Dear Family,

…I’ve learned through much disappointment this week that faith is not “bravado”, “It is not just to wish. It is not just to hope.” Real faith is obedience, knowing that you will receive the help and blessings of the Lord, but if not… still relying on His commandments, with a perfect brightness of hope that the Lord will keep His promises, even if not in the way we hoped. This week my companion and I have every day been as obedient as possible and at the end of the day racked our brains for what we can improve to hasten the Lord’s work… We work and work and work, with not a single person’s progress to show for it. However, we’ve never given up in the methods and goals we’ve been taught by our inspired leaders, and we know that it will pay off, even if not in the way we expect. Do the things you know you need to do. Do them every day. Make the exercise of your faith your first priority in life, and “each one of you will be doing something very significant to contribute to the cumulative peace and joy in this world” (Richard G. Scott, October 2014 General Conference). You will see miracles in your life inasmuch as you follow the laws God set for us. But if not, keep the faith, and continue to trust in Him.

After reading Porter’s letter on Monday, I was able to see these same principles in my life this week and wanted to record my experience.   

I’ve been sick. I’m pretty sure it’s not the Coronavirus but just a regular old cold. Before I got sick, I was planning to go with Michael to Minnesota to see Alice and Ollie and Violet but I felt like I should stay home because I remembered that I had been practicing with the choir to sing for our stake (church) conference that was the same weekend as the trip. Before he left, Michael gave me a blessing of healing.    

The high soprano notes required for these songs seemed impossible as my illness escalated. I’ve gotten to know my Heavenly Father over the years and I had a feeling that because I had been obedient to the prompting to stay home even though I miss those babies so much I would be blessed to be well enough to sing. I prayed for 3 days and even fasted for help to get my voice back. I had faith that He would provide this miracle because I only wanted it for His glory.    

This morning I woke up and tested out my high range. It was back and I was able to hit every note with the choir. It’s hard to comprehend that God actually knows us and cares about such trivial things in our tiny lives and that He truly works miracles through obedience, faith, prayer and fasting just like in the scriptures. I was also prepared for the but if not… knowing through life’s experiences that the Lord still keeps His eternal promises even when things don’t immediately turn out the way we imagine and that often His plan is better than what we imagine.

After the meeting the stake president (church leader) reached down from the stand, grabbed my hand as I walked by, squeezed it and said, thank you. His wife was the choir director and his was the glorious voice leading the men’s section. Evelyn asked me what he was thanking me for and I wasn’t sure how to answer. It seemed like he knew getting there today wasn’t easy for me.     

I’m excited to hear from Porter again tomorrow. He finally told me about the scary thing he wasn’t going to tell me about. He had a guy approach them in the street with a machete saying he was planning to kill someone asking what our church believed about murder. They were like “um…what!?” Then they left and called the police. Hopefully that will be the worst of it. Love this boy and all he is doing to forward the work of the Lord in Brazil.