Emily's Exploits

You've all heard this song. I like to think of it as this little diddy that you sing in elementary school, and vaguely think of african american spirituals. Mack Wilberg revolutionized this song for me. The Last Sunday of January was my last Sunday listening to Music and the Spoken Word in the Tabernacle as a missionary, and the final number was "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", an arrangement done by Mack that I haven't heard before. It took on a whole new meaning. I was about to leave Temple Square, and felt like I had taken on (in a small way) responsibility for helping make the world better- for taking care of the Lord's children, and I was being asked to finish my stewardship of these people who visit the Square (aka, people from ALL OVER THE WORLD). I cried. But then I came home and found the recording. ooooo. And it's just the Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing. ooooo, ooooo, ooooo. I bought the album yesterday. And I'm ...

I grew up in the era of TAPES. Ok, so maybe we switched over to CD's when I was about in 7th grade, but my childhood memories of being in the car involve using a tape player and having to switch the sides when I wanted to listen to the other songs on it!  There was one particularly amazing tape we had in our car growing up- it was Kermit the Frog sing-along. And the songs are all about traveling. This tape was bright green, and amazing.  Somehow, these songs were embedded into my soul from such a young age, that my subconscious never forgot the lyrics... because...  As I played mommy for a week, one of the songs just CAME TO ME as we were in the car. I sang it to Jacob when he wouldn't put his seatbelt on.  What's the first thing you do when you get into the car, If you're going down the block, or you're going very far, What's the first thing you do when you get into the car? You put your  seatbelt  on! Do you bake a little cake, do you ...

Last week Sister Chen taught me how to say "I like your _____ (camera, t-shirt, hat, etc)" in Chinese so I could say it to guests. So I told this lady on our Mandarin tour that I liked her hat. She was so surprised. She loved that I spoke to her in Chinese, because she didn't speak any English. So the lady GAVE ME HER HAT! How nice is that? I'm attaching pictures. I attended a baptism for some people I taught and took around Temple Square! They are Burmese refugees (ages 13 and 15), and they are the first in their family to decide to be baptized. Sister Leilua (a Samoan sister) and I sang some hymns during the baptismal service and she harmonized so beautifully. It was nice to do that. Pictures attached.

This week was great. I'm exhausted, but everything is going well. Highlight of my life this week (a conversation I had): Chinese young man: "Oh, so you are a volunteer here. Are you also a student?" Me: "Yes, but before I was a missionary at Temple Square, I was studying music at Brigham Young University." "OHHH, what instrument do you play?" "Singing, I'm a singer." "Wow, so you are a DIVA!" Silence. "I guess you could say that." Israeli woman at the end of a tour: "Now I can say because I met you, I am to become a Mormon." Scripture for the week: Alma 5:19 " I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ it is possible for us to have a pure heart and clean hands. Repentance is the key, and it is a beautiful gi...

Flower Sword (that's what his name means in Chinese) will be studying Physics in SLC for the next 5 years. We met him and his friend yesterday. When Sister Chen asked them if they had heard about Joseph Smith, they both said "Smith's grocery store" ---- and then Sister Chen said "Well, this is a different Smith, it's like spiritual food." Italian Baby Kiss: I met the nicest Italian family!! After talking to them for 5 minutes, they were ready to go. The father brought his 2 year old son closer to me so he could give me a kiss on the cheek! I was shocked/ happily surprised- it was so adorable!! I guess the Italian men learn how to be charming from a PRETTY young age from their fathers. First-Ever Baptism in Taiwan: We met the first man baptized into the church in Taiwan, it was about 50 years ago (he's probably in his 80s). He was baptized in a river! Teaching and inviting people to experiment: We've taught a lot of people over the phone recent...

On Sunday Sister Willis, Gilbert and I are singing a trio of "Come thou Fount of every Blessing" for Sacrament Meeting- so that will be fun. Tonight there is the 100th anniversary of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building Party so we may sneak down to see what that's all about - apparently President Monson is supposed to come? President Holmes is such a wonderful mission president. I had an interview with him and he talked to me about obedience. Really, being obedient is the best way that we can show God that we love Him. I am still thinking about what that means for me and how I act. I'm trying not to get discouraged, but sometimes I feel so inadequate and there is so much that is expected / required of me as a Temple Square missionary. But, as Sister Felici, my room-mate last transfer, always said "Jesus take the wheel". It's one of those things where I have to recognize how imperfect I am and ask for Christ's atoning sacrifice to take effect in my li...

I hope you all enjoyed General Conference as much as I did (see LDS.org if you missed it)! I didn't actually get to watch much of it, as the Sisters were out and about talking to guests and members, and asking anyone if we could call friends and send them a Book of Mormon or a Restoration DVD. We all got up and on the Square by 8 am and left at 9 pm-- it's pretty crazy during Conference Time. The weather was perfect, but today it's raining and stormy. That's a tender mercy :D Before Conference this week Sister Johnson and I met Ann and Patrick from New Jersey. We had quite a good discussion with them about what we believe and they were so nice and friendly! Near the end of the tour Patrick commented on our "happy eyes". I know he was talking about the Holy Spirit! Galatians 5 talks about the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Patrick also gave me a nickname: "Stretch" ...since I'm so tall. haha. Dean from Birmingham, England is a funeral director and ...