Whoop! Thus it is!

email 05 May 2015

Hello hello!!!! This week has been SO GOOOOD!!!!! Ah!!! Have I mentioned how much I love being a missionary?! I'll say it again! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!! 

Something cool I found out this week: In the Ogden temple, the baptistry is painted to where it looks like you're standing in the Jordan river (like Christ was when He was baptized). It turned out that the painting they did in the baptistry was done from a photograph taken in my area! So neat! And it's beautiful!!! Everyone here is so homey and nice. I love all my farmers:) 

Sister Betzold and I have started fasting once a week for work in our area. We've already been able to see the miracles piling up! But the other day we were reading in Preach My Gospel together about diligence. It says,

"Diligence in missionary work is an expression of your love for the Lord and His work. When you are diligent, you find joy and satisfaction in your work."

I can't even begin to explain how true this is!!!!! This past week has been SO AMAZING!!! We've been having more fun than ever before! We've been having more lessons, more contacts, more joy! It's not like we weren't working hard before, but making that little effort to be extra diligent has made us so very happy in our ministry!!!

Lately, I've been having really really good personal studies in the morning. The scriptures are really funny sometimes! I just finished reading in 1 Nephi last week and the last thing he says is "And thus it is. Amen." and when I read it, I kinda thought of it as "Whoop! There it is!" Nephi is probably up there shaking his head and saying, "That's not what I meant at all, Sister Sarlls..." Haha but I love the Book of Mormon so so much! It's amazing how much it enlightens my mind and soul every single day. I love getting a full hour of studies every day. I have the chance to study Preach my Gospel, General Conference (modern day scripture), and the Book of Mormon. I love reading it all...but the days I spend studying things other than the Book of Mormon don't feel as fulfilling to me. I love the Book of Mormon so much. I've gained my own personal witness of the truthfulness of this book. I know that it is truly the word of God. It tells us in the introduction to the Book of Mormon,

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. 

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world..."

I testify of this promise. I have done it myself. I've seen other people do it. I know it's true and that Heavenly Father will witness to us that it's true through the feelings of the Holy Ghost. Not only once, but every time we read it. 

Sister Betzold and I have a baptism coming up this weekend. It's a 10 year old girl named Destri:) (Utah names....) She's AMAZING. I've never seen so many valiant youth than in this stake. There are multiple kids ages 8-16 that are the only people that come to church in their family. They all ride their bikes to church by themselves. Some even wake up at 4 in he morning to go do baptisms for the dead in the temple before school. Wow. That's all I can say. I am in awe of the amazing and powerful testimonies these youth are sharing every single day of their lives. They are truly living up to their baptismal covenants and standing as a witness of Christ. 

Sister Betzold is so amazing. She's such a Christlike person and I look up to her so much. She's been having some struggles lately with the possibility of moving to the Logan mission for the last 2 transfers of her mission. We were in a leadership training together yesterday and we were all talking about things we can do to help with when the mission split happens. So the end of the meeting comes and she tells me she needs to go talk to President Hiers. I go with her to talk to him and as she shakes his hand, with tears in her eyes, she said "President Hiers, I know what I want. And God knows what I want. But I want you to know, that I will go wherever He needs me to go." I saw Sister Betzold in that moment completely submit her will to God's. I have so much love for her and she's one of the most genuine people I've ever had the chance to know and love. 

I want to end my email with a poem that has touched my heart this week. 

The Touch of the Masters Hand

by Myra 'Brooks' Welch 

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

I love this poem and the eternal perspective that it shows. It shows the love that Heavenly Father has for us to perfect us. And in return, it shows our love to Him to make that change. To take our imperfections and "tune" them into becoming more like Christ. 

Love you lots!!!
Sister Sarlls

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Elder Boyd K Packer discusses "The Touch of the Master's Hand"