When I opened my emails today, I received some pretty heart crushing news.  As I sat and pondered about the family being effected… What they must be feeling,  and the gap that is ever present in their lives now.  Immediately I was brought to my knees in prayer.  Thinking about what I should say- the words, "I know that only You can relieve the pain this family is feeling", came to my mind.

This is so true. The memories can never be replaced.  However, the knowledge that I have gained for myself, that we will be reunited with our loved ones that have departed from this earth, brings me such comfort and joy.

In a lesson we were having with an investigator, the member we had brought shared a very personal experience. At a very young age, one of her sons had passed away. As she told us about the sorrow she felt at the time, the smile on her face never once faded.  She bore testimony that although this was a huge trial in her life, she knew that she would once again be reunited with her son.  The reassurance that she knew where her son was, brought her an even greater happiness.

That night after the lesson my companion and I were talking about the strength of this woman.  We cannot imagine the pain that follows losing one of your own children.  It really was the gospel that helped her through.  The difference it made in her life was that instead of pulling away, she turned towards the Savior in her time of distress. 

“The family is one of God’s greatest fortresses against the evils of our day. Help keep your family strong and close and worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings. As you do, you will receive faith and strength which will bless your lives forever.” 

I know that the family is ordained of God and that they are eternal.  Though we may face challenges on all ends of the spectrum, be it a loss of a loved one, a child/sibling gone way ward, diseases, depression, whatever it may be… All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Click here.

Rest in love Mercedes.

Love,

Sister Efnor

Whats new?

-I have a new companion! Sister Kent!

-Our mission now has ipads!

So the full week leading up to transfers my companion sister Vanderziel was praying that there would be a snow storm that would close the interstate so she wouldn't be able to leave Wyoming. Fast forward to Tuesday, we are driving on the interstate. I can't see a thing! Nothing!  The other missionaries that were coming down from other parts of Wyoming said that we would all just caravan. So as we are going literally 40-35 mph on the interstate I look over at Vanderziel and say "Happy?  You had enough faith to make it snow, but not enough to close the dang thing!" lol We started driving at 9:30 and didn't get to the mission office until 3:00…that isusually like a three hour drive -__- but it was good, made for some funny memories.  Especially when I had to get out and chisel out all the ice under our tires because it was clogging up everything.  Yeah, i love the snow...

When we finally made it down to civilization I was able to pick up my new companion, whom I already love! Sister Kent!  She hails from the lush tree covered land of Virginia.  Meaning, she says "ya'll" 20 times in one conversation lol She has been out a little longer, and is a little older than me and is already teaching me so much!  She's been a member for about 2 years and has such a testimony building conversion..the Lord really does work through us, we are His hands to help bring others unto Christ.

Listening to her story has helped me appreciate even more the testimony that I have, and the testimony that my parents have, and always shared with me as I was going through life.

On Sunday a few of the people we are teaching actually came to church! WOWWEEEE!  That was really exciting, showing them where all their classes were, and having all the ward members introducing themselves. We are teaching this guy and he said that he hates crowds, he hates new places and new people..but, he said that his first day at church he felt like he was at home. The importance of people not just having a fellowshipper, but a FRIENDshipper, is so important! I saw that in action this past Sunday when members of the ward made sure no one was sitting alone in their classes, or just simply introducing themselves and shaking their hands.

Our mission for this month is studying about patience lol (mom knows why i laugh at this).

Anyways in a talk given by President Uchtdorf titled  -Continue in Patience-... "There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can-working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"

another section that I really enjoyed "Patience is a process of perfection. The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your souls. ¹¹  Or,to use another translation of the Greek text, in your patience you win mastery of your souls"

Who doesn't want a little more self mastery? haha I'm always excited to see what is waiting for me as I delve deeper into this gospel. It is so rewarding, "Of all treasures of knowledge the most vital is the knowledge of God, His existence, powers, love and promises."
I know this to be true.

Sister Efnor

Here are some pictures purely for your entertainment! lol- 

Granger's post office is a double wide-

One of many…

Our investigators holder for their babies pacifiers. 

Their cemetery- not even kidding!

And lastly… Some Granger outdoor beauty! 

Even in Green River the Lord has work to be done-

My companion is outtaaa heerreeee! So tomorrow I get to drive 3 hours to pick up my new buckaroo! Should be fun...

Things have been going really good here in Green River, almost all the people that we are teaching came to church yesterday!  It was a great fast Sunday.

Well... Im really sorry but I dont have to much else to update you on.  So, I'd like to share something that I learned from my personal scripture study.

(I was reading in Helaman 5)  Helaman is talking to his sons and basically starts bearing his testimony.."(verse 9)  O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.....(verse12)  And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

These are just a few verses that particularly stuck out to me as I was reading the chapter.

As I was pondering this scene, what it must have been like..I thought about how when Helaman passes on, his sons will know what is most important to him. What he held most dear.

Then I thought...when I'm not around, or when I die, what will people remember about what I held most dear?

Then as i read on in the chapter it talked about the great miracles that came from Helaman sharing his testimony to his sons.. (verse 17) "And it came to pass that they did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nephites, insomuch that they came forth and did confess their sins and were baptized unto repentance, and immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done.....

 (verse 18)  And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak, and they also had what they should speak given unto them"

WOW!   

All that came from Helaman sharing his testimony and being a good example!?! 

Main points I learned (just in case that didn't make sense lol)

1. Not just through your words, but also through your Actions- will be what shows people what matters most to you. (How you CHOOSE to live)

2. Testimony's are some powerful stuff.  Share em!

I understand this video doesn't illustrate exactly what the scripture is talking about, but its a classic..click here

Love, Sister Efnor

**This is a Sister to an Elder that is serving in AZ, who's current companion was in the MTC with me.  (Did you get all that?… It's a small world)

Green River!!  

Talofa!
So, this is what's going on in my neck of the woods!

Madison and Brian had a baby in December, Brian is a member and Madison is not. We have been teaching Madison for about a month now and their baby was blessed this past Sunday.

The baby was getting blessed in Mckinnon, about an hour away from Green River. So, over treacherous icy roads we went to go support Madison and Brian! They were so happy to see us there! We have a lesson with them tonight and the bishop is even going to join us so it should be a good one. As a missionary, time and time again your blessed with opportunities to watch people grow in the gospel, and grow closer to Heavenly Father. 

I love it. I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!

At a dinner appointment the members gave us a name of a lady who doesn't come to church anymore and as they put it "wont turn you away." So we thought we'd go make a visit. We got to talking about family and doing family history. She is 1 of 10 brothers and sisters. When her mom was young her parents split, but her she decided to stay with her dad in Green River. At a young age she was left alone because her dad had to go fight in the war..

At the age of 14 she got married! Wowza! Following came 10 kids! I was thinking about how important it is to keep a record of our lives, and to learn more about those that have past...just a random thought I had this week.

Here is a great video on how cool family history can be: click here

At our last Zone Meeting our leaders challenged us to make a more concentrated effort to use the Book of Mormon in all of our lessons. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS! Its helped me to re-evaluate my study time. I've been getting so caught up in different talks from conference etc, which isn't a bad thing, but Im going around everyday challenging people to read the Book of Mormon. So it would only make sense that I practice what i preach. Turns out, all those promises of feeling the spirit more, drawing closer to God...are true! lol He doesn't lie guys! When he makes a promise, its FOR REAL! I can say that I have felt all of that, and on top of that i feel like during lessons my testimony of the Book of Mormon just keeps growing and growing.

I love the invitation in the last two paragraphs of the introduction to the Book of Mormon..

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revalator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah."

Elder Hollands testimony of the Book of Mormon  <---click here!

Read, and ask.

Love,  Sister Stephanie Michelle Efnor

 W- for Wyoming!! 

Looking back on this week there is one word that pretty much sums it up, service.

Appointments kept getting cancelled so we didn't get to meet with all the people we are currently teaching. However, it presented us with A LOT more time to do acts of service.

We helped clean a couple houses, helped out with some stake activities, and did quite a bit a moving. (In skirts might I add)

This morning we woke up to some flurry (i think that's the snow terminology) falling down. I hope all this good weather that we have been having doesn't mean that at the very end the "real" Wyoming winter is going to crush us. I was just starting to get some decent color on my face lol

Anyways..on to things of the spiritual nature.

This past Sunday before church i read a talk called "This Do in Remembrance of Me". I always knew that sacrament meeting was important but this talked really helped me gain a better understanding of what I can do to make sacrament meeting more meaningful to me.

Described by Joseph F. Smith it is “the mostsacred, themost holy, of all the meetings of the Church”

Elder Holland goes on to address the sacramental prayers and the mentioning of the word remember---"If remembering is the principal task before us, what might come to our memory when those plain and precious emblems are offered to us?"

He goes on to list the different things that we might ponder or, remember during this sacred hour that we have been given...

-We could remember his magnificent but virtually unknown foster father, a humble carpenter by trade who taught us, among other things, that quiet, plain, unpretentious people have moved this majestic work forward from the very beginning, and still do so today. If you are serving almost anonymously, please know that so, too, did one of the best men who has ever lived on this earth.

-We could—and should—remember the wonderful things that have come to us in our lives and that “all things which are good cometh of Christ” (Moro. 7:24). Those of us who are so blessed could remember the courage of those around us who face more difficulty than we, but who remain cheerful, who do the best they can, and trust that the Bright and Morning Star will rise again for them—as surely he will do (see Rev. 22:16)

-On some days we will have cause to remember the unkind treatment he received, the rejection he experienced, and the injustice—oh, the injustice—he endured. When we, too, then face some of that in life, we can remember that Christ was also troubled on every side, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed (see 2 Cor. 4:8–9).

I tried to apply this more diligently during that hour, remembering the purpose behind what I do every Sunday and 

I can honestly say that I felt a difference.

There was another part of his talk that especially hit me..." in a resurrected, otherwise perfected body, our Lord of this sacrament table has chosen to retain for the benefit of his disciples the wounds in his hands and his feet and his side—signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and perfect. Signs, if you will, that pain in this world is not evidence that God doesn’t love you. It is the wounded Christ who is the captain of our soul—he who yet bears the scars of sacrifice, the lesions of love and humility and forgiveness."

I have seen this SO MUCH. People seeing that their short comings are a direct result of God loving them less or not at all. I love this connection made between pain we might experience and the pain our Savior experienced.

To end, I'll leave it at this last point that elder Holland brings up "One request Christ made of his disciples on that night of deep anguish and grief was that they stand by him, stay with him in his hour of sorrow and pain. “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” he asked longingly (Matt. 26:40). I think he asks that again of us, every Sabbath day when the emblems of his life are broken and blessed and passed."

I hope this helps in some small way to help you ponder about how you can make your Sabbath day observance more fulfilling. 

Much alofas from Green River.

Sister Efnor

A couple days ago I got a text from Sister Aiasau telling me that Sam, the kid who quit smoking and drinking, had an appointment to get his patriarchal blessing this passed Sunday! What a blessing! Getting to be even a small part of these peoples journey back to their Heavenly Father gives me a feeling that I cant put into words, I am just so happy about where I am!  The places that I've been, and where the Lord is going to direct me in the future.

This past week we were blessed with quite a few new people to teach.  A couple young families where one spouse is a member and the other isn't.  Serving in YSA and even in my past areas I never had the opportunity to teach young families.  Its made me study a lot more about how the gospel blesses families so that I can better emphasize that in lessons. 

Its been a great learning experience for me and it has me so pumped to help them build families that are centered in the gospel.  I've been through a lot of homes, seen how a lot of different families operate and function. Not being a member of the church doesn't mean you cant have a happy family, but the ability to come together spiritually, to have a bond that will take you and your family into eternity is something that can only be done in the temple.

That's something that I cant wait to share with these families!

There is an older couple that has recently joined the church and they are preparing to go do baptisms for the dead. We met with the high counselor over missionary work yesterday and talked about the retention in Green River.  Its not doing so hot, we don't have good records of where recent converts are, if they have received callings, if they have made it to the temple etc.

We want to make this our focus, seeing that families are getting to the temple, that people are receiving callings, getting ordained.  Along with finding those that the Lord is preparing, we want to find those that are lost and bring em back!

As a mission we are studying Charity, a couple days ago I read a talk by President Monson "Charity Never Faileth"- I would just tell you all to go read it, but I know that if I was reading this letter I most likely wouldn't go look up the talk… So, i just included one of my favorite parts! 

This is a true story~  A woman by the name of Mary Bartels had a home directly across the street from the entrance to a hospital clinic. Her family lived on the main floor and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One evening a truly awful-looking old man came to the door asking if there was room for him to stay the night. He was stooped and shriveled, and his face was lopsided from swelling—red and raw. He said he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with no success. “I guess it’s my face,” he said. “I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says it could possibly improve after more treatments.” He indicated he’d be happy to sleep in the rocking chair on the porch. As she talked with him, Mary realized this little old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. Although her rooms were filled, she told him to wait in the chair and she’d find him a place to sleep. At bedtime Mary’s husband set up a camp cot for the man. When she checked in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and he was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, he asked if he could return the next time he had a treatment. “I won’t put you out a bit,” he promised. “I can sleep fine in a chair.” Mary assured him he was welcome to come again. In the several years he went for treatments and stayed in Mary’s home, the old man, who was a fisherman by trade, always had gifts of seafood or vegetables from his garden. Other times he sent packages in the mail. When Mary received these thoughtful gifts, she often thought of a comment her next-door neighbor made after the disfigured, stooped old man had left Mary’s home that first morning. “Did you keep that awful-looking man last night? I turned him away. You can lose customers by putting up such people.” Mary knew that maybe they had lost customers once or twice, but she thought, “Oh, if only they could have known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear.”  After the man passed away, Mary was visiting with a friend who had a greenhouse. As she looked at her friend’s flowers, she noticed a beautiful golden chrysanthemum but was puzzled that it was growing in a dented, old, rusty bucket. Her friend explained, “I ran short of pots, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting in this old pail. It’s just for a little while, until I can put it out in the garden.”

(my favorite part!) --->  Mary smiled as she imagined just such a scene in heaven. “Here’s an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when He came to the soul of the little old man. “He won’t mind starting in this small, misshapen body.” But that was long ago, and in God’s garden how tall this lovely soul must stand! Appearances can be so deceiving, such a poor measure of a person. Admonished the Savior, “Judge not according to the appearance.” 

I love this message of not judging, I am not perfect and still do it from time to time, but when I have done as the 

Savior would have done, I have seen miracles happen in others lives, and in my own.

Sister Efnor

Steph and her fun companion!

 Rough Sunday!! lol