An Amazing Weekend

Hermanas Layton, Vilches and Breitenstein at Temple

Holy cow, this was an amazing weekend!!! We had mission conference on Friday. Our mission president told some of us that this would be a life changing experience but he wouldn't tell us why. Well, it definitely was!

Before the conference our mission president had us all read the talks  Ask in Faith and  Seek Learning by Faith by Elder Bednar and said that we would be using the talks during the conference. They always have the sisters sit in the front of the chapel.

We were in the very front row, and guess what! Elder Bednar was the speaker!!! It was so amazing. He talked for a while about the two talks that they had us read and then had a lot of time for questions and answers. It was about three hours long and the spirit was very strong. Towards the end he told us that most of us would never have an opportunity like this again to be with an apostle with so few people in the room. That was sad to think about.

Orange Mission District Missionaries at Temple

Well we were very lucky because when we came to church on Easter Sunday Elder Bednar was there in our ward!!! I feel so blessed that I was able to listen to him again. He is such a powerful speaker. He gave the talk in English but had someone translating it to Spanish. I know that I will never forget this experience. I feel so blessed to have been able to listen to an apostle of the Lord this weekend.

He shook all of the missionaries hands before the conference of Friday which was cool. Elder Bednar's wife and my Mission President's wife are cousins, so I think that had something to do with him coming here. I know that he is an Apostle of the Lord because I could feel it when he spoke.

I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet on the earth today and I am so grateful that we have a living prophet. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Church again  to the earth and what a blessing that is.

Hermana Layton at Newport Beach Temple

That is sweet that Eric is starting his mission papers! He is going to be an awesome missionary. I can't wait to hear where he is going. When can he turn the papers in? Also I can't believe that he is going to be in Anaheim! Most likely I wont be able to see him. There would be a better chance that I could if I was serving in that area, but we are not allowed to leave our area unless we are going on exchanges.

I'm glad that Sister Rush email you the pictures. She is pretty awesome. :) Dad, I miss you. I am looking forward to your next letter. You are the best! :)

Random facts.. there are random wild parrots everywhere here and also wild bunnys. Haha.

Love you all.

I Know That Heavenly Father Answers Our Prayers

Hola! This has probably been the most amazing week of my life. I feel like a completely different person then I was a week ago. I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers because I got a clear answer to mine. The answer might not come when we want, but I know that if we have faith and are patient that it will come on the Lords time.

Showing off her vertical

Last week on Friday night we were supposed to be having class, but it turned into a testimony meeting. I cannot exaplin the spirit that I felt. That night every person in the room including the teachers and every single elder was in tears. I wish there were words to explain it. That experience changed me. There are not words to describe what I felt but I absolutely know without a doubt that my Heavenly Father loves me. I know that this church is true and I can't wait to share this with those people in Anaheim. Maybe they wont be able to understand much of what I say but as long as the spirit is there they can know for themselves the plan that Heavenly Father has for them. His love for us is real. It is amazing how he blesses our lives.

Briana's MTC District Showing Where They're Heading

On Sunday we listened to Elder Bednar's talk that he gave at the MTC during Christmas. It was so good! He talked about how the natural man turns in when Jesus Christ turns out. I have learned how important it is to focus on others. Jesus Christ is our perfect example.

Being here on a mission is the best decision I have ever made. I have never felt closer to my Heavely Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. One of my new favorite scriptures is Mosiah 3:19 :)

The prayer for the fireside went well. I wasn't nervous until I stood up to give it and realized that there were 2000 plus people staring at me and a bunch of cameras zoomed in on my face.. and my face was on the huge screens. Haha. But it really wasn't that bad. Afterwards Andrew Lamunyon came up and we got a picture together. I didnt have my camera but he took one with his. I also saw Brad Marley on Sunday but neither of us had our cameras. I think I'll see him again though. Also after I gave the prayer, an Elder Layton came up and asked which wife of Christopher Layton I was from.

Christopher Layton

He said that he was from the third. Haha... dad do you know? (We're from Sarah Barnes, his fourth wife.) Also I think I forgot to tell you that I met a older lady when I first got here that said she was related to Christopher Layton. (When you have ten wives and sixty four children, things like that are bound to happen a few generations later.)

It has been cool that I know the MTC Mission President. It all started because my new companion had been at the MTC before so when she came back she had to meet with him. So I got to know him then and then he just happened to sit by us at lunch. Now everytime he walks by he talks to us. 

I am so glad to hear that Alyvia's surgery went well. Give her a little kiss for me when shes home. Miss you all! A couple of pictures for you and letters for the boys will be coming soon! Love you all! Adios!