Week 55: Pumpkin-Eater

¡Hola! Happy Halloween!

Fit of the Year.

To the few people who understood that reference, welcome! To those who aren’t my direct family members, I hope your November is off to a great start. I know that mine sure is.

An impossible round of Spot the Difference.

We had so much fun this week! We did silly activities with Hermana Pili, had lunch with the best members, and even got to be surprise guests at the Perez Family Halloween Party, aka the event of the season.

Luna la Locura is the Big Cat now.

My Halloween fit this year was Belle. The third time I’ve made an appearance as the Disney princess. Why have I dressed up as her so frequently? Probably because she’s the only one I remotely look like. It was really funny walking into sacrament meeting in costume, let me tell you. But the youth did really like it, so I’m making strides there.

I still have a compañera salvadoreña.

Speaking of the youth, as we were leaving our member meal on All Hallow’s Eve, Hermanita Naomi said, “I have something for you,” and left for her room. When she came back, she had two storybooks for me. I was literally living the opening number in “Beauty and the Beast.”

It being the beginning of November, the ward has been celebrating and discussing genealogy a lot. And since today is All SAINTS Day, I'd like to share a story found in Chapter 31 of Volume 1: The Standard of Truth. (For those somehow unaware, Saints is a historical narrative series about the Church, starting from its founding.)

Lying awake, Parley Pratt felt sick as their guards told obscene stories about raping and killing Saints. He wanted to stand up and rebuke the men—to say something that would make them stop talking—but he kept silent.

Suddenly, he heard chains clank beside him as Joseph rose to his feet. “Silence, ye fiends of the infernal pit!” the prophet thundered. “In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke you and command you to be still! I will not live another minute and hear such language!”

The startled guards gripped their weapons and looked up. Joseph stared back at them, radiating majesty. “Cease such talk,” he commanded, “or you or I die this instant!”

The room went quiet, and the guards lowered their guns. Some of them retreated to the corners. Others crouched in fear at Joseph’s feet. The prophet stood still, looking calm and dignified. The guards begged his pardon and fell silent until their replacements came.

This section of the story is a difficult time for the saints, to put it lightly. In almost every aspect of their lives, their dignity is being taken from them. But what I love about this chapter is exemplified in this moment. Although they have nothing, they have God, and that’s enough.

I definitely have trials far less pressing or difficult. I’m very blessed with the life I have now. But I know that if all that went away, I would have enough. And you would, too. As it says in 1 Samuel 2:

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

—Provecho (since I said we’re eating),

Hermana Newton