One month down, 23 to go! We're over
halfway through our time at the MTC, and every day we're learning a
little bit more, and getting a little bit closer to the 16 plane ride!
I'm so excited to share my testimony of this gospel, and share the truth
that I have learned for myself.
So not much
has happened this week, no major holidays or anything to worry
about...... OH WAIT. MOTHER'S DAY. Our Mother's Day was so great at the
MTC, we got to call our families and share our love and testimonies with
them! We also had some amazing talks in our sacrament meetings, and I
am so grateful for my mother. She is such an example to me of
Christ-like love, and constantly is more concerned for others before
herself. I know that mothers are one of God's greatest blessings, that
He couldn't be here personally on Earth with us, so He sent His very
best to help us remember what was right. To love us, and listen to us,
and to help us find our way back home. One elder pointed out last week
that almost all creation stories end with their most prized creations
being created last. God's final creation for our world was the Mother of
All, Eve. Mothers are absolutely one of God's greatest gifts, and I'm
so blessed Heavenly Father saved the best mother for my family.
(Mom,
don't read this next part.) In sacrament meeting yesterday, one of the
Branch Presidency's wives shared a story about a missionary who passed
away in Taiwan. He, Elder Hampton, had been in the field about 6 weeks,
and was hit by a car. (Mom, I'm going to be fine, I promise). About a
year later, his mother received an email on Mother's day. It was from
the Elder's companion at the time. He told the mom about how they had
been teaching English lessons, and the companion decided to do a little
exercise. He told all the children if they had 3 minutes left to live,
to write down everything they would want to say. He started the clock,
and the children began to write. But the Elder said he noticed his
companion, Elder Hampton, also began to furiously scribble down his
thoughts. He wrote the whole time, and when the clock was up, the Elder
collected the papers from the children and began to clean up after the
class was over. Elder Hampton proceeded to tear his piece of paper in
half, and throw the halves into the trash. Elder Hampton's companion
said he received a strong spiritual prompting to take Elder Hampton's
letter out of the trash. Then he said he received a strong spiritual
prompting to take the two halves, put them back together, and take a
picture. There was no way he could have known what would happen, but he
followed the promptings of the Spirit, and over a year later, Elder
Hampton's mother got to read her son's last words. Unfortunately, I
couldn't find the picture, but I remember the main message of what Elder
Hampton shared with his family: I'm sorry for all the mistakes I've
made, I love you all so much, and I know that I will see you all again. I
want to second that testimony. Bad things happen to good people, even
the best people, but our Father in Heaven loves us, and we will see our
families again. I'm sure reading that letter was sad for his mother, but
it also was so assuring. This life isn't the end. I know we will be
reunited with our families again after death, and that we have the
opportunity to never be separated from them again. I know this church is
true, I know the Gospel has been restored in its fullness. I invite
everyone to take the opportunity to know it for themselves. If you read
the Book of Mormon with a desire to know if it is true, your Father in
Heaven will assure you, in your heart, that it is. That is my testimony,
in the name of my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Shope
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