Army of Helaman

Hello Dear Friends and Family!

I just want to say I love you all so much. Thank you so much for your thoughtful emails, letters, prayers, and support!! You have no idea how much it helps us as missionaries.

We often get told as missionaries that we are "soooo young". So many people tell us that we are so innocent and don't actually know what is true. They tell us, "Once you're older you'll understand and see things how they really are". It just BUGS me! So my companion and I started to think…why would God call on such young people to share the most important message anyone could ever hear in their entire lives?

Do you remember the 2,000 stripling warriors? What was it that qualified them for the battle against the Lamanites?

"And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there were a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.

"Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually" (Alma 57:26-27).

It was their faith. Faith in the Lord was what made them capable of winning the battle! A firm mind and a heart of faith are what is required to bring to pass this great work. Too much of the time people think we are supposed to be perfect or that we have to know EVERY answer or it must not be true. But I love what it says in Preach My

Gospel: "We have weaknesses, as everyone does. We may not speak the language very well or be able to answer every question you have. But we have been called by a prophet of God to share what we know. We know that

our message is true."

I remember every family home evening we had when I was back at home my brother Derek ALWAYS wanted to sing "We'll Bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman)". We all just agreed and would sing along, but I

FINALLY understand why he loved that song so much!! It is full of so much power and I will never sing it the same way again…

"We are as the army of Helaman. We have been taught in our youth. And we will be the Lord’s missionaries to bring the world his truth".

I know this message is true. I know it more than I have ever known it in my life. I know that having a firm mind and faith in Christ does not just apply to those serving a mission! God expects us ALL to be all in! And He wants it because he is just waiting to bless us and give us the things we need.

"Trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

He will lead us along as we put our trust in Him. :) Have the best week!

Hermana Hayes

Becometh as a Child

Dear Everyone,

I am so blessed to be at the Visitors' Center. Oh my goodness, I just love it so much. 

On Tuesday, I picked up a call from a girl named Alex. The FIRST thing she said when I picked up the phone was, "Hi, my name's Alex. I'm 16 years old and I have been going to church with my friend for the last few months. I have read the entire Book of Mormon, I know that it's true, and I KNOW Joseph Smith was a prophet. I want to be baptized soooo bad but my parents told me I'm not allowed to go to church anymore or be baptized. They are the leaders of our church like it would be equal to being a bishop in the Mormon church. Is there anything I can do?"

My. heart. just. broke. If she's under 18, there really isn't anything she can do but wait and pray that her parents will be supportive when she's old enough. But the more she spoke, the more she just BLEW my mind...

Although she isn't allowed to go to church anymore, she said she continues to read the Book of Mormon every day. She said, "I just don't understand how my parents can't feel that the Book of Mormon is true. I just feel so GOOD! It is the best feeling. It's like I have these warm arms wrapped all the way around me." 

She later added, "Also, can I still pay my tithing and fast offerings? I know I'm not a member, but I want to live like one until I get baptized. There are just some things I can't not do, ya know?" 

??? What 16-year-old would voluntarily pay 10 percent of their total income (especially when I'd imagine she isn't making THAT much to begin with) when no one in her family nor in the church is forcing her to do so? 

"...where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21).

Her treasure is not on this earth. What Alex treasures is far more valuable than any amount of money or worldly fortune. Her heart is completely set on pleasing the Lord. As the time came around to say goodbye, she said, "Well, thank you so much, I will definitely keep praying and maybe one day my parents will soften their hearts. But the good news is it's my birthday this month, and then I'll only have to wait a year! That sounds WAY better than two." Hahaha! 

In between the prank calls or crude chats, there is always the one God has prepared for us to meet. 

That same day a cute family came into the VC while they waited for their grandparents to finish their session. The 8-year-old boy could not wait to go home hahaha but his older brother just stared at the temple model. He examined every little room and detail about the temple. After about 10 minutes or so, I asked him what he thought. He said, "Well, for my 12th birthday I'm gonna go to the temple. There would be no place better. THAT'S where I wanna be!" 

What is it with such sweet, pure, humble children?!??!! Ugh. I was going to explode. No wonder we are commanded to become like them... 

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and put it off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child submissive, meek, humble, patient full of love, willing to submit to all things with the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child submit to his father" (Mosiah 3:19). 

The next day we stopped by one of the homes of our investigators. She has a little daycare in her house and was in the middle of taking care the kids but let us in anyway. Through the noise of crying toddlers, a barking dog, and toys thrown against the wall, we were able to have a lesson! As we started to wrap up it up, one of the kids refused to share his toy with the other. They started to get angry and our investigator just looked at them and said, "No, you two can share! When the timer goes off, you switch." Twenty seconds later, they were best friends again. They were laughing, running around, and playing just like it had never happened. 

I'm grateful for these special experiences that strengthen my testimony and teach me basic gospel truths! Although I'm the one serving a mission, I feel selfish because the one getting the most out of it is definitely me. HAHA! 

I LOVE THE RESTORED GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!!! I know God lives and that He loves us. We are all His children! I know that as we submit our will to His, we will be happier. 

Have a great week! 

Hermana Hayes