It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

After church today, we went back to my parents house and the whole Farnsworth family went to take a nap. As I was laying in my old bedroom, listening to Keith snore, I looked up at a bulletin board that I had put pictures on a couple years ago. I was remembering all the good memories those pictures provided, but one really stood out. 

This picture was taken 5 years ago and my life has never been the same since. Tanner and I invited Liz and her sister to go see the temple lights with us. It was a cold and rainy day and I'm pretty sure we were the only ones on the temple grounds. We went inside and showed them the beautiful statue of Christ. Inside two sister missionaries approached us and talked to us. After we listened to the presentation, they invited Liz and Emily to fill out the reference cards and have the missionaries come teach them. Emily was excited and filled it out while Liz seemed a little hesitant. We went back to the Cathcart house after that and who do you think was there? Elder Hardy and Elder Rogerson, the two missionaries serving in our ward. We told them all about our experience and set up their first discussion for the next day. The next day, they taught the first lesson and at the end they asked them, "If you come to know the church is true, will you be baptized?" The room turned completely silent. Emily looked scared to death, but Liz replied. "Yes." Now, the missionaries turned white. She said, "If this church is really true, then that is what I need to do." I was shocked. We talked a lot that night and she had a ton of questions. As I was thinking about what I should say to her, I thought to myself, do I know this is true? The gospel had always been a lifestyle to me. I did the motions. I read my scriptures, I said my prayers, I went to church, but was that enough? I got down on my knees and prayed so hard that night. If I was going to help Liz find the truth, I needed to know for myself that this gospel was true. The rest is history. Those next two or three weeks changed both of our lives. We came to gain a testimony of this gospel together. From that point on I have no doubt who my Savior is and what He has done for me. I know that He lives and loves me. I know that Joseph Smith restored this gospel to the earth and that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I'm so grateful for both the trials and the blessings in my life. I have become a stronger person from them.

I'm grateful that Heavenly Father put her into my life. We both needed each other at that moment. I'm grateful for this time of the year that I have to remember my Savior. I love that everyone's attitudes seem to change this time of the year for the better. Everyone has the spirit of giving in their hearts. I wish it could last all year long, but I will enjoy it while it's here.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Love,

The Farnsworth's