Emily sent a short email and some photos yesterday, October 28, 2013.  She has been transferred to a new area but I don't have her current mailing address yet.  I will post it when I do.

Dear familia,

They moved me to Santa Clarita Primero.  I am in the Santa Clarita Valley.  I am living in Canyon Country.  This is the whitest part of the mission.  My companion is named Hermana Larsen.  She was in the MTC with me, so that means that she has exactly the same amount of time in the field as I do.  She just barely finished being trained.  She was in my first district at the MTC (the one I was a part of for 4 days).  Her Spanish and my Spanish are actually about the same right now.

I am in a car and I really like it.  It feels so luxurious to drive to the places we need to go.  It is nice to have the climate controlled.  I love the place we are living.  It feels like a little cabin and I feel really safe living here.  I have been having a hard time this week because it doesn't seem like any other companionship in the mission is accustomed to working as hard as Hna. Pulver and I worked, and I still felt like we could've done more.  My new companion and I are going to do good things here, and we're going to turn things around.  I'm excited. 

Love, Hna. Emilia

The following pictures were taken at the ward Halloween party prior to Emily's transfer last Tuesday: 

This is Adrianna (the lady I told you about last time) and her little kids.

I loved the primary president (center).  She sure was spunky.

Ashlee Trujillo.  She was my favorite little girl from the ward.  Her mom did so much for everyone. 

This is one of our zone leaders: Elder Wood.  He was really nice to me.

Emily sent the following email yesterday--Monday, October 21, 2013:

Hey familia!!

This was unexpected.  We got the word Saturday night:

I will be leaving El Camino Real.  I don't know where I will be going.  I will go to the transfer meeting Tuesday morning and see where they send me.  I didn't think that I would be leaving here for at least the next 5 months.  We were pretty dang sure Hna. Pulver would be leaving so we prepared for me to be here by myself and got everything in order.  When you don't even kind of mentally prepare for things like this, they hit you pretty hard.  I've been crying since we got the call.  Every time I see people, it could be one of the last times.  I do know that I will be going to a car area.  They will take my bike to the shed that the mission has.  If you send anything in the mail, send it to the mission home address or wait until I  can tell you where I am sent.  Some people think I will go to Recita, others are thinking Santa Clarita.  I suppose Arleta is an option.  Wow.  

We had the most fun Halloween party!  Something really controversial in the Hispanic culture is whether or not dia de los brujas (Halloween) is celebrated.  The direct translation is 'day of the witches' and I totally think I'm adopting that name instead.  We had to announce it in la sociodad de socorro and when we did Hna. Cabrera said we don't celebrate Halloween and that was about the end of that announcement.  We texted all our investigators and futures we've found to first see if they celebrate the holiday before telling them we have an activity.  We got a lot of texts back from people that do not approve of celebrating Halloween.  Eulogio Chic responded that people that celebrate the holiday don't know Jesus Christ.  Yes.  There are strong feelings.  But also, it is not quite as innocent of a holiday here.  Our curfew is 7:00 like Peter was thinking.  Since it will fall on a Thursday and Thursday is weekly planning, it will just happen during the hours after 7:00 until we have to go to bed.  

I have had my testimony built by a lot of the really good people here.  First of all, we had sweet Francisca come with us to a lesson with Victor Torrez.  Victor worked as a bartender and he drinks 3 cups of coffee a day.  He was going to be baptized quite soon, but when we did the word of wisdom lesson we had to reevaluate the date.  He actually is incredible.  He wants to be baptised and he wants to overcome his habit.  This really is so rare and cool.  We set his baptism date for December 8th.  Francisca used to drink about that much coffee daily, and her husband overcame drinking.  She was nervous to come with us only 2 days after her baptism, but she encouraged him and told him that it all was possible.  It really touched me.  Really it was a lesson to let Francisca realize what she knew.  She told Torrez that her husband overcame his drinking problem with the help of a blessing.  We should get Torrez a blessing pretty soon.  It was cool because we set the dates for him to be at certain progress points and had him write down his goals in the back of the word of wisdom foyetto.  

(To answer your question about Alfredo, he more or less dropped us.  He was so close and then he texted us and told us that he didn't want to be Mormon.  This could be partly because we talked about baptisms for the dead or because it became necessary for Hna. Pulver to tell him that we both had boyfriends.  Neither of us do so it was really uncomfortable telling him this.  I can't lie and neither can Hna. Pulver so when she delivered the line her face was just a ridiculous grin the whole time.  It got worse when she told him that her boyfriend was serving in Omaha (her boyfriend is her little brother) because sometimes less is more.  Luckily the giggles could've been passed off as giddy school girl love.  We really should've roll played this one first.. ;) It was kind of a priceless moment.  We've been trying to make contact with him.  He seems to see us every time we go to his work (He works at Marlene's building).  Sometimes he texts us and tells us he's seen us.  We think he watches the cameras for us.  We basically have to run through the garage doors when they open to get into the building every time.  I don't want to make him sound totally creepy.  He's just lonely and I think he feels like he should be married by 30.  I don't know what will happen with him after we leave.  When we text him he usually tells us that he is triste (sad) or that he misses us.  I think he will come around and get comfortable with it again.  I have hope in this category.)

Javier, another really recent convert came with us to a lesson.  We taught Delfino (who is creepy and difficult), and Javier was wonderful.  When Javier shakes our hands he almost does this little bow thing.  He is a faith giant.  When we would ask Delfino questions and he would pretend not to understand them, Javier would help and ask the questions and explain them to him.  Javier has a testimony of really asking and really wanting to know.  He was able to explain to Delfino what the spirit feels like.  He told him that when you ask, you really really really got to want to know the answer and you just gotta pray to him and really want to know and...  He has a lot of conviction about this principle and it was cool to see him trying so hard to express his testimony.  We really do get more answers when we are asking and it is not a passive question, but we really really want to know.  It is hard to ask with that much desire and sincerity when we feel happy or stable in life.  It's almost like we are pushed that far into our desire to know by hard times.  

So for the little ward "October fest" Hna. Pulver and I did exactly what you suggested and we dressed up as each other.  We were on our way to a blitz when we read your letter and laughed because we'd already done just that.  Victor Torrez came to the activity with his little beasty son and his cute daughter and then her cousin.  After I had been running around being victor's friend, Hno. Jesus Lopez came over and befriended him.  Hno. Jesus Lopez is such a great guy.  He came with us to some lessons and he just showed up on his bike and followed us.  It was wonderful.  And then Hna. Anderson's bike got a flat and he paid for them to fix her tire (It was one day that I was with her instead).    

We did root beer and dry ice and hung little white powdered doughnuts from string and the kids loved it.  We kinda had the rootbeer overflow and I think the kids tracked doughnuts all through the church so they probably won't ever let missionaries have a booth again, but really it was quite great. And no one had ever seen dry ice before!  I was very impressed with the spook alley that they set up IN THE CHURCH.  HAHAHAHA This really shouldn't have happened in the church building, but it was totally fun!  (I have some pictures of this I will email you)

I love Hermana Trujillo and her daughter Ashlee!  She had us come to another Noche de Hogar at her house yesterday.  These are almost becoming a fun little tradition with her.  We thought it would just be her and Adrianna at the beginning, but when we called her and asked who all was going to be there she told us "bastante!" and started listing them all off!  Hna. Pulver and I are pretty good brainstromers and we ended up biking about 30 Libros de Mormon to her house.  First we had people write down a question they wanted answered.  Then we taught them how to use the topical guide and find a scripture that might help someone.  This was my favorite time.  I just watched people look through the scriptures.  I almost plan all the Family home evenings that we do there for Hna. Trujillo's husband.  He doesn't come to church and I love her so much and want her to have the support of her husband.  She does so much for the ward and she has some different challenges.  She went through the temple just this last week.  We've been looking forward to this for a while.  People helped each other find scriptures and some people had their fingers in lots of different pages comparing the verses.  It was super super cool.  We had them mark the scripture they found and told them when we gave away that specific libro that we would share the scripture they found.   We went around and every person (even all the kids) shared the scripture that they had found on whatever topic.  We told people to think about the questions they had asked God and see if he wouldn't answer them.  It was really cool and Hna. Albarracin pretty much cried the whole time.  I was so proud of Hno. Trujillo.  He shared the Lord's prayer.  I watched him search for a scripture for a long time.  He read a lot of the guia and probably more verses in el libro de mormon than he has in a while.  

Adrianna is a sweet friend of Hna. Mayella Trujillo.  Hna. Trujillo called us the other day and asked us to come to her house to teach Adrianna.  It was probably the most spiritual lesson we've ever taught.  We happened to be fasting because we needed extra strength for our lesson with Mercedez and Vianney that night, but I think we actually fasted for that lesson.  When she came into Hna. Trujillo's house and we asked her how she was, she just started to cry.  She is so sweet and needs the comfort and support that the gospel gives.  She loved us and came to the Halloween activity the next day.  She dressed up as a witch :)

Hna. Chanchavoc is such a sweet, hilarious, gentle, generous woman.  She lives right under German and Francisca.  Last night we were at Hna. trujillo's after our lesson and there was a group gospel discussion that got going.  It was mostly lead by Hno. Albarracin.  He started talking to Adrianna. She was crying and he was telling her things.  Hna. Chanchavoc bore her testimony and told her how she was a single woman without a husband and she had kids just like Hna. Tzun who lives with her.  They told her that everyone there was all one big family and they would be there for her if she needed anything.  I love the strength and goodness that Hna. Chanchavoc has.  She had us come to dinner at her house this last week and told us that if ever we need to eat we can always come to her house and eat.  Then she told us this dicho: cuando come uno, come dos y cuando comen dos, comen tres.  Basically the saying is that when one eats, two eat and when two eat, three eat.  She is so cute when she smiles.  She has a good sense of humor.  

When I left the Noche de Hogar last night, it was really hard to leave all the wonderful women of the El Camino Real Barrio.  I asked Hna. Trujillo and Hna. Chanchavoc to take care of German and Francisca and they promised me that they would and Hna. Trujillo pinky promised me <3

Saying good bye to the Chavez's was really hard.  I know we can be reunited in one year when they go through the temple and I can see all the ward members then.  Francisca came and kept holding my hands and rubbing them.  German was trying not to be teary.  He talked to us about how we were different from all the other missionaries that they have ever had at their house.  They have had a lot.  He told us how he loved that we were generous with our time and that we were patient with them and gave them all the time that they needed.  He said that the two of us, and one other missionary that they had, treated them like that.  Before we left they woke Erick up so he could come out. He came out and I did my Erick-handshake with him.  He left the room for a second and then he was pretty much directed back out by his dad.  He walked over right in from of me and said, "Thank you for all you've done for me" and then he started to shake and get emotional.  His older brother was so confused as to what was happening and thought it was really awkward that Erick was about to cry, but I thought it was really sweet. I comforted him and told him that I would miss him and that I would see him again and it got to where his mom took him into the kitchen to get him some water to drink.  It was really sweet and really sad.  Francisca even told me that they would come to church at whatever area they transferred me to so we could see each other again.  Dad, you're right.  This is a friendship that will last a lot longer than this life.  I gave them the mission home address so they can write me and they also have our home address.  

I love you all so much.  

Over and out!

Love, Hna. Christensen

Mercedez y Vianney.   They are so wonderful.

Hna. Pulver and me celebrating Halloween as each other!

They are wearing each other's clothes and they swapped name tags. :)

We received this email from Emily today, Monday, October 14, 2013:

Hey familia :)

The first councilor in our ward is named Hermano Ramirez and he is so cool.  He is ostentatious and has a bold personality.  I think he lives at the church.  I have gotten to know him more lately, and I find him to be incredible.  He is so humble and works so hard.  He really is at the church all the time and we found him once after he'd slept on the little couch here because he volunteer teaches seminary at like 5:00 in the morning.  He has more energy than anyone I've ever seen and he is always injecting that energy and fun into the endless activities that he is planning.  He works and wears himself out everyday for the Lord and for this gospel.  Something was mentioned and they said that he lived just down the street from Christian which means that he lives in Tiawana (that's just what they call it) which is where the poorest of the poor live.  He is so confident and involved I assumed he had money, but also, he is employed by the church and has 9 kids and they are very careful, but I think they are having a hard time paying for things.  I was really touched when I found this out because of his work ethic and attitude and devotion.  

Sweet German and Francisca made it into the waters of baptism!  Completely willingly I might add ;)  There were times when I thought we'd practically have to drown German.  

German and Francisca arrived and we walked them in.  German had purchased a suit to wear after his baptism.  The elders surprised him with a green tie because verde es su color favorito :)  Francisca had some pretty braids in her hair.  We got them all in their white clothes and as they were sitting and waiting for us to start German kept getting little tears in his eyes.  He was pretty scared and nervous.  

I've learned a lot from watching German.  His follow through with baptism is very impressive because of all that he had to overcome to get to that point.  Also, he definitely understands the seriousness of making covenants.  I think he even puts more emphasis on it than is really healthy.  He is now a covenanted man and he knows it and he wants that.  This touches me.  He is ready and willing to live every single thing.  When we went to his house the next day he asked me if it was ok for him to give the people who had provided the food afterward another installment of the payment even though it was the sabbath.  Of course this was ok, and I assured him of that, but I could see that had I said 'no' he wouldn't have even though it needed to be done.  He has put God as his number one priority and I don't know how many other faithful long time members of the church have even gotten to this point.  I love him very much.  He is so full of goodness.  He is the example the Savior would use to talk about a man that has come to him in full humility and will never turn away.  I know you will have a chance to meet German one day.  I think it would be so cool if they could visit the temple in SLC some day.  

After the confirmations on Sunday we went over to their house and talked about the priesthood with him.  It was cool because Tara Prince called them while we were right there around their table with them!  I heard her voice on speaker for a minute.  

When we were leaving we hugged them a lot and German shook our hands and told us how grateful he was for all we did for him.  He thanked us for no abandonarnos.  He held our hands and tears started coming to his eyes and running down his face.  (I know it sounds like he cries a lot, but he really doesn't cry ever.  There is just a lot of meaningful things happening to him right now)  I cried too because I will miss not seeing them as much as we do.  I have such a bond with them and I love them so deeply.  German thanked us for our time and support.  He told us we could always come to them if we needed anything.  They had us write our names in their hymn book so they can always know us.  He told us that we were always welcome there.  The best part is that he told us we weren't just missionaries to them and we weren't like ward members to them.  He told us that we were family.  I know that I will get to see them after this life and I know they will make it.  They are going to be sealed as a family in the temple in a year.  I can actually go to that because I was the missionary that was with them for their baptism.  

I love you all very much and I am praying for you.  I know that I have the best family in the world.  Peter, Heidi, me, Sam, Skib, and Nate.  We are so blessed <3

Brazos y besos, 

Hna. Christensen  

Emily said her companion, Hermana Pulver, "hammered" out such a thorough week in review, that she just wanted to send it to us as her report also this week.  Hermana Pulver has been a wonderful companion for Emily and Emily loves her.  So here is Hermana Pulver's report as of October 7, 2013:

VIctor Torres:  We've been teaching him for about 2 months.  here's his story. Day 1, 2 , or 3 in this area, I don't really remember,  We don't have bikes and so we're walking home late at night (sorry mom, ya gotsta work til 9 no matter what)  anyway so we live in the ghetto right?  so we're walking home and a little nervous so walking pretty fast.  We see a girl behind us walking home alone.  We talk to her and walk her to her apartment to make sure she gets home safely.  We then go back and follow up on her a few days later.  We end up teaching the whole family.  They all seem pretty interested.  Over time the kids aren't as interested, the Dad "Victor" is so interested.  he came to church last week. Then we set a date with him on Tuesday for the 20th of Oct. and then yesterday he drove himself to watch conference at the stake center, watched the first session and then drove home.   He is so ready for the gospel.

Rene:  I don't know if yall remember Rene.  He is sick!! He texted us the first 2 weeks here and we didn't know him, so we were kind of wary when we met him.  He met the missionaries about 4 months ago.  Hna Vila saw him sitting there with a cigarette and a beer and invite him to hear a message of Christ.  He dumped the beer and threw away the cigarette and listened.  Well he ended up going to prison for possession of drugs.  He texted us when he got out.  We taught him 5-6 times and had a date and he dropped off the earth.  well he contacted us a week ago.  He moved and changed numbers, so we did a transition lesson to move him to the sisters, but he is so ready.  He promised hna vila he'd give this church a chance first and he's committed to it.  He has had people bash on the church and also tell him to come to theirs and he says I'm not trying anything until I know if this church is true or not.  He's so ready!! 

English Class:  Well we're out riding our bikes cleaning up the ward list.  We ride past this couple and I notice they have papers and books their studying or reading.  We ride back by 20 minutes later and their still there.  I flip the bike around and ask them if they are teaching themselves english (at this point they had a friend there too).  They say no but they want to learn.  I say perfect because we are teaching a free english class that they should come to and invite them and leave it at that.  Well their friend shows up to english class and I think, well we'll never see that couple again.  bring...bring...bring... Goes the telephone on thursday night.  We answer.  Hi we met you yesterday and you invited us to your english class.  We were wondering if you could come over to our house and teach you about your church. Yes we can come over, when would you like us to come over, whenever you can works for us.  Today at 4?  Perfect Les esperamos.  (we'll wait for you).  We go and he starts just asking us all these questions "when you baptize is it in the the name of the father the son and the holy ghost or just Jesus Christ" is it all the way under the water?'  What do you believe about the trinity?  We tell him we will answer all his questions as we teach what we have prepared for them.  We teach them the restoration. They agree to be baptized (they didn't come to church so we have to reset the date) After the closing prayer, i asked him a question and he goes on talking about how he's felt hopeless and alone, but when we were there it was gone.  He felt good.  When we prayed  and talked he felt a presence descend on him and it made him feel vulnerable and want to cry but it is good. We go back and teach them the next day the plan of salvation with a member.  at the beginning we asked him what is God's plan for us.  He basically explains the whole plan of salvation before we even teach him anything.  They're so ready.  English class works.  As does talking to everyone!

Wanna hear about my insane conference saturday:

SO we've been teaching Albert.  This old man in a wheelchair thats homeless and might be a drug lord.  Well he didn't answer 5 phone calls that we made to him in the morning so we got on our bikes and headed off to conference.  We're about 1/2 way there a bit over a mile when we see his wheelchair.  I slam on the brakes.   Hna Christensen about runs into me haha  (I slam on my brakes a lot the poor girl...)  He's asleep.  We wake him up and say Albert we're going to church come on.  He gets up and gets in the wheelchair.  The session has now already begun.  SO what do we do.  Hna Christensen takes the 2 bikes.  and runs.  I get behind him in his wheelchair and run.  About a mile later we're at the church.  We push him in and sit down.  I realize I'd lost my sweater on the way here running and so after the session we decide to rebike our journey and see if we find it.  Sure enough we do.  Its right on the side of the sidewalk.  I put it on my waist.  We're heading to give the english class couple 2 libros de mormon when we pass a farmers market.  We'd passed it on the way with Albert and he said he'd buy us food after the session there.  Then we pass it to get the sweater, and then again to go to Lopez to give them the Book of Mormon.  Before my mission it was my plans to go to the farmers markets in my areas and contact there.  I know heavenly father knows what I'm attracted to in life and will work through that to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  So we go to the farmers market.  Literally the smallest farmers market of my life.  There's a station with good bread though, so of course we check it out.  We talk to the guy running the bread booth and he's 23, a baker, a WWF fighter, used to coach track, and used to be a Jehovah's witness.  Well we talk about God religion.  Womens roles in society, etc.  I even brought the conversation back to the bread and he days "man we're in this deep conversation and you ask about bread?"  and keeps talking about religion.  We talk about the restoration with and emphasis on prophets.  and tell him he can hear the prophet speak at conference at 5 that night or on Sunday.  He takes the pamphlets, says he'll try, and thanks us so much.  He said "I just have this good feeling now"  thank you for coming, people aren't like you two, especially around our age" you two have purpose and drive" we end up buying 2 loaves of bread and head off.  Well we're about a block away and realize that the farmers market was just about ending.  We send him a text and invite him to come watch the conference at the chapel at 1.  He says  "Hi.  Would love to come. Ill be done at market by 1:30.  Would it be ok if I came late?  I don't want to disrespect anyone by doing so..." We tell him to come and let us know when he gets there, of course in a loving a kinder way.  HE shows up around 2; we slip him a paper and pencil for notes and he and sits down and watches the last hour with us. He says is it ok if I ask you a few questions.  WE say definitely.  He asks what is the sacrament?  they kept talking about it and i don't know what it means.  what motivation is bad for going to church?  is it bad if I go to church because I don't want to go to hell?" we then reply with how any reason is a good reason and how our motivations change over time, like our conversion to God that we talked about at the farmers market.  He asks is it against your religion to wrestle?  I grew up Jehovahs Witness but my friends, now that I'm doing this, they won't talk to me.  He says I just feel so good here.  Its crazy to that I came, because I kept doubting coming.  but when you two left, the business flipped around and I sold everything.  THen I was like ok i need some caffeine and so if there's a 7-11 on the way I'll go. (sure enough there was one on the corner).  Just like little things kept pointing me to coming.   I'm usually sleeping right now because I'm up working at night, but I feel so awake it's so weird.  I feel so good. It's like this weird feeling I've never felt before.  Those are all my questions though.  The rest that I wrote down is crazy stuff.  LIke I've been having questions and stuff, but they answered what I've been thinking about.  It's crazy.  It was like they were talking right to me.  

           CRAZY RIGHT!!! SO we got in contact with the english ysa and sent his information to them within about 20 minutes and he's in their hands now.  It's so cool because he is so ready!! and we met him like a 1/2 hr -hr earlier.  Talking with EVERYONE works!! and what surprises me is how almost everyone wants to talk about God and Religion.

  

Baptisms:

            This week is German and Francescas baptism on Saturday.  Then Alfredos on Sunday ( the security guard) the next week is Torres on the 20th.  I'll tell you what Satan is working hard against us, but more than that God is working in the hearts of men to bring them to him.  People are being prepared all around us and all we have to do is open our mouths. 

Emily sent the following email on Monday, September 30, 2013:

I have realized that the gospel is all about progression and the quest for perfection.  Every element and piece of doctrine that we have has a purpose.  And in the end, that purpose tends to be progression.  Take for example, having commandments to obey, making covenants, the inevitability of sin brought on by our mortal state but the need to overcome the natural man, ....  There is a lot of thinking that could be done about this.  The perfection of the gospel alone testifies of its truthfulness. 

That is even why we are placed in families.  Because it is an environment where we can learn correct principles to help us progress.  Everything that happens to us is about us coming closer to Christ.

There is a very wonderful relationship between each of the steps in the doctrine of Christ.  The doctrine of Christ is: (1) Faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, (2) Repentance, (3) Baptism by immersion (And I am going to add by proper authority) (4) Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and (5) Enduring to the end.  You could pick any two of them and discuss how they balance, motivate, and complete the other.  

For example, we must have faith.  (I have learned so much about faith this week.  I will tell you more about faith next week)  Faith is incredible.  Faith is more than believing in Christ.  It is believing that we can repent of our sins and actually be forgiven.  Faith in Jesus Christ as our perfect older brother and Redeemer makes us want to have his approval and will motivate us toward repentance.  We know that the process works and our faith grows love for the Savior and our Heavenly Father (Charity).  Faith again motivates the baptism.  Baptism seals the repentance process.  The first time we really repent, we have to finish it with our baptism.  All the times of repentance after that I would guess are sealed with a prayer to Heavenly Father, or more finally, the sacrament. 

All of this is theoretical and doesn't mean much unless you apply it to Solomon.

After listening to Solomon talk and talk, I finally realized what his problem is.  When I said it, I think he realized that everything he was feeling was pretty much summed up by that statement.  Solomon is afraid baptism because he is afraid of breaking a covenant with God.  Let this suffice: he understands the gravity of covenants.  Here he must either not understand repentance fully or faith, though he can explain the doctrines and tells us he has much faith.  We have repentance for before baptism, but more for after baptism.  The doctrine of repentance allows us to feel comfortable making covenants with God.  Maybe we understand this concept on paper, but if we don't understand it internally, that is when we need to have faith that the atonement of Christ truly is infinite.  This is a discussion for a long night over hot chocolate. :)

I think Solomon just needs to understand that this baptism is just the first of many that we can experience weekly for the rest of his life.  Why procrastinate in sin when we can be cleansed and begin down the path of perfect rectitude?

I love you!  I am so grateful that you: Peter, Heidi, Sam, Skib, and Nate are part of my family.  We are very richly blessed.  There is nothing greater than having an eternal family and having all of safely buffered from the affects of the devil.  It is hard to find a family here where all the members of the family are Mormon and are acting that way.  Almost no parents that are married are even sealed.  There are so many more women in these wards than priesthood holders.  Anyway, I love you and I know that the gospel is true.  I know that it is the only way we can be together after this life.  I know that all of us are strong enough to choose the right even when the wrong is easier.  I know that we can make it and we will make it.  I know that developing family relations is the most valuable thing we can do in this life.  I know that Satan will attack the family because that is our greatest source of and for happiness.  He is evil and tries to hurt us in the ways that seem too low to stoop to.  Please have family home evening because Heavenly Father will help our family be strong. 

I love you. 

Love, 

Emily