Letters to Missionaries

Thanks for sharing!  My dear cousin,  We have been studying Zion. Zion is an Arabic word meaning standard, claim, law, beacon, and several other things. I marveled how this word covered how we should be a Zion people, build a Zion city, be an ensign to the nation, a candle on the hill. My dear sister, you and your companion are gathering Zion (the Lord's claim) using the standard of Zion (the Lord's standard or law). I know gathering Israel is difficult but because the Lord is with you, you have been able to do His work in your own way, in your strength and speed because He has been with you every step of the way. People have been placed in your path because of the faith of the seeker and the faith of the messenger. You keep doing the good work. Sister, we pray for you always and love you (as cousins can). Love you always,  The Binghams

Well said!  Sister Conley,  I hope that I am not the only person who writes you. Alas, if I am I am honored. My dear cousin, I have been studying the garden of Eden. I have learned that sometimes we leave the comfort of our Father's garden to face a lot and dreary world but always reflect upon the comfort of our home to learn to call upon the name of the Lord in our trials of faith. While you are in a foreign land, call upon the name of the Lord often and seek His council. I have had to learn on my mission that He will guide your path, a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night.  I know it's not an easy task the Lord has asked of you, but always remember He prepared you from the beginning. You were called. Not one scratch or lost tear is not counted. Each day you endure it will be well with you because the Lord is before your face. He protects you in ways you see not. His angels are all around you and you see them not, but they are there. Continue to grow your...

My dear cousin in the North,  I hope that God has both heard and answered all your prayers in ways that both have and astound. This week we have been studying the garden of eden and it dawned on my soul that in order to become like God knowing good from evil we need to partake of our own fruit, mortality. No one forced it. We had the choice to remain in innocence or embark on a journey that has both light and knowledge and dark and opposition. Above that, no one was going to get out of this experience alive. As the scripture says, the says the day thou partakes thou shalt surely die. But you know what? This mortal experience is incredibly full of so much flavor and opportunities. This life is truly a gift. I hope you see your mission as the same. The people you meet, the food you taste, the very sweat of your brow, look upon this with matchless joy. You get to be a mortal with the understanding of the Atonement, with the gospel of Jesus, you have the Holy Ghost, a God, as your comp...