Goodbye Miranda North, Oct 15th Letter

Dear Mom and loved ones,

This weekend I received my transfer call and won't know where I am going until tomorrow. If I get the chance tomorrow I will let you know from my new area! I could go up north or further south to Texas; either would be cool! My companion is staying here in Miranda North and training a new missionary. Who knows maybe he will get Elder Smailee as his companion.... It is suit season so we have been wearing our sweaters with the new dress and grooming modifications. It is still hotter than the blazes here!

Not much to report from this week other than the fact that we no longer with the zone leaders and more sisters are coming into Las Cruces. Our district is pretty much relief society already haha! Anyway, everyone living with the zone leaders got sick except for me. I will send some pictures, and yesterday I got called on in sacrament meeting to say the closing prayer as well as give my testimony. My Spanish is improving immensely- I never would have thought I could hold a conversation as well as talk in two languages at once. I cannot translate very well right now, but I am getting there. The Lord has blessed me so much so that I can share the Gospel with this beautiful culture!

Remember the scripture in Philippians 2:17 and rejoice in gladness often!

-Love Elder Sterling G. Richards

October is Here! Oct 8th Letter

Mom and loved ones!

This week was spiritually enriching and very edifying throughout many of my experiences. I also came to truly know that there is power from applying the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are going to move in with the zone leaders for the rest of the transfer and a lot of events jumped out of nowhere! The Lord's hand is truly in all things. I know that for certain. As I listened to General Conference as a missionary out in the field of labor, I felt a special spirit that I had never felt before. I was touched in some way personally by each and every talk of the 183rd Semi-Annual General Conference. I particularly liked how over and over again the cleansing power of the Atonement was re-iterated and how the Lord does give us strength always, if we rely on Him. "Being meek and lowly in heart" is very important and demonstrates our Love for the Savior. I really loved how these inspired prophets, seers, and revelators focused on the basics. Missionary work is no different. We teach people to prepare them to make covenants and to become converted unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was a bit disheartening to not have been able to attend the Priesthood session of this Conference, because it is more important to seek out souls to bring unto "God's kingdom." I was touched by Elder Christofferson's talk on "womanhood, moral authority, and respect for women." This applies directly to our family, because of Maddie, Olivia, and Hayley. I had the opportunity to give several priesthood blessings to the Sisters in our district as well as my companion. There is incredible power in the Priesthood even the power of Jesus Christ to act in the name of God. I tenderly anticipated and prepared to receive revelation for my conference experience this year and what a blessing it was. I too loved Elder Bednar's talk on tithing, as well as President Uchtdorf's. As missionaries we have the wonderful opportunity to serve others and talk to as many people to bring them unto our Father in
Heaven. With this comes a need for boldness and faith! "Doubting the doubts" is a huge factor in this.

I talked to Olivia a little last week and expressed some thoughts and feelings and I know that she was touched during General Conference. I am happy to hear that she has such great leaders. I cannot thank my leaders enough for helping me to become the man and missionary I am today! Mom, tell all of my leaders this and that I love them! I am grateful to have such wonderful sisters and to you Mom for your wonderful example! I feel that the Lord has known what he wants me to accomplish here in my mission since the beginning and as I apply that which I know and rely on Him in all things I am seeing the miracles, not just the blessings. There are countless blessings here that I have seen. I hope that you all see the power of prayer and the miracle of forgiveness in your lives. As I have come to diligently seek for understanding, ponder, prepare, and help others to my best ability, I have come to know of the Savior's divine strength in my life and our Heavenly Father's divine will in my life.

I had the opportunity to help many people this week through acts of service. Whether it was lifting objects and furniture, or painting walls and struggling to keep rollers in-tact, I know that these simple, sometimes strenuous acts of service are part of "charity never faileth!" If we serve out of love, we will feel the love of the Lord even more immensely in our lives, and know that our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness is a blessing and a way of eternal blessings, rewards, and happiness unlike any that we have ever received in our lives! 

As I was serving in the House of the Lord yesterday, I was overwhelmed with joy, emotion, love, and a heart full of humility and devotion. The blessing of the temple and temple ordinances, even saving ordinances, is indescribable for me. I cannot express how much happiness I could feel in the temple and of the power and strength and might of our Father in Heaven. It truly cannot be measured! I could talk about many things, but I think that will do for now. I cannot believe October is here. It flies, and I love every moment of it. It is hard at times and I know that the Lord will not entrust us with anything that we cannot achieve or reach to our capacity or our potential that is God-given. Gifts are God-given and they should be used daily to bless the lives of our Heavenly Father's children, even our spiritual Brothers and Sisters! 

A quick story about acting on impressions of the Holy Ghost immediately: This past week my companion told me you are going to be a leader and a senior companion and a trainer very soon. What are we going to do at 2 in the afternoon tomorrow? I sat there for a minute and he calmly said; ponder and pray that is the only way! I did just that and the next morning I woke up and a thought popped in my head directly from Heaven and we actually found someone else who knew the person I had thought of. Had we not been there, the ladies would have struggled to carry the furniture and bins up huge flights of stairs. They were interested in hearing the message of the Restored Gospel and we set a return appointment with them! Always act on the mysterious thoughts that come suddenly, because they can be of the utmost importance!

I love you all and I hope that you continue to deepen your conversion and enhance your study about and to the Savior and his teachings and our Father in Heaven's eternal plan, which is the same for all of us. "To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man!" 

I sincerely hope and pray that you all have a tremendous week! There is always hope with faith.

- Love Elder Sterling Grant Richards

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Fall is in the Air!, Sept 30th

Dear Mom and loved ones,

This week was incredible to say the least! We had a tremendous zone-conference on Wednesday in which I sang with our zone as well as got up at the pulpit myself and gave my first Spanish talk to the leaders who were there, including the Stake President who served in this same mission Spanish speaking! Pretty cool! Anyway, yesterday we finally had a the baptism of Tania y Lucy Villezcas and it was a wonderful evening. They got baptized and confirmed on the same day, which as a missionary only happens in rare cases! I performed the baptism of Tania and Elder Mamales performed the baptism of Lucy: I will send some pictures!

At zone-conference we focused on acting out of love, and finding our personal ministry! It was incredible, and very spiritually uplifting. As I was pondering some questions this week that our President gave to us to think about, I really saw the connection between the work of Salvation, and being a member of the church. It is simple, however, it is deep! We have to turn outward and carry our testimonies to the hearts of others so that they can receive the joy and happiness we feel from the Holy Ghost. Share the Gospel! The missionaries are not the only ones who can share the Gospel, we all can! "Every member a missionary!" 

We had a rare opportunity of doing a service project with the Helping Hands organization of the Church! On Saturday we went and helped dig people's homes out, because of the flood which hit the border of Anthony NM, and Texas. It was a very incredible and humbling experience to see the joy and appreciation others have for what they are able to live on. We had many opportunities to do service again this week, which was a miracle in itself!

I never realized how demanding preparing to paint a home was, and then actually painting the home. I was in-charge of rolling the primer or base on, and I learned patience. Many times in our lives it is better to take things "slow and steady." I have been impacted by the smallest things this week and have grown knowing that without the Lord and without our Father in Heaven we are weak. They are the ones who provide us with the strength to accomplish that which needs to be done!

Mom, it sure sounds like everything is picking up in Utah! It's harvest time in many ways right now! I am happy to have received communication with Mad and Liv. I will keep you updated as far as moving goes. This week we have had the contractors on our roof a ton, and they are persistent. I will send some pictures your way, and I love you all, and pray for you daily! Have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Sterling G. Richards

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September 23rd

Dear Mom and loved ones,

Well I would be lying if I said that this week did not try my testimony and my patience. However, I also learned a lot and came to know Jesus Christ on a different level than I have ever known Him before. There were a lot of struggles that got in the way, but I did not let them prevent me from fulfilling my calling as a representative of Jesus Christ. I truly had to follow the words of the hymn "Press Forward Saints With Steadfast Faith in Christ!" I could not have made it through this strenuous week without the Atonement of my Savior and the enabling power that comes from it.

I had many opportunities to serve this week in countless ways! I recognized and saw the miraculous healing power of the Priesthood in a way that I had never seen it before. All of these children of our Heavenly Father, some at rock-bottom, were struggling to keep going. I prayed and prepared myself so that in the event that I needed to exercise my authority as a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, I would be able to act as an instrument to bless the lives of others. I had the opportunity to give many blessings this week in both Spanish and English. I even in one instance gave a blessing in a chapel in an E.R. facility. Often times we don't realize how many service opportunities exist. Even the simplest acts of kindness can be monumental in a persons' life!!

I have grown so much in this week alone and I know that everything does happen for a reason and that "He will always prepare a way!" We can ask for anything and if we have faith we will receive it. It may not always be in the way we might like or expect, but answers and blessings do flow directly from heaven. I know that families are eternal and that this Church is the only true Church on the earth that contains and exemplifies the fullness of the example of Jesus Christ. We are disciples of Jesus Christ and must act our part in this great work of Salvation!

Yesterday in Sacrament meeting I had a wonderful experience to exercise my high range and belt out "Love is Spoken Here" with a Sister missionary in the ward from Midvale. It was incredible--the Spirit that filled that meeting. I was prepared in the very moment that I needed everything this week, but I had to work for it. We have to act, we cannot sit around waiting for something to happen! I am excited to see what other things will be manifest through works in this area. I love every moment of being here in New Mexico!

We are having two baptisms this Saturday and it is truly miraculous to see someone going through hardships and pains to turn to Heavenly Father for guidance. Lucy and Tania Villescas are incredible and were prepared from the very moment that we met them!!

I am ecstatic to see what other people the Lord has prepared for me to be a beneficial instrument to help them receive the Restored Gospel! I pray that you all might exercise your faith and that you can serve others in need and spit out a simple, but powerful testimony of how you have been blessed in your lives!

Mom: In case you were wondering I got the package! Thank you so much for everything you gave me!! It helped me out to snack on some of my favorite treats when I was being trialed this week. I also cannot believe that the Utes won....oh well there are many more important things to focus on right now. I love you and the family and I hope that you all have a great week!

With much love,

Elder Sterling G. Richards