how have u alll been? send me pics of the wedding! i am so excited for erin!! and miss and love you all!!
one of the talks that i read recently by elder holland really left an impact on me...i think it is called....However long and hard the road....anyways, elder holland talks a lot about the history of the process and the sacrifice that the early saints took in building the salt lake temple..and he talks about details that i never knew! anyways, i loved the part most when he mentions the 1st general conference that the saints held...in one room there were gathered maybe 30 saints, and they had much persecution ahead, they were proposing to fight the very forces of satan and establish the very kingdom of God on earth...and how elder holland says how persumptuous and crasy that would seem that 30 humble, land tilling saints, had a purpose so vast and noble...and so much opposition...but they had seen visions!! and they knew the truth! and as insane as it all seemed or as impossible as the task ahead seemed..they moved forward with strenght and firm testimonies to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all. and what a blessing it is today to see the church growing and people learning the truth that had been lost for so many ages...reading all the family history stories i brought with me has been such a blessing...
sometimes it feels like our work here on earth is so hard so unattainable, but when we look toward the future we keep working! sometimes the work here feels impossible...we have the entire city of san jose to conquer! to help convince the people here of the truth! and our area leaders..and apostles have seen visions of these countries being filled with temples!! and i know that it is possible that every person we teach every person we find that moves closer to the truth is part of that grand vision...and we all have so much in store!!! thank you for helping me be a part of this great work.
love, gioia
