Guided by the Spirit

It's interesting what we can learn throughout our lives and what we learn in a year, in a month, in a day, hour, minute and moment. I have learned a lot lately, I think I said that in my last post, but I want to elaborate more on some of the things I have learned. For one I have learned to listen to the Spirit. The Spirit directs us on how we should live out lives and what we should do, say, so forth. It's really incredible what happens when we can follow the Spirit, what blessings we can see. Before coming out on my mission I had a really cool experience that I want to share about following the Spirit. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, it's something that I have grown up knowing, but I had never before followed Moroni's promise in chapter 10 verse 4&5. I really wanted to try his promise because I was coming out on my mission and I wanted to tell everyone that I too had tried out this promise and I had received an answer, but I'd been so busy with finishing up one more semester, shopping for my mission, going to work, and still trying to have a social life I hadn't done so yet. I couldn't sleep one night, and I had a song stuck in my head that I didn't really want in there. I sang a different song to try to get it out of my head. My go to song for that is my favorite song I learned in Primary in church when I want little, A Child's Prayer. I was singing this song when I realized that it was about praying, duh. I had sung that song so many times before but had never made that connection. I decided maybe the Spirit was telling me I needed to pray. So I decided to act on that. I got out of bed and kneeled down on my floor. My roommate was out so it was just me in the room, and I just started to pray. I didn't know what to pray for though. I didn't have a question I needed answered, didn't have a worry or concern I really needed to pray about. I thought about just saying a prayer of thanks but that didn't feel right either. I searched my feelings and then just started to pray about whatever was in my heart, I just talked to my Father in Heaven. I eventually came to the thought to pray about the Book of Mormon, and whether it was true' it was the perfect time to do so. I was alone, it was peaceful and I was already communicating with God. I prayed about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith being a Prophet. The answer I received was truly beautiful. Yes, you already knew it was true, but thanks for asking anyway.  I knew that God was happy with me, and I could feel His love so strong that I was sobbing for joy when my roommate walked in, she thought something was truly wrong. But I had my answer, and so now I can share that with everyone and tell them that I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and I know that Joseph Smith was and is a true Prophet and that Christ's true church in the fullest is on the earth again. Why do I bring this up today? I opened a new post and thought about what I should say. I thought about sharing some of my personal scripture study, but that didn't feel right, so I paused and listened to the Spirit to guide me in what I should share. This is what I have felt I should share. I hope that it is able to help someone in strengthening their testimony in knowing that if we let Him, God will direct us, and His directions are what will bring us happiness and joy. As in 2 Nephi 2:25, we are that we might have joy.

New Beginnings

I've never been much of a blogger, but I have taken a look at some blogs that people have created, and I have become excited to create my own, especially as a missionary. So let me introduce myself. My name is Sister Tonia Russon, I go by Sister Russon on my mission but that doesn't fly on Facebook. I am 23 years old. I have been on my mission for about 8 months now and I have loved all of it! People always ask me where I am from, and that's always fun to try to answer. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and moved to Edmonton Alberta Canada when I was four. We lived there for a little over a year when we moved to Norman, Oklahoma. After five years there we moved to Clinton, Connecticut and lived there for about four and a half years when we moved to Tooele, Utah. I lived there for three years and then moved to Provo, Utah for school. I don't really feel like Utah is home because of how short my residence in Tooele was and that I was only living in Provo for school. I tend to claim Connecticut, or just North America because it covers everything. I love moving around! You get to experience so many different people and cultures, well American Cultures, and climates too! I was raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and have loved every moment of being a member. I was not your typical teenage girl. When I was in high school in CT some of my favorite music was religious music, and I incorporated my beliefs in all of my English papers. And I attended a church religious class before school started, and even in 7th grade I could not wait to be in high school so I could wake up early in the morning to go to this class. Moving to Utah was an adjustment from not living in Utah, even being a member of the LDS faith, so many people were Mormon, and it was different coming from a town where almost no one was Mormon. I finished high school and was able to attend college and Utah Valley University and finish 62 credits majoring in Deaf Studies with and emphasis in Education. While studying general studies and ASL classes I also studied ballroom dance. I also enjoy oil painting, though I'm not that good. I love reading books, they help me escape and see new places. I love spending time with my family and friends and love to talk! Through out my life I have seen my testimony grown and become bigger and stronger, but nothing has helped that more than coming to serve a mission in Anaheim California area. I have had the chance to share with others my beliefs and my faith to help them see how it will be a benefit and blessing in their lives as it has mine. I have come to love this gospel so much! It's everything to me! I would be nothing without the Gospel of Christ. I have come out here to serve others and love others, but I honestly have found more benefits for me while out here. I know that what the Prophet Benjamin said in the Book of Mormon is true when he said, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellowbeings ye are only in the service of your God," (Mosiah 2:17).  And as we serve God, He is obligated to bless us, D&C 82:10. This is a new beginning for me, and the first of many posts to follow. I want to share more with you what I have learned, how the Spirit of the Lord has blessed and benefited my live, and how my testimony grows. I hope that as I learn and grow more and strengthen my relationship with my Father in Heaven that I can help someone else in their search for happiness and peace too. Please feel free to ask any questions, and I will do my best to answer them. You can also find me on Facebook under Tonia Russon, pretty sure I'm the only Tonia Russon on Facebook, I just checked ;). And I'm on mormon.org too! But I am here to help and to uplift all I can! John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."