Hi. It's been a while.

I should be doing homework right now, but the notebook is need is at home, and I'm in the computer lab right now, so I'm going to blog instead. Plus I'm going to The Diary of Anne Frank and the Shakespeare festival in a few minutes so it'll be a quick little update.

My life is soooooooo good! Although school is hard, long, and busy, my weekends have been so amazing!

I'm just going to post a bunch of random pictures to give you an idea. :)

Well It's the next day, and I'm just barely getting this up. The Diary of Anne Frank was really well done, but it was also kind of depressing. It gave me lots to think about.

We celebrated Geneil's half birthday at the Golden Spoon! GO HALF BIRTHDAY'S! (By the way, The Golden Spoon in so good! An their little mini servings, which are still pretty big, are only 116 calories. Yeah!)
My good friend Karyn (on the left) came to to visit from Salt Lake last weekend! She's not in school this semester, and I miss her a ton!!!! It was soooo good to see her! She's kind of obsessed with ratting hair, so Geneil was kind enough to let her do so. Sorry the picture is sideways. Saturday morning we headed down to the St. George temple. It was great, as usual. But it did make me miss Nauvoo even more. Nothing is quite the same as the Nauvoo Temple. Of course we had to head to Cafe Rio after. Yum. Pork burrito. :)After Cafe Rio we went to The Sweet Tooth Fairy. It's the best cupcake shop ever! I highly recommend them. Their first store was in Provo, and now they have one in St. George, and Draper! That's Shaye. :)

CUPCAKES! (try the strawberry shortcake)

My cute friends Annie, Karyn, and Geneil. :) I kind of like 'em.

Well, that's all for now. Well except this last picture. These are the girls I'm in the relief society presidency with. We're actually all in order from president to secretary. We had enrichment at my house Wednesday night. We did our visiting teaching, and then had a fire pit with s'mores and starbursts!

Joy, Kjersti, Cheri, and Heather. They're great girls, and I'm looking forward to working with them.

My Nauvoo Homecoming Talk

I was able to give a talk in my home ward when I got home for Nauvoo. I figured since all my e-mails were posted I might as well post my talk as well. I love Nauvoo, and I miss it more than anything. I've been home three weeks today.

Nauvoo Homecoming Talk

Sister Kjersti Jones

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all you heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work (D&C 4:2-3). I believe that we were all foreordained to be missionaries. We are called to the work! I was blessed this summer to serve a performing mission in Nauvoo. I am grateful that my mission president put us as missionaries first, then performers. As we strived to become more obedient and faithful in our service to the Lord, the more He blessed us.

Nauvoo is a place of miracles. Four days into rehearsals I sprained my ankle. There were a lot of lessons to be learned from this, but one of the lessons I learned was to humble myself to accept the service of others. I was on crutches for a few days, and did not have my usual independence. This was frustrating to me, especially because I was missing dance rehearsals. I am not a dancer and so I was especially worried about getting behind. I put my trust in the Lord, and I was almost completely healed in a week, instead of the usual 3 or 4 weeks. As I accepted the service of others while being on crutches, I realized that the only way I would stop thinking about myself was to serve others. No matter how tired or stressed we are, the only remedy that I have been able to find for that, is service to others.

While in Nauvoo I thought a lot about the law of consecration. There were missionaries in Nauvoo to work at all the sites, mow the lawns, fix the pipes, pour cement, work in the temple, drive the wagons, and even a senior couple to cook for the Young Performing Missionaries. As we all use our different abilities and talents the Lord has given us, and devote our time to Him, we will be a Zion-like community. The Lord blessed all of us with talents to serve in Nauvoo, but because we were his missionaries, he magnified them tenfold! I know that my voice is a talent the Lord has blessed me with, but I found out in Nauvoo that my voice is not my own. Once a day I had to sing a solo. There were some days that I honestly went on stage without a voice because I was sick or tired, but I knew the Lord would give me my voice because I was an instrument in his hands. Numerous times this happened. I would open my mouth and sing, and after the song was over my voice was gone again. My voice is not my own.

“You are called to represent the Savior. You voice to testify becomes the same as his voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. His work is to bless His Father’s spirit children with opportunity to choose eternal life. So, your calling is to bless lives. Your call has eternal consequences for others and for you. In the world to come, thousands may call your name blessed, even more than the people you serve here. They will be the ancestors and descendants of those who chose eternal life because of something you said or did, or even what you were…you see, there are no small callings to represent the Lord.” Henry B. Eyring Rise To Your Call Ensign Nov 2002 That is our calling, to bless each other’s lives!

Another way to serve is by going to the temple. I was blessed to attend the Nauvoo temple once a week. What an incredible way to serve; by allowing others who have already passed on, to take the name of Christ upon themselves, and the opportunity to return to our Eternal Father. I don’t think we could ever go to the temple too much.

When you are in Nauvoo you feel of the endless love emulating from everyone. There were 140 senior couples ready to serve the Lord, and serve everyone around them. Many nights we’d get home after a long day, and there would be brownies, cookies, bread, popcorn balls, etc on the back porch. These senior missionaries are living a life full of service, and it wasn’t just through their fudge.I was also able to serve in the sites in Nauvoo. This was one of my favorite parts of the summer because I got to give historical tours, and it’s where I got to bear testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we plan to serve we can’t just talk. Men and women of faith do. They don’t just give voice. They take steps toward acting. When you are on the Lord’s errand, you are entitled to the Lord’s help. As you and I serve we will receive the Lord’s help. If we weren’t tired when we serve, then it wouldn’t be the Lord’s work, for when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of you God. I loved having the companionship of the spirit so continually this summer. The spirit brings joy, peace, and comfort. We can only share the spirit with others if we have it ourselves. The spirit also gives promptings. Don’t postpone a prompting to serve someone else.

I went to Nauvoo thinking that just one big event this summer would change me. How wrong I was. It’s the tiny little things that everyone has done daily that has changed me. Nauvoo is a Zion community. Although Nauvoo is a special and sacred place, it’s the Christ-like people that continue to live there. That is what makes Zion. I also learned that Zion starts with me. If I want to be a part of Zion I have to be worthy of that privilege. “For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion; and in this though shalt have strength.” I want to be of one heart and of one mind with everyone who is working for Zion through service.

Joseph Smith once stated about Nauvoo, “This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens.” I believe that to be true with all my heart. Nauvoo is just that way. I know that “where two or three are gathered in His name, there shall He be in the midst of them that love Him.” My testimony of the Savior has grown immensely. He “went about doing good.” I will strive to go about doing good things. I love the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith; “And now after the many testimonies which have been given of Him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That He lives!” That is my testimony as well, that He lives! He is the ultimate example of service to our God. Leaving Nauvoo was part of the Nauvoo experience. I think of the Saints lining Parley Street on the edge of the Mississippi in the beginning of February, leaving their homes, and their temple. They faced west with faith, knowing that if they took that step into the darkness, the Lord would then bless them with light and strength. As I start a new chapter of my life after Nauvoo, I look forward to life. Life is exciting! It is so full of opportunity, and opportunity to serve others! I pray I may always rely on the Lord through my joys and my sorrows. I hope to never look back to who I was before Nauvoo, but to continue to better myself. I am grateful for the “Challenge to Become.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true restored gospel on this earth. Joseph Smith was the prophet that restored the truth. The Book of Mormon is indeed Another Testament of Jesus Christ. We have a modern prophet on the earth today. We have apostles, and temples, and missionaries. How blessed are we! I know that the Lord has given me more then I can ever repay, because the more you serve Him, and his children, the more blessings He will pour out upon us. I pray that we may strive to make our homes, wards, schools, and communities more Zion-like through our service to each other. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

What happens at Wal Mart stays at Wal Mart...mostly.

Along with this you should watch this new song that I'm slightly obsessed with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFo50Wf5PV8

I Will Be Me!!!

Roommates!

Well, it's a new school year! I can't believe I'm a junior already!!!! What?! Where does the time go? Ok, before I go any further, I know I haven't put up any Nauvoo pictures up yet...I'll get on that no worries. I have (31093478409128345) a lot of pictures.

Saturday night we had our first official roommate night. We made homemade corndogs, little cake bite thingys (they are super good), and we did face masks, and then drove around in my Silver Bullet (that's my mini van), and I don't remember what else we did, but it was fun!

This is us eating our corn dogs on our lovely front porch. From left to right is Geneil, Shaye, Jessica, and Ellie. (We're missing Taylor. She was camping or something.)

I lived with Taylor and Ellie last year, and Geneil and Shaye are my best friends, so we're trying out the whole roommate thing, and Jessica. I like Jessica. She's a freshman, and it's so fun to have her in our house!

These are the amazing cake bites we made. I'll have to post the recipe.

Face masks...good times...

Dear Family and Friends,

This incredible summer is coming to an end. I am so grateful to have had this experience. The Lord has blessed me by letting me be here. Here's a run down of the summer.

144 High Hopes and River Boats

144 Just Plain Anna Amanda's (I was only in 72 of these...haha only...)

72 Sunsets by the Mississippi

20 Nauvoo Pageant performances

4 pioneer dresses

3 pairs of bloomers

approx 30 bobby pins in your head everyday

2 pairs of completely trashed smelly shoes

daily middle parts

some sort of bun on the back of your head with funny curls on the side of your ears

who knows how many pairs of nasty white knee highs

bottles of hairspray, a tube of lipstick, several hairnets

sweat like you've never seen on anyone before

beautiful sunsets and huge thunderstorms

140 sets of new grandparents with unlimited treats, hugs, and love

11 new brothers

10 new sisters

I'd say I came out pretty good. I came to Nauvoo thinking that just one event this summer would change me. How wrong I was. It's the tiny little things that everyone has done daily that has changed me. Here are just a few of the things I have learned this summer. Nauvoo is a Zion community. Although Nauvoo is a special and sacred place, it's really the Christ-like people that live here. that makes it Zion. But I have also learned that Zion starts with me. If I want to be part of a Zion like community then I have to be Zion worthy too...if that makes sense. I have learned the importance of exact obedience. Through our obedience the Lord blesses us. I have learned that the spirit continually brings joy, peace, and comfort.

One of my favorite things of the summer was watching someone smile after a song, or a joke. It was nothing big, and something that we did everyday, but we made someone smile. We shared the spirit with hundreds and hundreds of people this summer, but we have learned that we can only share the spirit if we have the spirit ourselves. We are tired, and our bodies are done, but it is because we gave everything we had through the last show. We all layed in bed last night in pain because of what our bodies have done this summer. The Lord truly blessed us with so much energy, and after the last show I think he let us feel what we have done to our bodies. That way we really would know how much he helped us.

I believe it was Joseph Smith that said this about Nauvoo, "These are the lovliest people, and the lovliest place on the earth." I believe that to be true with all my heart. Nauvoo is just that way. I know that "where two or three are gathered in His name, there shall He be in the midst of them that love Him." My testimony of the Savior has grown immensely. He "went about doing good," and that is what I want to continue doing. I want to go about doing good. I love the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" That is my testimony as well, that He lives!

Leaving Nauvoo is part of the Nauvoo experience. I think of the saints lining Parley on the edge of the Mississippi, in the beginning of February, leaving their homes, and their temple. They faced west not knowing what would happen. All they had was their faith and their families. I have learned so much from them. I will be heading west on Tuesday, looking back at the Nauvoo and the temple, but I do know I will return. I am leaving a temporary home, but I have my faith, and I am returning to my family. I love Nauvoo. I will never forget this summer, but the trick will be to remember what I have learned and gained here.

Love,

Sister Jones

My time here in Nauvoo is quickly winding down. We got to single digits in the countdown today. 9 days until we leave Nauvoo.... :( I can't even think about coming home without crying, but at the same time I can't wait to get home and start school! Life is so full of great and unexpected things. I have a new love for life, and for the gospel. Everyday my testimony is strengthend by the little things that happen. Prayers are heard and answered. I love having the Holy Ghost as a companion, and being able to listen and obey promptings that I'm given. I was prompted to talk to a family with a girl who had some disabilities, (It seems as though I am drawn to people like that here in Nauvoo. I just love them automatically). I saw them later that day, and her mom hugged me, and with tears in her eyes told me how much it had meant that I had talked to her daughter. My new friend, Allison is just 20 years old, and it sounded as if she doesn't have a whole lot longer to live. Her mom called Allison her miracle baby. I'm so glad she got to come here to Nauvoo. I am so blessed to have been just a small part of her Nauvoo experience. Anyone of the other sisters could have been the one to talk to her, but I believe Heavenly Father let me have that simple experience of talking to her.

Now that pageant is over our bodies kind of crashed, and we've all been fighting colds and things all week, but prayers are continually answered as we ask for our voice for a particular song, and it comes.

In sacrament meeting today the YPM's and YSM's sang My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee, by Rob Gardner. If you haven't not heard it, look it up, and listen! The music is simple, but the words are incredible. The part that hits me everytime is "Doubt not what thou knowest, fear not man, for he cannot hurt thee." It has been interesting throughout the summer to see the different phases of Satan. There's a conference talk by Elder Cook (?) about the 6 D's. One of those is Doubt. I feel like Satan has been working so hard to place doubts in my mind, but I will not back down. I know that this is Christ's restored church. I know that harder you work to serve the Lord, the harder Satan will work on you. But "Doubt not what thou knowest."

I know that as I return to Nauvoo throughout my life it will feel as though I'm coming home. I love singing over the balcony everyday to the visitors; "Where two or three are gathered, in His name, there shall He be in the midst of them that love Him." Wherever we are gathered in His name, He will be with us.

I pray that we may be able to finish our last week with as strong as we started.

I hope all is well at home.

Love,

Sister Jones

P.S. Funny story of the week. Our mission "dad" Elder Bowers baptized us on Wednesday at the temple. We're used to having to pull ourselves out of the water after we get baptized, but Elder Bowers pulls ya right out. It's hilarous. Sister Carmichael is only 4'10" and she seriously almost did a backflip because he pulled her out so fast. She came up, and said "Wahoo!!" haha The temple workers and everyone were laughing. It was so funny.

Hello!

What a week it's been. Last Sunday in our prep meeting with President Ludwig he said the last 3 weeks are the hardest. Monday came, and he was not lying. Our Sister Barrientos was missing a lot of performances because she has been very ill, so we were already having to cover all of her parts in the shows. So our Monday afternoon shows we were already down a sister, and after the first number Sister Carmichael got hit in the head with a barrel during the blackout...It would have been funny, but she was in the ER getting her head glued together during the rest of the shows. So here we are down two sisters with a huge dance coming up. All of the sisters knelt down in our "hut" (backstage), and I said one of the most sincere scared prayers I've ever said. There was all of a sudden this peace. We knew that the Lord was going to help us. We got up and figured out the logistics of the dance, and went on stage. It was a miracle. I know it may sound like just some show, but it was just another testimony to us that the Lord cares about little Nauvoo Productions. The dance went incredibly well, and we were able to cover for both missing sisters the entire show. We knelt in gratitude and thanks as soon as we came off stage. So that was the first part of Monday. Monday night we found out that Sister B would be going home on Tuesday due to her health problems. To lose a sister 3 weeks from the end was not fun. She collapsed in the Denver airport, and went to the hospital before even going home. She had a surgery that was needed, and is now home doing much better. We pray everyday for her, and that she will have the strength to remember her experiences here in Nauvoo. We miss her a lot.

That was the beginning of a long week. It was exhausting physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The most exciting thing of the week may or may not have been having Elder Anderson from the Quorum of the 12 here. He came to Nauvoo with his wife to record his testimony for the Special Witnesses of Christ video. He spoke to all the missionaries Thursday morning. He talked about the temple being a symbol of work here that will never end. What happens here in Nauvoo touches the world. The work will not end. He also said, In our extremities we came to know God. The Lord requries a broken heart, and a contrite spirit. Then we can receive his revelation. Chrsit gave us the perfect path for our life.

The YPM's and YSM's then had the special opportunity to sit in the living room of President Ludwigs house on Friday morning, at the feet of an apostle of the Lord. Who gets to sit in a living room with an apostle?! Not very many people, that's for sure. Elder Anderson is so kind, genuine, and down to earth. He is a real person with an amazing calling from the Lord. He told us to regenerate our spiritual selfs through scriptures and prayers. Some of my favorite things he told us is to not be afraid of the future! Embrace the life you live! He had such a positive attitude about living at this time on earth. He loves to embrace all the things it offer. He told us to relax about our future, enjoy it, and take risks! Appreciate people, and look beyond their face. Another great piece of advice he gave was "Don't get caught up with indecison. Move ahead, keep working. You can't plan everything." Anyway, wow. It was an incredible experience. I don't know what I'm going to do when I get home and don't get to meet a general authority every other week...Just kidding. :)

Pageant ended last night. Pageant was so amazing. I had the opportunity to meet so many talented people from all over. The family casts were so fun. I love meeting good strong families from all over the country. Pageant is something I would love to do with my future family. It is such a great opportunity to have your testimony strengthed here in Nauvoo.

There's not much else to say. I can't believe I'll be home in two weeks, and two days....No good.

I know the gospel is true. Have a good week!

Love, Sister Jones