Alyssa and Sister Flores riding in the back of a side-by-side
A sentence in Alyssa’s language training that matches her current status in her mission
Alyssa and Sister Flores during lunch at zone conference
Alyssa and Sister Flores enjoying some ice cream

Well, I actually have very little to tell this week. It was just the usual: work hard, get rejected, work harder. Overall, the week just felt standard and I’m not sure what to write.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of ordinances lately. As a missionary, it’s something we teach a lot. But I’ve been pondering more about what they represent. In everyday life, we use the phase “going through the motions” when we are doing the actions automatically and our hearts or efforts aren’t really there. Obviously, going through the motions of school, work, or any other commitment is better than not showing up at all, BUT, the gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t designed to be lived “through the motions.”

Sometimes when talking about the ordinances, we talk about just the doing. Being baptized, partaking of the sacrament, going to the temple, and everything else. But what about the changes these things are doing in our lives? The gospel moves and the gospel makes, it can help us get through life with a purpose and joy, it’s not something to get through. 

The routines of church membership become burdensome when we forget to look at them as the blessings they are. The sacrament is just bread and water if we forget for what purpose we’re taking it. Baptism is just a bath if the change of heart isn’t real. The temple is just a place if we don’t understand or comprehend the magnitude of the blessings it offers. Nobody wants to lose sight of what’s important so what do we need to do to renew our spiritual sensitivity to these sacred ordinances?

I believe it’s honest earnest prayers. I believe it’s profound scripture study. I believe it’s selfless service and generous love. It’s not easy, there are going to be days when it is just a repeating habit, but when we try and see everything and everyone as what God intends for them to be, we can have continuous spiritual experiences that will help increase our joy and strengthen our weaknesses.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (3 Nephi 27:21-22)

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Ipojuca, Brasil