Special Easter Intiative

Dear All,
I started to sing/read or listen to a Hymn a day and its scriptures on the 10th. I chose this day a month back to start because there are 341 hymns and when I reach hymn number 341 I will be home. I didn't start this because I miss home but to enjoy the rest of my mission with hymns. So far it has been a marvelous experience! I love the hymns!

I felt closer in my relationship with Sister Nomo this past week. Originally, on Monday I thought this would be a terrible week because of a misunderstanding we had on Monday. I felt so awful and continued to feel awful till I wrote an apology note after lunch. That evening when she saw it she expressed how she didn't want me to feel the way I described in my note and I expressed how I didn't mean to upset her. I know my week would have been far more difficult if we hadn't communicated on Monday night. I am also grateful for Elder Zwick talk in general Conference on relationships. I know that as I love and serve my companion our friendship will deepen and we will work more in unity to help God's children.

On Wednesday we had our District Training Meeting at the family history center and I loved it! A couple who volunteer at the Family History Center presented basics of navigating familysearch.org and a little bit ofancestry.com. They also showed us Puzzilla.org which is connected with familysearch.org. After we just went exploring in our lines and asked questions. I loved how they encouraged us to find our cousins, something I haven't really done yet. I started researching my great grandfather's brothers children and found some neat information!

We had the opportunity Friday evening to visit with our former landlady. One of the first things she told us was how the house felt after we were completely gone last Friday and how sad she was. The special spirit you bring wasn't there, she said.  Even her daughter, whom we have had some friction with, expressed to her mom how much 'she liked us' and sorry that we were gone. I am grateful for  Christ whom has showed me throughout my life His love and continues to show me, and how to love others. It is not hard to love, no matter what, when we remember how Christ loves us no matter what.

I end with a quote from one of my favorite talks this past  General Conference by Elder Zwick:

   The willingness to see through each other’s eyes will transform “corrupt communication” into  “minister[ing] grace.” The Apostle Paul understood this, and on some level each of us can experience ittoo. It may not change or solve the problem, but the more important possibility may be whetherministering grace could change us.

   I bear humble witness that we can “minister grace” through compassionate language when thecultivated gift of the Holy Ghost pierces our hearts with empathy for the feelings and context of others. Itenables us to transform hazardous situations into holy places. I testify of a loving Savior who “looketh on[our] heart” and cares what we are thinking. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

  - Elder W Craig Zwick, "What Are You Thinking?" Saturday Afternoon Session of the 184th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

I have a special request to all those who read these weekly emails. I challenge all of you regardless of whether you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ or not to view and share these videos and graphics that speak to you. Post or verbalized your feelings of what you are blessed with Because of Him, Jesus Christ. Below is some information that you can utilize.

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful Easter. I invite you to renew the feeling of love that Christ has for each and every one of you by remembering and sharing his love. He showed us his love by suffering for our sins and infirmaries and after his death rising again, showing all of us we too can triumph over death. All Because of Him,

Sister Sarah Meldrom

Subject: SPECIAL - Easter Initiative

We invite you all to join an Easter initiative entitled “Because of Him” to help “invite others to come unto Christ”. Please use the following digital tools to generate discussions about Jesus Christ during this Easter season:

 

·        “Because of Him” Video. This two-and-a-half minute video can be found, beginning April 13, atMormon.org/BecauseofHim and shared with the hashtag #BecauseofHim.

 

·        Shareable Content on Mormon.org Social Media Pages. Graphics—or memes—showing what is possible “Because of Him” will be posted daily from April 13–20, on facebook.com/Mormon, twitter.com/Mormonorg, andgoogle.com/+Mormon, and will include the hashtag #BecauseofHim. Users will be invited to share what is possible in their own lives “Because of Him.”

 

·        Internet Promotion and YouTube Masthead Takeover. Beginning April 13 and leading into Easter Sunday, pre-roll video and banner advertisements on hundreds of Internet sites will encourage viewers to visit our Easter web page. On Easter Sunday, approximately 109 million people (according to YouTube estimates) will see our YouTube homepage ad.

 

·        Mormon.org/BecauseofHim Web Page. Beginning on April 13, the “Because of Him” video will be available and the Easter story—including Church teachings and beliefs about Jesus Christ—will be featured.

 

These shareable social media components will be available beginning on Sunday, April 13. We encourage you to become familiar with and use them in finding, teaching, and reactivation efforts.

 

Thank you

 Recommendations for Implementation

 

1.    Encourage others to view the video and navigate to the social pages and website.

 

2.  Share your experience with others 

 

3.      Encourage others who have social media expertise to share the video using the hashtag #BecauseofHim.

 

4.     Use Facebook to share the social media pages posted each day by viewing, liking, and sharing the content. Memes and graphics will be posted daily beginning April 13 through Easter Sunday, April 20:

·        facebook.com/Mormon

·        twitter.com/Mormonorg

·        google.com/+Mormon

 

 

5.       Share the video content and memes with your coworkers, extended family, and neighbors as we all focus on the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ—and His invitation to “come unto Him.”

 

April 7th, 2014

Dear All, 

Not much to say about the lessons this week. Each one is unique and special but nothing really stands out to me to share this week.

Because of stress from her daughters wedding and other problems our landlady was having, we were packed up and moved suddenly on Friday and now live with another Sister. It is a nice place to live, we have more space and softer beds.

The highlight of the week was going to General Conference. We took the train from Orem to Salt Lake, walked a few blocks and sat in section 8 in the conference center. The difference I felt being presence in the Conference Center during the Saturday Afternoon Session was one of more intimate, or real feeling. Every year we watch hours of conference but what I enjoyed the most was to see the kindness and humanity of the speakers and all the background Brothers and Sister that make it all possible. My absolute favorite part was right before Elder Hale spoke, and the choir was singing, Elder Hales was helped and set up in front of the podium, sitting in a chair. When his helpers left, President Utchdorf went up, patted Elder Hales and gave him a few words then returned to his seat. It was a wonderful moment to me because I saw how Christ-like these special witnesses of Christ are. I am grateful we have such men leading our church today. I wasn't able, nor have I been able yet to watch the Saturday Morning. My favorite talks were Elder Zwick Saturday Afternoon on relationships with others ( I need plenty of help and advice how I can be better help to my companion) and President Utchdorf, Elder Ballard, Sister Stevens and Elder Bednar's addresses were all inspiring to me. I am grateful for the Spirit that taught me more then the words they said could on how I can be a  better disciple of Christ.

Despite all that occurs, good or bad, I feel my Savior close. I burden myself with cares and concerns but I feel lifted from conference and strengthened to carry on. I am grateful He is always there, else I won't be able to do anything. I won't be able to keep going when I don't feel like it. Jesus Christ grace and mercy isn't waiting for us at the end of the tunnel, but is helping us every step of the way.

Sister Sarah Meldrom

March 31st, 2014

Dear All,

The rough patches of the week are swallowed up in the joy of Christ as I reflect on my week:

On Tuesday, this week, we went with a Relief Society President to a less active Sisters home. We planned on sharing the Restoration with her but just ended up sharing a scripture because she had a lot to vent, not rudely, about her struggles right now. We mostly listened to her and marveled at her strength! Her mother in law (she lives with), her husband and her two children all have some degree of autism. Because of her sons schooling she HAS to leave his trash on the floor to teach him to recognize responsibility and such. She hasn't been to church since her childhood and doesn't remember or know much of the gospel and admitted at times that she didn't feel close to God. We commented on how strong she has been and we all recognized together that God has been helping her immensely! Even the softening of her husband's heart to even allow the church in their home. This is an example of one of my favorite things that I have seen on my mission, how far God has helped them along already. I am not 100% sure why I love this, perhaps because I feel the same way. God has helped me SO much already, and I know He is continually there.

Also on Tuesday, we went to a less active couples home and planned to share the Restoration but the husband was very stand offish and so we just shared about God's love and the First Vision(when Joesph Smith prayed to know what church to join and a vision appeared unto him of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ). He doesn't believe really that God is there or that prayers help him in any way. All of this started just because people around him 8 years ago wouldn't leave him alone about serving a mission. As I sit here typing, I marvel at the cunning craftiness of Satan. Because this brother cut himself off from the church it eventually led him to question all that he has previously held dear. He did admit to us that he still loves the Primary songs and Hymns. We had a good visit with them. We challenged him to at least pray once this week and to watch General Conference next weekend. He was iffy about both but said yes anyway. Another instance in my mind just how important it is to be converted unto God and we become converted as we consistently exercise our faith in Christ by attending church where we can be strengthened and strengthen others, pray to God and read our scriptures. Though these small and simple things we get protection from Satan and his lies.

On Thursday we visited with a divorced father and his two teenage daughters. We planned to talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ but ended up just talking about Faith. The 14 year old daughter asked us how someone can still have faith even when it has been 'smashed and grounded up'. This dear young Sister has seen much in her life already and is hurt. She sees all that has happened to her,amidst her doing what she should, but it never has ceased. She is constantly feeling crushed down, not listened by God and bitter. Sister Nomo and I got several impressions from this lesson, foremost that she needs her patriarchal blessing and help to find friends in the church. Good friends do make all the difference!

Later on Thursday we had a wonderful lesson with a group of weekly regulars three less active women. We taught about the Word of Wisdom and had a good discussion. Over the past weeks, I have been here in Lindon, I have seen and heard each of these women struggle with something we talk about each lesson but in this lesson they each bore their testimony how they know abstaining from certain things blesses them, and how eating healthy blesses them also. They not only know the principles of the 'Lord's law of health', but have experienced it too!

On Sunday we went to the Care Center Branch. What a sweet spirit was there! At one point a Brother stood up and bore his testimony. None of us, I believe could understand a word he said, but I know God knew what he was saying, and I believe he knew also because half way in he choked up and wept a bit. What a spirit of simplicity was there! These adults know they are children of God. There is no fancy flourish, no well prepared speech, but sincere testimony of Jesus Christ.

I bear my humble testimony that God does love us. I know that Jesus Christ lives! This is not a passive statement. I know He lives!  I have experienced the joy of looking to Christ in all things, despite what obstacles arise. The peace in my heart at the time of my want speaks louder to me that God lives then anything else in my life. I love my Savior so much I can't find words enough to express it. I echo the words of the Prophet Joesph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants section 76 verse 22(see www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament?lang=eng) :
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" 

God is good,
Sister Meldrom

Only in Utah...

Sister Sarah Meldrom sent me(Katie) these pictures.
This is at a Dentist Office. (Looks pretty nice for a dentist office too, at first I thought it was a hotel lobby.)

 Yes, a Book of Mormon!














This email brought a smile to my face.

March 24th, 2014

Dear All,

It has been a wonderful week! Some of the miracles we have seen this week are some less actives we have been working with have been reading and going to church! You can see how the Atonement and the gospel of Jesus Christ is helping them and putting that glow back in their eye!

On Wednesday we had an appointment with a less active Sister. After teaching our lesson and we were getting ready to leave, I noticed this Sister's daughter was picking at her arms. I said a silent prayer and approached her with a rubber band. I explained to her that I had the bad habit as a teenager of picking at the acne on my arms and now I have scars. I told her to play with the rubberband instead. I hope I didn't embarrass her to much. I remember people who came up to me and told me to stop and I am hoping to help this Sister to be able to change this bad habit so she doesn't have scars like mine. Discovering that playing with a rubber band has helped me, I hope it helps her.

We had a appointment with a recent convert and two nonmember kids on Thursday. The recent convert, who before has not talked much, was practically helping us teach her two nonmember cousins. I hope I never stop being amazed at what the Spirit and feeling God's love helps us to overcome and achieve!

An appointment that we had on Friday was amazing. We go to teach kids the gospel lessons and every time the father makes more and more comments. This time he bore his testimony of the importance of doing proxy baptism for the dead so that they can receive the same blessings and opportunities as we have and also of the beauty and peace of the temple. One of the kids will be 12 in November and the opportunity to invite this Brother and his son to do temple work together may be the key to their reactivation. Oh what small and simple means does God us to help all people come unto him!

It was wonderful to be able to be in the Mount Timpanogus temple this Friday. It is a beautiful temple! I especially like the blue glass on the tower of the temple. As I did proxy work for Mae from Illinois who has passed away, I felt immense joy and excitement and I can only attribute it to Mae spirit being there in the temple and rejoicing at the blessings she can receive. I am grateful for the temple. I am especially grateful I can go so often. I love the temple. I feel peace and love when I am there. I know it is where the veil that separates us and those who have passed on is thin. I have never seen anything but I have felt much that is special and sacred to me and I will never deny that God's spirit and the spirit of  those to whom work we're doing are there, in his house, the temple.

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in His name!
Sister Meldrom

March 10th, 2014

Dear All,

It has been busy crazy this week :) Packing(having to go through my 6 months worth of accumulation-not fun but very good to do once and a while :) ), transfers, learning about a new area (feeling more crowded and confused then Vernal :P ), helping Sister Christiansen remember who people are :D, meeting amazing people already( including my companion!) and being helped and blessed all along the way!

Some amazing things that have happened this week have been meeting some less actives we have been trying to get a hold of. First one was on Friday when lack of communication led to no dinner at a members home. Sister Nomo (my new companion) decided we would go to a Thia place because they are all gluten free and it is good food. As we were sitting, waiting for our order, a less active sister came in and was paying for her take out order. We jumped up and went to talk to her. We small talked then ask if it was okay for us to set up another appointment. She agreed and hopefully felt a little more at ease with us then before. 

The second instants was on Sunday when we were grabbing a quick lunch and getting ready to go to another ward when a Brother texted us. He told us that a less active couple, we have been trying to contact, were at that very moment sitting in Sacrament meeting. This was in a different ward than what we planned on attending. We ran over and quickly got in the back and sat down. A little bit into us sitting there a note was passed up to us. It informed us that Sister Nomo was sitting right next to them! It was a blessing to be so close for when the meeting ended they jumped right up and were leaving, and we jumped up as well and talked to them quickly in the hall. We introduced ourselves and asked if they would be interested in us coming over. They agreed and told us to call them.  The Brother was nervous looking the whole time. All we know is that something happened to him in his youth at church. Hopefully the blessings and doctrine of the gospel we bring in the behalf of Jesus Christ will help to heal his scars. I know they can, if he is willing to let Christ in.

We were also privileged on Wednesday to be able to go to a missionary month kick off fireside that had a guest speaker: Tito Momen. He wrote the book, 'My name used to be Mohammad: The true story of a Muslim who became a Christian.' In the fireside, he told his story and bore his testimony of the importance of missionary work and of God's love for us and for all his children. It was an amazing story but especially amazing what God had helped him from and the Spirit that was felt. It was inspiring!

We had the opportunity to go follow up with a non member name we were given and haven't been able to get any members to help us know who he is or if he is interested. Before we went up to knock, Sister Nomo said, "You do it, I don't like to nor am I any good at it." I responded I felt the same way but will do it anyway. It was not as bad as I have done before (I have a problem with not being able to get the fear out of my voice) but still pretty choppy. He was not interested at all. At least we know now he isn't right now and at least I know what I can to improve on. Granted I agree with Sister Nomo that it is a lot more effective to have members contact and evaluate but if we ever need to 'cold contact' again perhaps I will have our number in hand and a bit of a stronger statement. God is good to me and I hope I can show my appreciation by helping people to feel the Spirit when I share my testimony.  

I know that Jesus Christ lives and has a body of flesh and bone. I know that he has a plan for all of us to have happiness in this life and beyond the grave. I know that through Jesus Christ, death and hell were overcome. Hell being unhappy and not being in the presence of God. I know that one day we will rise from the grave just as Jesus Christ did and have a perfect body and be judged according to the works and desires of our heart. I know God will judge fairly and that if we have used Christ Atonement to over come our weakness and sins to the best of our ability, Christ will have made up all the difference and we will be happy in our kingdom above that we have prepared for. I am grateful for this plan of mercy, this plan of happiness. Blessed be the name of Jesus Christ! 

I am grateful to my Savior. I love him. He is my Friend, Savior, Comforter, Redeemer, perfect Gardener and older Brother. 'Because God is God of Heaven and Earth, how can I keep from singing.'

Sister Sarah Meldrom

March 3rd, 2014

Dear All,

One of our investigators that dropped us, picked us back up! We are so happy. We love her a lot! Even though she has the mentality of a 7 year old and thus doesn't need to be baptized probably, I can see the difference the gospel makes in her life. It gives her the chance for a happier life than without and standards that will help her to feel close to Jesus Christ whom she loves. It has also been a blessing to have to break up the lessons we have with her to the smallest portions a possible. The gospel is simple. 

We had a less active that we taught the Restoration to simply and she felt the Spirit and was grateful for the time we were willing to give her. 

It has been a good week :) God is teaching me and allowing me to grow. One thing I am working on is to communicate, delegate and sometimes ask for help. :) 

My emails going to be short this week because the library is packed and people are waiting for computers :) Have a good week!

I am getting transferred! Will let you know where next email!

Sister Sarah Meldrom