My dearest and bestest FAMILY!

So, it's true!  We had a miracle baptism this Saturday.  The investigator that we've been teaching on and off for the past 3 months got baptized!  His name is Jack.  He's 14.  He's been going to church for the last 3 years with his family.  His Mom is a convert.  We finished teaching him the lessons on Friday and we asked his Mom when she wanted to plan for the baptism.  She said, let's do it tomorrow!  I was so surprised, but said that we would try to make it happen.  Friday night the district leader wanted to get his interview done.  But mis-communication happened and we weren't able to do it Friday.  Friday night I was a little stressed about the whole thing and if it really was going to happen.  But I just had this sense of peace come over me and the Spirit told me that it was going to be okay.  So I just needed to trust in the Lord.  The next day was when the complications happened.  Just to make this the watered-down version, we had to get permission from Jack's parents because his parents are divorced.  I was on the phone and texting so many people on Saturday, from the district leader, to our ward mission leader, the Bishop, and the mission president.  But you know what?  I can testify to you that God is a God of miracles.  We got written consent from both parents to be baptized.  And the baptism happened!  I know that it was the Lord's will that Jack was baptized on Saturday and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was an amazing MIRACLE!  I know that the Lord loves His children so much.  I went through a lot on Saturday.  But it was worth it to help another of Heavenly Father's children to make that covenant.  I'm so happy for Jack!  

I can't explain the feelings that I've had this weekend.  I have seen the Lord's hand tremendously in a 24 hour period of time.  I know that this is HIS work.  And that nothing can stop it from moving forward.  I know during that 24 hours I did doubt.  I was concerned that it was going to happen.  But the Lord knows what needs to happen.  We just have to trust Him.  That He has everything under control, even though we don't know how to handle it.  I've learned a lot from this experience.  

I was studying today in Alma 5.  Awesome chapter!  You should read it!

Alma 5:60

  "And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed."

Jesus Christ is the good shepherd.  Just like we follow Jesus Christ when we are baptized, like sheep follow their shepherd.  When we are baptized we promise to follow Jesus Christ.  And He promises to take care of us in His fold.  But when we wander away from our shepherd, like sheep do sometimes, like when we sin; we become susceptible to the world, the wolves!  And He keeps calling after us to come back to Him.  To come unto Him!  I know that there is protection in keeping the commandments of God and staying close to the Savior.  Stay close to Him.  Come to know Him.  I know for me I have come to know Him by reading the Book of Mormon, because it truly is another testament of Christ.  I know He lives!

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Marlow

Hola Familia!

So this week I started listening to the Book of Mormon in Spanish!  And then I've been reading the beginning to Sister Alvarez.  She helps me with all the pronunciations.  I read really slow, but it's fun!  She told me to read it in Spanish and then look at it in English to make sure I'm understanding what I'm reading.  It's a lot of fun and I think she really enjoys helping me learn Spanish!  

My week was okay.  It's been going really slow, the work.  We are trying and trying.  Each week we have been making cookies and taking them to the leaders in each of our wards.  This past week was all the Relief Society Presidents.  I made my pineapple cupcakes.  And they loved them!  We saw this one sister on Sunday and she told us thank you for the card and the cupcakes.  It made her day, because she is always giving and giving and it was nice for someone to give to her.  That made us feel really good.  We are trying!     

We had stake conference this weekend.  It was a broadcast and 116 stakes in Utah were all apart of it.  It was really good.  I love learning from our general authorities.  Elder Nelson and Elder Packer spoke to us.  I am so grateful that we have a prophet and apostles on the earth today!  I love how they always testify of Jesus Christ and that they know HE LIVES!

I read this article in the Ensign. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/08/only-10-dollars?lang=eng  It's so good!  A scritpure that goes with it is 2 Nephi 25:23

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

It just makes me think how I've come up short in my life and I know that I'll continue to come up short.  But I know that the Savior is always there for me.  That He's going to help and support me through anything and everything that I am and will go through.  He's my brother.  And I'm so grateful for Him.

I'm sending some pictures from Pday today.  We went to Coalville, Utah.  Elder and Sister Judd's home.  They fed us lunch and showed us the historic chapel and museum in Coalville.  It was fun!  Enjoy the pics.  Thanks for being an awesome family!  Love ya!

Love,

Sister Marlow

Hey Family!

We had a good week this week!  We've been seeing miracles happen.  And it feels so great to be able to teach lessons and testify of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!  

I'll tell you of an experience we had this past week.  We had a lunch appointment with this single sister and she had a friend that was visiting.  This friend used to be a member of the church and has very bitter feelings.  We shared a message and then she began to give us her opinions and try to argue with us.  I would answer her questions and she would continue to try to bash with me.  But I told her, ya know I heard stuff before and it doesn't matter to me.  All I need to know is that the Book of Mormon is true.  She began to contend again, but then I said we have to run to another appointment.  I want to let you know that it hasn't been easy to gain this testimony of the Book of Mormon.  So many people I've met on my mission have influenced me to doubt the things that I know to be true.  But I do have a testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I could feel the Spirit so strongly as I was testifying to her.  I KNOW IT IS TRUE!  And because I know it is true, I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.  That he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  And that through Him the priesthood power and authority of God was also restored.  And that this is Jesus Christ's church once again upon the earth.  And I know a prophet leads and guides us today through revelation.  His name is Thomas S. Monson.  I know these things to be true.  Why would I still be on a mission if I didn't know it was true?  Seriously.  :)

And we spoke in one of our wards yesterday.  The focus was of course on missionary work.  But I focused it on the Restoration and teaching the members to let their light shine!  It was so great.  I really feel like we are making progress with the members so that they will allow us to teach them and their friends.  Right after sacrament meeting a member came up to us and said that his friend and his children came to church and they would like us to come to their house after church and teach them!!!!  The Dad of this family is divorced and he finally got full custody of his kids.  He has been a member for about 2 years now.  And none of his children are members of the church.  So they want us to teach them!  Then this other boy we've been trying to teach and prepare for baptism, we went by yesterday and they made an appointment with us for Wednesday and then to have his baptism not this weekend, but the next.  He plays football and he cracked his rib, so he's gonna be out for a little bit, so why not get baptized!!!  :)  lol.  MIRACLES!!!!!  I love seeing it!  The Lord knows who is ready.  We just have to be patient and just love people!  Thank you all for supporting me!  I love being a missionary.  It's the best thing that I could ever do at this time in my life!  Love you all!  Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Marlow   

Hey fam!

So I'm NOT getting transferred and Sister Alvarez is still my companion! WOHOOO!!!! We are so glad that we are staying together. I know my area has been really hard this transfer, but I feel like things are going better. We are really getting to know the leadership and members a whole lot better. Trying to get them focused on missionary work. And we've been happier about it too. This past week we made cookies and took them to each of our Bishops and their families. It was fun to just be doing something for someone else. And ya know, I love baking, so it was great for me! 

Today they have a parade here on Main Street. It's called the Miner's Day Parade. It's to celebrate the first people that settled the area, the miners. So yeah. The BEST thing that happened to me this week was the Excell family came to visit me at the Family Tree Center! I got to know them when I was in South Jordan. They are like my family away from home! I felt so special that they came up to Park City to see me, and took us out to dinner! They are the BEST! We are getting another companionship of sisters up here. And they are changing things around on us AGAIN. You gotta love changes right? Grrrr.

In my studies this morning I was reading 3 Nephi 18. And in that chapter is my favorite scripture.

3 Nephi 18:24

 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up That which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.

I love how the Savior tells us to HOLD UP our light. We all have the light of the gospel. People recognize the light that you have. Don't shove it in their face. Just hold it up for people to see! I love it! And I love how the Savior gives us that example of shining your light, because He is the ultimate light for us. I'm learning lots on my mission. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve Him and His children here in Utah. The Lord has blessed me so much and I'm so grateful for it! Have a great week! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! You're the best Mom ever!

Love,

Sister Marlow