"It's not a new chapter, its a whole new life." - Mark

Mark's baptism was beautiful. He was so happy. When I first got there he was like, "Hey! I MISS you! Also my nickname for you is 'the princess' because you would just sit there on the steps with your posture and soft spoken voice..." hahah I love it! He felt so good and excited after his baptism. He was smiling from ear to ear. In his testimony he said something I really love. "It's not a new chapter, it's a whole new life." It was so touching to see him enter the waters of baptism. It filled my heart with so much joy. God truly loves us so much, and He has allowed me to feel just an inkling of His love for Mark. What a beautiful, beautiful evening it was. Plus I got to see the Hales! I love em! And many other Ft Belvoir members who will forever be family. Every time I see any of them, I just feel at home. Haha Bishop came up to me and said "man we can never get rid of you!" Yep that's for sure I'm just never disappearing ever! Haha. Wow, this gospel is true. 

Our investigator, Denise, came to church yesterday!! She was so happy too! She really really enjoyed it. She took like 2 pages of notes in Sacrament meeting. She was flipping to scriptures in the Book of Mormon that were referenced in the talks given, writing down all she could. She was so incredibly happy and smiley after! She stayed the first hour then had to go because she was planning on going to her church. She mentioned she needs to continue to really pray about it all and what she's learning, and what it may all mean because... "I feel really comfortable here" she said. The Spirit was so strong during that sacrament meeting. It made me so happy to see her so happy. The gospel is TRUE!

We went to the family history center with a recent convert we are working with in the ward. Her name is Jan King, I don't know if I've talked about her before? She is so amazing. She has written several humor books for women. She is battling some tough health issues rightnow. She was baptized in January. We go over every Monday evening for a lesson. Anyway, she is going to be going to the temple soon to do baptisms! So we helped her find names to take to the temple. It was amazing because we found her mother and grandmother's name, and she will be getting baptized for them in the temple. When we were explaining to her that she could do that for them, a special spirit filled the room. Tears filled her eyes. She said softly while nodding her head "I would really, really like to do that for them." It was sobeautiful. Tears burned my eyes watching her beam with joy as she found out this good news. The gospel is SO TRUE!

In one of my morning studies this week, I was studying the restoration and read over the first vision. As I was reading it, I was thinking about all the blessings I have received in my life. Then it just dawned on me that everything good I've been blessed with in my life isbecause of the Restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel: My wonderful family and the knowledge I have of eternal families, knowing that we will be together forever as we live faithfully because mom and dad were sealed in the temple by God's priesthood authority. My baptism, when I first made covenants with my Heavenly Father. The gift of the Holy Ghost that was given to me after baptism, who has guided me throughout my whole life, warning, teaching, strengthening, and comforting me. The peace and knowledge that I'm blessed with as I study the scriptures, both the Bible and Book of Mormon. When I had the incredible blessing to go through the temple for myself and make even higher covenants with God. The blessing it is to be able to renew those covenants each week as I partake of the sacrament in remembrance of Jesus Christ.

I have received countless blessings in my life. 1. Because Heavenly Father is so incredibly good and merciful and loving, and 2. Because He is loving, He restored the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth once more, through the prophet Joseph Smith. I'm sure in that moment right before he prayed, Joseph didn't know the countless blessings that were going to come forth unto all people for generations to come. I don't know if he had any idea of what was about to happen, but I am so grateful that he acted in faith and offered that humble prayer. I know Jesus Christ restored His church and gospel to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Just like God has down throughout time, He reached out in love to His children by calling another prophet. I'm so grateful for His love and goodness. It's all so TRUE.

I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,

Sister Hymas