Hello friends and family! I hope all is well on your end, because it sure is great over here! To start off with my investigators: 

Sarah, the hilarious 72 yr old who lives in SLC, was supposed to meet both her local Elders and Sister Park and I at the North Visitor's Center on Wednesday, but she never showed up. We did get to introduce ourselves to the Elders who will be teaching her though, so that was good. We will need to call her and address her concerns.

We have committed Anthony and Josh to meeting with the local missionaries. This is HUGE because they are sooo prepared and have both been taught the 1st and 2nd lesson from us, so we hope all goes well with that. 

Miracle of the week: So on my online area book, I had come across Bettye, a woman who I had begun teaching with my trainer who seemed soo interested, but I ended up dropping her because she stopped answering any of my calls. I had a feeling I needed to call her again a few days ago, and she answered! She said she was going to meet with the Elders that evening, and that she really needed our call. Her son has had quite the hard time with the only father figure he's known get up and leave his mom. We told her this Gospel would not only help her keep the faith, but her son would enjoy the youth programs that are offered. We are going to keep in touch with her and cheer her on!

Our less-active who lives here in SLC is going to meet us tonight with his family to receive tickets from us for tonight's showing of Savior of the World, a wonderful Christmas production in the Conference Center Theater. We hope it'll more fully unite his family!

Well every Thursday morning we have Relief Society as a mission. Yesterday, we had it in the Relief Society Building, and guess who spoke to us? Linda K. Burton, the General Relief Society President! She had MANY wonderful things to say. Her dad would always say to her: You can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you cannot count the number of apples in a seed. This means there are an ENDLESS number of possibilities and many chances for progression in this life. We do not know what we are meant to become, but God does. She also said that the mission is the MTC for the rest of our lives. Our work ethic in the mission will determine the course of our lives. Don't waste any moment! Serve at all moments that come about. This goes for full-time missionaries, as well as member missionaries.

We went to the Salt Lake Temple for a session this morning as a zone, and our Zone Leaders told us to bring our patriarchal blessings so we could read it in the Celestial room. It was a neat experience. I recommend doing that. It helps you look at it in a different manner.

Tuesday morning, we had the opportunity to go on an organ tour. We were able to go on the Conference Center Stage and sit at the organ,

go behind the scenes of the organ and tour where the pipes are located, as well as do the same for the tabernacle organ. 

We were also able to see the office for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which is a dream of mine to be in when I grow older. This was a neat experience doing this tour! Not very many people get to have a look at where the pipes are located, so I felt fortunate. The spaces were quite small, so someone as tall as I am has difficulty travelling through there!

While being on desk in the North Visitor's Center Wednesday night, I met a couple, the man was from Boston, the Woman from Holland. They are recent converts (baptized in October) and they live in Park City. They used to be Catholic. I asked them what the main difference was that they saw from the Catholic Religion to the Mormon religion: they said Catholicism was based upon fear of going to Hell, whereas Mormonism is based upon love, families, progression. The woman from Holland has agreed to be a member present with our investigator who lives in Scotland. We think that will be a perfect fit!

Well I want to end with a story:

"A youngster was assigned by his father to see to the moving of a large rock. He tugged and pushed, and he lifted and struggles without avail. Some friends were enlisted, but together they could not move it. Reluctantly he reported to his father that her could not budge the rock.

"Have you done all you could?" Asked the father.

"Yes," said the little boy.

"Have you tried everything?" persisted the father.

"Yes," said the boy. "I've tried everything."

Why do so many of us, "heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ," fail to go to him, to keep in touch with our father? He is anxious to help. But he wants us to learn our need for him. to open the door to him.

Linda K. Burton mentioned that if the work wasn't bigger than us, we would think we can do it oun our own. We cannot. Only with the Lord's help are all things possible. (Luke 1:37)

Happy a wonderful Merry Christmas,

Sister Steenhoek

Okay! Lots to say. First off, my investigators are doing well. GOOD NEWS! Our investigator, Jacqui, from England emailed us a few days ago and said She has a rough baptismal date for December 28th!!!! Oh my goodness! My first real baptism! My trainer had one my first week, so I didn't think I could really count that. But I knew she was so prepared. She is ready to receive the truth. The gospel reminds me of one of the grocery store brands of cereal. It's inexpensive and looks appetizing. But when you taste it, you realize it is twice as better than the over-priced cereal! The gospel just gets better and better the more you experience it, and I am so glad Jacqui will get to experience it more.

We also have a wonderful investigator named Sarah Ray, the 72 year old who lives in SLC. We have only talked with her on the phone, but we LOVE her! She is so hilarious and I can tell she enjoys our lighthearted conversations. She is quite interested in the values of Mormons, as well as getting into the temple. Last night we talked with her about the steps to be able to enter the house of the Lord, which included baptism, and she seems quite interested. She thinks the architecture is simply stunning, but our goal is to help her see that it is more than just a beautiful building, but that it has so much meaning with what is performed inside. She is meeting with Elders for the first time on Temple Square, so we are going to join the lesson and meet her as well this-coming Sunday!

We have another less-active who lives in Salt Lake who we are trying to get on track. We invited him to a wonderful performance called "Savior of the World", which occurs in the Conference Center. The tickets have to be purchased and are actually all sold out, but we as missionaries have the special privilege of obtaining tickets for those we teach. We hope this uplifts him and his family!

Something pretty cool: Elder Cook came to our sacrament meeting this past Sunday. Our ward is made up of our Mission Presidency, who presides each week, the senior couples and ushers around Temple Square (the priesthood holders bless and pass the Sacrament), as well as the Temple Square Sisters. Elder Cook and his wife just randomly decided to attend our service. Ya know, just another normal day.

So we had a mission tour this week, which means our Area Seventy and his wife came and spoke to us for quite a few hours. It was Don R. Clark. He is quite a bold man. He told us to stand up if there was someone in our lives who we cared about so much who could use the Gospel. He then told us that Heavenly Father has children (well, all of us) whom he cares about perfectly who need help that are in our reach right now. If we are NOT doing our part to help those precious souls, he will be hesitant to help those who are dear to us. Somethign he also said which really hit me was that Satan does NOT have a P-day. He works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are NOT here to waste time. We need to live in the present and do the very best that we can. The same goes with member missionaries. We are not here to waste time, but to bring others unto Christ. If something isn't going your way and is making you unhappy, focus all of your attention on others, and you will see the light.

Fleet stuff is going good. We are re-doing the fleet bulletin board. We went pro and bought fabric from Joann's and everything. We spent so much time yesterday cutting it to fit our board. When we pinned it up, we realized that there were still a few wrinkles that stuck out like sore thumbs. We went home and grabbed my handy dandy hand-held steamer and started steaming the half-tacked on fabric on our bulletin board. Hey, as long as it turns out good right??

Well I saw Lauren Morris on the Square this past week as well as President Allen, my former stake President in Katy TX. Sorry if I missed ya!

We also were privileged to be able to go to the first presidency Christmas Devotional in the Conference Center. It was phenomenal. We are also lucky to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert this Saturday in the Conf Center as well. I am beyond excited.

Well, friends and family, I hope all is well! Send me your Christmas Cards and emails! I would love to hear from you(:

Sister Steenhoek

December at Temple Square

Snow at Temple Square

Angie and Sister Park

So, this week has been pretty crazy. The fleet end is just endless. But on the bright side, we got 3 new cars and traded in 3 older ones. And guess what their names are?? (Sister Park and I named them ourselves) Tenderheart is our medical car (the main bear on Care Bears, so cute!), and then Flounder and Mufasa are our other 2 new cars. We take pride in our car names.

I saw quite a few people I knew this week for the lights! I saw Garrett Hall's mom from Texas.  I saw Eric Pearson and his family, Melody Chow (a good friend last fall semester at BYU), and Paige Peterson. I also heard that Heather Bown was looking for me, as well as Laura Johansen, who should be reporting on her mission to the SLC South mission, meaning she'll be able to take some of her investigators here to Temple Square!  So great to see everyone.

Well, if fleet isn't keeping us busy, our investigators sure are! Jacqui is doing so well. We finished teaching the Plan of Salvation with her, but she is wondering about prophets. We sent her 2 beautiful talks by President Monson, and we think her outlook will definitely change. Funny story time: We have a new investigator who lives in Glasgow, Scotland named Heather. She had such a thick accent. On our first phone call with her, she had asked us where the nearest "church hall" was to her. Both Sister Park and I hadn't a clue what she said, but Sister Park started explaining what our church believes Hell is like. I was glad she couldn't really understand us either because it was a funny misunderstanding of words.

So this week is definitely the most busy week in terms of lessons throughout my whole mission! It is a good but sad problem to have of like you have almost too many investigators and less-active to teach. We are trying to do our best keeping up with all of them!

My companion and I work so well together. We just laugh all. Day. Long. It definitely helps with the craziness going on in our lives! We are so supportive of each other, and we are even the same when it comes to being okay with the seemingly super big stressful things, but stressing about the little things, such as figuring out what we're going to wear or eat that day.

Overall, things are just going so well! My favorite question to ask people on the square is, "If Jesus were here right now, what gift would you give him for Christmas?"

I would love to hear from all of you! Send me your favorite scripture/lots of your favorite scriptures. I always love hearing of uplifting ones to share with everyone I come in contact with. Have a wonderful week, and remember John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Love,

Sister Steenhoek

Sisters Nakamatsu, Angie, Thacker & Mulliner

Pics of the Nativity at Temple Square - Angie at night

Str. Angie, Str Thacker and her Zone Leaders

Transfers Before Christmas

LOTS to say! Because it was transfers, I will no longer be serving at Welfare Square. It was a great transfer there with LOTS of memories! Onto other exciting assignments. This transfer conference was pretty nerve-racking because 3rd transfers just KNOW their life will be totally changed: no trainer anymore, no same assignment. This is my fate: my new companion is Sister Park, from the US, not sure which state, and my new assignment is fleet. Sister Park is so sweet. I feel so lucky! Only one companionship is in charge of this, and it is a huge job! We are in charge of the sign-ups for the mission cars on P-day, GPSs, whenever sisters have local baptisms to go to, mission-wide events not at Temple Square, sisters returning from outbound that need to be picked up from the airport, sisters going on their outbound to be driven to the airport, maintenance of the vehicles, what to do if a sister gets into an accident, passing off sisters to drive the vehicles, etc! Apparently a perk of fleet is washing President's car every week (celestial car wash!). Tomorrow, Sister Park and I supposedly have to be in the parking garage starting at 4 am for the whole day to make sure the outbound sisters are leaving on time with the right car.

Sister Thacker, my companion for my 1st and 2nd transfer (my lovely trainer) is going outbound! This was so unexpected because she will only be in her 5th transfer. I know she will do great things though!

Since she is leaving, I take over all of our investigators and less-actives. We will have LOTS of work to do!

Sister Thacker and I talked with one of our less-actives, Rob, last night. He asked our last names, and we told him. He is mentally slower, but he is a very sweet soul! I told him and he said, "Steamhook?" "Uh, yeah!" "Hahah. That is funny. You must have a hook with steam coming out of it!" Hah we went with it. He's a funny one.

This morning, we called Jacqui, a new investigator in Surrey, England. She is the CUTEST thing ever. SO prepared. She has a son with autism and a husband with severe MS. We taught her the first half of the Plan of Salvation and then committed her to baptism. On chat today, we picked up another woman from England who we are going to call! I think they are drawn to us.

Our investigator, Gui, in Brazil, went to church this past Sunday! He went to all of Priesthood, where they were talking about Holland's GC talk, Sunday School, and then left after the passing of the Sacrament. He said he talked with missionaries there, and they asked, "Did you come with someone?" He told them no. He came on his own. Hahah he said they were very shocked. Not many people voluntarily walk into church like that! Well he liked it, and wants to return. It is challenging teaching people when you're thousands of miles away, but I know this work is true and will go forward with haste.

I am still in awe at how much Heavenly Father trusts us to care for his precious souls. While we were sitting in the Visitor's Center at Welfare Square, this 56 year old woman named Ema came in with a transient services bishop and asked us if we would help her return to the gospel. She had been homeless for a few days now, and has no where to turn. We talked with her for 2 hours about faith, as well as going back to church. We wrote out goals that she would like to accomplish (career, home, spiritual, exercise) in a year's time. We wrote down scriptures to go with quite a few of them, and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon. When you have and idea of where you want to be in a year etc, you find a way to get there. A HUGE change was seen in her countenance. She was smiling when she left and truly had a determination to change her life around and to come closer to God. We then sent her to the Employment Resource Center, where they helped her out. We gave her our phone number, and I hope she calls! I care about her sooo much!

I want to end with a quote that a sister's dad would tell her all the time:

"The work is bigger than we are. We are blessed to be a part of it. The work isn't better because of us. We are better because of the work. We didn't do anyone a favor by going on a mission, the favors were done to us by allowing us to go."

Sister Angelique Steenhoek

The Salt Lake City Temple.

Angelique and her companion, Sister Thacker at the Music Festival.  They are holding flags because all the Sister Missionaries come in holding their Flag of Origin.

They are in the Tabernacle at Temple Square.

Preparation for the Busy Season

November 20, 2013

So I don't think I will ever have a boring week, let alone a boring day here in the mission at Temple Square. I was getting Disney World withdrawals this past week when a few things reminded me of Disney. First off, we have this investigator, Zach, who is living in Oklahoma, but is from Arkansas and Texas as well. He could DEFINITELY narrate for Splash Mountain (all you Disney fans out there should know what I mean). His accent and laugh are just beyond perfect! We called him to follow up on how his baptism went, but he had told us the Elders never picked him up like they had agreed on, so he never got baptized! They never even called back either. So we were wondering what was going on. Sister Thacker and I expressed our disappointment in the situation, but in his Southern accent he replied, "the Holy Ghost told me that I would be baptized, so I am not worried. When the time comes I guess!" Just melts my heart...!

So yesterday at Welfare Square, we had 0 tours. That has never happened since we served there! So we just had many hours of scripture study, which was so fun because we were telling each other our favorite scriptures to mark. Amidst our excitement, a service Elder comes in the visitor's center, and offer's Sister Back one of those green shield CRS rings if she purchases it. She declined since she says she gets them free from the bishop. He turns around and gives the rest of us sisters a CTR ring at no charge, leaving one for her. It was quite funny that he asked her to pay and then gave us all one. It was the sweetest thing ever though! I will miss Welfare Square and the caring nature.

Well this past week, all the sisters got to attend a production in the conference center theater called, Savior of the World. It depicts events leading up to Christ's life, as well as events right after his crucifixion. It was so beautiful and offered a different perspective I had never thought of before about Christ's life, as well as the immense courage of Mary, Joseph, Zacharias, and Elisabeth. 

All the Temple Square Sisters also put on a Musical Fireside of our own the past Tuesday. It was composed of lots of choir numbers, solos, duets, as well as an ensemble. The main purpose of this was to invite others to come unto Christ and to feel the Spirit. The Spirit was so strong. There were may missionaries that attended from the Utah Valley with their investigators, which was a little intimidating, but it turned out great. The entire General Relief Society Presidency attended, as well as a few area 70s. One of our investigators was able to show up. My sister, Aubrey Greene, and my brother-in-law, Jordan Greene, walked in in the middle of my song. I had recognized them after the fireside was over, which was good because I burst into tears. It was refreshing seeing family!

We have an investigator named Sarah who just moved to the Salt Lake City area. HOORAY!!! We are going to meet her here on Temple Square sometime. This will be our first local investigator! We taught her the Plan of Salvation on Sunday over the phone, and she is quite interested. Super funny: Me: "Hi Sarah, how are you doing?" Her:"I'm okay, how are you?" Me:"I am great!" Her: "Sounds like you just took a swig of Vodka or something. No one is that happy!" hahaha We broke it to her that we are able to be perfectly happy without those substances. Something a little funny, Sarah thinks that Sister Thacker and I are one person. We've tried explaining to her that there are 2 of us, but she said, "Bye sweetheart." Just 1. Not 2. But I think she is still going strong for being 72! 

After emailing, we are going on a tour of the main distribution warehouse (not sure what to call it). It is the warehouse that distributed Deseret products to I believe the whole western US. It is 600,000 square feet, with 50,000 square feet of freezer space. They ask us to wear a thick jacket because we will be riding a golf cart through the whole thing, including the freezer. I am soo excited! I've become a welfare fanatic. It's great!

Well that is all, friends and family. The church is so true. The people are not perfect, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is. Never forget it! Remember, we go through trials to come closer to the one who loves us infinitely. Helaman 12:3

Sister Steenhoek

Angelique and her companion enjoying a November snow.

Sister Steenhoek's November 12th post -

So the first presidency has asked the Temple Square mission to put on a musical fireside tonight in the assembly hall for the public to come to, as well as for missionaries in the Valley to bring their investigators to. I am in a small ensemble, as well as a dance number. I'm quite excited! Our mission president let the whole mission sleep in until 8am this morning because we have been having so many early morning meetings and practices these past few weeks. So nice!

We have an investigator named Becky who is the sweetest thing. She wants to get baptized like no other because she wants the power of the Holy Ghost in her life constantly. She texts us every few days asking us to pray for her that her baptismal interview will go through. I think sometimes we take having the power of the Holy Ghost for granted. I think it is important for us to utilize it to its fullest extent, to the purpose that it is used for, which is to bring others unto Christ.

We also have an investigator from Brazil, with whom we talked to this morning, and he is struggling with the idea of having to make so many commitments. He is earnestly looking for the truth, so it is just a matter of helping him to feel the Holy Ghost testify to him. We committed him to go to church for this coming Sunday, but then the phone cut out! I hope he goes....!

Super funny story: So my companion and I were giving a tour of Welfare Square, and at the Dairy we explain the process of making, slicing and packaging the cheese. Well it was nearing the end of the day, and the workers were finishing up their cleaning processes. I pointed to a tray of excess cheese and asked, "So what do you think they do with that excess cheese? They give it to local food banks." Right on cue, a cheese worker took that tray and dumped all the cheese into the garbage! That's never happened! I was in a bit of shock. hahah I was just thinking... hmmm just a normal day in the life of Sister Steenhoek. I tried to redeem myself with the fact: In 2011, $167,000 worth of excess cheese was donated to local food banks, but I think that war was lost.

Also, in what other mission in the world can you dial a number and security will remove creepy people from your presence? There is this man who is a volunteer at Welfare Square who washes windows, and we thought he was caring a little too much about the windows (and maybe being kind of creepy) in the Welfare Square Visitor's Center. We felt kind of bad, but we hope he didn't get his feelings too hurt!

We found out who our new mission president is! He will be starting mid January. His name is David Poulsen, and he served as the Mission President for a South Africa mission. How cool! He also served in Hong Kong, and therefore speaks Mandarin.

Well I hope all is well!

Sister Steenhoek

This is excerpts from Angie's November 7th post -

This week was full of entertainment. Spiritual entertainment!

I took my first YSA FHE tour last night, and that was fun! I was pretty nervous to take 12 young single adults my age around, but I think it went well. I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to teach them very much, but then I realized that the Spirit is the true teacher, and will testify to me what they need to hear individually.

I heard a new stereotype for Mormon girls the other day that I'd never heard of! We were talking with these 4 women, and afterwards, one of them said, "You are nothing like what people think Mormon missionaries are like." "And what is that?" "You know, long curly hair, serious facial expression." (Hmmmm..... can't say that I do...)

So Halloween here on Temple Square was great .We shut the Square down at 5pm, changed into our comfy clothes, had a baked potato bar, and watch the Chronicles of Narnia. So fun!!!

So it was my companion, Sister Thacker's birthday this past Sunday and it was the first day of snow as well!! So exciting and cute(: Of course we took pictures in the snow.

We taught a man name Beau Jory on the Square the other day. He is not a member, but is searching for something. We invited him to the Temple Square Mission Musical Fireside coming up this next Tuesday night in the Assembly Hall, and I think he will come. We will be singing lots of uplifting hymns and music that hopefully brings others closer to Christ, as well as strengthens their testimony in this gospel.

One of our recent converts texted us with big news the other day, and told us he would let us know what it was the next time we called him. He said, "I 'liked' the LDS page on facebook. It was a big step for me." Hahah I thought that was so cute! And I think that it is great that he was making that step for himself if it was important to him.

Hahah! One of our less-actives that we teach is just so funny. He is a total Californian with the lingo going on and everything. We asked him what he felt at sacrament meeting each sunday and he said, "when I go to the gym, I love talking with the buzzards, those old dudes that go and work out there. Its just like that good feeling I get when I go to church!" He just cracks me up.

Well that is all for now. I just have a few talks that if you get a chance, to look up:

~Absolute truth, I believe in like 1978 Sept? The quote by Joseph Smith talking about how the only way we will come to know God is if we get to know him in his own Sphere-Spiritually, NOT by the ways or knowledge of man.

~The Sustaining power of Faith in times of Uncertainty and Testing- didn't read it all, but it looked incredible

~as well as "facing the giants." It is a little video, not church oriented, but is SO powerful. It just tells how if you set a limit of what your best is, you will NEVER achieve anything greater. You don't know your best, but God does.

Hope all is well! Keep, the faith. When in doubt, forget yourself, and serve others.

Sister Steenhoek and some of her fellow missionaries.

Flat Tires, Apostles, and lots of Chocolate Milk

29 October, 2013

So what do 6 sister missionaries do once they find out they have a flat tire? Of course! Pull into a conveniently located Auto Zone, take pictures with the flat tire, and then go get some snacks and wait for the mechanic to get there.

So Welfare Square is so neat. Something that we are privileged to do while serving there is that we are able to host orders. A host goes around with the people picking up their food order and they mark off the items on a list that that particular person/family is in need of. It is so much fun! It truly shows you that there are lots of different kinds of people with an array of needs. It is both humbling and an honor to go around with them and fill their shopping carts with the food they need. It is fun getting to know each and every one of them! Funny story: we were giving a tour to 2 sets of sisters from temple square, and we had just passed through the cannery where they were canning apple sauce. One of our sisters poked her head in the door and said, "Could I try the apple sauce??" The man working in there loves sisters and gave each of us a jar of apple sauce hot off of the assembly line! That was so nice of him(: The smell of cheese at Welfare Square has gotten quite old, but the wonderful chocolate milk never gets old!

We met Elder Hinckley, President Gordon B. Hinckley's son, as well as his wife at Welfare Square. They were giving a tour to a newly elected senator of Australia, I do not recall his name. But that was neat!

I have seen Elder Williams quite a few times on Temple Square giving tours to his investigators, so it is so funny seeing him around.

Probably the biggest temptation here on Temple Square? Wanting to pick up all the leaves all over the place and throw them in the air, acting like a little kid. The hardships of acting professional.

We have this adorable lady who we got in contact with who lives in the North East, who wasn't understanding that we didn't live near her. When we were talking with her on the phone, she would be like, "Can you tell those nice young gentlemen (Elders) who visited me to give me a call regarding the next visit?" Or, "When will you and I meet in person?" We sadly had to explain to her that we were not in her local area:/ She said, "One day, we will meet. Whether it is here or in heaven. I am so grateful for your service!"

We have this other kid we are teaching over the phone, Josh. He is a high school senior. He had a copy of the Book of Mormon, but hadn't read it in a while, and therefore was losing interest. The scriptures can be likened to any situation(: For some reason, the only thing to try and spark his mind was when Ammon was leading the people of Limhi our of the land of Helam away from the persecution of the Lamanites. Gideon, Limhi's chief general, had the idea of making the Lamanite guards drunken with wine so the people could esacpe with their flocks. Good move, Sister Steenhoek. Hahah afterwards I was thinking, really? That is the first thing that came to mind?? But afterwards we asked him what he was doing at the moment, and he replied, "Not much really." We got you now... I replied, "Great! Could we read with you out of the Book of Mormon right now?" We started with "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents,..." And stopped to provide input. At the end of our reading with him, he sounded quite intrigued with the Book of Mormon and is going to start reading again! The gospel is true(:

We had a surprise guest come speak to us yesterday morning! Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his beautiful wife, Sister Oaks came and spoke with our mission. It was a pleasure!! We all got to shake his hand afterwards. A sister had asked a question regarding a complex question that doesn't directly apply to the basic doctrines of the church. He said to 1. Respond to the question they SHOULD have asked, 2, answer with what you do know, and 3, Don't state personal stances and beliefs. We are not called on a mission to preach the Gospel of Sister Steenhoek, but of Jesus Christ. We should tell people what he would have us tell them. There was also another question asked regarding what we should tell less-active RMs. He responded by telling us the recipe to become less-active:

Stop your spiritual maintenance.

Stop going to church, stop reading your scriptures regularly, and stop praying. This will surely cause you to drift away. Those who drift away no longer have that weekly promise of "always having his spirit to be with them" when they stop partaking of the sacrament. SO powerful and true. That is what is most important.

Just to end, a scripture I just LOVE to share on tours at Welfare Square is Mosiah 4:21. God has given us everything. None of this is ours in retrospect. We should therefore be in the service of our fellow beings. That is where true happiness comes(: 2 Nephi 26:30.

Keep it fun! Play in the leaves for me(:

Sister Steenhoek

                                                 

                                                 Angie with the PR Rep for the Church

Crom- Conference Prom

Oh my. I never explained CROM! Crom is "Conference Prom" We all wake up at 5:30ish and get ready for General Conference since there is a chance we could wind up in the General Conference Issue of the Ensign....not to mention we had to be on the Square by 7:30.....so funny(:

Woah. This week was something else! I feel like sooooooooo much happened, yet here I am once again at the computer emailing away! It is so odd  to think that today is my last P-day of the transfer! Just letting everyone know that I may or may not be able to email next week. Transfers are next week, and who knows when my P-day will be or what my next assignment will be(:

Well for starters, I'll explain last P-day and our craziness. So after emailing, we went to our Zone activity, which was bowling. Afterwards, we went to IHOP to grab some food. While we were there, a sister called our phone, Sister McQueen, and told me she found my camera! It was hidden in the weirdest spot, stuck under a chair cushion at a desk! Anywho, it was found just in time, right before I was about to buy a new camera. Thank goodness! But the thing here is having a flash drive and taking other peoples' pictures that they have taken from events. It really pays to be able to see sisters from my mission each and every day!

We then went to Costco and Walmart to finish out that busy day. I still cannot get over 2-story Walmarts.

Before I get into General Conference weekend, I forgot to mention something about the Relief Society General Broadcast! So last week, I believe I mentioned that I was able to go to it live and sit in the plaza seating. Well the General Relief Society President walks up to us sisters and starts talking with all of us. She points to me and says, what is your favorite primary hymn? I totally blank and say, "uhh it has something to do with Jesus." hahaah how detailed! I could not remember the title for the life of me. But luckily, my co-sister training leader in the MTC said, "is it, 'I'm trying to be like Jesus??'" YES! It is!!! I told the General Primary President of the church, and she said, well you ARE being like Jesus by being on a mission. You are doing a great job. It was a pretty cool moment for sure(:

Now for General Conference!!! It is one thing to watch it. It's another thing to watch it while being on a mission because you are reading these kinds of things non-stop each day. So when conference comes around you are just so enthusiastic with each catch phrase an apostle says. But it is a WHOLE OTHER thing to be part of the entire production of Conference!! Just amazing!!

Some of the people I remember seeing from conference: Brother Crockett my MTC teacher, Lauren Morris and the whole Morris gang(:, Chelsea from my summer BYU ward, Taylor and Dallin (my cousins) and Uncle Matt, Elder Sam Williams from the Katy 3rd Ward in Houston, Sara Herzig from college and Houston, Chantell Bartholomew (I don't remember her new last name!), Amanda-she cuts my mom's and sister's hair!, Jennifer Dukes(:, Aubrey from my winter ward, as well as others from BYU!

Super fun seeing familiar faces! I am sorry if I misspelled your names:/ Anyways, it was a BLAST being on the 'other side' of General Conference. Something we were trying to accomplish was to get lots and lots of referrals for who to we could start teaching from the many members who showed up to Conference. I know that lots of people think that we as missionaries are kind of annoying when we go up and ask if there is anyone in their lives that they think could use a message of Jesus Christ, but I now know that being on the other side of things and being a missionary instead of a member missionary TOTALLY puts things in perspective. Member missionaries, we NEED your help. What I told hundreds of people here over the weekend was that being bold is key. Yes, you need to keep timing in mind, as well as being loving, but sharing the gospel with your friends and loved ones is key. If God wanted to spread the Gospel on his own, I am sure he could do that without any problems(: But his method for missionary work has been laid out for a reason. I believe it is to bring both the missionary (the member OR the one with the black tag) and the investigator closer to Christ.

I feel honored that all of the people I've talked to and all of the people who've referred 1+ of their closest friends and loved ones trust me as a disciple of Christ to bring them unto him. It makes me want to try even harder to see what Heavenly Father sees in his children.

We ended up getting about 65 referrals over the weekend. That is so many precious souls in the sight of Heavenly Father!!!

I talked with this one lady who was just having so many troubles in her life. She broke down in tears right there, and mentioned how she spent most of her life caring for her 10 children, and how she felt no one really appreciated her or even called her by her name. She is having marriage troubles and is having a hard time bringing happiness into her life. I hope that through talking with her that we will be able to bring lasting happiness into her home(:

Well on Monday, we got to sleep in until 12, and Tuesday until 9 am. How late!!!

Monday, Sister Thacker had a fever, so instead of going with us to our service activity from 1-4, she stayed home with one of our awesome zone leaders, Sister Gannon, and Sister George, our other Zone leader, was my exchange companion for the afternoon. It was soooo funny being with her because she just laughed all afternoon long. I don't think there was a moment without laughter during service! We went to Heritage Park and set up for a haunted ghost town type thing they will be doing. Since it shows the history of Utah, we moved handcarts and wagons for our service! It sounds totally silly (which it was!) But it was also such hard work! I respect the pioneers for the many miles they trekked. We got some superb jump pictures out of that service project, though! The usual jump picture, as well as a ninja jump pic!

This morning, my companion and I served in the Humanitarian Center giving tours, and I had NO IDEA what to say! I did not know any of the information, but luckily, my companion had just served there the transfer before(:

 We gave 30 5th graders a tour, and this one was obsessed with dragons haha. He was telling me all about how he draws them in class every day. That age is just so funny!

Sooo you know you're a missionary when you see someone in SLC trying to back out of their parallel-parked parking spot on the street and you want to run over and stand behind them and guide them out of their spot! RMs and missionaries, you know what I am talking about.

Well I drove the mission vehicle today. Kind of exciting. It was funny because my companion was having troubles backing the car out of our parking garage, and pulling it back in, so I came to the rescue in both and we switched places hahah.

Well. We have to go get ready for our Christmas party that we're having as a district! we are watching the Christmas Orange and eating pumpkin pie(:That's all for today! I always jut have so much to say(: Hope all is well! Write me emails(:

<3

Sister Steenhoek

This is Angelique and her fellow Sister Missionaries in a rarely seen area in the basement of the Beehive house.  October 1, 2013

The Work is going Forward

Our calendar is booked with lessons to be taught over the phone this up-coming week. Super exciting!!! Something that I feel that people don't understand about us Temple Square Sisters is really how much missionary work we really do here. We explain to people different things that we do and lots of the time, members have no idea that we do exactly what proselyting missionaries do, just without the walking haha. We have our own investigators, our own less-actives, our own miracles, and we are actually the highest baptizing mission out there! Pretty neat(: The work is hard, but so rewarding.

Another miracle: As we were in the Assembly Hall, I saw this younger Chinese man, around my age or older, sitting down by himself. I went up and talked to him and asked him about himself. He is from China, just visiting SLC for a little bit, and was here out of curiosity. I asked him if he had any questions and we ended up talking about the 1st 3 lessons basically. He told me that he believes that there is a God, but that he is not allowed to openly proclaim it. He said he would watch the news sometimes, and a word would keep popping up in his head, "Mormon." He had to come to Salt Lake because he knew that this is where the Mormons are. He liked the Mormon religion because he knew we worked hard. I explained the Book of Mormon as well as the power of the Holy Ghost, and he asked where he could get a copy. My comp and I went and got him a Chinese copy, and he said, "I have seen the cover of this book in my dreams before." Amazing. We learned later that a sister from Latvia went up to him, and long story made shorter, he committed to watching General Conference!! We couldn't get his info because he lives in China, but we just pray for the day to come that China will open up. I have a feeling that boy will come unto Christ(:

About General Conference, all the Sisters here will be able to attend the Relief Society General broadcast this weekend, as well as 1 live session of General Conference in the Conference Center. We are apparently on the Square from 7 am to 10 pm both Saturday and Sunday. Fun, but SUPER BUSY.

So just an hour ago, my companion and I were talking with a man names Steve who is from England. We were talking about temples and baptisms for the dead when he told us his sister had died of Cancer pretty recently. He abruptly ended the conversation and walked away. My companion and I both looked at each other and she said, we need to go talk to him. We went up, and I bore my testimony about God answering prayers. He asked about Brigham Young, and I told him that he read the Book of Mormon for 2 years before deciding it was true, and then went on a 2 year mission to England. I related to him by letting him know my Grandmother passed away 2 years ago, but that I KNOW I will see her again, and that he will see his sister again too. We could tell he was deeply touched. We later found out that another set of Sisters talked with him and his brother's family, and his brother accepted the Book of Mormon. Steve told those sisters that if his brother converts, he will too. The church is SO true!!

I am way too blessed to be part of this work. The Lord is too good to me. My MTC teacher would always say that, and I totally know what she means. The Lord is just too good to me! I love being a part in the work, and I know that when you completely lose yourself in the service of others, you will forget about your cares. They will seem minute compared to those of others. Just try it out. Christ cares. Just act in faith and a sure knowledge will come to you.

Much love,

Sister Steenhoek

The Beehive House is going great! It is amazing to be able to touch peoples' lives just giving a tour of a historic house. But it isn't just a house. It was the home of a prophet. It is amazing seeing that change that happens in someone in just the 20 minutes you spend with them. Our mission president told us to make people disappointed that they arrived hoping to hear all about the history, yet they leave hearing all about the gospel. We have been doing great in bridging different life events of Brigham Young to the Gospel of Christ.

Our calendar is booked with lessons to be taught over the phone this up-coming week. Super exciting!!! Something that I feel that people don't understand about us Temple Square Sisters is really how much missionary work we really do here. We explain to people different things that we do and lots of the time, members have no idea that we do exactly what proselyting missionaries do, just without the walking haha. We have our own investigators, our own less-actives, our own miracles, and we are actually the highest baptizing mission out there! Pretty neat(: The work is hard, but so rewarding.

Another miracle: As we were in the Assembly Hall, I saw this younger Chinese man, around my age or older, sitting down by himself. I went up and talked to him and asked him about himself. He is from China, just visiting SLC for a little bit, and was here out of curiosity. I asked him if he had any questions and we ended up talking about the 1st 3 lessons basically. He told me that he believes that there is a God, but that he is not allowed to openly proclaim it. He said he would watch the news sometimes, and a word would keep popping up in his head, "Mormon." He had to come to Salt Lake because he knew that this is where the Mormons are. He liked the Mormon religion because he knew we worked hard. I explained the Book of Mormon as well as the power of the Holy Ghost, and he asked where he could get a copy. My comp and I went and got him a Chinese copy, and he said, "I have seen the cover of this book in my dreams before." Amazing. We learned later that a sister from Latvia went up to him, and long story made shorter, he committed to watching General Conference!! We couldn't get his info because he lives in China, but we just pray for the day to come that China will open up. I have a feeling that boy will come unto Christ(:

About General Conference, all the Sisters here will be able to attend the Relief Society General broadcast this weekend, as well as 1 live session of General Conference in the Conference Center. We are apparently on the Square from 7 am to 10 pm both Saturday and Sunday. Fun, but SUPER BUSY.

So just an hour ago, my companion and I were talking with a man named Steve who is from England. We were talking about temples and baptisms for the dead when he told us his sister had died of Cancer pretty recently. He abruptly ended the conversation and walked away. My companion and I both looked at each other and she said, we need to go talk to him. We went up, and I bore my testimony about God answering prayers. He asked about Brigham Young, and I told him that he read the Book of Mormon for 2 years before deciding it was true, and then went on a 2 year mission to England. I related to him by letting him know my Grandmother passed away 2 years ago, but that I KNOW I will see her again, and that he will see his sister again too. We could tell he was deeply touched. We later found out that another set of Sisters talked with him and his brother's family, and his brother accepted the Book of Mormon. Steve told those sisters that if his brother converts, he will too. The church is SO true!!

I am way too blessed to be part of this work. The Lord is too good to me. My MTC teacher would always say that, and I totally know what she means. The Lord is just too good to me! I love being a part in the work, and I know that when you completely lose yourself in the service of others, you will forget about your cares. They will seem minute compared to those of others. Just try it out. Christ cares. Just act in faith and a sure knowledge will come to you.

Much love,

Sister Steenhoek