Our Hearts Knit as One

47 years ago in the Provo temple we knelt across the altar and we’re sealed for Time and all Eternity. That was a special day for each of us that we hope we never forget, or ever take for granted! Because I am a twin and we each got engaged two weeks apart from each other, we decided to make it easy on our parents and do a double wedding and reception. Thank heavens for the Mitchell and Fuller families they also agreed with that idea. To set the stage of this next story, I have an older sister Margaret who passed away about ten months before this wedding took place. My parents had experienced firsthand of losing a precious family member, their oldest daughter. Thru the planning of our reception my parents wanted every single person to be involved and to feel important! It taught us a great lesson on uniting families. The Mitchells and Fullers families were as important as the Parcells. Every member of all three families had a very important part in the celebration.

We did a garden reception in our backyard in Provo Utah. We really probably never appreciate all the hard work that went into that magnificent reception. My dad and mom worked so hard to make it absolutely perfect.

We see increase conflict between people in the world. We know and have great hope that our Savior Jesus Christ will come again and end all of this conflict. We know from experience that joy comes when we are blessed with unity. We have also felt the terrible affects of pride, which is a great enemy of unity. We are ever grateful for a living prophet who has asked us each to apply daily repentance in our life, How grateful we are for the atonement in our lives!

We continue to see amazing things happening in our branch. This last Sunday in our fast and testimony meeting the majority of those that bore testimonies had not been gathering with us. It was so awesome to see each of them stand and proclaim the importance of being here with us on this Sabbath day. We have doubled our numbers in the last six months. And on our missionary fun night which is held the first Friday of every month we had 56 amazing individuals there! Talk about joy that is truly what joy is!!!!!

The whole branch is super excited about the baptism on Saturday, continue to keep Bill Stocking in your prayers. They have invited 20 to 25 family members. We have been told that our stake presidency will be there, and also President and Sister Heap who are our mission president and wife. Pray that all who attend will fill of our Savior’s love for them.

Our transfer day was last Tuesday. That is always a bittersweet experience. From our District Elder Haynes. and Sisters Ward and Sampson will be going to other areas.

We got a new Elder in our area Elder Stoker. So grateful Elder Schreiner stayed one more time. We feel that it is not a coincidence that Elder Stoker was sent to our area. His mom and family have been taking care of our grandson Elder Hadley in Mesa Arizona, and now he is here in our mission and we can give him a little love.

Branch Presidency Elder Mitchell, President Adams, and Brother Crooks.

We are going to be saying goodbye to our sweet Arelia, she has been a foreign exchange student here in Gobles. We love her so much! She was one that stood up in our fast and testimony meeting, she was so humble and so grateful for all the love that had been shown her this last year. How grateful we have been as we apply the principles of unity with people who are from vastly different backgrounds. Those differences can become opportunities. The Lord can help us see and value what another person brings which we may lack. I am so grateful for the association with someone whose differences from me may just help me be better.

We bear you our testimony that God the father lives, he hears and answers our prayers in love.We continue to pray that unity will increase! Our Savior Jesus Christ continues to reach out to us in Mercy. This is the true Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. President Russell M Nelson is our living prophet today. May we continue to be united in sustaining him with all our hearts, with willing obedience to do what God would have us do.

Elder and Sister Mitchell