True Conversion

Querida Familia,

We have zone conference this week! The APs asked me to sing a solo at zone conference on Wednesday about Christ's life. Why they would ask me to sing a solo, I have no idea. Little do they know that they are going to get a very shaky rendition of Never a Better Hero. President also asked us to write a talk about the talk The Challenge to Become that Elder Oaks gave in general conference in 2000. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/the-challenge-to-become?lang=eng It's been really nice getting to read the talk each morning and thinking about what true conversion is. It's interesting that the Savior commands us to become as little children in order to inherit the kingdom of God. We're always trying so hard to grow up and know more and become completely independent, but we are commanded to become more humble, patient, loving and charitable, more obedient and more submissive to the will of God. I'm pretty sure that you've all watched The Ultimate Gift because it's one of Dad's top favorite movies, which means he has shared it with us. :) Elder Oaks talks about a parable in his talk that reminded me of that movie. Our Father in Heaven wants to give us absolutely everything (our inheritance) and He could, but it would do us no good if we just waste it. We have to learn to become responsible, grateful, dependent on Him in order to take advantage of all the blessings He has in store for us. We need to have our hearts changed and be truly converted. I have been thinking a lot about how we were born into this world to receive physical bodies in order to grow and experience different things in life. We are commanded to be born again, which starts with baptism--being born of the spirit. Only then can we  become new creatures in Christ and progress spiritually--essentially being born again. I love the scripture that Elder Oaks includes in the talk about being baptized and then "walking in the newness of life."

Our ward was split yesterday. The remaining Del Norte ward was drastically reduced with the new Rio Tierra ward in the other stake taking most of the members and a lot of the leadership. We have the same bishop, but his counselors and Relief Society president are going into the new ward. One of my good friends in the ward is the new Relief Society president--Amanda! So we are going to be working with her a lot to get things organized in the Relief Society--only a handful of women raised their hands yesterday to indicate that they lived in the Del Norte boundaries. We have a lot of work to do! The Ro Family is going to be in the other stake. :( But I have challenged one of the members who lives in their new neighborhood to love them and watch out for them.

One of our investigators has cancer and started chemotherapy on Friday. It makes her really sad knowing that she is going to lose her hair soon and she is depressed and losing hope. We made her brownies and stop by more frequently para darle animo... to encourage her and lift her spirits. Her daughter told us on Saturday that she wants to be baptized, which was great news! We think she is still nervous and feels like she isn't in the right frame of mind to make a commitment, but this is going to help her.

We are still set on baptizing Rebecca September 1! She bought the plane ticket for her daughter to come in from Idaho. With the change of wards, we lost our Spanish-speaking area but gained a lot more Spanish speakers, so we're excited to start working in that area and finding those who have been prepared to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I love this gospel. I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been truly converted and will continue to serve my Heavenly Father for the rest of my life. I know that we teach teach every single day is true. There is hope in this life. There is peace. There is personal revelations and blessings that come from keeping the commandments of God and making sacred promises with him. I know that he has a plan for us and that families can be together forever. I know that there is a living prophet on the earth today that teaches us what our Heavenly Father wants us to know. I know that the church of Jesus Christ was restored by the prophet Joseph Smith--that through a simple, earnest, sincere prayer at the age of 14 he received a witness from the Father and the Son. Because of his integrity and courage, we have the Church in our lives--the gospel in its fullness, beauty, and simplicity. I love my Savior Jesus Christ.

Love,

kates