The Doctrine of Christ (Sept. 26, 2016)

Did you see the Women's session of General Conference this past weekend? I did! It was awesome! I just love conference! I convinced one of the sisters to come to the room of family history and I watched it in English on one computer and she watched it in Spanish on the other one. It was super nice of her. It's different to hear the talks in the individual voices and with their own words. I loved how they focused on the Doctrine of Christ. A lot of the other conferences have been women pep talks about how great and important we are (which I like as well), but I loved how they got down to the fundamentals! STUDY THE DOCTRINE! LEARN THE DOCTRINE! LIVE THE DOCTRINE! You have no idea what power will come into your life if you do so. "And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen." (2 Nefi 31:21)

Just to say before I forget, next week are cambios! There is a pretty good chance that me voy. It makes me sad because I really do love my Ayacucho but I'll also be good to go and find and meet new people. And then there is also a chance that I stay here... who knows! If I go, I leave Sunday night and get to my area on Monday.

Today, we get to travel again. LIMA HERE I COME!!! We have leadership council. Only this time, the temple is closed so we won't be able to go.  

Alma 1:25

25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them.

I love the words used here. Steadfast. Immovable. Patience the persecution. What power these words have! If we apply these words, we can stand fast in the faith. We can apply what President Uchtdorf taught us this past weekend, we can find the last door on the fourth floor. I just love it!!!

I'm out of time, but I hope that you all enjoy conference and find answers to your questions (I KNOW you will!)!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner

CONFERENCIA!!!!! (September 19, 2016)

Lots of conferences! Last Friday, President came to Ayacucho for a Unizona (bc we are so far from everyone else, we can't do multizonas). Yesterday, we had stake conference. A 70 came and spoke. It was super good and interesting. He chose to speak on out of the box topics. This Saturday is women's conference. Seeing as I am the only English speaker this time around in my zone, I will have the privilege of watching it in Spanish... And then in two weeks... GENERAL CONFERENCIA!!!!!!! I am so pumped! I love General Conferencia. It's just a weekend of spiritual feasts!!!! PUMPED!!!!!!

Funny story! We were teaching a mom and her less active teenage son. We were seated on mattresses on the floor teaching a really spiritual lesson. In the middle of hte less, hte son looked at me and said very calmly, "Hermana Joyner, there is a giant spider crawling towards you." I turned my head and the biggest spider that i have ever seen started coming at me. My comp jumped up and ran across the room screaming, and I take off my shoe and just start whacking the thing until it died. It didn't go easily, I'll tell ya that one. It was super funny and the kid was just rolling on the floor laughing. Oh the things that happen in the mission! Seriously, A GIANT SPIDER!!!!

PONDERIZE!!!!

Mosiah 2:41

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven,that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

I love the blessings promised here! Blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual. God will care for us in all things if we keep His commandments. He has prepared a never-ending happiness for us. What are you willing to do to reach it?

That's all I have time for today. I hope you have a fantastic week and find a way to put the Savior first in your lives.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner

I The Lord Am Bound When Ye Do What I Say (Sept. 12, 2016)

Hi family! I hope you all had a grand week!

When you lose a game to a 9 year old!

This past week was interesting. To start out, we had visitors with us for about a week. The new sisters in Ayacucho had to move houses, so they came and stayed with us. And then one of the sisters had to travel to Lima, so her comp stayed with us too. 5 sisters in a teeny-tiny apartment. It was crazy. I don’t recommend it…

On Thursday, we went to help a brother move stuff he had stored in a warehouse up 4 flights of stairs. It was super fun but super tiring. We made a line winding up the stairs and we were throwing giant packs of things from one floor to another. Let’s just say that my arms were sore after that one. I love doing service!

Snippet from Pres letters: "Miracle of the week! Yesterday, we visited with one of our investigators, Denis. We have been visiting with him for a while, and before us, he had meet with the elders and had almost all the lessons. When we invited him to be baptized in the first lesson, he said yes but on April 30, 2017. We tried to put a goal for this year, but he stubbornly rejected. Yesterday when we visited, we taught the Plan of Salvation. As he learned more and more about what we need to do to gain eternal life, he stopped the lesson and said “ Me voy a bautizarme este año. Podemos fijar otra meta?” Well of course Denis! He shared with us how the plan made sense to him and how he has felt a change little by little in his behavior. He said that sometimes he doesn’t want to go to church but something inside of him tells him that he has to. He said that he would usually go out on the weeks with his friends and drink and go to clubs, but now he has no desire to do anything of the sort. We’ve really seen a change and progress in him. I know that as the people that we teach gain a stronger testimony, they will be converted to the gospel and be changed by the spirit."

Ponderize!

Alma 37:16-17

16 But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words.

 17 For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.

This scripture made me think in D&C 82:10. I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. He is BOUND when we are obedient to the commandments. "No power of earth or hell can take them from you." There is nothing that can separate us from the blessings when we are obedient. I like how in 16, it calls the blessings "things which are sacred." What we receive from God is sacred. Sometimes, we dont recognize all that He has given us or everything that is from Him. But as we open our eyes and pay more attention, we can receive more and be satisified with what we have.

Next scripture! Mosiah 2:41.

I hope you all have a great week and find ways to notice the tender mercies in your lives. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!

Hermana Elise Joyner

I just love the temple! (Sept. 5, 2016)

What a crazy week! 

We started out by traveling to Lima for the lider meeting. What I love about it is that after the meeting we get to go to the temple... I love the temple!  And there is a subway right by the temple, so we get to buy lots of cookies... ;-)

Pres letter- "Miracle of the week! My miracle from the week comes from one of our 15 MA. He is a young man named Nelson. When we first started visiting him, he didn't want to leave his room. We had to talk to him for 15 to convince him to listen for 10 minutes. As we have visited him more and more, he has become more receptive. We went to visit him last night, and he was a completely different person. He was asking real questions and when he prayed, he actually talked to his Heavenly Father. Before he didnt take anything seriously. Now, he has the desire to learn. He willingly participates and wants to increase his faith. I know that as we work with this 15, our Father with touch the hearts of these people and help them on their way back to Him."

Ponderize!

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

I love this scripture and this chapter in Éter. "My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me." This makes me think in the talk from Brad Wilcox about the Grace of God. I love his analogy with piano lessons. Look it up! Read it! I know and have felt His grace so many times in my life and my mission. It's real!

I've been thinking a lot of the Sabbath Day and how to sanctify it. I think that before my mission, I didn't really do that great of a job with this. I didn't buy stuff or do sports or anything like that, but as I've learned here in the mission, it's more than that. It's doing things that bring us closer to our Father and Savior ALL day long. It's moving forward the work of the Lord and helping His children. It's a day where we can rest from our daily labors and work spiritually. Not just sit on the couch and watch TV until you fall asleep in the afternoon, but do family history, watch church movies, visit people, spend time as a family. I don't know, there are lots of things we can do! Here's you challenge for this week! Find a way you can make the Sabbath different and then do it!

I'm out of time now, but I love you lots! Have a great week!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner