2025-11-06_email_hi
From: jason.heywood@gmail.com To: kaitlynn.heywood@missionary.org CC: kaitlynn.heywood@gmail.com Date: 2025-11-06 Subject: Hi!
Hello my beautiful and amazing hija! It was so nice seeing you and talking to you. It always is. I sure miss you, but wouldn't have you doing anything different with your life right now. Don't worry about BYU-I - everything will work out.
Check it:
D&C 84:81-85
81 Por tanto, no os afanéis por el día de mañana, por lo que habéis de comer o beber, ni con qué os habéis de vestir. 82 Pues considerad los lirios del campo, cómo crecen; no trabajan ni hilan; y los reinos del mundo, con toda su gloria, no se visten como ninguno de ellos. 83 Porque vuestro Padre que está en los cielos sabe que tenéis necesidad de todas estas cosas. 84 Así que, dejad que el día de mañana se haga cargo de su propio afán. 85 Ni os preocupéis tampoco de antemano por lo que habéis de decir; mas atesorad constantemente en vuestras mentes las palabras de vida, y os será dado en la hora precisa la porción que le será medida a cada hombre.
Everything will work out. Heavenly Father knows the end from the beginning. No stress.
When we last talked, you had asked a question about nitpicking (focusing on small faults, perceived imperfections / minor issues). I have been pondering and studying about this to know what to say and how best I could help. Whether we are the source or the target, it is difficult or impossible to have the spirit all while pointing out flaws in others, in the spirit of negative intent. A spirit of love often conveys itself differently than otherwise.
Here are some patterns I have learned about to help us respond, rather than react, to criticism.
1. When we are faced with criticism, it is best to respond, not react.
Ponder what this means. How are these two things different? Can you find examples in the scriptures of those who responded, and those who reacted? Consider Moroni and Pahoran… are there others?
2. Seek the Spirit Before You Speak or React
Pause. Breathe. Prayerfully think about what was said. Be humble and swallow your pride. Choose to listen to the underlying truth. Prayerfully invite the Holy Ghost to guide your thoughts, words, tone, and timing when you feel criticized or misjudged.
1 Nephi 17:17–19 - Nephi's brothers mocked him, when all he was doing was what he was told to do by the Lord. How did Nephi handle it? If we read the subtext as to why his brothers were complaining, it helps us see them and respond better than simply to react. Notice - Nephi's response was with love. He was responding to the why, not the surface words. He realized that his brothers had no testimony, so he spoke to that - he used the scriptures to help them understand, then he reminded them of their own experience, and finished by expressing his love to them - see verse 47.
John 8:6-7 - When Jesus was confronted by Scribes and Pharisees, with clear nefarious intent - what did Jesus do? Did he react or did he respond? Notice the pattern:
6. ...But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground… 7. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
The Lord will help us, but we need to have an open heart, humble to grow and meek. If we are in the right place he has promised: Doctrine & Covenants 100:6: "For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say."
"All of Christ's teachings point in this direction… love God, live His commandments, and forgive everyone" Elder Quentin L. Cook - Personal Peace in Challenging Times
3. Focus on Eternal Principles, Not Petty Disputes
When you feel like you are getting pinpricked over seemingly small things (like appearance, timing, personal style), remember why you are on your mission. Zoom out. You'll find the comment doesn't matter, and honestly, if we don't let the comments stick, they will 100% fall away. ESPECIALLY if we don't react to it. Anchor your vision on why you are there, not the small annoyances that make it hard, and you won't even remember in a week, month, year…
Remember - "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives" - President Nelson "Joy and Spiritual Survival"
I have about 5 more, but I need to get back to it. I'm going to leave you with these for now. I'll send more tomorrow and such. Don't worry, I'm not done. I want to spend time on this because it is also an awesome focus for my study time.
I love you so much. I am so proud of you. Be where you are. See your companion and those around you as God sees them. Keep moving forward and giving grace to yourself and the rest of us imperfect weiners who are just trying our best not decide if it's just gas and finding out it was so much more. Haha oh man.
Here is in an Irish joke, but you have to say it in an irish accent: "Why does Irish bean soup only have 239 beans? Because 1 more would make it too farty" hahaha - here is the phonetic version to help you: Woi duz Oirish bane soop own-lee hov too-tree-noyn bayns? Bekoz wan more wud moyk it too fahr-tee.
Ok for realz I'll let you get back to it. I sure love you. I'll send you another email with more things I'm studying.
-Dad
I visited Natalie at work yesterday and found these teeth in the candy bin while I was looking for a lollypop. So I put them on because I'm a 12 year old boy.
Attachments: 8E24A5B4-8647-497F-883F-CD8CFE136950_1_105_c.jpeg (Jason wearing fake teeth, not downloaded)