It feels like a perfect night for breakfast at midnight

 (Elder Mackrory)

Bom dia amigos e família!

Estou animado para contar pra vocês minha semana. Foi um pouco louca. Mas tudo bem. Vi 8 fuscas, para um total 1374,5. Ainda sigo sem ver um meio fusca.

What’s up guys! Last pday was really cool. Our recent convert Jorge invited us to have some pizza at the restaurant he manages. Uau. What a pizza. Authentic wood oven, and an Italian menu. The only thing that wasn’t so authentic was the dessert pizza, but I’m not mad about that. We then went home, got groceries and did online work.

On Tuesday we had district council for the first time this transfer. Last first district council. Our lunch was super good. It was crepes with ground beef, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. During lunch, the members were watching the FIFA world cup, and we watched the first half of Fluminense (team from Rio) and Borussia Dortmund (super bad team from Germany). Nothing happened in the first half, and when we left to go do visits i realized nobody was home (yeah right). Apparently nothing happened in the second half either, but the victory was given to Fluminense because of a previous game or something. After a pretty empty day of visits, we went home to study and do some online work.

On Wednesday we had my last zone conference, and to ensure we arrived on time, we left way earlier than we needed to and took an uber instead of the bus. Unfortunately Rio’s traffic had other ideas and I stressfully watched our ETA slowly change from 9:15 to 10:15. Luckily the route had us do some weird loop at the end, and so I just told the driver to leave us a bit before the end of the ride, and so we saved 10 minutes there. Conference was super cool and well oriented to help us be successful. At lunch I sat with President and Sister Dutson and Elder and Sister Butters. I was the first missionary to sit at their table, and also the last because nobody else wanted to. It definitely made me look like I was trying to suck up to president, but that doesn't make much sense since I'm on my last stint. Oh well. Good conversation. On the way home my comp came down with a headache and some nausea, and so for the baptismal interview that night we did a division. During the interview, which our district leader did in a part, I messed around on the old people workout equipment. The interview resulted in our needing president's further approval, which Carol understood.

On Thursday we had really good stroganoff and watched another first half of a soccer game, this time Palmeiras (a good team from São Paulo but not well liked) and some middle eastern team with a weird name. I’m pretty sure Palmeiras won. Then we went to the chapel where we met up with the formerly known Elder Levie, now just Paul. He and I go way back to my first new years eve in Brazil when the rest of the district decided rules are lame and went to the beach at midnight. Anyway, at the chapel we played ping pong and chatted. Basically the entire ward showed up to see him again. That night we did online work.

On Friday I got to do a division with my brozão Elder Patterson. We got caught up on an hour long bus ride and went to lunch. The ward in which he serves only has two missionaries, which made lunch very different from what I'm used to. When we got to lunch, there was a big black stain on the roof, and the Sister who gave us lunch explained that her pressure pot exploded and half of our beans were on the roof. We ate crepes with tomato sauce and ground beef and mozzarella again (better than the other time), and then gave the message. After a little insisting, we cleaned the roof. Super fun. We made sure before leaving to pray that no more beans hit the roof. We started doing some visits in the area, but shortly realized that no one wanted to talk, since the Flamengo X Chelsea game was going on. Flamengo is the most rooted for team in Brasil (possibly in South America as well) and Chelsea is a big name European team. When I say everyone is watching it, I mean everyone was watching it. The streets seemed quieter than Provo during general conference. The few people on the road were also watching the game. We got some ice cream and started for home. It was at that point 1-0 Chelsea. Then, shouts and screams and honks and engine redlining split the air for a good 2 minutes. It was abundantly clear that Flamengo scored. Then, shouts and screams and honks and engine redlining split the air for a good 5 minutes. At first, we thought the celebration was for the first goal still, but as we passed a pharmacy (yes, the pharmacy had a TV out to watch the game), we realized that it had been two back to back goals. I've never seen the Carioca people so happy. About 15 minutes later, shouts and screams and honks and engine redlining split the air for a good 5 minutes. 3-1 Flamengo. A man shouted words I don't know from a window, to whom we smiled, gave thumbs up and said “é noix”. At home we did online work and chatted about spiritual gifts until it was time to order pizza. They gave us a reasonably ETA and just like at zone conference, the ETA got worse and worse until we were eating pizza at like 11 pm. Oh well.

On Saturday Elder Vogt died. Not really, but he woke up with a pretty bad fever and more sickness. We arrived home to end the division and Elder Roca, who was also feeling a little sick went to the hospital with him. While they were at the hospital Elder Cunha and I did online work, kinda independently. That night we went to soccer and then back home.

For Stake conference Sunday, our ward (which is super far from the stake center) was allowed to have a transmission in our chapel, so nothing changed as far as the where goes. However, Elder Vogt was still dying and So Elder Cunha and I went to church to represent both companionships. We had three of our friends come, and it was super cool. That evening we did more online work. What do you do when your comp can barely get off the bed?

Tender mercy: This week the Lord saw fit for me to be shown some of my spiritual gifts. In many instances in the week I saw how the Lord showed me that I had been placed here in Iraja at the right time to meet the right people. I was aware of how I could help them using my talents and the abilities the Lord has given me.

Spiritual thought: Flamengo, After securing the lead, still made one more goal before the end of the game. Ammon, in the Book of Mormon, was diligent in keeping all the commands of the King, even after what he did to save the flocks would have been enough to gain the faith of the King. This is what proved his greatness. It reminds me of the scripture “Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” When we do all that we can, not just the bare minimum, that is when the Lord magnifies us and our efforts.

Testimonies, who knew?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!

Y'all this week FLEW by and it was SO good! So good that I honestly can't remember much about what happened! But here are some highlights:

Wednesday we had MLC and it was inspired of course. President has started to use that revelatory power and is changing our mission to be better! It's exciting and I know the work is going forth!

We also got to go to the temple on Wednesday after MLC and I had a little "come to Jesus" moment that has changed my life in all actuality. I'm giving Him my actual all rather than just having the desire to do so. My perspective on everything has changed and I'm even more so determined to FIND, TEACH, and BAPTIZE. It's going to be a good transfer!

We had exchanges on Friday and I got to go with the brand new Sister Smith ("Sister" not to be confused with "Joseph"). Y'all, she is amazing! I'm astounded by her zeal for the work! We saw heaps of miracles and we actually met someone who is looking for a church right now! Such a miracle for this area. Mt Barker is a toughy but it's also SO GOOD!

On Sunday, I took the sacrament which was pretty awesome. #renewedcovenants

Anyways, here's some spiritual stuff:

Yesterday, we taught a lesson to a family in our ward about the purpose of having our own testimonies and it really struck a cord in me.

During the lesson, we had a bowl of water and two oranges. One orange, representing a person who has cultivated a testimony, is put into the water; which represents the world, sin, trials, basically everything bad you can think of. And because they have a testimony and that protective barrier, they droop under the water but quickly comes to the surface and floats. The second orange represents someone who has not taken the time to cultivate that testimony so when they are put into that water and into the hardships of the world, they sink all the way to the bottom.

This was such a powerful image to me and it was something I can completely relate to! We NEED a testimony of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, the Restoration, EVERYTHING, to stay afloat in this world of fear! Life is so much harder without it!

Anyways, I'd love to hear a bit of y'all's testimonies ON having a testimony!

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

Church, Church and CHURCH

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

This week was AWESOME! We did heaps of exchanges and had transfers and things got changed up yet again! But not too changed. I'm staying in Mt Barker for a 3rd transfer but Sister Briscoe left and Sister Bradbeer came in! I LOVE SISTER BRADBEER! She's one of my BEST friends!!

We went on heaps of exchanges this week and they were all amazing! Sister Hadfield and Sister Bastedo are amazing Sisters! It's weird how much we each grow and change in such a short period of time. When I was companions with Sister Bastedo in Modbury, we were such different missionaries!

But yeah, overall, I had a great week!

Here's some spiritual stuff,

Lately, we've been REALLY struggling to get people to church and it's been pretty dog gone frustrating but what it has made me come to realize and to develop a testimony of is just how important church. When we invite people to church we have to promise and testify of the blessings of the sacrament and of taking the time to learn about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice every week. As I've testified over and over, I've REALLY come to 100% know that church is integral to conversion. You HAVE to partake of the sacrament EACH WEEK so that you can stay spiritually afloat. I never want to skip a sacrament meeting ever in my life! So, PLEASE go to church this week!

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

And thent he cold came, the dark days

 (Elder Mackrory)

Eae tropinha. Belezinha?

Essa semana tivemos uma colheita menos exitosa, devido àlgumas coisinhas. Vi 6 fuscas, para um total de 1366,5. Espero muito ver outro meio fusca.

This entire week has been absolutely freezing. I think at one point it got down to 55 degrees. Needless to say I’ve been using my jackets all week and sipping my hot tea in these bitter and trying times.

Last pday we had transfers announced, and I found out where and with whom I will spend my Last transfer. Turns out I'm staying here in Irajá, which I expected, and I'm staying with my companion Elder Vogt, which I kind of expected. We spent the day kinda doing nothing since we had left some time to spare in case one of us had to pack bags.

On Tuesday we had our last district council meeting, and unfortunately I didn’t make any cheesecake. We said goodbye to some of the elderes in our district that were being transferred, and I started to realized that since this is my last transfer, I know exactly who I won’t see again until after the mission. It is kind of a surreal experience. The rest of the mission that I will get to see again I will for the last time this week at zone conference. After council, we went home in the freezing rain and made lunch at home. Then, because of the rain, we stayed at home to catch up on our never ending list of referrals. That night, some members made us a churrasco to say goodbye to Elder Amorim who was being transferred.

Wednesday morning we said goodbye to Elder Amorim, and he and elder Roca left for the mission office. We did our studies, went to lunch, and started to do our normal visits, and then Elder Vogt started feeling not so good in the stomach. We rushed home and he spent the rest of the day in and out of the bathroom while I gave the house a good deep cleaning and did some online work. Upon the arrival of the other Elders, Elder Roca and the new Elder Cunha, we came to find that Elder Roca had been feeling the same way. So for our lesson, we did a quick division and taught Rubi (I figured out that you spell it with an “I” here in Brasil) and Luciano with Elder Cunha. We ended up marking their baptism dates. We stopped by the store so that Elder Cunha could have some food for the week since he’s new in the area, and I took advantage of the opportunity to restock on my tea, which had been going out. I got some really good raspberry, blackberry, and hibiscus blends that are so awesome. Sugar in the raw also helps with the quality.

On Thursday not much had changed about Elder Vogt situation, and so we spent the day online.

On Friday Elder Vogt was a little better and we were able to go to lunch. Upon arrival we heard loud orchestral music from a nice speaker system. It was really good music, so it stayed on during lunch, including an arrangement of Amazing Grace by a bagpipe band that may have pulled a few tears. Afterwards, we were able to do some visits nearby before Elder Vogt became fatigued again. Dude’s a trooper.

Saturday was a little slower again because the dumb stomach bug didn’t leave my comp. We had our usual soccer night, and this time, for the first time in forever, no one really got in any fights about who made more goals. That night we taught Jessica, who has been coming to church for the last few weeks, and while we didn’t get to marking an exact date, she is super interested in being baptized. There is, however, one small difficulty. She lives in the Rio South mission. So we’re in contact with the Elders from the neighboring ward and Jessica and her son Miguel will get to know the church there, and she said she will be baptized there. So it will all work out.

Sunday was nice, we only had 3 of our friends show up, which, while it was lower than what we are used to, it was kinda relaxing to not have to rush to get them to sit with members. Before church, however, there was a gang war happening super close by with all sorts of gunshots and grenade explosions, and so we decided not to go visit anyone before going to church. Afterwards we got a ride to lunch in a way over packed car, but it's ok, everyone fit, including my comp in the trunk. Lunch was divine, but unfortunately for Elder Vogt, it had too much cheese, and so we again spent the day at home, with exception for one close-by visit with Carol, where we went over the baptismal interview questions. Had a chat with president, who renewed my temple recommend, and made it online, which is super fancy.

This week, while it was a little slower and less fruitful because of complicated complications, was full of miracles and tender mercies. The greatest of which, in my eyes, was the opportunities to serve Elder Vogt when he was sick. It has helped me to see more clearly the love Jesus Christ has for each one of us.

Spiritual Thought: During my mission, I’ve thought many times, “I’m a good missionary, why doesn’t president make me a zone leader? or assistant, or district leader?” I don’t think I ever really made those roles my goal during the mission, but sometimes I’ve thought that perhaps if I was a little more obedient, a little more diligent, I would have been a more prominent leader. Then one day, I was reading in Matthew 8:5-13 about the centurion who had his servant healed. Jesus commended his faith as not having any equal in all of Israel. Wait, more faithful than even the apostles? Yes. Among all of Israel, Jesus had not found faith equal to that of the centurion. Christ did not, however, promote the centurion to senior apostle in that moment, but simply granted what the centurion desired and let him live a faithful life. Like the centurion, we can have faith as great as the apostles, and still not be called to leadership. We can decide to be no less serviceable to the Lord, leader or not. For this, I’m content that I have done my best to develop myself as a disciple of Jesus Christ on my mission.

Christlike!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy Y'all!!

This week was awesome! I got sick and we had heaps of meetings so there's not much to talk about! Overall it was a fantastic week! I'd love to hear about y'all's!

Honestly, getting sick on the mission is really frustrating but also brings time for a lot of good reflection! I did a lot of reflecting and have discovered some things that I really want to enact and improve next transfer! So I'm hopeful and excited!

Here's some spiritual stuff:

Lately I've been thinking about Christlike attributes and something that was a lightbulb moment was I realized that these attributes of Christ are only "Christlike" because they are for the benefit of other people! Like knowledge is a Christlike attribute but it is only going to be "Christlike" if you share it with others and help them learn and grow! It applies to all of the attributes!

What Christlike attribute are you working on right now?

I love y'all! Sorry for the short email!

- Sister Cummings

Yeah, I learned my lesson, count my blessings

 (Elder Mackrory)

Opa tropa ta mais um email aí dando sopa

Espero que consigam ver a graça no ritmo dessa introdução. Pois eh. Vi 9 fuscas essa semana, trazendo o total aos 1360,5.

Last pday we took it slowly, and hung around the house. I made a raspberry-lime cheesecake for district council. I did some dishes and laundry and somehow managed to procrastinate writing my email.

On Tuesday we had district council and I brought my raspberry lime cheesecake which everybody loved. The only thing that didn’t go perfectly was the crust, which lacked butter and was therefore crumbly. After the council, a friend of ours Fabio came to church to see how it all works. We taught the first principles of the gospel, and he accepted our baptism invite. We did a reverse day from what is normal and did our online work in the afternoon and did visits at night.

On Wednesday we did some visits in the farthest neighborhood in our area after eating lunch in the mall. Afterwards we went to the chapel for seminary, and beforehand while calling referrals, Carol responded and told us how she had been taught by the missionaries before, she’s been reading the book of Mormon and want to be baptized and go to the temple. So there’s that. We marked a lesson with her for the next day, because our friends had arrived. With Luciano and Ruby with the help of the bishop we had a super spiritual lesson about the restoration. If they are ready, we hope to invite them to baptism this week. During this, our friend Jorge was interviewed for baptism and passed! Super crazy miracle about this. Afterwards we had some call lessons. One with Jessica, who is also super interested in being baptized, but she lives outside the mission in a super inconvenient spot that makes it easier for her to get a bus ride to our ward than to her ward. We will see about the situation.

On Thursday morning we called our friend Carol back, with the help of sister Barbara. She was so kind to Carol and helped her feel welcome and ready to come to church on Sunday. She was so kind as to invite Carol to have lunch with her the next day, which was the day we would be there too! After the call, we marked to meet with her that evening in the chapel, and invited a sister in the ward who lives on her same street. Unfortunately she was working, so to make the lesson work, we called up Luciano and Ruby again and they were able to participate in the lesson. Not members (yet), but at least we weren’t alone. We taught the plan of salvation, and it went really well despite some hiccups.

On Friday, we had lunch with Barbara, her family, and Carol. It was super good. Carol is feeling super welcome in the ward, which was one of her worries about coming. We went to go visit Joao on the complete opposite side of the area, who ended up canceling on us. That’s ok, there’s never too little online work to do.

On Saturday, we had a super cool lesson with Fabio, with a less active member we’re helping out. Super cool, and how they’re friends. We helped out with soccer that night, But we had to dip early to go to the family night marked by the sister who lived on the same street as Carol. Naturally, she asked us to invite Carol. We had a super good discussion about the restoration and the Book of Mormon, and she’s super excited about the Gospel Library.

On Sunday we had Jorge’s baptism, and some 6 of our friends came! Afterwards we had lunch at Nubia’s house, and were kinda stuck there the entire day because it was also Elder Amorim’s goodbye party since we are pretty sure he’s leaving.

Overall, it was a pretty full week. As I wrote, I went back like four or five times just because I forgot about a really important event.

Tender Mercy: Jorge was going to be baptized because we was supposed to switch jobs to free him up on Sundays. Come the interview, he passed, but said that some people at his current job left, and so now as a manager, he’s kinda stuck there. After some prayer and fasting, he spoke to his usually pretty stern boss, who told the first employee in the history of the company to take sundays off. Jorge told us Sundays off was never an option, never even a thought, and his boss just him he could have it. Prayer and Fasting really work.

Spiritual thought: I learned this week the two different Portuguese words that mean “blessed”. One (abençoado) means simply blessed, having blessings received. The other (bendito) has a higher meaning. Beyond its meaning of blessed, it means someone who reciprocates those blessings to others and someone who is grateful for such blessings. For example, 10 lepers were abençoados. Only 1 was bendito. Whenever the scriptures wish to imply more than simple blessing, they use bendito or its verb, bendizer. May we always strive to be the part of God’s people that is more than abençoada, but bendita as well.

Anxiety y'all, who knew?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

I'm back again with another awesome week! There were HEAPS of miracles and I just LOVED it!

Here's a little run down from the week:

- We deep cleaned our flat and now everything sparkles! So yeehaw!

- We had exchanges with Sister T and Sister Hadfield and it was SO GOOD! We did service and I just LOVE service and I just LOVE those Sisters!

- Thursday was our temple P-day and I just LOVE the Adelaide temple! It's small but it's also so special. Being able to just be near it let alone in it always makes me so happy!

- We started teaching a FAMILY! The first family I have ever really taught on my mission! It's so special. Please pray that they can come to church this week!

- Saturday, one of my favorite people in the world went through the temple for the first time! Charlotte Clark I love you and I'm so proud of you! You make me so happy!

- Yesterday was our music devotional and it was spectacular! The missionaries who were performing did a fantastic job! Literally incredible! I felt the spirit so strong! I got to see pretty much all my favorite people there including missionaries AND members! So dang special!

Here's some spiritual stuff for y'all! (Sorry y'all, I got on my soap box a little here)

Lately, I was reading some of the Book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon and I was kind of pondering on Jacob's use of the word "anxiety". Honestly, I had never really heard it used in scripture so I just assumed it was just an archaic use for the word fear rather than how we modernly define anxiety. However, as I continued to read, I came to understand that Jacob was using it in the same way that we use it today and here's how I know!

At first, Jacob talks a bit about how his anxiety is for the welfare and salvation of his people and how it actually works as a source for good because it makes him more diligent! He even speaks about how sometimes the spirit uses anxiety for good as well!

- "Mine anxiety is great for you. … I have exhorted you with all diligence" (2 Nephi 6:3).

- "Because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people" (Jacob 1:5).

In this, Jacob teaches a truth that modern psychology teaches us as well. Mild to moderate levels of anxiety actually increases our performance. If we weren't anxious about performing badly then we wouldn't feel the inclination to practice! It's true, i'm sure y'all have seen it in your life. But it totally applies to spiritual things as well! If you weren't anxious about becoming a better person through Jesus Christ, you wouldn't repent! If you weren't anxious to head the spirit, you wouldn't strive to do all you can to be intune with Him!

Later, Jacob shows that there is actually an anxiety threshold that when reached will actually limit our performance and lead more likely to failure. He says it here: "I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for you" (Jacob 4:18)

Here Jacob talks about "over anxiety" anxiety that limits rather than aids us. I think we've all experienced this anxiety. When we were so scared about a test that, even though we prepared well, we couldn't think properly and maybe couldn't focus on the test at hand. So we performed poorly. When it comes to spiritual things, sometimes I often get over anxious about needing to be more Christlike and a better person that I'm actually so self involved that I end up being more selfish and less like Jesus Christ. So I performed poorly. Sometimes, as a missionary, I get over anxious about talking to people that I can't even make myself say a word! That's poor performance! Sometimes, like Jacob talked about, we get too over-anxious that we cannot hear or head the spirit and therefore we stumble. Again, poor performance.

However, it's all about finding the balance and keeping anxiety within the helpful range rather than the toxic range. How do we do that? Again, VIRTUE! Remember, this is what the prophet said: "Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts." By actively keeping a clean, uplifting mind and by not permitting harsh, mean, or critical thoughts to linger no matter their topic, you can keep your anxiety within the bounds the Lord has given to help you!

Sorry for the rant, but whenever scriptures or doctrine connects to psychology I get so excited!

I love y'all!!

- Sister Cummings

That red lip classic thing that you like

 (Elder Mackrory)

Fala pessoal!

Essa semana fui abençoado pra ver 16 fuscas! Eu até sonhei que vi uma outra metade de um fusca, mas isso não conta. O total está 1351,5.

Last pday we had a great time at a place called Uruguayans. I had gone before, but it was a holiday, and so basically no stores were open. This time, however, I found so many goodies, including a super cheap, but good quality Brasil soccer jersey, a lego Ferrari F40 (so freaking beautiful), and another big Jesus statue.

On Tuesday we had district council and I kinda made a Oreo and lemon cheesecake with Oreo bits on top. It wasn’t the most solid cheesecake, but it was good. Then we went to lunch and I learned a bunch of army slang. My comp had a bad headache, so I got some good study, online work, and housecleaning done.

On Wednesday we had lunch with a family who just had their son come home from the mission, and so there was a nice spirit there. It didn’t make me trunky because I was more focused on the cute baby that kept looking at me. that night we went to seminary, and two of our friends were there. Super awesome lesson.

On Thursday we had lunch in the favela, and did some unfruitful visits until it was time to go to seminary. Seminary was cancelled at the last moment, and so my comp and I were there with the seminary teacher. We had arranged to have another friend of ours, Jorge, come to be taught. Since seminary was cancelled and the member we invited to participate in the lesson also cancelled, we invited the seminary teacher to participate, and it ended up being exactly what Jorge needed. We were able to mark his baptism date for next Sunday. He also is super interested in family history and temple work now, so that’s a plus.

On Friday we actually went to lunch in the same place as Thursday, this time with slightly less guns. We had most of our appointments fall through, and so we ended up doing a lot of online work. At night I was catching up with Elder Patterson who was doing a division with the other companionship in our ward. We may have gone to bed a little late. Good talk though my guy.

On Saturday I was a little tired for reasons unknown. But we still were able to reinforce our church invites and invite lots of people. We had the returning missionary’s homecoming churrasco, which was really good. It left me very motivated and searching to love more fully the people that I serve.

Sunday was good, and we had two of our friends show up, Jessica and Miguel. They both loved it and are planning on coming back next week. The sacrament meeting was super edifying and once again no one said anything weird at the pulpit. Miracles are real. After lunch we had lunch with one of my favorite families, and we laughed about common grammar mistakes, since the mother is a Portuguese professor. She made a really good dessert with brownies and ice cream, but no one wanted seconds (what?) and she didn’t want any leftovers, so I did what any reasonable Elder would do in this situation and had three servings of dessert.

Tender Mercy: Elder da Silva without hesitation volunteered to clean the casserole dish that I used for my not-cheesecake. I was impressed with his example of searching for opportunities to serve, and have tried to emulate it throughout the semana, and have seen more of the pure love of Christ as I did so.

Spiritual thought: I did a study this week about study. Sounds weird, but it was really cool. In school I learned about three types of questions as we analyze texts. Level one questions have to do with the text itself, Level 2 questions have to do with how this text relates to others, and Level 3 questions relate to how the text relates to the historical, social or political context of the text. I decided to apply this questioning system to my scripture study. To get the most out of a certain chapter, I must READ (level 1) to understand the story and the words written. The Holy Spirit can then bring peace to my soul and use the knowledge of the stories to help us in difficult situations, bringing the stories to remembrance. I must also STUDY (level 2) to see how the teachings in the chapter are also supported by other scripture stories and passages. The Holy Spirit can then bring peace to my soul and testify of the truthfulness of such teachings. I must also PONDER (level 3) to see how such teachings can be applied in my life. The Holy Spirit can then bring peace to my soul, testify of the truthfulness of such teachings, and bring personal revelation to make me a better person.