April 7 - Last Letter!

Dearest Family,

Wow these past 18 months of my life have been such a life-changing journey for me. I have seen the gospel change people's lives, and in return its changed my own!! General Conference was just what I needed this weekend to help me stay strong in this emotional time.

Some thoughts from my mission president's weekly email..
Another wonderful General Conference of the church has been held.  How many of us can truly affirm they seem to get so much more out of the counsel of  church leaders now while on a mission?  Their words seem to melt in our very souls.  "Live true to the faith," said President Monson in his opening remarks; words to live by.  "Remain steadfast and defend the faith," taught Elder Holland.  "Bless the lives of others," said Elder Rasband of the Seventy.  "Build a foundation now for the whirlwinds of life," proclaimed Elder Anderson of the Twelve Apostles.  President Eyring  reminded us, "Righteousness must be chosen." Other themes coming this weekend:  "Allow the gospel to change you."  "Don't sleep through the restoration."  "Are we the person Heavenly Father wants us to be?" "Truth will always be opposed."  "The Lord is the driver of the team." "Express love to all of God's children." " 'Loads' in life can bless us.  A 'load' is an essential part of happiness." "This life is our four minute testing." "Don't be tagged out. Be persistent." "Be grateful and give thanks to God.  It is purifying.

One talk in particular that stood out to me was President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk from the Sunday morning session when he said, "Endings are not our destiny. There are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings." The Spirit bore witness so strong to me that now the next step in life for me is about to begin. I must take all the things I have learned on my mission and take them home with me, and strengthen those around me throughout my life wherever I may go.

In my Patriarchal Blessing it talks about me sharing the gospel with my friends and family and seeing the gospel expand greatly through my own efforts. I never understood how that would be possible because I never knew how to share the gospel. Now I know how! I know the Lord needed me to serve [a mission] so that I could not only help others but help myself.

I can now say with a surety [that] I know that Jesus is the Christ, that God is in his Heavens, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints IS the Lord's kingdom on the earth today. I know The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and I know that this gospel is what brings utter and complete happiness!

I can't wait to share my stories and memories with many of you!! This weekend was my last MLC. [It was] very emotional for me. I was the only one in the meeting going home, and President had me go up and bare my testimony. I don't ever know how I am going to be ok with taking my name tag off. haha.

One last story for ya'll before I go. We met with C. this week. We met him a month ago and kept running into him on campus. Finally he told us, "wow...ok this must be a sign. God must be wanting to tell me something!" We taught him the restoration and bore testimony on the reality of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we asked him if he would read from The Book of Mormon and pray to know if its true at the end of the lesson, he looked down and paused, then said, "Yes, but you know what did it for me, was that Atonement you were talking about." He began to apply it to his own life, when I felt prompted to tell him he can fully access that Atonement as he follows the example of Jesus Christ and is baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority of God. He accepted the baptismal date for April 26th! I walked away with so much joy realizing that I won't have many more opportunities to do that, to actually invite someone to come closer to Christ and follow his perfect example by being baptized.

Words cannot describe the gratitude I have for my Savior. I have come to understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ more fully in my life. I am forever grateful that I followed the prompting of the Spirit a year and a half ago to serve [a mission]. I have a lifetime of memories now, and I hope I can continue to bless the lives of others.

This is the testimony that is in me, that I leave with you. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Love ya'll!
Sister Turner