Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I was so excited to get to talk to my family on Christmas! I got to Skype them, so I got to talk to them AND see them!!! It was so much fun. My family is awesome and I love them. They are amazing. It was so wonderful getting to see them, talk to them, and see who all was coming to Christmas dinner at my Aunt's house. I miss each and every one of my family members, and I can't wait to see them again.

On Christmas Eve as well as Christmas day, we got to play some really fun games with members. On Christmas Eve, we got to spend some time with a family singing Christmas carols, then playing a Christmas trivia game. My team won, by the way :)

On Christmas day, we had some really awesome dinner, and afterwards we played a super fun game. We stood in a circle, and each of us held a wrapped box. The leader of the game read a story about an elf named "Lefty". Every time we heard the word "left" in any context, we would pass our box to the left. Any time we heard the word "right" in any context, we would pass our box to the right. Any time we heard the word "Santa", we would run across the circle to a different spot. It was so much fun. There was tons of laughing. At the end of the game, we got to unwrap our box, and each of us held a box of candy. I got Sour Patch Kids. :)

Christmas evening after dinner, we went to visit some more people. It had been snowing all day, and the roads were covered in snow and ice. One of our awesome members was driving us, and every time we would turn in an intersection, we would end up sliding 180 degrees. It was crazy, but we were all safe and nothing bad happened.

It keeps snowing here, and I love it! I got some new boots, and they are waterproof and lined. :)
It's been a really exciting week.

I would like to thank all of you that sent gifts to me and my companion over the holidays. We greatly appreciate everything that we have received, and we are very thankful.

Hope you all have tons of fun on New Year's Eve!!!

Here's a picture of me, my companion, and the Spanish speaking sisters in our area.

A beautiful sunset.

Preparation for Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Some really super awesome exciting things have happened this week! First of all, we had transfers on Wednesday, and guess what? WE BOTH STAYED!!!! I am so happy I got to stay in West Jordan. I absolutely love the people here. It truly feels like home in the Park Stake, and I wouldn't mind staying here for the rest of my mission (though that is highly unlikely). My companion is still Sister Johanson, which is good because I feel like we are learning a lot from one another.
On Thursday, we got to take one of our recent converts to the Oquirrh Mountain temple to do baptisms for the dead. (click here for more information on what I mean when I say "baptisms for the dead") It was so awesome to get to be a part of this sacred experience!

Also this past week, my companion and I made a few posters that show just how many blessings we get when we follow the Lord's commandments. I took a picture of the poster I made to show you what I'm talking about. In my poster, it shows what blessings we get from following the Word of Wisdom, which is a revelation from God received by a prophet that tells us what things we should and shouldn't eat or drink. You can also read more about it in Doctrine and Covenants 89.



This past Sunday, in Relief Society, they handed out the books that we will be using in class this upcoming year. In 2015, we will be learning from "Teachings of the Presidents: Ezra Taft Benson". I love learning the things that the past prophets have taught about Christ's gospel.
Christmas is coming up this week, and even though Imiss my home and family, the people here have been so kind to me and my companion. The Relief Society in one of our wards stopped by last night with a Christmas box for each of us. In it were mints, lotion, hand sanitizer, hand warmers, and many other much appreciated and much needed items! It was so sweet of them to be thinking of us and know exactly what we both needed. I am very thankful for their kindness. There have been other members who have shared things with us and helped us to feel loved and cared about. I am thankful to every one of the people who has already made our holiday season special.
Speaking of Christmas, I get to Skype my family on Christmas!!!!! I am SO EXCITED to talk to them!!!! It will be wonderful to see them and talk to them and hear their voices. I miss them a lot.
The last thing I would like to share with you this week is how awesome our Sacrament meeting was this past Sunday. We did a lot of sining as a congregation, and there were several special musical numbers. I really enjoy the services when we get to sing a lot. Christmas carols are forgotten for most of the year, so it's nice to use them while it's still that season.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year. I love each and every one of you.

New Haircut

This week has been wonderful! I don't know if I mentioned it in my last blog or not, but I got my hair cut last week. I just got tired of putting it in a pony tail.

Also, one of our recent converts gave us each a little Santa figurine for Christmas. We have been working a lot in showing everyone the video "He is the Gift", and talking with them about how Christ is the very first gift of Christmas. It's true. If it weren't for Christ, we wouldn't have Christmas. And if it wasn't for Heavenly Father's love and His desire to make a way for us to return to Him, then we wouldn't have the gift of Christ and His Atonement. It's only about a week away until Christmas, and I hope each of you know and feel the love that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for you.

Baptism! (Short post.)

We had a baptism this past weekend! This man has been wanting to be baptized for 15 years, but he wanted to wait until his family was okay with it and would support him. Once they were okay with it, he made the choice to be baptized and to enter into a covenant with the Lord that he would remember Christ, take upon His name, and keep His commandments. He is so happy, and it is wonderful to see the changes he has made.

This blog is short because I'm short on time today, but I love each of you and hope all is well.

Five Months Out!

This week, I will have been out on my mission for 5 months. Time flies. I hope each of you had a marvelous Thanksgiving with lots of turkey and pie. I sure did. :)

There have been some super fantastic, amazing miracles happening in our area this weekend. Yesterday during church, we got a few text messages that really made our day. We got a message from one of our ward mission leaders that an investigator that we had been praying for months to come to church finally came to church! We were so excited, so as excited missionaries do, we gave each other a high-five. Then, we got another text message from an investigator who said that he had talked with his wife a lot over this past week, and she finally agreed to let him be baptized. He has been waiting for four years for his family to support his decision of being baptized into the church. We were so excited that we high-fived again. I should mention that this happened in between classes so we weren't being disruptive. He will be baptized this Saturday, and we couldn't be more excited for him. :) He's super excited, too.

On Thanksgiving, we had the wonderful opportunity to help a member in one of our wards make sopaipillas, which are a butternut squash fried bread. It was so much fun to make! We started by mixing the main ingredients for the flour, then we cooked the squash and added it to the flour. It was funny to watch the dough climb up the hook in the mixer and try to escape over the sides. After that, we kneaded it, then flattened it out. After it was rolled out, we cut it up into circles and other shapes with cookie-cutters. We stabbed each little circle with a fork so it wouldn't puff up when it was fried. Then we threw a few of the circles into the fryer. We would take them out when they looked cooked enough and let them dry and cool. They were super tasty!

Also this past week, the church put out a really awesome new Christmas video called "He is the Gift". If you haven't seen it, I think you should. I really like watching it because it helps remind me that the first gift of Christmas had nothing whatsoever to do with wrapping or stores or boxes. The first gift of Christmas was Christ. I am thankful for His ministry on the earth and for how He forgives me as often as I ask forgiveness (Mosiah 26:30).

I hope all of you know how much I love you and miss you. You are amazing. Don't ever forget that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

This past Wednesday was transfers, so I got a new companion. I am still in wonderful West Jordan, but I am now with Sister Johanson from Houston, TX.

There are a few cool things I learned this past week that I'd like to share with you. First, I would like to start with a talk I heard yesterday in church. The lady who was speaking started by talking about how she took her family to the frozen yogurt store and let them get all different kinds of frozen yogurt with candy and sprinkles on top. Everyone was having so much fun and had exactly what they wanted. After they left and went to run some errands, the kids started complaining about wanting to play on the coin machines at the front of the store. They put in a quarter and played the claw machine, but they didn't get any prize. They were so upset and continued to complain. The lady went on to say that she stopped and asked the family, "what is going on?!" They had planned out a fun evening with frozen yogurt and spending time together, but now everyone was unhappy and upset. She related this experience to how we sometimes have everything we have asked for, but we still complain to God that we don't have something. Why can't we just be grateful and happy with the things that we have? She gave a really good talk about this, and it made me stop and think about what I have in my life that I am thankful for.

Here is a list of a few of the things that I am grateful for. I am grateful for my family who loves and supports me no matter how crazy my decisions seem sometimes. I am grateful for my family who is always there for me and encourages me even in the midst of their own trials. I am grateful for a home ward full of deeply caring people who continue to love and visit my family even though I'm all the way out here. I am grateful for friends who have been there for me throughout the darkest times of my life, and who helped me to realize that life doesn't have to be so dark. I am grateful for all the coworkers that I have had at the Academy, and I am especially grateful for the ones who helped me to become a more patient and caring person. I am grateful for being able to serve a mission. I am grateful for the friends who continue to be my friends even though I only get to talk to them roughly every other week via e-mail or letters. I am grateful for a brother who is funny, caring, and super creative all the time, even when I am a punk to him. I am grateful for people who are selfless and would give anything just to help someone else. I am grateful for knowing that God loves my family and friends as well as me. I am grateful for silly jokes, for snow, for walking in the rain, and for sports. I know that everything God and Jesus Christ do is to help us be happier and eventually return to live with them.

This past week, my companion and I were teaching two kids about the 10 commandments. My companion had some easy to remember hand signals to help the kids learn the commandments and what they mean. After we had taught the lesson, we reviewed all 10 commandments with the kids. When we got to the 7th commandment, (Exodus 20:14) which is about not committing adultery, the kids were stuck and couldn't remember what is was. My companion, in an effort to help them remember, said, "It sounds like Adult Trees". An image came to my mind of two fully grown oak trees with faces on the bark. I immediately started laughing, and then my companion started laughing, and then everyone was laughing... it took a few minutes to get back on track with the lesson.

In my scripture study this morning, I came across a verse I would love to leave you with for this week. It says in "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.". I really like this verse because it points out that we need to BELIEVE that good things are going to happen if we follow God's laws. If we don't think that there are any blessings that come from following the commandments, then why do we follow them? Have faith that the Lord will bless you and help you.
Never give up. Never give in.

SNOW!

IT SNOWED!!!!!! I have sent a picture with this message of what my backyard looks like covered in snow. I am very happy that it snowed. :) I hope it snows a lot more in the days to come.

This past week has been really great. My companion and I learned a lot about doing things in the Lord's timing. We were so excited for some lessons we had on Tuesday, but when Tuesday came, everyone called and canceled or moved their lessons to another day. We decided that even though we were bummed out, we knew that everything happens exactly the way it is supposed to. It's interesting how much more peace I have when I don't worry about things that I don't have control over. I control my own actions, and that is all. As I was sitting in Gospel Doctrine class (Sunday school) yesterday at church, the lesson was on Individual Responsibility. I listened really close, and I began to understand that, no matter what people say or what they think about us, our salvation is between us and the Lord. There is no middleman who decides whether or not we have eternal life. Christ died and rose again so that we can be free from sin and from the bonds of death. He is our salvation. There is no person on Earth who could do for us what Christ did. So, remember that your salvation is between you and the Lord, not anyone else. There are things that will help you live the gospel of Christ, like reading your scriptures, praying, and going to church. That's what I learned yesterday.

Also this week I am very grateful to a few members who have done very selfless things for me. I greatly appreciate them. In one instance, it was very cold outside and the wind was blowing. We were leaving a member's house after dinner, and she asked if I had anything to cover my ears. I didn't, and I assured her that I would be fine. She went into her coat room and pulled out an extra headband/ear warmer. I told her that I'd be fine, and that I didn't want to take anything from her. She told me that it was extra and that she had another one that she usually wears. I was so thankful for her kindness, and I was glad to have something to keep my ears warm in the cold and wind. Another member from a different ward made me a bracelet out of para-cord and gave it to me. I am thankful for the kindness and selflessness of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that I have met so far. I am thankful to be serving here in the Salt Lake City South Mission, and I am glad that I can help people sometimes. Know that I love each of you.

Fasting and Miracles

WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK FULL OF MIRACLES!!!!!

In every missionary meeting we have, we share the miracles that have happened the past week. This past week, though, has been so full of miracles that I don't know if there is time enough to share all of them!

Monday gave us a miracle of perfect timing. As a missionary, I do a lot of relying heavily on the Holy Ghost to direct where my companion and I go, as well as what we say when we go there. It was awesome to see that as we acted on those promptings from the Holy Ghost, we were able to show up to a door at the exact time that we were needed.

On Tuesday, we had a day full of miracles of understanding. We had some lessons where we were trying really hard in following what the Spirit prompted us to say, and when we did, the people we were teaching understood more what we were saying. Sometimes we think "we're really good at explaining this point," or "I don't need to have the Spirit guide what I say; I'm smart enough to explain this point perfectly." When we think those things as missionaries, we wind up confusing people and making things worse. When we followed the Spirit on Tuesday and didn't lean on our own talent and smarts, we were able to better help the people we were teaching.

On Wednesday, we fasted as a Zone. Since I've become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I have fasted each month on fast Sunday (the first Sunday of the month) but I have never had a testimony of fasting. In other words, I haven't been sure that it works or why I was doing it. I fasted with my zone, and I waited to see if anything would happen. It was awesome to see that fasting with faith brought about the tons of miracles this week. I know that if we follow the law of the fast, we will be blessed in the things that we truly need. I needed to see that fasting brought miracles, and that is exactly how Heavenly Father blessed me.

On Thursday, we had a really awesome lesson with a family who is of another religion. It was a miracle to go into the lesson knowing that they wanted to argue, but then to see that they were enjoying finding all of the things we have in common. I was worried that we would get off topic and start having disagreements and that we might offend them with what we say, but again the Holy Ghost helped us to know exactly what to say and what scriptures to discuss that would help them understand the basic principles of the gospel. I love when we are humble enough to "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit" (Mosiah 3:19) and better help accomplish the work of salvation. I couldn't do this without Heavenly Father's support, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the guidance from the Holy Ghost.

On Friday, we had exchanges with the Sister Training Leader's in our zone, so one of the STL's came to my area and was companion with me for 24 hours. It was so AWESOME to see all the miracles that happened that day! We talked to literally EVERYONE we saw, and we ended up setting up appointments with nearly ALL of those people! There were so many small things that happened that we could not have foreseen or figured out on our own. I am sure that God knows each of His children and that "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28) when we listen to Him.

I am absolutely amazed at all the miracles that have happened this week. I could talk for hours about all the wonderful things that have happened this week. There are many days of things being hard, sad, rough, and disheartening, but then there are days when I remember how great the work is that I am doing. Sometime this past weekend, I got to help a member take their bike apart, look for leaks in the tire tubes, and then put it all back together, even the gears on the chain. It was so much fun, and my hands even got a little dirty.

I promise you that as you become humble and search to find out what God would ask of you, you will be able to find joy and happiness and fulfillment in your life.

I love each and every one of you, and I truly mean that. Don't ever forget it.

Going on Splits!

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!!!! There is SO MUCH that has been happening. I wish you all could be here and see all the things that are going on, as well as all the lovely, snow-covered mountains. It is beautiful here! The Oquirrh mountains and the Wasatch mountains are both covered in snow. It looks like really tall rocks covered in powdered sugar. Here in the valley, though, it is just starting to get cold. It rained a little yesterday, but I am super excited for snow to be on its way.

One of the highlights from this past week happened on Thursday. There was a lady who we have just started to teach, but we have been trying to figure out what member to have come with us to her lessons. My companion has been really sick with a sinus infection and bronchitis and a nasty cough, so we went on "splits" on Thursday to give her some time to rest. When missionaries go on "splits", one missionary goes with one member of the same gender, and the other missionary goes with another member of the same gender. We dropped off my companion at a member's house where she could rest and try to recuperate. Then I went with a member to teach lessons that we had previously set up. My companion and I had felt prompted to get a hold of a specific member, but we didn't really know why. The lady we are teaching has a husband who used to be in the military, and he has his fatigues laid out on a table right when you open the door. We had both completely forgotten that the member we invited to the lesson has a husband out on active duty right now. As we went in the door of the lady we are teaching, the member with me saw the military uniform. She was had an instant connection with the lady, which opened up a new friendship. As missionaries, we are so thankful for such wonderful members. Something so simple as seeing a uniform opened up a friendship that may not have evolved any other way. It was a miracle that the perfect friend just so happened to be the member we contacted to come to the lesson.

Along with that really cool experience, I had another cool experience that same day. We were still on splits, so my companion was at a member's house resting while I went to our dinner appointment with a member and their family. While the husband was finishing cooking dinner, I helped the mom clean out her vehicle. I really didn't think anything of it, but the next day when my companion and I were walking down her street, she stopped us to tell my companion how much I had helped her. I was surprised, and responded by saying, "but all I really did was sit and talk to you while you cleaned." Sometimes, that is really all that people need: just someone to talk to. It's amazing how such small things can have such a big impact on people. Never again in my life will I have an opportunity like this where I can just serve, work, help, and teach 24 hours a day seven days a week.

As of this past Sunday, I have been out on my mission for 4 months! Time flies!

"Remember, remember the fifth of November." Since this coming Wednesday is the 5th of November, I would like to leave you with a few scriptures that talk about remembering. All three of them are in the book of Mosiah, which is mostly a record of a king, named King Benjamin, who talks to the people in his kingdom about all the things that the prophets have said that will help them live better lives and eventually return to live with God:

Mosiah 4:30
Mosiah 2:41
Mosiah 5:15

I hope these scriptures will help you remember throughout the week how much I love and care about each and every one of you. Have an awesome first week of November!

From A Week Ago - But Tiffany Had Parasites, Sorry.

**Hi everyone, I apologize that I am posting Amy's email from October 20th over a week late, but I got pretty sick with parasites.  I will do my best to make sure this never happens again.**


What a FANTASTIC week! On Wednesday night, we were having a lesson with a recent convert, and we asked him how his scripture reading is going. Every other time we have asked, he has said that he just hasn't had time or something like that. When we asked him this week, he proudly stated that he had downloaded Gospel Library onto his phone and reads his scriptures every day while he's on the train to work! How great is that!

Friday night, we were having a lesson with a man who has been taking the lessons sporadically over the past four years, and has accepted a baptism date before, but hasn't been baptized because of family concerns. We taught the lesson about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and at the end of the lesson we invited him to be baptized. He accepted the date for baptism on November 8th! We are so excited for him and his family. The gospel of Jesus Christ blesses your families.

On Saturday, I ran into a good friend from back home. She used to be the ward organist in Fairmont, but moved out here to Utah a little while ago. She was driving around, saw me and my companion, and stopped to say hi and give me a hug. It really made my day. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful and amazing people all over the U.S. Each one of you has made a huge impact on my life. Know that you are loved by me as well as by your Heavenly Father.

There is a lot going on here in West Jordan, and I love every second of it. I especially love eating chicken enchiladas that the members make for dinner. It is officially my favorite dish out here.

By the way, I am compiling a list of my favorite scriptures, so if you have a few that you think need included, please let me know!

Dutch-Oven and Sticking Together

Hey everyone! Before I tell you about my week, I'd like to clarify something. If you write a comment on my facebook wall or send me a message, my friend that monitors my account relays those messages to me, but I have no way to respond to you. I also don't have access to your mailing addresses, so I can't send you any letters. However, you can write to me at my mission address. I don't want you to think that I am ignoring you. I love each and every one of you, and I would love to hear from you and be able to respond! If you decide to do that, please address it as follows:

Sister Amy Prenatt
8060 south 615 east
Sandy, UT 84070

Now onto all the exciting stuff that has happened! Let me start by updating you on transfer news. Every six weeks, we get a call from our Zone Leaders, and they tell us if either one of us is being transferred to another area, if one of us is staying, if one of us is getting transferred, if both of us are staying, where we are going if we are being transferred, etc. Our Zone Leaders called us last Tuesday around 3pm, and they told us that we are BOTH STAYING!!!! We were walking down the street to an appointment, but I was so excited that I shouted out "YES!" in the middle of the sidewalk. I really love the area I am serving in, and I really love the people here.

This past Saturday, one of our wards was having a Dutch-oven cook-off. I didn't know what a Dutch-oven was before, but I found out. It is a cast iron pot that you put food in, then you put in on hot coals so it cooks the food. It was amazing! I thought that maybe there would be stew or something, but my favorite dish was corn tortillas, chicken, cheese, and green salsa cooked together. I was already impressed with the dishes cooked in the Dutch-ovens, but then I became even more impressed when the ward mission leader picked up one of his Dutch-ovens and removed the lid, revealing a chocolate lava cake! It was delicious. I learned something new that day about cooking without electricity.

I hope each of you are doing well and are healthy.

General Conference

What a FANTASTIC week!!!!!

Let me start this entry by saying that yesterday evening, my companion (Sister Johnstone) and I were walking down the sidewalk when we ran into a member we know. As we were talking with him and his neighbor, we noticed that they had a garden hose pointed down into a hole in the yard next to the sidewalk. I asked him what he was trying to water. He laughed and told me to take a look in the bucket next to him. I looked down into the bucket and beheld a vole. What is that?! It turns out that a vole is a lot like a mole. It is a pesky rodent that digs numerous holes in your yard and causes a lot of problems. The man and his neighbor were trying to figure out where the other holes were, and they were trying to flood out any more voles that may be hiding. It was pretty interesting to learn about that little animal and how to chase it out of its holes.

In my last entry, I mentioned that there is a movie coming out called "Meet the Mormons". As a mission, we got to see a special preview of it at our mission office. We didn't get to go to the theatres or anything like that, but we did get to watch it with all the missionaries in this mission. It is a fantastic movie. It is basically a look at the lives of five different members, how they came into the church, what they do for a living, and how they deal with life. If you like human interest pieces, you would love this movie. I would caution you, though, to bring a box of tissues with you. I'm pretty much made of steel, but I still cried at some parts. Some of it is also really funny. It's just a good look at people's lives.

On Friday, my companion and I went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leader in our zone, and her companion. Our STL and her companion are Spanish-speaking, so my entire day on Friday was in Spanish. When we were in lessons, Hermana Russell would do all the talking, and I would just smile and nod, since I know very little Spanish. It was a lot of fun, though, singing hymns in Spanish and reading some of the Book of Mormon in Spanish. I know more now than I did, and I can even understand some when other people talk.

General Conference this weekend was AMAZING. I hope all of you had an opportunity to watch it, but if you didn't, you can still watch/read/listen to it at this link. It was wonderful to hear the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, speak at the Sunday morning session.

My favorite talk, however, was given by President Henry B. Eyring, who is the First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I also really liked Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong's talk given at the Saturday morning session. His talk was delivered in his native language of Cantonese, but was translated into English during the live broadcast. This is the first General Conference where the speakers have delivered their talks in their native language. President Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, was asked if he would speak in his native language of German, but he decided to give his talk in English instead.

It was great to hear so many inspired speakers this past weekend. I learned something from every talk that was given. There is something in every talk that can help you with things you are currently facing in life, as well as help you feel peace and comfort. For me, there were a few talks that really stood out and helped me to receive personal revelation. This is possible for you as well. If you are seeking for an answer or for guidance, the talk from General Conference can help you gain the revelation you are searching for.

The last thing I want to include is a super short story about a lady we ran into. We heard that a family had recently moved into a neighborhood in our area, so we went to meet them. We had spoken to them briefly while they were in their yard one day decorating for Halloween. So we knocked on the door, the Mom opened the door and said, "Oh good! I was wanting to talk to you guys! My daughter hasn't been baptized yet, and she is 12 years old. My other daughter also hasn't been baptized yet, and she is 11 years old. Let's set up a time that you can come back when they are home and you can teach them!" What a miracle. God really does put you in the right place at the right time.

It Rained!

So many exciting things going on!!!

First and foremost, it rained ALL DAY Saturday! It was wonderful and I was so happy. :) I have missed the rain. However, I found out that my boots aren't waterproof. But that's okay! because my amazing, fantastic, wonderful companion has a waterproof spray that I used on my boots earlier this morning.

Aside from the weather, there are many other exciting things going on in Utah this past week and this upcoming weekend. This past Saturday (Sept. 27th) was the General Women's Conference. If you don't know too much about Conference, it takes places in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. As it occurs, it is broadcast to thousands of stake centers all over the WHOLE world! It's really amazing and I really love being able to watch it. Some of the female leaders of the church speak at this conference, there are beautiful musical numbers, and a member of the First Presidency speaks.

You can catch the full conference here at : Women's General Conference.

My favorite talk was by Sister Neill F. Marriott, and my second favorite talk was by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. You can view or listen to these talks at the website above. I like reading the talks later after the transcripts are uploaded to the site, and that will probably happen sometime later this week.

Also, General Conference (the conference for the ENTIRE church) is happening this Saturday and Sunday. It, like the Women's Conference, takes place in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City. As missionaries serving in the area just south of Salt Lake City, we have the opportunity to attend once during our mission. My companion gets to go to the Sunday morning session this time.

General Conference happens the first weekend of April and again the first weekend of October. There are four total general sessions every conference. There is a session Saturday morning at 10am, then an afternoon session at 2pm. The same schedule is followed on Sunday. Since it's broadcasted live across the entire world, the times you can view it will change according to where you are in the world. For example, it is broadcast in West Virginia at noon and 4pm since WV is a two-hour time difference.

You can view the live broadcast of General Conference at www.lds.org. Also, if you want to know more about what conference is, when it is, etc, you can go to this website. One last thing before I go.

There is a new movie coming out in select theatres that is produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is called Meet the Mormons. You can click on the link there to find out more about the movie, and you can find out where it is playing near you. We won't get to see it as missionaries, but I definitely recommend you to go see it.

I love it here, but I do love and miss all of you. I hope both you and your families are doing well.
2 Nephi 4:15-16

Ogden Temple Re-Dedication

Hey Everyone! I hope everything is going well with all of you!

Yesterday was AWESOME! We got to attend the Ogden Utah Temple Re-dedication via satellite broadcast. It was wonderful. Temples are so special and the things that we do there are important to our lives eternally.

Since our stake was included in attending the temple re-dedication, they cancelled regular Sunday services. As missionaries, we were a little worried because it's important for people to be able to attend church on Sundays. So, our Zone Leaders talked to the mission president and received permission to hold a devotional meeting in lieu of a regular church meeting tomorrow so all the people whom we are teaching could still attend church.

I was asked to speak at the devotional. While I was studying for my talk, and during my studies this morning, a few verses stood out to me. In Isaiah 54 (and 3 Nephi 22 ), it talks about how sometimes we have trials and we feel like God is far from us. As you read on in the chapter, you find out about some of the MANY promises that God has made to us, like protecting us and always being there for us. I really loved reading these chapters because it helped remind me that I am not alone in this world, even when things seem crazy and frustrating and way more than I can bare. And neither are you. The promise that God made to Noah (mentioned in these chapters) is available to ALL people, as long as they are willing to accept it. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to help us.

Also, I was reading Alma 7, verses 23 and 24. This couple of verses helped me to realize that I need to be more patient! Life gets crazy sometimes, and things happen, and people do things that are annoying or hurtful, but it isn't my place (or anyone else's) to become angry and bitter. Instead, we can be submissive, gentle, humble, patient, long-suffering, temperate, etc. See a pattern here?

Most of those are also fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Exemplifying these characteristics can help us bear the burdens of our lives, no matter how much we feel weighed down. You can do it. Though I can't be there physically next to you to help you (since I'm on a mission), I do support you and love you and pray for you. Every one of you is deeply important to me, as well as to your Heavenly Father.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Today is a super short entry! We got to go to the temple today, so our Preparation Day activities have been shortened.  We got to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, and it is beautiful! If you stand in front of the temple, you can see the whole mission PLUS downtown Salt Lake City!

This past weekend, we had a baptism for a girl whose family isn't active in the church. She is such a wonderful example of faith and diligence. She is the oldest child, so her younger siblings are watching her example. I am grateful and humbled to have helped teach her about the gospel and help her make the covenant of baptism. It isn't just getting into water: it is taking upon yourself the name of Christ, promising to keep His commandments, and promising to always remember Him. When you keep that promise, you are promised the companionship of the Holy Ghost. That's a fair trade.

Heavenly Father loves you and wants to help you make the choices that will help you be happy and eventually live with Him again. I love and miss you all! Hope everything is going well. :)

Pictures, Blisters, and the Noodle Company

What a wonderful week!!!

This week, my companion and I started riding bikes as our mode of transportation. As much as I love walking everywhere and stopping to talk to people as we pass by, the blisters on the bottoms of my feet weren't liking it as well. We were both really excited to start riding our bikes, especially since it'd make it a lot quicker to ride from one end of our area to the other. Instead of it being a 25 minute very brisk walk, it is now a relaxing 5 minute bike ride.

However, riding bikes is not without its dangers. My companion and I were riding to an appointment with one of our ward mission leaders when we decided to pop up onto the sidewalk since his driveway was ahead on the left. I didn't turn enough, and my bike hit the lip of the driveway, causing it to tip over and causing me to fall off my bike. It was super embarrassing since there were some people driving down the road who stopped to ask if I was alright. I was fine, though a bit bruised and scraped.

It was a learning experience for me, though. As we continued to our appointment, I was feeling upset that I had fallen and mad at myself for looking like I don't know how to ride a bike. But as I was thinking about it, I realized that it really isn't that big of a deal, and it in fact would make a good story. I have some really gnarly-looking bruises now on my shins and knees, the kind that are dark purple and still a little red.

On a side note, there is a fantastic restaurant out here called "Noodles and Company". Can you guess what they serve? NOODLES!!!! It's amazing and fantastic and my new favorite restaurant. :)

In other news, we are teaching a girl who is being baptized THIS SATURDAY!!!!! I am super excited for her and her family. Also, the Ogden Temple is being rededicated on September 21. I'm really excited about this because I've never had the chance to go to a temple rededication before. Though we won't actually be in Ogden, we do get to participate via satellite, which is awesome. 

There is a lot of work here in West Jordan. I absolutely love talking with people, helping them with their concerns, and being a source of encouragement and inspiration. Yesterday was Fast Sunday, so we got to hear several people bear their testimonies of the restored gospel and how it has affected their lives. There is nothing better to let you know you are doing the right thing than to hear people testify of how much their lives have been improved and changed by the things you teach.

I want to leave each of you with my testimony that I know we have a Heavenly Father who loves us uniquely and individually; I know that He has revealed the gospel, His plan for our salvation, to His prophets since the beginning of time; I know that following His gospel is the only thing that will truly bring lasting happiness in this life, as well as bring eternal life. I know that God, our Heavenly Father, loves each and every one of you - don't you ever forget that!

 Me and my MTC companion

Me and me first companion in the field

Me and a sister from Tonga

The Noodles and Company sign 

Me and my new companion

Transfers and a New Companion

Happy Labor Day!!!! This is my favorite holiday. I hope all of you are out there having picnics and remembering the services that are provided everyday by those who labor.

In this past week, WONDERFUL things have happened, aside from finally getting blisters on my feet and a sunburn on my neck/shoulders.

This past Wednesday was transfers, and I am now in West Jordan, UT in the Park Stake. And you know what is even better? I have the BEST companion in the whole mission!!!! She is absolutely amazing. We have a billion things in common, but even more than that, she is one of the kindest, most loving, most devoted to the mission, most patient, most encouraging missionaries that I have met thus far. Having an awesome companion definitely makes a transfer (6 week period) a great experience. Her name is Sister Johnstone (pronounced Johnson), she is from Indiana, and she has a degree in technical theatre with a minor in linguistics. How cool is that?

Even cooler than that, she is super motivated and excited for all the things that are happening in the Park Stake. Right now, we have an investigator who is on date to be baptized September 13th. I'm so excited!

I love seeing how the gospel can help people come closer to Jesus Christ, as well as how the gospel helps strengthen families. The things that we as missionaries teach people are things that have an eternal impact. This life certainly does not end at death. We are bound for so much more.

Speaking of that, and in the context of Labor Day, Alma 34:32 tells us that this life is a time for us to prepare to meet God, and to perform our labors. You may wonder what that means to perform labors. I wondered the same thing. My curiosity lead me to Alma 12:31,32, which, paraphrased, states that our labors are to fulfil the commandments that God has given us. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel the commandments are overwhelming and are just too much. But that's not the case. In 1 Nephi 3:7, it clearly states that the Lord will provide a way for us to keep the commandments that He gives us. These labors that we have been given to do while here on Earth are things that are completely possible and will help us become more like our Heavenly Father.

Chickens and goats and horses.....Oh my!

**Note from Tiffany:  As always, please write to or email Sister Prenatt.  That is so important to missionaries, to know that their friends and family back home love them and are thinking about them.**

Hey friends and family!!!

I hope everything is well with all of you. Let me start by telling you about a companion exchange that I went on last Tuesday. My companion stayed in our usual area, and I switched with a sister missionary in the River Ridge Stake. My temporary companion and I were at the house of an investigator who was having some new furniture delivered that day. When the truck showed up, I heard one of the delivery men saying that he is from Hawaii. I immediately asked him what town, and when he answered, I said "That's where my companion is from!" I told him her name, and it turns out that they went to high school together! What a SMALL world!

On Wednesday, I was back in my usual area with my regular companion. That night, we had the opportunity to teach Hula to the girls at Activity Days (my companion has been dancing Hula since she was very young). The girls loved it and had a lot of fun.

When Friday came along, it turned out to be very eventful. We got to go to a nonmember's house and help her feed her goats. It was super fun! There were 22 goats, 30 chickens, and 4 horses. We fed them, cleaned out their water bins, and pulled weeds. One of the goats tried to eat my companion's pants. There was a boy goat who was in a pen and trying to get out while we were cleaning his water bowl. The owner was in the pen with him, and the goat kept trying to rear up and head butt her. It was really exciting to watch.

My favorite thing about doing service there was that there was dirt under my nails by the time I was done. That's how you know you have been working hard :) Before we left, the owner let us wash our hands with goat's milk soap. Goat's Milk SOAP!! How cool is that?!

Later on that evening, we had the chance to have a lesson with a couple of recent converts who got baptized in January. The Spirit was so strong in their home that I felt completely at peace. We watched a video about a man named John Tanner, and talked about the faith that he had that lead to many blessings in his life.

On Sunday, we got to sing with the 9th ward choir. It was so much fun to sing with that congregation. I've really missed singing in choir.

The thing that I learned the most about this week is how we should speak to ourselves. Generally, when we make a mistake, we are very hard on ourselves. But, that's not how the Saviour would talk to us. He would comfort us and use loving words to encourage us. That's how we should talk to ourselves and each other.

Love, Sister Prenatt

Be A Friend

Hey all!!! I hope that life is treating you all well!! I especially hope that you all in West Virginia are enjoying all the green and hills.

This morning, as my companion and I were heading out the door at 6:30am for morning exercise, the sun was peeking over the mountains, and it's light caught on the cumulus clouds that were also moving west, tinting them each a light shade of pink undermined by dark orange right at the mountain peak. It was beautiful.

This past week has been busy. On Monday, we were privileged to meet with an 8 year old who is preparing to be baptized this upcoming week. It's amazing how someone so young can already know and understand so much about the gospel!

On Tuesday, we got to meet with a less active sister in our stake who has such a testimony of the importance of family and studying scriptures. Never lose that. She continues to develop her testimony, and she does that by reading the scriptures and applying those principles to her daily life. That's the key. What good is all that precious guidance without applying it?

On Wednesday, we spent about an hour in the morning pulling weeds, which I now have a respect for and really enjoy. It's crazy how fast weeds grow and how big!

On Thursday, we were honored to hear from Elder Don R. Clarke of the Seventy in a meeting at the mission office. He spoke mostly about what our purpose is and how we can be better by helping everyone deepen their faith, no matter who they are. After our meeting, we went to meet with a less active sister in our stake only to find out that she was having a horrible day. We talked with her about how her washer had broke, she dropped her phone into water and it stopped working, and how everything seemed to be going wrong. We knew that God loves her, so we immediately got a hold of some members who would be able to help her out. The greatest gift that we can offer one another is our individual love and support. Sometimes people just need someone to care and be there.

On Friday, we had companion exchanges. I love exchanges! It gives the missionaries an opportunity to work in another area with another companion for 24 hours so they can see what things work in other areas, then apply those things in their areas. It is also really helpful in developing a fresh view. I got to be with Sister Ngauamo, who is from Tonga. She taught me a little Tonga while I was there. :) We also got to meet with a family who has been less active, but their children are wanting to become active again and be baptized. It's amazing how much children can influence us. They have such an innocent faith in God that He loves them and will provide. If only we could all be like that.

While I was with Sister Ngauamo, she gave me some very good advice. She said, "The strongest person is not the one who shows it physically, but the strongest person is the one who can control her heart and her thoughts, and control her eyes and lips, and can control her ears to hear. That is the strongest person."

On Sunday, we had a miracle. We had invited a less active sister to church, so we went and knocked on her door at 8:30am. She felt too sick to go to her ward's sacrament service at 9am, but she came to another ward's sacrament service at 11am. Also, the less active sister who was having the trouble with her washer earlier in the week also came to church. Immediately, she became friends with members in the ward.

I cannot stress to you enough how important it is to be friends with people, and I mean everyone you meet! Think about how you would feel is every person you ran into just passed you by. You'd be lonely! Don't let it be that way. Be a friend. Matthew 24:12 talks about what happens if we stop being a friend. Let's not let that happen.

P.S. It is my brother's birthday this Saturday (August 23), so if you see him, wish him a very happy birthday!

A quick, busy week!

Note from Tiffany:  PLEASE take the time to write Amy a letter.  Missionaries absolutely love letters, more than emails, because they can keep them with them all week and remind themselves of the love people have for them.  If you don't have time for a handwritten letter, please send her an email.  Here is the link to the post with that information.

The past two weeks have gone by like a flash! Here are a few highlights from this past week.

At the beginning of the week, my companion and I visited one of the ward mission leaders to talk about the progress in his ward. We mentioned a name that we had felt lead to visit, and we discussed what happened when we visited that family. The ward mission leader smiled and began to tell us what he had been praying about the past week. He said he prayed to know what family he needed to visit and invite to come back to church. He said this same name kept coming to his mind, but he assumed that it was his own mind that kept bringing up that name and he wasn't sure that it was the Holy Spirit leading him to that family. He asked God to confirm that it was the Holy Spirit prompting him to visit that specific family. He said "If I am supposed to visit them, then when the sister missionaries come to talk to me, let them bring up that name." We had never discussed this family before, so there was no reason we would mention them the next time we talked with him. But there we were on his doorstep telling him about that family! Miracles like this happen all the time, we just need to recognize that they are miracles.

A few days later, we were walking down the road when we saw a sign that said "T-shirts for sale" outside of a member's home. We stopped by and chatted with the member who was selling these shirts. It turns out that he produces themed shirts for schools all over the nation. He gave me and my companion a free t-shirt! Mine is black with gold splatter in the shape of an eagle. It was a joy in my day. :)

On Thursday, we were meeting with a less-active member who hasn't gone to church in over 20 years. The sister missionaries here have been meeting with her since May, and she has always refused to give the closing prayer at the end of the lesson. We've been focusing on studying the scriptures with her, and studied 3 Nephi 11 and 27 with her on Thursday. After we were done with the lesson, she said the closing prayer! The little things like studying your scriptures and praying can have such a huge impact on your life.

On Tuesday night, we met with a man who is investigating the church, but is very active in his own religions. Since Tuesday would be our last lesson with him, he showed us his room for Masonic rituals, as well as an Alchemy lab. He makes various medicinal products and sends them to Free Mason hospitals all over the U.S. He gave my companion and I a jar each of Arnica salve, which is used for pain relief in muscles and joints.

Yesterday, my companion and I decided to join one of the wards for choir practice. We sang a medley arrangement of "Be Still My Soul" and "Come, Come Ye Saints". I was overjoyed to see that half of the song was in compound meter, and it had a lot of syncopation and dotted eighth-sixteenth combinations. If you know me, you know that I am a music geek. I was so excited about this arrangement! We get to sing with that ward in sacrament meeting in two weeks!!

The other day, I was eating lunch and came across a fantastic article in the August edition of the Ensign magazine. It was titled "Taming the Media". If you have not read it, I encourage you to read it. If you don't have the Ensign delivered to your home, you can access this article at Taming the Media on lds.org/ensign. It has great suggestions of how to keep your media use in control, both for yourself as well as for your family. I especially like the idea of setting your smartphone/tablet to airplane mode with using it at church. I don't know how many times I've been in Relief Society (before my mission) and following the lesson on my Gospel Library app when suddenly a text or e-mail would disrupt the Spirit. Brilliant idea!

I love each and every one of you that reads this blog. I keep all of you in my prayers daily. If you ever want to know something specific about how my mission is going, or you have a question about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, please don't hesitate to send me a letter. My address is posted here on my blog, but you can also ask anyone that knows me, and they'll tell you the address for my mission. Keep praying with real intent, and your Heavenly Father WILL answer you.

July = Non-Stop Fireworks!

For the record, the entire month of July is FILLED with fireworks!!! All the time.

Monday it started raining, and then it just kept raining straight into Tuesday!!! On Monday night, I had zucchini bread, which I didn't realize was a thing. I don't think I ever realized that you can make bread out of a vegetable, especially not one as icky as zucchini. But it tasted amazing!! Also, a ward mission leader's wife made a beet smoothie for me and my companion. A beet smoothie! It had beets, coconut water, strawberries, and carrots. It was amazing!!! And very healthy. ;)

On Wednesday, we had a Zone conference. A few zones met at the mission office to receive instruction and training. It was really inspirational, and I came to the realization that serving a mission is like being in a huge, long refiner's fire. Everything we learn here helps us to be better people.

On Thursday, my companion had a mission leadership conference meeting at the mission office, but I got to join the sisters in a neighboring stake for the day. And guess who I ran into?! Elder DeGooyer's family!!! It was AWESOME! I got to meet the mother and siblings of a missionary that served in my area back home!! I told his Mom how wonderful of a missionary he is and how he helped my family and the ward. The world is so small sometimes!

On Friday, my companion and I went on companion exchanges. I went to the South Jordan River Stake, and the sister there came to my stake for 24 hours. I got to be companions with Sister Hinkle! She and I are from the same stake back home, so it was great to reminisce about our "home among the hills". :) I had lots of fun being in a walking area, since my assigned area is a driving area. The sun was really bright and I got sun-burnt, but that evening we got to help a member pack to get ready to move.

On Saturday, Sister Hinkle helped me to understand the simplicity of the gospel. All that Christ teaches really is simple. Have faith in Christ, repent of your wrong-doings, come unto Him and be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and follow the commandments until the end. It's that simple, folks. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to do everything we can to return to him. That's why Jesus Christ came to earth and suffered the punishment for our sins, as well as suffering EVERY pain and temptation that EVERY person has every felt.

Fast Sunday was awesome! Since we cover 11 wards and 1 branch, we got to bare our testimonies multiple times. Each time, the Spirit was so strong. One of the wards here is fasting for missionary opportunities. It's amazing to me how sincere and dedicated members are to spreading the gospel and sharing God's love with ALL of his children. This message is not limited to certain people. The gospel of Christ is for EVERYONE. Also, we got to teach Relief Society, which is one of my favorite things to do!

After all our church meetings, we went to Mission Prep at one of the wards. There, we saw a video on Mormon Messages titled "The Hope of God's Light". If you have not seen this, I implore you to watch it. It is a true story about a man who thought there was nothing left in his life, but he went out on a limb and showed the smallest mustard seed of faith by fasting. It's an amazing story, so I won't ruin the ending for you. Just go watch it. It's only about 7 minutes long.

I love each and every one of you, and I hope your lives are going well. Your Heavenly Father loves you and wants to see you succeed. Trust Him. Talk to Him. Listen for the Spirit.

From Tiffany:  Here is the video that Amy (Sister Prenatt) was referring to.

Apricots and Flat Hills

Hey everyone! Life as a missionary continues to be GREAT! Yes, it is hot and brown and dry here, but if I stand at a certain spot in my area, I can see my entire mission. It's beautiful. Plus, I can see all three temples in my mission! Oquirrh Mountain Temple is to the west of my area, while both Draper Temple and Jordan River Temple are to the east. I haven't had an opportunity to attend any of these temples yet, but it makes me feel peaceful when I see them. They are very beautiful with the mountains behind them.

A few days ago, in the morning when we were exercising, we decided to take a bike ride through our area. My companion informed me that the incline of our ride would be when we headed west up a hill. Let me tell you: that "incline" was flatter than the road in front of my house in WV! Biking here is WAY easier than it is back home. It's been nice, though, when I run into people who used to live in WV. They totally understand how much I miss the green and all the hills.

If there is one thing you should know about the area in which I'm serving, it's apricots. Tons of apricots. People pick them, eat them, can them, jam them, and turn them into fruit leather. I didn't know there were that many things you could do with apricots. Our landlord has at least two apricot trees out back, and the branches were so heavy with fruit that they began to break! By the way, I'm not sure if I wrote it in my last entry or not, but my companion and I live in the furnished basement of an elderly sister in our stake. She is super sweet and has a great sense of humor.

Also by the way, HAPPY PIONEER DAY!!! (July 24) I didn't know that this day is a holiday. When I got to my area, I kept hearing people talk about how they wouldn't be home July 24th, or they already had plans that day, and I was getting really curious about why it was so special. Turns out that July 24th is the day that the pioneers came into the Utah Valley.

One of my favorite things about missionary life is getting to serve others by weeding their gardens. I know that sounds silly, but it's just nice to be able to do something so small that makes a huge difference to some people. Since I've been out, I've studied the scriptures a lot more and prayed more frequently than before. And you know what that has brought me? Peace and calmness. Try it out and see if it works for you.

Out of the MTC and into the field!

This is Amy's first post from the mission.  I was getting worried I hadn't heard from her yet.  She amazes me more and more.  Please feel free to leave comments here, and I can forward them to her.  Also see her first post for her contact information.
~Tiffany Thomas


Being a missionary is the best! =D Honestly, it is such a blessing to have time set aside every day to study the scriptures and pray almost constantly. Heading out the to MTC, I really didn't expect it to be such a huge difference from regular life, but it's so different. I had a great companion at the MTC named Sister Harward. She's from North Carolina and she has been raised in the church her whole life. She was such faith and sincerity in her desire to spread the gospel and help others develop a closer relationship with Christ. I absolutely enjoyed spending 16 hours every day studying, learning, doing service, and practicing how to be a great missionary. I know that sounds geeky, but it was awesome! There is no where that I have felt the Spirit stronger and more pervasive, except for the temple. I will admit, however, that I did pick up a sinus infection while I was there. :( I ended up going to the doctor on campus who sent me across the street for antibiotics. Thank goodness for modern medicine! I'm feeling a ton better now.

I'm in my first area and first transfer. My companion is from Hawaii, and her name is Sister Olszowka (which isn't pronounced evenly remotely like it looks). She is fantastic and really all I could ask for in a companion and trainer. She's super patient and understanding, and she is so hard working. In our area, we are in charge of an ENTIRE STAKE! We have 11 wards and 1 branch. There are so many people here!

My very first day here we had a miracle. A woman who has recently returned to the church and who has been struggling with severe depression called us up and asked us to meet with a friend of hers. Her friend is currently homeless and is having a rough time. She told us that she knows how much living the gospel has helped her in her life, and she knows it can help him. We taught him the first lesson, and he seems to have the desire to learn more. Let me tell you right now that the Atonement changes lives. A good friend of mine once told me that there is never ever anything that is so bad that you can't change your life around. This only happens through the Atonement.

So if you are reading this and wondering how you can obtain happiness and peace in this life, I urge you to pick up a Book of Mormon and start reading it. I'm not kidding. But don't just read it, ponder it. And after you ponder it, pray to your Heavenly Father and ask him if the things and teaching contained in it are true, if they are good and right. (Moroni 10:3-5). And after you do that, when the Holy Spirit gives you that peace, apply the teachings that you've read and pondered. Our Heavenly Father loves you more than you will ever know.

By the way, if you read my blog, feel free to write or e-mail me at any time. I love questions and I love helping people develop a stronger and deeper relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ. I know that this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true, and I know that we have a God who is our father and loves us. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that we can become closer to God by following the teachings in it. I know that there is no other way back to God than through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all very much. Search, ponder, pray.

Amy's Mission Contact Information

Sister Amy Prenatt
8060 South 615 East
Sandy, UT 84070


amy.prenatt@myldsmail.net