The Gift of the GPS

When I was born there was one thing I was born without...a sense of direction.  Growing up in Utah I could slide by without this gift because, lucky for me, there were mountains--and they were always east. New York has lots of beautiful trees and endless rolling hills...but no mountains. Maps are definitely necessary.


As a missionary we teach many people about the Savior and His plan for us.  Aside from making us super happy, it involves meeting at people's homes, which means driving to places we've never been before.   Last week Sister Lovell {my teaching companion} and I were rushing to an appointment.  We opened the glove compartment to retrieve our handy dandy map and....oops.....it was gone!  We had no clue how to get there. So we did what any mature 22 year olds would do and started aimlessly driving, having faith that someone would answer their cell phone and give us directions to our destination.  Needless to say we ended up on some expressway headed to a far away place.  By some miracle we found our way back home.  We came home to find a carefully wrapped package.  Sister Lovell's aunt sent us a gift:  the gift of a GPS.  Halleluja!  

When I was baptized I promised take upon me Christ's name and keep His commandments and in return Heavenly Father, through Priesthood power, gave me the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost is my spiritual GPS and luckily for me this time, it's built in, works 24/7 and has a perfect sense of direction.  It will lead me despite the road construction, traffic, and U turns of life.  Someday it will lead me back home to my Father in Heaven. 


I am grateful for the GPS's that lead us to safety and give us direction both physical and spiritually!
   

Because It's True

"What is so amazing about the Mormon church?"  splurted the Catholic Deacon,  "Why are millions of people of your faith so passionate about their beliefs?!"
Inside my heart screamed, Because it's true!  A flash of memories flooded my mind...the thousands of doors I've knocked in the pooring rain, stopping people jogging or talking to a melon-picker in the grocery store, finding ways to start a conversation with everyone and anyone--embrancing the awkward and having no shame--all to tell people about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  And why?  Why would I give up the "prime time" of my adult years to come to rural New York to serve people?  Why would I wear skirts for 18 months and face days of rejection?  
As I bubbled with emotion, I finally found the words to say, "Because it's True. Because people are praying to know if this church is true and they are finding answers.  Because people are reading the Book of Mormon and the Spirit is testifying it is real.  I know I did."