The Gospel is Centered on the Love our Heavenly Father has for His Children as was manifested by the Atonement of His Son Jesus Christ!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Er... That's wrong. Let me try again. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Nope... Still wrong. Goodness Gracious! Where has all the time gone? It is already Valentines day you say? That is ridiculous! *sigh* Well, in that case, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! <3 <--- (PS.Do you like my sideways heart?)

How are you all doing you fine creatures you? I am doing quite well myself. The weather has been pleasant and sunny and warm, so I have been soaking up the sun and dancing through paradise. It's a beautiful thing.

This week has been pretty great. Not a lot of work has gone on, but we have been making some really good contacts which has been good.

On Monday, we had dinner with a part member family. Josh, the husband, is the non-member. But he is totally just a dry Mormon. He comes to church with his wife every time that she comes. And he loves missionaries. I wish I could figure out what was holding him back. Hmmm... Truly, I just need to square up my shoulders and be bold in inviting him to take the missionary discussions. *sigh* If only it was that easy. We also had a dinner with another part member family on Thursday - The Trevithicks. They are so great and super funny! I just love them so much. They are on the more less active side, but I just know that the Gospel can bless their family so much if they will let it. "Just come to church!" - Sister Voyles, District 2

On Wednesday, I celebrated another month in the field. (I feel so OLD!) Sister Nolin was also sick that day, so we took a sick day to let her rest from her labors. The only thing we did was go to District Meeting. Sister Nolin gave the training, and we watched the Testaments for our training. It probably wasn't the most beneficial training ever, but I did feel the Spirit, so I count it as successful.

Thursday, we met with a lady named Martha. I LOVE HER SO MUCH! She says she is Catholic, but that is because missionaries "have so seriously fractured her testimony that she has to justify it back to herself." - A Catholic Conversion Story

We talked with her for an hour or two. I don't remember. I lost track of time. And it was such a sweet experience. We talked about everything. The Plan of Salvation, the Book of Mormon, our Purpose as Missionaries, Joseph Smith. She has a good understanding of a lot of doctrine and principles that previous missionaries have taught her. I know that she will join the church someday. Whether in this life or the next, it will definitely happen.

So that pretty much sums up Week 5 of the transfer. This week, which starts Week 6, is going to be an adventure. We have over-exhausted our ward list in contacting less active families. And we haven't found any new investigators in a while, so this week we are going to focus on finding. We will be doing a LOT of tracting. Neither Sister Nolin nor I are super duper excited about it, but when teaching members and asking for referrals doesn't work, we have to do something. I am more excited to go tracting than Sister Nolin. I'm excited because we will get to be outside of our car and be seen by people.

But, I think that the most exciting thing that I did this week was study the Hymn Book. Hey, don't laugh at me. I can tell that you smirked. And that's rude. Plus, you don't even know why I studied the Hymn Book yet. So, on Saturday my mind was on fast forward and so everything was spilling out of my brain at the same time. And one of those things was this question: Can the first lesson - The Message of the Restoration be taught using the Hymns?

So, of the millions and millions of questions that come in and out of my brain, I decided to answer this one.

In doing so, I spent all day Saturday searching through the Hymn Book to find hymns that I thought would go well with the principles taught in the first lesson. And I did it. I found 10 hymns that I think correlate well with the message of the Restoration. Shall I share them with you? I think I shall:

God is a Loving Heavenly Father..........Hymn#301 I am a Child of God (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/i-am-a-child-of-god?lang=eng)

The Gospel Blesses Families..........Hymn#300 Families can be Together Forever (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/families-can-be-together-forever?lang=eng)

Prophets and Dispensations..........Hymn#22 We Listen to a Prophets Voice (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/we-listen-to-a-prophets-voice?lang=eng)

Christ and the Atonement..........Hymn#193 I Stand All Amazed (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/i-stand-all-amazed?lang=eng)

Apostasy..........Hymn#166 Abide with Me! (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/abide-with-me?lang=eng)

Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration..........Hymn# 26 Joseph Smith's First Prayer (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/joseph-smiths-first-prayer?lang=eng)  

The Restoration of the Priesthood..........Hymn#12 'Twas Witnessed in the Morning Sky (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/twas-witnessed-in-the-morning-sky?lang=eng)

The Book of Mormon..........Hymn#13 An Angel from on High (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/an-angel-from-on-high-13?lang=eng)

The Holy Ghost Testifies of Truth..........Hymn#143 Let the Holy Spirit Guide (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng)

Prayer: Our Communication with Heavenly Father..........Hymn#145 Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire (https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns/prayer-is-the-souls-sincere-desire?lang=eng)

I hope that's easy to understand! Sometimes, my desire to share the gospel outweighs the clarity with which it comes out.

I know that music brings the Spirit, and I know that the Gospel has been Restored. 

I Love you all!

Love,
Sister Bryans