment. We
had an amazing lesson!


The funny part was, I met with two different people this week named
Mary (one with Sister Slattery and one with Sister Winks) and I had a
fascinating experience. Both women began our meetings by bringing up
the handbook changes (which I'm sure you've all heard so much about by
now). Now, keep in mind, one Mary is reading her scriptures and coming
to church, and the other is not. The first Mary we met with- the one
not reading or attending church- she was aghast at the changes, and
even as we tried to explain them, we could tell her ears were not open
to hearing it. She called it discrimination, and talked about how
people can't help who they love, etc. The second Mary- the one reading
and studying- she asked about it, but only so she could better explain
it to her nonmember husband. She had accepted it- she said, and
rightly so, that it wasn't really anything new, it was just a
clarification since in our day and age, certain situations are more
likely to arise. It was interesting to see the contrast. I know I've
gained w testimony that the Church is right through faithful study and
prayer, and through the influence of the Spirit. We did still have a
good discussion with the first Mary, and we read the beginning of
Ether 12. We talked about Paris as well. As we read, when we got to
Ether 12:4 (which, incidentally, is my ponderizing scripture this
week) all I could think of was the phrase from the verse in Ephesians
"tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine." So
I shared that with her. And I'd like to share it with all of you too
because it is such a valuable principle, and I know the Spirit was
teaching me as I shared.

Ether 12:4- Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope
for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which
hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which
would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works,
being led to glorify God.

Ephesians 4:11-15- And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:

The world would have us be in turmoil and confusion, jumping from one
extreme to the next. There's all sorts of examples of this, most
recently with the attacks in Paris, but also with the reaction to the
handbook changes, things we see in the media, and as election time
grows closer, we will see much more. But these verses remind me that
we don't have to be in turmoil. We don't have to be confused or lost.
We can have peace and temperance and tolerance and faith. If we follow
the gospel and trust in our Father in Heaven, in our Savior, and in
the prophet, we will always go right. We will be sure and steadfast.
Faith truly does make an anchor "unto the souls of men." If we follow
the gospel, we will have that anchor and not be "tossed to and fro" by
the wild whimsy and confusion of the world. "This is the way; and
there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be
saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 31:21). I'd just like to share
my own testimony and witness that I know that the handbook changes
were inspired, that they are for the protection and benefit of all
people and a guide to our leaders. I know that each of us can gain a
witness by prayerfully studying the words of the prophet, and not
relying on the opinions of others, but relying only on the Spirit of
God that bears witness of all truth. In the end, all will be made
right. I don't know exactly what that means yet, but I will trust in
my God because He knows what is right even when I do not.

Anyway, that's my thought for the week. It has been an amazing week
for me, as far as study and spiritual experiences are concerned. I
have felt my testimony grow in so many ways and I am so grateful for
this gospel and for the chance I have to be here and serve my Lord in
His work.

That reminds me, we also got to visit the temple visitors center this
week! We had a trip for recent converts and returning members, as sort
of a prep thing for the baptism trip in December. Only Sister Thompson
came but it was still amazing and she definitely felt the Spirit!
Hopefully she and her family will get to go back. It was great to just
be on temple grounds for a bit- I miss getting to go to the temple! It
truly is the house of the Lord!

I think the most amazing experience of the week happened on Saturday
night. Again, right before dinner, we'd been talking to people, and we
were headed to the Baldwin's house. We passed this guy on the side of
the road and we almost didn't talk to him- but we did, and it was
incredible! We found out he's a member from our neighboring stake, and
he told us he's been going through some hard times and he hadn't been
to church in a while. Well, just before this, we'd visited a member
for water and of course shared a message. That same message- my
ponderizing scripture- popped into my head again and we shared it with
him. He told us his conversion story and we all just bore our
testimonies and it was easy to see that the Spirit touched this
brother. He almost was getting emotional. He said it was exactly what
he needed to hear. Hopefully he acts on it and gets everything worked
out. It was incredible- the Lord put us right there at that time to
help that specific man get back on track and remind him what is
important.

That's all for this week. Trust in God and in good things to come!
With love from Washington,
Sister Jacobs