Consecration

August 31, 2020

Consecration

Hello backyard friends and country critters!

We've started teaching a super cute lady named Leslie. She requested to have a bible study. 2 days later she requested to have a Book of of Mormon study. She's in her 20's and she absolutely loves her cat. She's kind of a hoot. We bought her cat some treats today so that we can serve her :)) She didn't understand the restoration at all, so we decided to teach the gospel as simply as we could, and she totally understood it! She was so excited! She loves the Book of Mormon already and decided to do her own project about Joseph Smith.

I got to speak in sacrament meeting about missionary work. It was really weird because there weren't even 20 people in the chapel. It was still an awesome talk though. Leslie joined over technology and so did her cat lol!

We got to set up service this week with a land conservancy. The service coordinator named Sue took us on a nature walk and taught us all about the different kind of plants. It was AWESOME!! I love plants!!! We're going to remove invasive plants, and plant a whole bunch of new ones so that butterflies can live there! I can't wait to get into the dirt!

This is a spiritual thought I shared with the sisters in our zone. It's been on my mind a lot lately so I thought I'd share it with all of you as well!

A common theme I see in myself, and other missionaries, is self discovery. We left home, our families, our friends, and hobbies that we thought made up who we are. We all saw it coming, but none of us could have prepared ourselves for what it would feel like. This can leave us asking ourselves in frustration, "who even am I?"

The journey to self discovery may feel long and lonely at times. We may find ourselves resentful and fearful to give God our whole will. Thinking that if we keep a part of ourselves hidden, He might not notice. This ideology only gives us a false sense of security. Finally, when we are humble enough to realize that we are not our own (1Cor 6:19), we begin to embrace the council of Jesus Christ when he said to his apostles, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt 10:39).

As we strive to make Christ's mind our minds and his heart our hearts, we will experience more joy than ever before. We will feel greater satisfaction and fulfillment in the work we are doing. Even when it feels "hard" we will tackle the challenge head on, all gas, no breaks.

Neal A Maxwell is a master at the principle of consecration. He says, "Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory. It brings release from the raucous, overpopulated cell block of selfishness and emancipation from the dark prison of pride. Yet instead of striving for greater consecration, it is so easy to go on performing casually in halfhearted compliance as if hoping to “ride to paradise on a golf cart.”

But is being consecrated and “swallowed up” a threat to our individuality? (Mosiah 15:7.) No! Heavenly Father is only asking us to lose the old self in order to find the new and the real self. It is not a question of losing our identity but of finding our true identity!"

"No man can serve two masters" (3 Ne 13:24)

Reflect and Respond: In order to find my true identity, how can I consecrate myself to the Lord more fully?

Have a good week everyone! Love ya!

-Sister Butler