Hello my dear family and friends,

First off what an amazing day so far! We got together with two other companionships and we went to 'Ensign Peak', 'In and Out Burger' and 'Nielson's Frozen Custard'! Such a fun summer day! We had lot's of fun! The view at the top of Ensign Peak is amazing, you can see the Salt Lake, Temple Square and the city of Salt Lake. 

I'm feeling a little weird that it's the end of my mission. I'm trying to stay in the 'always in the middle' mindset as next week approaches. Also focusing on the quote I heard a few weeks ago "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened". What a blessing it is that this mission happened. Doing the Lords work the Lords way is the most at peace I've ever been. I still have SO much to learn and overcome but I know my mission has taught me how to learn, if that makes sense. Before I didn't realize the importance of putting the Lord first and putting trust in Him above the things of the world. Seeing someone else learn things brings even greater happiness! I feel like my whole life prepared me to serve a mission in the SLC Temple Square and Arcadia California missions and my mission prepared me for the rest of my life. It's not an end but a beginning. 

I give my departing talk on Sunday and the topic is about the light of Christ, repentance and forgiving others. I have 7 minutes to address the topic and share my testimony. I love speaking and I'm excited to give my talk. I've been thinking about it a lot this past week and I'm grateful for the topic. I've realized that repentance is anything that brings us closer to Christ and that when we repent daily the light of Christ helps us to radiate the joy the gospel brings. It radiates to our heart and allows us to be truly converted to Him and His gospel. Others notice this and desire that change in themselves. That is why so many people ask us why the Temple Square Sisters are so pretty or why they are happy all the time. It's because they live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's not their physical appearance or even that they are constantly laughing, it's the Spirit that shines to all those around them. When we have the Spirit with us we feel more faith, hope and charity. With that charity comes a willingness to forgive others as the Savior forgives us. We should not deny them any blessing the Lord has given to us. The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about change and fulfilling our divine potential, none should be denied this blessing, that is one reason why we must freely forgive.  Hmm I should use that in my talk :).

This week I was thinking of an experience prior to my mission that had a huge impact on wither or not I would serve a mission and I didn't even realize that until this week. It's so obvious how God's hand lead me to the right place and at the right time yet I didn't notice. There is a scripture that helped me to decide that God does want me on a mission and I thought that was the end of it but thinking of the events leading up to finding that scripture I've been able to recognize the miracle behind it. I realized this when I was in a meeting where the instructor was discussing the role of the Holy Ghost in our lives. This is the experience.
Shortly after submitting my paper work to become a full time missionary I began having second thoughts. Crazy I know but at the time I didn't realize the blessings that come from serving Heavenly Father's children and the peace and joy it could bring. I felt like it was just too long and I was too old and not a typical missionary type, I was having fears to say the least. I continued on with my life not sharing these fears and trying to push them away. 
During this time I was at working two jobs and staying busy with friends. A friend of mine asked if I wanted to come to Vancouver with him and some friends to watch a hockey game. I don't like hockey but I figured, why not, at least it would get my mind off of things. I had the weekend off work so I joined them on the drive to Vancouver. I tried to laugh with them and have fun but after driving about an hour all I could think about was that I needed to go to the Temple. By the time we would get to Vancouver the Temple would be closed and I didn't see how it was going to work. I tried to push away the feelings and have fun with my friends, I kept feeling the need to be at the Temple but I felt weird asking them to drop me off, 'what would they think?' 
The prompting became strong enough that I made arrangements with other friends who lived in Vancouver to meet me at the church and I would go to institute with them instead of going to the hockey game. At this time I don't think I recognized that it was a prompting to go to the temple, I thought it was more of a want to spend time with my other Vancouver friends. I realize now that it was God's hand allowing me to get to a quite place where I could recognize the Spirit. The friends who were heading to the hockey game dropped me off at the church building 5 minute walk from the Temple. Institute was to be held at that building in about an hour and that's where my other friends were going to meet me. I was alone with my bag at a locked church. I went around to the back of the building and threw my bag in some bushes so that I didn't have to carry it up the hill on the walk to the Temple. I pulled my scriptures out of my bag and put them in my purse. 
I wasn't dressed in church attire to see if I could perform proxy baptisms and I knew I would have needed to call in advance. Instead I walked to a quite place off to the side of the Temple and sat down in the sun and felt the sweet spirit of being on Temple grounds. Again I felt a prompting, that I didn't recognize as a prompting until much later to open my scriptures. I thought of it more as a 'I guess there isn't much else to do then to read'. Something I've learned is that the Spirit doesn't speak loudly and clearly to me and say 'open up your scriptures and read right now' rather the spirit leads certain thoughts into my mind 'I guess I might as well read'. 
I then remembered all the thoughts and doubts I had been having about serving a mission. I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to allow me to read something that would help me be at peace if I was supposed to go on a mission. I thanked Heavenly Father for the beautiful temple grounds I was on and told Him that I had enough faith to read what He would have me know at this time. I opened my scriptures to Doctrine and Covenants 75 and my eyes fell to this line "Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might" I knew then that Heavenly Father needed me to serve a mission and decided that I didn't need to doubt but that I needed to 'go forth'. I said a prayer of thanks to Heavenly Father and walked back to the church in time for institute. Now at peace knowing what Heavenly Father would have me do. 
I've since realized how relevant that scripture is to my mission in particular  "...they shall also take their journey into the eastern countries; and behold, and lo, I am with them also, even unto the end. 15 And again, I say unto my servant ... that they also shall take their journey unto the western countries, and proclaim my gospel, even as I have commanded them.16 And he who is faithful shall overcome all things, and shall be lifted up at the last day. 17 And again, I say unto my servant  ... let them take their journey also into the south country." On Temple Square the world is our mission and there are only few places where we don't call. I've taught people in the U.S, Canada, Africa, United Kingdom, Korea, etc. 
I'm so grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost and that I was able to learn a little more how to recognize the promptings the Lord gives to me. I know that each one of Heavenly Father's children receive guidance individually through the 3rd member of the Godhead who, when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are blessed to always have with us. 

I'm grateful for the Atonement and I know that it is because of our loving Savior Jesus Christ that we can do all that is expected of us here on earth. I also know that, because of the Savior and Heavenly Father's perfect plan all people will be given an opportunity to live with God again. 

I love you all so much. Thank you for supporting me and encouraging me on my mission. I'm excited to have the BEST WEEK of my mission this coming week. See you on the 12th!

Love, Sister Turner

 

Hi family and friends,

What an exciting day so far! We had our Zone Activity today, originally we were going to go to the Humanitarian Center and make blankets and eat food together. However it turns out that we didn't have enough drivers going so we changed the activity to a picnic in a park (within walking distance). Although when we woke up this morning it was POURING RAIN!! So that didn't work out. We picked up some take out curry and watched "Mega Mind" in one of the theaters. As soon as we sat down to eat the emergency lights went off and we had to evacuate to the Tabernacle. Turns out it was a false alarm and so we went back to eat out food and watch the movie.  Our zone activity just finished and it turned out to be lots of fun. Definitely memorable :)

This week has been another good week. We met Christan at Temple Square. He was so nice, didn't have a lot of time to take him on a tour because he was with friends who had to go. Don't think his baptism will happen on the 14th of June because the local missionaries STILL haven't gotten in contact with him. Ahhh so frustrating but it's okay, he will get baptized in God's timing not mine. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and is doing so good. Our other investigators are doing well and it's fun to meet new people every day. 

We had the opportunity to attend Sister Monson's funeral this week. It was a beautiful funeral. The talks were amazing, I felt so uplifted but a little sad for President Monson, he looked so pale. We are so blessed to know about the plan of salvation and that we can be together forever through the blessings of the Temple. If you didn't get a chance to watch the funeral you can watch it from the link of lds.org. I really liked Sister Dibb's talk. 
 

I did the Christlike Attribute assessment in Preach my Gospel the other day and I realized I need to work on 'Hope'. I'm so grateful that Jesus Christ has set the perfect example to follow and I know that when I follow in his footsteps that is how I can have peace in this life. I have a desire to share that with everyone. I always know I need to work on the attribute patience, when I pray for charity and study the atonement it always helps me have more patience. I love the scriptures too, whenever I feel worried or sad I just need to read and pray and then I feel peace. That is why we invite others to do the same thing. It's not so that we can say we have more members of the church or that we had more baptisms then someone else. It is because I truly can say I love them and want them to have the same peace I feel here on earth and to be able to have eternal life. The Temple is the main goal. The promises we make in the Temple are essential for our exaltation.  

Love you all SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Much! You are in my prayers :)
Love, Sister Turner
 
 

Okay Hi family and friends!!!

I spent some time replying to other emails but I've still got some time to write about the week.

First off Christan is doing so amazing. Everything we teach him he just soaks right up, the spirit is always so strong when we teach him because his heart is open to learning and the Holy Ghost is able to testify to him that what we teach is true and is from God. We taught him lesson 3, The gospel of Jesus Christ, a few days ago and recently taught him lesson 1, The Restoration. When we were teaching about the Book of Mormon one of my favorite things he talked about was how grateful he was to have found this church because even as a child he wondered why Jesus Christ would only come to Jerusalem and not visit the other parts of the world. He now knows that He did come to teach all people his gospel and He is still inviting people to learn of him and listen to His words. I love being a representative of Jesus Christ and be able to teach people His gospel.   

We went to the Temple today!!! I love the Temple soooooooooooooooooooooooo MUCH! I was just sitting in the Temple today thinking how grateful I am that I'm in a mission that allows me to go to the Temple every transfer. There are a variety of things that each individual person needs to do to be able to keep their testimony strong. Each thing is good, for example reading conference talks, fasting often, surrounding yourself with good people, etc. Although I know that each thing is important to do I think that according to the person there are different points of focus that will help them the most. One of the things that always helps me feel the spirit and strengthens my testimony is going to the temple and I firmly believe that it's something I need to do often for the rest of my life. We are so blessed to have so many ways to bring us peace in our life. 

The square has been REALLY busy lately. I really enjoy summer time because there is always someone to talk to and teach. It's so fun to have so many language tours. Just the other day our day started with a German tour, then we took around a couple from France and in the afternoon we taught an Italian exchange student who came here with his host family. I'm still trying to figure out how to help my companion because, obviously, I don't speak those languages. Sometimes she translates for me and that is good but I'm trying to figure out more ways to be a support to her. It gives me time to pray for her and the people she is teaching. They are being taught and that's what is important. We also have many English tours and lessons that we teach together which is so good as well. I finally am feeling like I am improving on bridging from the history to the basic beliefs. I still have so much to learn but it is good and I know each day can be better then the last. 

This week we served at Welfare Square a couple times and that was so fun. They have the best chocolate milk there :) That's not the only reason I love it though. Serving there really opened my eyes on how important it is to pay fast offering. The church does so much to serve and rarely gets recognized for what they do because that isn't important to them. What's important is helping people in need the way Jesus Christ would do. 
 

Next p-day we have a zone activity, so I'll be writing you later in the day. We are going to the Humanitarian Center and making blankets for people in need. It's going to be fun, we are also getting together for a picnic lunch beforehand. I really like planning zone activities and I know this one is going to be fun! Sister Eggenberger and I gave them two options, this one or a talent show and they all picked this one which I'm happy about cause I really wanted to do it. 

Well I love you all sooooooooooooooooooooooooo MUCH!!! Talk to you next week,
Love Sister Turner
 

Gruezi Familia (Swiss-German for Hello Family)

How are you all doing? I am so happy! It is a BEAUTIFUL sunny day today! I think it's at least 90 :) I'm so happy I love summer weather! Temple Square is getting more and more busy and I love it because there are so many people to teach.



 It's very fun being Sister Eggenberger's companion because now we not only take English tours but French, Swiss-German, Hi-German and Italian tours/walking lessons. So fun, I love it. Sister Eggenberger is so much fun, I really love her a lot she's a great companion. We cook all our food together, run 3 miles every morning and we it's so easy to have balance in teaching with her. It's funny it was never something I thought about before my mission (having good balance in teaching) but it's so important so that you can both testify and allow the Spirit to teach as well. With Sister Eggenberger it's just so natural to teach together. 

So it was so nice to talk to you on Mothers Day! I hope all the mothers who are reading this had a very happy day! 

So we had a "Finish Strong" meeting a couple days ago for all the Sisters who are going home this transfer, I think it's 23. It was a good meeting and helped me be excited to continue making the last months of my mission the BEST part of my mission. I really feel it has been. I feel so much more confident and humble then I did at the beginning of my mission. I also feel a lot more bold when it comes to inviting which makes me happy because at the start of my mission I knew it was something I needed to work on. And best thing I learned and am continuing to learn is how to rely on the enabling power of grace given to us all because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is true that we are saved by grace after all we can do. I would not be able to continue to do all that I do in a day without the divine help of The Savior. I'm so grateful to have been able to begin to come to an understanding of this and apply it to my life. Those are some of the things that I've learned but the BEST part about serving a mission is seeing others accept the blessings of the Atonement and how their lives change for the better. Each of the memories I have of great joy are when I've seen someone get baptized or heard their testimony when before they didn't know God. Those experiences continue and I'm grateful every day for them. For instance the story I told you about Christian and picking his baptismal date. We were so perfectly happy because in that instance we were doing exactly what God wanted us to do.

Another example of this was this morning we took a bus tour around Temple Square. Half of the visitors were Chinese speaking so we took around the 9 that were English speaking. All of them had little or no knowledge about the church, some were from Thailand and others were from the Philippines. We had 45 minutes with them to share with them the history and basic beliefs of the church and to share our testimonies with them. At the end of the walking lesson/tour each person requested to learn more, some for missionaries to come to their home and some to learn more by phone or email. It was an amazing experience to be a small part of. Heavenly Father knew they needed the gospel so he sent them to Temple Square. I think about my outbound mission and how amazing it would be to have 9 people knock on my door, ask for the lesson for 45 minutes and then ask me to teach them more, it just doesn't happen. Not that I didn't love my outbound mission experience but the experiences were just different. Today I was reminded how wonderful Temple Square is. 

Elder M. Russell Ballard is coming tomorrow morning! I'm so excited to hear the inspiration he will share with us about this mission. Last time Elder Holland came he told us that, that summer was going to be the best summer yet on Temple Square, obviously he was right and we had the most amazing tours and millions of people came. I'm so excited to hear what Elder Ballard is going to say. 
 
Our investigators are doing well. Christian from the Dominican Republic set a baptism date! We had a really neat experience with him as we extended the baptismal invite to him. We had prayed beforehand about a date that he could be prepared to be baptized. I was thinking it would be so neat for him to be baptized on June 14th because he lives in Logan and my parents and I could go when they come pick me up, but then I thought that was just selfish so I didn't want to pick that day but what the Lord wanted. Even after telling Sister Eggenberger about this and praying about it we both felt good about June 14th so we decided that was the day we were going to invite him to prepare for. When we invited him he said that would a perfect day because that is his birthday! We had no idea! Things like that are not coincidences but the divine hand of the Lord in this great work!

Love you all soooooooooooooooo MUCH! Je t'aime (French for I love you) 
Sister Turner 
 

Hi Family and Friends!!!

Thanks for all your love and support. Knowing that you support me and take time to write me means so much to me.  Thank you!

Oh before I forget... Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers I know. Your service is wonderful and I'm grateful for the example you set for others, including me. Especially my very own mom who is the BEST mom in the world. The kindest, sweetest most angelic mother, I love you so much, you really are the best!

So this week has been a busy one. Lots of meetings and trainings. This week I learned all about Welfare Square and the Humanitarian Center. It is so amazing what the church does, and in such an organized manner. It is wonderful to take people through and share with them the wonderful work the church is doing because the members are following the example of Jesus Christ. I'm so happy that Sarah and I, well let's be honest mostly Sarah, made those school bags a few years ago. It has allowed me to relate a little bit more to the amazing work the church is doing. in 2011 they sent over 180,000 school kits throughout the world. I've been learning a lot this past week. We aren't serving at the Humanitarian Center or Welfare Square full time because of other responsibilities we have but we were there for training and a full shift from 9-4 yesterday. We met this amazing family that we are going to continue to teach after they get home to Georgia. They are the cutest little red haired family. I love them a lot.

I love my new companion! She is so amazing and loves to work and we work well together. I've decided that this is going to be the best transfer yet. The reason I can say that even though I've had amazing transfers with so many wonderful experiences is because each day can be a little better then the last. I found a really good quote the other day "Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today" - Lorenzo Snow

I had a MIRACLE the other day. So I was online to receive calls from mormon.org or other inbound calls. I hadn't gotten a call for a while and was working on the zone schedules. When the phone rang I was a little distracted but decided to stop what I was doing and take the time to teach someone about the gospel. The sweetest woman had called in and we were talking about how she had gotten a pass along card from the missionaries about a year ago and that she was feeling sort of down that day so decided to call the number on the back of the card. She had met a member of the church at a library a little while ago and was very impressed by his demeanor. She asked for some church materials because she wanted to know what it was that made him that way and why I was so happy on the phone. I told her that I could do better then send materials but that I could send representatives that could bring her a Book of Mormon and teach her more about the restored gospel. She was hesitant at first but eventually agreed because she said that she felt so good talking to me about the church and who Heavenly Father is. When I got her address to give the local missionaries she told me she lives in VANCOUVER B.C! So crazy, with that I told her that I was from near there and that built and instant connection and if that wasn't enough when I asked for her last name she told me it was Turner. We aren't related, of course, but it was so fun to see Heavenly Father's hand in her life and sent her to someone she could have a connection with. I'm looking forward to calling her and teaching her more over the phone. 

My MTC teacher sent me the most amazing email the other day about how God's hand is in the little details of our life and her testimony of the Atonement. It was so nice. I'm so grateful for my MTC experience. It really defined my mission and helped me realize what my potential is as a missionary. 

Mom and Dad I know your anniversary is in May. I can't remember the date but just so I've got it covered HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! I love you both so much! Thank you for being fantastic parents.

I love you all! Have a happy week!


Love, Sister Turner
 
 
Hello Dear family and friends!

So transfer conference was last Sunday night and this is what I will be doing this transfer....

My companion is  Sister Eggenberger from Switzerland! She was in my zone before I went outbound and I love her. She's outbound right now but comes back tomorrow, I'm so excited. We are going to have so much fun and work so hard, I'm sure we will have many language tours because she speaks 5 languages! Crazy I can't wait! 

Zone - West 1 which is Welfare Square and Humanitarian Center! I've wanted to serve there my whole mission and now I'll get a chance! It also covers West Gate, Guest Services and The Office Assistants so I will be busy,busy busy which I am so happy about!

Assignment - Zone Leader. We have 3 districts of beautiful sisters who I am so happy I will get a chance to serve with. I'm sure I will learn a lot from each of them. I think total, in our zone, we have 20 sisters including my companion and I. 

And I will be living in the house apartments instead of the apartment building. It will be perfect and easy for when you come pick me up . I like the house, it has a lovely view of the Temple out the kitchen window :) 

My life is fantastic. I feel a tad bit overwhelmed but I know the Lord will help me as I do my best. Summer is coming and along with it all the tourists. The square is busy and there are many people to teach. I hope with the many assignments an venues to cover, that my investigators will continue to do well and progress in their learning. A few of them are in contact with the local missionaries so that is comforting because I know they will be supported by them if I'm not as available to be there for them. Those whom I am teaching who are not yet ready for the missionaries I pray that I will be able to know what to teach them to help them feel more comfortable with the idea. 

Today is a busy day because of the concert we are doing. Mom and Dad I wish it was going to be put on while you were here. I think you'd really like it. We had the dress rehearsal the other day and we have some very talented sisters here. My favorite is the Samoan dance and song. It's beautiful. The choir is also singing a beautiful compilation of 'Sound of Music" songs an there is just a lot of really amazing talent. Oh there is one number that 4 sisters play on two pianos at the same time! Like I mentioned before their were so many people that came last time that they had to turn people away. I think a lot of people will come again this time. If anyone I know is coming come around 7 to make sure you get in. It starts at 7:30. One of our investigators were going to come but he got sick yesterday. However a really cute little girl who we took on a temple square tour and got baptized last Saturday is going to come so that is exciting.

This past transfer has had unique challenges but I feel like I've grown a lot because of it. Each time a transfer comes to an end I like to reflect and think of the refining the Lord has given me and also notice how much I still need to improve. Improvement comes over time through patient perseverance. It is no use to say "I wish I..." or "why did I..." rather we should say "look at what I've been able to accomplish" and "I'm so grateful that... Next time I will..." we must have a positive outlook  on life if we are to have joy in this life. There was an a quote that Sister Gillette quoted in our mission transfer conference that really stuck out to me "Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened" Isn't that just so perfect. I think that may be a goal for life. 

Last District meeting I instructed the Sisters based off a talk given by Dieter F Uchtdorf "Always in the Middle" It helped me realize that we must be living in the moment and to have an eternal perspective always in our focus. I really loved it. . If you haven't read it recently I would suggest reading it again. I drew a picture to go along with it on the board but I can't quite do it justice explaining it so I will just have to show you when I see you. 

Well today is a busy day so I don't have much time to write. I love you all and I'm excited to speak to you on Mothers Day :)  Also Happy Birthday to Matthias on the 10th! Sarah thanks for your letter this past week it was just what I needed. Amanda your children are adorable, mom sent me your blog this week. Mom and Dad thank you for your emails. You never fail to put a smile on my face. Thank you friends for your letters. I love you all very much and I pray for you every day. 

Love, Sister Turner 
 

Hello dear Family and Friends!

So I had a miracle yesterday! I got to see a dear, dear friend :) ...Krystal Suranyi! She is just radiating the light of Christ and is such a happy return missionary! Unfortunately I didn't have much time with her but I got to see her and give her a big hug so that was nice. I'm excited to hear all about her mission when we can sit down together and share the miracles we've seen on our missions. 

Also along with that I forgot to tell Krystal about a concert that the Temple Square missionaries are putting on on April 30. She mentioned she was here for about 10 days so I don't know if she will still be here but if she is it's going to be an amazing concert. It's in the Assembly Hall and it's call "The Sounds of Music from Around the World". The different Sister missionaries will be performing some of their cultural songs and even some dances. I'll be singing in the choir. It's really going to be amazing.They also did this performance while I was outbound and they ended up having to turn people away because they didn't come early enough and the Assembly Hall was full. It's April 30th at 7:30pm.

Oh another miracle! So do you remember Sam who I met over the phone when I was in Guest Services and who was baptized in June? Alright so since July I haven't been able to get in contact with him but then today Sister Pickrel (whom I taught Sam with) got a hold of him and we spoke together on the phone!  It was good to talk to him because we are now going to be able to start teaching him again and help him strengthen his testimony.

So many miracles! 

 Well lately all return missionaries keep telling me I need to get busy as soon as possible when I get home. Don't wait around for life to happen. Get into school and work as soon as possible and surround yourself with good people. I need some advice. Family you always have advice for me don't you? I don't want to be told what to do, as usual, I just NEED to have some sort of structure to my future life so that I can fill this void of "I don't know". My heart feels a tense feeling that I haven't really felt since before my mission. I'm the happiest I've ever been as a missionary and I don't want that peace to leave me. When I set goals and make plans I feel much better. I do it each week as a missionary and I don't like the feeling of having no clue how things are going to work out. I know I need to trust in the Lord for things to work out the way He knows life can for me but I also know that I have been given intelligence to study things out in my mind and figure out my future and THEN ask God if it is right. 
When I left home I felt like coming back was a long way off and now I feel like time is speeding to fast for me to catch up. I love, love, love being a missionary. I learn so much everyday and I have so many amazing encounters and miracles everyday.  

We met an interesting man the other day. His name was Aman and it was one of the best tours I've had on Temple Square. We were introduced to him by a member who had met with a few minutes earlier and Aman had been asking the member questions. Right away we knew that this was going to be a good 'walking lesson'/tour. His questions were so sincere and amazing. He had met with missionaries 20 years ago but didn't get baptized. He had been living in Switzerland at the time and had moved (to England I think) and hadn't got in contact with the missionaries there. He recently got a new job and when they have him the two options of California or Utah he picked Utah because he remembered the church was somehow connected with Utah. Oh I forgot to mention he had kept his Book of Mormon almost the full 20 years but had lost it two years ago and so he downloaded it on his phone. He talked about how he can't remember what the missionaries looked like or their names but he remembers the incredible feeling of the Spirit as he read the Book of Mormon and studied with the missionaries. He explained an overwhelming feeling that came over him the first time he read the Book of Mormon and he knew it was true. His testimony was very powerful and he's not even a member of the church yet! We aren't calling him because two of the Sister missionaries here had already gotten his contact info and it's confusing if too many missionaries start calling but it was a wonderful experience to hear him bare his sincere testimony and I'm grateful for the experience I had. 


 I love you very much and I hope you are all happy, healthy and well. 
Love, Sister Turner

 
Hello Family and Friends!!!


So this weekend was THE BEST! I love Conference, I love the prophet and apostles that speak the exact words we need to hear and I love all the amazing people I was able to talk to these past few days and I already love all the people they gave us to call to teach the gospel to :) Ahhh so much love. So we (our zone) got to go to the Saturday afternoon session and it was so perfect. I felt like the first talk, I can't remember which apostle it was at the moment, spoke directly to me. I had come with a question to conference and had my question was answered again and again as I listened with the Spirit. It's amazing how that works. There is one really good quote that I like in regards to asking questions at conference - Elder Holland said "If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance." So true. What talks did you like? I can't wait for the Ensign to come out so that I can read all the talks given. We live in a wonderful time!

After conference, when we are all exhausted from being on the square 7am-9pm two days in a row, the mission presidency throws a party for us. So last night we had Mexican food and then Jon Schimdt 
http://mormon.org/me/3czw  /  http://www.jonschmidt.com/catalog/index.php came and played the piano for us! He is so amazing, I don't think I've ever felt the spirit so strong through music as I did as he played the piano. There is one song that you might be familiar with that was filmed at Goshen (where we went for the mission activity a few weeks ago) where he plays the piano there. Him and his wife bore their testimonies and it was, again, just exactly what I needed to hear. I love this mission! It pays to have a mission president who knows EVERYONE. I took a couple videos on my camera but I think they are to large to send you. Can you send my the flash drive I sent you back to me? There are more pictures and videos I want to put on it. So many sisters loose their flash drive and go crazy so I want to make sure I have a back up. 

Serving in the Beehive House is going well. There are many people who come to learn about the prophet or history and leave being enlightened by the Spirit. It's a wonderful place to serve. We have been finding lots of new investigators. It's exciting to have the almost the whole world to teach in with only a few areas not available, hopefully it won't be to long before the entire world is open for missionaries. 

I just found out this info about my mission area"Facts and Statistics Updated on 31 December 2011USA-Utah When the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers began to journey westward, they did not know their end destination. But on 24 July 1847, when the wagons rolled out of the canyon into the Salt Lake Valley, their destination became apparent. "It is enough," Church President Brigham Young said as he viewed the valley below. "This is the right place. Drive on." Young named the area "Deseret," meaning honeybee, signifying the hive of activity that would soon inhabit the area. The President stayed only 33 days before returning to Winter Quarters in Nebraska to assist other families on their trek. At least 236 pioneer companies of approximately 60,000 pioneers crossed the plains for Utah. With time, they transformed the desert valley into the bustling and prosperous Salt Lake City.

Several historic sites exist in the state today, including Temple Square, visited by nearly 5 million people annually. From the Square, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs a weekly broadcast from one of largest timber-roofed buildings in the world. The broadcast is the longest continuous broadcast program in the United States. In addition to the Salt Lake Temple, which took early members more than 40 years to complete, 12 other temples dot the state. Four more temples are announced, under construction or being remodeled."

I feel so blessed to be in such a wonderful place rich in pioneer history. 

 I've changed so much on my mission and I pray that it will last my whole life. The best thing is when I realize something about myself has changed and it always happens without me realizing. The other day I realized I am so much happier and so much more at peace when I am humble and let the Lord help me with the little details of my life. I pray for charity and it gives me the strength I need to improve a little each day. These are some things I wrote down from my favorite talk on Saturday Conference was "Don't take short cuts, little things lead to big things" also  " Greater peace comes to those who are humble and accept the Lords will. Focus outwardly." and lastly, this is something that I SO needed to hear " Don't try to do everything at once. Each phase of life is important take one step at a time and when you do think of if it is something the Savior would do". Those aren't direct quotes from the talk but direct quotes from my notes I took as I allowed the Spirit to teach me through the inspiration of listening to an apostle of the Lord. 

I love you all VERY MUCH!!! Many hugs and love going your way! 

Love, Sister Turner 


 
Hello family,

 There is now a 'Trader Joes' in Utah!! I'm so happy :) Even more good news... we just went shopping there! YAY! Sister Jump and I just bought the most delicious food. 

Now the BEST news of all... General Conference is in less then a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for all the people to come and feel the sweet spirit on Temple Square as they listen to the prophet speak. What a wonderful time to be a missionary. 

I've been really, really busy and I've definitely seen the hand of the Lord as Sister Jump and I have been diligently trying to do all we can to find, teach and baptize. It's wonderful being busy and I love it. There are so many people we are working with and we take multiple tours (walking lessons) each day. The great thing about that is that when we are so busy Heavenly Father takes care of his children for instance we call just at the right time or walk out of the visitors center just as someone is looking for information. Oh I had a cool experience the other day. I was looking over the list of people I haven't contacted for a while. There are various reasons why we stop contacting people, either they ask us not to or we see they are not keeping commitments and just like to talk so we can't continue regular contact with them. As I was going down the list Candice's name stuck out to me. I was hesitant to call because the last time I had spoken to her in Oct she had asked me not to call her anymore. We only had about 10 mins left on the phone and so I had almost talked myself out of it but the prompting came again and before I really realized what I was doing the phone was ringing and Candice picked up. She sounded so surprised to hear from me I quickly gave her a description of who I was, when I gave her a moment to speak she said she was surprised to hear from me because she was just thinking about me at the moment the phone rang. She said she was going out the door but to please call her back at a later date! Heavenly Father really does know His children and He knows when to prompt us to help His children come back to Him. It was a good reminder to me to always act on a prompting. We called Candice yesterday and had a wonderful conversation with her about the Atonement and how she can apply it more to her life. And guess what, she lives in Victoria! 

We went to the Temple this morning! I love the Temple there is a spirit that is felt there unlike anywhere else. I was studying about the Holy Ghost recently and I read something interesting. When we feel the presence of the Holy Ghost comfort, guide, testify, etc. to us it is a small taste of the Eternal joy we will one day feel in Heaven. When I'm at the Temple I always feel the Spirit the strongest and it motivates me to stay faithful to one day be able to have that wonderful warmth with me all the time. Something else that I've been studying lately that has really had an impact on me is the importance of praying for charity the pure love of Christ. If you look at PMG Christlike attributes under charity there is a list of blessings associated with praying for charity. Over the past few months I've felt a change in myself of peace, joy and a more positive attitude unlike anything I've ever experienced as I've incorporated asking for charity each day.  Also as I've taken time for daily repentance I've noticed a change from the enabling power of the Atonement. 

How was everyone's Easter!? Sister Jump and I had a great Easter meal on Saturday thanks to you mom and dad! We went to the Cheesecake Factory and ended the meal sharing a piece of Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake! It was wonderful. Sunday was also nice as that is the day of District meeting so I was able to center the lesson around The Savior and it went really well. 

I love you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo MUCH!!!
Love, Sister Turner
 
Hello Beautiful family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I'm so happy to hear from you this week and I'm happy things seem to be going well for each of you.

I love being back on Temple Square!!!! I just love the Sisters, President and Sister Gillette and just everything about the square! I love testifying and the words just flow so much easier as I connect the gospel with the historic buildings. The Spirit is so powerful here even on the phone, I love it. And there are SO many people to teach. I love my mission. I loved California too and there were wonderful opportunities to share the gospel there as well. I feel so blessed to be able to have both experiences and I'm so happy to finish my mission here.

This transfer I'm with Sister Jump from Florida, she's so great! She's in her 5th transfer and we've been having fun teaching together. I'm finally at a point in my mission where I've noticed a huge change in myself and I want to keep it that way. I am so grateful for the Atonement and how it allows us to change and we allow God to shape us to who we truly are! I've been reading my journal from a year ago and what I write each day and it's amazing the difference. I'm so happy! I'm serving in the Beehive house again which I'm very happy about. I really love the Beehive house. I'm a District Leader and there are 3 wonderful companionship's in the district who I know I will learn a lot from. We've already had one district meeting where I gave the instruction on a letter from Elder Corrbridge called "The Vision to Baptize" it went well and I'm happy to be in a very motivated district. Conference is in less then 2 weeks!!! I can't wait!

So this morning we got to go to the set where the church recently made the Bible videos found onlds.org. It was such an amazing experience. Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures but it was really neat being there. The site was dedicated by Elder Bednar and there was a very special spirit there, especially as the guide told us some of the miracles he saw as they made the set and began filming. Things just came in to plan as they needed them and there is no denying the miracles that happened to help the videos be produced. It was great to be there with some of the other Sister missionaries and just feel the Spirit there. I love being a missionary!

Being back is so great! Monica was baptized while I was away. I left her a message yesterday and I can't wait to hear about her experience being baptized. I love her so much and I'm so happy Sister Hinton was able to take care of her while I was gone. I'm looking forward to being able to meet Enoch who was baptized right before I left, he's the one that lives in B.C. There are so many wonderful amazing people I've been able to meet on my mission and I continue to meet great people who are just waiting to hear the gospel. We've met some really awesome families this past week and as we've taken them around Temple Square the spirit was so strong. I've been finding myself testifying more about the blessings of Eternal Families and each time I do I'm so grateful say I know my family will be together for eternity because of the Atonement and because of the love of our Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful that my parents joined the church so that I could be brought up with the knowledge of God and of the Bible and Book of Mormon. 

It feels like there is so much to write about and that I must be missing so much that I've thought of that I wanted to say. Because the last time I wrote I was in California I can tell you that I had a great last day there. We went around and said good-bye to some wonderful people. It's amazing how much love you can have for someone when you've only gotten to know them for a month. They were so sweet as I said good-bye and I received so much love and presents too. I will go back to Pasadena and La Canada to visit for sure. I love the people there. 

I'm happy. 

Well I love you all very much and I'm so blessed to have an amazing family. 
Love, Sister Turner