Nauvoo Temple

Heyyyy everyone!!! What is upp?!? I hope all is well and everyone is doing good!! This week was super busy and kind of all over the place so buckle up haha!!

On Wednesday we went to Quincy and were part of an interfaith music celebration! Which is where a bunch of people from other churches came and performed songs, and gave some talks! It was honestly so cool seeing so many people from different churches come together despite what they believe and sing Christmas songs and talk about the true meaning of christmas!!! My zone sang oh holy night and it was super special! What a cool opportunity that I was able to be a part of!! We stayed in Quincy that night with 11 other sisters and you can imagine how lit that was!!!

Friday we were doing some neighbor knocking and we knocked on this former house and she let us right in. We sat down and asked her the basic questions! We taught her about the restoration and I kid you not the spirit completely took over. we told her that we know this is the true church and she nodded!! I was shook because most of the time we get cut off and immediately bashed, but she listened and loved what we had to say!! We gave her a book of mormon and told her we would be back and she said okay!!!

Saturday we were able to go to the Nauvoo temple!!! I cannot even put into words how amazing it truly was. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to go! I have had so much on my mind and it was an answer to so many of my prayers. I was so overcome with so much love and comfort! I have never felt so much peace in the temple than I have this time and it was exactly what I needed! On the drive there I just sat and pondered and had so much on my mind! Mainly, I am extremely grateful for my parents and the perfect examples they have been to me all my life about how important temples truly are! I am sad that I didn't take more time in high school to attend the temple because it truly is the greatest place on earth! I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that I know that families can be together forever!! I love more than anything that I get to be sealed to my family for eternity!! I cannot wait to also one day be sealed to a family of my own and be sealed to my husband as well!

Sunday we had one of our people come to church! She is 18 and her name is Jazmin!! It's so fun because it feels like I'm hanging out with my friends all the time when I'm around her! She is super interested and we have had some amazing lessons with her! Please pray for her that she will continue to progress and we can help her!

Spiritual thought:

This has become one of my favorite scriptures on the mission and one that me and Sister Johnsen and sister Otto talked about all the time!

D&C 18:15

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

I have had a lot on my mind lately. these past 2 weeks have been super hard for me because I have felt a lot of pressure! It's hard when you feel like you're giving it your all and just no one seems to accept our message or let us in their house! I have had multiple days where I have felt like I don't know why I am here! and to be honest there are days where I even just wanted to give up and go home. There are also days I feel like I don't have what it takes to be "the best" missionary! but although I am no perfect missionary and not even close, I know that I am trying my best and I know that God is proud of me! and I know that the greatest part of missionary work is at the end of the day we are converting ourselves the most! that is the greatest gift of missionary work! that save it be "one soul" is ourselves and our personal conversion. I know that I may not have a single baptism my whole mission. will people get close? absolutely!! but not every person will accept this gospel. at least not in this life. but the greatest conversion of all is our own conversion and I have seen how converted I have become to this gospel by serving these precious people and I know that as long as I show up everyday and give it my all that is enough!

I love you all and I know without a doubt that in hard times, if you get down on your knees and ask heavenly father and jesus christ for help they will help you! I have seen that so many times on my mission! I have spent so much time on my knees and I know that that is exactly how it should be! please go to the temple! The blessings we receive there are tremendous!!!

I also just want to say how much I love my parents and my family. I have recently just felt extra grateful for them because they are truly the best people on this earth!!!!! I love and miss them so much!

Also shoutout to sis blackburn! It was her birthday on Saturday and I love her so much and I am so grateful for her!!!! She is the best!!

Also pray that Utah loses even though I know they will because they are

LOVE, SISTER LILJENQUIST

Pics:

1. This book is true!!!!

2. yuh

3. <3

4. <3

5. I love her!!!

6. Nauvoo temple baby lets goooo

7. 4s up

8. angel