Thursday, December 26, 2013

9/16/13

I'm a little bit sensative this morning. I've been getting more and more that way. I guess it happens with age, and I am quite over the hump. Missions are hard. Mine certainly hasn't been easy. There have certainly been struggles I have faced and struggles I have seen other missionaries face and they are hard. They really are.
Elder Holland gives probably the best talk that I could listen to for days. My love for the Savior just swells within me as I listen to it. 
"Mission President, you'll have occassion to ask, and your missionaries will have many occasions to ask, "Why is it so hard? Why doesn't it go better? Why aren't more people joining the church? Why is it so difficult President? Why do they reject us President? Can't they see this? These are questions that a nineteen, a twenty, a twenty-one, and a twenty-two year old will ask themselves. They're questions I've asked myself. I have thought about it a great deal. I have a feeling, it's not church doctrine per-se it's just my feeling. I'm convinced that missionary work is not easy because SALVATION IS NOT A CHEAP EXPERIENCE! Salvation was never easy... If the could go to the Garden, falling on his face saying 'Abba, Father, Pappa, remove this cup from me...' Why would we believe - Why would we think that salvation would be easy when it was never ever easy for Him! This is the Son of the Living God saying 'isn't there some other way?' ... So Presidents, if your missionaries ask, then they should remember that they aren't the first ones to ask that. Someone much greater - someone much better asked if there wasn't a better, less excrutiating way. I believe that in order come to the truth, to come to salvation, to come to know something of the price which hast been paid, we will have to know something, a little of what the Savior felt. So maybe, since there wasn't an easy way for the Savior, perhaps for us, in token symbolism only, it won't be an entirely easy thing either. So Presidents, you tell your missionaries, when they're discouraged, when they are cast out, when they are spit upon, when they are made a hiss and a byword, they are standing shoulder to shoulder with the best blood this world has ever known! The only true and perfect missionary. They have every reason to stand tall! And if they can learn to appreciate it. The atonement will carry them. Perhaps, even more imporant than it will carry their investigators..."

If there is anything closer to a tear-jerker in the world I don't know what is! I want you all to know something. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I have a testimony that Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw and that he and the other witnesses handled the plates! I testify of the grace of Christ! It has truly carried me thus far through my mission! I have learned to appreciate it. Not completely or perfectly but definitely more than ever. 

Please keep Kayla in your prayers. She is scheduled to be baptized this weekend! She is doing fantastic! 

We also met a lady named Adrianna who was deeply touched by the message of the restoration on our first contact. She had tears in her eyes after the First Vision and we are going to try and get in contact with her this week. 

We recieved a referral from the Zone Leaders in Auburn. Elder Ballard's great grand niece! She wants to be baptized this upcomming week and we still havent met her yet! 
We also recieved another person as a referal whos name is Eden and he is great as well! He is striving to gain a testimony about the Word of Wisdom! Please pray for him! He is so great. 
Well I sure love you all and am so grateful for all you do! And your prayers!

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