Just Like That

It was so so so so so so good to talk to you. I will never forget the moment when you and KY popped up on the screen. I guess I wasn't expecting to see my big brother or had forgotten how beautiful you are because I just cried of JOY! Haha. It was so awesome.

I actually read my setting apart blessing frequently, and some of the very phrases that you used from my blessing had stood out to me this week too. I actually cried to read your sweet email (WOW, who am I crying all the time) and well, yeah. I just know that we don´t need to worry. We just need to have faith. And actually this week I realized that sometimes having the faith helps us find the problems so that we can solve them, and also sends us people to help us with our trials. Thank you for all your prayers and your love!

So Much Joy

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope yall are doing well and enjoying the cold weather, because I am LOVING this 70 degree weather we still have here in good old Huatabampo. Don´t even ever forget the real meaning of Christmas, because He (Jesus Christ) is really the only meaning of our lives, we owe everything to Him! I love love love the mission because even though its hard, doing what I love and helping God complete His purpose (Moses 1:39) is the best thing that I could ever, ever ask for! We had our Christmas posada this week with the President and another zone from Obregon so that was fun. I love Christmas! I love my life! 5 months as a missionary and no regrets. So excited to spend the rest 13 months serving the Lord... But I really am learning here that I plan on serving the Lord for the rest of my life, it´s the only life worth living. 

LOVE YOU ALL; MERRY CHRISTMAS! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! 
Hermana Burton

Oh and also, I get to say FELIZ NAVIDAD to the people in the street, and that gives me so much joy it is almost unexplainable. MY LIFE ROCKS. 

Give All That You Have

Let's answer the questions first. 
1. I have only been jumped three times... haha just kidding. 

Describe your Ward/branch and leaders. Well. Our branch is relatively large, and the members are really awesome and super cool. Especially the youth. They are really excited to serve missions, almost all of them. They love English and are pretty much willing to drop everything to help us with the obra misional! The president`s name is President A. He is seriously one of the coolest men I have ever met. So humble and so faithful to the Lord. He visits the members, even the inactive ones and gets to know them and their circumstances, their worries. He passes for them in the morning before church. He didn't have counselors when I got here (there aren't very many active men in the ward) but two just got called, and they are pretty fun. I don`t really know how to describe the people here except that they are mostly all like Uncle Deans and the hermanas are like Mrs. Claus. hehe. Shout out to Uncle Deaner! There are a lot of single women that come to church and there are really awesome. Normally the members attend one week, and not the other, and the next week again. So we are trying to work on strengthening the rama so that we can all have success. 

Always Always

So we are spending one hour today and one hour tomorrow because my companion went to Guaymus, so I am only going to send this short little email and then write one tomorrow. Sometimes this mission is so so so hard, but then I remember why I am here and everything changes. This week I had a really hard moment, and I know exactly why God put me with Hermana T, because she told me exactly what I needed to hear. 

That I have the privilege of being a representative of Jesus Christ is beyond my comprehension. That I am doing what I ALWAYS ALWAYS dreamed of doing is beyond my greatest happiness. I love being a missionary. I love serving the Lord. I know He is real, and that He loves us, and that I get to help his fulfil His Purpose (Moses 1:39), and have the same purpose for the next year and a month as my Savior, now that is really cool. 

I will write you a longer letter tomorrow, okay? Just know that I will never, not ever regret serving this mission. Yeah, it´s kinda hard to be away from home during the holidays. But I think about this, that I am sacrificing a year of my life, for someone who sacrificed His life for me, so that others can have the life eternal. 

We will talk on Christmas day, I have no idea when, or where, or how. Hopeful for Skype. My area is really poor. I will answer your questions next email, OK?

Reading in Spanish

Oh and here is my CHRISTMAS CARD! Ho ho ho.

Hi and how are you? I am doing really really good, here in Huatabampo. Thank you for the Family History information! You are the best! I love hearing your words from back home. Sad that Chiawana [Highschool football] lost, happy that they made it so far. Thanks for the pictures though too, that was sweet. But those are some MAJOR beards. Haha. That´s something I just realized about Mexico: There are a lot of staches, but a little amount of beards. Hehe.

Well there isn´t an incredible amount of things to tell you this week. I went on splits with the hermanas from Navajoa, and got to know their areas and investigators. It was so awesome to see the gospel in action with the rest of our zone. It´s so cool to think of the 88,000 missionaries teaching all around the world. 

Learning to Love Huatabampo

First I am going to answer your questions: 
1. The Apartment: is one room. Literally one room that contains, our desks, our beds, our fridge, our ironing board, we have literally everything that we need and so I like it. But when I got there it was a MESS because it´s been a missionary house forever... ew there was some ancient food in the pantries and stuff. Don´t worry, I am my mother's daughter and every day the apartment is more clean! Hehe. We have a little bathroom and we have hot water! so that´s a plus. Well.... kinda hot water.
2. My companion: I love her so much. She is one of the funniest people that I have ever met. Our personalities mesh super well. She gets stressed really easily because she wants to do her best. She is a sister training leader so she feels a lot of responsibility but she is awesome. We are going to have a great transfer. There are also two elders here in the rama with us. One is a GREENIE and man, it is sooo funny to watch greenies. HAHA. And the other is from here in Mexico. There is also a senior couple serving in this area, and they are super funny.

Being Grateful

Woohoo! I am a 4 month old missionary! And I have been transferred. 

My Los Mochis Neighborhood*I wash my own clothes
*A dog they named BURTON, wonder why*When it rains it pours*
Grilling carne asada with Bishop

Holy cow I was so sad when I got the call. I couldn´t believe it. But I know it´s what the Lord wants and so after saying some heartfelt goodbyes to some menos activos, members, and investigatores that I love with all my heart, I arrived this morning in Huatabampo, Mexico. My companion is Hermana Trevino and she is from McCallen, Texas. So she totally speaks English. Haha, It´s super rare to have two gringas together, but here we are! Her Spanish is super amazing,  because her family is Mexican. She speaks both languages perfectly and has a little over a year in the mission. How crazy. I know we are going to have a lot of success here and I am really excited. I am also really excited because I can send you pictures! Finally. 

Keep Giving It My All

I am so grateful for all of your prayers cause they really help me get through hard weeks like this one. 

Saturday, one of our menos activos passed away. It is one of the saddest things that´s ever happened to me. They called while I was in the shower, and they live really close so pronto I got ready and we headed to their house. It was so sad, and just reminded me of the little I remember when we gathered at Nan´s house after Pop died. The hermana went to sign some papers and verify the body, and we were left with her three children. The girls are 15 and 14, and the youngest (boy) is 12. The girls knew but their brother didn´t. He woke up and was confused. He asked us, are we having a family home evening? We said no... he went into their living room and saw all the people and asked why are there so many people here. The oldest daughter looked at us and said, will you help me tell him? We went into their bedroom and let me tell you that moment changed my life. Telling this precious boy who was so disrespectful and disobedient before that his dad died, and see the pain in that little face and he just broke. And that was so so so so hard. We stayed with the family almost all the day and in the night we went to work. All of our appointments fell through and I was just ready to throw in the towel. I took a deep breath, told my companion how I was feeling (she was obviously feeling the same) and we just kept working. And smiling and greeting everyone in the street and this happy spirit filled my heart. The people greeted us with smiles and with the same energy that we gave. We only had one more appt, we didn't have very many numbers that day but what we did have was reassurance from Heavenly Father that everything was going to be okay. 

Can We Just Take a Moment

Well, first off I just want to say I remember reading Ky´s emails in the mission and saying, wow he has a lot of bad weeks. I am always going to have good weeks and have a postive attitude when I write home.... and how little I knew about a mission. Haha. 

This week was good, however and the time just continues to fly by. 

What is in my agenda this week? Good question. 

Monday, Pday. We woke up this morning and cleaned the house, despues went to the house of a member and washed our clothes in their washing machine. During the wash, we went to the store and bought the food that we are going to need for the week. We returned, got our clothes and our food and the members brought us back to the house. We hung up all the clothes to dry and then headed to centro. My companion ate some tortas... is that a word in english? I have no idea and then we are here writing yàll. Then I am going to pick up my results at the doctor because I have an infection... but it`s not super severe or anything so don`t worry. 

I Am a Missionary

This week was so good. I dont have an incredible amount of time to write, so a big THANK YOU to all those who wrote me to whom I did not reply this week... but I promise I will.

Well, this week was pretty great. I was praying the other day, and I realized that I was a missionary. I know that sounds pretty weird, I mean I´ve been in Mexico for two months now, but when I came here it was more like, I AM ON A MISSION! And then for it a little while it was... wowwww I miss the United States, but then I remembered my purpose and realized that I am not only on a mission, I am a missionary, and I´m super happy.

VALE LA PENA

Hermano C is doing so well. We stopped by their house again this week, and he was there during lunch time which was kind of strange because usually he is out doing little jobs. We were nervous that he had given up because it was a hot day, but we asked him and he told us that he had found permanent work! Thank you for your prayers. It is really hard work, really tough labor, but he has work! He came to church again this week and I told Hermana Sanchez that nothing has given me more joy in my life than to see the change in Hermano C. 

This week was probably the best week I have had in the mission. Every night I came home I knew within my heart that I had worked my hardest and that the Lord guided us in every step. We have harmony in our companionship, we are learning more about the Gospel in our studies every morning, we are getting closer to Christ and I am truly learning what it means to repent and forgive moment by moment. I LOVE being a missionary. It is the smartest thing I could be doing with my life. I am learning to love people more than I ever thought possible. It´s hard not to see immediate success and baptisms. The V family is in the process of dropping the coffee, haha I have no idea how to say that in English but hopefully you understand me. They told us they don´t think they are ready to be baptized the 8th...We have a FHE with them tonight and then tomorrow for the birthday of one of the daughters, (and I will be celebrating Gentry!). Pray specifically please that we will know what to say to motivate the family to attend the classes, search for answers, and be baptized. 

And We Rejoiced Together

I can't believe I´ve almost hit three months in the mission. In two days I am going to have three months as a missionary! How exciting. I love this work and I love being a part of hastening the work as well. I am doing well. I had an allergic reaction this week and got a shot and then this pill that totally drugged me and then slept for 15 hours. So that was really nice to get the sleep that I needed.

Hermana Sanchez and I are getting along really well. I'm learning a lot about patience and self-mastery, things that I´ve never really been able to develop. I am really getting closer to Christ every week and that brings me a certain peace that I can't describe.  Thank you for all your prayers. I know I am being protected through the prayers of the righteous and I am so grateful for that. Keep praying, please. Pray that we can have success and the ability to find the people with whom we need to focus in our area. Our area is todo el barrio, the whole ward, and it´s a little overwhelming at times because we have to use our time wisely. And there is 600 menos activos. So we need the Spirit's guidance to discern which investigators to keep, which menos activos to visit, and everything. 

Think About Good Things Instead

This week was so awesome. I got sick again. Twice. So that was fun, but I hit this one with a blessing almost right away so that was awesome. I am so grateful for the priesthood. I guess it´s just gonna be one of those normal things that I get sick once a week so pretty soon I´ll just stop telling you about it and you can just assume so sometime throughout the week, yeah Hermana Burton es probablemente sick right now. Haha. Thank you so much for sharing that awesome quote about the Santa Cena (Sacrament in Spanish, sweet huh?). I remember that talk being super powerful. I don´t remember if this was from the same person, but one of the talks in Conference talked about durante la Santa Cena, we need to repent of our sins, yes, but we also need to remember all the times that the Atonement has given us strength durante la semana. And I don´t know why it hit me so hard but it did. And I did it this past Sunday and man the Sacrament was powerful. When we recognize all the times that Jesus has helped us choose the right, we are strengthened so that we can choose the right again and again. He is with us more than we think. And it also inspires me to be more worthy of his presence and influence. 

So basically this Saturday we had a ward activity. It was super awesome, a talent show night I think its what it´s called in English. It was a Mexican Cultural theme. (SURPRISE haha). Well it turned all really well and so many people came. One of our menos activos who is super stubborn and won´t ever come to church CAME! And also we have this family that we are reactivating, and the husband still hasn´t come to church, but he came to the activity! And also, in two days I listened to the song Let It Go (Libre Soy en Español!) and learned the chords through listening to it and played it for one of the girls in our ward. It was AWESOME. I was so grateful for talents and for my years of practicing the piano so that I could be of service to a family that does so much for us as missionaries. One of their other daughters went with us to some of our appts this week so that was awesome. and the Dad always offers us food and rides and is so supportive of this work. This ward is awesome. Well tambien, our investigator family, the V family came to our activity! It was so awesome because we had an appt with them the night before and they had to cancel and we were so bummed because they are progressing and so we invited them to the activity, (to be honest I didn't really think they would come) and they CAME! And they had fun, they know most of the people in the ward already so that´s good too. Well then we invited them to church the next day and they said no, we can´t because we are going out of town Monday and we have to get ready because we are going to be gone for a week. And I was like, OH NO YOU DON´T SATAN, GET OUT OF THE WAY and said, well can you make it for one hour because the sacrament meeting is the most important and I know it will bless your lives, so they said, okay, yeah we can come for an hour. And then we asked them for a ride so that we could bug them more about coming to church. hahaha. No not really, to strengthen our relationship with them and so they dropped us off and said, at nine right and we said yeah. Well. Sunday comes and the services start and they are not there. And I was super sad to be honest, like really sad. Because here is this golden family that are starting to know that this church is true and they aren't where they are supposed to be, in la capilla. I prayed so hard. I was like, Heavenly Father; listen. I need a miracle here. I love this family so much and know they are ready to here the Gospel. Please send them here. Please! And lo and behold the announcements took 28 minutes (not really but took forever) and we had a baby blessing and two confirmations and right before the confirmations, they walked in. And I´ll admit it, I cried. I don´t think I've ever been so happy to see people in my life. Well it was fast and testimony meeting so after they got to see the confirmations (so cool) we had the sacrament and the spirit was super strong and then the testimonies and the testimonies were soooo good and lots of their friends went up and shared their testimonies and de hecho the bishop gave them a shoutout and everything and the parents were crying and I was on CLOUD 4000000 because it was just the best experience ever. 

God is a God of miracles and truly prepares people to hear the message and provides a way that they can come to know Him. I actually think God prepares everyone, it´s just the people that are humble enough to hear the promptings of preparation that become escogidos. 

Part of an Army 88,000 Strong

First to answer your questions: Yes, this week I got your letter and the DearElder pouch. So thank you and keep sending them.  I´ll get them about once a month, cause that´s when the elders of the area go to Obregon and can pick everything up. No, I didn´t get my VISA but I got a P-day this week, YAY! Next week I´ll go to Obregon/Guaymas otra vez.  How goes the work? Well. That is the question. Some days it is so wonderful. Some days I totally know why I'm here and I can speak fluent Spanish and understand every word and feel so good. Other days, well, they could improve. 

Well, our work is going okay. I want to find the escogidos (chosen.. I think in english its like golden or something) but I need more patience. However, we did have a whole family of investigators come to GC with us, Sun Morning session. So that was awesome. Four of them have fechas de baustimal por noviembre 8th. super excited, and please keep them in your prayers. I got to listen to conference in English! yo y some other missionaries from America were in this tiny room. It was awesome. For the Spanish speakers we went next door and listened to it in Spanish. I loved it! 

There was actually a hurricane so we didn't get to hear part of the Sun Aft session. But then the power came back on and we got to finish it. Man it was powerful. My favorite session was Sat Aft. Especially the talk about improving our self confidence is six simple steps and then he laid down the law like, if you´re fat you need to do something about it. haha. I´m going to work out harder in the morning. Watch video But really, the thing I liked the most was the messages I heard about sacred homes. Our home growing up was so sacred to me. Memories flooded my mind, like PPI´s with Dad when we were little and the prayers with you before we caught the bus in middle school. You were always such a righteous constant example for us. Thank you! I really want to be a mom now.... haha más adelante, pero todavía 

Dios Esta Conmigo

Wow. Hi, I can´t even tell you how good it was to hear from you. Holy cow.  I´m sitting here at the computer in Los Mochis, Mexico crying because I miss you so much. It´s like a huge relief to hear from you and take time to think about you. I know I´m doing the right thing by being here but goodness, it´s harder than I thought. And then to get an email from Ky who isn't having success either, it´s just hard. I know the whole Elder Holland, Missionary Work and the Atonement thing that suffering is part of the journey but goodness it´s hard. I am so grateful for Christ´s sacrifice for me. 

I wish I could tell you everything. For example, the ice cream song is the same here but the ice cream sure isn´t the same. Haha. there is helados and then there is nieve. Nieve is more like ice cream but not really. Its really icy. Then helados are in a plastic bag and are a hit and miss, sometimes good sometimes not. 

None of our investigators are progressing. I always get so hopeful. I´m trying not to be discouraged. There are good moments, don´t get me wrong. It´s just that the mission is so incredibly different than I thought it would be. Incredibly different. Missions are hard! 

Spoiled

This week was hard. I´m a little frustrated right now so I´ll try to only put the good things. I went to Guaymus yesterday to get my VISA. I saw Hermana Turley and Elders Tanner y Williams from the CCM so that was fun. But after the 5 hour bus ride, they actually didn't have my VISA papers ready so I get to go back next week, and the week after that to pick up my VISA. How fun... AH! haha. 

Our house is two floors, it´s super nice, one of the nicest. We sleep on mattresses, we have air conditioning, a table to study, a blender, a microwave, a refrigerator, we're spoiled. 

Come What May and Love It

You know you live in Mexico when while reading the quote that you sent me, I literally read "Jesus" the Mexican way, Hay-sus. Awesome. I love Spanish, and every day I understand more and more and speak more and more. Last night in our leccion con G,L and their son A (that cut our lawn for us and so we are telling them about the gospel haha) I spoke more Spanish then ever before and I really feel the Spirit with me and I know that it is the gift of tongues and it´s coming more natural every day. I am so happy. 

SURPRISE! Hna Sanchez passed me some pictures of last night. These girls are so sweet. C is the oldest and she is baptized recently. The other little girl is E, and her parents are going to be married and baptized this week! Yay! 

I´m trying my best to re-activate but gosh, it is really hard. But we are having a little success. A lot of the problem is a lot of these sweet people got baptized for the wrong reasons. We all need to work on our conversions day by day, moment by moment. We are stressing that with our active members as well. We basically have to start over with most of the menos activos. However we did have Ch come to church and R and L (mother and daughter) and también we had Hna V who is less active but has a son on a mission. Yeah. So definitely working on her so she can tell her boy that she is back where she belongs. 

I Could Not Be Happier

1st sorry that I can´t send pictures this week but just know that I am doing so well and that I love it. My companion is Hermana Sanchez and she is so amazing. She doesn't speak any English! It´s bien buennnoo! 

Well. I love it here. No hurricanes, nada. The language is coming so quickly. Hermana Munive (mission president´s wife) says I´ll be fluent within a month at the most, so that´s exciting. Gives me hope when I get a little frustrated cause I can´t understand some things. I understand a lot though. 

Move to MEXICO!

This is it!  She flies from the MTC to her assigment in Mexico!  Please send letters often (use an international stamp!) at the mission office:

Sister Audrey Burton
México Ciudad Obregón Mission
Calle Veracruz No. 513, Esquina Yaqui
Colonia Zona Norte
C.P. 85040 Ciudad Obregón, Sonora

Her email this week shows she's pretty excited!  Thank you for your love and support!

Hola, familia! I come to the end of my sixth and final week here at the CCM, and I couldn't be happier. The trials I have faced here are going to help me with other parts of my mission, I know. But I am so grateful to be leaving them behind and hit the ground running, doing what I know I am supposed to do. The campo misional is white and already to harvest, I can feel it. I AM SO EXCITED! 

Read your Scriptures

SO! Guess what??? E is getting baptized OCTOBER 6th! Ah! I couldn't be happier I literally fasted for longer than I have in my entire life, and it was so amazing because even though I didn't eat all day, the next day I felt normal like I had eaten the three meals a day. I know it doesn't always happen like that but it was a huge blessing I was able to have the energy I needed to do his work. I love her.  I cannot believe it and I am so proud of her. Hearing her bear her testimony after what we have taught her is just the most amazing experience. When I talk to E, I just feel like Heavenly Father is speaking right through me. He totally knows who she is and is SO PROUD of her decision, even more than me which is pretty much impossible.

Being Tried

Hola! Just got back from Burgers Supreme where we got our meal paid for again. So amazing. This time I got a corn dog, in case you were wondering.  I am hoping to answer most of your questions during this email so here goes nothing.

Well first, so sad to hear about Anziano's scriptures. I am praying in faith that we can find them! Miracles can happen, especially if Bubba stays obedient. This week was another crazy week. I bet you won't believe this but we had ANOTHER elder go home. Our district is being tried. Three elders gone in three weeks. Everyone (including our teachers) said this is unheard of. We are definitely in the refiner's fire. But we did have some good things happen this week. Hermana T and I are teaching a REAL investigator (our first one!). She has other "real" missionaries teaching her, but she says they're elders and she doesn't like them as much as us :) I am getting real revelation from the Lord for her and I have been able to help her with some real soul searching questions she has. She has accepted baptism, but is apprehensive about scheduling a date. Pray for her to gain the confidence, but more importantly the faith that she needs. She is amazing! I love her.

Recognition

The work went okay this week. We had another elder go home, I think I already sent you a letter about it. It was hard. That's so funny you would say that my life thus far has prepared me for this mission, because I feel the exact same way. I am so thankful that is one of the principles that we get to teach to the people of Mexico, when we are given trials, the Lord is simply preparing us for something greater. He has trusted us to use these trials to become better people and better followers of Him. He can help us through our trials if we come to Him through prayer, broken hearts. and spirits willing to obey His will. There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not thankful for His mercy. We are so blessed!  The gospel is a "puzzle piece" (Nan) that will fit in everyone's life, some time we just have to clean up the pieces. 

I am so thankful for all my friends and family that send letters. It's so awesome. I don't have time yet to write every one that wrote me back, but it's totally on my to-do list so please keep them coming! 

Oh! so cool story. After the temple today we went to Brigham's Landing for lunch. It's down the street from where we stay and is the one public place where missionaries are allowed to go. We ate at Burgers Supreme, and as we finished ordering the man taking our order said, the person in front of you left a $20 bill for your tab and I'll pay the rest! Enjoy your meal. I almost teared up just realizing the Lord watches over us through others service. Sometimes you feel like you're not doing that cool of thing because everyone and their mom is on a mission, but we really are sacrificing part of our lives and giving all we have. And it isn't easy, and it's always nice when someone recognizes that and serves you. So serve your local missionaries cause they need a little bit of loving! Or serve someone around you because the whole world needs a little extra love. 

Loving Every Moment

Hola! I'm in my second week here at the MTC and loving every moment of it. I absolutely love my zone and district. This week we had some cool experiences. 

I'm an HERMANA!

Hola Mama y familia y amigos! Here I am, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints writing my first email. Where do I start? 

I got here and all the sudden it was go-go-go. They put me through so many lines and I got so many things (no kidding, the materials they give you weigh a ton! I'm going to have to be sending things home). Then I got on a bus and almost died of heat stroke. But I didn't, obviously so that was good. Then as soon as I got off the bus I heard, "Hola!" And I looked up and there was ELDER BRETT HIGBEE from my BYU ward. I couldn't believe it. So cool to see a familiar face so soon. Since then I've seen Elder McFarland, and Bradham from BYU, Hermana Sammi Lu? However you spell her last name and Sorensen from BYU anddddd Elder Wallwork! So cool. We are serving the Lord and it rocks. 

I live with three other hermanas and I love them all so much. My companion's name is Hermana Turley. She's from AZ and she is super sweet. Really strives to be obedient and has a strong testimony. (I need to find out her favorite flavor of cheese nips soon... get down to the nitty gritty). My zone and district are sososo chistosos (funny). 

Hermana Burton's Beginning

Awwww...our Hermana Burton flew out today from her hometown airport to live for six weeks in Provo, Utah to be trained as an official missionary!  FINALLY!!!!!!!!  She is not at all nervous and very prepared to serve the Lord.  Her family and friends are thrilled for her dreams to come true. We are looking forward to sharing with you that first email next week.

So, grab an envelope and write her a letter!  Here's her address until September 1st.  

SISTER AUDREY BURTON
SEP01 MEX-CIUO
2023 N 900 E Unit 850
Provo, Utah 84602

Airport Goodbyes: "See You in 18 months!"

The Real Deal

and she's off!

God's Not Dead, and Hasn't Given Up: My Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Throughout the Bible, God calls prophets. He sends them to preach that which some people choose not to follow, or believe. These prophets do the will of God, no matter what, even if death is on the line. So many wonderful prophets and apostles' words and lives are recorded through this sacred Holy Bible:

Noah, Moses, Abraham, John, Peter, Paul, and the list goes on and on. Even the beautiful words of Jesus Christ are found in the Bible: the One who also preached to the people things which they would not believe, not even His purpose and divinity as "the Christ" (Luke 22:67, KJV).
Yet throughout the Bible, amidst the death of the prophets, the persecution of the believers of Christ, and the beatings and the stonings of those who preached His word, our Father in Heaven continued to give what seemed to be impossible tasks to these beloved prophets and to Christ Himself. Why?

Because first and foremost, God loves His children. All of them: even those that will not believe, even those that cast the stones, even those who lifted His Son upon the cross and drove nails into His hands and feet. He loved them all, and was anxious for them to hear His word, and His message. He, as God, loved these people so much that He let them know they needed to repent. They needed to come unto Christ. They needed God. And because of His love, He was never going to give up trying to deliver that message to His children: that there is hope and forgiveness in Christ, to "repent" and to "be baptized" (see Matthew chapter 3, KJV), and therefore receive the kingdom of heaven.

It would almost seem redundant: that repeated pattern of prophet, preaching, and persecution, if we didn't recognize that every time this cycle comes around: God is giving His children another chance.

So here's my question: Why would He stop now? Why, after the time of the Bible, from the very beginning of the world to the end of Paul's words, would the evidence of a church of God, prophets, prophesying, and much more be diminished? Why would God, in a sense, cease to be God? Why would He stop trying to lead His children through a prophet? Why would He not call them to come unto Him: to repent and be baptized, if He had done it for years and years and years and years before? Why would God choose now to give up on His children?

My answer is: He hasn't.

God loves you. Whoever you are, reading this post. He knows you have struggles and trials and pains. He knows some days don't go as planned, He knows some days you feel like you can't go at all. He hears your prayers, if you pray, and if you do not, He desires to hear from you. God isn't dead. He didn't give up on anyone, especially you. GOD LOVES YOU.

And with that love, I testify that He has a Church on this earth that you can come unto. This church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He has a prophet that will guide you directly back to Him. His name is President Thomas S. Monson.

And just as God continued to give revelation and scripture unto the ancient inhabitants of the earth, He continues to do the same today, and has given us the Book of Mormon, additionally to the Bible, as the Word of God. If you are not familiar with my previous post, "I'm a Mormon, and I believe in the Bible", I invite you to read it. In part of the post I mention the Articles of Faith (essentially statements that summarize our main beliefs as a Church). The 8th Article of Faith declares: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly, we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." In my previous post I also declare, and repeat again: I believe that Joseph Smith did the work of God, the same God who called so many prophets before our time, by translating the Book of Mormon.

Because there are many misconceptions about this Book, I would like to explain some simple facts to you:
It's proper title is, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Other testaments? The Old and New, found in the Holy Bible.

The Introduction to the Book of Mormon states: We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message which it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the Book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Book of Mormon Introduction, emphasis added).

It's not a secret book, it doesn't contain anything that Joseph Smith made up, rather, it is the words of prophets, just like those in the Bible, who testified of Christ previous to and after His coming, as well as the record of Christ coming the Americas after His resurrection.

Might sound a little crazy, right?
But if God loved His children so much in the Western Hemisphere, wouldn't the all-knowing, all-loving God love His children in the Americas just the same?


"The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God's dealing with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and it contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting Gospel" (Book of Mormon Introduction).

As a latter-day apostle boldly declared:
"[The Book of Mormon] came forth in our day proving to the world that the Bible is true; that Jesus, by whom the Atonement came, is the Lord of all; that Joesph Smith was called of God, as were the prophets of old; that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one place on earth where salvation is found" (Elder Bruce R. McConkie).

Joseph Smith was a young, fourteen year old boy who was humbly looking for a church to join. When he read James 1:5, "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God", he recognized that "if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; and how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passage of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible...At length I came the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God" (Joseph Smith History, 1:12-13;emphasis added).

With this pure and simple motive, Joseph went into a grove of trees near his house and knelt to pray. He described his experience, "I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-- This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!" (Joesph Smith History 1:16-17).

God and His Son, Jesus Christ, had come to the boy Joseph. They told him not to join any of the churches, for they "were all wrong", declaring that "they [the churches] draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof" (Joseph Smith History 1:19).

After years of preparing the boy Joseph to be the man and the prophet that God intended for him to be, Joseph was entrusted with ancient plates of gold and through the power of God was able to translate the Book of Mormon, making these ancient prophet's words available now to all who would hear it, giving to the world a companion to the Holy Bible.

Joseph Smith went on to do great things as a prophet and servant of God. Just as prophets before, many disbelieved his words. Just as prophets before, he and other people of the Church, faithful followers of Christ, were persecuted, and just as before: Joesph Smith, prophet of God, was killed: for he would not deny it.

Why so much persecution, you might ask, if he was doing the supposed will of the Lord?
As Elder Corbridge taught in our most recent Conference:

"Opposition...[and] criticism are companions to the truth. Whenever the truth with regard to the purpose and destiny of man is revealed, there will always be a force to oppose it.... there has always been and will ever be a an effort to deceive, derail, oppose, and frustrate the plan of life.
"Look for the biggest dust cloud billowing above the most dirt that is kicked at the One who was most opposed, challenged and rejected, beaten, abandoned and crucified, One who descended below all things, and there you will find the truth, the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind. Why did they not leave Him alone?
"Why? Because He is the truth, and the truth will always be opposed.
"And then look for the one who brought forth another testament of Jesus Christ and other scripture, look for one who was the instrument by which the fulness of the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ were restored to the earth, look for him and expect to find the dirt flying. Why not leave him alone?
"Why? Because he taught the truth, and the truth will always be opposed" ("The Prophet Joseph Smith" Apr Conference 2014;emphasis added).

So am I, Audrey Burton, saying that Joseph Smith is similar to Christ? YES.
Joseph Smith, though imperfect, was one of the most Christ-like men this world has ever seen.
Am I, Audrey Burton, saying that I believe that he knelt down in a grove of trees and actually saw GOD the Father and Jesus Christ? Yeah, I am.
And am I saying that I, Audrey Burton, believe that the Book of Mormon isn't made up, isn't a bunch of bologna, but is actually from the very God that gave us life and contains exactly what we need to hear and do to get back to live with Him again?

No. I'm not.

Because I don't just believe that. I know it.

God didn't give up on us in these last days. He's not dead. He didn't stop giving us guidance and revelation.
He loved us so He sent His Son, He loves us so He sends us prophets.

And with prophets, comes revelation.

After Joseph Smith was killed by those who opposed him, Brigham Young was called by God to be the next prophet, and so it has continued until this present day and there stands President Thomas S. Monson, prophet of God, leading the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Either the Book of Mormon is true, or it is false; either it came from God, or it was spawned in the infernal realms... it either came from heaven or from hell" (Elder Bruce R. McConkie).

I testify before all of you reading this post that the Book of Mormon is of God, and comes from on high, for it testifies of His love for all of His children, across all time. I invite all of you to go to mormon.org and order a free copy of your own, get one from your local Mormon missionaries next time they try to stop by, or ask one of your friends who is a member of the Church if you can have one! Don't be afraid. Then search it, read it, learn to love it, and pray in faith whether it is true, or whether it is false.

I have read every word, every page, over, and over and over again. I have prayed in faith. I know it's true, and I LOVE it.

I echo the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle and Witness of Jesus Christ, "I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth, and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter-days"(emphasis added).

Learn for yourself: because God loves you, hasn't given up on you, and wants you to know.

I know it.

Receiving my Mission Call: The Best Day Ever

This post is about when I got my mission call, but before I begin I want to explain a little to people not of our faith what a mission call really is.
I have gone through a long process of paperwork and interviews to make sure that I was a worthy and willing member to represent my church. I will be paying out of my own pocket, along with the help of my parents, to go and serve the Lord for a period of 18 months. Before you receive and open your call, you have no idea where in the world you could be going. There are 405 missions, and the highest leaders in our Church receive the paperwork and recommendations from our local Church leaders at their headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then with those components rely on the Lord to help guide them to place the missionary exactly where they need to be. It is divine revelation from God. It is through God's power that these calls are made. And for me, it helped me have the best day of my life.
Missionaries are called to serve all over the world to serve the people in their areas and bring them to the knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel on the Earth today. They introduce non-members to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and are pleased and excited to share the gospel truths. But this is not all. They also strengthen the wards (or groups of church members that are in the area) and they serve and grow to love the people around them. I am so excited to leave everything behind and go aid the Lord is hastening the work of spreading the Gospel. As my friend T says, "The Church is true and we've got to do something about it."

On the night of March 11th, I got off the phone with my little brother. I was surprised to see a text from my Bishop, considering he had already contacted me to let me know my call was not assigned that weekend (meaning I would have to wait another WEEK to get my call). Considering I have been waiting my whole life for this moment, you can imagine my surprise as I read, "Audrey, something strange happened with the website again. Your application changed to "assignment made" today, but it says that the assignment was made on March 7th, FYI."

I ran jumping and screaming into my friend, K's room. "It's here! Well it's not here! But it will be here!" I could barely believe it. That night was a crazy one for me. I could hardly sleep, it was like Christmas. I was so excited to hear where the Lord would need me 100% of the time for the next one and a half years. I banked on it coming Thursday, but I still slept with an anxious and excited heart.

To say I couldn't concentrate on anything else would be an understatement. It was all I could think about, all I could talk about, all I cared about. Classes seemed longer than usual, but before I knew it, it was 4 o'clock. I think I almost passed out when I got the voice-mail, "Audrey, your call is here! You can come pick it up in the Cannon Center!". I dragged my friend, J, down the hill after our last class, my stomach churning and my mind whizzing. It was right on top of the pile and my hands shook as I pulled out my ID, and as soon as I had it in my hands I fell in love. The very fact that I was holding my set apart future from the Lord, and that I was going to be a sister missionary no matter what, no matter where, brought such peace into my heart. My testimony (or knowledge of the truth) of this Church had been strengthened already since I received my call, and though I was nervous and excited to open it, I was also at rest.
It truly reminded me of the scripture, "Be still, and know that I am God."

We planned to open it 9:30 p.m. that night. Way more people showed up then I would have ever imagined, and I was nervous. Not because of the people but because these were my last moments ever of not knowing where I would go. We pulled my Mom up on Skype, my dad and stepsister and her boyfriend with there along with some of my other friends, and finally it was time to open my call.

I opened the call as nervous as can be. This was my moment. I had seen so many people do this before. I had heard so many people have this moment, and now, it was my turn. I read the first line, "You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." I moved the paper that had been previously covering the next line and my eyes immediately flew to "Mexico". My life was changed forever. Emotions ran through me and I stumbled through pronunciations. This was where the Lord wanted me! This is where the Lord needed me! and my secret desires of wanting to speak Spanish had come true. My little girl dream of sharing the Word of God was coming true.

I am so overjoyed to go serve the people in the area of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. I am excited to speak Spanish, to go strengthen people's faith in Jesus Christ, and to go share what I know to be true. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to look someone in the eye and tell them they have a Heavenly Father who loves them, that they have a Savior who died for them, and that the Church of Jesus Christ has the restored truth of the Christ's church while He was here on the earth and contains and provides all the ordinances necessary to return to live with our Father in Heaven again.

If you are reading this, the message is the same to you. God lives, and He loves you. Pray to Him, for He longs to hear from you. He cares about you infinitely more than you realize. He is watching over you. If you feel lonely, sad, or discouraged, seek Him, and He will comfort you and guide you.

I know this Church is true, and I'm excited to go tell Mexico about it.

Con amor,
Hermana Burton

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I'm a Mormon, and I believe in the Bible.

I don't seem to realize how much I care about this church until someone attacks it. Someone tries to tell me what I do or don't believe.
It saddens my heart, more than angers it really. So many lies and beliefs are being spread around about the church that no matter how hard I try to live it, love it, and share it, there are always going to be those that refuse to hear the message. Refuse to hear the truth. There will be people even, after reading this post, that are still convinced that the Mormons are wrong. They are evil. They are followers of the devil and worshipers of Joseph Smith. But they will still be wrong.
I am a Mormon. I worship the True and Living God. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in the Bible AND the Book of Mormon.
I guess this all started when I saw a Facebook post where a man, a great man I'm sure, was so convinced the Mormons didn't believe in the Bible he started an argument about it. I'll direct my post to him, though he will probably never read this. Hopefully though, someone does read this, and comes to understand a little bit more about what I believe.

First off, I want to address a couple things.
1) I am an active member of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is the correct name for our church. We are commonly known as "Mormons" because we believe in the Book of Mormon. From here on out in this post, I will refer to myself as a Latter-day Saint rather than a Mormon.
2) Yes. I was born and raised in this church. Quite frankly, however, my dad is not active and I have had the choice my whole young adult life to leave or stay. And I choose to stay.
3) We have statements that sum up what some of our main beliefs are in this church. There are thirteen of these statements, called "Articles of Faith". I will refer to these throughout the post as well.

Dear Sir,
My heart was sad last night to see the mean things you typed about my church. I took offense, because you were insulting things that I believe. That I love. And that I live. I just want you to know that you were wrong in most of the things you said. And most of all, I do believe in the Bible.

I've been taught from the Bible and the Book of Mormon since I was a child. I grew up loving the stories of valiant Esther, and courageous Daniel in the Lion's den. Most importantly, from the womb I've been taught about the loving nature of Jesus Christ and the beautiful scripture stories surrounding his life and teachings found in the four gospels. In fact, one of my most favorite passages of scripture is found in St Matthew 5:14-16. Or maybe Galatians 2:20. Or maybe the entire ninth chapter of John. One of my favorite things in the entire world, is to sit down and read the words of Paul to the Corinthians. I feel like he is speaking right to me at times.

I read the entire New Testament my senior year. You know who told me to do that? My LDS seminary teacher. She encouraged me to read the words and gain a stronger testimony, (or internal knowledge) of Jesus Christ. And you know what else? I did. My knowledge of my Savior, His life, and His LOVE, is more real to me than ever before. I am a better person because I read the entire New Testament.
In fact, I love reading the Bible so much I wake up EVERY MORNING, pull it off my dresser and read it. I believe in the Holy Bible. And I try to live by the principles taught in it.

The Eighth Article of Faith states: We believe the Bible to be the Word of God, as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

I am not ashamed to say that I don't believe in many translations of the Bible. If you read them all, I am sure there are disagreements you would have with them too. Many people have taken what they want to hear, and interpreted the Bible that way. Many people, including the RLDS church, have taken the Book of Mormon and changed what it says according to their beliefs. It doesn't mean that the original book is false. It means the incorrect translations can cause major confusion when trying to seek the true word of God. I believe the King James Version of the Bible to be the most correct translation of the Holy Bible. Will I read other translations? OF COURSE. But will I base my beliefs off of them? No. The most ancient text that I have access to is the one I choose to fully trust and believe.

The correct name of the Book of Mormon is actually
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

What would be the first testament? You got it, the Bible.

The Sixth Article of Faith states: We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth. Where can you find this "organization" of the ancient church? Right again. The Bible. And we live by and love the principles, and even the organization found in it in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You're probably still doubting. You're probably still convinced that what you have been taught about my church is correct.
With all due respect, I'd just like to remind you that I have been living 18 1/2 years of it. And I think I have a pretty good idea about what my Church stands for, and believes.

I believe in Our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Him. I love reading His words in the New Testament, I love reading about the sacrifices that the ancient saints made for what they believed to be true, I love feeling the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) testify to me that the Bible is true, every morning. Every morning I find something from the Bible that makes me a better person. That brings me closer to Christ.

I wonder if you have read the Book of Mormon. Or even realize what it is. It's simply prophets of old, just like the prophets in the Bible, testifying of Jesus Christ. It contains fascinating stories, just like the Bible, and also beautiful and humble teachings from the prophets and from Christ. The main difference between the two books is simply the prophets' locations. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God, sir, and so is the Bible.

One of the Book of Mormon prophets, Nephi, tells about a vision that he has (just like visions the prophets of the Bible have): "And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren" (1 Nephi 13:38; Book of Mormon)

The book of the Lamb of God is the Bible. The Jew is John the Beloved.
As Latter-Day Saints, we believe in the Bible, sir. We believe in the Bible.

I also admit to being just 18 years old in this Church. I don't know everything, nor can I explain everything perfectly, but hopefully this article can help you better understand as well. https://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/10/the-book-of-mormon-a-witness-with-the-bible?lang=eng

I pray that you may have an open heart. That you can come to understand. That as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we do our best to follow Him. Are there imperfect members? Of course. We are all imperfect people. But the Church is perfect. And though my knowledge isn't perfect, what I believe is.

I know the Bible and the Book of Mormon are true.
I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, just like the prophets of old, found in the Bible.
I believe that he did God's will by translating the Book of Mormon.

When it all comes down to it though sir,
please just know,
I believe in Christ.