Season 11, Episode 6, The One Where I Go Back to Tempe 🔱

 Hey Folks! 

   Ok I got transfer news! On Sunday night I got called to be a second half trainer and I am moving back up to Tempe! I am going to serve in the McClintock YSA with Sister Anderson! I am very sad to leave Sister Curry. She became a very good friend of mine. I will also miss the people down here in Casa Grande. But I also love Tempe and I am excited for a new adventure. As for this past week, the biggest thing that happened was that we got the second dose of the COVID vaccine on Thursday morning. I actually sat right next to President Goaslind as he got his shot, then I got mine. Anyways, later in the day on Thursday my arm started to hurt and I started feeling more symptoms. So to sum up, I got slapped by COVID. I pretty much slept all of Friday. It kinda sucked but Sister Curry took good care of me. And I am feeling a lot better now! 

   So for the Book of Mormon study, we should be through the book of Omni. I always love reading the story of Nephi and his testimony. One part that really stood out to me was the very last verse in 2 Nephi. It is short, sweet, to the point, and shows Nephi's faith and obedience. 2 Nephi 33:15 says "for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey." I think that this line perfectly shows Nephi's character. He was given commandments, and he obeyed. Because he loved the Lord. I have seen so many blessings come in my life from keeping the commandments. I hope to be like Nephi one day and have that much faith and obedience. I know that obedience brings so many blessings. Love y'all, have a great week! 

               Love, Sister Yates :)

 

Season 11, Episode 5, The One With the Car Wash and Polar Pops

 Hey Folks! 

   So not too many crazy things happened this week. We had interviews with President and Sister Goaslind and I got to get a picture with both of them. They are so awesome. We also did a car wash this past week and that was fun! We talked to a lot of people, it was beautiful weather, and we all got Polar Pops at the end of it. I was able to talk to a lot of people and we even got one ladies phone number! Overall it was pretty good. We also had a lesson with this one member named Sister Menzes this past week and she is legit. She is an amazing member missionary and she wanted to take a selfie with us! There are some really cool people down here in Casa Grande. Other than that, we have just been trying to work hard and have fun. 

   For the Book of Mormon read, we should be through 2 Nephi 29 today. Recently I have been trying to learn more about grace. To be honest whenever I hear the word grace, I think of my best friend. But grace on the spiritual side of things, has a different meaning. The Bible dictionary describes it as divine help or strength given through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But how do we apply it to our lives? In 2 Nephi 25:23 it says "we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." I'm sure that you have heard this phrase before. I definitely have and still didn't know all that it meant. So then I went to a cross reference for the word grace in Doctrine and Covenants 138:4. It says "That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved." After reading that scripture, I understood the first verse just a little bit better. If I reword the first verse to incorporate the second one it would tell us that it is by the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we are saved, after being obedient to the principles of the gospel. The Atonement is always going to be there for us. So we need to do our part. All we can do is be obedient to what Heavenly Father has asked us to do. Friends and family, I can promise you that through grace/the Atonement of Jesus Christ and by doing our part and being obedient, we are saved. I love you all, have a great week! 

                  Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 11, Episode 4, The One With The 99 and The 1

 Hey Folks! 

   This past week wasn't too crazy but I had fun! Sister Curry and I are trying to spend more time outside even though we are already reaching 100 degrees down here in Casa Grande. So pray that I don't get sunburned everyday. On Saturday I was able to do an exchange and be companions with my old companion Sister Merkley! I went into her area in Coolidge and we were able to help with a community service project, explore Coolidge and take a LOT of pictures, and then even bike from the church to their house later in the day. It was good to be with her again and to have some fun together. Also if you are still reading the Book of Mormon with me, we should be through 2 Nephi 15 today. :) 

Ok. Today I have 99 days until I come home. I keep telling myself that I still have plenty of time. When in reality, it is going to fly by. So I need to make sure that day by day, I make the 99 days left count. When thinking about the number 99, I of course thought of the parable of the lost sheep. Christ uses this parable to explain that even if a shepherd has 100 sheep and 1 strays away, he will still go to find the 1. Luke 15:4-5 says "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." Christ is the Good Shepherd that knows his sheep by name. He knows, loves, and seeks for you. Whether you are the 1 or the 99 right now, your Savior loves you and cares for you so much. If you are the 1, listen for His voice calling out to. Hear Him. Then follow Him. If you are the 99, where are you in the flock? Are you in the center, staying as close as you can to the shepherd? Or are you off on the edges, wandering, or looking for other roads? If you are either part of the 99 or the 1, I invite you to come back into the fold and find safety in your Savior. He loves you and I love you!! Have an amazing week! 

   "And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture." -1 Nephi 22:25

                     Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 11, Episode 3, The One With My Quinceanera

 Hey Folks!

   This past week was pretty awesome. We had May the Fourth, my Quinceanera, Zone Conference, and I even got to help paint the inside of a house. As you can tell, I had a lot of fun this week. My Quinceanera was also on Cinco de Mayo so that was pretty legendary. At night I got to destroy a mini llama pinata and a mini taco pinata. I celebrated right. At Zone Conference I got to take a picture with Sister Goaslind, then President Goaslind, and then my amazing trainer Sister Daines!! I love them all so much. 

    If you are reading with me, today we should finish the book of 1 Nephi. I have really loved the new insights that I have been getting reading in the Book of Mormon. One of my favorite stories is the vision of the Tree of Life and the meanings behind it. 1 Nephi 8 and 11 are some of my favorite chapters. I love talking about the Condescension of God and how desirable and joyous the love of God is. I love reading about the Iron Rod (the scriptures) and how it is our Latter-day survival guide that keeps us on the straight and narrow path. Or how the great and spacious building (the world) has no foundation. Jesus Christ is the foundation that we need to build upon. I honestly could go on. Another part that I loved was in 1 Nephi 15 when Nephi finishes having that incredible vision and sees that his brothers are murmuring because they cannot understand what the vision means. So Nephi asks the important question. In 1 Nephi 15:8 he says "And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?". Nephi wanted to understand the dream so he prayed to know. When we want to know the truth of something, we need to pray and ask. God is the source of all truth. So if you have questions or doubts, take Nephi's council and ask of God. I love you all and I hope that you have an amazing week. Also happy late Mothers Day to all you mothers out there! Thanks for all that you do!! 

                    Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 11, Episode 2, The One With Lows and Highs

 Hey Folks! 

   To be honest this week was a rollercoaster. It had some serious lows and some interesting highs. This past week I was able to testify with the spirit and I had some amazing spiritual experiences. I also received some really sad news. My recent convert, Jess Fullerton, from Tempe that I was really close with, passed away this week. I don't really have a lot of words to say about it. I cried a lot. I received needed hugs and uplifting messages. Needless to say, it's been hard. But I am doing better. Day by day I am feeling more comfort and using the Atonement of Jesus Christ to strengthen me. I also did get vaccinated this week! I know that this is a controversial topic. But I did it because I want to follow the council of the prophet of God. Anyways, like I said, it's been a rollercoaster of a week. 

   This week in our Book of Mormon read, we should be through 1 Nephi 8 today. I love the beginning of the Book of Mormon and I had a lot of new and inspiring thoughts while studying this week. I think that the story of Nephi, Lehi, and their family is a story of obedience. They loved the Lord and did everything that was asked of them. Here are just a few examples.

☆1 Nephi 2:3 - "And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him." 

☆1 Nephi 3:7 - "I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded" 

☆1 Nephi 5:20 - "And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us."

Even if they didn't understand all that they were asked to do, they were obedient because they loved the Lord. And they trusted him. Every single day we have the opportunity to show our love by being obedient. If you want to know what blessings come from being obedient, keep reading with me :) I love you all!! 

                 Love, Sister Yates :)