Marriage is Ordained of God

Hey Everyone!

SO I just wanted to jot down a few thoughts that have been on my mind lately about one subject in particular.... MARRIAGE. I know, classic RM.

With a lot of changes happening in the world with regards to marriage and the who, what, when, where, and why of it, I wanted to share my beliefs.

I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I believe that God established it to be that way from the beginning and we have zero authority to question or change that. Men and women were made to complement (is that the correct version of complement? I've been out of school too long) each other. One is not greater or better than the other. We are supposed to work together, to use our unique skills, abilities and traits to move the Lord's work forward, one of those ways being through child-rearing.

Just for the record, I am very proud to be a woman. I'm okay with the fact that dudes can beat me in an arm wrestle. Its fine with me if the guy wants to open the door. I like being soft and cuddly and sweet-smelling and soft-spoken and gentle. Because all of those things are going to make me a good mommy. God made me that way so that I can learn and develop the attributes of Christ and fulfill whatever it is that God needs me to do here on earth.

Just as important to me as the who and what of marriage is the where. God established marriage to last much longer than just "till death do you part". In fact, it's supposed to last for eternity! That's a pretty long time. So choose your spouse wisely... :) The place where those marriage bonds are made eternal is in God's Holy Temples. Getting married in the temple is top priority for me. And if that is my goal, then I need to live everyday keeping that in mind. Every decision I make is either moving me closer to or farther away from that goal.

Sidenote: The adversary is going to try and get us through distraction. He may not always be able to get us through the big no-no sins. But if he can get us to take our eyes off of our goal, its a victory for him. As a missionary, we were taught to filter every decision through Our Purpose. As missionaries our purpose was to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Before we did anything we had to make sure that whatever it was was going to help us to fulfill our purpose. In life, we could say our purpose is to live in such a way that we can return to live in the presence of God and Jesus Christ. We should filter everything we do through this purpose... Does this TV show help me to be worthy to live with God again?... I know this might seem a bit extreme, and it definitely isn't easy. But life is short, and we need to be using this time wisely. That was a long sidenote... sorry.

ANYWHO! Marriage between and man and woman in the House of God. It's important. I may not fully understand the WHY of marriage, but I do know that it is important. And I know that there is strength and blessings that will come when we make this a priority.

BUT, and this is a big but, while we must stand firm and stand up for our beliefs, we CANNOT judge and belittle others because they believe differently. We must be kind. We must be loving. We must do and say things like Christ would. Because despite differing opinions and beliefs everyone is our brother and sister and God loves them a whole heck of a lot. SO SHOULD WE!

I know God loves us. I know His plan is perfect. And we need to trust Him.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Ye Shall Bear Record of Me

Hey Everyone! It's Kait!

So I have decided that I'm going to continue this blog. Not sure how long, probably just until I get sick of it. I'm pretty much doing it for my own sanity's sake, I have to get my crazy thoughts out somewhere. I apologize ahead of time...

I'm home now! It feels like my mission was just a dream. Life is getting back to normal, I will hopefully start work this coming week. This week has been full of reflection and attempting to make decisions. Its hard being a grown-up. I'm half-tempted to go out on a search for neverland! (anyone want to join me?) I am so grateful for the foundation for life that my mission gave me. I have learned how to set goals, and how to work hard to reach them. I've learned what is really important in life. I learned how much my Father in Heaven loves me and each and every one of His children. And because of that fact, the most important thing we can do is to share the gospel.

I got this little daily verse app on my ipod and today the scripture is found in Revelation 14:6-

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."

It got me thinking... you know, Tuesday I took off my nametag and I was released from my call as a full-time missionary, but other than that, nothing changed about me. My testimony is still there. My love of the Gospel. I am still a representative of Jesus Christ. We all made that promise when we were baptized, and we are reminded of it every time we partake of the sacrament. And there are still so many people who need this gospel. And we are the people that need to share it with them!!

Now, I am in the same boat as y'all now. I'm on the member side of missionary work, but how exciting is that?! We have the most important job. We are the finders. Those poor missionaries are far away from home, in a strange land, where they know nobody! They don't stand a chance. But here we are, most of us have lived here our whole lives. We know this place, we know these people. And most importantly, we love these people.

So this is going to be an adventure for all of us. We are going to figure out, one step at a time, how to be member missionaries! How to share the gospel.

Even those of you who may not have a testimony right now, or maybe it's a little shaky, you will find the answers you are looking for by reaching out and helping others to find their answers. I know that to be true, because I have experienced it!

So this week my goal and challenge for myself is to get in touch with my friends that I know are struggling. I am going to reach out to them in love and help them in any way I can. And maybe it would be fun for you to do the same, and let me know how it goes!

The biggest reason we don't share the gospel, in my opinion, is fear. Here's a scripture that helped me to overcome my fear on my mission, maybe it will help you too!

Doctrine and Covenants 68:6- Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

One more:

Doctrine and Covenants 35:13-14- I call upon the weak things of the world... to thrash the nations by the power of my Spirit... and their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and they shall fight manfully for me...

I know that sharing the gospel in love in the most important thing we can be doing. And that includes sharing in our families and our church callings. But that is not enough. We must reach outside of our comfort zone and invite all of our brothers and sisters to taste the joy we are filled with. It is our sacred privilege and responsibility. And I know we are blessed for it!

Have a wonderful week! And look for those that you can reach out and lift higher this week:)

Kait

Moving Mountains

Hey Family!!

Time is flying by, way too quickly!! Everyone here starts school today, its crazy that summer is over already! I feel like it just started! As far as the weather goes though it FEELS like it just started. Its been hotter 'n Hades here! You walk outside and you basically just melt. It's funny, every time we knock on someone's door their first comment is "wow, you girls are really sweaty!". What? Is that what this strange liquid is that is literally drenching every inch of my body? Thank you for letting me know! :) Sometimes they don't even say anything, they just go grab a handful of paper towels for us.

Yesterday, we were tracting and we knocked on this cute little house and this cute little mom answered and we offered a prayer and she let us come right in! She has a new little baby. And her husband even paused his video game so that we could all pray. They are looking for a church! And said we could come back next weekend to share more with them... Then as we were walking back past their house to head home we saw a cop out front looking for them.... I don't think they are going to be able to make it to our appointment on Saturday... :p

I don't really know why they were looking for them, but hopefully is was just because they lost their dog or something. Would a cop show up for that?... For sanity's sake, let's just pretend he would!

This week we also had zone conference! It was amazing! I learned so much. President shared a story about a man who God came to and gave him a task. The task was to push as hard as he could against this very large boulder near his home. He was to do this all day, every day. So this faithful man did! He went out every day and pushed and pushed as hard as he could. At the end of the day he would come home absolutely exhausted. He was hot, tired, sweaty, and his muscles were fatigued. But he would get up the next morning and do it all over again.

Then the adversary came a long and pointed out the fact that this man was pushing as hard as he could every day and wearing himself out, but the boulder hadn't even budged. He convinced this man that he was a failure, and that he was just wasting him time even trying.

Utterly discouraged, this man went back to God and asked him why he had given him such and impossible task. He admitted that he felt like a failure and didn't want to do it anymore. But God responded and told him that his task was never to move the rock, his task was only to push against it with all his strength, everyday! He pointed out to him how strong this man had gotten, how healthy and fit he was from pushing every day, how much change had taken place in his life.

Sometimes our task is a lot like this man's. We simply have to push with all our strength. Sometimes we expect the rock to move and we feel like failures or we get discouraged and give up. But if we just keep going, we will be able to look back and see how much we have grown. We come to understand that God's intention was never to move that rock, the rock doesn't matter, but we do!! His intention was to help us grow, to strengthen us, to make us into more than we ever imagined we could be.

In those moments where we feel discouraged because the rock isn't moving, we have to remember that if we have the faith of a mustard seed, mountains WILL move. But it is God that moves those mountains, not us.

I am so grateful for my mission. Sometimes I feel like I'm just pushing pointlessly. We knock hundreds of doors and no one is interested. We teach people who seem so ready, then out of nowhere they stop meeting with us. We do everything we can to be obedient and do what is asked of us, yet nothing happens.

But looking back I can see that something was happening, in me. I was being strengthened, and molded, and changed. Because I am important to my heavenly father, he loves me and he knows what is best for me. I remember days when I would put on my sunglasses to hide the tears and I would pray, sometimes out loud, and ask Heavenly Father why these sad things were happening, why we weren't seeing success. His only answer was to just hang in there, keep going, keep pedaling, keep pushing on that rock. And now I understand.

Yesterday in church, during the sacrament, I was pondering on the words "take His name upon them." And how when we are baptized we promise to take upon ourselves Christ's name. I was taken back to a distant memory back in the MTC where I learned what that sentence means. I was in the MTC and listening to the sacrament prayer and I looked down and I saw my nametag. I saw my name, Sister Rowland, right above the name Jesus Christ. I had literally taken His name upon me. I had promised to represent Him in a very real way for a year and a half. To love like He loves. To serve like He serves. To preach His gospel.

I'm so grateful for a little black nametag that changed my life forever.

See you soon!
Love always, Sister Rowland

Charity Endureth Forever

Hey Family!!

How is everybody?!

Things here are wonderful:) We have been knocking lot's of doors, its fun. We are teaching some really cool people though! So last Sunday, we had this guy show up at church. He had taken the lessons about a year ago, and wants to take them again and be baptized. So we went and had a lesson with him. He is living in a home with some less-active members and there is another boy living with them too who also wants to be baptized! They are such a great family, and we have so much fun in the lessons. I'm grateful to be here to be able to teach them.

Yesterday at church, another guy just randomly showed up wanting to take the lessons. And we will be seeing him this week! So we decided that rather than walk the hot streets and knock door after door, we are just going to chill in the air conditioned church and let people come to us ;) Just kidding. That would be nice though!

Its been raining a lot here! On Saturday we were tracting and it started to rain and thunder really badly. There was nowhere to take cover except on the front porch of the door we had just knocked. Nobody was home, and the lightning was close and there was a lot of it! So we just sat on their bench to wait out the storm... then they came home! Talk about awkward... But they were very kind, told us to make ourselves comfortable and even offered us some water. I'm so grateful for kind people!

So I was reading a talk this morning by Elder Holland. He gave it a while back in the Brazil MTC I believe. And its called The Miracle of a Mission. It's so good! I read it once before right at the beginning of my mission, and it was fun to see how my perspective has changed.

He shares some experiences that President Hinckley had on his mission. He shares how he struggled so much at the beginning and just wanted to go home. But one day, after receiving a letter from his father instructing him to "forget himself, and go to work!" Everything changed. Everything changed because HE changed. He changed his mind, changed his perspective, changed his attitude.

So I was reflecting on my mission. I can relate to President Hinckley. At the beginning of my mission, I struggled. I wanted to go home. When I didn't want to go home, I was just suffering through. I was so miserable, guys! And it was my own fault. But one day... and that day really wasn't too long ago, I finally got it. I understood that I was miserable because I was withholding my will. I was holding on too tightly to what I wanted. And I know that since that day where I finally just let go, and got to work, I have been so happy. Happier than I have been in my entire life. I have changed so much! And I've changed for the better.

Also, random thing that I learned at church yesterday! So the lesson in Sunday School was about charity. Charity is the pure love of Christ, because Christ loved everyone perfectly. And we are supposed to strive to do the same. But the teacher brought something up that gave me a very unique perspective (sidenote: the teacher is a recent convert, he hasn't even been a member for a full year, but he is incredible!) He said that when Christ suffered for everyone in the Garden of Gethsemane, he felt everyone's pain and sorrow. And in that moment he learned exactly what everyone has been through in their life, giving him the unique opportunity to be able to see things through each person's perspective. Everyone has had different experiences, and our experiences largely determine how we view the world. Different views are often what makes it difficult for us to get along with or love another person. But because Christ knows everyone's perspective perfectly, He is able to love them perfectly. So if we want to increase our charity, we have to learn to see things the way others see them.

I have an example of this. So I had this companion that I was really struggling to get a long with. We seemed so different and I didn't think that we would every really be able to click. She did things way differently than I would have and that created some conflict. One day, I brought this up to her (probably not in the nicest way), but when I did she opened up and shared with me some experiences from her past. And as she was sharing these things, I prayed in my heart that Heavenly Father would help me understand her and He did. And the love I felt for her from that moment on was indescribable. She became one of my closest companions and one of my best friends! (As I shared this story, I realized that the same story applies to most of my companions...)

If we want to be like Christ, we have to learn how to do that, how to put ourselves in others shoes. That's what He did. He put Himself in our shoes in a very real and incomprehensible way. I know that is true. And knowing that brings me so much peace. He loves us, God loves us, and in return we need to learn to love ourselves and others unconditionally.

I LOVE YOU ALL!
Sister Rowland

Coming Forth as Gold

Sister Vanderhoff and Sister Rowland 

Hey Family,

So, I know I have shared this before but one scripture that has come to have great meaning to me over the course of my mission and especially this past week is Job 23:10

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

I know that trials and troubles and hard things are simply refining us and making us all we can be.

This week has been crazy. On Saturday, we got a call from our mission president informing my companion and I that we were being transferred unexpectedly. He gave us three hours to pack all of our stuff, clean our apartment and give all of our investigators to the other sisters serving in the ward. Suffice it to say, Sister Day and I were upset. We had been seeing so many miracles! We had ten investigators on date for baptism for the month of August! That is insane! And we weren't given any time to say goodbye to anyone. We were picked up by some other missionaries and taken to our new areas.

My new area has no baptism dates set, and no real solid investigators. The ward is struggling. The work is slow. I was angry and frustrated with my mission president and with Heavenly Father! It seemed so unfair!

But Saturday night, after I got settled in my new area. My companion and I went and met with the Bishop to talk about the needs of the ward, and how we could help him. This bishop has only been a bishop for two months. But he has an incredible vision for this ward. He is currently reorganizing EVERYTHING. As we were talking to the bishop about the needs of the ward and his vision I felt the spirit so strong. The spirit confirmed to me that this transfer was not a mistake, but a merciful act of God. I felt that I needed to be here because I can help this ward. I also felt that I needed to be here because this area and ward can help me to become all that my Father in Heaven expects of me.

Amid all the crises on Saturday, my companion and I asked the elders for a blessing. I don't remember anything that was said in that blessing except that Heavenly Father knows my potential. He sees who I can become. And He is doing all in His power to help me to get there. He knows that someday I can be GOLD! This is all part of the refining process. I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to push me, stretch me, and maybe even hurt me a little so that I can experience a fullness of joy.

So, I am going to see how much lemonade I can make of these lemons these final few weeks. Honestly, this is probably the easiest way to finish a mission. Whenever you get to a new area, you are always on fire. You have another chance to make a good first impression. New places, new ideas. Its easy to be bold, work hard and focus for the first few weeks in a new area. And now my first few weeks are also my last few weeks. I think this will work out nicely:) My new companion is wonderful and beautiful and sweet and I'm really excited to see what miracles will happen here.

So just remember, sometimes what seems to be the biggest injustice is really the largest blessing in disguise. Don't be too quick to judge!

God's plan is perfect! I love you all:)

Have a great week!

Love always, Sister Rowland

our address is:

5714 Calais Ln.

St Petersburg, FL 33714

Just a short email:)

Hey Family,

You will all probably be very grateful to hear that this email will actually not be a novel:) I just have a couple neat experiences that I want to share with y'all from this week!

1. So on Monday we were knocking doors and we weren't really having any success. Then across the street we saw a guy out in his garage. We started talking to him and found out that he had recently been converted from atheism. He is about 22 and has not really believed in anything his entire life. He lived a pretty rowdy life. But in the last few months he has changed his life completely around. He was completely willing to let us come and teach him. So we gave him a Book of Mormon. A few days later, we went by to see how his reading in the Book of Mormon was. He said, "I haven't really read as much as I would have liked. I only read that first night you gave it to me." We assured him that it was okay and asked him how much he read. "Only sixteen chapters." he replied. HA! ONLY?? He is the best. When we taught him the restoration, he understood the importance of the priesthood like no one else I have ever taught in my mission. At the end of the lesson HE asked US if he could be baptized by that authority in our church!!!

2. Our leaders have been encouraging us to be very specific in our prayers. So one day this week before we went out for the day, we asked heavenly father to give us two people that we could share a Book of Mormon with, and at least one to accept a return appointment. So we went out and within 15 minutes we had given out both Book of Mormons and set a return appointment with one of them. So after that we went back home for lunch. As we left our apartment after lunch we prayed that we would be able to talk to one person on the way to our next appointment and share a Restoration pamphlet with them. Its august in Florida and the only people crazy enough to be out on the streets are Mormon Missionaries, so we got two houses away from our investigators and hadn't seen a soul and then this car pulls up to us and asks if we are from a church. We told him we were and he asked if we had any PAMPHLETS that he could have!!!! HOW INSANE IS THAT??!! Heavenly Father answers our prayers, and when they are specific, his answer and blessing will be specific.

I know this church is true, guys. This work is important. And God loves us! I hope you all have a great week!

Love always, Sister Rowland

Bring Them Hither and I Will Heal Them

Hey Guys!

I can't believe that August starts this week... its so crazy! I feel like I blinked and July was gone! But it has been such an incredible month. July will be one I never forget!

On Saturday, one of our investigators got baptized! It was such a neat service. (Fun story: all of our translators for her are male, so obviously when we were in the changing room with her, none of them could be in there. We had a lot of fun playing charades trying to explain everything to her since we can't communicate with words. ) She doesn't speak any English, so the entire service was entirely in Spanish. Even the songs we sang were in Spanish. It was so cool to see how the ward came and supported her even though none of them can communicate with her, and couldn't understand the service they were there and completely embraced her. And the spirit was felt there so strong. Its neat because she decided to be baptized because of the way she felt at church, even though she couldn't understand anything. And then we all got to have that same experience at her baptism, where we couldn't understand but the spirit spoke louder than words. Her husband is a member but he hasn't been very active in the church ever in his life. He has been working really hard to be able to baptize her! And the look on his face after he baptized his wife was priceless. He was so happy! I love them so much, and even though we can't talk to each other our spirits are still able to communicate. We can just look them in the eyes and they look back and words become totally unnecessary.

We also had another cool miracle this week! It has been super rainy and we no longer have a car at all. We used to have one that we could drive when the storms are really bad but at transfers this week we had to give up our car. So on Thursday, it was storming really badly and we were only able to bike. So we decided to reschedule the appointment and do something else out of the storm. As soon as we rescheduled the sky cleared up!! But we decided that since we had already rescheduled we might as well just do what we were planning to do instead and walk over to the church. As we were walking I just kept feeling like we needed to go a different way, a longer way. I kept ignoring it. But finally I told Sister Day what I was feeling and she said that we should do it. So we went the long way around, and as soon as we got to this particular street that had been on my mind, there was a guy up ahead of us. As we were walking towards him, my mind kept going back and forth... "We need to talk to him! No, he's probably not prepared for the gospel... But maybe he is... buts he's kind of scary looking... So? he's still a child of God!" This happens a lot... I have little arguments back and forth in my brain. I'm not crazy though... Finally we got to him and I just opened my mouth and started talking to him. We were able to teach him the first lesson right there on the street, give him a Book of Mormon, and commit him to be baptized. He shared with us how he was new in Lakeland, his wife had just died, and he is just trying to find what God needs him to do here. It was so powerful! He told us that from the first second we were in his view he just felt this peaceful feeling that he couldn't describe. Its so cool how God puts us in the right place to meet those who are ready for this Gospel.

This week in district meeting they committed all of us to offer to say a prayer with everyone we meet, whether it is someone on the street or someone whose door we just knocked on, so we have been doing that this week and it is so cool! Something cool about being on the bible belt is there are very few people who will say no to a prayer. And then we are able to have a powerful spiritual experience with this random stranger. That is something I am going to miss so much! There have been a few times when we have been praying with people on the street and there are noisy cars driving by, but as soon as we start praying the world gets silent. Every time! I can just imagine that if I were to open my eyes and look up that the world would be frozen in place. That's what it seems like! I love having spiritual experiences with random strangers on the street... its so neat!

So I just wanted to quickly share something from my studies this week!!

In my Book of Mormon reading I am in 3 Nephi. So I have been reading about Christ's ministry among the Nephites and it is so powerful! One thing in particular really hit me this week and it comes from chapter 17.

Christ has just finished teaching the people some of His commandments and he is about to leave for the night, but he looks around and sees the faces of the people and how badly they wanted him to stay, so he stayed a little longer.

He says,

"Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind. or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them..."

"And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner, and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto Him."

What hit me most about these verses is that the sick had to be brought to Christ by another. None of them could go by themselves. How many of us know people who are spiritually sick and need to be healed by Christ? We have to be the ones to bring them to Him.

"And they did all, both they who had been healed AND they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him."

When we do that, we will rejoice together with those that we bring.

I am so grateful for this Gospel. I am grateful for a Savior who can heal us. And I am so grateful to be a missionary, and to witness Him heal others everyday.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week:)

Sister Rowland

The Weak Things of the World

Hey Family!

Can you believe it is July 20th already? This month is flying by... its honestly really scary. Transfers are this week, but I am staying put and so is Sister Day. So here goes my last six weeks! I'm sure for family and friends back home its really exciting and happy when your missionary comes home, but from the missionary's perspective. Its very bitter-sweet. I have really been appreciating the small things this week. Those things that I will never experience the same way again. I cry a lot about it. Its a good cry, its a grateful cry. Everything that happens on a mission is truly miraculous.

There is a poem that one of the missionaries shared in district meeting a few weeks ago. It makes me cry every time! Enjoy:

As I stare out the widow,

Tears still in y eyes,

I see the vision of those I love,

As we said our last good-byes.

The flight was long and tiring,

As two questions plagued my mind:

Do I want the life that's ahead of me,

or the one I left behind?

You see eighteen months is such a long time,

For going door to door;

In my reflection, I thought,

There must be something more.

I struggled off the plane,

looking for a friendly face;

When a man called President said,

"You've come to the right place!"

.....

I sit reflecting once again,

As this day is my last,

Please, Lord, it isn't fair,

The time went way too fast..

As I stare out the window,

Tears still in my eyes,

I see the visions of those I love,

As we said our last goodbyes

The flight was long and tiring,

As two questions plagued my mind;

Do I want the life that's ahead of me,

Or the one I left behind?

I don't know who the author is but I love it so much! The mission experience is indescribable.. and it does go by way too fast.

So pretty much this week has been incredible, and I want to share with you all a few miraculous experiences we had this week.

The first maybe wasn't so miraculous, but it was one of those experiences that I will probably never get again. On Saturday we were knocking doors in this neighborhood. Then randomly it started looking like it was going to rain (Florida has the most bi-polar weather ever!). But sometimes it just looks like its going to rain and then never does... and we really wanted to finish knocking this street. So we just kept going. Then it started to sprinkle... but we kept going. Then all of the sudden we hear this wall of rain coming up behind us and in seconds we are soaked through! There was nowhere to take cover except this very Twilight-esque forest. So we went to take cover in the trees. They helped a little but not very much. The rain just kept coming with little sign of it clearing up soon, we were already soaked so we just decided to walk in the rain to the church where our next lesson was going to be. We were a mess! Our clothes were soaked, our make-up a distant memory, but we were so happy. It was just so pathetically hilarious:) So we made our way to the church and rung ourselves out in the bathroom and taught our lesson and attended a meeting with our ward mission leader looking like wet cats and freezing our tails off!

The next experience... so you know how we walk and bike everywhere? And sometimes there is no one out on the street so it feels like we are getting hot, sweaty and exhausted for no good reason? Well, this week we had four different people come up to us in our apartment complex and say, "What do you guys do? We see you walking and biking everywhere, all day long?"

So we tell them what we do!

The third: So about three weeks ago we were tracting this street and we see in one of the drive-ways a car with a Utah license plate! That is a rare sight here in Florida. We were so excited to knock on that door but nobody answered! :( So a few days later we were in that same neighborhood to see an investigator and we decided to try that same door again. And there was a mom and daughter living there who, indeed, had just moved from Utah! We could tell that they knew who we were, but we couldn't tell if they were members or not so we just asked them if they ran into missionaries a lot in Utah. And then they told us that they are members but they don't go to church anymore. They had a bad experience and had absolutely no interest in ever coming back. We asked them if we could at least let the ward know that they were here and they said no. So we left them the church address and our phone number if they ever needed anything...

Then yesterday at church, the person who said the closing prayer said, obviously by the prompting of the spirit, that there was someone there today who was giving it one last try and he prayed that whoever it is would feel God's love and want to come back again. It was such a powerful prayer! Afterward I turned and started looking around to see if I could tell who it was. I saw through the chapel doors out into the entryway and on the couch I could see two people. I couldn't see who it was, but I had a pretty good idea. I asked my companion if she could see who it was and she couldn't. And we couldn't get out of the chapel because everyone was talking and visiting. Finally, we made it out and it was them! IT WAS THEM! THEY CAME. They came to give it one last try. And I honestly don't know what their experience was, and I don't know if they will come back. But I hope and pray that they will. And I hope that they did feel God's love for them.

And the fourth experience, to show that God really is aware of us. Yesterday at church, one of the members pulled us aside and began criticizing the way we had taught one of our investigators. He was honestly quite rude about it and Sister Day and I left church feeling absolutely no confidence in our ability to do anything. We went home and prayed really hard that Heavenly Father would help us through the day.

Last night we had a lesson with some recent converts, her non-member daughter, and some members, including two recently returned missionaries. We had dinner and played some family home evening games and then we taught a lesson. We taught the message of the Restoration because of the one non-member who was there. Family and friends, the spirit in that room was suffocating. I have never felt the spirit so strong, or felt so much love for one person my entire mission. Everyone in the room felt it! And it had nothing to do with Sister Day's and mine ability or inability to teach. But it had everything to do with the love that Heavenly Father had for this individual, and His love for my companion and I, and his joy at our efforts. Afterward, one of the returned missionaries came up to my companion and I and said, "That was a great lesson, you two teach really well together." Little did he know that was exactly what we needed to hear. Heavenly Father provided us with a perfect situation to teach us a few things

• the spirit is the true teacher
• we have been called by a prophet of God because of who we are, not because we are perfect teachers
• when you truly love the person you are teaching the spirit will be there and they will feel it
• we never need to worry about our inadequacies, because lets face it: we are all completely inadequate, but Heavenly Father loves us anyway and He will help us to get His work done.

The happiness, peace, and joy that we felt after that lesson was overwhelming. I am so grateful for our Father in Heaven's love.

There was a scripture that I came across in my studies earlier this week, before all of this happened. But it was perfect.

Doctrine and Covenants 35:13-14

"Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit. And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me..."

I know that I am weak, I know that I'm imperfect. But I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ make up for that, if we are humble and rely on them.

I read this story in a conference talk last week:

"There was a young piano student and his mother, wishing to encourage him, 'bought tickets for a performance of the great Polish pianist, Paderewski. The night of the concert arrived and the mother and son found their seats near the front of the concert hall. while the mother visited with friends, the boy slipped quietly away.

Suddenly, it was time for the performance to begin and a single spotlight cut through the darkness of the concert hall to illuminate the grand piano on stage. Only then did the audience notice the little boy on the bench, innocently picking out twinkle twinkle little star.

His mother gasped, but before she could move, Paderewski appeared on stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. He whispered to the boy, 'Don't quit. Keep playing.' And then, leaning over, the master reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

In our lives, unpolished though we may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear, time and time again, "Don't quit, keep playing." And as we do, He augments and supplements until a work of amazing beauty is created. He is right there with all of us, telling us over and over, "Keep playing." "

Keep playing, y'all :) You are who you are and where you are for a reason!

Love you!

Sister Rowland

Their Testament is in Force

Hey Family!

Hope you all are having a great summer! Can you believe that we are already almost halfway through July?? Its going by so fast! Its honestly kind of scary!

Its been nice and hot here:) I'm seriously going to die my first winter back in Utah. I freeze in 70 degrees! We have been working hard and seeing so many miracles and we are teaching some of the coolest people on the planet! I want to tell you about them:)

So first off we are teaching a 15 year old girl. She is the daughter of a less active who hasn't been to church since she was a teenager. The young women in the ward reached out to our investigator and her cousin who is a member and they started coming to church and activities and seminary. And now she wants to get baptized! We were talking to her at our lesson last week about how she can be an example to her family (her mom and three younger brothers). We committed her to have family prayer every day even if she is the only one participating. Yesterday at church her mom came, her two younger brothers came, and her 12 year old brother asked us if he could be baptized too. I am so impressed by her and her diligent example and her faith. She is so incredible.

Then we are teaching the 15 year old brother of the returned missionary in our ward. He has been in Puerto Rico with his dad for a few weeks but we have Skype lessons with him almost every day. (Thank goodness for technology!) He is reading the Book of Mormon every day and saying his prayers. He even lets us call him in the mornings and wake him up for a lesson during his vacation! How many 15 year old boys do you know that would be okay with that?!? We asked him this past week to talk to his dad about taking him to church in Puerto Rico and he wasn't too sure about it. He didn't know how his dad would react. But he told us today that he got the courage to talk to his dad and his dad said that not only would he take him to church but he would attend with him!

We are also teaching a newly wed couple from Chile. He is a less-active member and speaks little English. She is not a member and speaks no English! She wants to get baptized and they have already made it a goal to be sealed in the temple. As we have gone through the teaching process with her she has had some pretty incredible manifestations that this is the truth and that it is the right path for her and her family. Even though she doesn't understand English she comes to church every Sunday because she likes the way she feels when she is there.

We have another investigator with a Catholic background. His entire family is Catholic. And joining our church would mean turning his back on his family's religion and traditions. He is having a hard time making that decision but he is diligently praying and seeking his answer from God.

I could go on and on sharing the incredible stories of courage and faith and the incredible people we are teaching! I love them so much! I am so grateful for the privilege that it is to serve here and to work with them. So many people have to sacrifice so much when they learn of the truth of this church, but they do it!

I just want to let all of you know that I know without any doubt that this is Christ's church. I know that it was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that we have prophets on the earth today to direct and guide us. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

I was studying in Doctrine and Covenants section 135 this morning. It talks about how the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith seal the testimony of the Book of Mormon and the truths of the church. Its a pretty powerful section and I would definitely recommend that you take a look at it.

There is a part that says,

"... the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon... cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring [it] forth for the salvation of a ruined world..."

That sentence punched me in the face when I read it today! I was reminded of just how precious the Book of Mormon is. Our entire knowledge of the Gospel is so precious. And it didn't come free. Joseph Smith wasn't the only one that gave his life for our salvation. There were many prophets and disciples before him. Not to mention the infinite sacrifice of our Savior. We simply cannot take what we have for granted.

We cannot take the Book of Mormon and the truths it teaches for granted.

We have to appreciate it, and read it and live it! If you have not come to know for yourself that the Book of Mormon is true, now is the time. If you have one, read it. And every time after you read kneel and pray and ask God if it is true, then wait, and listen. And God will reveal it to you through the Holy Spirit. If you don't have one, let me know. I will get you one!

It will change your life!! I promise!!

I love you all so much:) Have a wonderful week, be happy, and stay cool!

Love always, Sister Rowland

Declare with Unwearyingness

Hey Family!

This week has been a pretty great week!  A lot of biking and walking and sweating as usual:) There really isn't too much to report so I'm just going to cut to the chase and share some thoughts that I've had this week...

They may or may not connect or make any sense but here it goes! :P

Helaman 10:4

Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but has sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

3 Nephi 19:2-3

Yea, and it was noised abroad among the people immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen Jesus, and that he had ministered unto them, and that he would show himself on the morrow unto the multitude.

Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad concerning Jesus...

Jacob 5:71-74

Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might...

And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard...

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

Okay, now let me see if I can tie this jumbled mess of thoughts together...

We know that God has a divine plan for us, and we know that a family is central to that plan. We know that marriage is between a man and a woman who can bring precious spirits to the earth and raise them up in love and righteousness. We know that families are under attack.

It's a testimony builder to me, thinking of the recent Supreme Court decision, that our last General Conference was completely centered on the family. I know that our leaders are truly inspired by God, and that if we heed their counsel, we will be able to withstand the evil in our day.

I have come, over the course of my mission, to have a very solid testimony that I am on a mission right now to prepare me to marry in the temple to a worthy priesthood holder and raise a strong family centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ. That is why the missionary age was lowered. That is how the Lord is hastening His work.

We have a responsibility to declare to the world our standard on families and the importance of families. We need to not be afraid to make our position known and to defend it. Those verses in the Book of Mormon have some words that I really like:

• Unwearyingness
• Immediately
• All the night
• Might
• Diligence
• Labor

President Eyring said, "You begin by holding up the Lord's standards clearly and without apology. And the more the world drifts from them and mocks them, the bolder we must be in doing that. "

Elder Holland said, "Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don't live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion, BUT DEFEND THEM."

I know that greater power and spirit will come into our lives and our homes as we put in, not just a little more effort, but all of our effort in defending the Lord's standards for families. There are so many ways to do that, and any and every one of them is good. But I think the best thing we can do is resolve to do better in our own families. Love and show love more. Serve each other more. Read and pray together more. Spend more time doing quality things. Live the Gospel better, as a family.

It makes me think of Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty.

Alma 46:12-13

And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it- in memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children- and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins...

Its time to put on our armor and hold our banner high!

I commit to make marriage a priority when I return from my mission. I commit to settle for nothing less than marriage for time and all eternity in the temple of God. I commit to make child-bearing and raising a priority. I will not put my own restrictions on when or how many but trust in the Lord's will and timing. I will always make prayer, scripture study, and family time a priority. I will do all in my power to raise my family on the principles of "faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities." I recognize that my role as mother is divine and my sacred responsibility is to nurture my children. I commit to do my very best in all of these things.

I love the primary song The Family is of God:

God gave us families,

to help us become what he wants us to be.

This is how he shares his love,

for the family is of God.

I know that Heavenly Father loves us. His plan is for us to return to live with Him someday, as a family. I know that God will bless us as we defend and declare the standard He has set.

I love you all!

Sister Rowland