Be True To Who You Are- Week 60

Wow, there aren't enough words to describe how good this week was! I'm extremely exhausted because of how busy we were, but it was too good!

Tuesday night we had the most incredible lesson with our friend Lindsey. Okay, flashback a couple of weeks ago when our member texted us at the end of P-day: "My coworker wants to meet with you. Here's her name and number, text me, and I'll be at all the lessons." I about passed away because this never happens. Anyways, our member came, and we had one of the most spiritual lessons I've had on my mission, one of the most powerful restoration lessons I've taught. The spirit completely flooded the room and testified of the truth we were teaching. Our member was in tears. The coolest part is you could see so clearly that our member had been working on her for a while. She is now ready to receive the gospel! I handed her a copy of The Book of Mormon, and she lit up and said, "Is this mine?" We invited her to read the introduction, and she said, "I'll definitely read the introduction... and I'll read a LOT more too!" I love her so much.

Wednesday we drove to Iowa City for MLC! Wow, this was so good. It is so fun being with other missionaries and discussing how we can be better! Every time I leave, there are always so many things I want to work on and change. It's so good.

Thursday we had exchanges in Walnut Hills area, which is in Des Moines right next to WDM, one of my old areas! I was lucky to get to be with Sister Tremelling, who is literally so cute! She's from Cedar City!

We had a night of literally no success. Every house we knocked on, no one answered. Right before we headed home, we stopped by Ron, who is a less active member. We pulled up, and it was right off the side of the road of a busy street and pitch black, so I was thinking, "Well, rip, he's not gonna answer either." We knocked, and he comes walking out the side pretty hyped to see us! We start talking to him, and it turns out he was baptized 4 years ago! We asked how long it's been since he's been to church, and he said it has been a long time! We asked him what's holding him back, and he explained that he's been dealing with some health challenges. We asked how we can help him come to church. He waited a second and then said, "I'll be there Sunday." We then shared a message about Jesus Christ and how he is aware of his weaknesses and will give him the strength he needs. It was so cool to watch the spirit work on him those 10 minutes we were standing in his yard. It was also cool to see that the Lord always provides. We were in the right place at the right time even at the end of a night where there had been no success. The sisters texted us and said he made it to church! LET'S GO!

For MLC, we talked about integrity and being true disciples. Preach My Gospel says,

"Integrity flows from the first great commandment to love God. Because you love God, you are true to Him at all times.

What you choose to think—and what you do when you believe no one is watching—is a strong measure of your integrity.

Integrity means you do not lower your standards or behavior so you can impress or be accepted by others. You do what is right even when others scoff at your desire to be true to God. You live with honor in all environments, including how you represent yourself online."

So this week I have been working on and studying the Christlike attribute integrity.

My studies led me to Daniel 3.

This is when the king creates a golden image and commands all men to worship it.

The king says,

11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refuse.

The king says,

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?"

They say,

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The king commands his army to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego into the burning fiery furnace.

The furnace was so hot that the flame of the fire slew the men that threw them in.

The king then says,

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, "Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said unto the king, "True, O king."

This is my favorite part.

25 He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

26 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

Then the king says,

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God."

Wow, I can hardly type this without wanting to sob. This story struck me so hard. The integrity and faith of these 3 men. They stayed true to what they believe!! They stood true to who they are. They were examples to the king which ended up completely softening his heart.

This is what a true disciple of Jesus Christ is.

Nothing means more to me than my mission. I pray that I can have the integrity to stay true to who I am for the rest of my life and stand up for what I believe, even if it's against what the world says.

I want my testimony absolutely clear that you can read it right off me.

I am so grateful for these experiences. I would never trade them for anything in the world.

I don't want this to end, but for now, I'm going to enjoy every second I have representing the greatest person to ever walk this earth, my Savior Jesus Christ!

I love you all!

XOXO, Sister Liljenquist