It's Still True

What an incredible week it's been. We had zone conference this week, and the music fireside last night. I want you all to know that I feel your prayers. I feel the strengthening power of my calling. I have never been alone for a single moment since I put on this name tag. There is a host of angels, and Jesus Christ Himself, supporting me and my companion. Thank you for being among those angels. 

A miracle happened almost 200 years ago. A young boy named Joseph Smith prayed to God to know what church he should join, and in answer to His prayer Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Through God's power, Joseph Smith restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it had once been on the Earth. He received Priesthood authority to act in the name of God. And my favorite part of this miracle is that Joseph translated the Book of Mormon, a record of ancient inhabitants of the American soil on which we now live. 

It's still true! This DID happen! We members have heard this story countless times, we have already prayed to know that the Book of Mormon is true, and we have already received a witness that this is THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But for some of us the miracle has faded. As a missionary, I get to be reminded every day what an incredible gift we had. I teach people about Joseph Smith every day, and people open the Book of Mormon for the first time in front of my eyes. If only we saw the message of the Restoration the way these people did. Moroni promised us that if we read the Book of Mormon, we will know the truth (Moroni 10:4-5). We aren't supposed to just do this once! A few weeks ago I finished the Book of Mormon for the 15th time in my life, and I again knelt and prayed to Heavenly Father and asked if this book that I share with people every day is the word of God. "Yes," I felt the answer, "My daughter, it is still true." 

Last night, I stood in front of a congregation of people with mixed faiths and mixed degrees of conversion to the Gospel. And I sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" (LDS Hymnbook, No. 26). Sister Jensen and I had the special opportunity of sharing our testimonies in song, and it was an overwhelming feeling. 

We fast a lot as missionaries. Our entire mission is doing a 40-day fast from all the things in our life that "prick our Spirits." For me some of those things include not grilling my family about what's going on in NCAAB March Madness, and not saying/thinking negative thoughts. Sister Jensen and I also fasted yesterday for the chance to find 14 new investigators this week, which is the mission standard. We have fallen incredibly short, and we want to end my first transfer in Tennessee on a strong note. "The field is white, already to be harvested" (D&C 4). 

This week, please think about the time your heart changed and you chose to give up everything to follow Jesus Christ, or as they all say here, when you were "Saved." The feeling you had when you were baptized, when you knew Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts if you want to send me a quick note. 

Sister Nordström

(Here is the picture of our Tennessee-Nashville Mission choir, and our mission president and his wife.)