Power of the Priesthood

December.. December?! How did this happen?! The Christmas season is in full swing here in Palmyra! We've got Nativities from around the world on our table that usually has the different languages of the Book of Mormon at the Hill Cumorah. The Locals have Christmas lights up. Santa Clause is blown up all over the village. Christmas music is playing everywhere we go. I can't even believe it!

Merry Christmas Season to one and all!

This week has been so crazy! I've had a few moments of "this is my last ______" which kind of stresses me out. We had our last district meeting because we have Zone meeting next week with Elder Schwitzer of the Seventy, which will be so great to also have a mission leadership council with him. 

We had our last shift at the Grandin Building and Sister Hunter and I were both having a little freak out moment about going home. We've done so well and every now and then we'll have little flashes of "this is real life." So we were freaking out a little and I was also starting to get sick so I asked Elder Bradford (our site director) for a blessing.

I have LOVED being able to see throughout my life the power of the priesthood. God really works through his priesthood holders to help each and every one of us. There were some things that I'd been praying about for a couple weeks and after a pause in the blessing, Elder Bradford would, basically word for word answer the very questions I'd told to no one but God. if I had ever questioned whether or not God knew me, I can now say like Oliver Cowdery "where was room for doubt?"

I'm so grateful for the priesthood in my life! I'm so grateful for this time that I've had to get to know my Savior even better! I'm grateful for the time that I've had to learn more about His gospel. I'm so grateful for the time that I've had to be in the world, but so far distant from being of the world that my perspective on so many things has changed! I've become a lot more like Nephi who said "The things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world." I have found so much more happiness in the things of God, and I'm excited to be able to take the things I've learned here on my mission and apply them at home!

One of my great friends told me a couple weeks ago that "change comes from God." As much as I don't like change, I know that as we change to become more like God, we'll be happy. Change is necessary for salvation! I hope to be able to continue to change for the better!

I love you all! 

Love 

Sister Nield