Lila Posts Her Profile on Mormon.org

Hi I'm Lila

I'm a missionary in Western Oklahoma, a Special Education major, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm currently serving as a full-time missionary in Western Oklahoma, and I love being here! I grew up in WA in a small family, my parents, a younger brother now in heaven, and a younger sister who is now just starting college. I graduated college with a degree in Special Education and after a mission I plan to teach children with severe/profound mental and physical disabilities. I love to learn new things, read, and listen to music. Someday I want a pet frog.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because of loving parents who taught me to have faith in Jesus Christ and because I recieved answers to my prayers about whether all of this was true. I knew from an early age that God was there and that Jesus was my Savior because I had felt their love as I prayed and read the scriptures. It was when I was a teenager that I prayed and asked Heavenly Father if The Book of Mormon was really an ancient recond of His prophets and if Joseph Smith really was a man called of God and I did receive an answer, an answer of peace and calm and comfort. But the reason I am Mormon today is that Heavenly Father didn't just answer me once, He answers me everyday as I feel the Spirit as I share His gospel with others.

How I live my faith

As a missionary I live my faith a little differently then other mormons. For 18 months I completely dedicate my life to God, to do His work and build His kindgom. This means that I don't date, I don't hang out with friends or pursue my own interests such as school or a career. I live my faith by sharing what I know to be true with other people. I teach people about this church and how it has blessed my life. After a mission I will go back to normal life, finding a job, and apartment and so on. But I will still live my faith by trying to be as Jesus would have me be, kind to all those around me, involved in serving my comminuty.

Why do Mormons perform proxy baptisms in their temples?

Lila answered...

This is a question that is important to me because a proxy baptism was preformed on behalf of my brother. My brother almost drown when he was 18 months old from rain water in a bucket of toys. Because… Show more

This is a question that is important to me because a proxy baptism was preformed on behalf of my brother. My brother almost drown when he was 18 months old from rain water in a bucket of toys. Because of that he had severe physical and mental disabilities. I know that the Savior has said that baptism is nessesary for Salvation. I know that baptism is making a promise to Heavenly Father to keep his commandments and always remember Jesus Christ. My brother was not physically or mentally able to do that or be baptized. But a year after he died my cousin was baptized on behalf of my brother in a temple. I know that I will see my brother again and I know that he is grateful that my cousin was baptised for him. To me God teaching us about proxy baptisms allows Him to be perfectly just and merciful. There is a standard established that everyone needs to be baptised. But on the other hand, there are millions of people who have lived who haven't had this chance or heard of the Savior. Thus, proxy baptisms are preformed for them here on Earth and those on the other side are able to accept or reject this proxy baptism.

Find Five by Faith!

Howdy Folks!
Q: "Have you found any new investigators?"
A: Well we found three, but they are now being taught by the Spanish Elders :( But we got to teach them twice with the Spanish sisters, and I think at least one of them will get baptized. They are here for a year from Texas to do the painting and caulking for an apartment complex here. And they are all between 18-21.

We do have several people who are strong potentials. But they haven't become new investigators because we don't have a specific return appointment, but I think some of them will.

President Taylor has started something new: "Find Five by Faith." Basically after an appointment falls through we don't just go off to check on someone else--we stay in the area until we have talked to 5 people. Because many times the Lord has prepared other people in that area and there is a reason that appointment has fallen through. We have had a fair bit of success with this method. So we either talk to people walking around or we knock on doors around that house. We went to check on a former investigator and he had moved, but we knocked on the door next to his and their was a former investigator there that we didn't know about who invited us in and gave us a drink of water and as we talked to her she decided that she wants to have us come over, and she even wants to feed us :) Yes!

This was also the way we found the three Spanish boys. An appointment fell through and one of them was working on the caulking and we started talking to him.

I know that President Taylor is inspired and I am so grateful for his guidance and counsel. We had an opportunity to have interviews with him last week and I am so grateful for the things he said. He said that I was a leader in this mission and that he trusted me. I know that I still struggle so much to be a good missionary and it was nice to hear that President Taylor trusts me.

Recently at district meeting my district leader Elder Wilson pointed out that the covenant we make is to be WILLING to take his name upon us, WILLING to keep the commandments and WILLING to always remember him. Being willing to do what God asks us to do is so important. Being willing to obey the rules and listen to what our leaders tell us is soooo important. I have seen the consequences when people are not willing to do what is right. Any companionship whether on a mission or not works so much better when both people are willing to do what is right.

It is so true that going to people's houses tells you a lot about them. That is what we were just talking about last night. We get to go into so many people's houses. I love that privilege. I love being able to meet lots of new people and have awesome experiences. At the begining of my mission I didn't realize what a privilege and blessing that was, but now I think its really cool.

Love,

Sister Lila Jenson

Some thoughts on murmuring...

Hi Family and Friends,

Sister Lila Jenson and Autumn at her baptism

Autumn and her grandma

 

Lila, Sister Weaver and Sister Holt at tornado clean up



Strong sisters helping collect tornado debris for pick up by the city.

This week most of our investigators dropped us :( So the next few weeks is going to be a LOT of tracting! But that's okay. This week we are going to be working as a companionship to get better at finding people to teach and trying to more powerfully teach and testify of the truth.

I learned a lot this Sunday. For a while I have not known how to help my companions. But this Sunday I realized that I really needed to be the one to change, to be nicer and to work harder. During the Sacrament I read many of the hymns like "Let us oft speak kind words," "Should you be inclined to censure," etc. Their words really touched me, and I prayed to Heavenly Father to help me know what to do. The July Ensign has a wonderful article about a roommate and the advice given to her by her bishop that I read again and gave me some additional insight.

Last transfer I started writing down things I loved about my companion and that really helped. Then I started reading Elder Holland’s talk from April 2007 General Conference entitled "The Tongue of Angels." I love this talk and suggest that everyone read it! There really is no reason to say an unkind thing. As I was pondering what to do I had several ideas pop into my head. So I followed them. While my companions were napping during lunch I wrote them both a Thank you card and told them some of the things that I loved about them and thanking them for the things they've done. Then I cleaned the kitchen and when we had companion study I apologized for any critical things I had said and told them that I would be working on being more positive this week. I know their hearts were touched and I think we will get along better. I have been studying the leadership section of the missionary rule book and the scriptures in that section have also been a great help. I am so grateful for God's help. This is another instance in which I can see His direct involvement in my life through the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Ok, so I have to quote Elder Holland because this is one of my favorite things he has said:

"I have often thought that Nephi’s being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Lamen and Lemuel’s constant murmuring. Surely he must have said at least once, “Hit me one more time. I can still hear you.” Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland’s maxims for living—no misfortune is so bad that whining about it won’t make it worse."

I love this quote and I say amen to the second half. I know that complaining always makes things worse!

I know that we can each be of good cheer! No matter what we are facing.

Love to you all,

Sister Jenson