Sister Tenney in New York!: Biggest storm in history to hit NY and of course I am here for it. ❄️❄️❄️ 1/26/15

Hey everybody! This week was great. I really am in the best mission ever! I love New York. Everything that I'm experiencing, I am growing and learning from.

I have been blessed with spiritual experiences before and during my mission. But I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me an understanding that what is most important is not these experiences them-self, but the "why" of them. I've seen how these times have strengthened my faith. I keep them close to my heart, but I've also come to realize that the pure testimony God is strengthening through the miracles, revelations, and healings is really what it's all about.

I've learned a lot out here on the East Coast, some of which I will leave here in the mission field, some I will leave with my future family, and some I will bring with me through the eternities-- that of which is eternal 'truth' or light.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in Him, Jesus Christ, to be the "light" (or another word for truth) of the world. We believe He is the son of God, a perfect being. A man born in a manger, raised by mortals, and crucified by his own. We believe he came, he suffered, he died, he came back, and he will return again.

So.. How does all of this information affect us in our daily lives? Do we have a better understanding than the world does of Christmas and Easter? Do we come to Church on Sunday? Attend our meetings, obey the commandments, go to mutual, go on missions, and fulfill our other church obligations? Yes! But, there hast to be more than that, doesn't there?

Shouldn't Jesus Christ have more of an impact? Not just in "our daily lives" but in our every thought, action, and feeling? Shouldn't He be the one guiding us, leading us, and directing our paths?

So, how do we allow Him to do that?

I'm sure everyone is different. But what works best for me is what us missionaries in NYNYS call "real time repentance". The idea of this is that when we go throughout our day, we recognize immediately whether or not a choice is good or bad. Well, if it's bad, we need to repent, right? So, instead of waiting to the end of the day.. Or week.. To try and remember all of the things which you need to ask forgiveness for. Repent right then! Repent real time.

As you do this, as I have done this, I have felt closer to God and His son than ever before. I have been able to immediately feel of Our Father's forgiveness and unending love. I know you can experience this same thing.

By repenting real time, we allow Christ into our lives. He is able to direct our choices, quickly followed by our thoughts, and our feelings. His Atonement starts to play a roll in our lives like never before, and we gain so much.

My stellar mission President Kevin Calderwood is the one who introduced this to me in the beginning of my journey out here. Through this principle alone, I have a much greater understanding of The Atonement, Repentance, Christ, and Forgiveness.

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I love Him. I truly am serving here in New York, WITH Him. This is His work and I am privileged to be a part of it. This is His Gospel, and it is His Church, He does direct it.

He can change people, he's changed me. And He has the power to change you too.

Love always,

Sister Samantha Mona Tenney