Spiritual Preparation

Hola todos!

Its transfer week! Hermana Rosales and I will be staying together here in the Chaparral and Vía Linda area. We have been assigned to be Sister Training Leaders. I'm super excited to be here with Hermana Rosales for another transfer. There are lots of great things that are happening right now and that will be happening here soon! 

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been focusing on helping our friends and the recent converts in our area connect more with the members in our ward and branch. It has been amazing to see these people build real friendships and open up to each other. There is a sweet woman in our branch named Hermana Neri and she has 5 little kids. She was baptized about 2 months ago and moved here only a few weeks after her baptism. Hermano and Hermana Manton from the branch have taken in Hermana Neri and her kids like family. They come to our visits then stay after to read with the kids and help them with their homework. It has been incredible to see how comfortable the kids have gotten with the Mantons and how much the Mantons have helped them learn. 

Our friend Yrianni's mom came into town for a couple of weeks. We had a lesson with them, and Hermana Larson joined us. Yrianni's mom is a member of a different church. Although some of our beliefs are different, it was neat to hear all of the similarities between our churches and to teach Yrianni's mom a little bit of what Yrianni has been learning. 

A sweet man named Hermano Caballero who was in our branch passed away last week. We were able to attend the funeral and it was beautiful. Its amazing that because of our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, a funeral is a celebration of life. Its a see you later rather than a goodbye. Hermano Cannon gave a wonderful talk about the Plan of Salvation. He spoke about how Hermano Caballero and his family will be able to live together forever because of the covenants they made here on earth. God's plan truly is incredible. 

Last week, I studied the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew chapter 25. This parable helps us understand the importance of preparing spiritually for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The bridegroom represents the Savior, and His arrival at the wedding procession represents His Second Coming. The ten virgins represent members of Christ’s Church. In Matthew chapter 25, it says that the ten virgins "took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." After it was announced that the bridgegroom was near "the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." The oil in this parable represents our spiritual preparedness. President Spencer W. Kimball explained that “The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable. How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of knowledge? How can one share faith or testimony? Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself… In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living." This life is our time to prepare to meet God. We must not procrastinate our spiritual preparation. President Henry B. Eyring said “There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is ‘not this day.’ ‘Someday I will repent.’ ‘Someday I will forgive him.’ ‘Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.’ ‘Someday I will start to pay tithing.’ ‘Someday I will return to the temple.’ ‘Someday …’ The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time." President Dallin H. Oaks listed some questions that we can ask ourselves to evaluate how prepared we are for the Second Coming of the Savior. He asked “What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear? If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them." I would like to invite you all to ask yourselves these questions. Then determine what you can do right now to start replenishing your lamp of preparation. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's restored church on earth today. Only by living the principles of His gospel can we fill our lamps and be prepared for when He comes again. I know that He loves you. It is through Him that all things are possible. I bear testimony of these things in His name, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I love you all!

Con Amor,
Hermana Kendrick












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