April 28th, 2014

Dear All,

On Tuesday we ended up with two dinners. The second one we had was with a Sister and her 6 neighbors. She had  took our suggestion of fellowshipping her neighbors seriously and invited all her neighbors to a dinner. She had invited her less active neighbor but he didn't come. We had a wonderful time with those who did come and look forward to another get together! This dinner was a success because it built this sisters confidence in serving others, those invited felt loved and we got to know more people. Service can be that simple!

We had two youth 'missionary month' firesides that we attended and helped with. We helped the youth be a little more confident in sharing their testimonies, preparing for a mission one day and just all around great fun and the spirit of missionary work. One of my favorite things from these two activities was 20 tables set up in the cultural hall with a Brother or Sister attending each table, ready to tell the youth about the missions they served as well as props and treats from all over the world!

On Saturday one of the wards we cover had a Luau. I had told all my Bored Shorts friends I would try to get a picture with one or both of the dudes that are in that ward, but neither of them went. :( Sorry friends, I will try to keep my eyes out for them at church and get maybe one picture :P We had great entertainment though and socializing. There was an entire family from Hawaii that danced and sang. 

On Sunday we went into Primary and taught the kids about the Plan of Salvation and let them ask questions about being a missionary. It was neat to spend the whole two hours singing and learning along with these sweet spirits. When we would ask them questions they would answer with the simplest answers like, 'Because Jesus loves me.' 

I have noticed here and there throughout my life that at times I feel more hopeful and lifted then other times, as I am sure all of us experience. I know it is the Spirit comforting me when I feel lifted. I feel it most often when I fast. I want to have that feeling as much as possible. It isn't the absence of trials and responsibility, but the effect of the Atonement of Christ and his Spirit in my life. With these thoughts, I will tell you of something that I have paid close attention to recently, but especially yesterday, the Sabbath. 

I was feeling a bit stressed, not overwhelmed but the emotions of facing responsibility. I can't point exactly to what led me to ponder this but I pondered on these two words that came into my thoughts, Eternal Perspective. The complete thought I have about these two words is hard to put into words because they are more of an accumulation of my life experiences, fears and most importantly,what I have been taught by the Spirit. As a visual of Eternal Perspective, I envision standing in front of a mirror that is on a wall and faces another mirror on the opposite wall. You see yourself going on and on in the reflection. This is what our lives are like. It didn't begin with birth, neither does it end at death. Often when we feel our lives weighed down it is because we are only looking inward and at just a brief portion of time or situation. 

My encouragement today is, if you desire, step back and try look at the bigger picture and not just the smudges in the painting. The big picture, the unending truths, is that God loves you! You will overcome whatever comes your way with Christ bearing your loads right beside you, as you and Him have done before. This is why being yoked to Christ is so essential. He is the way for us to return back to God, the source of all truth, and the light of the world.

Happy May!

Sister Sarah Meldrom

April 21st, 2014

Dear All,

We went on a hike with a young couple and their daughter on Monday. It was not to steep but steep enough we had to take breaks once in a while. It was so worth it because at the top was a waterfall! Often when I reflect on the beauty of the earth my mind is called back to Doctrine and Covenants 59:18(seehttps://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/59?lang=eng) , "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the^abenefit and the ^buse of man, both to please the eye and to ^cgladden the heart;"

The beauty of nature truly gladdens my heart!

So how did you utilize the Easter initiative I mentioned in my last email? I loved finding something to post every day about my Savior and what is possible for me, and possible for all, because of Him! This special circumstance of sharing our thoughts and testimony of the Savior doesn't and shouldn't just be limited to special occasions and promotions. Bear your humble testimony of Jesus Christ where ever you go and to whomever you meet. We are all God's children after all and He loves all of us.

We showed everyone we met with this week the video, Because of Him. I believe everyone felt the Spirit and at least felt God's love as we shared the video and our testimonies. 

So we had the strangest Easter Egg hunt I have ever participated in on Saturday! It was at the patriarch and matriarch of this families home and they were also the spectator/judges. The family has a long standing tradition to do paper napkins instead of Easter Eggs due to a great-great grandmother that thought it was more proper or something like that! They had more candy then I have seen at one house! They set up the hunt in the front for the kids and after they had their candy the adults, including myself and Sister Nomo waited for the start( I might add we were wearing pants because they told us to do so) As soon as the word to start was said these adults were pushing each other to the side, diving, scooping and shouting. One injury was sustained as a brother dived onto the trampoline thinking the tennis balls on it were the eggs that he needed to get for a special prize- he got a trampoline burn instead of eggs. I wondered at why such competition and as we finished realized why: There was monetary prizes for certain collection of randomly decided treats. I had said I like dark chocolate milky ways so everyone gave me theirs after one of the judges said it wouldn't be counted- well the other judge asked who had the most dark chocolate milky ways and all their kids groaned- I had them all. I got 5 dollars and about 50 dark chocolate milky way bars to only name not even an eighth of my collected stash. It was great fun! There was other prizes given and great lunch afterwards.

I decided to fast ( go without food for 2 meals or 24 hours in an effort to be more receptive to the Spirit) this Easter for a personal concern. It was a very sweet and personal experience. There was nothing grand or spectacular but I had a feeling of peace and love the whole day. I felt the whole earth rejoicing as I rejoiced. It is hard to describe the exact feelings because it was carried by the Spirit which speaks in such a personal way to all of us. Even at the memory my heart swells and my eyes moisten just a bit. One thing I have learned about myself on the mission is when I have the unrestrained urge to cry and I feel the peace of the Spirit, I am feeling loved and cherished by God. How joyful are the words,  'He is not here [on earth], He is risen' and through Him we are all 'healed'. I know that Jesus Christ lives! I know he has a physical body, just as me and you have. He gained his body back when he was resurrected, body and spirit never to again be separated.  He was resurrected and because he was resurrected, we will too. Because of Him we have a friend, and we have a way back to God and a light to lead us there, which is Christ.

I love all of you! What great reason we have to rejoice!

Sister Sarah Meldrom

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