week 28

Dear Friends and Family,

This week has been a busy one, full of finding and teaching many people. It's been amazing to see how God leads us to certain places so that we can meet specific people. I can't say how many appointments that we had set ended up falling through, but in their places we found others to teach right around where the appointment was originally supposed to be.

This past Sunday the family of three that was baptized where all confirmed and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It was so awesome to see how happy they were. I can't even think about them without just feeling this fulness within me and I know it truly is that joy that comes from serving God's children and helping them make covenants, or promises, with Him.

Today I wanted to make mention of something that has been on my mind a lot lately- the family and a way Satan is trying to tear it apart. That way is pornography. Just this morning my companion and I received a text from someone who wanted to know who we were because we had been texting her husband. She mentioned how there had been problems recently with infidelity and she just wanted to make sure her husband wasn't falling back into this because they had been working hard to overcome it. Long story short we were able to speak with her because we called her to explain why we had her husbands number (given by a family member who said he might be interested) and who we were and what we do as missionaries and what we invite others to do. We talked about the importance of families in God's plan for us and in the end she just asked that we pray for her and her husband. After ending the phone call my companion and I talked a lot about pornography and how destructive it is and how it leads to even greater sins. And so with that I want to insert a few paragraphs from a talk in the April 2015 Ensign- The Savior's Selfless and Sacred Sacrifice.

Satan Attacks the Family

President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988) told me once, “Don’t just tell them so that they can understand, tell them so that they cannot misunderstand.”
Nephi said: “For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding” (2 Nephi 31:3).
So listen up! I will speak plainly as one called and under obligation to do so.
You know that there is an adversary. The scriptures define him in these terms: “That old serpent, who is the devil, … the father of all lies” (2 Nephi 2:18). He was cast out in the beginning (see D&C 29:36–38) and denied a mortal body. He has now sworn to disrupt “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8) and become an enemy to all righteousness. He focuses his attacks on the family.
You live in a day when the scourge of pornography is sweeping across the world. It is hard to escape it. Pornography is focused on that part of your nature through which you have the power to beget life.
To indulge in pornography leads to difficulties, divorce, disease, and troubles of a dozen kinds. There is no part of it that is innocent. To collect it, view it, or carry it around in any form is akin to keeping a rattlesnake in your backpack. It exposes you to the inevitable spiritual equivalent of the serpent’s strike with its injection of deadly venom. One can easily understand, with the world being what it is, that you can almost innocently be exposed to it, read it, or view it without realizing the terrible consequences. If that describes you, I warn you to stop it. Stop it now!
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/04/the-saviors-selfless-and-sacred-sacrifice?lang=eng

There is the link if anyone wants to read the rest of the talk. I really recommend it. I hope everyone can think more about the importance of the family and work even harder in your own lives to protect yourself and your family from things like pornography that will destroy you- the way you view others and the world, your self confidence, and your ability to feel the influence of the spirit in your life. It is never too late to stop doing something that you know is destructive. Talk to with God through prayer. Read in the scriptures. Go to your bishop and speak with him. Make commitments to yourself and others and God to improve. Reach out for help from those around you, the Savior. All of things apply to any challenges we might have or trials or addictions or struggles

Well that all is kind of a heavy topic but I just wanted to share just a little bit of my thoughts.

I love you all and hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Brighton