The Gospel Restored and People Restored.

Hi everyone! It's been yet another amazing week here at Temple Square.  Each week I realize more and more perfectly how well God knows each and everyone of us.  I feel blessed that this is where He assigned me to labor for 18 months His full-time servant.  It is a very exciting time to be at Temple Square.  We have a countdown to General Conference in our mission office and it gets me so excited every time! Only 11 more days!  This week we were so blessed.  We were able to hear from Sister Ruth Todd, the head of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which for me was a dream come true as I studied Public Relations at BYU before my mission), we got to see MUSE come and take a tour before their big concert, we met inspiring members, we made new friends with visitors from around the world and we were even able to volunteer to clean the inside of the temple and see the room where James E. Talmage wrote "Jesus the Christ."

 Our wonderful district this transfer with our amazing district
leader, Sister Moldogalii from Mongolia!

I just have to start off this letter by testifying to you all that I really know the temple is the house of God.  I felt so blessed yesterday to have the opportunity to mop, dust and vacuum in the Salt Lake City temple.  Even with the vacuums and the scrubbing, there still was a peace there. It says so much about God and who He is not just as the creator of the Universe, but also as my Creator, as our Father as well.  Think of how many times you've wanted peace in your life, comfort or solace.  Think of how many times you've wished you could have a quiet place to rest and to be away from the world where you can just be.  The temple truly is a place set apart from the outside world.  As I walked up and down the halls vacuuming I couldn't help but think, "I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has homes here on earth and that He invites to come inside.  Do I invite Him into my home?"  I know that God wants to be a part of our lives just as much as we want to be a part of His.  Let Him in, and I promise you will see miracles :)

I call her "Momma Olden."  She is from Australia and has completely looked out for me since day 1 :)

As I have let God become not just a part of my life, but everything in my life, I have seen so many miracles.  I have started to realize that I really am nothing, yet to Him I am everything.  I feel very blessed to be here at Temple Square to be a link between these visitors from around the world and their Heavenly Father.  Every day this week I saw God turn my footsteps another direction, fill my mouth with different words, or talk to people I hadn't even seen there at first--He is trying to come to each and every one of you, let Him in :)

Thank you for the package Mom, you're the best!

Friday especially was a miracle day.  Sister Siegle and I were walking out of the mission office, past the Assembly Hall when a man stopped us to ask a few questions about the building.  I told my joke that I made up a few weeks ago...have I told you all my joke?  Okay, well here is a quick version of it without my silly Sister Briggs faces and hand motions :)  "The temple was built using granite rock.  These early members of the churches carved these granite rocks by hand and they gathered all the chippings together into a pile.  The pioneers were very resourceful and then used these granite chippings for the exterior of the Assembly Hall.  So we can really see that the pioneers didn't take anything for granted."  Get it? ahhh I crack myself up sometimes :) haha

Sister Ince gave me an honorary Canada skier sticker for the back of my name tag...
yes, there is also a BYU sticker :)

Anyway, here was this man, Paul, a member of the church from Saint George Utah who was taking around two business associates from New York.  Both men were wonderfully kind and had such a pure love for others.  Lester, originally from Guyana, is an "adopted" Dad to about 50 youth living in New York City.  He is there for them as a mentor and even throws them birthday parties so they know they are loved and appreciated.  He even said that for some of his youth, he would love to bring them up to Temple Square for their birthday--that Temple Square was the best gift anyone could have.  Karl, originally from Jamaica, is a man always involved in the service of others no matter what the task may be.  Paul asked us if we had just about twenty minutes to spare that we could show Lester and Karl around on Temple Square.  I feel so blessed that Sister Siegle and I were able to be with them for those short twenty minutes.  This was one of the strongest spiritual experiences not only of my mission so far, but of my life.  As we spoke with these two men and shared with them about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, they seemed to have a light go off inside of them.  In just those short twenty minutes, I saw the countenance of these two men completely change.  Lester and Karl would continually say, "yes, this all makes sense.  I feel something here I have never felt before yet somehow it feels familiar."  Wow.  That is the power of the spirit- and it is a power that cannot be replaced. So often we have people asking us for evidence something is true, for secular sources to verify The Book of Mormon, but I have learned a very valuable lesson on my mission.  Yes, there are secular sources, and yes, I have seen books that talk about the validity of these ancient inhabitants in the Americas, but this really means nothing to me. I pose to you this question, "Do you take physical and tangible evidences to be more powerful than God Himself telling you something is true?"  God is the source of all knowledge and truth, and I think it is so powerful that of all of the ways we have to find out something is true, He asks for us to ask Him.

Sister Siegle and I.  I absolutely love this girl, I am so grateful to have her as my companion
 and am learning so much from her.  My testimony is getting longer, little by little in
Portuguese and I am so grateful for all the time she takes
 to teach me her language!

Our experience with Karl and Lester really has stuck with me this week. I saw these two men change in just 20 minutes.  I saw that the light of Christ within them, within each and everyone of us, was being embraced and brought forward even more so than it already was. That night as I read The Book of Mormon, I really fully grasped one of the "why's" of the Restoration of the gospel.  
In 2 Nephi 30:8 it reads,

"And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth."

Notice it talks about the restoration of the gospel, "his work among all..." but then it talks about bringing about "the restoration of his people."  Brothers and Sisters, family, friends, neighbors, strangers, whoever you are, this is the profound message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Gospel restores God's children to who they used to be, so they can be who God wants them to become. At any stage in learning about the gospel, we start to feel a change within us, we start to feel a difference in our lives, and yet that difference is something familiar and something comfortable.  The gospel of Jesus Christ needed to be restored in its fullness to help each of us remember who we truly are and then gives us everything we need to grow into who God wants us to become.  We are His greatest work. 

 I was so excited, Sister Huffaker drew us all dinosaurs for our district meeting!

Thank you to all of you for everything you do and everything you are.  No good deed ever goes unnoticed, there is no such thing as a small act of kindness.  I invite you all to let the light of Christ shine more fully in you.  Get back to who you were so you can get to who you need to become.  It's like in a math problem--if we are trying to solve an equation and along the way we get stuck, we need to go back to the beginning and start from the top to get to the end.
Love Always,
Sister Briggs :)

SHOUTOUTS: Jessica & Katy (two amazing girls who did baptisms twice in two different temples in one day...such good examples!), Madeleine Kmetzch, Sister McDougle, Sister Samuels, Kayla and Kevin Lussiers (your picture from your wedding is beautiful!), Grandma Jeanie, Momma Briggs (thank you for the letter and package!), Bryan and Casey Briggs, Dad, Donakey Family, Robert Donakey, Kylee Rowley (from one Sister to another---you AMAZE me :) thank you SO much for your letter, I cannot tell you how excited I am for you, Washington D.C. is so very lucky! I'll be writing you soon sweet girl), Sister Rushing, Sister Dimatera.


Also, fun shoutout--Sister Marsh, my MTC companion, and I started dancing one day, laughing, crying, hugging one night because our MTC teachers, yes, the lovely Sister Moffatt and Brother Ellsworth are now engaged---to each other! Congratulations you two!  We couldn't be more excited!!! :)

You're just like your Dad!

Hi everyone :) I honestly have been sitting here stumped for the last few minutes, trying to decide what to write about today.  This week was full of so much good, we truly are blessed in this mission with so very much. 

Sister Siegle and I next to a beautiful model of the Salt Lake Temple.  I love this Temple.  

We had Zone Conference at the Utah Daughters of the Pioneers museum which was absolutely incredible! Sister Siegle and I have been working hard an witnessing and being involved in miracles with people from all across the globe. 


I believe I can fly!  Having fun at Zone Conference.


So much fun trying to think of fun things to share :)...like the guns dad!?


Sister Siegle has been teaching me Portugese, so I have been teaching her some wonderful American phrases...this is where we learned how to say, "Welcome to the gun show!"

Yesterday, we had our first mission FHE with the Cottonwood Stake all full of Coldstone catering, delicious dinner and Brother Hartman (the creator of the Hartman personality test and author of, "The People Code" came and spoke with us about our different personalities and how they are directly from God.  So, trying to figure out what to write has been a bit of a challenge, but I am okay with that :) 




At Zone Conference with my Sister friends. 


Free Coldstone for FHE...Yumm!

 

This past week, I have really had my testimony strengthened of the importance of study.  We are students of so many things in our lives.  We are students to our parents, our friends, our teachers, our employers, all of us learning every day from the people around us and the experiences we have. When we study, we attain knowledge that not only helps us, but can help to answer the questions of those around us. I thought about all the teachers I have had.  I've had teachers who do kart wheels on tables, teachers who bring us pizza, teachers who cancel class...but the most memorable teachers that I have had, are the ones who taught me with passion and who helped me to really internalize what I was learning.  Who is my favorite teacher now?  My Heavenly Father.


Thank you for my scarf, ROB.  Best Valentines Day present ever.

 With school starting up again and summer coming to an end, Temple Square has slowed down quite a bit, allowing my companion and I to have our study time in the morning. I have learned the importance of this study time--that every morning I have an appointment with my Heavenly Father and I am not to be  late or lazy during that hour of precious time.  Just as with any class I open up my notebook, take out my pens and highlighters, and show God I am ready to learn and listen.  Whoever is reading this, I want to promise you now that when we prepare ourselves for answers, when we come to His class ready to learn, my goodness how He teaches us. I have had experiences this week that have touched my heart, that have forever changed me, but most important of all, I just want to bare a simple testimony to you all of the perfection of our Heavenly Father.



I LOVE the apartment I'm in!  This is all of us after FHE.
(Family Home Evening)

Our Heavenly Father is the perfect teacher.  He is loving, patient, kind, diligent.  His knowledge is not limited.  His kindness is not halted by our actions...His arm is stretched out still.  I have thought a lot this week about the hope that comes when we realize the hopefulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In Alma 37: 44-47, it reads,
 44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the ^aword of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

 45 And now I say, is there not a ^atype in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

 46 O my son, do not let us be ^aslothful because of the ^beasiness of the ^cway; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would ^dlook they might ^elive; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

 47 And now, my son, see that ye take ^acare of these sacred things, yea, see that ye ^blook to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.



With Sister Ibara...so sad it is her last transfer. 



How true it is--look to God and live.  What He asks of us, then immediately blesses us.  When we move forward in righteous actions, actions in accordance to God's will, we are endowed with faith.  I often thought it went the other way around...that faith leads to acts of righteousness, but I have seen that faith truly comes as a gift from God when we act upon His words.  Just try it! God knows that faith is sometimes difficult for us, especially in a world where we are taught to only believe that which we can see, hold, touch and feel.  I testify to you that I have seen his hand in my life.  I have been held by Him during my hardest trials.  I have been touched by His spirit  when I do good, testify of Jesus Christ, of Joseph Smith and of The Book of Mormon.  I feel, every single day, of His love and his anxiousness for His children here on earth.  God is more real than anything and His plan is to show us how having just a desire to do righteous, will give us faith which will then bring us miracles--the gift of eternal life with Him.



Sooo happy to hear our Sisters from Mexico will be staying for one more transfer! Yay. 







Elder Bednar once said in a Stake Conference that living the gospel isn't hard...not living the gospel is hard. The Plan of Salvation is not a level playing field, it favors us! God's plan for each of us to come to this earth, to learn, to live, to grow, to change, to gain knowledge, to have eternal glory, all of it was made by God- Him who knows perfectly our capabilities and our weaknesses. Everything with God's Plan has been organized to maximize our opportunity to success.  He knew we would fall, that we would struggle to remember Him and our life before here, but He gave us every opportunity to remember Him.  This church is here to help us live the gospel of Jesus Christ, to just make it that much easier for us to return to live with our Heavenly Father.  God is our Father, He didn't want to make it hard to return to live with Him--think of how sad it must make Him to see us forget Him and turn away.  He makes himself accessible to us every day we are away through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  



Our lovely friends Sister Bascom & Sister Barrett. We are always together because we are all assigned to be in Guest Services this transfer. 



I know that we are all a part of something so much bigger than us alone.  We are all a part of a grand and beautiful plan that answers every hope and wish of people around the world.  Look into your heart, what is it you want out of life?  I promise you, the answer, the knowledge to how you can have these hopes a reality in your life, all lie with the perfect teacher, with our Heavenly Father.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!





Love always,

Sister Briggs

SHOUTOUTS:Precious Dimatera, Courtney King (got her mission call!!!), Alyssa Lamprecht (thank you for your referral!), John Sheen, Sister Genster's Sister, Ashley Solosko, The Briggs & King family, The Donakey family and Robert :)






We love ice cream all the time. 

I always find swings...they're my absolute favorite



"He knows where his home is"

Happy Brasil day!!!

Wow! What an amazing week. I am looking back through my planner (which to many people looks like more of doodles since I highlight things in all the many different colored highlighters I have) and I can't help but smile.

 

This really was a powerful week on my mission, a powerful week in my life, where I truly felt the power and influence of the Spirit every single day.  I have thought a lot about which experience I wanted to write home to everyone about, and one keeps coming back to mind. 


 All the Sisters who dressed up for Brazil day! Dad--I made sure to wear blue too so I wouldn't just be in the green and yellow...go huskies!!! love you :)



 

With Sister Siegle on her birthday in Guest Services!



Yes, I got to wear the Brasil flag for just a little bit :) I loved it!

Throughout the week, the words of one man kept playing through my head again and again.  It wasn't the words of a Prophet, it wasn't the words of a song, it wasn't the words from the scriptures, it wasn't the words from any historical figures or church leaders---rather, it was the words of one man named Patrick. 

This last Thursday, my adorable and wonderful companion, Sister Siegle, and I were having our personal study down in the basement of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square. 

We both were so immersed in reading our 6 pages of The Book of Mormon as our mission President challenged us, that when he first spoke we were both a little startled.  I looked up and there saw a very simple man--very tall, very skinny with slicked back blonde hair, sweat pants, holes in his shoes, and a stained white collared shirt tucked in--holding out his hymn book in his right hand. 

"Have you signed my hymn book?" he said.

We came to find out that his name is Patrick and he is a homeless man who has lived close to Temple Square for the last 17 years.  Every year he buys a new hymn book and asks the Temple Square sister missionaries to sign their names and their favorite hymn. 

I held the hymn book and as I flipped through the pages he started to tell me what page all of the hymns were on.  He said that he tries to memorize the sisters favorite hymns so he can play them outside the gate when we all walk by.  Patrick is soon going on an adventure, traveling all around the United States to see all of the temples. 

He'll be finishing his trip with the temple in Hawaii and said, "Well, I don't know if I'll want to come back to Salt Lake if I finish in Hawaii!" 

I responded, "Yeah, that would be difficult, you'll be in paradise!"

 He then replied very sincerely, "Everyday, everywhere is paradise when you're with God."

I sat there just looking up at him and listening to him as he testified of Jesus Christ, as he testified of this gospel and how loving his Heavenly Father is.  The words then came into my mind so SO strongly and powerfully...
                                               "He knows where his home is."
I came to realize in those ten minutes with him that Patrick was not a homeless man at all.  In fact, he has more of an idea of a real home than anyone I have ever seen.  Wow.  I really thought about that. His home has already been payed for by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and I could see in his eyes that he knew that. 

Do I know where my true home lies?  It is with God. 

This place is such a temporary home.  The man in the parable in Luke 18:18-30 surely did not know where home was, nor did he or could he fully understand the magnitude of the treasures to be ours in the celestial Kingdom of God.  In this world, the money, those treasures are as dust and cannot even begin to compare with all that God has to give us. 

Patrick, he is not a homeless man.  Patrick--he is a son of God, he is a man of faith, he is a man of perspective and understands that happiness in this life doesn't come through what we own or what we possess, but true joy comes though reestablishing our own relationship with our Heavenly home--for that is the one that can never be destroyed if we do our part.  Patrick knows where his home is.


 I got to see Chay! My goodness we both just cried, I can't believe her and Colton have been married for a year and  half now...love them both so much :)

Throughout the rest of this last week, that phrase has come across my mind many times every single day.  The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go to this home, but that we can feel at home there.  That is why the temple is so important.  Growing up I loved the quote, "when we focus on the temple, everything else will fall into place."  I see that more clearly than ever now.  If we feel at home in the temple, in the house of the Lord here on earth, we are preparing ourselves to feel at home in God's presence in the Celestial Kingdom, and that is the greatest home anybody could ever ever wish for.  It's a place of peace, of love, of happiness, comfort and joy. 



Awaiting the pin drop moment.... 

It's a place where despair, darkness and sorrow can never dwell.  It's a secure home that the Atonement of Jesus Christ has already given his life for that we could inherit our place there with our families and those we love most...we just have to do our part and sign our names making it ours.  We sign our names by having faith in Jesus Christ, by repenting, being baptized by the authority of God, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring through the trials that may come our way.




 We are so sad it is Sister Finau's last transfer! She's from Tonga and is an amazing example to us every day.  I was lucky to be in her Zone last transfer!



I know that my Redeemer lives.  I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that home is where the heart is, and when our heart is with God, we can never go astray.  I cannot explain the happiness that I feel as a missionary, as someone who is converted more and more fully to this gospel each and every day.

 

 

 I testify to you all that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, called to restore the very same church that Jesus Christ established when he walked this earth.  I invite you all to read the first vision and to pray if Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God.  For it Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, then this gospel is what will bring us back safely to our true home.  This is my promise to you as your friend, your daughter, your sister, as Kelsey, as Sister Briggs, as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as a representative of Jesus Christ.



During a tour with Grandma Jeanie and about 50 people








I love you all and wish for nothing but your very joy! God is still a God of miracles, let Him work one in you :)  Mormon 9:15.

Nao se esqueca que eu te amo,  (Never forget that I love you)

 

Sister Briggs

 

SHOUTOUTS: Grandma Jeanie, Blake Bartholemew, Kate Thornock's Sister, Sister Siegle's amazing and wonderful family--I got to meet her beautiful sister this week on Sister Siegle's birthday (she's incredible!), Kenton Pieper, Colton & Chay Miles, Lizzy Hawes, Mom, Dad, Bryan, Casey, Robert Donakey and the whole Donakey family.

With my Zone Leader Sister Martinez from Spain.  My other zone leader is Sister Hvistendahl from Greenland...she is one of FIVE members in Greenland...her and her family being four of them.  They hold church services in their living room every Sunday.  They are both incredible and have committed us to a theme for this transfer for our zone...the them is, "Be a trio--you, your companion and the Holy Ghost." :)

 

Short visit from Grandma Jeanie


Grandma Jeanie with Jean and Ed Donakey, Thank you for hosting a very special luncheon and meeting!
(Yes, these are Rob's very awesome parents!) 




Ice cream for Sister Siegle's birthday!



Our roommates made us breakfast for planning! We love Sister Creal from Arizona and Sister Taiti from Fiji! :)



 

 

God cannot work on what He does not have.

Today is the last day of my second transfer here at Temple Square. It has been a crazy transfer, but one full of lessons learned and experiences that I can never forget. 

Sister Humble and I decorated our planners for the next transfer!



  I have seen that God really does lift us up and enables us to see miracles at His hand if we look for them and are putting forth the faith to be a part of them.  Some news to start off this note---Sister Humble and I had an amazing two weeks together.  I will forever be grateful for our short yet powerful 2 weeks together.  We saw miracles and I think one of the miracles even was us.  Seeing that when two missionaries truly give everything they have, that God works through them in ways we could have never imagined. 



And as you can see, I am very excited about my planner!  It's a good reminder to me to have "Discipleship through love and service" on the front, with Moroni 7:19 on the back



This is the front of my planner.


This is the back of my planner.  Moroni 7:19

Well, Heavenly Father now has others in store for us, so we will not be companions for our third transfer.  Exciting news though...I will be companions with one of my dearest friends in the mission...minha Linda Flor...SISTER SIEGLE FROM SAO PAULO, BRASIL! Ahhh! Sister Siegle reported to the MTC the same day and were roommates our first transfer and we became such good friends.  We always said how much we would love to be companions, and now we are! Also--it is her BIRTHDAY on SEPTEMBER 8...she really is the sweetest and most loving girl and if you have the chance, she would love to hear from you :) 

Our assignment for this transfer is Guest Services!  So for a few hours every day we will be on the phones arranging tours for people all around the world and working with the Elders and Sisters in the surrounding missions.  If you ever call to set up  a tour, yep, it just may be me and Sister Siegle who answers :)  Tomorrow is our first day together and I am so excited.  I know that God is aware of us and that when we endure and work through our trials, that oh how He blesses us and gives us an infinite amount of joy.  He knows what we need better than anyone else.


We got to go to Music and The Spoken Word last Sunday--it was so much fun! Shoutout to Andrew Lindsay's wonderful Mother!

This last week really was beautiful.  I was able to see so many people that are so dear to me and to really remember why it is that I am here.  My testimony of my Savior and of his Atonement have grown so very much.  In Alma 34:31 it reads....

"Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you."

I really am amazed by the love of God and Jesus Christ.  They hold no resentment towards us, but rather towards our mistakes, towards the things we do that keep us from them.  When we turn to them we are immediately blessed.  One way that we are immediately blessed is that we are changed, and change is the greatest blessing of all. I have witnessed this first hand on my mission in so many ways this past week. 




 Becca & Mary & Tori - sharing a hug from my Orem "Sisters". 



Our investigator, Adelle, from the Philippines has said YES to baptism and we are ecstatic :) We have seen her change in our two short weeks with her and have seen these immediate blessings in her life.  She went to church for the first time this past Sunday and took her daughter with her.  She even bore her testimony of the gospel during Relief Society.  I feel that I am learning more from her than she may be learning from her.  She always talks about how sometimes she'll read a chapter we assign her in The Book of Mormon, but then she'll go back and read it again because she feels she didn't internalize it.  When we internalize the teachings of The Book of Mormon, this is when we change, and I promise you all, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, that this change is only and ALWAYS for the better.  It is the only thing I would put a 100% guarantee on in this life for a sure foundation and for happiness in the lives of people from around the world.



Had some delightful smoothies with Sister Humble, Sister Lee and Hermana Triana it's so much fun to say her name! :)

 

Our other investigator, Richard from New Zealand, ALSO went to church with his 6 kids! haha We feel like Richard is our Dad, he is just the kindest man and is always so much fun to talk with.  He said that when he went to church, he had an "absolutely fantastic" time.  He said that he came to church with questions, and all of his questions were answered.  He said that when someone who teach something new, or say something he hadn't yet heard he would think --"hey, that's what I believe too!"  Richard is really showing us that this gospel really is nothing new.  I think so often we think that this world that we're in now is real life, but it really is not.  This time here is just a sliver, a blink that then leads us back to where we've really been all our lives, back to the presence of our Heavenly Father.  That's another miracle of the Atonement...not only does it allow us to go home, but it allows us to feel at home there.


Sister Hillam, one of my dearest friends is leaving for her outbound tomorrow to Arizona! Also..love love Sister Genster's face in the background.  So wonderful

I promise you all that change really is the greatest blessing we can receive.  God is so eager and so ready to give us everything that He has.  John Bytheway came and spoke to our mission this morning, and he spoke about the three parables in Luke 15--that of the lost sheep, the lost piece of silver, and the prodigal son.  He pointed out to us that in the story of the prodigal son, after the son has gone and spent all of his father's inheritance, has disrespected and brought dishonor to his family, he finally realizes that something is wrong.  When he returns home to ask to even just be a servant in his own home we see a miracle in Luke 15:20...

"And he (the son) arose, and came to his father.  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."

 

John Bytheway pointed something out from this verse that I had never before seen.  In order for the Father to see his son, he had to have been watching for him.  This father had been so abused, so betrayed by his son, yet he waits anxiously and searches for him day after day.  When this son changed his heart, when he recognized what he was missing and started his journey home, his Father eagerly ran to him.  I have seen it in my own life, and now in the lives of my investigators that this is a reality.  Heavenly Father doesn't care what you have done, He just cares that you come home--and when you do start for home, it is Him, and it is our Savior who carries us joyfully the rest of the way.



We made the yummy salmon, Dad!

Mmmm leftover cheesecake in the teaching center...yummmm :) thanks Mom and  Dad!

I love you all and am so grateful for your support and encouragement each and every week.  You are all always in my prayers.  I know that our Heavenly Father is mindful of you :)  You can make a difference because you are different, and our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ can mold and change you into someone who can make the biggest of differences, let him.

Love Always,

Sister Briggs :)





 Ohh Sister Ha from Korea.  She actually is from Gangnum (you know the song Gangnum style).  Yep, it's a super high class place up there and she was a hair dresser for celebrities and such...she's always doing something fun to her hair...or even to ours haha



SHOUTOUTS: Ohh it was oh so wonderful to see Mary, Becca, Tori, Brother & Sister Donakey this last week at Temple Square! Thank you also to Sister Mcdougle, Casey and Bryan, Mom and Dad, Sara Donakey, Grandma Jeanie and Grandmother for the letters this last week :) you are in my thoughts and prayers and I will write back to you oh so soon! Transfers always make things just a little crazy :)

 



Meet my new friend--he's a stuffed white tiger named Ashira..yep, remember the song "There can be miracles, when you believe" from The Prince of Egypt? I think Ashira means miracle in Hebrew...maybe not, but it seems fitting for a tiger I think! Thank you Robert, I love it :)