Temple Time

I was so lucky and got to spend last week with Jennae Emi! I love my baby sis! During her 7 day stay in Provo we had the opportunity to visit 3 temples: Oquirrh Mountain, Provo and Salt Lake City.

Because the Oquirrh Mountain Temple has not been dedicated yet, we were able to go inside during it's open house and see all the beautiful rooms. Of course my favorite was the sealing room. One of the greatest blessings the gospel brings to the earth is the opportunity for families to be sealed together for time and all eternity, meaning that marriages and families don't end with death. I get to be with Emi Bemi fooooorrreeeevvveeerrrr!!!! Think about that Jennae :)



There isn't a temple in my mission area, so I am not exactly sure how that is going to work. I can't go 18 months without a temple! The closest one to me once I leave the MTC (Missionary Training Center) is in Campinas, which to be honest with you, I don't know how far away that is from Goiania (I am having a hard time finding a map of all the Brazil missions). But I will be learning Portuguese in the Sao Paulo MTC for 2 months, and they have a beautiful temple nearby. There are currently 129 temples in operation around the world, so it's only a matter of time!

The Call

I've officially started a blog to let family and friends know all about the mission I have decided to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I have been thinking about a mission since I was in high school (when I accidentally withdrew money from my missionary fund account...oops!) My freshman year of college most of the boys my age left for their missions; boys leave at 19 and girls at 21. Through their letters I got to hear about the opportunities they had in sharing the gospel of Christ and it only made me impatient for my 21st birthday. I wanted to go!

So three months before my 21st birthday (August 16) I met with my Bishop and started my mission papers. I think he was surprised at how hard I was pushing him to let me start my papers. Not many girls are jumping the gun so early before their birthdays...but I'm a Riggs and that means when I know what I want, I KNOW what I want. You might call it stubbornness; I call it determination.

I had doctor's appointments, interviews with my bishop, read talks and articles about preparing to serve the Lord and finally finished all my paper work. I didn't have to wait that long before my mission call came in the mail on Thursday June 25...but I couldn't open it until Saturday! Let's just say I kept myself busy and out of the house so I wouldn't have to look @ the letter sitting on my couch.

Finally on Saturday I got to have a few of my good friends and Chad and Lyndsay, who were luckily in town that week, come over and watch me open my call.


friends and fam watched me opened it but I started crying so Lynds had to finish for me

GOIANIA BRAZIL!!!!!

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the true church. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ and that the things written in it are true. There have been times when I was struggling with a question or problem and when I opened the Book of Mormon my eyes immediately fell on a verse of scripture that answered them all. Amazing! I am so grateful to have a prophet on the earth who is an inspired man, able to receive revelation that helps me to prepare and encourages me to become better. I have seen the blessings the gospel brings to my life and I am so grateful to know that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to listen and answer my prayers. I am so excited to share this gospel which has blessed me with the people of Brazil.