Summer is Upon Us‏

This is from 05/14/15

Skyping on Mother's Day:




 

It was so neat being able to see you guys on Mother's Day through Skype! I'm glad we were able to get it to work and to be able to Skype! I loved seeing each of you and being able to talk to you. It sounds like you are doing so well, which makes me so happy - to hear that you are each doing well. I'm excited to see you in a month when you come to Temple Square for your visit. I love you! Continue to hold tight to the Gospel and don't let go. Like I said, it honestly will be your only life line and life preserver! You are the best! How did I get so lucky!

 

 

Seeing Miracles:

It's really neat to witness how the Lord provides in his own mysterious way. I want to share about some of the miracles he has allowed Sis. George and I to witness this past week. Not a lot has happened this week but we have seen several simple things occur.

 

Muslim Family Refers - On Sunday Sis. George and I received a text for a 999 Tour which means sisters aren't taking it and the people are waiting. Well, we were on the Square and decided we would take it. We meet the mom and dad and their son who is probably a couple years older than me. We start talking to the son and he mentions that they are visiting from the Midwest and are excited to be here to learn more about the Mormons and to see what they are all about. He mentions to us that due to them being Muslim they don't know much about the Bible and they don't really know a whole lot about our beliefs. That didn't bother us because we get things like that a lot. We just have to teach more simply. They asked to learn more about the history but, honestly, the history of Temple Square is the basic beliefs and as missionaries we are called to teach the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, we aren't called to be History Teachers. We share some facts but we mainly just share the Gospel. We let people know that at the start when we are doing our "How To Begin Teaching" with them at the start of the tour so they know what is going to be happening. Well, this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and so we felt it was only appropriate to take this family to the Christus and to share with them what was at the core of our beliefs, which is Jesus Christ. As we took them to the Christus they were just amazed. The son particularly was just amazed. We played the narration for them or what we call now "The Words of Christ." After, we asked them how they felt, and what their feelings were. The son's countenance had completely changed for the good. This is always a good sign :). We continued to take them around and as we were walking to the Assembly Hall the mom kept asking me all these questions and I was doing my best to answer them and to try and relate them to her. They didn't have a whole lot of questions but you could tell their countenance was different. The dad wasn't speaking much at all. It was mainly the son who was asking us all the questions. At the end of the tour we took them to the cut out replica model of the Salt Lake Temple and explained to them what happens in the Temple. The son was like "Why are there cows in the Temple?" It was neat because we were then able to teach and testify about the importance of baptism and how Christ set a perfect example of this. You could really feel the spirit at this point. One thing I have noticed lately is when you can feel the spirit it is SO MUCH easier to be bold on tours!!! We then testified about eternal families and showed them the sealing room and how God gives us these families for a reason and he wants us to be bound to those we love for all time and eternity. We testified to them of how God didn't give us our families for them to be torn apart but that as we attend the Temple these families, under the right authority, can be bound and sealed together. It was a really neat experience being able to testify of the importance of families and how being married in the Temple is so important. As we concluded the tour we , "I would really like that." And was more than willing to keep in contact and to meet with local missionaries. He mentioned that he wanted to read a little bit more though before we called but said he would love for us to call towards the end of the month. He isn't super familiar with the Bible and the Book of Mormon due to his religious background and so he wanted to become more familiar with is before we called and started teaching him. We will call both him and his mom here in the coming weeks and see how their Book of Mormon reading has gone, to follow up on the local missionaries and to see if they are still interested in learning more about how this can bless their life. It is honestly really special when you can just see the change in people from when you first take them on a tour to when you finish the tour. People are prepared. We must not be afraid though, to open our mouth and proclaim the Gospel!

All the returning outbound sisters!



 

Raymond received the Melchizedek Priesthood - I don't know if you remember Raymond, one of my recent converts from back in October. Well, he is just doing phenomenal!! I call him about once a week and we will text occasionally but he is just thriving in the Gospel! Something came up the other day and he asked us to call him and while we were talking to him he mentioned he is getting the Melchizedek Priesthood this week. Well, I just received a text from him not even 20 minutes ago informing me that he received the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday. He is just so excited right now! He was like, "Sister Skaggs, can we talk right now I have exciting news??" Unfortunately today is P-Day and we aren't allowed to call via our cell phones so I wasn't able to call him but he sent me a text informing me of the news. Honestly, one of the greatest blessings of being a missionary is seeing the Gospel change lives! I have seen on so many occasions how it has changed individuals and families lives for all eternity. Raymond was supposed to go to the Temple, I believe it was last week or the week before but due to the horrible weather and tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas they cancelled their baptism trip. He was just anxiously waiting to go again to the Temple. It is just amazing to see the Gospel change people's lives. Of course we must first have the desire.

 

Working in Liberia:

It is so sad but we unfortunately haven't been able to talk to Morou or San this past week. Every time we go to call the connection is really bad. We spoke with them each for about 5 minutes really quick and they are doing good and are still wanting us to call them but we are just having the problem of getting in touch with them due to the connection. That honestly has been a tad bit stressful because we can't rely on the local missionaries since we are there local missionaries. It honestly just comes down to having faith and ultimately trusting in the Lord. We may have to push back Morou's baptismal date because we have SOO MUCH to teach him and it may be rough getting it done by the 30th of May and him being prepared spiritually for this next step in his life. But who knows? Like I said, the Lord works in mysterious ways. We just pray that all will be well!

 

Transfer's Are Soon Coming to a Close, Which MEANS SUMMER is ALMOST HERE:



Our zone making a quilt at the
Humanitarian Center





Zone activity at the Humanitarian Center

Believe it or not, transfers are almost here again. They are just flying by at this point. Next week at this time we will be in our last week of transfers. I'm nervous yet excited for next transfer. Assignments change, companions change, and responsibilities change but guess what?!?! The work will never change! That is something comforting to know. I'm excited though because that means our SUMMER SEASON will be here!!! I LOVE SUMMER TIME ON TEMPLE SQUARE!! Busy Busy Busy and just plain Busy here on Temple Square. We have heard that this will be the largest number of visitors to the States from China this year and when they come to the States they ALWAYS go to Yellowstone and then if they go there on their tour group they will then come to Temple Square! Our Mandarin Sisters are starting to get swamped. I believe today we had about 9 Mandarin Motor coaches of about 30-50 booked for today. And that is nothing! They honestly are some of my FAVORITE people!! I'm praying for a Mandarin speaking companion for summer time. I may just be dead at the end of summer like literally dead but that's okay. These people are just so prepared! I will explain why!!



 

 

 

MANDARIN MOTOR-COACHES, BEST THING EVER!!



I love the Chinese people!!
Sister George and Sister Skaggs with a new friend!

I have helped take about 3 motor-coaches so far this summer but they are some of the greatest 45 minutes of your life. Why?? They are just so prepared, whether they realize it or not. Yesterday we gave this Motor-coach of 36 Mandarin from mainland China a tour of Temple Square. The entire time we were showing them around they were just so amazed and so willing to listen about everything. At one point we were sitting in the Tabernacle and we were testifying about Prophets when someone says can the 2 Americans sing for us (of course saying this in Mandarin to the Mandarin sister but pointing at Sis. George and I)? Sis. Ye looks at us and says, "They are requesting you to sing to them." Umm, yah, I don't sing..... Well the 5 of us decided to sing together. We invited them to close their eyes and then we sang to them "I Am a Child of God" which is what we normally sing at the end to them. Afterwards they opened their eyes some were crying, others were just amazed, some were smiling super wide. As we were walking out of the Tabernacle they all were saying thank you and were asking to take pictures with Sis. George and I. Haha, they are so funny! When I take Mandarin Motor Coaches sometimes I feel super famous!! But seriously! Seeing them as we showed them around Temple Square is just something so special. To see these Children of God so prepared and intrigued by what they are seeing and feeling is just remarkable. At the end of the tour they were just so grateful and several referred unfortunately we can't teach them at this time, due to governmental reasons. But when the Gospel is able to be preached in those countries that are closed at this moment, it will be an AMAZING sight to see!!! I hope I'm around to see these countries open. The Church is just going to EXPLODE when those countries open. We see thousands of people from over there come here each summer and year and I just can't describe to you what we see. They are prepared in more ways than we can imagine.

Well I better get going! I love you each so much - whoever reads this! I hope you have an amazing week!!

 

Love always,

 

Sister Skaggs!!

A Light at the End of the Tunnel‏

This is from 05/07/15


To All I love,


There is A Light:

The Lord is just amazing!! I honestly don't know where to start with this week! This past week has been just amazing! There is most definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. We must persevere though through the trials that we are facing and keep our eyes focused on that Spiritual Light.

 

Fasting with a Purpose Brings Miracles, Miracles in LIBERIA

 

Sister Skaggs and Sister George in the
teaching center

After I emailed last week things got somewhat better but honestly I was still just so spiritually drained and for some reason the work still was not happening. Sister George and I were aware that fast Sunday was approaching and we had decided that we were going to fast for the full 24 hours and fast specifically that we can have the strength to see the work progress. As we were fasting there were moments that were really hard because we physically wanted to nourish our bodies but we kept reminding ourselves of Pres. Eyring's talk this past General Conference and how important it is to fast with a purpose, to keep it in mind and let our spirits overcome our natural man for this 24 hour period. During the time we were fasting we didn't see anything happen. It was a little sad but we knew that the Lord would provide as we did our part. As we were fasting we both felt we needed to receive Priesthood Blessings and that we needed to have President Poulsen do it. However, he is so busy and so I personally didn't want to bother him with such a simple issue. As we talked with the Zone Leaders about receiving permission to do so "Line of Authority" they mentioned that it would be a great idea. Due to things President had going on he mentioned that he wouldn't be able to till Monday which was totally fine. Well, we finished our fast Sunday afternoon. Right after that we had planned to contact 2 referrals we had received from a Branch President in Liberia. We went in to contact our two referrals and this is honestly where I can say miracles do and will occur. We had the number for the wife of one of our referrals when we called her we mentioned to her who we were and why we were calling. She mentioned, "Oh Sisters, thank you thank you we have been waiting for your call so my husband can be baptized and go through the Baptismal Process." At first I was like "wait, what am I hearing right now?" Well we called her husband, Morou, on Monday and he was just so grateful and appreciative to hear from us. He says, "I want to go through the baptismal process. I want to be with my family. Thank you. I appreciate this so much!" Since we don't have missionaries in Liberia due to the Ebola outbreak last year we are his "local missionaries." You wonder how 2 sister missionaries in Salt Lake City, UT can be the Local Missionaries to a gentleman in Liberia?? Well we will work side by side with his Branch President and will pretty much do everything. We don't know all the details of what will happen but we do know he will be baptized even if we don't have an established missionary force there. We mentioned to Morou what was going to happen and invited him to pray about a date he personally felt the Lord needed him to be baptized by and when he could be ready. Wednesday, yesterday, we called him and we asked him if he had prayed about a date to be baptized and he said, "Yes, the last Saturday for the month, May 30th!" The really neat thing about this is Sis. George, during weekly planning on Sunday, had discussed about when we felt like Morou could be prepared by and we both felt May 30th but we didn't want to influence his decision. When he said May 30th we both knew right then and there that it was a date that wasn't us but it was a date from the Lord.  Morou is so excited to be baptized. We talked with his Branch President yesterday and he said that will be perfect, and he is so excited for Morou. This is just one of the SEVERAL miracles we encountered this week. We are working with another gentleman from Liberia as well who is excited to learn more, too. Honestly, the Lord does provide. He knows us and he knows our needs. We must BE PATIENT with him. Can I say this burden has been eased a bit? Yes. Is it completely gone? No. There is so much we must do to catch up on the weeks we have lost. We must continue to be diligent. Will the Lord continue to test us? Most definitely. Why? Because it allows us to grow. It allows us to be humble and turn to him.

 

 

Meeting with President Poulsen

 

Sister Ryan and Sister Skaggs
with a former Temple Square
sister

I had mentioned earlier that I met with President Poulsen on Monday. It was a time I will never forget. I felt prompted that I needed to have him give me a priesthood blessing but that in general I needed to speak with him. Why?? I don't really know I just felt like I needed to meet with him. I went in to seek counsel on what has been occurring for the past 2 1/2 weeks and to get a Priesthood Blessing and we ended up talking about other aspects of my mission for the entire time. I spent almost 45 minutes speaking with him. Some of the most life changing and cherished moments I have ever had. There are always ways we can change. The Lord is counting on us to be the best we possibly can be. If we aren't doing everything we can then we are holding out on the Lord, which stops him from pouring those blessings upon us. President gave the example of being someone with so much to give but not giving your all. I can't really describe it. He used an example that I can't explain. In the end we may have all of these divine qualities, skills, and talents but we aren't using them to the fullest. But we MUST use them to the fullest. While meeting with him a lot of things that I had concerns about or things I have struggled with on my mission President was able to address with me and was able to give me counsel that the Lord, I feel, has been trying to get across to me for such a long time but I just haven't recognized it. Meeting with President Poulsen was just amazing. It was neat to just be open with him and to him being frank with me about things he and the Lord expects from me. I know this is where I am supposed to be. Have I been the most perfect missionary? By far, no. Can I improve? Yes. Must I improve? Yes. Why? Because the Lord is counting on me. The Lord has a divine work for me to do and for each of us to do and if we aren't EXACTLY OBEDIENT, and the key is STRIVING TO BE EXACTLY OBEDIENT, then we aren't going to achieve all that the Lord has to offer us. President mentioned that we must not think about the past, and we don't have control of the future but we have control of the now. What are we willing to change to be completely dedicated to the now? He mentioned being self-disciplined to the things I want to change and improve on. If I can learn self-discipline now then that will prepare me for so much more to come in life. I honestly can't describe all that happened. A lot of it is just a really spiritual experience. A moment of A LOT of self reflection and understanding of what needs to change in order for me to receive all the blessings the Lord is willing to pour out to me.

 

The Lord is more than willing to bestow blessings upon us. But we must be willing to consecrate our time and efforts to him. What is stopping us from being EXACTLY OBEDIENT to the things he is asking of us? We may say that we will work on it (like I have my whole mission on things I must improve) but are we actually putting those things into action? If we say we are going to read our scriptures and we are striving to but something is always getting in the way then are we making improvement? I guess the best way to do a self reflection is to see if we have made progress. If I'm STRIVING to be EXACTLY OBEDIENT then I'm making progress and I'm learning to be self-disciplined.

Sis. Skaggs & Sis. George
with a Mandarin tour

 

Being a missionary is one of the most amazing things! I'm grateful the Lord is still giving me a second chance, or shall I say 9 months, to continue to improve. I'm grateful I have time to still apply the things that were brought to my attention, to become that missionary that at the end of the mission the Lord can be proud of. One of the worst feelings a missionary can experience is finishing their mission and recognizing they didn't do all the Lord had required of them, for not sacrificing all they were supposed to. President Poulsen used a scripture of when Christ went to his Apostles and asked them to come follow him and that they "Straightway left their nets". Straightway means immediately. If the Lord asks us to do something are we immediately doing it or are we hesitating? Something, though, that was mentioned is just because we aren't being exactly obedient doesn't mean we are unrighteous. We are still righteous and are still capable of feeling the Holy Ghost in our lives.

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

 

I can't believe Mother's Day is almost here. Mom I feel beyond blessed to have you as my mother and best friend. For being someone who has been by my side through thick and thin. Someone I can call and share all of my treasured moments and some of my lowest of times with. I'm grateful for the relationship I have with you and for knowing you will always be there for me. Even though I won't be there with you this Mother's Day know I love you and will be with you in spirit. I'm grateful, though, that we get to Skype this Mother's Day - to see you and the rest of the family. I love you Mom!! I don't know what I have done to have been blessed with a mother who is so dedicated to the Gospel, who is fearless, devoted to the Lord, devoted to her family and willing to do all that is asked of her. Know that I love you and appreciate all that you do for me! I'm grateful for parents who have raised me with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a solid foundation in my life. The Gospel is what brings an eternal joy and I'm grateful you and dad were able to instill those simple truths in me. I know I'm not perfect -- haha, nor will I ever be but I'm grateful for all that you two taught me. And a lot of it was done by example. I LOVE YOU!! =0

 

Sisters looking good!

The Gospel is amazing! I just can't describe to you how amazing it is. I love being here, and I love the people I get to serve on a day to day basis! The field is white and it is ready to be harvested! I'm grateful for those who are anxiously engaged in that harvest. For the examples to me. President Harmon, the Branch President we work with, is a prime example. Someone who is anxiously engaged in harvesting the field. As I have talked to other sisters he has referred multiple individuals who are ready to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their life. The Gospel is true and does bless and change lives. I love you all and feel so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life!

 

LOVE ALWAYS,

 

Sister Skaggs

Is Christ Our Spiritual Light?‏

From April 30th

[This one is pretty long but the words of wisdom from this young missionary is so worth your time to read the entire thing!]

To All I Love,

Enduring Through Trials:

 

Sister George and Sister Skaggs at
Music and the Spoken Word

Since being back here on Temple Square the Lord has shown me a lot of things. I would be lying if I said coming back here has been easy. I have to say these have been some of the hardest two weeks of my mission, spiritually and mentally. But at the same time I have learned and recognized so many things, which is hard but a tremendous blessing at the same time. I'm grateful for the trials I have received because it allows me so many opportunities to grow and deepen my conversion of the Gospel. You may wonder "How has it been so hard for her Spiritually?" I will just give you a glimpse as to what has occurred. Ever since I arrived back to Temple Square, two weeks ago as of yesterday, I have just been pounded spiritually and have been tested in a lot of different ways. Since being back I hadn't taught a real lesson in two weeks. Which is really hard as a missionary when your soul purpose is to help people come unto Christ. Part of that process is teaching the Gospel. For two weeks I had not taught a single lesson that would count in our Key Indicators. Yes, I had contacted people on the Square, I had been bold, I had invited, but nobody was accepting the message we had to share. The people Sis. George had been in contact with weren't replying back to us and so that was making things hard. After experiencing this for a couple of days we just figured we are getting used to each other and I'm just adjusting back too, it's understandable. Well a week goes by and we hadn't seen a single new investigator enter our teaching pool, nobody was answering their phones, every chat was an Anti or Troll and nothing was happening with the people we contacted on the Square. At this point I wasn't getting discouraged, but I honestly didn't know what was happening. Had heard from multiple sisters that the lack of a teaching pool was pretty common at the moment. Well, Sunday rolled around we had our weekly meetings with our District Leader. At that point I had recognized that the Lord was testing me to see if I had learned diligence and that despite the trial I was facing would I still persevere and be diligent or would I give up? I was talking to my District Leader and was expressing to her my feelings of how I hadn't really seen anything happen since being back and how as a missionary it's really hard to experience this. Sister Cano, my District Leader, and I talked about how things won't always be smooth sailing, in regards to the work, while we are on our missions. While we were talking I knew that I still hadn't hit the hardest part yet of this trial/test that I was experiencing. That night, I believe it was, Sis. George and I sat down together and just had a really long talk about all the things we can do to become even more diligent to really prove to the Lord that we weren't going to give up but that we are willing to do/sacrifice all it takes to be his representative. It was a really good conversation! We just sat there and expressed to one another about how hard it has been on both of our parts to see the work not happening for almost two weeks. We talked about what it was the Lord was teaching us and what he was expecting us to learn from this experience. Monday went by still, the same thing. Then Tuesday happened and honestly that is when I can say things just got plain hard and I "hit rock bottom". We were on exchanges for that day and in the morning when we went to the Teaching Center EVERY chat I took was an Anti, which is all I have gotten for two weeks straight which is really hard spiritually when you just get attacked left and right on the things you know to be true. It didn't shake my testimony but it spiritually drained me. I want to compare it to the end of the race, when you are just so tired you cannot move. That's what it finally felt like. That's all I had encountered for two weeks straight. Don't ask me how I took all the Anti or Troll chats, apparently I just did. That was when it just got hard. The feeling of just being spiritually drained is rough because it wipes you out across the board and no missionary wants to feel that way ever. I honestly can't describe how I felt, all I knew was if I want to be diligent I need to continue to press forward. The Lord is teaching me right now and I need to just press forward. Even if I feel like I can't move anymore that's when I get down on my knees and pray for his strength and help. I had to set appointments with some recent converts that day and so I had the hope and faith that you know I will get to talk with them all will be well, just press forward to that point and you will get to hear their voice and help them come closer to their Savior. Honestly, that's what I did. I kept that in mind all day and kept pushing forward. The first appointment rolls around, it falls through. I was like, "Okay, I can make it till 7 PM to talk to my next appointment." 7 PM rolls around as I'm calling them I get a text saying they just left and they would like to talk another day. At that moment I just can't describe what I was feeling. I was already spiritually drained from everything combined and to have two promising appointments now with converts fall through was just rough. That night I went home to Sis. George and was expressing to her about how hard this all was and how I don't know how long the Lord is going to have this trial occur for, but I know I must continue to be diligent even though everything is just wiping me out.

Don't worry there is a light to the end of the tunnel, I promise. As I was recognizing the trial placed in front of me and what I was being taught I was noticing everything I was reading for Personal Study and Companionship Study was focused on Enduring to the End. But a particular quote from this past General Conference really stood out to me a lot.

 

The Quote is from Elder L. Whitney Clayton:

Few of us will ever endure an experience as harrowing as Sailor’s. But all of us will, at some time or another, have to traverse our own spiritual wilderness and undertake our own rugged emotional journeys. In those moments, however dark or seemingly hopeless they may be, if we search for it, there will always be a spiritual light that beckons to us, giving us the hope of rescue and relief. That light shines from the Savior of all mankind, who is the Light of the World.

 

Perceiving spiritual light is different from seeing physical light. Recognizing the Savior’s spiritual light begins with our willingness to believe. God requires that initially we at least desire to believe. “If ye will awake and arouse your faculties … and exercise a particle of faith,” the prophet Alma teaches, “yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of [the Savior’s] words.”

 

At some point in our lives we are each going to travel through our own spiritual wilderness. It is going to be hard but we must choose to search for that light, the light that will give us that hope and the relief to endure through those rough moments we will encounter. We feel like we can't go anymore, just like how I felt as if I couldn't go any further, but with Christ, we honestly can do all things.
As we were studying as a companionship this morning we came across

 

Matthew 11:28-30
28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

As we reach out to the only one who knows, all that we have ever and will yet experience, he will help ease the burdens which are placed upon our backs.

There Is Hope For All Who Come Unto Christ, He WILL PROVIDE:

 

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

This is where I can say there is ALWAYS a light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday rolled around (Wed. April 29th) and I was meeting with Sister Cano in the morning to plan for our upcoming day we had of being on exchanges. As we were planning I just expressed to her how badly I just wanted to teach and ultimately just see the spirit work through me today and have the opportunity to witness someones life change. We planned for a miracle that we would encounter an individual who would want to always feel of God's love. Then our day started. One of the first things we did in the morning was we had our Teaching Center Time where we took a chat from an individual who had a particular question. We just got pounded. At the end I looked at her and said, "Sis. Cano this is ALL I have had for two weeks. EVERY chat has been like this. There is no way this can continue on. I'm just not letting this ruin the rest of my day." Sister Cano looked at me, "Really this is what you have experienced everyday?" I looked at her and said, "Yes, this is why I'm just so exhausted at all levels is because I'm encountering this for every chat I have taken and then you add to the fact I haven't had a real lesson for two weeks." She looked at me kind of shocked. But we decided we weren't going to let this person tear us down the rest of the day. The day pressed forward and then we witnessed miracles I couldn't imagine occur.

 

My MOOmy Came to Temple Square

 

Sister Skaggs and Sister George with
Sister Skaggs' Moomy!

Sister Skaggs and her mom
(Sister Skaggs & Sister Skaggs!)

One of the first miracles we encountered was my Mom. We had just finished Zone Meeting. It was about 3:30 and I find out from some sisters that this individual wanted to see me . I knew my mom would be in town because she was coming for a conference and I knew that she would probably try and hunt me down. But the Sisters were persistent it wasn't her. I get to where they are and no one is there wanting to see me. Five minutes roll around, then 10 minutes. I'm like, "I have to go. If the person still wants to see me then call me." We are headed out and near the entrance to the South Visitor Center when we decide we need to talk to this particular couple. We had been talking for about 10 minutes to them when I see behind them Sisters just acting weird. I was kind of confused but at the same time I knew something was probably up. Then a companionship walks by and mouths to me "your mom is at EF (Eternal Families) Desk". I then see on the reflection of the security booth a LADY in a COW COSTUME. Yah, I had no idea what to think. All that was running through my head is I need to talk to this couple, but my mom is going to run up to me in a Cow Costume, on Temple Square, while I'm serving my mission. Well it happened just like that! :) Next thing when we finished talking to the couple my mom comes running up to me, "Your MOOmy is here." Yah, I had flashbacks to college that's for sure... It was great seeing you mom!! FYI: ALL the SISTERS JUST LOVE YOU!!! When they heard what happened they mentioned how awesome you were to do that. Oh and they LOVE the cookies as usual! :)

 

 

 

A Miracle Tour:

 

 

Sister Cano, Julio & Sister Skaggs

Right after I had said goodbye to my mom and was taking all 12 dozen of the homemade cookies she had made for the sisters downstairs to my locker, we get a call that a gentleman has been waiting for over 20 minutes for a Spanish tour and none of the sisters are taking it. Sister Cano spoke Spanish so we decided to take it. His name is Julio from Mexico. We began taking Julio around and Sister Cano mentioned to me that I would do all the speaking and she would just translate. I was at first a little nervous because I hadn't taken a language tour for a long time. We get inside the Tabernacle and immediately Julio is just amazed with what it looks like. He asked us, "What is this used for?" Sister Cano asked me to explain to him what we used the Tabernacle for. I went on to testify about how it was a place we got to hear from the Prophet. I asked him, "What is a Prophet to you personally?" He replied back that is was someone who speaks for God. I testified a little bit about Prophets and what they do to help us as God's children and why God would call a Prophet in the first place. I then asked, "What would it mean to you Julio, if you knew we had a Prophet on the earth today?" Julio replied back "That would be just marvelous and wonderful if we had a Prophet on the earth today." I testified back to him that we did indeed have a Prophet on the earth today just like how we had Prophets back in the Old Testament, etc. As I was testifying to him his countenance really started to change. He touched his chest and started saying something in Spanish that I didn't understand. Sister Cano looked at me and said, "He feels this really strong energy, Sister Skaggs, something really heavy and strong in his heart. He is just excited that we do have a prophet today." We testified that it was the spirit he was feeling. We asked if it would be okay if we showed him a presentation on families, that it was a presentation based off of a revelation that was given to a Prophet and the other leaders of the Church. As we took him to the Christus and God's Plan for His Family the spirit was just so strong. I haven't seen someone react the way he did in such a long time. Sister Cano and I both knew he was prepared. When we got through God's Plan we asked him several questions about what he liked and then I asked him, "Julio, what would it mean to you if you knew you could be with your family, those you love, for all Eternity?" Julio replied by saying, "It would be amazing." He spends as much time with his family that he can because he knows he won't have much time with them. We went on to testify to him that we know he can be with his family for all eternity and it is through the Temple that we make that happen. Sister Cano then started speaking Spanish to him and so I just sat there trying to discern the spirit. She then looked at me and said "Sister Skaggs, I invited him to stay in contact so we can share with him more. He says he wants all of this for his family and he wants all of his friends to hear about it to." I, at that point, started crying. This was a tender mercy from the Lord, allowing me to witness such a marvelous experience. To see this gentleman take the Gospel and accept it into his heart is something so remarkable. From hitting a super low moment just the day before, and for how hard it has been these past two weeks to then experiencing this, was something indescribable. When he went and filled out his information he just stopped and looked at us and said, "I can't describe what I'm feeling. When I saw you two walk up I just knew you two had something special about you." As he was saying this to us he was just holding his heart motioning to us he was feeling something. Meeting Julio yesterday is a moment I will never forget. I won't have the opportunity to teach him and share the Gospel with him any further but it doesn't matter. Either way, the Lord will take care of him. I'm just grateful to the Lord for allowing me to witness such a marvelous miracle. I truly do know that as we continue to be diligent and hold on, looking towards Christ, all will be well. As Sister Cano and I walked away we just both started crying as we recognized what the Lord allowed us to encounter and as we knew what I had personally been going through these past two weeks and as I was allowed to witness such a marvelous miracle.

I know the Lord is there. I know he is aware of us and our needs. I can testify with my whole heart that as we hold on and hang in there and just go a little bit further and continue to just take that step of faith, the Lord will provide. We won't always see clearly or know when a trial will end but as we continue to persevere the Lord will show us the light. We will be able to get out of the wilderness of spiritual darkness. I know that with the Lord ALL things are possible. We MUST have faith in him. We honestly can't go through life unless we have faith in him. I just want to ask you this question, Who is my Spiritual Light when I traverse through my own spiritual wilderness? Is it Christ?

 

I love you all! I feel so blessed to know each of you and to have you in my life! I'm so grateful for the gospel and for the blessing it is in my life!

 

Love ALWAYS!
 

Sister Skaggs

Life on Temple Square

From April 23rd


To All I Love,

Changes On Temple Square:
 

Who knew in just 3 months so much can change on Temple Square?? Apparently it can. For starters, the ENTIRE mission is practically brand new! Yup. President announced my 2nd day back that more than HALF the mission has been out for less than 5 months. Which means I'm old in the mission now and I'm only in my 9th month of being on a mission! When I first got here the mission was so old, but now I'm the old one. I feel like I just got here. Yesterday he meet with the 25 of us that just returned from Outbound and mentioned that we need to step it up because we are at the point of our mission now where we have an influence on these younger sisters. I never thought the day would come when he would make those remarks. It's just so strange because all of us 7th transfer sisters and older feel like we are still in training but yet we aren't. We have been out of training for at least 6 months. The mission is so young that while I was gone he didn't have enough older sisters to train so when you were in your 3rd or 4th transfer you began training. Being back has been quite an adjustment. I am grateful for this time I have to be reacquainted with how things are ran here on Temple Square.

 

iPADS:

Sister George and Skaggs in Guest Services

Well one of the BIGGEST changes on Temple Square is we became an iPad mission while I was in Virginia. That was weird coming back and learning more in depth as to what will happen. It's a great thing on many levels because the work will hasten at a greater level than ever before. But it also means more responsibility and accountability to the Lord and temptation. I received training today on what will happen with the iPads. I will receive my iPad tomorrow which we will keep for the rest of our lives. We were told that things will occur in multiple phases. The first step is getting our iPad, learning how to use it and share media resources with the guests so sharing videos, pictures, talks etc. while on the square. Which is really neat because as I have browsed other sisters media devices I have noticed the Church has updated A LOT of the resources we have been using in paper form. But they made it so much more interactive to share and engage the guests with. I love it because it will allow us to teach to the guests needs through using the resources like the online pamphlets etc., instead of going through the motions of being a visitor center sister. One thing I LOVED about being outbound is using the pamphlets and I'm glad we will be able to continue to use them in a way that will be more fitting for the guests as we teach them through giving them a tour of Temple Square. One of the steps after that is the Missionary Department will authorize us to have our area books on our iPad which will be such a blessing!! We already use online area books but its hard when we go home at night and we are planning for an investigator but we can't see their teaching record and other stuff. So that will be a tremendous blessing to have access to. Our Daily Planners will be on our Ipads as well. Which will be kind of sad because I love my paper planner, but the Lord has authorized this as a way he sees fit for us to be more efficient and effective with how we use our day and resources. One of the last phases that I'm not super thrilled for but yet I'm excited for at the same time, is SOCIAL MEDIA! As of right now we are not authorized to access Social Media however 1/2 the training talked about the dangers and safety precautions of using Social Media for when we do receive permission in the coming weeks and months. We haven't been given a timetable but it will for sure be before I get off my mission. Which scares me because I thought I got rid of Facebook for 18 months. But I know that it will be a great tool to use in regards to sharing the Gospel! These tools have been invented as a means for us not just to share our personal life stories to the world, or to show off or brag about the great new thing I got or did but it's a tool for us to hasten the work. If the Lord didn't see it has a valuable resource he would not of given the largest missionary force in the world access to use it. Think about how many people you reach each day just by posting a simple status or instagramming that selfie you and your best friend took at school the other day. Whether you believe it or not, a wide audience of people have seen it. Now just imagine the Lord's army having access to being able to flood the earth (Social Media) with the key to peoples individual salvation. It will be interesting to see what our protocols will be with how they would like us to go about it and what we will have permission to do. All I know is the time is coming and so the Lord is hastening his work. He wants each of God's children to receive Eternal Life and the only way people can have Eternal Life is if they accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ first. In the new manual we received that talks about how we are to work with our Digital Devices they made this comment "Many people will open their hearts to the restored gospel as they communicate and learn with missionaries through the comfort of the Internet and other technological mediums." This is true. And what better way to teach people if they are comfortable behind a screen than getting the largest missionary force on the earth on board with it as well! Ahh this just makes me so excited! What are you personally doing to hasten the work through your Social Media use? Can people recognize that you're a disciple of Christ?

Secret Service Agents:

Sis. Ferguson (2nd comp) coming
back to visit!!

Okay, so no, the Secret Service did not come to Temple Square. I just like to call our Security Officers our personal Secret Service Agents. I just wanted to express just how grateful I am to have them here. The other day we had a special training with them for certain things and one of the head officers looked at all 200 of us and said, "We are here because we love you sisters. We think of you as our daughters and we are here to protect you." While this is the safest place in the world I do believe it's the most dangerous due to the fact this is Church Headquarters. But honestly, that is no surprise. I am just so grateful for the the selfless service these officers go through on a day to day basis not only to protect us from the people that we interact with, but to protect the people that step foot on Temple Square. We were talking to a Security Officer the other day and he mentioned that he and another officer had a prompting one time that they needed to go to this certain place asap. As they started over there a call on the radio motioned that those same officers were needed at the same spot they felt prompted to go to. I learned a big lesson from him as he was relaying the story to us. The Lord will always warn us but we must first be in a place that the spirit can warn us. It made me stop - am I always open to the things the spirit is going to motion me to do or is my mind crowded with other things which causes the spirit to not communicate with me? In our handbook, for the digital devices, is a quote from Boyd K. Packer, "No member of this Church - that means each of you - will ever make a serious mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Holy Ghost." This is so true. The Holy Ghost will ALWAYS warn us but we must do our part and listen. Listen intently.
 

Companions with Sister George:
 

Things are going REALLY WELL for us. We have gotten along so well, which honestly, has been such a blessing this transfer. Because the transition of learning how to work with new companions at moments on my mission has been rough and so I'm grateful this has been a smooth transition. She is a phenomenal teacher! I love just sitting there and watching her teach on tours and how she is bold with her invitations. The other day we were closing a desk assignment and with about 10 minutes till 9 PM when we were needing to leave, this couple comes up and asks us this simple question. The wife said, "What is the difference between my church (Catholic) and yours?" I started to respond but then allowed Sis. George to respond. She boldly just shared her testimony of the Restoration but the need and importance of a Restoration was such a growing experience for me. She LOVES to invite! Which is something that is so powerful and is that gateway to repentance. If we aren't invited to make a change then we aren't progressing to that ultimate goal of Eternal Life. This morning the Missionary Department came again and gave us a training on our purpose as missionaries. They mentioned to us that the second we see a guest we need to think Eternal Life. What does God desire for...? He desires Eternal Life. What is it that I'm going to say and do that will help progress them towards Eternal Life (Moses 1:39)? But then we need to invite to their needs. Not just say "Well, umm, we want to invite you to pray." But take the time to recognize this is their progression to Eternal Life. Now what is it that God needs me to say to them at this time and what is it that they need to be invited to do that will allow them to take that action that will help progress them towards Eternal Life? I wish you could have been there. I love their trainings they are so powerful and eye opening!!
 

But things overall, have been going so well with us. We laugh ALL the time! It's funny how we don't always know why things occur but as time presses forward we are made aware as to why. I'm grateful we have the next 5 weeks now to be companions and to have this time to learn and to grow from one another.
 

The Work and Transition Back:
 

Sister Skaggs and George with Zone leaders

Honestly it has been a little bit harder to transition back than I thought it would be. A lot has changed. We have 2 new exhibits the church put in while I was gone and I kind of lost touch with how I was to approach certain things. But as time has progressed I'm definitely readjusting. The first about 5 days were brutal in regards to how tired I was. But it was because my body wasn't used to the physical demands of Temple Square. We worked hard physically outbound but apparently not as much as we do here. It has been harder to find people since being back. We are starting to move into our busy season and so people are here but it has just been a little bit more difficult remembering how to interact with people at a visitor center instead of going door to door. But don't worry. Things are really starting to come back to my memory. I transferred pretty much everyone I was working with before Outbound or dropped them so we are working on building our teaching pool. Oh, so Raymond, who got baptized back in October, I called him the other day to see how he was doing and he is just flourishing in the Gospel! He said "I haven't missed a Sunday besides the one time it was snowed out." He is being called as a Ward Missionary Sunday and is singing at Stake Conference soon. He was just beyond excited to tell me about everything. Everyone I'm in contact with from Outbound I have heard are doing so well as well! Which makes me happy to see how the Gospel is blessing their life. A member in Spotsy emailed this to me about the Whalens "The Whalen's are moving along. Brother Whalen has being going out with the Elders often and his testimony is just blossoming along. It is really neat to watch their family grow strong, and to see their countenances continue to change and radiate." It just makes me so happy to see how the Gospel is blessing their life.

The Gospel is true!! It really is! This is proof that it is true. When we look for proof we can find it when we witness people who have gone before us accept it into their life and then as we witness how it changed them for the better. I just love the Gospel and am blessed to have it apart of my life.

I love you all! Continue to progress towards Eternal Life and don't be afraid to use your Social Media to hasten the work.

Love,
 

Sister Skaggs