short but sweet

Sorry guys! This'll be a short email because I spent 20.freaking.minutes uploading our christmas presentation to mom's google docs. but I think its totally worth it :) me and sister b took a few christmas songs "All I want for Christmas is You" "White Christmas" and "The Christmas song" and we did a missionary/baptism twist to it :) it was me and sister b who wrote it and put it all together! :)

 

love yall so much! Was  SO good skyping with the fam! I hope and I pray that yall took at least a few minutes in the holiday season to think about the real true reason of Christmas. The gifts, the lights, the wrappings, tinsels and trees are pale in the comparison of the gift that cant be bought or wrapped which is the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He lives and I know He loves us with an imeasurable love that we cant understand.

 

Love yall!

 

Sister VerHoef

The Gifts of the Magi

hello family and friends! SO sorry for not sending group emails the past 2 weeks. with our conferencia de natal, it was SUPER correria with writing the music and practicing it, but I recorded it so Im anxious to share it with yall on christmas day! (btw, can we send videos through skype? is it possible?)

anyways, wanted to share with yall a special message if I can in the spirit of Christmas. Sometimes, I believe in the story of the birth of Christ we forget minor yet significant details that are in Matthew and Luke. One of these being the 3 wise men. At times we overlook their long and difficult journey to the Savior with their gifts of Frankincense, gold and myrrh. But these gifts are so much more than mere and interesting presents to give to the Christ child. 

1. Gold- for mary and joseph, gold would be very practical to use in the flight to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod and protect the baby Savior. However, as well, its sympolism is royalty- and adequately would be used as a present to the "King of Kings." 

2. Incense- incense is a sweet vegetable resin that was used in priesthood ordinances (Lev. 2:1) and was used to anoint priests. Which is a perfect representation of the priesthood of Jesus Christ as "An High Priest of good things to come" Heb 9:11

3. Myrrh- myrrh is a bitter substance used for medicinal purposes and also for the act of embalming a the time of burial. The symbolism of its medical uses could be used to represent the fact that Jesus Christ is the Great Physician and also the "bitterness" to represent the "bitter cup" he drank to pay for the price of our sins.

In addition these 3 Magis traveled an arduous journey months and months to find the baby Jesus through the deserts of Egypt, Arabia and Israel with sand, dustwinds, the unsupportable heat of the day on camels with the danger of thieves. 

My question/challenge to all of you is: how many miles in the desert are you willing to go for the Savior? How far are you willing to go? What are you willing to give Him? Are you willing to give your best to Him? What would be your best?

May we always remember the meaning of Christmas and do as Pres. Monson advises: 

"May we as the Wise Men, seek a bright particular star to guide us in our celebration of the Saviors birth." 

and remember, "First and forever there was just a little family, without toys or tinsel. With a baby--thats how Christmas began."

-Elder Holland

LOVE YOU ALL! merry christmas! feliz natal!

Late Miracles

K, so cant talk super long, had about 40 emails in my inbox but I wanted to let yall know about the late miracles that happened this week.

So okay... being STLs, me and sister b, weve been feeling the pressure to baptize LOGO (which means soon haha) and its been difficult. Instead of inviting and bringing people to church weve been dragging and pleading people to come to church...

-_-

shouldnt be this way yall, but faz o que, neh? 

anyways, weve been learning how to pray specifically for things in our daily prayers and we had been praying for:

1. three men

2. who live in our area

3. who would come to church with us

4. who are looking for the true church of Christ

well we had wanted to find these 3 elect men BEFORE sunday to take them to church ON sunday so that they could be baptized THIS sunday. We ended up (actually a member ended up) bringing ONE person to church (a young man named Guilherme) which was a miracle but the other 2 dudes??? 

left church a bit disheartened and started contacting people in the street. Me and sister b found 3 guys who are interested in the church and WANT to come to church this next week.

So it wasnt this sunday they came, but me and sister b have a new hope that theyll be there this sunday :)

keep us and these three guys in your prayers this week. We're needing them to REALLY COME!!!! 

LOVE YALL!!! pics next week :) 

Missao Brasil Londrina, Nosso Lar

Hellerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr everyberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrdy! :)

Well, as yall know, I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends Sister E. I miss her SO doggon much. But Heavenly Father is, obviously, wonderful and incredible and perfect and my new companion issssss *drum roll*

SISTER B!!!!! 

She was in my district in the MTC!!! and we had mentioned how awesome it would be to be comps and shes my comp for the last 2 transfers of my mish!!!!

:) :) happiness. felicidade. ahhhhh...

anyways, this week we had a conselho dos líderes with Pres. G. and, I wanted to ask all of you to keep him in your prayers. Something happened that I cant even hint at with the mission office, and mistakes were made and now, through NO fault of his own, he is being reprimanded severely. It got so bad that it made him sick, and even IN SPITE of him barely being able to talk he gave a training DE PODER. seriously. I love my mission president. You cant find a better. Him and Sister G are, without argument, marvelous.

So please keep them, and especially Pres. G, in your prayers this week that the dust will settle and that everything will work out. Because hes under a lot of stress and I worry about him and Sister G. 

Anyways, in this conselho dos líderes, he talked a lot about many many things, but the thing that stuck with me the most was the end, which, after every meeting/conference, we sing our Hino da Missao. 

Every time we sing or Mission Hymn, I always without FAIL cry buckets. and this time was no different. However, as it got to the part that said, "Missao Brasil Londrina, nosso lar..." (Londrina Brasil Mission, our home) I felt my heart just break.

At the end of the prayer I immediately  got up with tears streaming down my face to talk to Pres. G. He stroked my hair and asked tenderly, "Why are you crying??" I asked him "President, is there a transfer in March?" He looked at his computer and brought up the list of transfers and what missionaries were going when.

Im due to go home in February. The next transfer is on March 24th.

My birthday. 

Im not saying anything, but with fasting and prayer, Im gonna see what the Lord says about going home in February or on my birthday..... 

I love you all so much. Remember that the Lord is in control and that He, at times, puts us through the refiners fire to mold and shape us until we become the beautiful tool that He will use to do His work here on the earth.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3897359657001&cid=HPTU111814487

The First of the Last...

Okay, so today Im saying goodbye to my AMAZINGLY beautiful, wonderful, fabulous, fantastic companheira... Sister Rachel E.

I just cant even begin to express, without getting chessy, my love and gratitude for this AMAZING person that presidente genaro chose as my companheira no ultima transferencia dela :) 

I just love this chick so doggon much!!! I have tons AND TONS of funny stories and great moments with her that I havent even begun to share with you guys (for falta de tempo errr lack of time?) but suffice it to say, shes the best and has become one of my best friends. 

Also, had an interview with pres. g last week that was EXACTLY what I needed as well that I wanted to share a lil bit with you all. 

First off, I entered and president g asked "Sister V, you have how much time left on the mission? 5 months?" then I said, "I leave in February, Presidente..." instantly tears filled his eyes as he asked "didnt you just get here yesterday Sister?" 

We both cried for a few minutes as I said through my tears "I dont wanna go home, Presidente. I dont wanna lose this." 

We talked for about a half an hour about all kinds of things, how happy I am here and how nervous and stressed I am about being a sister training leader and that I dont wanna let him down, worries about my family and neices and nephews and how I dont want to enfront reality when I get back to my house and also, even more than anything, 

how its all starting to end. the first of the last... the last mission tour, the last christmas conference, the last area, the lasttransfer, the last interview.... its all coming and I cant stop it. 

at the end of the intervew I asked presidente g to give me a fathers blessing (explaining that I needed one at this moment embarking on a new responsibility) and he graciously agreed.

At the end of the blessing he said with tears in his eyes again, "Did you feel what I felt during the blessing, Sister V? Love. Your Heavenly Father and your earthly father are so proud of you." 

Then I lost it and, with tears in my eyes asked, "Are you proud of me too presidente?"

He said "Com certeza."

With each transfer and each week, my heart is breaking a little more... but I know that all of the friendships and the love Ive felt here will continue on after the mission. Its just painful to watch it all go by so fast. 

love you all! miss you all! but know that Im where I need to be for now. 

the baptism that almost didn't happen

Okay, so this week, we have happy news! Me and Sister Edwards had our first baptism together! Her name is Mari and she is, as all the other missionaries in brazil would say, "DE PODER!" or powerful. Well, it was a bit of a struggle with her until the day of the baptism yesterday because of her work schedule (she works from 4 in the afternoon till 6 in the morning....) She was a reference from a recent convert couple, Alisandra and Alfredo. They are AMAZING! so strong in the gospel and they are planning on going to the temple in february to be sealed! :) so excited for them!

anyway, they helped Mari out SO much because me and sister e had to travel to apucarana this week to help the sisters there (another part of my job being a sister training leader) so they accompanied Mari with all her doubts and obstacles that she was working through. 

It seriously was one of the best most special baptisms on my mission. 

and it almost didnt happen. 

Satan is really cruel and is getting more and more smarter in trying to prevent these sacred experiences and covenants from happening. So first off, Mari's bf (whos a tool pardon my french) spent the entire night provoking and tempting Mari with alcohol and other things but she remained firm and cussed him out and said shed baptize with or without his approval (you go girl!) so then comes the day of the baptism, and Alfredo and Mari were all ready to do the baptism (which would be the FIRST baptism of Alfredo being ordained an Elder:) super cute!) and WHAT do we find on the first step of the baptismal font with its stinger sky high?

A black scorpian.

Yeah. I nearly had a heartattack. And it was on the EXACT spot that Alfredo wouldve stepped in entering the baptismal font. Thank GOODNESS for sister nascimento (our roommate) for finding it and disposing of it. But that would have DEFINITELY messed up with the baptism of Mari. 

Im so grateful for this gospel and that nothing NOT EVEN SATAN IN THE FORM OF A SCORPIAN can stop the work from progressing. persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble,calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, andindependent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime,swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of Godshall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

love you all! have a wonderful week!!

xoxo

sister v

My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee

So this week was super difficult and very entertaining at the same time. 

All of our baptisms fell through (3 of them that had accepted their baptismal date for this sunday) and for those who maybe dont know why that is such a depressent for us as missionaries, imagine this for just a moment: 

You have bought a present for someone you care about dearly. Youve saved and saved to buy exactly what they want. You even asked the shopkeeper to put it on hold for you. You buy this present and wrap it in the most beautiful, expensive paper and decorate it perfectly to give to this person. Christmas comes and you hand your present that you slaved away and saved for weeks with the hopes that their eyes would light up and you would hear the words pour from their lips "this is exactly what I wanted! Thank you."

But instead, they hand your precious, perfect gift back to you with a "I dont want it. This isnt what I need."

Well, if youre still with me, and imagining the crushing feeling of disappointment and hurt that would swell through your heart at a present at Christmas imagine a gift from God that every missionary is willing and eagerly waiting to give to EVERYONE absolutely without price. Something dear and precious that cannot be measured. And the person who says they wanted it at the beginning has told you they dont want it anymore or its not what they expected.

This is what we felt 3 times this week. But as I was pondering on my email to write to you all this week, I thought of a song that has been a favorite of mine the past few weeks that Id like to share with yall. Its called My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee:

For a little while

Have I forsaken thee; 

But with great mercies will I gather thee. 

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee 

For a moment. 

But with everlasting kindness will I gather thee, 

And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings, 

For the mountains shall depart, 

And the hills shall be removed, 

And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea, 

But know, my child, 

My kindness shall not depart from thee! 

Though thine afflictions seem 

At times too great to bear, 

I know thine every thought and every care. 

And though the very jaws 

Of hell gape after thee I am with thee. 

And with everlasting mercy will I succor thee,
And with healing will I take thee ‘neath my wings.
Though the mountains shall depart,
And the hills shall be removed,
And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,
Know, my child,
My kindness shall not depart from thee!
How long can rolling waters
Remain impure?
What pow'r shall stay the hand of God?
The Son of Man hath descended below all things.
Art thou greater than He?
So hold on thy way,
For I shall be with thee.
And mine angels shall encircle thee.
Doubt not what thou knowest,
Fear not man, for he
Cannot hurt thee.
And with everlasting kindness will I succor thee,
And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings.
For the mountains shall depart,
And the hills shall be removed,
And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,
But know, my child, My kindness shall not depart from thee!

I encourage all of you to listen to this song (the version by Dallyn Vail Bayles) and remember that the Savior loves and cares for all of you. He has not forsaken you. His kindness shall not depart from thee. I know this gospel is true, I know that the Savior lives. I know that we are under His watchful care. 

love yall!

xo

God Answers Prayers

hey yall!!! 

Okay, so before the freak outs, YES I did dye my hair and YES it is blonde. I wanted a change and I just get easily bored so I did dye my hair. It didnt turn out how I wanted but Im content with it for now. :) 

So, I wanted to share with yall an experience, actually a challenge that our mission prez wanted us to try. to pray very SPECIFICALLY when we pray. So we decided to try it! (me and sis e) we prayed that we'd find someone whod

1. go to church by himself

2. lived all the commandments

3. lived in our area of proselyting

well, get to church a little weatherbeaten because NONE of the 25 people who said theyd come came and what do we find to our surprise and delight? A young man, by himself in priesthood meeting who

1. went to church by himself

2. kept all the commandments (well the word of wisdom and law of chastity at least)

3. lives in OUR area

*jaw drop* the entire day I just said a prayer of gratitude. Only thing we wanted we got! Heavenly father really does answer prayers, but its easier for Him to answer our prayers when we pray specifically. so try it this week! Pray for a miracle, a specificthing, something that youve been needing and get as specific as you can so that Heavenly Father will be able to bless you faster! 

Love yall so much!!

miss yall so much! <3

com amor

Sister V

Glorious

So this week was glorious, to say the least. 

Nothing extraordinary happened, actually. But this week was a week full of tiny miracles, and great laughs. This email isnt gonna be super long or detailed, mostly because there wasnt much to recount this week. But I just feel like I need to say a few things.

I know that this church is true. I know that this gospel is real. I know that God lives. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know who I am, I am a daughter of God. I know that God has a plan for me, and for each and every one of us. I know that there is no substitute for eternal happiness other than the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that because we are sons and daughters of God, we all have divine potential and an eternal identity that cannot be erased or diminished. I know that families can be together forever and I know that we are more in the eyes of God than in the eyes of men. 

I know that we are glorious. 

i felt impressed to invite all of you to assist the trailer/music video of the new movie Meet the Mormons. and if you have not done so, pray and ask God if these things are true. If there is a living and true prophet on the earth today, and if his name is Thomas S. Monson. Pray if the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Then when you have recieved an answer, do something about it. Be a better person than you were yesterday. Go to church this sunday. not NEXT sunday, but this sunday. Everything that is worth it, requires sacrifice. Eternal happiness is worth the price. 

http://meetthemormons.com/#/filter-all/page-1 

http://meetthemormons.com/post/98919605769/david-archuleta-glorious-music-video

God Doesn't Call the Qualified

He qualifies the called.

Weeeellll so this was my first week as a sister training leader, and for those who dont know what that means, is that me and my companion Sister E (who Sister S trained! remember sister s??) are responisble for 12 companionships in Londrina!!! Yeah thats right! We do splits with the sisters if theyre having problems like fights or if theyre not having sucess in their area, things like that. So far we havent done a split yet, but were planning on going to Apucarana here in a lil bit to do splits with Sister M!! My other comp who I love from Antares! :) This next week we'll be having a zone conference so I'll be sure to take lots of pics when that happens :)

So yeah, this week was kind of a mixed bag in a sense... Sister J and Sister S went home! Two of my favorite, greatest companions. We took a few pics of them at the rodoviaria before their flight left... I seriously couldnt believe it! Sister S was my hero from the very beginning of my mission, and I cant picture my mission without her in it but I got an email from her today and she seems to be doing well! I miss her like the dickens but the UPSIDE is Im comps with Sister E who was comps with Sister S! Shes AMAZING as well :) Shes from Oregon and this is her last transfer. All the good ones are going home this year!! Its not fair!!! 

:( *grumpy face* but Im gonna make the best of it. After this transfer I just have 2 left.... and I just cant believe that my mission is coming to an end.... still seems like its never gonna end but Im happy where Im at! I love yall so much and I'll write more next week :)

Just another thing I was thinking about.. this past conference Ive been impressed with the talks that were given on Sunday. Basically everytalk was about supporting and listening to the prophet. So, a word of warning:

I have been thinking that here in a bit, the near future, Pres. Monson will come out with a revelation or a great change that will test the faith of the Saints. Ive been feeling like this for a while, that hes been preparing us for great changes and hard challenges that will come. Somethings gonna happen that will rattle the faith of many. So my counsel to all of you is to get on your knees today or this week and ask Heavenly Father for a confirmation that the church is true and that Pres. Monson is a prophet of God. Get it. Because I have a feeling that here shortly, we're all going to be put to the test. 

Love you all!

Seriously President????

Okay, so first off, before I get to the 2 hitter news today, conference was wonderful :) first time in my mission actually that I watched it in portuguese because there wasnt an american sister in my zone. It was different being the only person singing all the hymns in english :) 

Anyways, I'll share some of the quotes I wrote down next week because heres the bit of news I have for yall today:

1.) Ive been transfered AGAIN after 1 transfer in Bauru and Im going to Londrina... AGAIN haha to the area of Ouro Branco A (which was opened for sisters recently)

2.) President G called me last night and said that Ive been called as a Sister Training Leader.

"O que?!??! Mentira!!! Sério presidente???" Yeah, I basically flipped out. I'll be taking care of the sisters in paraná... and Im SUPER nervous about it. Ive heard that the sister training leaders that are leaving the mission actually call the sister training leader to replace her, and Sister S is leaving tomorrow.... 

I couldnt believe it and I still cant believe it. Its a huge responsibility and I really hope I wont dissapoint President G or the Lord for that matter. Please PLEASE pray for me! 

I'll write more next week. Heres the last pic I took of me and my zone in Bauru (Im the one with the crazy eyes behind the table with elder b)

LOVE YOU ALL! miss you all! 

Why I'm Here

So this weekend was definitely the most special in my entire mission.

Sunday we baptized V, the woman in the wheelchair. Our Zone Leaders Elder F and Elder B came along with our District Leader Elder B and his comp Elder T to help us out. A sister in the ward offered for V to use her temple dress in order to be baptized since V has to use a catheter, and using the jumpsuit just wasnt gonna work. 

V cant walk or even stand, shes completely paralyctic from her waist down, so the only way we could baptize her would have been in the wheelchair or 4 Elders carrying her in their arms.

Basically the entire ward was there, and an Irmao F of the bishopric offered to say the baptismal prayer. Our 4 elders carried V carefully into the font and held her in their arms as Irmao F said the prayer. They all kneeled and submerged her in the water and when she came up again she had the most brilliant glow I have ever seen a person have after their baptism. She took it like a total champ! Smiling and laughing and saying "Im pretty sure every woman who wants to be baptized will ask to be baptized by 4 elders in their arms!" Ohh how right she is :) 

It was one of the most special, most spiritual, most beautiful experiences of my life. Last week during the mission tour, Elder S (of the seventy) told us to write in our emails this week to our families why we're serving a mission. Exactly why we're here. Why we left our homes, our families, our work, our bf/gfs, even our countries to come here for a year and a half with basically nothing we're living on but the generosity of other people, speaking a strange language and walking in the sun from 10 AM to 9 PM. 

Well, my dear family, mom, Annike, Bryan, Jacey, BJ, Vickie, Annike, Patrick, Hailey, Nathan, Connor, Cole, Hannah & Jacob (and Kylie:) and to all my dear friends and other loved ones.... 

This is why Im here. As me and Sister H sang Lead Kindly Light in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and saw the tears streaming down this amazingly courageous womans face, the sweetest spirit entered the room as those wonderful and pure young Elders carried her into the waters of baptism, I knew. I knew exactly why I am here.

The only regret, remorse and that I have is that you all werent there to partake and share of that most spiritual, sacred moment that we participated in. But I hope and pray that at the very least these pictures will show at least some part of what we exerienced yesterday.

I love you all so much! Miss you, but know that if you ever have doubts as to why Im here doing what Im doing, just look at these pictures and remember the faith and courage of an incredible woman.

Opposition in All Things

So, to start off with, this week was a bit difficult, but ended on a wonderful note. 

To put everyones mind at ease Im doing better :) I got a fever on wednesday and a sweet irma from church took me to UPA which is a pronto de soccorrer (I forgot how to say this in english but its basically a free health clinic 24/7) Got checked out by the doctor and took a blood test and found out that I had an allergic reation that turned into a bacterial infection. The doctor said it was prolly due to a mosquito bite that I scratched and the infection entered into my leg and PRONTO. (and yall wonder why I dont do camping?!?!?! well it sure as heckfire gonna be a lot harder to put me in nature after THIS week... I HATE NATURE! haha) Got put on 4 different types of medication (1 being antibiotics) with a counsel to take 3 days resting. -_-

Did that and got kind of better, one of my legs is healing nicely (or ugily however you wanna look at it) and my foot and other leg is finally getting better as well. It got to the point where this allergic reation/bacterial infection was spreading from one leg to the other... 

BUT! i´m fine now. I promise :) sister g has been taking splendid care of me, but I was quite obsinante an unwilling to call her about it because I know that there are at the very least 3 missionaries giving her a whole heap of problems. But she assured me that I needed to speak up and that my case was different. 

UGHHHHH!!! I have never had problems with my health before on my mission! NEVER! But there is a reason for it. 

Remember V? The woman in the wheelchair that came to church 2 weeks ago? We taught her last night with her daughter and her sister and had probably the most spiritual experience of my mission. showed her these two videos below and asked her if she believed everything we were telling her was true. she said she did and shared with us that she had a dream this past week (the week I got sick). I wont go into detail about the dream because it was quite personal, but lets just say it was someone from the other side of the veil telling her that the church is true. 

Opposition in all things gents :) I have perfect knowledge, a CLEAR testimony that the adversary will use whatever means to impede and prevent the progress of one of Gods children when they have been introduced to the gospel. I know for a FACT that my sickness was just something that he used in order to try to get us to give up and stop seeing V. 

Well THATS not gonna happen. We invited her to be baptized and she has a strong desire but the problem is her health. To be baptized would cause a health risk to both her and the Elder who will baptize her. Which is why Im asking for all of you to pray fervently for Vanessa that she may be able to be baptized this week or here soon. Because I know how blessed she will be once she enters into the waters of baptism.

Im doing well! Just worried about V and praying and fasting that she may be baptized juntos with her daughter G. SO please please PLEASE pray for them, pray that the Lord will open a way for them to be baptized without any risk to her health and the health of Elder B.

Love yall so much!

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-02-1600-im-a-mormon-sensei-and-one-legged-runner?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#mountains-to-climb

Temple-Prison experience

So this week was very difficult for me physically.  I caught something, some kind of allergic reaction that started on my leg and is now spreading to other parts of my body. It hurts & itches at the same time. Im fine, already called the mission doctor &everything. I'm gonna have to call Sis. G again because its not getting any better, but Im fine! haha promise! Just keep my in your prayers :) especifically in regarding my body freaking out. Ive had itup to here with it! Its been more than a week and I havent been sleeping at all because of it. anywho, it'll all be good. I know Heavenly Father is trying to teach me something. Just taking a while for me to learn it haha 

Yesterday a wonderful woman came to church named V. Shes parallectic... err paralycitc... oh wow I cant remember the word in English! crap! My transition back to normal post-mission life is gonna be even harder with this whole language thing! Anyway, shes in a wheelchair because of an accident she was in. When we first me here 3 weeks ago she was very bitter, angry and resentful of her situation, and now shes a completely different person. Its amazing Ian, how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes peoples lives. Until your very core. 

So this week I definitely felt closer to the Savior. I also felt like my heart became even more sensitive to the suffering and needs of others. 

Which reminded me of this talk from elder holland 

Even though seemingly unjust circumstances may be heaped upon us, andeven though unkind and unmerited things may be done to us—perhaps bythose we consider enemies but also, in some cases, by those whom wethought were friends—nevertheless, through it all, God is with us.

We are not alone in our little prisons here. When suffering, we may in factbe nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. That knowledgecan turn every such situation into a would-be temple.

Regarding our earthly journey, the Lord has promised, “I will go beforeyour face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shallbe in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C84:88). That is an everlasting declaration of God’s love and care for us,including—and perhaps especially—in times of trouble.

lovey all!!!