October 3, 2016
Albertville, Alabama
Family! So I don't have very much time this week and I feel like I say that every week but I really don't have a lot of time so I'm going to get right to it.
First, Wow! What an amazing General Conference we had this week! Pretty incredible! I loved each and every talk so much! There was one person that talked about our heritage as members. He only touched on it for a few minutes but that was super powerful and I loved it!
Second, Elder Nelson's talk about Joy. I was amazed. I didn't know what to think. I feel like we can all benefit from that because being happy and excited is more of a decision and we don't always try to be happy. So I really liked that because I'll be honest, sometimes you just don't want to smile at people out here. So that was super nice to hear so I can work on that. I don't have my notes with me so it's really hard to remember all that has happened. I feel like Dori. I have short term memory loss. It's bad... But also, I remember gratitude being talked about a lot. So I really enjoyed it all! General Conference has become more like Christmas every time I watch it. I love it so much! So it was an amazing weekend!
Third, Last night Elder Messick and I were out tracting and we ran into a Haitain man. There was a little bit of a language barrier but that wasn't about to stop me, so I just kept talking to him and he slowly got a little more invested in the conversation. As we continued to talk I felt a prompting that I should share the story that all of you have heard. It’s the story of Dad pulling me back into the boat in Lava Falls on the Colorado River a few years back. I continued to share this story with him and the spirit was so strong. You could tell that he was feeling something different and it was amazing. I told him that he was a child of God and that if we reach to the Savior he will be there for us. He had a few tears running down his face and it was an amazing lesson.
Fourth, I have had a lot on my mind this week and I really didn't know where to turn, so as I was sitting in the chapel in Albertville, I felt I needed to turn to the Savior. I said a prayer to Our Father in Heaven that I would be able to know how to help others and focus more on the work than myself and my thoughts and feelings. I immediately felt this overwhelming peace that He was there and that He knows our concerns and is walking beside us each step of the way. I know that if we pray to Our Father in Heaven that he will answer our prayers and that he hears us. He loves each and everyone of his children here on earth.
This week has been a good one! I missed you all with Conference because that has always been a special time for our family but I could feel your love as we all sat and listened to the words of the prophet and apostles. Thank you all for your love and support! I love you all so much!
Strength and Honor
-Elder Noah Featherstone
