Prayers Are Answered!

Hey everyone! What a week! Thank you all for all of your prayers in my behalf. I've felt them and have gained a lot of strength from them. I know that prayers are answered! I know it. I just wish that everyone else in the world knew that. Prayers that are filled with faith and not empty words are powerful.

We had a zone conference like thing this week and President Walker spoke about having the faith to pray for people to find you. Everyone was just so surprised about this concept, they had never thought of it before. It was weird to me because that is how I find people. I think that we waste way too much time knocking on doors. If we pray that people find us, then they want to learn and are willing to make changes in their lives. I'm just so thankful for prayer. It makes my life so much easier.

In April's Priesthood Session of General Conference President Monson said, "Remember that prayer is the passport to spiritual power." So true! Prayer brings power. I've always loved the Bible Dictionary definition of prayer that says, "The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." Prayers are answered all day every day. That isn't something that I believe, it's something that I know. There is power in just one prayer of faith, think about Joseph Smith. That one prayer changed the world. I love the personal study activity on PMG pg 95. I think that it is something that is helpful for all of us.

This week I've been thinking about how wonderful the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. So many people are confused about what they need to do in this life but it is all plain and simple. There is a direct path that we each need to take in order to live with those we love again. It is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. That's it. Simple.

This week I was able to see it all in action. It was so great. We started teaching all of Candy's daughters. Only 2 of them are baptismal age but the other 2 want to learn as well. It is so great to see these little girls hungering and thirsting after righteousness. It's incredible. I love teaching kids because it reminds of how Christ says that we need to be like little children. They have so much faith. They believe all of our words, they know that what we say is true. We were talking to them about the Holy Ghost and they were all just sitting on the edge of their seats. They had so many questions and comments. After we talked to them about the first vision they all said things like they felt warm or God's love in their hearts. It was really sweet.
(Me, Devon, his cousin/brother, Sis. Thomas)

Repentance was demonstrated in Devon's baptismal interview he was asked what it means to repent and he said, "It's like when you're a football player... you're wearing all of those heavy, uncomfortable pads. Taking them off is like repentance. The weight is gone and you can feel comfortable again." Pretty good explanation if you ask me. I think that it's pretty funny actually. On Saturday Devon was baptized! It was incredible! Devon describes himself as "a pretty crazy guy." He's always trying new things out and hurting himself. He's pretty loud and hyper as well. Well, after he was baptized it was like there was a whole new Devon. He was mature and very contemplative. It was amazing. You could see a huge weight had been lifted off of him. I love to see the way that people look after they've started coming unto Christ. After he was confirmed yesterday it was like he was the happiest person alive. He glew. It was so cool. I loved it.

Seeing people change makes everything worth it. All of the hard times, all of the doors slammed in your face, everything is worth it. So yeah, I've definitely seen the Gospel in action this week. It's been so great!

Most of us are on the enduring to the end part and I think that the best way to describe that is in 2 Nephi 31:20 where it says, "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." So beautiful!

Let's press forward with hope and love! I just love the Gospel. It has brought so much purpose and joy to my life and the lives of people that I meet. The Gospel is definitely true and we are blessed to know that. I think that I sound like a broken record, I always say the same stuff but all of it is true. I hope that you all have a great week!

Thank you all for all that you're doing for my family! You're all the best! I love you all!
Love, Sister Anderson