Knowledge gives us wings to fly

June 9:

Just like worldly knowledge helps us fly in airplanes and other things, spiritual knowledge helps our spirits fly. I am so grateful for the blessings of scriptures (PMG & General conference included). As we read the scriptures, we come to know our Savior. We remember him. We remember who we are. We remember that we can withstand the power of Satan. We remember that our Lord will never forsake us. I know that studying the scriptures with real intent everyday can inspire anyone to fly. I highly encourage each of you to read a talk titled: “Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence” By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

I love you all. The gospel is true. The formula to being successful and joyful is simple: Pray. Read. Go to church.

Remember who you are!

Best transfer ever :)

Dearest family,

So, one of the people we got to take to the Gilbert open house a while ago has been having a lot of changes of heart. Every time we go over there, it's like going to grandma's house! She is super sweet, and loves the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it has helped her in overcoming he loss of her husband for 60 years. She is an incredible example to me of being motivated by love.

I'm getting transferred this Wednesday! I'm going to a YSA ward and a super rich family ward. I'm excited! But I'm really really really going to miss this area, and the people here.

To prepare for the Easter season, we have been studying the atonement. Coming to understand the atonement brings such great joy into our lives. "When we comprehend His voluntary Atonement, any sense of sacrifice on our part becomes completely overshadowed by an overpowering sense of gratitutde---simply for the privilege of serving Him. I have committed my life to Him. You have committed your lives to Him. Together we are engaged in His holy work. I love you for it. And more  importantly, He loves you for it." --Elder Russell M. Nelson

I love you all!

Sister White

Love & patience

Elder Marvin J. Ashton is amazing. Every talk I have read by him has been especially awesome :) I highly recommend his "FamilyCommunications" talk it has helped my companionship so very much :) Jones Stephens wrote, "I have learned that the head does not hear anything until the heart has listened, and that what the heart knows today the head will understand tomorrow."

I pray our Heavenly Father will help us to communicate more effectively in the home through a willingness to sacrifice, a willingness to listen, a willingness to vocalize feelings, a willingness to avoid judgment, a willingness to maintain confidences, and a willingness to practice patience. "How forcible are right words!" (Job 6:25.) Yes, how forcible are right words shared at the right moment with the right person.

May our gracious and kind Heavenly Father help us in our needs and desires for more effective family communication. Communication can help build family unity if we will work at it and sacrifice for it. For this goal, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.  (Family Communications)

I know that what Elder Marvin J. Ashton taught can help everyone, for he is a man who teaches after the manner of Christ. We can always grow in our love, faith, and other capacities with the Savior's teachings. Following him improves the quality of our lives.

Pray with your whole soul for others. We must. In good days, in bad days, in so so days. All days. Doing so will make all days miraculous. Even if it's not easier, it's better!!

You're in my prayers, I love you all dearly

With love to eternity & beyond!

Remember who you are,
Sister White

P.S. We are teaching the coolest people, and our bishop is incredible!!!!!

Missionary work: joy

Yesterday, there was a woman who was too sick to give her talk, but had written it. I got it right before the opening prayer to sacrament. They announced they heard I do good accents. It was humorous, because I was able to read in a southern accent a poem about Jake the Rancher--it's  probably on the internet. I learned how to follow the spirit, and how wonderful it is to be able to rely on the Lord when we are trying our best.

Wow, so many good things.

Remember the incredible Elder with muscular dystrophy Sister Sallstrom & I got to teach the Plan of Salvation with? Saturday, Sister Sallstrom & I had the honor of singing (with divine help) at his life
celebration, "Each Life that Touches Ours for Good." (because we sang If You Could Hie to Kolob during the lesson, and the spirit was very strong). We have an angel watching us from up above, so y'all don't need to worry about us :)

Our mission president, President Jenkins sent this to our mission, and I thought it was too good not to share: "I love what Elder Orson F. Whitney once said: 'The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience.' We should honor the Savior's declaration to 'be of good cheer'. Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland) This has helped me understand charity more :) I know that if we turn to the Lord with faith, he will help us keep His commandments. 1 Nephi 3:7, He giveth no commandment save he prepares a way.

Prayers are answered in due time, I am so grateful for that. I was able to feel strongly the answer to a question asked many a time for many a year. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and if we continue to press forward in faith, we will gain all that he has, step by step.

I love you all,
Sister Rachel White

P.S.

One of my new favorite quotes :)
"Happiness in...life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful [relationships] are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."
-The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Merry Christmas!

Wonderful things are happening! Mesa is amazing! Christmas is a wonderful time to be on a mission!!

How will we make room for Christ this Christmas?

"If you serve you will learn to love. If you love you will serve. Therefore love=serve

We are called to serve=We are called to love

Mosaih 2:17; Matthew 22:37-38; John 14:15"

One of our investigators got an answer to his prayers! He learned that God answers prayers 3 ways, sometimes he says yes, and gives us what we want, sometimes he says no, and gives us something better, and sometimes he says wait and gives us the best.

There are members here that let us come over every pday and it's like going home once a week! We are blessed with so much love :)

One of our investigators is a Jehovah's Witness and when I got here, she always said she didn't celebrate Christmas when a member talked about it. She used to argue with the missionaries. Well, Saturday, she said she wants to be Mormon!!! And when we were leaving, she told us Merry Christmas!!!!!!! It is incredible to see what individual prayer and reading the Book of Mormon can do--she has been reading them :)

Ofa'atu

Sister White

Whoa!

My wonderful, dearest family!!!

Wow. Missionary work is just the best. Last week I was good and wrote down what I wanted to say as I was going throughout the week... I left most of my notes at home this day though, so this email will be a lot more random. Sorry!

One big thing I learned during a personal study is this: As we get to know someone better, the more we love them, the more we love someone, the more we want to make them happy--the more we love them the more doing things for them makes us happy. The more we love someone, what makes them happy makes us happy. Likewise, when we love God, we grow to love his children.

As I have born my testimony practically every moment I have been out here, it has been growing at an accelerated rate. I am working very hard, praying and relying on the Lord, and turning to Him for help. I know that this gospel is true, we are so loved. We can be healed. Jacob 2:8

Also, Mosiah 18:7-11 is powerful. Why not get baptized and have access to a fullness of joy through the atonement?

I am SO blessed!!!! I am in the 7th mission to get ipads and do online proselyting. Every single sister missionary gets to help give tours during the Christmas lights show at the Mesa Temple, it is such an
exciting time of year! The Lord really has His hand in everything.

My companion, Sister Sallstrom, knows Elizabeth Moss!!! Apparently she was her visiting teacher in SVU!

So, where to begin! The first night I was in Mesa, my day training companion let me share the spiritual thought after dinner--it was completely directed by the spirit. It was a witness to me of how I was in the right place at the right time, and showed me how prayers are answered. It also showed me
how much my past experiences can allow me to testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

The next day at transfers I was called up to share one of the miracles that happened the day before, so I shared that experience at dinner, the spiritual thought I gave was about the promise Elder Holland gave of the healing power of the scriptures--the healing words of Christ have been on my mind a lot. Because, I'm healing like crazy!!! When I got to the MTC, I could only run for half a minute without my knee causing me trouble, now I can run about 2 miles!!!! I have been getting sooooo much stronger and it is sooooo wonderful.

It is paradise here, perfect 70's weather right now. Funny--there were inch deep puddles!!! it rained a couple of days STRAIGHT here. Coming to the desert, I was expecting something different.

It feels like the MTC was FOREVER ago! Just because I have been learning so much I guess.

Wow, there is no time.

I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of you so very much. I know that the gospel is true. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and because of the prayer of that lad, millions have been blessed. I know that the Book of Mormon contains the words of God, and that through prayer, we may come to know. As we act with a sincere desire to know, and take it one step at a time, we can learn.

I compared it to a marathon. You cannot just take one step and say, woohoo, I'm done! Nope, it takes training and work and many many many steps.

Oh, and the members here love the missionaries and go to lessons with us all the time, we are so very lucky. They treat us like family. We are a part of the ward families. Oh, I'm pretty sure I've learned about 100 names already. I'm serving in 2 wards. We are sharing the love in Mesa!

Oh! and I met Kristin Connell's brother!!! He is awesome & he & his wife help the ward so much!

Ofa-atu,
Sister White