Many Lessons Learned

This week has been quite the learning and growing experience. It was fun to call home for 5 minutes to set up the Christmas calling appointment haha:) Mom, your reaction was classic! And it was so crazy because I could hear your accent and it was a lot stronger than I remembered it! So precious:)

I've seen many familiar faces yet again. Pretty much, I see someone I know every day or I hear that someone is on the square looking for me every day. Except there were several people looking for me this last week and I don't know who they were. (Except that one of them was in Katie and Kori's ward from Idaho!) So if you came looking for me and didn't find me I'm sorry I missed you! On Friday night I saw C.J. Spjute, some of my friends from Desert Hills High School Madrigals, Deanna's daughter-in-law, and Jay & Tabby Nyggard! I'm glad there are many people choosing to spend some of this most precious time of the year at Temple Square, a place that really focuses on the true meaning of Christmas.

This week has been hard, in regard to our wonderful investigators. There are several things that I've learned that I really want to share:

1) "With Christ, darkness cannot succeed. Darkness will not gain victory over the light of Christ." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

2) Jesus Christ is the light within us that gives us hope and a desire to change.

3) The temple is the goal. Everything we do in our lives should be leading us toward the temple.

4) "Happy people are commandment keepers! If you want to have a happy mission, keep the mission commandments! If you want to have a happy life, keep the commandments." -Sister Osoreo (our former mission a.p.)

5) Everything in this life is our choice. Heavenly Father lets us chose if we are going to follow Him. The adversary is doing all he can to force you to follow him. Who REALLY is giving you freedom?

But this is the number one thing that I learned this week: Never fall into the trap of doing what is easy. It is easy to give up, it is easy to never progress and it is easy to be unhappy. If you want to keep trying, progressing, and being happy, you have to WORK for it. The easy path leads to eternal damnation, but the path that takes work leads to eternal salvation. Anyone can do what is easy, but the great ones do what takes work.

Yesterday morning we were able to take the formal tour backstage in the Conference Center and Tabernacle. We were able to go up into each organ and learn how they work so we can better teach people that come to the square. It was so incredible! I don't know if y'all know this but the translation facilities in the Conference Center are second only to the United Nations. And the broadcasting from the CC is state-of-the-art (obviously). Every time I go backstage in the CC or Tabernacle I always think how amazing it would have been to have all these resources in high school when performing haha:) The scene shop alone is mind-blowing! For any performer...the CC is a dream come true to put it mildly. Oh and I got to play on the Organ in the Tabernacle. AH! Blessings, blessings.

This morning Relief Society was not held in the mission home, it was held in the Relief Society Building (the most beautiful building on the square besides the temple haha). We had the amazing opportunity to have Linda K. Burton, the Relief Society General President, come and address us! Her message was powerful and such a great way to start the day! She also asked to give each one of us a hug afterwards so ladies and gentlemen I have hugged the General Relief Society President. AH! I am so blessed!!! :) :)

On Tuesday night my district was able to go to a members home for a Christmas dinner/family home evening. It was such a fun, wonderful experience! They had very cute and very funny children and the food was SO GOOD!:) We played games with them and shared funny stories, it was a wonderful time and it gave us a chance to have a small little family-like Christmas experience.

Through the midst of difficult times as a missionary, I've really appreciated the scriptures. The other day was pretty hard for my companion and I. We had an amazing progressing investigator who was really changing and we saw miracles take place. We had experiences that turned our little apartment room into sacred ground for us, as we offered some of the strongest prayers we've ever said. We saw how the power of God overcomes everything that is unholy, and we felt the Savior give us peace and speak to our hearts and minds. But, the next day our investigator decided to not continue on this path and to go back to what was easy, normal, and familiar. That night I laid on the couch and thought about what Joseph Smith meant when he said, "The worth of every soul is great in the eyes of God." My roommate, Sister Souza, (who is so in tune with the spirit) came and sat next to me on the couch and gave me a hug and sat with me as we cried a little. She didn't know what my companion and I were struggling with, but she could feel what we were feeling in our hearts. I am very grateful to her for her Christlike example of following the spirit. Sister Esquivel came and sat next to us, opened her scriptures, and just started to read them to us. I had never really understood how much comfort the scriptures can give us, but all of us learned that night how much the scriptures can truly fill someone with peace.

D&C 19:23 "Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."

It has been a blessed week! And next week will continue to get better! I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and always remember that it is because of Him, that we have all reason to rejoice. :)

Sister Davis

 This is me standing on the podium in the CC where Mack Wilburg and Ryan Murphy conduct from! AH!!!!!!

That's me over-zealously conducting and wishing so badly that the orchestra and choir were actually there...*sigh*

Me playing on the Organ in the Tabernacle. Yes, I am so lucky.

On the conductor's podium in the tabernacle wishing I was as legit as Mack Wilburg. :)

 

Thanks for reading!

"The Standard of Truth has been Erected!"

No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing.." -Joseph Smith

Another week full of learning, growing, and being taught by the spirit! Many familiar faces, many chances to laugh, several chances to cry, multiple chances to teach, always countless moments to testify!

One of the wonderful things about being a Temple Square missionary is the abundance of General Authorities in the area! We were all sitting in sacrament meeting waiting for the services to begin when Quinten L. Cook and his wife strolled in! He had his wife sit and he made his way to the pulpit! He sat next to the mission president and informed him that he just wanted to preside at our meeting! So he did! Talk about a pleasant surprise!

After sacrament meeting my companion and I realized that we needed to go to Music and the Spoken word that morning because our schedule wouldn't allow us to go for the rest of the transfer! So we hurried over to the conference center and took our seats! THEN it was announced that the special guests performing were THE KING SINGERS! AH!!!!! I was so stoked!!! And I instantly thought of Mr. Riemer and how jealous he would be if he only knew... Needless to say it was an amazing broadcast. I couldn't help but think how blessed am I and how lucky I am to see what I see and be where I am. The Lord really loves me and blesses me, even though I'm just little old me. Always needing the divine power of the atonement and coming to Heavenly Father with so many prayers. He loves His children.

Continuing on my amazing Sunday... All of the Temple Square Sisters were able to attend the First Presidency Christmas Devotional! I can now say that I've been in the same room as the prophet! Haha:) Such a wonderful broadcast! I LOVED the video of those little girls and boys singing "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus". So tender! Elder Nelson is so inspired when he speaks!

When we got out of the devotional we were on our way to the south when my companion asked if we could run into the north t.c. to grab our bags. So we ran in real fast and walked out the front doors. There was a group of college students in front of us and one of them had an extremely familiar accent... Man it's crazy that sometimes you just walk right up to people you know on the square! It was so great to be able to see Luke and ask about his mission and school etc. So great. :)

On Monday I had to take a written driving test because on Saturday I'm passing off driving a mission vehicle! I was SO nervous to take the test though (although I don't know why, you'd think after having to do traffic school I would know everything there is to know about the laws of driving...ha). But my companion was so sweet and helped me study for it! While I was taking it something really interesting happened: I totally forgot an important combination lock number and it was one of the questions on the test! I started freaking out in my head but I said a quick prayer, I said "Heavenly Father...ah I can't remember it please help me to remember it.." and instantly the numbers popped into my head! So I wrote it down and needless to say I passed the test!!!! Heavenly Father answers prayers!!! I shared that story with one of our investigators and promised him that Heavenly Father can help him remember things as he goes though finals. He told us he will definitely be reading his Book of Mormon and praying during finals. :) We're excited to call him again and here about his experience! The church is so true!!!!

On Monday night my companion and I were casually walking around the North Visitors Center when the ever so beautiful Susan Hutchins ran up and gave me the biggest hug!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE SHE GOT HER CALL TO ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA!?!? (Sorry if I spelled that wrong Kori...haha) That just blows my mind that she got called to the same place Kori, C.J., and Allen got called to! So crazy!!! I am so so so so excited for her though! And she's going to be in the MTC the same time as Elder Gunderson! Ah! Tender mercies! It is so exciting to hear and see all of my friends going on missions...the work is hastening!

From 8:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon yesterday we had mission training! Wow. Elder Clark came and presented the training for us. It was so amazing...he talked about a ton, so I had a lot of notes by the end of the day. He covered everything from diligence, to marriage, to education, to teaching with the spirit, to learning how to sing spanish primary songs. Yeah so funny story... He asked for two sisters who don't speak spanish, and Sister Yu and I ended up in the front of the room. He assigned two spanish sisters to teach us a song in spanish..but they could only teach us speaking spanish... Oh boy. So...Sister Yu and I looked pretty interesting trying to learn a song in spanish in front of all these sisters, but hey, I'm grateful for learning how to sing in italian before my mission otherwise I would have been even more red than I already was. Hahaha:) So that was a learning experience I will never forget!

So a couple weeks ago I saw on LDS.org that the youth theme for next year is "Come Unto Christ." I love it! Sister Esquivel has been feeling under the weather lately and yesterday we had to go back to our apartment early so she could sleep and get lots of rest. This gave me a lot of personal study time (oh happy day!) and I really felt inspired by the youth theme for next year...So I wrote a song. And Sister Esquivel has a ukulele here (I know right, definitely the hand of the Lord), so I put those lyrics to music and played it for my roommates that night to see what they thought. Maybe I will record it and send it to Kori and try to seek his approval (after all, Kori is the pro at writing music for youth, especially on the ukulele). I sang some of the songs he wrote, to Sister Esquivel yesterday as she lay in bed and she really liked them. Pretty much I have an awesome brother-in-law. Yup.

Well, it's been real, it's been good, it's been real good. I'm excited for the coming week and all that comes with it. The Book of Mormon has been teaching me every day, and the Holy Ghost is guiding me to know what to do. When I follow Him, the purposes of God are fulfilled.

"Persecution may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent; till it has penetrated every continent, visited every climb, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." -Joseph Smith

Love,

Sister Davis

 

My companion and I right after the First Presidency Devotional!:)

The classic awkward-hand-shake photo. Hahaha it was so great to see Luke!

Future Sister Hutchins of the Roseville, California Mission!!!!:D

 

It's that time of the week again!

If only you could all feel what I am feeling..I would be so happy.

This week has been a week full of miracles, and surely a week of my mission that I will forever remember.

Last Thursday night was a wonderful Thanksgiving Celebration! Our mission president rented out a building in Sandy called "Noah's" where we had quite the fiesta might I say! When we first arrived we gathered in the dining hall and watched the cutest thanksgiving skit by our senior missionary couples! Then we went to the top floor of the building because there was an ICE SKATING rink!!!! Can I even express how much I love ice skating!? I think not. My companion and I were skating for almost two hours. Then we went to the main level where there was dancing and karaoke. After that we were served a huge, delicious thanksgiving meal! Ah! So good! Following that we went to the second floor and watched Monster's University while making Christmas ornaments and place mats to donate to the Primary Children's Hospital. Once we finished there we went to the main hall and they moved all the tables and chairs and we danced for the rest of the night until it was time to go! They played a variety of acceptable apostate music including Journey, Taylor Swift, and line dancing music (the kind from EFY). Haha:) All in all, it was fantastic!

The next day was when the storm hit! And by storm I mean hundreds of people flooded the square to come see the Christmas lights! It was perfect missionary referral scouting ground. :) Hehe. We talked with so many people and learned about the importance of always keeping our ears covered. I never knew it could be so cold...

We've been working with many of our investigators a lot lately. One in particular is a man from New York City who has really been such an amazing example to me of change, coming closer to Jesus Christ, and submitting your entire will to the Lord. He is amazing and we've set a date with him already to be baptized. He is really looking forward to it and we are so happy for the choices that he is making and for the joy the gospel of Jesus Christ is bringing into his life.

We also had another miracle take place yesterday! Yesterday morning we took a tour with a man from Michigan. As we were on our way to the tour I had a really strong feeling from the spirit that this tour was very important and that we were the ones that needed to take it. Throughout the beginning of the tour I felt a lot of peace and things seemed to just go so well. He was very open to hearing about the history and the beliefs. We ended up being with him for 3 hours (normally a tour is only 45 minutes). As we were nearing the end of the tour the spirit told me, "Make sure you give this man a Book of Mormon." My companion was also being prompted at the same time, but the spirit told her "Make sure you invite this man to be baptized." Needless to say, he accepted the Book of Mormon, even asked for suggestions of passages to read, and accepted the invitation to be baptized. He gave us his information and we will be teaching him and preparing him for baptism.

On Saturday night I went on an exchange with Sister Yu (from Taiwan) and we were able to go to the Celebration of Christ interfaith Concert! It was incredible! Jenny Oaks Baker performed as well as Vocal Point. Watching Jenny Oaks Baker live...wow. I have never seen someone perform with so much talent and so much power. Her gift is truly mind blowing! She went to Julliard, you know. That concert was just such a pleasure, I feel so blessed to have been able to go!

I saw Chrissy on Tuesday night! She came into the Tabernacle while my companion and I were talking with someone we had just met (who is now a new investigator). When we were done talking with him I got to go talk with her, give her a hug and take a picture! Such a tender mercy from the Lord! We also sent a snap-chat from her phone to some friends back in St. George..haha it was great.

Last night as I was laying in bed I was reflecting on all the amazing supportive friends and family I have. I hope you all know that your support means so much to me. I am so blessed to know that there are friends and family back home that are cheering me on and excited for me to continue the work.

I know that this is the Lord's mission, and not mine. I am here to do the will of my Father in Heaven. He is blessing me so much, and for that I am so grateful. I love you all so much! Remember that the happiness this gospel brings can be found nowhere else! Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Sister Davis

P.S. Sister Davis always emails on Wednesdays

Ice Skating with Sister Yu from Taiwan! I love her!

My companion and I :)

 

Sister Snow!!! She's also from Utah! I LOVE HER!

The rink felt outdoorsish but it was indoors. Way cool:)

hursday night during the thanksgiving celebration at Noah's hahaha:)

Making our Christmas ornaments we were way tired if you can't tell :)

We got Santa hats and a Christmas countdown with CHOCOLATE in it! So good:)

Got to see Chrissy while in the Tabernacle! :) :) :)

So much snow! It's crazy!!

A few of the Christmas lights! It's so beautiful here!

 

New Transfer! New Companion! Christmas Season starts TOMORROW!

Hello once again.

I just love you all, did you know that? Well, I do.

So I have a new companion for this second transfer! Her name is Sister Esquivel and she is from Georgia and I LOVE HER! We work super hard and she is really helping me become the missionary Heavenly Father knows I can become. She is a singer, like me, so we pretty much are singing all day everywhere we go. It's fantastic and perfect because what better time of the year to have a singing companion than Christmas time!? I tell you...it's no coincidence.

So! I'm sure you're all curious about our speaking in sacrament meeting! Well...so the sisters who I was going to play for decided they really didn't want to sing...so they just asked me if I would sing a solo. Haha so I said yes, of course, because I love singing in public and piano playing is a little scary for me! I sang Nearer, My God to Thee. I loved going and speaking in the ward SO MUCH! I've really come to love speaking and singing in front of large groups. It's very fun and such a learning experience for me!

I've seen some wonderful friends this last week! Last Friday night I was told by the sisters at west gate that there were 5 guys who came to the square looking for me, they didn't catch their names but they said they went to high school with me and two of them had their mission calls to Texas and South Africa! But I don't know who these boys are so someone please tell me!!! Haha I have a couple guesses...but still! The next day I got my hair trimmed and when I came up stairs Sister Ma stopped me and said "Hey! Do you know a C.J.?" I was like "Yeah! Is he here?" Unfortunately, I missed him by about half an hour haha but he told some sister to tell me "Hi." Then we walked outside to go to the north and on the way we got a text that said "There's a Ben Jones walking around the square looking for Sister Davis." Right after we got the text I turned around and Ben came around the corner! Haha it was awesome! Then just last night we were walking back to our apartment and I saw Aruora and Brooke from the BYU music camp two summers ago! They're so cute and all in college now it's crazy! So yeah! Lots of friends came to the square! And I'm certain I'll see lots more throughout the Christmas season. :)

Today is Thanksgiving day so HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! In an hour the square is closing down and all the sisters are changing into p-day clothes and taking a bus to this huge building they have rented out for us for the rest of the day! There's going to be food and movies and games and crafts and dancing so we're all SUPER excited! You can count on some pictures of it next week!:)

Well we don't have as much time to email this week so sorry this isn't super long. I love you all and thank you to ALL of my friends and family who are supporting me and showing your love! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sister Davis

Last picture with my first transfer district! Love them!:)

Brook and Aruora from the BYU music camp!

My and my new companion Sister Esquivel! I LOVE HER!:)

My last picture with my trainer Sister Wettingfeld! Precious!

Thanks for reading!

Sometimes being a temple square missionary is just mind-blowi​ng

How is it even P-day already?! I don't even know. I honestly feel like I was just writing you guys yesterday! So crazy.

So this week has been so wonderful!

For all of the day Thursday my companion and I covered an assignment on Welfare Square. It was so cool! I think a lot of people don't realize how big the church welfare program is! It's amazing! So because Welfare Square isn't as busy as temple square we had lots of study time, but to any missionary this is like a dream come true! It seems like personal study time goes so fast and you always want more! So Thursday was great!

On Thursday night we went to a play that the church has every Christmas season now. It's called Savoir of the World. The script was written and approved by the Quorum of the Twelve and it is about the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was so good. Near the end when the disciples were gathered together (this is after Christ died and they were told that Mary saw the resurrected Lord), Jesus appeared to them. The man who played the Savior was dressed all in white, but his back was always turned to the audience so we couldn't see his face. But when that man walked out onto the stage I couldn't help but sit up and have the strongest urge to go be close to him. I couldn't take my eyes off of him during the entire time he was teaching the disciples. I kept thinking in my head, "What if that isn't just a regular man...what if that was the Savior...what if it IS him.." I knew in my heart that the man on the stage wasn't the Savior, but I couldn't shake the longing feeling I had inside to go be close to him. I wanted so badly for it to be him... Needless to say it was a very powerful, moving performance. I would encourage anyone to come see it if they are in the Salt Lake City area anytime soon!

On Friday I went on exchanges with Sister Vaivai from New Zealand. She is the funniest sister ever, I love her so much! We did a lot of contacting on the square and I learned SO much from her. She is great:)

Our proselyting boundaries have been expanded!!!! Instead of just being able to contact on the square, we can contact by the reflection pool in front of the temple and out by the conference center!!! That probably isn't super exciting for y'all to here but it was super exciting for us!!! Haha:)

This last week we have gotten two new investigators: One man from England and another from Virginia. They are both really interested in the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we're extremely excited to be teaching them! We found BOTH of them on chat. So crazy. Two of our other investigator ladies here in the states are doing so so well! One of them went to church on Sunday and told me that she felt SO good there and the people were SO great and she really wants to be a part of this church. The other has been in contact with the ward in her area as well and she is really excited about the things she has learned about the restoration! When I called her Saturday night she was so sweet, she said "Well I wish you were here because I'm making a big roast!" Haha she's great:)

So this next thing I'm about to tell you will make you all jealous So my companion and I were on the Eternal Families desk on Sunday night when this man walked by wearing these interesting glasses. As soon as I saw them, I knew what they were. I went up to him and said, "Excuse me, but are you wearing GOOGLE GLASSES?" (I didn't shout of course I just wanted to make sure you all saw those words hehe.) He said, "Yes, these are the Google glasses! Would you like to try them on?" Ladies and gentlemen, I have worn and used Google glasses! AH! It was the coolest thing ever!!!!! I put them on and then all I had to do was nod my head (then a screen appeared in the air in front of my eyes), say "Ok glass" (then a list of commands appeared) and then say "Take a picture" and it took a picture of what I was looking at! AH! My companion didn't know what Google glass was but she figured out pretty quick once she tried them on! We ended up talking to this guy for a long time and apparently he's one of the few people in the world that get to test out this beta version of the Google glasses. Ah! It was just the coolest thing!

This morning our mission had a really special meeting about how we can teach people who are from China (but there's lots of technicalities that go along with that). I'm not supposed to say much about it...but people from China are ready and willing to hear the gospel! We just have to share it in the correct way...The temple square project of "Save China" is in full force right now though! AH! It makes me so happy!:)

So this is my last P-day of my first transfer... It has flown by! When I write again on my next P-day I might not even be with Sister Wettingfeld anymore! And it might not even be on Wednesday! But I'm super excited and feeling super positive about this next transfer starting next week. This is truly the best mission in the world!

I love you all! Thank you for all the support. Have a wonderful week!

 

Sister Davis

 

 Sister McBride had to go home for surgery:( This was the last time I saw her, after the musical concert. We're going to miss her :(

Taken in the T.C. (the calling center where we chat and call investigators) I think this was Friday morning

We ate lunch in the C.O.B. (Church Office Building) on Friday so we took the tunnels back to the S.V.C. (South Visitors Center) cuz it's faster haha This is right near the exit that takes you out to the east gate. :)

Me, Sister Laporte, Siser Wettingfeld, and Sister Vaivai just being happy in T.C. :)

 

Thanks for reading!

What a Week of Miracles and Answered Prayers!

What a week it has been! I feel like I say this every week...but every week is just such a learning and growing experience!

Thursday night (what we sisters here call anti-night) was quite the experience! My companion and I were assigned to the main desk in the North Visitors center, which is the closest place to the gate that all the anti's stand outside of and pass out flyers. A young man came in and asked for a tour so we called west gate to send some sisters over. But while my companion was calling them another sister came up and whispered in my ear "Just so you know, that young man is anti. Tell west gate not to send some girls over!" As soon as she told me that I was so terrified! I had never talked with or been near an anti yet so I didn't want to say anything to him, I honestly just wanted to run and hide! Haha:) My companion was great though and took care of things! After that experience, we were talking to one of our friends, Ian, on the maintenance crew and I was saying how scared of anti's I was when he looked at me and just said, "Sister Davis always remember that you are twice as powerful as they will ever be." As soon as he said that I had this feeling in my heart that I KNEW he was right and that I had no need to be worried. The next day my fears were settled even further as my companion and I were asked to cover the main desk at the South Visitors Center. Two men walked in and introduced themselves, they were both members of the church and were in town for a conference for the Non-prophet organization that they are the presidents of. Upon further conversation, we learned that this organization was one full of all members of the church who do research for/and help people deal with anti-Mormon literature! They have the support of the general authorities of the church, and they even were the men who trained the first missionaries for online chat! They told us about a book that helps people who have struggling testimonies because of anti-Mormon literature. This book is called "Shake N Faith Syndrome". If your testimony is wavering because of something you read, I would recommend this book highly. These men were so great! They bore testimony to us, and told us about some of the research they have been doing their entire lives! They have been invited to speak at several mission meetings, and we are hoping they get to come to our mission and speak! Their words were an answer to my un-said prayers. Since then, SO MANY anti's have tried talking to me and now I am not afraid. I've learned how to just smile, testify boldly, and move on. Heavenly Father is taking care of us.

On Friday I went on an exchange with Sister Malavasi from Italy! She says that Italian pizza is one thing that she misses the most! One tip she gave me, "If the pizza is good, you will not be thirsty after eating! American pizza, I get so thirsty when I try it! Is no good!" Hahaha:)

Miracles have been continuing to occur in the call center this week! There are many times a day when we kneel in prayer in the call center and ask for Heavenly Father to help us know what to say. Our prayers are continually answered. On Saturday AND Sunday I received inbound calls from two different women in two different places in the u.s. Both have heard about our religion and wish to know more. BOTH went to church on Sunday and met members, and both have asked my companion and I to continue to call. What blessings!

On Sunday my companion and I received a paper informing us that we will be speaking in a ward here in Salt Lake! I'M SO EXCITED!!! It'll be later in the month, but I just can't wait for it to come! We've been assigned topics and were asked to include a musical number. Now here's the crazy part...we are speaking with two other sisters from our mission...but the assignment has been extended that the three other sisters sing, and I accompany them on the piano. So! I'm breaking out the music! Luckily, we have many pianos here on the square that I can practice on! I'm SO excited for this chance to travel out of the mission and speak in a regular ward! SO COOL!

Because of our early mornings preparing for the concert, our mission president let us sleep in til 8AM ON TUESDAY MORNING! He spoils us so much!

Our musical fireside concert was last night. The Assembly Hall was packed full! Even the General Relief Society Presidency came!!! And this is kinda sad, but I didn't know that we are aloud to invite family and friends to these performances! I'm so sorry I didn't invite you, I didn't know I was aloud to! But we will have more during my mission I'm sure, so if you would want to come to one, you can later, if you want. You don't have to. I would COMPLETELY understand if you chose not to. :) But anyways! The concert went SO well! I feel as though I have been sent to the most talented mission in the world! Some of the musical selections included: A four part piano number of "Stars and Stripes Forever", The Piano Guy's arrangement of "Love Story Meets Viva La Vida", A Polynesian song number (MY FAVOURITE!), and the small group I was a part of sang an arrangement of "Joseph Smith's First Prayer". At the beginning of our small group I sang a solo part for the first little bit, and I was just flooded with memories of singing in the assembly hall before with Chrissy and the high school choir. It was so crazy to me, standing there singing, to think that I had stood on this stage before and heard my voice fill that same room before. But the best part about this entire program was that the sole purpose was to help others "See our good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven." The spirit was flooding the room all night, it was a night I will never forget.

Today has been a wonderful p-day! This morning we went to the temple. The Salt Lake Temple...I can't even describe my love for the Salt Lake Temple. It was my first time there today. And I loved every moment. :) After, we went shopping at walmart, target and took care of our laundry of course. We got to take a nap this afternoon and it's been super relaxing, just what we've needed. I love logging onto my email and reading letters from family and other friends who are in the field! Thank you all for your words of encouragement! They mean so much!

I know without a doubt that this church is true! This is Jesus' Christ's Church, and He is at the head of it! What glorious news! Share it with someone today!

Love,

Sister Davis

Our last district meeting with our sweet Mexico Sisters!

Sister Ochoa and Torres are leaving back to their mission in Mexico this Monday! They are such sweet girls! We are going to miss them so much! :(

My companion and I before our concert!

Sister Bondare and I after the concert! She is from Latvia! I LOVE HER!

After the concert with my companion and Sister Laporte! We were just so happy haha:)

For a p-day activity I learned how to water proof my Book of Mormon that I carry around the square. (Aka We put clear packing tape on the cover haha) :)

Thanks for reading!

There's this white fluffy stuff falling from the sky...

Her letter from this past Wednesday!...

This week has been such an adventure! On Halloween the square closed at 5pm and all the sisters changed into pajamas and went to the mission home for a Halloween party!!! It was the cutest thing ever! Our mission president shared some cheesy Halloween jokes, his wife gave us holiday recipes and told us Halloween poems, the a.p.'s did a funny sketch for us, and for dinner we had potatoes! AH! And there were tons and tons of sweets! Oh it was wonderful... But the most exciting part is...wait for it...we got to watch Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe! It was so much fun! And of course because we're all missionaries we were connecting EVERYTHING to the gospel! Haha! When Aslan comes back to life we were all just so happy and crying and it was just so tender haha:)

We've been having rehearsals like crazy now since our concert is coming up fast! But you can probably guess that I love it! Singing is just something I need to do one way or another to stay healthy and happy and so it's such a tender mercy that I can be in a choir and do this!

On Sunday I was able to call a referral to a wonderful lady in the U.K. She was just so sweet and so kind and she is happy to stay in touch with us! We pray for her daily. We also found a young 15 year old girl in Oklahoma (where the wind comes sweeping down the plains...) who really wants to learn more and join the church. At first I was nervous because she was asking about why we don't date until we're 16 and why we dress modestly. But it was SO neat because I was able to share with her some personal experiences I've had from dressing modestly and waiting until I was 16 to date and she was just so receptive to it! She was like "Well I guess I'll just have to throw out half my clothes then!" And I'm just so happy because THAT'S what the atonement is all about! It's about change! Jesus Christ is the hope and the light in our soul that makes us willing to change! Not just on the big things but on the little things too! (Like how we dress!) Then just the other night I received a call from a lady in Oregon who really wants to learn more about the church. She also wants her son to join the church and go on a mission! It's incredible because she doesn't know a lot about the religion, but she feels that it's good and she wants it for herself and her children! There are so many out in the world that are ready to hear the message of the gospel!

I really love Sundays here! We only get to have sacrament meetings early Sunday mornings but we get to hold our services in the Joseph Smith Memorial building. It is SO beautiful in there! It used to be the ballroom if that gives you an idea haha! And honestly, every time I'm there it makes me think of the ballroom in the VonTrapp home (in The Sound of Music). :) So lovely. Sunday was the first snow of the season too! So beautiful! Anyone of my friends know that I've never liked snow...ever...but I really have felt like I need to be grateful for it and understand that it is beautiful and wonderful and everything God created, He created for a purpose. So now I love the snow. And I am in the process of training myself to love cold weather as well...hahaha!

While doing our shift at the Eternal Families desk Sunday night I saw the amazing youth speaker John Hilton III and his family! I recognized him the moment I saw him because I had met him before my first year of EFY on BYU campus! I got to talk with him and he asked me what my experience was like being a missionary here. It was so cool to see him again and talk with him and his wife!

It's all just work, work, work here on the square and I love it! We have early morning meetings literally every day this week, but that's ok! Going to meetings is enjoyable and always a learning and growing experience! I hope all is well in St. George, Utah! I've met SO MANY people who are on their way there to visit or just on their way home, having visited St. George. Haha it's such a small world! Especially in the church! Kori, you'll be excited to know that I have met SO MANY returned missionaries from Roseville, California. It's quite amusing actually.

Have a lovely week everyone! Stay happy! Remember, life is wonderful! Bloom where you're planted!

Love,
Sister Davis

Some adorable pictures!

My companion and I at the Halloween festivities! :)

Katie! It's Sister Laporte and I! She says hello btw:)

My companion and I with our zone leaders Sister Laporte (California) and Sister Vaivai (New Zealand) I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

Snow! It's so beautiful here on Temple Square!

I am extremely proud of this picture... :D

In honor of watching Narnia the other day, this lamp post in amidst the snow was very inspiring to us haha!:)

Sometimes we get a glance of Christmas which is quickly approaching! Ah!!! :D

Baby it's Cold Outside

Met so many people from Boise, Idaho this last week! One was a lovely lady that was a yellow bys counselor with me! The other was an older couple that knows the Spjutes, haha! Small world in the church.

On Monday morning Dallin H. Oaks came and spoke to the mission with his wife. It was very different from how they were when they spoke in the MTC! They spoke together and didn't have a script, just followed the spirit! They laughed lots and they are just the cutest couple the world has ever known! When Elder Oaks was talking about how amazing his wife is she was all smiling at us and looking around and he suddenly stopped talking, turned to her and said "Stop posing sweetie!" Hahaha! Oh they were just so funny, cute and inspiring! We got to shake his hand afterward! He asked where I was from and I said, "St. George, Utah!!!" He said, "Oh! Wow, well I am so glad you get to serve here on Temple Square!" Oh it was so neat!!!:)

I told before of an investigator we met over chat who went to church the day after our first contact! Well we've been teaching him and he is doing SO well! He went to church with his little boys AGAIN on Sunday and stayed for the entire 3 hours! He really really loved priesthood meeting too!!! His wife is still bed ridden because of her pregnancy but the missionaries came over and gave her a Book of Mormon and were able to talk with her and resolve some concerns she had! They are just doing so well and we're going to extend the baptism commitment this week!:)

So my companion and I have been giving lots of tours but I finally got to pass off to my zone leaders yesterday! For passing off we got to go eat a free dinner at The Lion House! It was SO GOOD!!! And we didn't have to cook for ourselves for once, which was kinda nice. :)

Today (P-day) we got to leave temple square and go do some service in East Salt Lake! We got to rake leaves!!! It was SO FUN!!! I took pictures. :)

A lot of people wonder what being a missionary here is like, so I will explain what it is exactly we do. Our schedule is planned every day for us. It tells us where we need to be, and then we plan what we're going to do at those places. For several hours a day we have what we call "Square Time". That is time that we just have to be on Temple Square, doesn't matter where, just contacting people, offering tours, and helping people feel welcome! We plan each night what places on the square we are going to go to when. Then we have what we call "Building Assignments". For example, every Monday we are assigned the Assembly Hall from 4-5 pm. That means we have to stay in the Assembly Hall and greet people, answer questions, etc. Then for several hours a day we have what we call "T.C. (Teaching Center)" That is where we contact people through mormon.org chat, incoming phone calls, or we will teach people discussions over the phone. We also do something here called "Investigator Lessons". That is where regular missionaries from any of the Salt Lake City Missions (there are 5 believe it or not) can bring their investigators to Temple Square and we have a joined lesson with them and we just use places on temple square to help teach! So like just the other night we did and investigator lesson with Elders Beeton and Mauinatu from the Salt Lake City West mission where we taught a less active girl. We took her to the assembly hall, God's Plan Presentation, and Christus. Those are always wonderful experiences. :)

There have been TONS of Asians on the Square here this last week! Like it's been so crazy! And my companion and I have been asked to be in SO many pictures hahaha We both have blond hair though so we kinda expected it:) They're such cute people though! They're always so happy and friendly! I went on an exchange the other day and gave a Mandarin tour for the first time! That was a huge learning experience! I'm still struggling with being able to say "Hello I'm Sister Davis! Welcome to Temple Square!" in Mandarin. IT'S SO HARD! I really wish I was fluent in mandarin...

On Saturday we had security training at 7:30 am. (We have TONS of early morning meetings in this mission, almost every day.) I feel super lucky to be a missionary here... Security is ALWAYS watching us sisters like hawks. But it helps me feel safe... They did have to train us on certain things though, like how to respond to a bomb threat. Unfortunately, we get those at least once a month. But it's ok because we have the Lord on our side. :)

Choir has been getting super down to business lately! All of us sisters are putting on a music fireside on Nov 12th in the Assembly Hall. I'm part of the choir, and I'm part of a small singing ensemble as well. I was going to be a dancer in one of the songs too but things just got to busy. Next time though!:)

Well that is all of my news for this week! (Of course, I'll think of a million other things later that I will have wished I wrote but that's what my journal is for right!?) Haha:) Have an amazing week e'rebody!

Oh, and Roll Tide! I've heard they're still undefeated. :)

Sister Davis

 

Pictures!!!

 

This is inside the Relief Society Building. I really really love this...

Just a beautiful morning on our way to the Square!:)

My bountiful meal at The Lion House!!! SO GOOD!

It's been getting so cold outside I've started to use those fuzzy gloves you gave me last winter, mom!:)

When we got to go to Music and The Spoken Word! (No we don't get to go every Sunday sadly)

On our way to the service project in West Salt Lake:)

Raking leaves! Service is the best!!!

 So many leafs! So many trees!

My zone! Zone North 1!!!

They gave us FREE UNHEALTHY FOOD after! For a Temple Square sister...this stuff is like gold...

My comp and I :)

My district!!! :) Back row: Me, Sister Sherret from Southern California, My comp. Sister Torres from Mexico, Sister Ochoa from Mexico. Front row: Sister Zhau from China, Sister Yu from Taiwan, and Sister Malavasi (Center light blue shirt) from Italy!

Thanks for reading!