Small and Simple Things

I have always been kind of like Alma in the Book of Mormon, who wished he was an angel, so he could declare the gospel and preach repentance to the whole world, sounding like a trumpet.  I feel so incredibly blessed to have the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my life.  It makes my life so full, rich, and wonderful.  It gives me perspective, depth, understanding, peace, and pure joy -- and I want EVERYONE to be as lucky as I am to have it in their lives.  I have a swelling desire, a flame in my heart that just yearns to bring about the salvation of many souls.  

I have thought, worried, and stressed a lot about this desire.  I have made a lot of mistakes in talking to people about the gospel, and I have had a lot of humbling learning experiences.  But something I learned in the past couple of months is that I DON'T HAVE to bring about the salvation of many souls!  That is God's end of the deal - he'll do that part.  All I have to do is "small and simple things."  Tiny little things that don't seem like very much at all.  But they can have a profound effects on some very important lives.

Yesterday my friend Stephanie got baptized and became a member of the Church.  She is truly converted, and she knows that her life has been changed forever.  She knows that God has great things in store for her, and that she was meant to do great things for Him.  She knows the fullness that this true, amazing gospel can bring to her life.  I am so happy for her - and our friendship that started only four months ago will last forever.

Stephanie and I met with our kids at the park near our homes.  She has two sweet little girls, and her youngest one is named Sami (close to my Sammy's age).  The older one, Tabi, goes to the same school as Henry.  The more we talked, we found out that we had even more in common.  I realized that it was unusual to meet another YOUNG mom at the park (usually if I meet someone that seems close to my age, she is a nanny).  She talked about her husband graduating recently.  I explained how my husband is STILL a student, and that I don't think I have ever met anyone in our area who has kids while they are still in school.  Steph was excited because she also never meets young people like her.  I told her that she was in luck -- I actually know a LOT of young moms in our same situation - since I'm Mormon and we all tend to start our families earlier. :) I told her she needed to hang out with me and all my Mormon friends -- she would fit right in!

That's where it all started - a small and simple thing.  Many playdates later, we invited Stephanie to bring Tabi to see all of her friends sing in our Primary program.  They came, and Tabi immediately asked when they could come back so she could be in Primary too.  "Why not?" Stephanie thought.  And then she started looking into the Church and found what she had been needing her whole life but didn't even know to look for it.  Since then, she has been SO faithful, strong, capable, and brave.  She is officially a member and is here for good!  

Elders Johnson and Nordin

Here is Ryan, the supportive and awesome/funny/charismatic husband.  He isn't interested in joining the Church, but he is already popular in the ward and is talking about forming a Ward Wrestling Club and Ward Science Club.  :)

It has been SO surprising to me that in order for Stephanie to be converted, I didn't have to do anything great or profound.  All I did was small and simple things - hanging out, sending a text, planning a playdate, asking a question, listening, and handing her an invitation.  She and the Lord did all of the big stuff on their own.  This is His work, and He knew what He was doing in bringing Stephanie and myself together.  I just feel honored to have had a chance to be a useful little instrument in His hands, and I'm so happy to have a new eternal friend.