Speak of the Savior

Hello everyone!

I hope that all is well wherever you may be!

By no means do I mean to dwell on this, but on Saturday, I hit my 18 month mark. I have experienced the most incredible and most important 18 months of my life. I have learned things that I simply would never have known. I have grown to love God first and to apply the atoning blood of Christ. There is so much that God has allowed me to learn, love, feel, and experience, and I am so grateful for that. I have one week left to give everything in me, and I am so excited to do it!

We have had another beautiful week here in Palo Alto! The investigators are doing so well! One of them, Becky, got engaged to a member of our branch on Monday night right after our lesson with her. So fun! And the less active work continues to go so well! I love all of these people here so much and I really admire their humility. They are so willing to put aside anything and everything to change and return to Christ.

Yesterday we had a really neat experience on Lackland Air Force Base. We have some YSAs that live on base that attend the branch there, and we have been wanting to go to their service to try and meet some of these people. The elders in our district are assigned to that branch as well as their ward, so they have base passes that they use each week, but we don't. So we figured it out and had a sister whose husband is in the branch presidency come meet us at the gate so that we could get on with her pass. So we drove to the gate with the elders, Sister Fullam and I got into the sister's car, and we let the elders go through first. Right as we're going through, we saw the elders turn around and go out the other way. We called them, and their passes had expired! So although it was our first time, it was up to us to teach any of the trainees who wanted to hear about the gospel! It was such a miracle that it worked out this way! We got to help the senior couples with some paperwork, answer some questions, have sacrament with them, and then anyone who wanted to know more came to a classroom with us and some other trainee members and we got to teach the Restoration to about 20 men and let me tell you, it was powerful. Many of them had great questions, and sharing the First Vision brought the spirit so strongly. Many of them asked for copies of the Book of Mormon after the class. It was such a neat experience to be on base yesterday, to teach such humble people, and to see how God's hand was in this allowing for His work to go forth.

This week we had the worldwide missionary broadcast, and it was incredible. The Brethren truly are inspired of God and it increased my passion to TEACH REPENTANCE AND BAPTIZE CONVERTS, to always be focused on my purpose, to turn outward, to love others more, to be obedient, and to talk of Christ ALWAYS. There is so, so much that we learned, but one of my favorite things was from Elder Andersen. He said:

“I know you talk to everyone who will listen to you. Wherever you are—in a bus, on the street, in a teaching situation, or in a home with a member, if you are ever unsure of what to say, speak of the Savior. Testify of Him. Speak of His doctrine, of faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. This is your purpose. This is your charge.”

I love this so much, because isn't this the purpose and charge of every single one of us? We have made that covenant, we have crossed the line, and what a blessing and privilege it is to testify and speak of the Savior!

He lives. He loves us. He allows us to change. He forgives us. He is our Savior. Through Him, nothing is impossible.

I love y'all so much! Have an incredible week!

Love always,

Sister Snyder

Sent from my iPad

                                                         The best book ever.

"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel..."

Hello sweet friends and family!

How is everyone doing? I hope that everyone had a great week! And mom, I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Things here are going amazing! Palo Alto is incredible, we had exchanges on Friday-Saturday, we got to spend time down in Pleasanton, I met a pet pig named Tamale, and we saw miracles. I always say it, but I wish that each of you could be here with me or step into my mind and experience what we do as we study and prepare and go out and talk to and meet with people. I have truly learned how to love God first and how to love His children. This work has absolutely nothing to do with me, but everything to do with Him. And I couldn't be more grateful for that. He makes weak things strong. He changes hearts. He blesses the obedient. He loves unconditionally. He provides us a way to return. All of that is why I love and serve Him.

This week we were blessed to work with a few less actives that are working to be fully active again. These people inspire me a whole, whole lot. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ requires diligent and honest effort, and it doesn't always seem to be the easiest. We all slip up and make mistakes, but it's the desire to return that matters, and this is what we see over and over with these wonderful people. Our purpose as a whole Church, as disciples of Christ, is to invite others to come unto Him. To teach repentance and baptized converts. I have gained a string testimony of fulfilling my purpose with EVERYONE. Just because someone is already a member doesn't mean that our purpose doesn't apply. And that's what we've been doing, inviting people to continually come unto Christ. 

We had a lesson with a brother named Joseph who has a strong desire to return and build his testimony again. We met out in his backyard(yes, it was nice enough and yes, I got a sunburn in January, haha) and we had a member of the branch with us, and we taught him the Restoration. There is such power in allowing someone to hear again what they know and to allow it to begin burning in them again. As we concluded the lesson, I felt prompted to share with him the power of having a vision and setting goals, since this is something I have really come to understand on my mission. I then pulled out a sticky note, and asked him what his vision is for himself. His vision is to be fully active again in the church. We then asked how he plans to do it, and what he will do each day to make it happen. We wrote all of this down for him, gave him the sticky note, and invited him to prayerfully commit to Heavenly Father to do these things. It was powerful, and we were able to do this 2 other times with other YSAs in the branch who are pushing hard to come back. I feel such a deep love for these people. I see their potential, and Heavenly Father sees it even more. 

This week I have learned SO much. I have been working on My Plan, the program for returning missionaries to help them have a better plan to continue their discipleship and habits. It helps set goals about everything from work to education to scripture study to dating to remembering what we have learned during this time. As I've been doing this each morning and doing personal study, a few points have stuck out to me. Nothing new, just extremely important. 

First, the importance of scripture study. Preach My Gospel has a whole chapter on the Book of Mormon, and it says, "The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion." I am converted, but I also plan to continue to be converted, so I know that I must never cease my study of and love for the Book of Mormon.

The second thing is the importance of the covenants we make and the temple. A part on My Plan says that "temples provide strength to help us become become more deeply converts disciples of Christ." I want nothing more. And I love this quote from Elder Ballard: "There is no spiritual power that comes in convenience, it comes in keeping our covenants." 

The last thing is the influence of the Holy Ghost. I have been studying the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion and how it is truly central to conversion. We must teach by the spirit, and others must receive by the Spirit. I was thinking about this last night, and about how at the beginning of my mission, I would often wonder if I was actually feeling the Spirit, or sometimes I would wonder why I didn't feel like the Spirit was working through me. Now, I feel that the Spirit is the guide and that the Spirit does speak through me. Why the difference in feeling and belief? I first needed to learn how to feel and recognize the Spirit. I studied it and began to recognize the influence of the Spirit more and more. And then when the promptings came, I needed to learn to jump on and follow. It can be scary, it can be hard, but there is power that comes when we do what God asks. He loves us and loves all of His children enough to allow His Spirit work through imperfect people like us. 

Knowing these things has blessed me in countless ways. I am forever and ever indebted to my Father in Heaven and my Savior. I am nothing, I am fallen, but through Them, I, you, and all of us have great, great value, and incredible potential. We just need the eyes to see it.

I'll end with a scripture found in Alma 29:9 that my Dad sent to me today that I love! I had been studying Alma 26 this week, which goes perfectly with this. I testify to you that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, my joy truly is full. 

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."

I love y'all!

Love,

Sister Snyder 

Sent from my iPad

1. Me and a member, Reyna, with her sweet pig named Tamale
2. Sister Fullam and me! Love her
3. With the sweetest family ever, the Zendejos! Love them so much!
4. Again with the pig. Hahaha.

Hello Y'all

Hello Y'all!!

This week I was blessed to witness many times the change of heart that happens within someone as they begin to align or realign their will with the Lord's. Lives change, people change, but the gospel doesn't, and that is why it is our safe anchor in all of this. We have seen how investigators begin to change and how they have proven to us that they are repenting. We can see it each time we meet that these children of a God are being converted. We have also been working consistently with many less actives, and getting down to their concerns and why they decided to be baptized in the first place. All of these people felt the Spirit and experienced some change at one point, and now they need to come back. We have been blessed to have very spirit led discussions with many of these returning less actives in which we have been able to help them resolve their concerns. We have been turning to Preach My Gospel for help with these concerns that come up, and how inspiring it is to see it all come together as we receive the help we need. We have a less active that has now come back and is attending activities, and he is strongly considering serving a mission. Last night we had a lesson with a man who feels that he has lost his testimony, but wants it back. We told him that he will gain it back as he does what is necessary, and invited him to read, pray, and come back to church. He accepted our invitation, and as he said the closing prayer, the Spirit was so strong. It is an absolute privilege, and a very humbling one at that, to witness the change that occurs in these people as they begin to repent and forsake. Last night we came out of that lesson with great gratitude for our calling and for these experiences that the Lord blesses us with.

I could not be any happier with how everything is going and with my mission experience. The Lord has blessed me in countless ways. I feel it every day that this is exactly where I am meant and needed to be. How grateful I am to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Have a wonderful week!

-Sister Snyder

happy new year! (from 1/4/16)

Hello sweet friends and family! Happy new year! I hope that everyone is enjoying 2016 so far! I just can't believe it's here already! This last year was the very best year of my not so long life. I have learned and experienced more than I thought possible, and I'm so excited to continue that for the rest of my life.

Everyone here goes bananas for New Years with fireworks. There was traffic everywhere on Thursday from people going to the different firework stands around. It was pretty exciting. I just thought I'd throw that in there. It's awesome down here.

This week was MIRACULOUS. I'll go ahead and tell you why! (This might be long...)

-our investigator KJ is still progressing so well! We had to change his baptism date to February 6th because of his work schedule, but he is still so set on it and we are so excited for him. The other day we were talking about obedience and following the prophet, and we asked what his thoughts were. He said, "I think it's really simple. It isn't rocket science. We just need to follow what they say." He has such a simple and logical but powerful faith! He accepts everything we share with him, and is more than willing to live it. 

-our other investigator Becky has a baptism date now as well! We had talked to her about praying for herself about what day to be baptized, and as we went over to a lesson on Saturday we were wanting to bring that up. We didn't have to, she did. She said that she had prayed about it, and now she has a date set for March 5th! It was awesome! We taught her the Restoration again with a member there and it was a very powerful lesson. There is nothing better than being able to testify of the Prophet Joseph and of the full gospel of Jesus Christ being restored. I love it. 

-on Wednesday we had MLC. We talked a lot about the doctrine of Christ and how our purpose really is to "teach repentance and baptize converts." We talked about how Preach My Gospel answers every questions or concern an investigator has, and we talked a lot about change in the mission and the church. It really strengthened my testimony of standing by the prophet and the brethren no matter what. I know that they are men called of God, and I have already made the decision that I will go and do what they tell us. How blessed we are to have a prophet of the Lord on the earth today.

-on Wednesday night we went to go visit a recent convert/less active member that we haven't been able to see for a while. He and his family have been having a hard time lately, and he answered and invited us in! We were so thrilled. Then comes the miracle. His family hadn't really been interested while he was being taught. But as soon as we came in, they ALL gathered around the dinner table to hear what we had to say. We shared with them A Savior is Born and the Spirit was so present and led us through the rest. We were able to testify of where our loved ones go when they pass on, and I wish you could have seen the comfort it brought them. That family is prepared right now and their experiences have allowed them to open more. We taught them again the other night, and the mom wants to be baptized! Never doubt that the Lord loves you or answers yours prayers. I see it every single day that He absolutely does. 

-this week we have also been doing lots of less active work, and it has been amazing! People are coming back and getting the fellowship they need, and their lights are growing. It's a privilege to be able to see the change in people.

I know this is really long, but I want to end with two more thoughts:

First, this week I have been studying in Lesson 1 of Preach My Gospel, the Restoration, especially the section "The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith". I want all of you to know, that I know without a single doubt, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, the head of this dispensation. The fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to this earth again through him, and he was and is God's chosen vessel. The ordinances of salvation are available to us today because of this restoration, and I am forever grateful for that.

And last, I want to share the last verse of hymn 85, 'How Firm a Foundation'. We sang this at MLC last week, and President Slaughter had us stand up after and recite the last two lines together. This sums up very well my testimony of this gospel:

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

I love y'all dearly and hope you have a wonderful week! 

Love always, 

Sister Snyder 

PS here's a picture of my zone after service on Tuesday. 

Goodbye New Hope, Hello Palo Alto! (From 12/21/15)

Happy Monday! Merry Christmas! I can't believe it's Christmas this week! What a wonderful time to focus on Christ and to remember the greatest gift that any of us will ever, ever be given.

There is so much that has happened this week, and it has all been so wonderful! I'll jump right into it!

On Tuesday we dropped off Sister Angulo to head down to the border, then went and worked and had amazing lessons! The Lord truly is preparing people in many ways. Right before dinner on Tuesday we got transfer emails, and.....I saw that I was going. I was excited/sad but so ready to go wherever I was needed! I spent a few pretty late nights trying to pack and prepare everything for doubling out, but it worked out great. And it's always such a pleasure to work with the sweet sisters in Palm Valley. Hermana Gonzalez is a native, and while Hermana Boren was with another Sister at the church we went out to some appointments. Imagine it. Me not knowing where I'm going, we can hardly communicate, it was awesome, hahaha. Yes, we got lost, but we had a lesson and it all worked out. So many fun times!

It was so sad to say goodbye to New Hope. I love, love, love that place and the people there. It means so much to me, and I really feel like that's a place where I grew the most on my mission and really came to build my confidence and my testimony and understanding of who Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ truly are. I am eternally grateful for every day I spent there and for the people who helped to change my heart and help me become. I love being a missionary. At what other time would I get to be placed into all of these different places and get to meet these people and talk to them about the gospel? God knew where I needed to be, for me and for them.

Thursday morning was transfer meeting,  and I totally fit everything into my two suitcases and carry on! Woohoo. We went to the church building and when the meeting started, I could feel it in my bones that I was going back home to San Antonio to die. Haha. So they went through all of the Austin areas, I wasn't called, so I knew it was San Antonio! And then they announced where we were all going and I am now serving in the Palo Alto YSA branch in south San Antonio. My lovely companion is Sister Fullam from New Hampshire, and she is awesome! So focused, so FUNNY, and so, so humble! Everything is just so right! I am exactly where I need to be and I feel such a fire to give every ounce of everything every single day during this last transfer. I want to leave everything I can here. It's been such a great few days!

The branch is so great! There are so many wonderful and funny people here! YSA is definitely different than a family ward, but it's so incredible! They have all welcomed me right in and it's such a neat experience being here. We have a great branch president and members and it's just a good time. And the members are amazing at helping with the work. I'm so excited for what's ahead! Yesterday was our Christmas program and it was really good! There were 30 people there. So different, but so good! You get to know everyone and really work with
them 

Our area covers quite a lot of ground. I'm forever confused on where we are, but it's been so fun. The other day we were in downtown San Antonio and it was so fun. It could be categorized under what some might call "sketchy", but we're careful about when and where we do things. Don't worry Mom! All is well. Also we get to cover some bases! Lackland AFB is one of them! Hoorah. Also, I thought I wouldn't be driving this transfer since it's my last, but alas, due to some circumstances, I am the driver. Haha. Also, the same car I had in New Hope was moved down here and I get to drive it still! Woo hoo.

We have been seeing MIRACLES with A Savior is Born. People's hearts are so soft at this time of year, and we have been able to share the video and cards and different messages with so many people each day! I invite each of you to share it again this week, to reach out to someone, and to love others. Reflect on what it means to YOU that a Savior has been born, and that a Savior lives today for YOU.

The words of the scriptures tell us that in Him all things(ALL things!) are fulfilled. I have learned for myself that that is nothing less than the most sure truth. As Elder Christofferson tells us in a conference talk, "The Savior makes all things right." The words we read from Preach My Gospel further testify of Him: "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." I love Him, I adore Him, and I know, without a single doubt, that He lives.

I wish all y'all the happiest Christmas!!!

Love always,

Sister Snyder

Sent from my iPad

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

Hello!

Sorry that I have been the worst at emailing to the big group lately! But I'm back! We had an incredible week! Texas got COLD. I don't know how I did it in Utah. But I really think it's the humidity here that gets me. But all is well! We stay warm and we see miracles every day!

There's always so much to tell all of you, but I will share with you about thanksgiving and about A Savior is Born.

Our thanksgiving day was amazing! One of the best I've ever had. My sweet companion and I had so much fun and saw blessings and miracles like crazy.

Here are our thanksgiving day miracles:
1. It was Sister Angulo's birthday! I woke up at 5 something to decorate our door for sister Angulo, then went back to sleep. Haha so sneaky. It was awesome and we had a fun time!
2. We went and did service as a zone for this foundation called Annie's Way. It was at a Catholic Church in Round Rock, and it was amazing!!! People from the community donate different thanksgiving dishes, and anyone is welcome to come and enjoy, and they do! There were people who were homeless, widows, less fortunate, or those who just didn't have plans. So we talked with different people, served them drinks, offered desserts, etc. I loved it so much! And it was such a blessing, there was TONS of leftover food! So much. So we started boxing it up and we were able to take some with us to give to people.
3. We had the best thanksgiving lunch with the Worwood family in our ward and they went over the history of thanksgiving for sister Angulo and it was so neat! It was such a yummy meal!
4. We were able to give the food out! A less active family that we haven't been able to see was home, and they were so sweet to us! They stuffed us full of tamales, and sister Angulo was able to speak with them since they are mostly Spanish speaking, and it was just what they needed.
5. We visited a less active part member family and had a really spiritual lesson with them.
6. We met another ward member we haven't been able to see yet and had a really neat visit with her.
7. We ended the birthday/thanksgiving night with ice cream cones.

What a beautiful day! The Lord's work is progressing and it is amazing to be able to witness it every single day. I love it so much.

The last thing I want to mention is the new church initiative, A Savior is Born. Everyone, this video is so simple and so beautiful. It really sums up why we have Christmas, and helps us remember how important it is. I invite you all to think about what it means to you that a Savior is Born, and then share it. Spread the video, use the hashtag (#asaviorisborn), and just share your light with others. There are amazing things happening everywhere, and ours is the blessing to share that with others! We are so blessed to have our iPads this year to share the video with everyone we see, and I will keep y'all updated on the miracles we see!

This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful that a Savior was born for me, for you, and for everyone.

I love y'all!

Love always,

Sister Snyder

Here's us on thanksgiving with leftover food to give out!

Hiii

Hello everyone!! 

My heart is grateful and filled as I think about the week that we had. I know that the Lord’s promise to always have His spirit with us is true, because I have felt the Spirit abundantly this week. I found myself reflecting on the changes that have occurred in me and those that we meet with, and I feel nothing but pure love and gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I have never felt so right. Even as I type this right now to you and as I think about the gospel and how it changes and blesses everyone, it is filling me with so much love. It’s hard to adequately express these feelings, but they are nothing but good. I am so grateful for every aspect of this life, and I am so grateful for my mission and who it has made me. I’m not ashamed of whom I used to be, but I am proud of and grateful for whom the Lord has made me to be.

 Our investigator Marcela is doing amazing! She is all set and ready for her baptism this Saturday, the 14^th. I have never seen someone so willing to change her life to align it with God’s teachings as much as she has. Anything that comes up, she asks, we answer, and she adjusts. Her humility and ability to be teachable is inspiring to me. She is so thrilled to be baptized. We were able to meet her husband and daughter on Saturday for lunch, and we love them so much!  They are the kindest people and we know that as they see Marcela’s example that their hearts will be softened. . I love her so much, and I recognize that the Lord prepared her so well for the gospel at this time. The Spirit touches her heart as she studies and reads and she knows it’s true.

I have to update you on the newly reactivated member we have been working with, Sister Amidon. Her change and progression has continued and she has gained so much strength in so many aspects of her life! We had a visit with her the other night, and her testimony is so powerful. She is living proof of the power of the Book of Mormon. We did absolutely nothing to help her change. All it took was a simple invitation to begin reading and praying again, and the Spirit taught her and filled her as her focus turned to God. It is amazing and humbling to witness the change it brings in someone in just a few months. She was talking about that change and how when she first went away, she was looking for something else. Then she said something I love, “The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it.” There is no need to search for something more, because this gospel is what brings the most happiness. And when we “water” where we are, we will grow greener and greener. It’s incredibly humbling to have such a lovely person thank us for being the missionaries she needed. She told us that she needed us specifically and although we didn’t baptize a family together, that we forever changed hers and that they will be baptized when they are old enough. It makes me want to cry just thinking about that moment. I have been very humbled.

Another huge blessing this week has been being able to work with Hermana Boren as we double cover Palm Valley and New Hope. First of all, Hermana Boren is incredible. She has had quite the transfer, but she is so dedicated and loves this work so much, and she is holding everything together so well. I love working in the Spanish area. I don’t speak much Spanish at all, but the Spirit is so strong. On Saturday night after a lesson, Sister Boren asked us, “Can you still feel the Spirit even though you don’t understand what’s being said?”. And I told her that it is so tangible and real. It is the universal teacher and comforter and there is power behind that. No, I don’t know what is being said all of the time, but I can feel the truth of what is being spoken and that right there is all we need. Another neat experience was on Friday night when we attended the primary program practice for Palm Valley since Sister Boren is leading the music. We were sending emails and updating our area book and listening to the music, and when the children and adults started to sing “A Childs Prayer”. The spirit was so strong and warm and I thought about every person in that room as a child of God. It was easy to picture them standing next to Christ, and my love for each of them grew. I’m so grateful for experiences like that that allow us to increase our capacity to love and serve others.

Sister Storms is amazing. She has changed my life. I have learned and grown more than I 

thought possible during these last three transfers, and I owe so much of that to her. I know that companionships are inspired of the Lord, because Sister Storms is more than what I needed. I have found one of my best friends in her, and she continues to strengthen me. Her boldness and unshaken testimony have inspired me to reach higher and work harder. She is going to continue to do amazing things in life. Her testimony and drive to share it with others will continue to bless everyone around her. I am forever grateful for her and the impact she has had on me and those that we have been blessed to teach together. I’m sad to see her go, but so grateful for every day that we had to be united as a companionship, as servants of the Lord, and proclaim the gospel. We had so much fun along the way, and my heart is full. I'll be sure to let y'all know what happens this week with transfers!

In my scriptures, I keep my patriarchal blessing with a sticky note on top quoting Alma 5:26, “Can ye feel so now?”  On the back of this sticky note, I write some of the most incredible experiences I have had on my mission. I was looking at that the other day, and I am grateful to say that yes, I do feel so now. I feel to sing the song of redeeming love every single day for the rest of my life. I feel so as I read the scriptures, I feel so as I pray, I feel so as I study with my companion, I feel so as I testify to others that the gospel has been restored and that we have a living prophet. I can feel so now and I will feel so forever. My heart has been changed and I will always sing the song of redeeming love. I love the Lord.

I love y'all so much and hope that you have a wonderful week!

Hello!

Hello everyone!!

We have had such a great week here in New Hope! It was crazy busy with exchanges and zone meetings and all of that fun stuff, but I have learned so, so much and most importantly, I have felt the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Their love is so real. I wanted to share from my notebook on Gospel Library what I've been studying this week. I chose the scripture Helaman 3:35 to ponderize this past week, kind of in a whim. But as I actually turned back to it and really read it, I realized that it contains what we need to do to love the Lord first and truly progress in this life. Too often we feel stuck in one place and like we can't move forward, but God sees the greet potential in each of us. As we rely on Him and our Savior, we are able to overcome the setbacks, to develop a deep love for God, ourselves, and others, and we are able to progress toward eternal life. I have loved starting this study and seeing the things we should always be doing in order to grow and align our will with a God's will. Here are my thoughts so far

How Do We Progress And Put God First?

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22)

When we want to put the Lord first and love Him above all else, we need to turn to Him, be humble, and give ourselves to Him through the Atonement. That is how we progress and draw nearer to God and become who He intends us to be. We learn how to do this in the Book of
Mormon, in Helaman chapter 3.

34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many
of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more
humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade
through much affliction. (Helaman 3)

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and
stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of
Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea,
even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which
sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
(Helaman 3)


1. "Suffer great persecutions and wade through much affliction"

We suffer through the challenges life throws at us and realize that we cannot make it through alone. It is not easy, we need help, but we keep going knowing that God is the one who can help.

2. "Fast and pray oft"

God cannot help us unless we out our trust in Him and act. We must pray with faith and with the spirit, and we must do it often. 2 Nephi 33:3 "But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry."We understand what prayer really is from the Bible Dictionary:"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt.7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."Praying with faith is knowing and believing that God hears you and that He will listen and answer your prayers when He know it is right. We share with Him our will, and more fully come to understand His will as well.

3. "Wax stronger and stronger in their humility"

'Wax' means to increase. 'Strong' means determined, self controlled, and firmly held and established So we need to increase our humility and make it firmly held. We need to get to the depths of humility and be willing to act on what we receive from the Lord. We need to be teachable, and we need to ask "What lack I yet?"

4. "Wax firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ"

'Firm' means strongly felt and unlikely to change, steadfast and constant, decided/fixed upon, and definite. Our faith needs to be unshaken. We need to be fixed upon Christ, and willing to give it all away to follow Him.Faith in Christ is built through prayer, through studying the word of God, and through attaining Christlike attributes."We do not know Him until we become like Him."

5. "Fill your soul with joy and consolation"

'Consolation' means giving comfort to someone who has suffered. Christ fills us with joy, he is our Consolation. When we are filled with that joy, it is because we are allowing Christ and the Atonement to change us. We read in 2 Nephi 2 that agency is essential to progression, and we choose whether or not we will be comforted by Him. We suffer every single day, and He is there to comfort and heal, and to allow us to be free of the scars. Through Him, our souls will be filled with joy.

6. "Yield your heart unto God"

We need to give up our heart to the Lord through loving Him, trusting Him, and doing His will above our own. We do this through prayer and humility, and acting upon the promptings of the Spirit. We are constant and definite in our Savior, and we allow Him to comfort us and bring us joy.

7. "The purifying and sanctification of our hearts"

"The pure in heart shall see God" -Matthew 5:8 'Pure' means free from guilt or sin, blameless. Being pure comes from clean actions and thoughts in every way. Zion=the pure in heart. 'Sanctified' is the process of being free from sin, being pure, and clean and holy THROUGH THE ATONEMENT. "Sanctify yourselves, that your minds become single to God." -D&C 88:68 "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do MIRACLES among you." -Joshua 3:5 We are sanctified by the blood of Christ. We are sanctified through the Atonement and the love of our Savior.

God's love is so real. It changes us and it allows us to be who we are
meant to be.

I love y'all so much and hope you have a wonderful week!

-Sister Snyder


Today while we were down in Austin :)

Hi y'all!!

10/12/2015

hello!!! how is eveyrone doing? Life is so, so good!! 

 

I want to share a quote that Sister Bateman shared this week from President Eyring: "Whoever you are, and wherever you may be, you hold in your hands the happiness of more people than you can imagine." There is so much we can choose to do!

 

There is always so much that happens in one short week, and it just shows time and time again that the Lord fulfills His promises and this work is moving forward "boldly, nobly, and independent." I can feel it each day as we study and prepare, and as we go out and work. The Restoration of the gospel continues to happen today, it is being restored to those who knew it once before in their life before this one, and they are again coming to know it. I see it every single day, and it has changed me. Every single person needs to hear what we have been blessed to partake of already!

 

We had MLC in San Antonio on Tuesday and talked a lot about faith and working with members and the Sabbath day! It was so good! I get to give some trainings this week about some of the things we learned and I'm so excited! I love the Slaughters so much. Everything President and Sister Slaughter tell us I just love. I am grateful to have them as my leaders here. I learn so much everytime I hear from them.

 

At MLC we also found out that the whole mission has to cut back a lot on miles for the cars, so now we basically just drive into our area and bike or get rides, and we have seen miracles from it! There are so many people to talk to and see and it has been such a blessing!

 

Tomorrow we are going on exchanges with Pflugerville, and I am so thrilled because I get to go there with Sister Reece!! It's always the best to go on exchanges with old companions!  I'll be sure to take some pictures!  

 

Funny story from this week. So Brother Johnston in our ward puts up the lights that flash to music for Halloween and Christmas, and he goes all out. Each year the missionaries help him put up lights. So after district meeting on Wednesday, we went over there and helped him. Then we continued on with our day. That evening, we parked again outside of his house and then biked from there. Then the next evening, we happened to park there again, then biked/walked. We had members take us to our coordination meeting that night, and it ran late, but we made it back to our car and Brother Johnston was outside on the phone. And he came over and asked where we had been and told us that he thought we had gone missing and he was worried! He had called a bunch of missionaries in the surrounding areas because he thought our car had been parked there for 2 days straight! Hahaha. So our zone leaders called us concerned about where we were and all that. It was pretty funny. We were just at our meeting. Good times. I'm glad we have a ward that is so concerned about us!

 

I want to share some of our best experiences from this week:

 

Last Monday we received a message from that young man named Tyler that we have talked to a few times and who has been to church at another ward. He's still a bit hesitant to meet with missionaries because he likes moving at his own pace, but he texted us and told us that he knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that he feels the spirit as he reads! He also watched general conference and loved President Monson's talk! It is incredible to see someone who is truly proving to us that they are prepared. And it also shows the power of the invitation. It took his friends inviting him a few times, but he finally attended church, and loved it. And now he continues to progress. I love it!

This week we received some referrals that we were able to meet with. The first one was a woman named Janice, who was a headquarters referral and she asked for a copy of the Bible. We hadn't been able to contact since we first received the referral, but on Saturday she answered the phone and we were able to deliver her Bible to her. She has been going through some hard times lately, and we were able to talk with her about the gospel and the priesthood, and she wanted a blessing, so some elders came over and gave her a blessing. She said after that she felt the power of it and could tell that there was something there. We're excited to meet with her again on Wednesday.

Our next referral was a man named Siddarth that we received from headquarters and he requested a Book of Mormon. We went over there on Saturday night with a member to deliver it and meet with him, and it was such a good visit! Sid recently moved in from Dubai and is from India. We asked him how he knew about the Church, and he told us that his son who goes to Penn State recently got baptized into our church and is dating an LDS girl! He said he was interested to find out if it was right. He asked great questions and was eager to read the Book of Mormon. He said, "You'll have to give me some time to read it all. At least 10-15 days." Hahaha. It was so awesome! We can't wait to meet with him again on Thursday! Our bishop lived in India for a few years, so that will be great fellowship!

 

President Slaughter has assigned us to study the topic of blessings and healings and this morning I was studying a talk from Elder Richard G. Scott called "To Be Healed" (April 1994 Conference). It is such a beautiful topic to study. He talks about how not everything we struggle with will be resolved here on earth, and that sometimes we are to learn to be cured and sometimes, we are to learn to obtain strength to endure challenges. Then comes the part I love---"In either case, the Redeemer will support you." Christ is there for us through it all, no matter what, all the time. He may not be able to heal or cure us in the way we wish, but sometimes he cures our impatience or lack of faith so that we can endure the challenges. No matter the case, He will always support us, because He loves us. As we do our part to come unto Him, to seek His help, we will feel that love. I know that without a doubt.

 

 

I love you all so very much and pray for you! Have a wonderful week!

 

Love always,

 

Sister Snyder

 

 

 

Here's a picture of all of the sisters at MLC on Tuesday :)

New Hope Round 3

Hi y'all!!

 

I hope everyone is doing well!! We had transfers this week and Sister Storms and I are staying here again! Yay!!

 

We had an incredible week!! And this weekend was amazing with conference!! I wanted to share some of my favorite things that were said, they're not exactly word for word, but they're what I got out of it! 

 

 

Exaltation is our goal, discipleship is our journey. -President Uchtdorf

This church is powered by the priesthood to propel us through the unpredictable waters of mortality. Hold on and stay on, and we will reach our eternal destination. -Elder Ballard

We need to be humble enough to ask and faithful enough to act. "What lack I yet?" -Elder Lawrence

Being ship shape is being temple worthy in good times and in bad times. -Elder Cook

Christ will never forget us, and our mothers will never forget us either. Mothers never faileth. Their acts and kindness never will, just as Christ's never does. Mothers and the Savior help us to do what we cannot do for ourselves. Thank you for your crucial role in fulfilling the purposes of eternity. Be peaceful. Believe in God and in yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion. And like the Savior you follow, your love never faileth.

-Elder Holland

Christ can say the same things to us.---I know what you've been through, and I can help you through it. That is the power of the Atonement. -Elder Foster

The Lord always fulfills His promises. We doubt not the Lord nor His goodness, we have proved Him in days that are past. And in our present day. The more we persist, the brighter His influence becomes in our lives. There is no darkness that is so dark and menacing that it cannot be overcome by light. -Elder Stanfill

Undeniable. -Elder Martino

The cure is our Savior and His Atonement. -Elder Oaks

Repentance is not a fictional experience or the product of a frenzied mind. It brings about a mighty change of heart. -Elder Haynie

When you cannot do what you've always done, then you only do what matters most. -Elder Bednar

The light of the gospel of Jesus Christ will cut through the confusion, the pain, and the darkness, and fuse healing love and cast out discouragement. -Elder Clark

 

 

I could say a lot more, but I'll spare y'all! Haha.

 

I'll share one more experience! At transfer meeting on Thursday, we were doing our usual singing of hymns before President Slaughter and the other missionaries came into the chapel, which is one of my favorite parts of transfer meeting. We were singing Praise to the Man, which is a hymn that I have always had a deep love for. As we were singing though, one of my favorite lines stuck out to me in an entirely different way. I love when it says that "death cannot conquer the hero again." Because of the song being about Joseph Smith, my thoughts are always drawn to him when we sing that line. But instead, this time as we sang, I thought of our Savior Jesus Christ. I thought of His life and teachings, and His selflessness. I thought about Him suffering for me, bearing the pain of it all, and then being crucified. He died, but that was not the end---it was only the beginning. Christ lives today. I feel it, I know it, and it gives me so much hope. Death cannot conquer the hero again, and death cannot conquer any of us because of Him. Spiritual death cannot conquer us either because of Him. I know that it is only through our Savior that we can become who our Father in Heaven has intended us to be. It is through Him that we will live with the Father, and our families, forever. I am filled with deep gratitude for my Savior, and I will forever "waste and wear out" my life so that others can know of what is possible through Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.

 

I love, love, love this work and I am grateful every day for the privilege it is to be one of the Lord's full time missionaries.

 

Love y'all, have a great week!!

 

Love,

 

Sister Snyder

 

P.S. for your viewing pleasure, a picture of my former district with our mustaches.