Sister Jennifer Bradley, Indianapolis Indiana Mission : Blasphemy

Weeeelll, hello again :)

We saw Jackie again this week, and it seems that every single time we go over, she has a new problem. It's her phone or her neighbor or her husband or her health. I could go on for days :) anyway, that is not the point, the point is that as we recenter her on what is important which is Jesus Christ and His gospel, her worries seem to melt away. She is able to remember that her time here is so so short in the grand scheme of things and that all of her current concerns will resolve themselves one way or another. It's also crazy too because she texted us before the lesson telling us this might be our last visit just because of how hectic things have been. Those are always SUPER stressful lessons, because you kinda only have one chance, but I never cease to be amazed by what God's teachings can do to help us :)

We started teaching a 17 year old girl in a part member family named Stephanie. She has a ton of faith!! We asked her about how she came to have the desire to learn considering all of her immediate family she lives with are not religious and she told us that it was her grandpa. He devoted time to teaching her and sharing with her his testimony of the gospel, and now because of that devotion, she wants to take her faith to the next level. I have observed over and over again in so many different homes the influence that parents and grandparents can have on children. The examples they set are a model for their children's lives, whether they know it or not!

We met with the Stith family and shared the Word of Wisdom with them. We read the scripture in 1 Corinthians 6:19--20 which says,

"19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s." After we read this scripture, Ryan looked at us and said "OH NO!!! I desecrated my temple!" (he has tattoos) Woah. We were talking about was goes in our bodies, but Ryan was able to learn by the Spirit how special his body was, and that is is literally a gift from God. This family is waaaay different than when we first found them. They are experiencing the change that comes from learning and living Jesus Christ's gospel. On Sunday, this brother gave a talk about Grace and said something really insightful about Christ's ability to change. He talked about the significance of Jesus Christ's first miracle being to turn water into wine. To be honest, this miracle has always slightly annoyed me because people will try to justify wine with regards to the Word of Wisdom. But, he said that this miracle shows Christ's ability to transform. He took water which is plain, common, and average, and transformed it into wine, something refined, exquisite and pure. The wine was of the best quality, and so the same is promised for us. We can be made of the finest quality as we follow Jesus Christ's perfect example and strive to live as He lived.

Also, the Spirit help me realize the coolest thing this week! What do all these scriptures have in common? :

-"Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?" (Mark 2:7)

-"The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy;" (John 10 :33)

-"Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy." (Matt 26:65)

-"And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" (Luke 5:21)

How often are we, as members of Christ's church, accused of blasphemy by others? I found it ironic, that just as Jesus Christ we are scrutinized for the truths that we know and hold dear to our hearts. It is comforting to realize we are not alone!

Serving with a Smile,

Sister Bradley

Side note: So, I got asked out over the phone (thank goodness, so he couldn't see my expressions) by a 45 year old black man....a new level of creepy has been reached. Don't worry, I shut him down very quickly. :)

Pictures!