What it Means to Sustain

 I am loving being a Temple Square missionary more and more with each passing day.  Just yesterday was my 5 month mark and I can hardly believe it.  I still feel so new, I still feel like I'm just getting my feet in, I still feel like...well, a baby bird :) (those of you who know me know I always use that saying haha) However, I do feel very different.  I really am seeing that the mission is the "MTC" for the rest of my life.  I have never experienced so much growth, felt so much love, witnessed so many miracles, gained so much knowledge  of felt such strong true happiness in all my life.  This truly is the work of God :)



Reunited with Sister Lin! She's training too and she's a district leader! It is so wonderful to have her back!

This last week was my first week as a trainer and in serving at the Beehive House and it has been a fun adventure! The Beehive house was Brigham Young's home when he lived here in the Salt Lake valley and it is absolutely beautiful.  There is so much history there and there is also such a very strong spirit. 



Exploring the relief society building...scripture power!

Earlier this week, Sister Taylor (my amazing and wonderful companion, you will all just absolutely love her!) and I took a tour with a Chinese man currently living in missionary and an adorable member family who was out for the day having fun exploring Salt Lake City.  It was a mother and her 4 children and they had such a strong enthusiasm that was contagious in being grateful for Brigham Young as a prophet as well as all the prophets we have had since then.  Sister Taylor and I were sharing about how a prophet is not called by the people, but we all sustain him.  We then went to explain the members sustained the prophet Brigham Young by the work that they did in building up the temple, in building up the community, in walking the 1,300 miles here with faith, trust and hope to push them through.



Sister Taylor and I loving the fall weather! aww it is beautiful!

The mother then said, "I really like that you two sisters keep saying 'sustain.' To sustain someone means we don't just support them, but we take some of their responsibility upon us as well.  We do the things they need help with and the things that they ask for us to do.  We carry part of their work."

That really stuck with me.  In the church, we are always asked to sustain those around us in their various callings.  The thought came to me that in fulfilling our various callings whether they be ward choir leader, Relief Society President, Young Men's second counselor, Bishop, Young Women's teacher or even missionary we are sustaining someone much higher than ourselves--we are sustaining our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are taking some of His work, and doing parts of it, no matter how minute or small our contribution may seem. We are helping to carry His load and His most important work among His children here on earth.



Having fun at the Church History Museum :)

Whatever it is we are called to do, we receive the sustaining of our family members and our ward members, but most importantly we receiving the sustaining of our Father in Heaven--HE is the one who calls us and especially the one who qualifies us.

Alma 29:12 reads, "Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage."

I do believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and I know that the same God who helped Moses is the same God who has called me to be a full-time missionary.  He is the same God who has called you to be in the nursery, to be the chorister, or to be on the high council, and He is the same God who called Joseph Smith to restore the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ here to this earth.

Alma 29:13 says, "Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full."



I am so grateful that everything in this church allows us the opportunity to be in a partnership with God.  As verse 13 says, it is God that gives me success, it is He that sustains me and allows me to do any good or have any influence as a missionary, and it is my choice to sustain Him.  I know that every little good thing we do, is sustaining our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.  Through our contributions we are all able to carry some of their work as they keep their  arms extended in carrying us.

That is my invitation to you this week! Think about how it is that you can sustain those in your family, in your ward, in your stake and more importantly your Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.  I have been so blessed to see so many powerful examples in my life of this and it completely makes me smile every single day :)

Alma 29:14-- "But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren..."




Out "proselyting" with Sister John!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Love Always,
Sister Briggs

SHOUTOUTS: Judith Genster (Sister Genster's Sister- congratulations on your mission call to Cleveland, Ohio!!!!!), Mom, Dad, Casey, Robert, Mary, Sara, Becca, Brother and Sister Donakey, The Johnson family (good luck to Anthony on his mission in Argentina!), Danny Payne and Angela Convington (all of those dinosaur stickers made my day!)

Transfer 4: "Even our Seconds Show our Stewardship"

Hey again everyone! Two P-days in a row, swell deal huh? (For those who don't know a P-Day is a Preparation Day or Personal Day - It is our day to do personal things, go to the grocery store, write letters, run errands, move in with our new companion, etc.)  I only have a few minutes to e-mail as it has been crazy with transfers and all.  I realized that I wrote yesterday that we had all heard about our new companions and assignments, but that I didn't share with you mine!

I feel very blessed and lucky to be called to serve as a trainer this transfer.  I am very humbled by this opportunity and know that we really will be training each other.  I like to think of Alma 12:1, where we can read that Alma supported his companion Amulek in everything.  Think of the most amazing companionship of all time- that of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.  They are all one in purpose, one in heart, mind, might and strength.  If we are to help fulfill God's purpose here on earth, "to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man," we too must be unified and supportive of each other in all things :)

The theme I want to have for this transfer is, "Even our Seconds Show our Stewardship."  I know that so many blessing come from truly consecrating ourselves to the Lord and in so many different forms. I know and testify that Jesus Christ was a steward of His time before coming to this earth as He prepared for His role here, to be the Savior of the world, and my new companion and I want to represent Him to the very best of our ability. I know that this is not our time, but it is the Lord's time.  I can't imagine anything more beautiful and powerful than spending our time the way He does.

I want to introduce my new amazing, wonderful, beautiful and delightful companion to everyone! Her name is Sister Taylor and she is from Rancho Cucamonga and she really is splendid in every sense of the word. 

Sister Taylor and I :)

 

It was actually a bit of a funny story how we first came together- The AP's were calling off the new sisters from the MTC and then saying, "And you're companion is.....Sister _____!" And then of course we'd all clap for joy :) I was sitting there with Sister Siegle (who is also training, ah how I love her) when Sister Centeno tapped on my shoulder from behind and said, "Sister Briggs...this one's yours!"  I just started laughing and was joking with her and then she kept pointing up, I looked around and saw everyone was looking at me...she really was my new companion! Sister Centeno called it :)  We already are having so much fun together and I can't wait to get to know her better and to learn from her.
 

My New Planner

 

I just want to testify to you all that I know this gospel is truly the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove.  I know that as missionaries, the work isn't better because we are here, but we are better because of the work.

I love you all and I'll see you soon!

Love Always,
Sister Briggs

SHOUTOUTS: Thank you for the letter Sister Dimatera and Robert Donakey! :)

Pictures.....decorated a gigantic pumpkin cookie with the roommates on our last night together thanks to Sister Siegle's wonderful sister!

Miracles on West Temple

We had a fun little photo shoot since Sister Siegle has never experienced a Utah fall with all the lovely trees!
"Always remember, Look Up!"

Alright, who is ripping out all the pages in my calendar?  Where did September go?  Where did August go? The time here is going by so so quickly-it's already half way through October!

This last week really was a miracle.  When I add up all the experiences I had, little to grand, it may almost seem unbelievable, but I choose to believe.  I don't look for a way to explain all that happened, because I know that God's hand was in everything, and God is still surely a God of miracles. 

 

Yesterday we had our transfer conference and we all found out our new companions, new assignments, apartments, and even got to hear from our new Assistant to the President.  Sister Schill, from Virginia, is our new AP in the mission.  She walked up to the podium and shared an insight for God's miracles and with an enthusiasm I had never before seen. She explained that growing up she LOVED to make chocolate chip cookies with her Mom.  Although she would always get flour all over the floor, in her hair, really everywhere except in the bowl, her Mom always let her help because she enjoyed it so much. She then said,

"God allows you to be here, serving him in this mission, doing His most precious work, because He knows YOU love it, because YOU love being on the front-line to see all of God's miracles."


Brazilian Bakery Celebrations Last Week!

It is a miracle in itself that God allows me, allows all of us to be a part of His most important work, yet He does it because He loves us, and because He knows the joy and the happiness that it brings when we really serve Him in this way.

This last week I really saw that miracles especially happen when we give our whole might and mind to the Lord.  This past week I was working diligently to get caught up on reading my 6 pages every day in The Book of Mormon.  With General Conference and transfers taking place, all of us have become a little bit behind.  Any spare moment I had, I was reading the scriptures. This is not to say it was easy...there were times I had to sacrifice fun times bonding with the other sisters, or getting into bed earlier than 10:30, but it has been completely worth it.  As I have read The Book of Mormon, I have read of God's miracles, and each day, I have seen my own miracles :)


We'll miss our favorite Senior couple, the Creers!

One of my favorite verses I came across this week is Alma 5:7.  One line in there has stuck with me and has been something I have shared in almost every contact I have had with others this week...

"Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word..."

How beautiful and powerful is that?  All of us may be a little lost in some way.  Maybe it is not a thick mist of darkness, but many of us have fears, doubts, questions, concerns, worries that darken our view our cloud our perspective.  Is there something you wonder about?  Read The Book of Mormon.  Is there a fear that you have?  Read The Book of Mormon.  Do you wonder sometimes how you can be everything you were meant to be? Read The Book of Mormon.  Do you want to see miracles?  Read The Book of Mormon.


Happy 21st Birthday Sister Asay!!!

As I have read diligently this last week specifically, I have felt this in my life, I have felt my soul being illuminated.  The most beautiful part about being illuminated too, is that it gives off a light for others to see and feel too.  I know that because I was illuminated by the scriptures, I was able to be more in tune with the spirit, to say what it is God would have me say, to be where He would have me be and to love the way He loves.  Yes, by reading the scriptures, not only was I illuminated but I was "on the front-line to see all of God's miracles."


Remember Patrick?  "He knows where home is" man?  This is him :) and we just love him.  He shared with us this week that the one hymn he refuses to play for people on his harmonica is, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief."  He said, "I may be financially stretched, but I am not poor; I have Jesus Christ, I have my Heavenly Father, I have their gospel, how could I ever be poor? I have everything and more I could ever need."

Cora and Katie were one of God's biggest miracles this week that I was able to witness and be a part of.  Sister Siegle and I were standing under the Tabernacle as the rain poured down, waiting to see if anyone would show up for our assigned flagpole tour.  Out of the door of the Tabernacle came a mother, Cora, with her adorable 4-year old daughter, Katie.  Cora said, "What is this place?"  but she said it in a sense of awe and wonder.  I stood there quietly looking at her and smiling as she glanced up at the temple.  Looking at me she then said, "This is a special place, isn't it?" I nodded my head smiling and responded, "Yes, it is." Our whole 20-minute conversation took place there, by the door of the Tabernacle, hiding for cover from the rain, and was one where I was completely led by the spirit, testifying of the temple and of the Plan of Salvation.  I asked questions I had never thought of, I explained things in a way I had never thought of before, and I watched as her eyes became misty that she was experiencing something she had never felt before- it was hope, faith, trust, love, and God was allowing me to be a part of it.  We would teach her things and she would respond and say she had always believed it, just never knew where to find it. 

Miracles don't just happen on 34th street or on West Temple Street, in The Bible or in The Book of Mormon, but they are happening today and they are happening now.  Be a part of these miracles. Hey, you yourself may even be one of God's greatest miracles.

 "And if there were ^amiracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he ^bchangeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles." (Mormon 9:19).

Let The Book of Mormon illuminate your soul this week and let me know what miracles you find.  Write them down, be aware and never stop believing :)

Love Always,
Sister Briggs :)


Celebrating Sister Nelson's 22nd birthday! :)


Roommate bonding one night.  We had a little testimony meeting together.

SHOUTOUTS: Brigham (thanks for the note, you're oh so wonderful! Sorry I missed you at Temple Square!), Bryan and Casey, Mom and Dad, The Donakey family, Robert Donakey, Caroling Slater, Sister Moffatt, Grandma Jeanie (thank you for the new dinosaur stickers! ohhh how I love them!), and Sister Brock's Dad (I met your daughter this week and she said you two would read this sometimes, I promise I'll take good care of her here!)

P.S. Two sisters are coming to the SALEM, OREGON mission for their out bounds...their names are Sister Mulli (from American Samoa and Tonga) and Sister Ichimaru (from Japan) please keep an eye out for them in Bend! :)


Sister Ichimaru (from Japan)

Sister Mulli (from American Samoa and Tonga)

"...become ye as little children."

 Oi! Is it just me or are the weeks starting to pass by quicker and quicker?  I think part of it has to do with conference as well.  How did everyone enjoy conference?!  I have never experienced something quite like it with being at Temple Square.  Being a missionary here really gave me a whole new perspective on the whole General Conference experience.  I want you to think of where you were this weekend for Conference.  Were you at home?  Were you at a friend's home or with family?  Did you watch on your computer, on a TV?  Think of the miracle General Conference is brothers and sisters.  Here at Temple Square I was a witness to thousands and thousands of people flooding the streets to go and hear a Prophet speak, to go and hear the words of God as spoken by his prophets and apostles.  Think of the miracle that is :) 


Day 1 of Conference with Sisters from all around the world! So exciting!

Walking around Temple Square we were able to meet people from around the world, people who had traveled thousands of miles and had sacrificed great amounts to be able to come and attend even just one session of General Conference. As a missionary at Temple Square, they needed us up on the square talking with all of the visitors, so we were able to attend just one session (the Saturday morning session), and even that gave me so much hope and so much joy to hear from and be in the same room as the Prophet, to be in a room holding so much hope and faith.


With Sister Deleu (France) and Sister Siegle (Brasil...my adorable companion!) right before day 1 of General Conference

To be prepared for General Conference, we had a meeting Friday night as a mission.  Before the closing of the meeting, we watched a short clip from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  He said something that really stuck with me, "General Conference tells the world- God not only lives, but He speaks."  I testify to each of you that God does live and that He does speak to each of us, His children, today. I know that so many prayers and questions were answered throughout the world this past weekend, and not only with the distinct words being uttered by those who spoke, but also with the quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful that these words are recorded that we can go back and read them or view them as often as we would like to.  These words are revelation and they are revelation for the world!


With roommates and friends before heading back up to the square to finish out a wonderful conference weekend!





Can you see now why The Book of Mormon and why The Holy Bible are so important and so precious?  These books contain the records of ancient prophets.  God spoke to them, and He speaks to us now.  I am so grateful for how dependable our Father in Heaven is.  He truly wants to make Himself accessible to all His children around the world.


Sister Humble and I celebrating our first General Conference on the mission!

Something I love so much about the gospel of Jesus Christ and about the words of the Prophet, is that the message is so pure and so simple that "even a child can understand it."  One of the most touching experiences I had this weekend was at the Reflection Pond on the east side of the Salt Lake temple.  Sister Siegle had run into an older couple who spoke Portugese.  They had served a mission in Brasil and had come to General Conference with their granddaughters, Taylor and Courtney. 

As Sister Siegle spoke with this amazing couple, I was inspired and so uplifted by these two young girls before me.  Taylor and Courtney are twins, they are 8 years old and were just baptized this past Sunday. They were so sincere and so genuine as they spoke about the joy they felt at their baptism, of the presence of the Holy Ghost that was so strongly there.  They told me about the missionary work they have been doing with teaching their friends at school about the gospel.  I knelt down beside them and picked up two small "forget me not" flowers and handed them to the two little girls before me. 

I explained that these were flowers that can remind us to always remember the little things in our life, to remind us to always have joy.  I asked them about what little things there are in their life that make them happy. Taylor looked at Courtney and said, "Well, she's everything to me- Courtney has been with me forever.  We were born together, we were baptized together and we'll probably even die together...but I'm not really sure how that works." haha as you can imagine, these little girls were so cute and so adorable. Then Courtney smiled and twirling from side to side grabbed Taylor's hand and looked right into her eyes and said, "Yeah, we have been together forever, but we were with someone even before and now he's with us even more since we got baptized." 


Sister Barrett (California) is so much fun and has such wonderful stories! I feel so lucky to have been in her same district this transfer.

These two 8-year old girls went on to explain to me that Jesus Christ was their "forget me not flower."  These girls knew that they had lived with God and Jesus Christ before, and that they would return to live with them again. I remember feeling the spirit so strongly as these girls spoke about their love for Jesus Christ and of their love for their Heavenly Father and they shared that they were already preparing for missions because of the announcement and because of the emphasis on missionary work at general conference.

It was in this moment that I really learned what it means to come unto Christ as a little child.  In "Jesus the Christ," it reads,

"Christ would not have had His chosen representatives become childish; far from it, they had to be men or courage, fortitude and force; but He would have them become childlike.  The distinction is important.  Those who belong to Christ must become like little children in obedience, truthfulness, trustfulness, purity, humility, and faith."

Courtney and Taylor were my angels this General Conference weekend who truly were examples to me.  Their trust in God, their purity, their humility, was a reminder that we are to always remember WHO'S we are.  We are children of God.  Just as our Fathers here on earth, He wants us to succeed and He did not send us here to fail.  I know that General Conference, having a living Prophet and Apostles, the gift of prayer, church, the scriptures are all here to help us succeed.  Sometimes we may think that in order to succeed by the church's standards, by God's standards, we are sacrificing a lot.  If we really look at it though, we can see that this gospel, the doctrine of Jesus Christ, His plan, is perfect and we are everything to Him because we are His children.  I promise you that if there is something that you have been encouraged during this conference weekend to give up, or to be better at, it truly isn't a sacrifice but it is a tremendous blessing and opportunity to be transformed.



With roommates and friends before heading back up to the square to finish out a wonderful conference weekend!

Sister Asay (from Texas) and I were SO excited about Dinner Sunday night.  A local stake made us homemade Cafe Rio! Ahhh! :)

"What we give up only blesses us and prepares us for exaltation; there is no such thing as a sacrifice." (a quote shared with me by a fellow missionary).

I love you all and hope you have a most marvelous week!


Love always,
Sister Briggs


SHOUTOUTS: Sister McDougle, Zach Hansen, Carmen Bone, Danny Gessell, Joe Morris, Kenny Hutchings, Alexx Levya, Caroline Slater, Bryan & Casey, the beautiful Ensign King Family, Briana Layton and her cousins, Robbie Hernandez, Cory, Joe Peters, Sister Stephenson and Kate Thornock :)



Our amazing Zone Leaders (Sister Martinez from Spain and Sister Hvistendahl from Greenland) after our District Meeting...amazing spiritual thought from Sister Huffaker from California who shared with us her own version of Ether 12:27 (about making weaknesses strong).  She compared it to Pokemon and said , "Gotta teach 'em all!"  We love her :)

Kelsey Sighting!

I am Kelsey's sister-in-law, Casey. (I frequently help keep this blog running.)

I had the wonderful blessing of running into Sisters Briggs and Siegle at Temple Square after the General Relief Society meeting last weekend.

Casey, Sister Briggs, Courtney

 Courtney is leaving to serve a mission in Wisconsin in a few months! She got to hear testimonies from several of the sister missionaries at Temple Square-- it was such a powerful, uplifting experience.

Sister Siegle, Casey, Sister Briggs

When people hear that I have family serving at Temple Square, (about 45 minutes away from my home) I often get asked if I go visit Sister Briggs. So, for those of you wondering what the deal is with visiting Sister Briggs, I am more than happy to explain. 

The Temple Square mission is unique and some of the typical mission rules have been adapted to fit the different circumstances. The Church does not discourage anyone from coming to Temple Square. In fact, visiting Temple Square is encouraged. Temple Square is a fairly large tourist destination and can be a wonderful missionary tool. 

In fact, some of you will remember that a few months ago, Kelsey's parents actually came to Temple Square on an official, one-time visit. 

That being said, my husband and I personally decided that we would not go to Temple Square just to "visit" Kelsey. We don't want to be a distraction-- the missionaries have such an important job and are so incredibly busy. However, we decided that if we are ever at Temple Square for another reason (like the General Relief Society meeting or General Conference), it is okay if we happen to see her, but we are not going to seek her out. 

I hope that answered any questions you might have. If you have other questions about anything: mission rules, Temple Square, missionaries the LDS Church... please feel free to leave a comment. 

Have a wonderful General Conference Weekend! :) 

On a Scale of 1-10: How Much Does This Hurt?

Hi everyone! I hope you all had an amazing week full of joy and love and maybe even cookies. I so look forward to this upcoming week as it's General Conference time! Yes, to the rest of the world this may be a relaxing time to stay home and eat breakfast as you sit on the couch watching General Conference, but for us Temple Square missionaries, it is the busiest time of the year.  We need to be on the square at 7:30 in the morning ready to go and don't get to go home until about 10 at night...I am so excited :)  I just may feel like a little kid at Christmas time.

So, so happy I got to see my beautiful Sister...Casey BRIGGS :)

Waiting for the General Relief Society Broadcast to start with our amazing Zone Leaders!
Sister Hvistendahl (1 of 5 members in Greenland) and Sister Martinez (Spain)

This past week I've seen a lot of miracles in my life.  I have met and spoken with people that have truly inspired me and have brought me closer to my Savior. However, what I really want to share with you all is something I realized earlier this week and have been made so aware of throughout the remainder of it.  My testimony is really growing of Personal and Companionship study time :)

Still waiting with Sister Ince (Canada) and Sister De Castro (Brasil).
It was such an amazing broadcast!

SO excited about my dinosaur shirt from Grandfather and Grandma Jeanie!
I couldn't stop smiling or dancing about it haha

Every time we go to see a doctor, it seems we are always asked the same questions.  One of the most common ones being, "On a scale of 1-10, how much does this hurt?"  I've never really known how to answer this question.  Even Bryan Reagan has done a skit on this question because it's not one that is really fair to answer.  We often don't know how to explain our pain, and oftentimes what may be a 7 on the scale of pain for me, could quite easily be a 2 on the scale of pain for another.  It just doesn't seem like a fair question.

Our HILARIOUS roommates Sister Creal (Indiana) and Sister Taito (Fiji).
We seriously have the best time together every night drinking hot chocolate and talking about our day.
They are the best :)

Sister Siegle and I played basketball with some of the other sisters at 6 in the morning
and it was so much fun!
Watch out Rob, Bryan and Dad...I'm getting some tricky skills on the court :)

All growing up I really have wanted to invent a certain something, and it's not something I've told many people about because they would always just kind of laugh at me and tell me I was silly...but here I am telling you now :) I always wanted to invent some way for the doctors to feel my pain, even for just a second.  I don't mean this in that I wanted them to hurt, or to feel sad or scared like I may have been, I just wanted them to better understand how I was feeling in a way I couldn't express with words. I always figured that if they could just feel my pain for a second, they would best know how to treat me.
When I was reading in The Book of Mormon, I came across a scripture that made me think back to this invention.  
In Mosiah 3:10 it reads, 

"And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men."

Never has this scripture been so profound or hit me so deeply as it did at this time. Jesus Christ is the one who stands to judge the world because He knows perfectly how we feel.  He is the only one who could pass a righteous judgment as He as experienced the same pains and knows if we truly gave everything our best, if we truly had faith considering the circumstance we were given in this life.  I also know, that the Atonement is essential to the growth and progression of all mankind.  I know that our Heavenly Father suffered His perfect, beloved son Jesus Christ to die, and that Jesus Christ himself was willing to come, because they wanted to someone to understand perfectly what we would all go through during our time here.

With the birthday girl, adorable Sister Christensen turned 22! 

With Sister P.Lee from Taiwan who will soon be returning to her original mission in Idaho,
I will miss her oh so much!

What I thought would be a perfect invention, is simply modeled after the perfect wisdom of our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ- our ultimate healers. Because our Savior knows exactly how we feel we don't have to worry about picking a number between 1 and 10 to describe our pain, we don't have to worry about wondering if our description will give him the ability to completely fix us.  Because Jesus Christ suffered as all mankind has and would, He knows best how to heal us.
Just as the doctors around the world have studied, prepared, practiced medicine and wait anxiously each day to help us, so does the Savior wait to help us.  I know that Jesus Christ's role in our life cannot be underestimated.  He already suffered everything for each of us and anxiously waits to heal us.  Although we do not need to worry about explaining our pain to him, we do need to come unto him in order to have the healing in our lives that we so seek.  I have felt my Savior healing me on my mission and throughout my entire life.  At times I knew that no one could understand my heartaches or sorrows, He did.  Let the Savior heal you.

After Maria's baptism :)

Maria was baptized! She was an investigator lesson we took with the local elders here.
She is from Brasil and is 82 years old and was baptized just this past week.
When she came with her son in law and the Elders just a few weeks ago,
I promised her I would bear my testimony in Portuguese at her baptism, and I did. :)
It was the best feeling in the world!

I love you all so very much and hope for nothing but the very best for each of you.  I may not know of everything you are all going through or be able to even understand it, but you already know who does. Trust in him and I promise you will find yourself becoming whole and complete again.


Love Always,

Sister Briggs

P.S. General Conference this weekend! Watch it, take notes, LOVE IT :)  I am so grateful to be serving here for such an exciting time!

SHOUTOUTS: Uncle Mike (thanks for the cookies!), Casey BRIGGS, Courtney King and lovely Aunt Nicole, George Edwards (my best buddy from England came by! Good luck in the MTC!), Jessica HoHeywood (the dinosaur picture was awesome!), Dayna Kirkpatrick (your card was so beautiful, thank you!), Robert and Donakey family, Grandfather and Grandma Jeanie (thank you so much for the DINOSAUR shirt...ahhh!!!!!), Kathy Wiley, Kate Thornock, Sister Lin's sister and Sariah M :)