Things of Most Worth

Dear All,

I hope from the bottom of my heart that everyone has had the best week ever! I love you all so much. 

I invite you to ponder the following question: What things are of most worth to you?

Whether they be your family, friends, scriptures, prayer, sports, knowledge, school, journals, money, alone time, or anything else--think of why it is important to you. 

Most of what is important to us is a reflection of how much work we put into it. If we value our money, it's likely because we worked hard to earn it; If we value a sport, it's likely because we spent a lot of time practicing it; If we value our journal, it's likely because we worked hard to record special personal experiences. What we invest a lot of time and love in becomes valuable to us.

No wonder the Lord declared "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10).

WE are what God puts all of His time and love in, therefore WE are of greatest worth to Him. "For behold, this is [God's] work and . . . glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). 

Our individual worth is not determined by our physical appearance or marital status. It is not determined by how many "likes" we get or the amount of money we have. We are of infinite worth simply because we are children of God. Everything He has done, is doing, and will do is out of His unconditional love toward us. 

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them . . ." (Genesis 1:27-28).

". . . all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:24-25).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption . . ." (Alma 12:32).

"And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God" (D&C 14:7).

We ALL have the opportunity to recieve the greatest gift God could ever offer! I know that what will be of most worth to us after this life is how hard we worked to please God, love Him, and help others do the same. He loves us, and we are of infinite worth to Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

-Sister Hayes

Pictures:

1. Recent convert 

2. Exchanges with Hermana Martell!

3 & 4. What my companion's family sends her :) haha!

I CAN'T

Dear EVERYONE!!!

I apologize if I scare you all with the following email, BUT I JUST CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!!!!! 

HvuiebeissNCIEKNFshdbjdinekwosHFIJBDbmfoebeifhcbJFJKVNFJFJFiencbkdkwnkdbdbdikwHFIINFKOSLSVKMFJRHFJFhdjidjf!!!!!!!! THIS IS HOW I FEEL!!

I CAN'T TAKE how merciful, patient, glorious, incredible, mysterious, and LOVING our perfect Heavenly Father is. 

I CAN'T TAKE HOW CUTE AND PRECIOUS AND HILARIOUS AND AMAZING THESE PEOPLE ARE. 

I CAN'T TAKE THE BEAUTY OF THE TEMPLE!

I CAN'T TAKE HOW MUCH I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!! I got to the end of it this week and testify of its truth and power! 

I. CAN'T. TAKE IT. 

I don't wish to be irreverent by the way I am speaking about these sacred things, I just can't help but BOAST! I CAN'T BOAST TOO MUCH in my God!!!

I know He lives!! I know He's our Father. I know He loves us unconditionally. I can't comprehend how. I know Jesus Christ was chosen from the beginning to come to earth and be our Savior. HE TOO LIVES AND LOVES US! I can't be more grateful. He is the one that qualifies us, sustains us, uplifts us, humbles us, and completes us.

Also, I CAN'T TAKE EMAIL ANYMORE EITHER. Because first off I can't write how I feel because of a lack of words, and second off you can't see my facial expressions or body language to see how excited and happy I am while writing these emails.

PLEASE just imagine me firmly grasping you by the shoulders, looking at you straight in the eyes, and then exclaiming with every ounce of joy and conviction that I can muster that THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!!! 

-Sister Hayes

Ps, I love you all so much!

"For Ye Cannot Go Amiss"

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Transfers were this week and guess who got called to the English program? Yep. I am SISTER Hayes from now on!! Just when I got comfortable teaching in Spanish, God decided I needed a change. I feel very humbled and blessed to be in the English program.

Do you remember a few weeks back to when I was frustrated because I couldn't speak with every person we came in contact with due to the language barriers?? I have been praying for the gift of tongues to know what to do in those situations, and God is SO perfect, SO loving, and SO intelligent that He answered my prayers in the form of a MANDARIN SPEAKING companion--Sister Chao!!! :) She spent most of her life in California, but her parents are from Taiwan. She is wonderful. 

We are now called "The Trilingual Powerhouse Companionship." Hahaha! I don't know about a "powerhouse", but there really is just nothing like being able to talk with so many of God's children. Slowly but surely she is teaching me little phrases that I can say in Mandarin to testify of the restored gospel with her. :)

When I got to the area on Wednesday, there was literally no one being taught. Not a single person. So we went FINDING! We got to work and talked with people ALL day. We were determined to find someone to teach. Ammon's words became our own:

"And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; . . . and we have been cast out, and mocked. . .

"And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul."

After 3 days of finding and countless crazy experiences, God placed in our path 5 precious souls prepared to hear the restored gospel. FIVE!!!!! 

We got to the last door of a neighborhood that had a pretty large gate. I was scared to open it...thinking the owners would be angry at as for passing. As SOON as I turned my back toward the door the spirit said, "You know those thoughts didn't come from me." We turned right back around, opened the gate, knocked on the door, and the first thing the man who opened it said was, "Please, come in!" 

My heart was bursting. SO full of gratitude I could barely CONTAIN IT!!! Oh how WONDERFUL our Heavenly Father is!!!! His family of four all sat down in the living room and accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and committed to read it together. 

"Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever."

I have to admit I was a little nervous at the start of this transfer. I had no idea what it would be like. But the words that just kept repeating themselves over and over in my head were, "Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss." 

We CANNOT go amiss when we are doing the Lord's work in His way. 

If we are obedient, if we are patient, if we are doing everything in our power to be the BEST disciple of Jesus Christ we can be, we cannot go amiss. I know this is true! I know God's ways are ever higher than our own. He sees the big picture. 

Maybe you wanted to go north and God sent you south. Maybe you thought you were going east, but you went west. No matter the detours or changes that may occur in our lives, we cannot go amiss in the hands of the Lord. :) 

I bear witness of these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

-Hermana Hayes