Ask Seek Knock

Good morning family!

Sounds like you all had a pretty hectic week with job changes, trips to New York and Chicago, to Jordan's graduation from BYU....I bet you are all ready to take it easy--at least until the baby comes!

Have they decided on a name yet? Actually don't tell me until it's born or it will spoil the surprise! 

I didn't get to hear about Brycen or Jenessa. What's up with them? And when is Jenessa going to Dominican Republic? because we are teaching a less active member from there. 

A lot of things happened this week

Audrey: So apparently she didn't have a good first experience at chuch. She thought it was too irreverant and that she couldn't feel the spirit because of the kids. She thinks they should be put in a daycare. We are still meeting her tomorrow, but her interest level to get baptized went down quite a bit. We weren't able to meet with her last week because she was sick she said. I don't think she was as sick as she made it sound. We are bringing brother Ayoroa tomorrow so hopefully we can resolve her concern. Irreverance is definitely a problem in the church, but there's not a lot you can do about noisy kids

Netty, Lechi, and Michael: : Met with them saturday. Michael who is 13 is very receptive to the spirit. He loves the first vision, and reminded his Dad after the first vision that they had a Restoration DVD that they watched 2 times together a while back when they livedi n Chicago! His father didn't remember that happening. Netty likes to overthink things a lot. Whenever we would share a restoration scripture like Ephesians 4:11-14 about apostles, he would try to redefine what an apostle is and stuff and just overcomplicate things. We didn't get to talk to the wife because she was sick with her baby or something. She seems more receptive than Netty though. Hopefully we will get to meet them again this week, because Netty is flying back home to Africa for like a month. That would be cool if he would let him teach them while he is gone, but we're not sure how he'd feel about that being the man of the house. 

Peggy Gr: Some weird things are happening with her. We started teaching her Tuesday and she has some form of autism. She can understand some things, but others she can't quite grasp like when we asked her 'from what we explained, why is the priesthood important?" We showed her a picture of Moses holding the tablets and so she answered "because Moses held the stone tablets so when Jesus wrote the commandments on them they wouldn't fall down." That was pretty funny. She also shows glimpses of promise like she remembered the date when the Angel Moroni came to Joseph Smith, and she actually reads what we tell her to. She came to stake conference yesterday. She said that she feels like she should come to our church instead of her other baptist church because she feels like commiting suicide at her other church but not at ours. Her mother recently passed away where there was some controversary about how she actually died. Then , like hours later she texted us that "we believe in a different Jesus," which we found out her sister told her. And now she is texting us that she wants us to come by tonight instead of tomorrow morning. It's all so confusing. Also, I've heard lots of missionaries say about particular people that they aren't accountable to teach. Sometimes we feel like she is, and other times we don't. We'll see how it goes. She LOVES JESUS though. She told us of an experience of how she and her dog had the last supper together! She blessed bread and fruit punch instead of water/wine. Keep in mind that she has autism. What is the church's policy on people being "accountable?" People who are born under the covenant who would be considered "unaccountable" are baptized so can't people who aren't as well? How accountable to they have to be I guesss is what I am asking. 

Waleska: we had a cool lesson with her. Though her mother is Catholic and her father is less active, she loves the primary songs of the church! She knows how to play "Book of mormon stories" and "follow the prophet." So we had an idea to have her play those two songs since they fit in the restoration lesson! next time when we teach her the plan of salvation, we asked her to learn "I lived in Heaven" and 'Did Jesus Really Live Again." She also reads a lot and wants to read 4 chapters of the book of mormon at age 8 (she will be 9 next month). The only problem is that her mother doesn't want her to be baptized until she is 18 and so we will see how long we end up teaching her. We are going to focus more on the dad being more active which were help her chances of being baptized earlier. Waleska really loves us and gave us hugs. She is a sweetheart and wants to be baptized. 

This week we also had a ZLT where I got to play a musical number with a Sister Day. It was a Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief and I had only 2 days to get it down! Though I didn't play it perfectly, I felt the spirit in my hands helping me or something. IT was cool. I also realized some things in my patriarchal blessing that had to do with that as well which I won't repeat of course. Those who have been able to read it may know what I am talking about. 

Also this week worth mentioning, we talked to a less active named Andrew. he is about 55 and hasn't been to church in a long long time. He is a returned missionary and went to BYU. We also found out that he is the nephew of Bonnie L. Oscarson. He didn't even know that she was a general authority. He talked to us about how he got really depressed on his mission and it got progressively worse after when his parents split up. His grandparents were the st.louis temple president and matron at some point. he ended up getting into anti mormon material and felt like the church handled some things the wrong way. he felt like the church tried hiding things from its members and the general public. I'm not sure about all of that. It's really weird though because he said that he likes the cultural aspect of the church and is considering maybe coming back. He tried explainig how hard it is form him to believe the book of mormon is true because he says there is no evidence supporting it. (not true). Elder hayes showed me a cool book called "The book of Mormon on Trial" by some author. IT's like in comic form and I looked through it a little bit because it examines the book of mormon like a court case and debunks all of the lies and theories. Some of you might like to read it. i don't have time to really. i wish I did.  Andrew needs to read his aunt's talk from general conference! i felt really bad for him. He is a really nice guy and I have hope for him. 

This week I've been studying up on the Holy Ghost. Elder Bednar is an expert on that topic. 

First I read about "What is the Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion" and then Receiving, Recognizing, and Responding to the Holy Ghost." 

Some great quotes:

"The holy ghost is soft and subdued like the pitch of a tuning fork.The holy ghost is constant, steady, and sure. It is not brash like the crashing of brass cymbals. These delicate, refined spiritual communications are not seen with our eyes or heard with our ears. And even though it is described as a voice, it is a voice that one feels more than one hears...it whispers...it carresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all...You and I MUST TUNE THE STRINGS OF OUR SOULS TO THE STANDARD OF THE HOLY GHOST." David A. Bednar

"I have learned that strong, impressive spiritual experiences do not come to us very frequently. And when they do they are generally for our own edification, instruction or correction..I have come to believe that it is not wise to continually talk of unusual spiritual experiences. They are to be guarded with care and shared only when the spirit itself prompts us to use them to the blessing of others."--BOYD K PACKER

"There are many who question the strength of their own testimony and spiritual capacity. If you have similar thoughts or doubts, please know that you are normal and everything is okay...People who have pround spiritual experiences do not talk about them, except in the rarest of circumstances......you simple, faithful obedience and dedication are the surest indicators of your spiritual capacity. Just keep moving forward with faith in the savior, and you will be fine." DAVID A BEDNAR

"Now brothers and sisters, there are many deceptive and counterfeit tones that imitate the true sound and standard of the tuning fork. For example, I wonder if we sometimes too easily mistake personal sentiment and spiritual sensationalsim for the promptings of the holy ghost. If we are not careful and discernign, we may mistakenly follow a false sound that will lead us astray."

"For nothing is greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influecne of a false spirit when they think they have the spirit of God." -JOSEPH SMITH

3 principles to guide us to RECEIVE, RECOGNIZE, and RESPOND to the holy ghost. The 3 Rs:

1. We must desire the companionship of the holy ghost

      this should be what we most desire when we pray.

   (read 3 Nephi 19:9)

2. We must invite the companionship of the holy ghost.

    we do this by:

Making and KEEPING covenants

 SINCERE prayer

 SINCERE scripture study, 

SINCERE worship at home and church

VIRTUOUS thoughts actions, language, dress, etc.

I have heard many people say that it's okay to just follow the spirit of the law and ignore the letter of the law . I think there is a misinterpretation of what living the spirit of the law is. (this is me speaking)

"Please do not believe the falsehood that somehow you and I can 'live the spirit of the law, even when we are in violation of its letter.' The small things really do matter when it comes to personal worthiness and inviting the holy ghost into our lives...even matter that are considered relatively small deviations will seriously affect your capacity to be led by the spirit." -M. RUSSEL BALLARD

To me, folowing the spirit of the law means that you also keep the letter of the law. You strive to be exactly obedient but you realize why you are doing so. You can't follow just one or the other. 

The spirit of the law is the 'why' of the gospel. For example "why do we keep the law of chastity?" The letter of the law is the 'what' of the gospel. For example "What is faith?" Elder Quentin L. Cook said about understanding 'The Spirit' of God's commandments. "Doctrine usually answers the question 'why?' principles usually answer the question 'what.' Whenever we emphasize how to do something, we risk looking beyond the mark. At the very least, we fall into the trap Paul described to the Corinthians (2 Cor 3) 'for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life

3. we must heed simple promptings quickly

"We are prompted everyday...to do simple and ordinary things. To the degree that we heed these simple promptings, then our capacity to recognize and respond to the holy ghost is increased...We are either progressing or regressing in our ability to recognize and respond to the holy ghost. There is no neutral ground or standing still......We cannot realistically expect to recognize 'big' promptings if we consistently fail to heed 'small' promptings. The lord's pattern is to teach us 'line upon lin, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little (2 ne 28;30). Thus, revelation from our heavenly father comes most frequently in small increments, and like all knowledge, is granted according to our preparation. Misguided attempts to get spiritually supercharged throgh unusually long prayers, lengthy and unwise fasting, and intensiveshort-term temple attendnace certainly are no substitute for gradual, consistent, and conscientious attention to the promptings of the holy ghost."

"The church of Jesus Chris is the 'only ture and living church upon the face of the whole earth. it is the holy ghost and its attendant spiritual gifts that make this church living. And may each of us bgecome a living member of this church by living in such a way that the holy ghost can be our constant companion."

As I studied this, I realized the meaning of the scripture in Matt 7:7 

Ask, and ye shall, receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you

This scripture goes hand in hand with the 3 principles Elder Bednar shared. 

1. Desiring to revceive the holy ghost. How? Through Prayer (ASK)

2. living in such a way to invite the holy ghost to be in our lives (SEEK)

3/ We must quickly obey promptings (KNOCK)

ASK   SEEK   KNOCK

I know that asking, seeking, and knocking are the keys to cultivating the gift of the holy ghost. I have seen that as we do our best to follow the promptings the holy ghost and to show God that we treasure them above many other things, that our love for Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost will increase. 

Have a great week! Thanks for enduring through this long letter!

ELDER SOUTAS

Elder Hayes and many contacts this week

Hey everybody

This week was pretty awesome! I got a new companion named Elder Hayes. He is 3/4 Mexican and Puertorican and he speaks fluent Spanish. On his very first day in the area we contacted a media referral we received last Saturday,and it was perfect because she speaks spanish.. But we set a return appointment for the next day, brought Brother Ayoroa with us who is from Bolivia, and invited her (Audrey) to be baptized! The lesson was really good. She started to tear up a little bit after we invited her. Her brother lives in Champaigne, IL and is getting baptized soon, and much of the family is already baptized. Audrey is a very kind woman. After we taught her the first lesson, she was so kind and said that she prepared some food for us. She made an amazing tasting blackbean burger or something. It tastes like it is made of meat but it has none! It was so good. 

The timing of us meeting Audrey was so amazing. She explained to us that she has been wanting to understand why her family is all of sudden becoming Mormon. She sees they are happy and so she decided to google 'Mormons'. It led her to a webiste (probably Mormon.org) and then she got to reading, was interested, and so she referred herself, requesting for a book of mormon AND missionary visits. She was startled as she received a phone call a few minutes later from church headquarters confirming her request. A few hours later we called her and set up the appointment. She was very grateful how fast God answered her prayer. 

People who are sincerely looking for the truth will find that God will send the missionaries to come to their door, sometimes rather quickly. A few days later Elder Clark and I went to her house to mow her lawn

Audrey came to the first hour of church on Sunday which was great. We had her meet another sister in the ward who speaks spanish. The talks were good too which was relieving. It looks like some good things will be happening with her. Really exciting to see!

Also this week, Elder Hayes and I found out that near our aparment is a melting pot of foreigners! I wish we would have discovered that sooner haha. But we met ANOTHER person from Nigeria (like Dipo and Nimota who we still can't set something up with because of their busy schedules). His name is Netty. As I was talking to a man from The CONGO, (yeah what the heck! What are all these africans doing here??) Netty came from across the street in his red and green traditional clothing to talk to us. As I talked to the man from CONGO whose name is Foreman, Elder Hayes talked to Netty. We set return appointments for both of them! We will hopefully be seeing Foreman on thursday night. But we met with Netty Saturday night! We brought a couple with us that served a mission together in South Africa. As he let us in his home we were pleasantly surprised to see that he had a wife and two kids! Lechi (the wife) and Michael who is 14 and a toddler named Manuel. These people are super cool. The best way I can describe them is a "pure and delightsome people." They are beautiful. They are so friendly and eager to know the Word of God. They are also really educated. Netty is going to school to be an engineer, and Lechi is going back to school to be an optometrist because although she had her own practice in NIgeria, the U.S. doesn't recognize her credentials here for some reason. Michael appears to be reserved but is full of quiet dignity. The baby, Manuel, has the coolest little afro. 

We taught them about the book of Mormon, as we talked about the stick of Judah and stick of Ephraim (Ezekiel) Lechi started to become very interested. We said a kneeling prayer at the end. it was really cool experience. We are going back next week and they offered to feed us!

Last night we met another family from Africa! Florence and Monique, from Togo. They speak french, but pretty good english as well. We talked to them for a while about the Book of Mormon and they were really interested too. Florence was very interested as she asked if she could have her own copy after we gave just one to Monique. Florence is a younger woman in her 20s probably. We also told them we could get them a book of mormon in french, and we also downloaded the gospel library app on their phones so they could listen/read it in french.

We have a return appointment with them next sunday. We will probably bring the Girard-Carrier's with us since they are fluent in French! It is so cool to see how God has brought these people to this area. Of all areas, why Springfield?? is what I keep saying. One reason could be because we have members of the ward who can speak their language and/connect with these people. 

So this week I learned that learning the gospel in your own tongue is pretty important. Also once again that we are in certain places at certain times for a reason. "The tender mercies of the lord do not appear randomly or merely coincidence. It is often the Lord's timing of His tender mercies which help us to both discern and acknowledge them."

First we have Elder Hayes come here who speaks Spanish so he can connect well with Audrey. Then we had Bro and Sister Robison come with us to see Netty's family because they spent time in Africa--about that, I wouldn't have thought to bring them if it weren't for Brother Howard reminding us that they went there. Finally, the G.C.'s will be able to probably help out with Florence and Monique. 

So we got 5 new investigators this week! (I forgot to mention Troy, but I don't have time). Hopefully we can keep this ball rolling! 

Love you all

That seriously some way cool stuff you shared this week! i never realized that we are related to the first wife of Brigham Young. I always assuimed it was his 90th wife or something :) That Blue Angel story is soooo coool. i told my companion. When you get the picture of the painting, send me a picture of it! That's way cool that grandma's maternal line rescued her paternal line. And I like how family history helps us become at one with our ancestors and with the savior. Really cool stuff, Mom!

i also think that is asesome how you realized how much you have improved as a teacher and funny how people are all asking you to teach them! Hebrew is so awesome! Yeah I think I should probably pray for the gift of teaching because teaching people to their needs is hard.

Dear Elder Soutas

How did your transfer week go?  How are things with Elder Hayes?  I've been praying

all week that you will have a good companionship.    Will you be able to teach Filip using

Spanish?  

I had a very busy weekend.  I held a baby shower for Alex yesterday we invited about 30 people and served lunch.  She received some nice presents for the new baby.   We are getting excited to welcome this little one.   I secretly hope she has the baby a little early   Then you could maybe see her when you Skype for Mother's day, but if not we would certainly send a lot of pictures.   Her due date is a month from today exactly!!

Today was another crazy day for me.  First of all I had Ward Council and then BYC.  Then I was asked to speak and give a brief family history story in sacrament meeting.    I will tell you what I said in a minute.  Next I had to teach the Laurel class lesson.  It was on the restoration.  I think it went well.

Maybe you have seen the demonstration I did.  First you take 12 plastic cups and you write the word apostle on each

Then I had them look up scriptures that talk about what was in Christ's Church when he was on the earth.  so that the pyramid represents Christ Church.  Then you pull out a cup or 2 on the bottom representing the apostles being taken from the earth and eventually it falls.   

Then you rebuild it showing pictures from our church history of how every single thing in our church matches the original.  It is the only church on the earth that has apostles, prophets, baptism bt immersion, laying on of hands, bishops, called Saints, church called in Christ' name, the gift of the Holy Ghost, temple  etc.....

We also watched the awesome video about Wilford Woodruffs search for the true church that matched the ancient church found in the Bible.  I thought it was a good lesson filled with the spirit. 

Here is a copy of my talk:

I do have a deep love for family history.  But I have not always 

my mom did all of the geneaology.   I didn’t have to worry about it, 

The truth is when she would get out all of her big journals and start telling stories we would  only half listen and just nod our heads.  

However, a few years ago I just decided to see if there was anything I could do.     I asked my mom a little bit more about these ancestor stories.

  These were the stories she had repeated to us so many times before which we had just vaguely listened to.  Now I repeat these stories and my kids vaguely nod their heads

   

But what I have learned most is that these people have a story and it is part of my story and now I love it :) I'm here today because of these ancestors

I’ve love reading my Great Great Grandmother - Caroline Frances Angell’s journal.  Of how she came across the plains with her sister, MaryAnn.  MaryAnn was Brigham Young’s first wife.    Her Brother was Truman Angell  - architect of the SL Temple.  Our family likes this story because Chris’ grandfather was the resident architect of the Washington DC Temple.   we tell our kids we are a temple building family :)    

Now that was on my mom’s maternal line.    

On her paternal line —-My Mom’s great  great grandfather were William and Eliza Binder who had been in the Martin Handcart Company.     

It has amazed me how stories of my ancestors begin to interconnect.   They cannot just be co-incidences when you are dealing with saving families.

Just this week I found a written thank you to my grandfather William Binder for  carrying their ancestor- Albert Jones —across the freezing water.   This was special to me.  I then continued reading about the rescue party that President Brigham young had sent for the handcart companies:  

I quote:

“the express riders found the company in several inches of snow. Mary Ferguson Scott of the Hodgett wagon company, which was camped near the Martin company, “sprang to her feet and screamed at the top of her voice, ‘I see them coming! I see them coming! Surely they are angels from heaven.’

it then reads:

In fact, as a result of how he looked coming through the snow, express rider Joseph A. (A for Angell, his mother’s maiden name) Young became known to the company as the “blue angel.” 

I stopped reading as I realized that Joseph Angell Young had to be my great great uncle.

Albert Jones described the scene: “The white mule [Joseph Angell Young  was riding] was lost sight of on the white background of snow, and Joseph A. with his big blue soldier’s overcoat, its large cape  rising and falling with the motion of the mule, gave the appearance of a big blue winged angel flying to our rescue. The scene that presented itself on his arrival I shall never forget; women and men surrounded him, weeping and crying aloud; on their knees, holding to the skirts of his coat, as though afraid he would escape from their grasp and fly away.” 35

close quote

I realized that when, Pres Brigham Young in Oct conference that year called men  from the pulpit to go and rescue those stranded… one of these rescuers was his son    Joseph Angell Young.  He was my gg uncle

Incidently I discovered there is a painting made  of Joseph Angell Young’s rescue  called “The Blue Angel”     which I now intend to get a copy of.  It now has great meaning to me.

When i read this account last  Sunday I was amazed……  This meant that my mom’s maternal ancestor line  The Angells

physically rescued my mom’s paternal line. The Binders

I felt the Lord’s hand is in the details of this rescue. 

I wish I had time to tell the 2nd half of this story of how I found the name of an ancestor    It’s a story of   a search  about lockets, and bears, outlaws and  Angell’s.  

 I believe that even if your mom or Aunt Matilda has done all of your family history work then If you do nothing more than learn your family stories-some really crazy stories -It is through these stories that you will get to know your ancestors and you will fall in love with them.  You will feel the link - our SAvior’s binding covenant that links you to them.  The spirit of Elijah is real.  It is strong.   Our Savior’s AT-ONE-MENT - the Covenant of Atonement - binds our families together for all eternity.  

Of this I testify.

So the only other thing I can remember that happened this week, was another tender mercy for me.  

Somehow some of the ladies I take the Greek New Testment class with, found out that I know and am teaching beginning Hebrew.  There are about 5 more ladies now who have asked me to teach them.

I will be teaching them for the summer and it's basically a summer institute class although at this point I have not been certified by BYU, however maybe I will even eventually be able to do that.

Cool huh!  The funny thing is I have never considered myself to be a good teacher.  Before I was called to be YW president I used to pray for the gift of teaching.  That I could become a better teacher.  It's hard for me.  I don't explain things well.  I don't always remember what I want to say.  But after praying for this gift, I have certainly seen and been given opportunities to improve.  The Lord answered my prayer.  Im still not an amazing teacher or anything, but it's kind of crazy how people are asking me to teach them and the best part and to me the tender mercy  - of all the things I would desire to teach it would be Hebrew, "the manner of the Jews - customs etc....and now that's what I'm going to get to do.  

I love my Heavenly Father so much!

I love you too!  I hope you have a wonderful week.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto thy own understanding and he will direct thy paths.

Momma

Seeing original Book of Mormon

Things here in Springfield are doing good. Investigator wise, not so much. We have 2 investigators who we were unable to meet with this week, those two being our only in the pool. Fortunately, we have a lot of good potentials. We have a couple originally from Nigeria named Dipo and Nimota. An old man from Italy named Filip who has come to church several time; we just can't quite get his home address. We also received a referral from a woman named Audrey who referred herself to have a copy of the book of Mormon and have missionaries come teach her. Her brother's family is Mormon in Champagne. We haven't been able to meet with her yet because she is recovering from surgery. Also, we had a cool experience with the children of record list. We were finally able to get the list, and so we called the Rieck's family who had two 9 year old unbaptized twins. As we called Sister Riecks she told us that the day before she wanted to call us and thank us for coming over a couple weeks ago. She meant to call us the night before we called, but she didn't know our phone number. She explained that she believes that the Lord blessed her in getting a significant, needed job promotion all because she let us in to her home. The Riecks family came to church yesterday, but only for the first hour because one of the 9 year old sons has really bad autism and can't sit still. They would have stayed for all 3 hours, but the other 9 year old was sick at home. Sister Riecks wants us to teach them the missionary discussions, have her two sons baptized and have the whole family start coming back to church again! 

I am excited to be companions with Elder Hays. I hear he is really cool! If we end up meeting with Filip, his spanish speaking will be helpful in understanding him better because he has a really thick accent. We will seek out lots of Spanish people too. 

I am stoked to get to work this new transfer.

I don't have a lot of time to type since we are going to have the rest of P Day at the Uhe's home! I am really excited! 

So this week was good. We had an appointment with Kim at a cafe called Moxo. We took brother shamp with us. The lady was really nice, and tried explaining the trinity to us which made no sense whatsoever. She also brought with her a triple combination scriptures and tried to tell us that the original book of mormon was really different from the one in print today. When she was reseraching about the church she said that she compared the two and I knew there were little grammatical and format changes, but as to doctrine I highly doubted it. 

Today for P-day we actually went to the Lincoln Presidential library and asked if we could see the original 1830 edition of the book of mormon. We read through it and it reads the same from what we could tell. That lady wasn't telling the full truth. It was sad because she was a nice person

Also today I did a firebrand challenge at a chili restaurant. It was supper super hot chili and I ate it all after many tears and sweat. But I got my name on the wall!

Also this week I have been studying a lot about how to become more grateful and closer to
God. I studied "The tender Mercies of the lord' by Elder Bednar again and also the talk by Elder Renlund. I love that talk! It talks about how if we seriously prepare ourselves for the sacrament we will become closer to God. i've been trying a lot lately just to see God's influence in my life, because before I didn't really. i was super ungrateful and self righteous, and still am sometimes. But I like a few quotes from that talk a lot :

To draw closer to the Savior, we must increase our faith in Him, make and keep covenants, and have the Holy Ghost with us. We must also act in faith, responding to the spiritual direction we receive. All of these elements come together in the sacrament. Indeed, the best way I know of to draw closer to God is to prepare conscientiously and partake worthily of the sacrament each week.

On the day of the Savior’s Resurrection, two disciples traveled to a village called Emmaus. Unrecognized, the risen Lord joined them on the journey. As they traveled, He taught them from the scriptures. When they reached their destination, they invited Him to dine with them.

“And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

“And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

“And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven [Apostles] gathered together.”

And then they testified to the Apostles that “the Lord is risen indeed. …

“And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.”13

The sacrament truly helps us know our Savior. It also reminds us of His innocent suffering. If life were truly fair, you and I would never be resurrected; you and I would never be able to stand clean before God. In this respect, I am grateful that life is not fair.

No matter where you stand in your relationship to God, I invite you to draw nearer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Benefactors and Givers of all that is good. I invite you to attend sacrament meeting each week and partake of the holy emblems of the Savior’s body and blood. I invite you to feel God’s nearness as He is made known to you, as He was to the disciples of old, in the “breaking of [the] bread.”

As you do, I promise that you will feel nearer to God. Natural tendencies to childish whining, disgruntled entitlement, and derisive skepticism will dissipate. Those sentiments will be replaced by feelings of greater love and gratitude for Heavenly Father’s gift of His Son. As we draw closer to God, the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ will come into our lives. And, as with the disciples on the way to Emmaus, we will find that the Savior has been nearby all along. I so witness and testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Love you all, and I could write a lot more but I'm being nagged to go. 

If you remind me next week I will give you more details and experiences that I wish I could share with you this week. 

Elder Soutas

St Louis Temple and Conference Week

Hey everybody!

I'm glad that everyone is safe and enjoyed watching conference!

This week flew by again. Kind of. A lot of good tings happened.

On Wednesday I had the privilege to attend the Saint Louis Temple for the first time! I also got to be a baptist! It was my first time ever baptizing a living or a dead person! I was a pro at it. After, Elder Villalobos baptized me. I hit my head on the rail on one of them as I went under. I think it is because I am unflexible and can't bend my knees or back very well. It's kind of funny how God chose dunking people under water as a ritual to enter his kingdom. I enjoyed it though. I'm really good at pronouncing foreign names, too. I also got to confirm Elder Lolo in behalf of a lot of people. it was pretty cool! The endowment session was great. I'm not really sure what I got out of it but it was cool to watch and then enter the terrestrial and then celestial room. 

On Friday, we picked up a new investigator named Susan! On Tuesday we were walking about the more dilapidated area of Springfield. We were about to leave to go somewhere else, but I felt the prompting to go try talking to some people sitting on their porch in their backyard. As we started towards there, we ran into someone getting out of there car in front of their house. We set up a return appointment for Friday. The lesson with her went great. She seems to have a sincere desire to know the truth. She has a pretty open mind too because she has been multiple faiths at various times in her life which has caused her to question. She is currently a baptist but like I said is willing to listen to what we have to say. She told us that how God has helped her overcome her enlarged heart and her being born with half of a foot! At the end of the lesson I asked her if she would be comfortable praying, and she surprised me and said yes. We all knelt, and she said a really great prayer and asked if the book of mormon is true. After the lesson she told us how impressed she was at our spiritual maturity at such a young age. She hoped that her daughter could be more spiritual like us is what she basically said. Also, something else she said was surprising. Elder Peterson mentioned for some reason that women don't hold the priesthood in our church, and she said how she feels like it should be that way. She says she likes to be more old-fashioned. funny thing is that her church she currently attends has a woman pastor so that is a good sign!

Elder Peterson and I were both on a spiritual high for the remainder of the night. I wrote in my journal "I wish this feeling could linger a little longer" because I knew it would gradually go away. 

General Conference was stellar of course! I can't necessarily pick a favorite talk, but there were a lot of talks that I enjoyed. A lot of my questions had to do with becoming closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, not forgetting what they have done and are doing for me in my life, and being nicer to people. I liked what Elder Renlund said that keeping the sabbath and partaking the sacrament more prepared will help us draw nearer to the savior, and he will draw nearer to us. I also liked what Gerit W. Wong said about 6 steps of how to always remember Christ rather than forgetting about him. I liked talks by Steven E. Snow, and Uchtdorf, plus a lot of the talks had little things I liked sprinkled here and there about humility and charity ,which are two attributes that it sounds like I need to work on. 

But I am really excited on reading all of them again. I wish I could print out the talks right now, but I guess I will have to wait until next week!

Love you all! I know that Heavenly Father loves us very much. He is very much in the details in our lives and it is really really really important that we reflect everyday how he reached out to us to bless us. I've been thinking a lot lately about "the tender mercies of the Lord" and how "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." I really like what Elder Bednar has to say:

"The Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal andindividualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances,guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritualgifts which we receive from and because of and through theLord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according tothe conditions of the children of men” (D&C 46:15).

Recall how the Savior instructed His Apostles that He would notleave them comfortless. Not only would He send “anotherComforter” (John 14:16), even the Holy Ghost, but the Savior saidthat He would come to them (see John 14:18). Let me suggestthat one of the ways whereby the Savior comes to each of us isthrough His abundant and tender mercies. For instance, as youand I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of faith andan appropriate sense of personal confidence that reachesbeyond our own capacity are two examples of the tendermercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and

peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of theLord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of theLord."

In order to recognize these tender mercies, Elder Henry B. Eyring in his talk. "O Remember, Remember" said:

Recognize, Remember, and Give Thanks

God asks that we give thanks to Him for whatever blessings wereceive from Him. It is easy for us to become mechanical in ourprayers of gratitude, often repeating the same words butwithout the intent to give our thanks as a gift of the heart toGod. We are to “give thanks … in the Spirit” (D&C 46:32) so wecan feel real gratitude for what God has given us.

How can we remember even a part of all God has done for us?The Apostle John recorded what the Savior taught us about a giftof remembrance that comes through the gift of the Holy Ghost:“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Fatherwill send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring allthings to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”(John 14:26).

The Holy Ghost brings back memories of what God has taughtus. And one of the ways God teaches us is with His blessings;and so, if we choose to exercise faith, the Holy Ghost will bringGod’s kindnesses to our remembrance.

You could test that in prayer today. You could follow thecommand “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C59:7).

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) suggested that prayercreates time to do that. He said: “The Prophet Joseph said at onetime that one of the greatest sins of which the Latter-day Saintswould be guilty is the sin of ingratitude. I presume most of ushave not thought of that as a great sin. There is a great tendencyfor us in our prayers and in our pleadings with the Lord to askfor additional blessings. But sometimes I feel we need to devotemore of our prayers to expressions of gratitude andthanksgiving for blessings already received. We enjoy so much.”1

You could have such an experience with the gift of the HolyGhost today. You could begin a private prayer with thanks. Youcould start to count your blessings and then pause for amoment. If you exercise faith, with the gift of the Holy Ghost, youwill find that memories of other blessings will flood into yourmind. If you begin to express gratitude for each of them, yourprayer may take a little longer than usual. Remembrance willcome, and so will gratitude.

You could try the same thing as you write an entry in yourjournal. The Holy Ghost has helped people with that since thebeginning of time. You remember that the book of Moses says,“And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which wasrecorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as manyas called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration” (Moses6:5).

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) described thatprocess of inspired writing: “Those who keep a book ofremembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrancein their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessingsand of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity.”2

As you start to write, you could ask yourself, “How did God blessme and those I love today?” If you do that often enough and withfaith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. Andsometimes you will have gifts brought to your mind that youfailed to notice during the day but that you will then know were atouch of God’s hand in your life.

I pray that we may make a continuing effort in faith to recognize,remember, and give thanks for what our Heavenly Father andour Savior have done and are doing to open the way home toThem.

I challenge each of you as well as myself to do what Elder Bednar and President Eyring said.

Have a wonderful week! It won't be long until next week. It is starting to fly by!

Elder Soutas