Revelation about Revelation

Hello Family and Friends! 

So I hear that is isn't cooling down yet for you back home? I'm sort of sorry but also not so sorry. You know how you always want what you don't have? Well summer-time in Salt Lake City is officially gone and it's beginning to get very cold. This morning we had the early Beehive shift so we were able to sit in the Prophet's very old and very cold house for a few hours. I love Brother Brigham and his home but I am grateful more for modern-day heating systems :)

​Us in the Beehive :D

Well today has already been a glorious day! This morning we were blessed with the privilege to be with and hear from Elder Holland. It was wonderful! It still being the "Keystone Transfer" with our focus on the Book of Mormon, Elder Holland was able to teach us today about the Book of Mormon and how it truly is the Keystone of our religion. I love the Book of Mormon and  I'm learning more and more about it each day over the course of my mission and I know that that will continue over the course of my life. Being able to hear Elder Holland's testimony of the Book of Mormon was a testimony builder - it opened my eyes to more ways of how the Book of Mormon is that foundation to everything that we believe in. Really it comes down to the fact that everything within the Book of Mormon and even revolving around the Book of Mormon is about revelation. "The Book of Mormon is revelation about revelation!" That's why it's the Keystone because it testifies to us that God still speaks to Prophets. Together we read 1 Nephi 1 and we talked about the story of Lehi that is within those first 20 versus. If you look closely you'll see that the story of Lehi and the story of Joseph Smith are pretty much the same. And if you compare the stories of the Old Testament Prophets you'll also see that they are the same as Joseph Smith - it's because God is the same. He will always speak to His children individually and through His chosen Prophet. How wonderful it is that we live at this time. It just makes me so happy! :) 

The other days this week we did a lot of work! "Work, work, work - there is no satisfactory substitute especially in missionary work!" We were able to finish exchanges with the District Leaders this week, I was able to serve a day with Sister Burke from Australia and Sister Lai from Australia/Hong Kong. Both are amazing sisters and we were able to see some cool miracles together. Sister Juntilla also were able to have some wonderful experiences on the days that we were able to be together. We were able to take one tour in particular that touched the both of us. It was the Flagpole (I'll admit not many people take this tour because it is the same time as the organ recital and everyone wants to hear the organ). Two members of the church joined our tour and we were happy to take them around. One was a returned missionary from Sweden a few years back and the other a recent convert who joined the church in Sweden. As we went around the square we were able to learn of their story and it was quite unique and very heart-warming for us Visitor Center missionaries. Turned out that the RM met the RC in Sweden 4 years prior to his decision to join the church. He was the first missionary to give him a copy of the Book of Mormon. Even though he accepted the Book of Mormon, he wasn't ready to actually start investigating the church. So this RC stored the Book of Mormon safely on his self where it stayed for a good 2-3 years. Occasionally he would pick it up and read parts of it but nothing every stuck. Then one day he picks it up again and decides he needs to learn more about Joseph Smith - so he does which leads him to be in touch with the missionaries again and this time he is ready to start actually investigating the church. This time around he is able to gain a truthfulness of the Book of Mormon which soon leads to his decision to be baptized. After his baptism he remembers this Elder who gave him the Book of Mormon and he decides to go through all of this work to track him down! Took him awhile - he made a lot of different phone calls to some different missionaries and even the mission office - but he found him! And this week they both came to Temple Square to share that story with us. How sweet is the work of the Lord. 

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Last Preparation Day we had our Zone Activity! It turned our wonderful! We had a Family Home Evening at the park. Sister Juntilla and I planned a little program, we had dinner, a spiritual thought, and then some games. The overall focus of the night was on a scripture found in the book of Matthew:

Matthew 4:19-20
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

So each of our games we were able to bridge to something that we need to leave behind as missionaries. 

​This is us playing Missionary Tag! The entire evening turned out to be great! At the end we did a closing activity that helped the sisters realize that as daughter of God we aren't actually that different. The spirit was strong and at the end we were able to have a short testimony meeting so we could all shared what we learned. As children of God each of us has such great potential - no matter our where in the world we come from or what our story is. It's great to be able to serve with such valiant missionaries. 

I love you all and I truly know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by the Lord and if we are a part of it - and if we are living it - we will be guided safely, and together back to our Heavenly Home. 

XOXOXOX

Sister Fluckiger