Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

That is an indirect prayer to God. This was taught to me by Eckankar. What is Eckankar, you may ask? I don't actually know much about their beliefs, but they're all very kind people. I got to talk to a big group of them Sunday at World Religion Day. Wanna know what that is? Stay tuned for more.

Good morning, y'all!

Just so y'all know, we missionaries have not been swept away by the many tornadoes that seem to be gracing this edge of the United States. We are all very safe and very much in one piece. No worries!

Sister May and I had quite the interesting week. We've both wondered how Louisiana can hold so much water and not yet sunk into the ocean because of it. We're learning how to let our shoes dry, how to let rain coats drip, and how to enjoy never having a good hairstyle.

The most eventful day of our week was probably Sunday After church, Sister May and I were whisked away to Shreveport for World Religion Day. This is World Religion Day's eighteenth year. It's an event open to spiritual groups to set up booths and answer questions. It is a place for all of us to unite in a state of peace, and also in awe of whatever higher power in which we believe.

Some religious groups that were involved yesterday included:
Humanists
Ár nDraíocht Féin (A Druid Fellowship)
Roman Catholicism
Eckankar -- Religion of the Light and Sound of God
Egyptian Paganism
Islam
Judaism
Unitarian Universalism
Unity
Wicca
and, Us! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I learned so much from all of these people! It is amazing to see people coming together and uniting in their faiths. I was surrounded by people who were so strong and solid in their faith, who were so kind and so willing to listen to mine, and who were so loving toward their fellowmen. Some of us didn't have the same foundation at all, some of us did; some of us wouldn't normally have anything to do with each other, but we all were able to come together and be brothers and sisters.

As Sister May and I walked around the gym, collecting pamphlets, eating lavender cookies, listening to the music of others' spirituality, I felt something in me swell. I felt a feeling of belonging, seeing all of our different puzzle pieces. We didn't all match perfectly, but we were all part of the same puzzle trying to find the right picture.

I am so thankful to have been able to set aside the conflicts for a day. Our differences were thrown before one another, but we received them all with love. Our similarities were more apparent than before, and we were able to create a religious community between all of us as we tried to work together on topics of social unity, moral issues, and the like.

This morning I read an interesting scripture in the book of Alma. Previously in this same book, a small civil war began amongst a group called the Nephites. They separated into "king-men" and "freemen." Or, those who wanted a king and those who wanted to keep their democracy, respectfully. In chapter 60, Captain Moroni -- an army captain -- writes an epistle to the chief governor in a time of war. The Nephite troops are in desperate need of assistance and provisions, but no help has come from the government. Angry, Moroni writes this epistle to call the chief governor, Pahoran to repentance and demands that he send help. These verses are included in his epistle:

For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head, we could have withstood our enemies that they could have gained no power over us.

Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves; yea, were it not for these king-men, who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves, if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done; yea had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those king-men had over us; had they been true to the cause of our freedom, and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies, instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done, according to the fulfilling of his word (15-16).

As I read this, I reflected on World Religion Day. I think too often we are focused on our differences; we don't see the light in each other. While I am a firm believer in "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" as Paul teaches, I know that there are specks of light all around us. I do not know everything, but I know God loves each and every one of His children uniquely and equally. He wants all of them to find everlasting happiness, and He respects our ability to choose.

Brothers and sisters, let us not separate ourselves because of our differences. If we let ourselves slip and slide because of such little things, we will not be able to stand together, even as Moroni says above. We are to be united to stand; we are to work together to create a better community, a greater love, and in doing so we will create a better world.

Be kind to one another, even as Jesus Christ taught. Jesus Christ has exhorted us to love one another, even as He does; to share His goodness with everyone; to serve even as He would. We are His hands in the work. Let us be united in that.

Godspeed!

Have a good week!

Sincerely,

Sister Rose

The Bellews!!!!! I'll miss them. They're in the Blanchard ward!

The sunset in Benton! <3