Wedding Bells and Obedience

The Wedding of Caesar and Gabbie 

Sister Schauer and I with the bride and groom 

 

So the biggest highlight of this last week was-- my companion and I threw a wedding!!! Who knew that I would go on a mission to be a missionary and a wedding planner. Luckily we had some amazing ward members to help make it possible. It turned out so great. The wedding was for two of our amazing investigators who have been investigating for a little over two years now but have grown up with family members in the church. They were both so appreciative and happy and this was a huge step for them to be married. They came to church the very next day as a family, all dressed up and looking beautiful! Now we are looking toward baptism in two weeks, and really helping to set their eyes on the temple so that they can be sealed together as a family with their two adorable children. It was such a fun weekend, but also exhausting. Hopefully no more weddings for us in the near future.

This past week I have been thinking a lot about the principle of obedience and how important it is. I have reflected a lot on the Savior's obedience. He was exactly obedient.  I was thinking about where I would be if He had not carried out the incredibly difficult and painful task, a task a mortal man would find possible. If He had not been obedient, we would be hopeless. There would be no way to return back to live with our Father in Heaven. The world in a very real sense depended on the Savior's obedience to the Father. I thought about my own life, and how people here in Ohio are dependent on my obedience, people that have waited years to hear the gospel. It changed my outlook, and made me want to try each day to be a little bit better.

The Ensign cover with my precious cousins

I love my Savior. I have felt how real He is especially this last week. We were teaching one of our investigators named Jack and I was overcome with emotion and love as I was teaching Him. During that moment I felt as if Heavenly Father had lended me His love, because I was able to reach and connect to Jack in a way I had never before felt. It is incredible feeling to be able to love someone so much that you have just met. I know that love comes from Heavenly Father. He is so very real and aware of the details of our lives.

The scripture of the week that has stood out to me is in Hebrews 12 verses 1-2:

 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin‍ which doth so easily beset us,‍ and let us run with patience‍ the race that is set before us,
 2 Looking unto Jesus the author‍ and finisher of our‍ faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured‍ the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the righthand of the throne‍ of God.



May we all run with patience this race called life. Let us look to Jesus Christ, His sacrifice and His example, in the hard times as     well as the easy times. I love you all. It is hotter than blue blazes here! I love being a missionary!

Love Sister Mathis