Choices and Consequences - Monday, Aug 11, 2014

Family!

This week has been a little slow, teaching wise. A lot of our appointments fell through unfortunately. We had to drop an investigator because he was not willing to progress after 4 months of being visited by the missionaries. However, this week was very productive in that we were able to mobilize our Ward Missionaries.

We assigned them Recent Converts that they will be teaching the New Member Lessons. We will attend those lessons with them as much as possible. Every week, we will have a training, where we will show the Ward Missionaries how to use Preach My Gospel, and how and what to teach in those lessons. They are really excited for this opportunity to teach. We were also able to sit down with our Ward Mission Leader, our Bishop, and Stake President Walker and discuss the Ward Mission Process, and how we can have more effective Ward Councils. It was very successful. President Walker took notes and said he will train on it in his upcoming Bishopric training. We specifically focused on the 15 names list. Right now, the Ward auxiliaries are just throwing names on there and telling us to go find out if they exist or not, and if so, visit them! THIS IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE 15 NAMES LIST! These people have to be invited by auxiliary leaders and WILLING to prepare to participate in an Ordinance. And THEN the missionaries will prepare them for that. It is the members responsibility to visit and to fellowship. The purpose of missionaries is to teach doctrine and to prepare others to participate in an ordinance such as baptism, partaking the Sacrament, or entering the Temple, and not to merely visit them and hope they come to church someday. Please make sure that your ward council is doing this. The Lord said to FIRST seek to obtain my word, and THEN seek to declare my word. We need to FIRST have effective ward councils the way the Savior wants them to be run, and THEN invite people to come unto Christ. 

Elder Talbot and I are having so much fun teaching people in the heart of Tucson! In a couple weeks, we have a member of the 70 coming to visit and tour out mission. It's Elder Malm, who is from Sweeden! 

Something Elder Talbot and I were talking about this week is that serving in Tucson makes me NEVER want to do drugs or alcohol. You see people all the time making horrible decisions under the influence of theses terrible things! It's awful. We are meeting with a less active lady who lives in a very dumpy house, has 4 kids, and she has a lot of pain and sorrow in her life. She turns to drugs, and alcohol for comfort. It's terrible to see, that with another child on the way, her continually going out every night and getting high and drunk off her mind. Her actions have led her to consequences that she can't bear. She asked us "Why me? Why does God hate me? Why does he punish me like this?" God NEVER purposely punishes His Children for no reason. He allows consequences to take effect when WE make choices that detour us away from our Heavenly Father. This lady has had challenges arrive in her life, as we all will. But instead of turning to the Savior, she turned to worldly vices, which have brought even more challenges and heartache into her life. Instead of catching a hint of the pattern she puts herself through, she continues to choose to be damned.

In the scriptures, the prophets say that we break the commandments, we are damned. This does not mean hellfire and lakes of brimstone. To be damned means to have our spiritual progress impeded by our own agency. God never chooses to punish us. We punish ourselves with the choices we make. God blesses us with his love when we turn to Him and His Son. Heavenly Father does everything in his power to keep us safe. There is a reason why the Word of Wisdom is a modern day commandment. He knows better than us. I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

PRIDE v. Humility - Monday, August 4, 2014

Hey family!

This week we had a baptism for Merisa Nunez! She was so excited to be baptized, and it was awesome to see her just glow afterwards.

We had lots of fun his week running into and meeting new people. I'm sure as Elder Talbot will attest, that the people of Tucson are much different than anyone in the world. Which is why we love them! Everyday is an adventure.

There was another crazy monsoon this week, and we got drenched! The roads turned into rivers, and people wouldn't slow down when they saw us on the side of the road, so they just drive right passed us and drowned us in huge waves of desert water! The rain and the lightening are crazy!

We have been teaching this lady, Carrie, who lives in our apartment complex! We met her through a member referral! (which is why she is so solid!) She is the sweetest old lady I have ever met. It's so much fun to teach her, because you can just see her absorb everything. She's gone to church for the passed 4 weeks without us even knowing it! We taught her about Jesus Christ and his gospel, and this week we will share with her the Restoration.

Elder Talbot and I are doing great! It's so awesome and strange to have all these memories from  home come back to my mind! Elder Talbot is doing great! He is learning a lot and is turning into a phenomenal teacher.

This week I had my first interview with President Passey. He's a pretty funny guy. He's a huge comedian. He gave me some advice on how to handle this ward, because it's such a high maintenance ward. But we stay busy, which is good!

This week I studied pride. It's interesting how ride leads to all sin. When we are prideful, we reject the advice and teaching of our leaders and ultimately God. Pride occurs when we care more about our social status, and what our peers think of us, rather than our relationship to God.  In the scriptures we see so many examples of pride leading people to destruction. Mormon said that the pride of the Nephites is what led them to be completely wiped off the face of the Earth. Pride is what caused King Noah, after almost releasing Abinidi, to listen to his peers, his corrupt priests, and to slay Abinidi. Pride is what caused Lamen and Lemuel to harden their hearts against their father and their little brother. Pride is what brought our Savior to be condemned, as the Pharisees were afraid, as their social status was threatened. Pride leads to destruction. It is the natural to have pride. But we are taught to put off the natural man, and be submissive, meek and humble. I think it is important to note that making sure we have no pride, does not mean that we should have a lack of confidence. We must be confident in ourselves, but above all, confident in Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father. As we do so we wont care as much as to say "What will people think of me?' rather, we must have the question continually in our mind "What will God think of me?" And as we do so, we become effective instrument sin the Lord's hands. Iove  yall and have an awesome week! 

STANDARD OF TRUTH - Monday, July 21, 2014

Hey Family!

Well, I just skimmed over the headings of the emails I have received and CONGRATULATIONS TEAG AND TISH AND TRY! That's so exciting! MAN! I'm gonna have TWO nephews when I get home! CRAZY ! haha! Wow, that's awesome! And Trysen is going to be and OLDER BROTHER! What a champ! haha!

This week was great! Elder Talbot had his eyes pop open a little bit as we have tracted and street contacted a lot down town and the surrounding area. On Tuesday, HOLY COW! There was this huge lightening and thunder storm, and for a little bit, it was right above our apartment, and it cut out our power, and shook our whole apartment. It was LEGIT! Haha! SO COOL! And the rain just POURED! Tucson does NOT know how to make roads. The roads just turned into rivers. That didn't stop us from going out and getting to work though. But no joke, the water on some roads was up to our knees. And had a pretty strong current. It was crazy! The underpasses had to be shut down, cuz they were COMPLETELY flooded! It was a lot of fun to bike in that whether!

Also on Tuesday, this guy pulls his car in front of us, and says "HEY! I wanna talk to ya!" He pulls his car to the side of the road, and gets out and introduces himself as the "anti-Christ and the jack Mormon mafia leader." He just started bashing on stupid stuff how Jesus Christ was actually Alexander the Great, and all this weird stuff. Sometimes - especially in Down Town Tucson - people just say things that are just so stupid I just laugh. I accidentally laughed at this guy, and he got SOOO MAD! He started cussing hard core at us. I've never had the middle finger waved so close to my face before. He told us to leave this town and never come back....lol I wanted to recite the Standard of Truth to him, but I just said k, seeya! We then biked away. He was so mad, he was still screaming and yelling at us. I was afraid he was going to chase us with his car, so we booked it and took the side streets. I didn't really think about how Elder Talbot took that, until I looked at him, and he was pretty shocked. Haha! But for some reason we ran into that stuff alot this week, and he's starting to get used to it.

Elder Talbot is an awesome teacher! He's extended a couple of baptismal dates, and found quite a bit of potential investigators for us! He says like the last two weeks have felt like two months. haha! I remember being there. It's a crazy time.

This area is starting to pick up again! We just swept the area book this last week, and tracted a TON! We now have a couple new investigators! This area is different from any area in the mission, because the people in down town Tucson are just insane sometimes. It's pretty entertaining! haha!

I found during that after talking with that guy, that my testimony has grown so much stronger. We faced a lot of opposition this week. Probably more than I ever have on my mission. I remember at the beginning of my mission, sometimes it tore me down, or discouraged me. Now, it builds me up. I know that the work will move forward no matter what. Even through opposition. At the beginning of each Zone meeting or district or transfer meeting, we recite a couple things. We recite our purpose as missionaries, and D&C 4. As well as "The Standard of Truth" that Joseph Smith proclaimed. I want to share it with you. All together, the missionaries say:

"Our Missionaries are going forth to different Nations. The Standard of Truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, and Calamity made defame. But the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent. 'Till it has penetrated every continent, visited every climb, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, until the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say 'The Work is done'" -The Prophet Joseph Smith.

I know that even through opposition, nothing and no one can stop the work from progressing. Remember that! I love you all, and have a great week!  

Desert Storms! - Monday, July 14, 2014

Family!

This week Elder Talbot and I got in a big fight..... LOL JK :) We're having the time of our lives! I am so happy he's my companion! He's awesome! Man, memories of home have just been flooding back. But I'm not trunky! Haha! He's really a hard worker and is anxiously engaged in the work and the progress of our area! It's awesome! He's off on a great start!

We did lots of studying this week. The first presidency came out with a program that lasts 12 weeks for new missionaries, so that even with less time in the MTC, we don't lose our effectiveness in the field. So that consists of an extra hour of studying. So 3 hours of studying every day. Haha! My brain is fried. We really worked hard this week! This area has been in the dumps the last couple of transfers, and we are starting to pick it up! We found lots of potential investigators! Elder Talbot extended his FIRST baptismal date! It was awesome! They accepted! :)

We went through our area book and just blasted through it, reorganizing everything, getting in contact with everyone. Things are looking pretty promising! Elder Talbot doesn't like the bike too much! Haha! I was that way when I first came into this area, but you get used to it. MAN there's been some crazy lightening storms lately! It's awesome! On Tuesday night, I couldn't go to sleep cuz it was just huge flashes every 2 seconds! Never seen anything like it! It also monsooned pretty dang hard yesterday. It was awesome! The streets were like rivers, it was crazy! It got up almost knee deep on the roads! The underpasses on the freeway were completely flooded and they had to block it off it was crazy!

Anyway, things are awesome down in Tucson! This week I was studying in 2 Nephi 5, and it's talking about the people of Nephi and the things they did that made them live after the manner of happiness.Iif you look into chapter 5, they were an industrious people, meaning they had to work hard. They had faith, and hoped for things which were prophesied, and they qualified themselves for the spirit. They followed the commandments, and this is what caused them to live after the manner of happiness. The world likes to have you think that happiness comes when you don't have to work anymore, and you can do whatever you want. That is a lie. That is how you live after the manner of sadness. True happiness comes when we are industrious, when we work hard, follow the commandments through obedience, and qualify ourselves through the spirit. I think our family is really good at living in the manner of happiness. I love you all, and I hope summer is going great! Have a great week! 

Fern Prairie Connection YET AGAIN!!! - Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Family,

This transfer I am training a new missionary! He is sitting right next to me. And his name is..... -Drumrole-...... ELDER TALBOT!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D! That's right, I get to train Tanner! Hahaha! It was so good to see him this morning. I went up to him and gave him a big ole' hug! It's soooo weird to see someone from Camas! Gosh, I'm so excited for these next two transfers!! They are going to be awesome! It'll be fun! I'm so excited! Right now he's exhausted, cuz he's been running on like 5 hours of sleep in the last two days. Haha been there. I'm so stoked! This is going to be so much fun!! 

Anyways, this last week we had our first meeting with President and Sister Passey. They are waaay different from the Killpacks, but seem pretty awesome! Can't wait to get to know them more throughout the next 14 months. They are both really knowledgeable in the scriptures, and spiritual power houses!

This week I had an experience that with justice and mercy. It's so interesting how quick we are to execute justice and judgement on other people, and how slow we are to extend mercy. Christ is our advocate with the father through repentance. If it weren't for him, we would all be destroyed by justice. However, our Heavenly Father provided Christ as the plan of mercy, because they have an infinite love for us. So my goal is to look at people no matter how they treat me, with mercy, instead of judgement and a longing for justice. I know that I need mercy just as much as the next person. I love you all, and hope you have a great week! 

President Passey - Monday, June 30, 2014

Hey family!

This week has been pretty different! This morning President and Sister Passey arrived in the mission, and in an hour or so President and Sister Killpack will be headed home to Delta, Utah! I'm excited to see the different changes that come with having a new mission president. We have a whole bunch of meetings this next week with him and the following week, I have my first interview with him. 

Things in the Central Ward are going great! We are working hard and finding lots of new potential investigators. I'm fairly certain I will take over the area next week, which I think will be good. Haha! One of our investigators, Perseus got his leg amputated this week and we went and saw him a lot in the hospital. Makes me grateful for all that I have and the body Heavenly Father has given me.

This Saturday was insane. So my area covers all of down town Tucson and surrounds the U of A campus. So it's a huge college town. The college kids are always crazy drunk on the weekends. It's pretty funny and makes for good stories for street contacting. This whole crowd was like shouting at us and cussing and yelling at us as we were walking by on Saturday. It was scary! It's crazy how much the adversary is working. We need to work harder! This morning we went and toured a HUGE Catholic Cathedral. It was pretty cool. There was lots of gold and silver and fine twined linen.



I'm sending some stuff home today including PICTURES! I know mom will be excited about that! haha! I learned this week a little bit about grace and about the Atonement. There are some pretty good articles in this months Ensign! There is one by the 2nd counselor in the presiding bishopric. Once he was asked if God will ever give us challenges that stop our progress and his response was NO! Absolutely NOT! He would NEVER EVER do anything to stop our progress in life. However, he does present us with opportunities to grow. Look up 2 Nephi 2:1-2. There Lehi talks about the Lord consecrating our afflictions for our gain. What does consecrate mean? It means to make holy or sacred, or it's used as a big purpose. So we go through experiences in life that are very personal and very sacred and if they are not endured by OUR choice, they can destroy us, but when endured well with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they are used for our spiritual gain. In order for ANYTHING to get better, it must first get worst. In order for us to experience the blessings of the Atonement, Christ had to suffer and be crucified. Three days later, he rose again fulfilling the Atonement!

It is the same with us. In order to grow and learn, we have to "take up our cross" and bear our trials with Christ. And if we do that, we will come out stronger than ever. A lot of times we ask in life "why me? Why did this have to happen to me?" When really we should ask the question "What can I learn from this experience? What is Heavenly Father trying to teach me?" I know I have a hard time doing that, but when I do, I find that I am better able to endure trials and challenges with an eye of hope! I love you all! And next week is transfers, so I will talk to you on Tuesday! 

Testimony v. Conversion - Monday, June 23, 2014

Family!

This week was an emotional roller coaster. This last Friday, we had our farewell conference for President and Sister Killpack. Holy cow was that the saddest thing I have ever had to go through. The spirit was so strong as I listened to their final testimonies. I couldn't even sing the last Hymn "Till We Meet Again" because of the emotions and the spirit I was feeling. When I feel the spirit I'm a huge cry baby, it's awful! After the Conference I went up to President Killpack, and I tried so hard to hold back my tears, but I couldn't, it sucked! But I was able to mumble out how thankful I was for him and how he helped me change my life. He gave me a huge hug. It was pretty scary. He's a pretty big guy. He told me to keep going, that I was on the right track, and that he was proud of me. President Killpack is the most Christ like person I have ever met. He is a spiritual giant, but is hilarious, and outgoing. I'm going to miss the Killpacks so much. I can't tell you how much they have affected me and how much they have helped me change my life. Missions are full of goodbyes, but I know I'll see the Killpacks again. We have a reunion every October. So right after I get home next year, there will be a reunion in Delta I think. I can't wait. I got a picture of Sister Killpack cutting my tie. She's awesome!

President and Sister Passey are coming in next Monday. It's going to be very different. I feel like a huge chapter of my mission has come to a close and I'm ready to embrace the new one. Next Friday we have our first Zone Conference with him, and then we have our one on one interviews. I'm looking forward to it. 

Yesterday in church I learned the difference between a testimony and conversion. A testimony are things that we know to be true, but conversion is when we actually live it and see the blessings then. For example, we know we should eat healthily and excercise. It's a universal truth, but do we all do it? Nope. It takes dedication, and hard work. The same is true for the Gospel. I have had a testimony my whole life. I have never doubted that the Gospel is true, but have never truly been converted. I believe it has taken me getting on my mission to start the conversion process. Conversion is a life long journey, and there are inevitable ups and downs. For example, on Friday at the Zone Conference I felt the spirit probably more than I have ever felt before. That day I had a true and sincere desire to do the Lord's work - and love it. Then on Saturday, we talked to four people in a row who were completely set out on convincing us that there was now way there is a God. They used every logic and every reason they could to denounce the existance of a God. They were preaching at us!!! All of them! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They mocked and spat on our testimonies and tried to stop my conversion. I felt hopeless., but while they were blaspheming, I just prayed and prayed, and held on to my faith. At the last person, I was able to stop them and bear my testimony. I don't think I have ever speken so boldly and with conviction as I did then. It didn't change their mind, and I walked away in total bewilderment, but I knew that I had become stronger. I felt like Satan and his armies were targeting me. I felt the spirit so strongly the day before, and the next day, Satan tried to destroy it. However, because I held on and stood true to the faith, I feel much stronger.

I feel like that is the process of conversion. We will face terrible challenges in this life, but we CAN overcome them! It's incredible! When we do, we are stronger for it! I thought I should share that experience with you! I hope all is going well at home! I love you all! Have a great week!