My most important message

 


Mission:  Accomplished

September 28, 2022

 

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I am writing this on the plane as I fly home from my mission.  And because this will be my last letter to y’all, I wanted it to be my most important message

 

It has been such a privilege to serve so many of my brothers and sisters in North Carolina.  I say “brothers and sisters” because everyone on earth is a child of God.  God lives.  Jesus is his son--His perfect son who made it possible for us all to return to live with God; and not just to live with God, but to live like God.  The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and…when he shall appear, we shall be like him….”  (1 John 3:2)  God’s plan of salvation is a perfect plan because God loves us with a perfect love.

 

When Christ was on the earth he organized his church with “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” (Ephesians 2:20.)  After the death of Christ and his apostles, there was no priesthood authority of God left on the earth. People disagreed about what our Lord had taught and they fought among themselves, even killing those who believed differently.  The prophet Amos called this period of apostasy, “a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.”  (Amos 8:11)

 One day, in 1820, a young boy named Joseph Smith, desiring to know which of all the churches on the earth was correct and which he should join, read a verse in the Bible which instructed, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God….” So he did just that--he prayed.  And God answered.

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, with apostles and prophets.  We have a prophet on the earth today.  His name is Russell M Nelson.  We have the opportunity of hearing from our prophet and apostles this weekend in a worldwide conference. link   If there was ever a time on the earth when the world needed a prophet, surely it is today.  I invite everyone to come and listen to a prophet.

 

I love you all,

 

Sister Manwaring

 PS.  Sorry about the photo dump, but this is my last chance to share!


Send off and homecoming pics first


leaving NC from Granddaughter Sydney & Corey's home night before





Great Grandson's loving the airplanes while waiting for Grandma Renee


Granddaughter Katelyn n boys working on the signs



Surprise!  Welcome home.






(Mom's clearly ready for a break, every picture her eyes are closed. So tired.
Note: I apologize for missing mom's brother Jan - somehow he wasn't in a single pic. 
He was there, I promise.)





Last of.... pics


Women's Center

my last night with Hermanas & Carlos

My family history friend Teri Hanna

Family History

Last time w family history friends

Breakfast with my cousin


Last Saturday with Hermanas Dodsen & Johnson 

Refugee friend


Me with Elders Smith & Lott


Chicken in a stroller


Funny street signs







and if this doesn't make a statement:



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