Sincerely Sister Smith

Dear Loved Ones, Yesterday, I went to this quiet corner of the visitors' center to be alone and read my scriptures. It has pictures of prophets from the Book of Mormon and modern times with touchscreens that play videos for you. Little self-guided stuff you don't need a tour guide for, so I never go over there. While I'm hiding in my corner, I sense movement behind me and turn around to find a lady has somehow gotten past the 3-5 people in the lobby waiting to catch visitors.  Her: What can you tell me about these displays? Me: Uh... (I never needed to give a  tour of this random corner of the visitors' center before) they're exhibits on Book of Mormon prophets. Her: Say it again for the camera. I'm recording this for a celebrity. (pulls out phone) Me: (quickly launching into Perky News Anchor Mode) Over here we have displays about prophets from the Book of Mormon. Her: What can you tell me about that one? Me: This exhibit tells the story of Moroni, th...

Dear Loved Ones, Saydi got confirmed on Sunday! I love this little girl so much. We didn't bring any adults to church this week, so my new companion, Sister Nackos, and I sat in on Saydi's Sunday School class before following her and her little friends to primary. As we moved down the hallway to primary in a single file line, me at the back and Sister Nackos in front of me, I realized that the two girls walking with Saydi had all been baptized in the past year.  Me: All three of these girls are converts.  Her: All four of these girls are converts.  Sister Nackos was raised Baptist. That's FANTASTIC because we're teaching a couple Baptists right now! As we left an appointment with our little Baptist family, the Cobbins, she said, "I think these are the people I was sent to this area for."  I LOVE HER. In other news, the new mission handbook dropped this week. I'm so thrilled to see that it's making strides to correct the long-festering problem...

Dear Loved Ones, Russian playwright Anton Chekhov said that if a gun is onstage in the first act, it must go off in the second act. So in theater and other media studies, the term Chekhov's gun refers to something in the background that becomes important later. My mom sent me this birthday package full of Chekhov's guns. (A birthday and a baptism in the same weekend! What a life!) I asked for a baptismal bracelet for Saydi (she sent five) and a towel because I've been using the same one every shower for the past ten months. She sent a fluffy white one. And a box of brownies. On the day of the baptism, Saydi ended up leaving the baptism bag I'd helped her pack just the night before at home. But I had a towel on hand! And the brownies kept her family entertained before the baptism.  I was so excited about witnessing a baptism like a beacon of feminine progress that I almost forgot there are actual responsibilities associated with that. My companion and I drilled ours...

I had learned to call thee Father, Thru thy Spirit from on high, But, until the key of knowledge Was restored, I knew not why. In the heav’ns are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason; truth eternal Tells me I’ve a mother there. Dear Loved Ones,  Saydi got parental permission and is on track to be baptized on Saturday! My companion and I are excited to stand as witnesses to her baptism. So far as I know, no woman, girl, or boy was waiting with bated breath for the chance to witness baptisms. You never think of the church as having moving parts until you see those parts move. But after the fact, I'm glad to see witnessing divorced from priesthood. Any idiot who's been baptized can watch that it's done properly. Priesthood's attachment to it was always more cultural than doctrinal. I think of all the callings that only men seem to be placed in (ward mission leader, Sunday School president) and wonder if we may see women ...