Freedom

Alma 58: 10 “Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people. 11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him. 12 And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty.” "God is in control of the planet" was one of my favorite quotes from fast and testimony meeting yesterday. It was from Sister Mona. Sister Mona suffered from a brain aneurysm about 7 years ago, and stays in the scariest "nursing home" that I have ever seen. It literally makes you want to cry. Yet her testimony is amazing. She simply loves the Lord and trusts Him with her whole heart. It seems that much of the time it takes a huge event like a brain aneurysm to shock us into putting our full faith in Jesus Christ. Why is that? I am grateful this week for our country. I love the United States. The principles we were founded on were inspired of God. This week we had a great experience fasting. We have been praying for our investigators who are living together to be able to get married, or separate so that they can continue to progress spiritually. Yesterday, after church, she called us to let us know that they were separating for now, because she knows its what she needs to do in order to heal, and come closer to Christ. We were floored!!! We found her a place to stay with a member, and are excited to set a baptismal date with her today. I know that Jesus Christ is at the head of this work. He will do His work. I am grateful that we can influence the world for good through fasting and mighty prayer. There are so many wonderful blessings we need to be grateful for!!! I am studying the New Testament after numerous promptings to do so, and have been finding answers to the questions in my heart about our Savior. I am astonished at how consistently He gives of himself. He truly has the answers that we seek. He is mightier than all the Earth. He knows what we need, and what our families need. It's the best (: I love you all and hope you are feeling close to the Savior, and the warmth of His Spirit. He really is there. Love, Sister B