6 Months

6 months. Wow, I cannot believe I have been a missionary for 6 months! I truly cannot believe I am even on a mission. Everyday I just think wow I really am out in Iowa on a mission. It's so crazy. I have looked back to high school Kim. I am so grateful for all the good, bad and in-between things I went through in high school and after. It is what led me to where I am today. Without my mission I would be the same old Kim I always was, although I wasn't bad (at least I think) I know I am becoming a better version of myself and my mission has completely changed my life in more ways than I could've imagined. Nor did I ever think it was possible. Although I don't have a perfect knowledge of the Book of Mormon or have every story in the Book of Mormon memorized, I have come to know that that book is true and it is a gift given to us from God! I have seen the atonement change so many lives and I have come to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each and EVERY ONE of their children no matter what. 

 

This week we had another lesson with Gary. We asked him if he read the introduction because that's what we invited him to do! He had and read even more. He said that he reads it every single day and when he can't sleep at night he reads it in the middle of the night. He said "I know this book is true. It has changed my life!" Every time we give an invitation we always promise blessings. The spirit told me to promise him that anytime he opened the Book of Mormon and read it all of his bad thoughts and feelings would go away and that he would feel the spirit. 

During our lesson this week he said "I don't think about suicide anymore and I don't feel anxious anymore" 

He continued to tell us that he has never felt this way before and proceeded to tell us how all he wants to do is change. Then he told us he wanted to be baptized. 

He is now on date for March 18th!! 

The spirit was there and it was sooo powerful. 

 

 

I have been studying and reading saints. I am literally hooked. I love it so much. 

This week has really stuck with me especially. About the type of missionary I want to be and the type of disciple of Jesus Christ I want to become!

 

 

I'm still in the first book. I'm at the part where the saints are being led out of Zion. The mobs are destroying their homes and they're being persecuted. All because they are getting baptized and following what the prophet Joseph Smith is telling them is true. Through revelation from God! 

 

In this moment William McLellin who was called a member of the quorum of the 12 was hiding in the woods trying to stay hidden from the mobs. 

he had these thoughts "What would happen if a mob found him? Could he stand by his testimony of the Book of Mormon then? Could he declare his faith in the restored gospel? Was he willing to suffer and die for it?" 

 

As William had these questions he met David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery in the woods. 

 

"Looking for reassurance, William turned to his friends. “I have never seen an open vision in my life,” he told them, “but you men say you have.” He had to know the truth. “Tell me, in the fear of God,” he demanded, “is that Book of Mormon true?” Oliver looked at William. “God sent His holy angel to declare the truth of the translation of it to us, and therefore we know,” he said. “And though the mob kill us, yet we must die declaring its truth.”

 

 

Later on Joseph Smith received a revelation about the persecution in Zion. The Lord told the Saints not to fear. He had heard and recorded their prayers, and he promised with a covenant to answer them. “All things wherewith you have been afflicted,” the Lord assured the Saints, “shall work together for your good.”

 

I have thought about this so much. I know I talked a little about this a couple months ago. Would I die declaring its truth? My honest answer is still I don't know. BUT I can tell you that I am getting there. That is where I want to be when I step off the airplane. knowing that I will die declaring this gospel to people.

 

I can't even imagine what the Saints did. we hear about it. I've toured their sights. Heard their stories. They were willing to not only go thru soooo much torment but they were willing to DIE declaring the gospel of Jesus christ. 

 

Alma 34 teaches us about faith. 

 

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

 

I can't wait to spend 1 more year letting this burning desire turn into an unshakeable testimony. 

 

Just like the saints taught, and Joseph Smith in carthage or Jesus on the cross. We have to have the faith that Heavenly Father will carry us. 

 

I know that this church is the only true church. You cannot convince me otherwise. I have seen the plan of salvation HEAL broken hearts. I have watched people use Christ's atonement and it's changed their life forever. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet who translated the Book of Mormon through revelation, and I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in a grove of trees and it changed everyone's lives forever. Including my own. 

 

Just like every adult says, this truly is the greatest work on earth. It's the lord's work and I'm the instrument. It's so hard but so fulfilling. I can't wait to spend 1 more year declaring the truth to these people! 

 

I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ and for the sacrifice that they made for me so that I can return to live with them and my family again some day. 

 

I owe it all to them. 

 

Iowa is so wack but I love it so much. These people have truly changed my life for the better and honestly I don't know how I have gone my whole life not knowing these people. Iowa has my whole heart and I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be. 

 

My mission means everything to me, I have learned so much and it truly has changed my life in so many different ways. I will never be the same (in a good way, a lot of things won't change like how I literally laugh at everything or how I'm obsessed with redbull or my shoe addiction) BUT my heart has been softened and I'm so grateful for that. All it took was a leap of faith getting out here and I'm so glad I made that leap! 

 

1 more year in the promise land baby LETS GOOOOO!!!!!

 

I love you all!!!! Email me!!! And I'm gonna put my addy down below so if you're tryna send me a letter or anything that would be awesome!! Receiving letters or packages is like Christmas haha!! 

 

Love, Sister Liljenquist 

 

Couple quick highlights: 

• our friend Leon, who's Liberian, took us to his favorite hibachi place. We pulled up and it was a buffet! It was actually pretty boujee tho, it had a chocolate fountain which was so lit!! The place was so diverse, it felt like I was in a different country. Leon is a dawg though he's so dope!!!

• helped with a baby shower and it was literally SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

• went on exchanges with Sister Johnsen, my first trainer and it was so fun being with her again!!!! I love her so much!!

 

1265 11th St. #116 West Des Moines, IA 50265 United States

 

 

Pics: 

1. Me and my new bestie Zayne 

2. Me and Sis Waite 

3. Leon the goat 

4. love

5-6. baby shower! 

7. trying to film a talk (talk)