Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi everyone!

 This church is incredible and completely filled with imperfect
people! Which, to me, is an absolute relief because I'm a part of it!
This morning I was studying President Uchtdorf's talk "Come, Join with
Us", and he explains why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is for everyone.

 I love this quote of his: "I suppose the Church would be perfect only
if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is
pure. But He works through us--His imperfect children--and imperfect
people make mistakes."

Isn't that terribly comforting to know that this church that we are
apart of allows imperfect people to be a part of it? I am so grateful
for that because I wouldn't stand a chance of being accepted if the
standard was immediate perfection. I'm also grateful that despite my
imperfections and weaknesses, I am allowed to go around and share my
testimony to complete strangers and represent this church. What a
forgiving and loving doctrine. But the most beautiful part of it all
is that although the Lord understands our faults, He still desires
that we work towards improvement. The ultimate goal is perfection, but
in the mean time, all that is expected of us is an effort to improve.

I have, once again, had many of my weaknesses made apparent to me. And
yet I have come to be grateful for the chance to recognize what I can
work on next to become a little more like Christ. Which also helps me
to forgive others for their mistakes on their path to becoming more
like Christ. I am so grateful for this gospel and for the Atonement!

I love you all so much and I hope you are all enjoying your journey of
becoming more like Christ! Happy Thanksgiving this week!

Love, Sister Ricks

Good quote from this week:
"My mom has a lot of fish in her fish tank." -me
"Did you get any of them neutered?" -9 year old boy

I made a pupusa!

Can you guess which one is mine? 

Shameless plug to get more letters :)