Letter #13: Child of God, Disciple of Christ

This past week has been pretty hectic with the ward splitting and all. It's changing our areas as missionaries and has been crazy but awesome to be apart of! I've been focusing a lot on our identity this past week, and a lot on faith, which are two things that I've realized I need to be focusing on all the time. When we teach people- the first principle we teach- the first concept we try to hammer into their heart before anything else-- is remind them that they are a child of God, that God is our loving Heavenly Father and wants the best for us. It sounds so simple, but I've come to learn and realize that this is one of, if not the most valuable truth we teach. There is a reason that we teach it first. I have been learning that when we show people that they are a child of God- that their identity is permanent and unshakable and rooted in divinity- they are more receptive to our message. I like this role I have of helping people re-discover who they are. As missionaries, we teach all kinds of different people, all who have made mistakes. It's a privilege to show people that there is a part of divinity that lives in them- regardless of their standpoint on the social spectrum, or regardless of the choices they've made, good or bad, or regardless of their opinions of themselves- to show them that self esteem might have the power to fluctuate but that self-worth does not have that capacity- they have one identity that is guaranteed, one identity that will never ever ever fall away, no matter what they do- they are children of God! Part of the Father lives in everyone we meet, because we. are. his. children. We teach this Gospel that is all about faith-about belief-action-change-endure-it's all about hope and patience, the two of which, add up to faith! When we help people see the glimpse of eternity within themselves- when we help them connect to heaven-not as some distant far away metaphorical idea-but as a piece of themselves, something that has been and will always be apart of them- they are more receptive to eternal truth. When we know we are eternal beings we are receptive to eternal truth. I'm sorry for going on a tangent but it's just something that has been hammered into my head and heart lately.
It's a privilege to be apart of this work! I don't feel like I deserve it most of the time. I feel like these people need someone better, but I will do my very best! I know that I am a child of God and that with that knowledge comes faith and the absence of fear-if we truly know who we are we will never fear! When we recognize this inherit identity that we have, we will be able to make choices that will bring a second identity upon ourselves- we will make the choice to be disciples of Jesus Christ- we will follow him in every choice and strive to testify of Him with our thoughts, words, and choices. We will become like the prophets of old! "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."-3 Nephi 5:13
I love you all!
Con amor,
Hermana Clawson