Sister Johnson: 10/25/24

 

Now is the Time!

Hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello All!:) 

What a wonderful Friday morning this is:) 

(Ok, so this email is going to have two parts to it:) stick around at first if you want to hear all the updates about me and what's goin on. skip to the end to be spiritually fed! (if you only have so much time, go read about Jesus instead of me:)(cuz he's the most important ok? ok.))) 

I am so excited to be here!!  It has officially been two weeks since I have transferred!  Wow.  Sometimes it feels like it was all a dream.  Sometimes it feels like this is the dream 😂  I have to tell you, being a missionary in your own town is quite the odd experience.  I have gotten the opportunity to meet so many amazing sisters.  Both in my service district, but also the teaching missionaries here in springville!!  I've gone out with the teaching missionaries a few times and what a blast that has been:)  The sisters here are without a car so I get to be the miracle choufer. Which is a pretty good feeling:) I'm so glad to be able to help out the missionaries in any way I can.  I just remember how much I appreciated help and support from the members in Lewiston and Chewelah.  So I love to be on the other side of it!  Beyond that, there have been so many instances where I have felt in the right place at the right time for the people we have met.  I think that the Lord truly knew that this is where I needed to be.  So I gotta say, proselyting without all the added stress of all the things is pretty fun. 10/10 would recommend.  Of course there are some things I miss.  Believe it or not I do miss having a companion with me 24/7.  Though there are definitely perks to being on my own again, I miss having a constant friend.  It can also be hard to focus on your missionary purpose when you aren't constantly surrounded by other missionaries.  But!! I do have a companion!  Not of the same sort.  But we get companions to do study with everyday.  My new companion is Sister Jones:)  She is also a transfer missionary and flew back from the Australia Brisbane mission about a month ago!  She is so fun! And I am excited to be getting to know her and geek out about our studies together lol. As for service! ... still pretty slow:(  Things are taking time like everyone warned me they would. yay. BUT some things are looking like they will start working out here pretty soon!  I have an interview at the temple tomorrow to be an ordinance worker so yayyyyyyyy!!!!  Other things to come which I will tell you about when they start happening lol.  In the meantime I have been serving members of our ward, attending the temple, and working a small bit at the animal shelter! yay!  You know the crazy cat lady in me just loved that one. 

ok ok alright alright.

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

So as I was getting ready for the day this morning, planning, the usual. I was asking about what I should share with you all today, I had something that I wanted to share.  But I thought, what if that's not what He wants me to share?  As a missionary, I should just be a messenger right?  So I was thinking about it.  I glanced at my phone and saw the little "scripture of the day."  I haven't gotten those in a while so I decided to take a look at it. 

"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming;" - Matthew 24: 48

(The crazy thing about this is, when I go on the app and look at it now, the scripture of the day is not that. Little miracle!)

This whole chapter is Jesus Himself telling us about the latter days, about His second coming. Super cool!  Especially after this last General conference.  If you haven't listened to President Nelson's talk yet... what are you even doing??? Go listen to it!!!! (and read Matthew 24)

But it made me think... How often are we that evil servant?  It stands out to me that this servant did not say "my lord is not coming." but "my lord delayeth his coming."  How often do we think that same way?? "No not yet."  "Not for at least so and so years."  "It can't happen yet."  "I won't be here for that."  Not yet. Not yet. Not yet.  "My Lord delayeth his coming." 

"The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of," - Matthew 24: 50

 So what are we to do?  "Watch therefore" - Matthew 24: 42

This strikes me not as a passive verb.  I don't think the Lord intends for us to wait and live our lives and just say "no man knoweth the day nor the hour"  That wasn't meant for us to use as an excuse to sit idly by and wait for Jesus to come and make things right.  We are meant not only to watch and wait in anticipation.  But when he comes, we must be caught "so doing." 

- Matthew 24: 46 

so... doing what? 

Our latter day Prophet has told us exactly what: 

"My dear brothers and sisters, in a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the millennial Messiah.  So today I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ.  I call upon you to help gather scattered Israel and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.  I call upon you to talk of Christ, testify of Christ, have faith in Christ, and rejoice in Christ!  Come unto Christ and "offer your whole soul" to Him. This is the secret to a life of Joy!" 

Wow!! 

Not only does this seem to tie together everything President Nelson has taught us since being appointed Prophet, But I think it also clearly displays the two things that we as latter day saints must do to prepare the world for the Second coming. 

1. Deepen our own conversion and discipleship to Christ.

2. Engage in the work of Gathering Israel.

(Seems eerily similar to the two great commandments... just saying.)

I have a whole lot that I wish I could expound on with each of these things, but for the sake of your time, eyes, and my wrists, I won't.  But I urgently invite you to take the time to study and ponder and pray and ASK what each of these things looks like for YOU! 

What if we are not waiting on the Lord.  What if He is waiting on us to prepare the earth?  What if he is waiting for us to gather scattered Israel?  What if He is waiting for us to dedicate ourselves to Him? To be one with Him? So that "when he shall appear we shall be like Him." - Moroni 7: 48.  What if The Lord is waiting on us? 

Brothers and sisters!! Jesus Christ is coming, and soon! I know it. I know it because His Prophet has told us it is so.  He may not have announced it with trumpets blaring and angels singing. But I know that he spoke the truth.  Because:  "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." - Amos 3:7.  He spoke quietly, firmly, truthfully. Almost like the spirit, which we know speaks in a still, small voice.  Let's take part in quickening the work!  Have faith!  Repent!  Live as covenant children of Christ! 

Do not find yourself saying "my Lord delayeth his coming."  

"It is neither too early nor too late" Because "Now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ."

- Sister Johnson