"Feed My Sheep"

Hi everyone! Sorry I didn't write last week. Forgive me! These past 2 weeks have been very different than what I'm used to, but it's good. I'm learning a lot!! Here are some random highlights:

Found 3 people my first week here who we aren't sure are going to progress, but it's okay; the work moves forward!

Exchanges with Sister Almond!!! Fun fact: Sister Johnsen trained both of us, so we've been waiting for this moment.

A member gave us a bunch of garden tomatoes, and if you know me, you know that made my whole day!

Exchanges with Sister Francis, who has been out for 2 weeks and was in the same MTC district as my cousin Karter. Such a tender mercy!

Zone conference!!! Sooo good and spiritual, ahhh!!! And so fun to see so many of my besties!

LAST PDAY WE GOT TO GO TO THE IOWA STATE FAIR!!! Literally so cool and so fun!

This area has been a big adjustment for me. Not a ton of progress, super slow, and a lot of rejection and rude people, haha, but I am learning sooo much, so it's so good for me!

God keeps reminding me who's in charge and that this is the Lord's work.

Lately, I've been studying about Peter. I have read John 21 over and over again. Every week we do Bible study here, and last week we focused on John 21. It's ironic because at zone conference this week, the assistants gave a training and focused on John 21 and invited us to keep studying it.

It starts with Christ walking past Peter and Andrew fishing by the Sea of Galilee.

Matt 4:18-20:

"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

"And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."

Peter was asked to give up the things of the world and follow the Savior. Peter witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and had the privilege to see the resurrected Savior. When the Savior ascended from heaven and appeared to the disciples, Peter's first thoughts were to return to the things of the world.

John 21:3-6:

"I go fishing." They say unto him, "We also go with thee." They went forth and entered into a ship immediately, and that night they caught nothing.

"But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was [the Savior.]"

"Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No."

"And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."

Then Christ asks Peter 3 times if he loves him.

John 21:15-17:

15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

I then read a talk that put everything together for me.

Elder Holland says:

"To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: 'Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn't it obvious then and isn't it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.'"

Christ also tells Peter in Luke 22:32:

"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

Peter finally understood "when thou art converted," Peter was asked to do something with that conversion: to feed his sheep.

I now understand why Christ asks Peter 3 times if he loves him.

I LOVE this story. I often feel like Peter. I was asked to drop my nets and leave everything behind and follow my Savior. I also think about how Peter went back to the things he was doing after Christ was crucified. I think that's a fear that I have, a fear that I never knew I would have. I have given up mostly all of the things of the world (I'm not perfect but I'm trying). I fear that like Peter, I will fall back and put the things of the world before God.

Christ has to remind Peter by asking him 3 times if he loves him.

I like to put myself in Peter's shoes and think of the Savior asking me 3 times if I love him.

My obvious answer is yes!! With my whole heart. I know that he would then say: preach the gospel, feed my sheep, strengthen thy brethren, which is why I hope and pray that I can continue to do that the rest of my life.

The most important thing I have realized is that the things of God are above the things of the world/man.

I hope I never forget this important, life-changing lesson. I have felt so much joy having one purpose: to fulfill the Lord's work! It brings me so much peace.

God loves you, so do I.

Xoxo, Sister Liljenquist

New address:

210 South J St. #43 Indianola, IA 50125 United States

Also, shoutout to the little bro!!! It's his 16th birthday this week!!! I love him and miss him so much. Don't know where the time went and who said he could grow up, hahah!!!! Makes me so sad!