What You Get Out of Being a Mormon

April 16, 2018

What You Get Out OF Being a Mormon

 

There is a talk by Brad Wilcox that I like and it's entitled "what you get out of being a Mormon" really good talk. 

For this week I'm going to talk a little about what he says we get out of being Mormons. I had another topic on was going to do studies on but I couldn't focus this week and come up with anything good for you guys so here's this one.

 

The here and now things we get out of being a Mormon. 

The first thing we get out of being a Mormon is more life. Studies have shown that Mormons live 10-11yrs longer than those who are outside the church. 

Second is you get more education. This is because in our church like few other organizations in the world we have a huge focus on education. We believe in education. For us its part of what we teach in the church. Many people look at education as a better way of earning a living. But for us we see educated as going much farther than the benefits of earning a better living. We get an education to get life, and not just to earn a living. He talks about BYU graduation and how there is always someone in their 60 or older that is receiving their degree and how he can't imagine that they are doing that because they want to earn more money, or climb the corporate ladder. Why would they do that then? Because we see education as an eternal. Everyone talks about how education is a lifelong process. Well I think we got that beat. We are continually learning. 

Many people now talk about networking. Well in the Mormon Church you have a giant international network. What would it cost you to get an insurance policy that would guarantee that if you went anywhere in the world and got yourself into some trouble that you could call anyone and they would be willing to help. You have stake presidents, mission presidents, missionaries, senior couples, and any member of the church you could turn to for help, and they actually care. I don't think there is such a policy. If there was it would be too expensive! But that's what you have, and get for being a Mormon; an international network of friends. 

The last is a stronger marriage. 1 in every 2 marriages ends in a divorce in the US. To those who share the same religion it’s about 1 in every 4. Among 2 Mormons who are married it’s about 1 in every 6. Now that's not very good but it's better than 1 in every 2. Among every 2 LDS married in the temple it's about 1 in every 16. Still not very good, but it's a lot better than 1 in every 2. So what do you get? A stronger marriage, and you get a stronger family. Don't look just at your family, look generally at the world and you'll see you have a stronger family and marriage then the average family in the world. 

 

We have both spiritual and temporary advantages to being a Mormon. Things that bless our lives when we follow them. So why do we sometimes look for ways to escape what we get out of being who we are?

The wicked things of this world are made to look better than they really are. Drinking, drugs, sex, and all those things shown in movies and advertising are put in their best light for us to think we are missing something better on the other side of the fence. Really what we are missing is the other half of those stories. What happens later down the road or the next day after people do those kinds of things? Movies and advertising won't show those things, because if they did not very many people would do it. If they do show the other side of what happens it's made humorous so that we don't think it's that bad if we do try it. 

Stay away from these harmful and addictive things. They will blind you from the truth, they will make you see thing different then they really are and life will be so much harder to live. Stay clean, and worthy always. Use the atonement if you need to. Always think to yourself when unexpected or expected situations come up "what side of the fence do I stand on. The lord’s side, or the world's side?" I hope your answer will always be the lord’s side. 

We in this world are under attack by Satan. Especially those who are trying to live better lives. Satan see that we are fighting back, and are winning. But with every victory we gain the harder he tries, and things only get more difficult for us to keep strong. 

Hold tight to the iron rod and don't let go. Read the scriptures every day as a family and personally. Stay close with the members in your area there is strength in numbers. 

The end goal for us as being Mormons is to attain eternal life with our heavenly father and Jesus Christ along with our loved ones forever. We do this by faithfully living this gospel, and doing the best we can. 

I know we can overcome the temptations of the adversary. I know we can find the peace in this life through the gospel of Jesus Christ that everyone in the world seems to be looking for but just haven't found yet. We are all very blessed to have the fullness of the gospel and its teachings in each of our lives. I hope you will always remember what side of the fence you stand on. 

 

Can't Stop the Mormons!

April 16,2018

 

                          The day he entered the MTC and a picture from this week.

                         Who knew a guy could make a mini van look so good! lol

 

This week had been good. Went by super-fast! Feels like pday was 2 days ago almost. 

Had ZC this Tuesday in Regina. Did nor training on the phones and got taught how to use the area book app on the phone.... It's so hard to use this stuff! President wants us to do an hr. a day transferring records over from our book to the phone, and he wants in done in 2-3 weeks. The first day doing it between me and Abadicio we got 2 names put over in an hr.... Ha-ha it was so bad. Slowly we are figuring it out a bit better and it's going faster but man does it take a lot of time. The other day we did 2hrs of area book transferring and that was rough! If I can get the video to send you can see what we did to break up the time a bit. 

The weather here has been decently nice! We were in the plus 2-5 the past couple days! No sun but it was still alright. I had to take my scarf off and undo my coat the one day! Spring is coming!! Finally. Maybe?

We've done hardly any tracting this week with ZC and dinners and lessons so that’s been a nice change! But we need to get back out and knocking or we are gonna have no investigators soon. 

A couple days ago we were out knocking and with all this warm weather the snow is melting and making mini lakes on the roads and sidewalks, so it's made tracting an adventure. One house I think thought they were safe from us coming to their door, because it had a big puddle in the driveway and all across the front end of the house. We couldn't cross it without getting wet. But that didn't stop us! (It stopped me, but not Abadicio!) Ha-ha I got a good video of him running through the knee high water to their place. He tried to get me to pay him 5$ to do it but I wasn't gonna do that! So I said "I'll video you doing it!" that was good enough for him I guess, cause he did it! Ha-ha

Can’t stop the Mormons!

Had dinner out at the Regniers Thursday night. For a thought after we did he Helaman 5:12 and then I smashed my finger with a big bean can on a book of Mormon to show how If we are built on a solid foundation we'll be fine when the adversary comes! Ha-ha Sis Regnier and her daughter shay had pretty good reactions when I did it. They thought my finger was done for. I got a pretty good laugh out of it. I tried to get them to do it after, but nope they wouldn't do it. President did it though!

Went up to Redvers Saturday to see some long lost members from the Philippines up there. But first we helped move a family in Estevan. I’ve come to find that physical labor is really where you find who knows how to work and who doesn't ha-ha it's a painful sight to see so many guys not be able to move "heavy" things on their own or that have to put it down after a few steps because they are tired...! Most the guys helping move with us were in there 20s! It was interesting. 

Anyway after that us and President Regnier went up to Redvers to see that family, and man am I glad that we made it there and back alive! I didn't think we were going to make it the hr. and a half to Redvers alive.... President if I wasn't taking to him or he wasn't talking to me would fall asleep almost, and we'd be pretty well in the ditch at times! Ah it was scary! Ha-ha but we made it there and back! Depending on which side of the road president was slowly drifting towards I would spend most the time there and back hugging the opposite side of the car 

(As if that would save me) but it made me think I was alright ha-ha 

Fun times.

Well that's about all for exciting things this week! Did the usual tracting, and transferring area book type stuff the rest of the time. Over all a decent week!

Love ya all, talk to ya next week. 

Spring might be here the end of the month!!

 

The Atonement and Grace

The Atonement and Grace

 

The word atone means to reconcile, or to restore to harmony. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be reconciled to our Heavenly father. We can ultimately dwell in His presence forever, having been made perfect through Jesus.
Have you ever wondered why the atonement had to happen? 
There is more to it then, because we are all sinners and without it we would not return to live with God after this life. The atonement was needed because if Jesus Christ did not do it everything would cease to be. You and I would not be here.
Even though Jesus Christ was prepared before this life do make this sacrifice for us he did not fully understand what it would require of him in the end. In Matthew 26:39 it says "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And verse 42 says, He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Jesus Christ knew this had to be done to save all mankind from destruction, but he asked our father in heaven if there was any other way. Some other way that he didn't have to suffer so much pain, but there was not. Our heavenly father to comfort his son sent an angels down to help him as he did this amazing thing for us. Luke 22:43-44 says And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
As I read these scriptures about the atonement I can picture it all happening in my mind. How it would be to see Jesus Christ the son of God calling out to our heavenly father for help, asking to have this thing he was about to do lifted from him and do something else in exchange. Not to compare our struggles and trials to what Jesus went through for us, but I'm sure all of us have asked at one time or another please let this stop, give me anything else to overcome but not this. Silently we know even as we say the words that just as Christ did there is no other way. Going back to my thing last week on lifting one another's burdens that is how we can overcome those things that we feel are too big for us to do alone. Jesus Christ needed someone to help lift his burden. That is why heavenly father sent an angel. 

i can’t even imagine what it was like to go through what Jesus Christ went through for us. But I'm so grateful he did.

2 Nephi 9:7-9 talks about what would become of us if we did not have the atonement, I'm not going to put the scripture in here but I would invite you to read what it says just to see. 

Moving on to Grace and how it works with the atonement. The definition of grace is unmerited help given to man by God. Or in other words help given to us by God even when we don't necessarily deserve it. 

After this life we will all return to God's presence, but how comfortable will you be when you are with him? That's kind of a hard question to answer sometimes I think, but I know that as we use the atonement in our life's daily and strive to overcome our weakness we will be just fine when we return home.

Comparing the atonement to piano lessons we could say mom pays the piano teacher and in return asks for us to practice. Mom does not get payed back through our practice, neither does the piano teacher. Us practicing is how we show our appreciation for the gift mom is giving to us, it's how we take advantage of that opportunity given to live our lives on a higher level. 

Just like the atonement given to us, we are expected to use it because we all are going to fall on this life. We could never pay back the sacrifice made for all of us, but we can show our appreciation to Jesus Christ through practicing or using the atonement in our life's making it possible to overcome our mistakes, and being able become a better person because of it.

When we sin we will all suffer some sort of consequence. This is not out of punishment or "payment", its purpose is for change. If we never felt bad or had some sort of consequence after doing something wrong then why would be stop doing it? These feeling we feel after we make mistakes are there to help us want to be better and ask for forgiveness. 

There is a question I heard in a talk once and it said "have you been saved by grace?" the reply was "Yes, we have all been saved by grace. But have you been changed by grace?" we sometimes think too much of if we are saved, and forget what comes next; change. 

The atonement was done not just so we could live after we die, but so that we could live more abundantly. 

The atonement is something that takes time and effort on our part to be used, just like a piano. If we want to learn how to play the piano we are going to make a few mistakes as we go along but the more we practice and correct ourselves, and keep taking lessons we will all eventually become pianists. When you hit a wrong note on the piano mom doesn't say "stop you’re not good enough to keep playing" she's says "keep practicing, you'll get it eventually" we all want perfection, but that takes work and we have to be willing to put that work in. 

The atonement requires practice, and we are blessed to have Christ's grace to help us along out lifelong piano lesson.

Never think when you have hit a wrong note you can't go back and practice the song again and try to get it right. Just like what was said this conference "God will give us as many test re writes as it takes to get us where we want to be" God wants to be on your side. Let him help you when you need it, and use the atonement in your life's. 

Grace is not achieved, it is received. Right here, right now. Take advantage of this amazing gift given to you. Become clean, and worthy to live with God again. Never give up! And never give in to the lies from the adversary saying you’re not worthy to use the atonement. It's not for perfect people, it's for people trying to be perfect. 

God loves you. I know the atonement will work miracles in your life. I have seen it work in my life, and I have seen it work in many others out here on my mission. The change is amazing. Please use the atonement in your life, it will change your life for the Better, and you will find peace once again. 

 

 

 

Quotes from fast and testimony meeting yesterday. Seems like most of my topics I pick on fast and testimony week go with all the testimonies so that’s nice! 

 

*We don't have the right to do wrong. We have the opportunity to do wrong, but we don't have a right. 

 

*It’s your reaction time that counts. Don't fail yourself.

 

I Want to Be a Cowboy!

April 9, 2018

 

This week has gone by quick! Spent Monday night to Wednesday afternoon in swift current for exchanges. Fowler had me bring my guitar up and the nights we were there we did little jam sessions I guess you could call them ha-ha we did a decent version of simple man with the guitar, ukulele, and 2 singers (Peherson and Abadicio) Elder Fowler has been talking me up to his investigators that play guitar and they all want to meet me so that's what me and him did on our exchange was show me to all them. Taught Fowler a little on the guitar the time we were up there. Now he wants to sell his ukulele and save for a guitar! 

It's a lot different being with Elder Abadicio on our drives to and from swift. We talked about 7 of the 8 hrs. to and from there just telling stories about back home.

When we hit Regina we stopped in to get a few things quick and then do a bathroom break and who did we find as we are leaving the mama Wayton Center...the sunrise sisters! Going to do the same thing we were doing there (bathroom break) so we talked with them for a few then went on our way. Kinda made me miss the city after seeing them, it’s nice to see other missionaries during the day in random places like that.

Had a dinner appointment Thursday at 5 that we thought we had set the Friday at 5... So it's lucky the Lims asked if we were still coming even with the roads starting to get bad with a little storm coming in. We told them yeah we are still good ha-ha but about 1 minute out of town we did it why they asked if we were still coming... In town it was decent from the buildings blocking the wind and snow, but once we hit the edge of town and the open fiends of SK we couldn't even see 2 feet in front of us!! It was literally a white out. There were points I couldn't even see the road or the hood of the car...! So shortly after we hit the white out spot I pulled over and parked with 6 others on the side of the road and waited till it was safe to try and turn around and go back to Weyburn ha-ha 15-20 minutes later we were back in Weyburn, a full 1min drive from where we parked. Needless to say we didn't make it out to the Lims in Francis for dinner.

 

Bro Dudragne had us help him Thursday night with some moving of heavy items to other places around town. After he took us to his in-laws bowling alley for dinner and a round of 5 pin. It was pretty nice! Had black lights on and everything. 

Had a decent rest of the week. Did a few new potentials while out tracting. Set up appointment with 3 of them for the next day and all 3 lunched us (weren’t there) so that kinda sucked. 

On Sunday we finally got to meet with our Irish investigator Eoin (Sister Buchanan’s husband) haven't had a lesson with him since I first got here, they live so far out from Weyburn. We drove the 2hrs out to their place after church in Weyburn and Estevan. Visited for a while till dinner was ready, then after dinner came the best part, doing chores! Went out and fed their pot belly pig Wilbur, and the chickens. Then we went and hung out with the horses for a good bit. Meanwhile Eoin was giving me a hard time about missing my horses. Guess I was a little attached to this buckskin mare they had, looked just like my horse. Eoin goes “I bet your missing your horse’s right about now aren't ya?" then we went over to the cows and did a check on them. Abadicio I could tell was lost the whole time was we talked about horses and the cow’s ha-ha after we left he was like “it’s like you guess were speaking a different language!" 

They were talking about how everyone was going to be gone this week with other things and they didn't know who was going to do the checking on the cows while they were out. I spoke up and said “I’m around all week!" kinda half joking but not really ha-ha they said "alright tell President Craig you need 3 P days and you'll be good!" I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted.

After chores we did a lesson with Eoin on the plan of salvation. It was something we found out he had been wondering about lately during our how to begin teaching stuff, all you return missionaries will know what I mean when I say that. I guess he had a sister pass away shortly before he was born and he has always wondered where she is now and those kinda things. So we did L2 in a visual way by drawing out the word LOVE and adding all the steps of the plan on to it. It's kinda hard to explain over email how it's done.

It went super good though! The spirit was definitely there! We didn’t get out of there till 9:45! We probably could have been there all night talking to them about this plan, and how the spirit world is closer then we sometimes think. Sister Buchanan had a lot to say when it came to the spirit world being close. 

It was a pretty good lesson we thought.

Abadicio said on the way home "2 weeks with you and I want to be a cowboy, but now I really want to be a cowboy!"

Well that was our week!

Love ya all, talk to you next week! 

How Can I Find Peace?

April 2, 2018

How can I Find Peace and Help Others Find It Too?

When we hear the word peace often the first thing that comes into our minds is the peace that comes as an absence of war or some conflict in the world. But even during times of war and conflict you can feel peace, and sometimes can feel a lack of peace when there is no commotion in the world. One place you can always find peace is in the gospel of Jesus Christ, his atonement, the Holy Ghost, and our own righteous acts and service. 

How often do you do something for someone that needed your help and you come away feeling bad? Mosiah 2:17 says "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

You are here on this earth not only to help yourself, but to help those around you in need. This life is not a weight lifting competition to see whose world can be heavier than the next guys. You are each here to help lift one another's burdens and make them light. 

There will be times when you ask "how long do I have to endure this trial, when will I feel peace or safety again?" You are not the first to ask this question, Joseph Smith in liberty jail prayed "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?

O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us. Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs. Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever." during this time the members of the church were being run out of their homes and in some cases being killed and he could do nothing about it. The weight of the world was on the prophet Joseph smith's shoulders, and that was a lot of weight. Fortunately you don't have to take on the weight of a prophet’s world or anyone else's for that matter, all you have to do is let them rest their load on you. It's easy to do this, because it's not your load all you’re doing is letting them have a break by talking things out with you, giving them the strength to keep going. This is not about comparing burdens, it's about sharing burdens. We don't want to take others burdens on us because sometimes the things we go through are to help us grow in some way that only the lord knows. Remember what I said about growing our spiritual muscles and how we can't grow them without getting a little sore? All these things are to make us stronger in some way, and lucky for us we don't have to carry our burdens all on our own. We have spotters just like we sometimes do at the gym to help us get the weight we have up of our chest when things get to heavy for us to do it alone. Heavenly father does not want us to fail. He has people everywhere posted along the way to help us along in this journey called life, and you are here in this life as one of them to help others lift their burdens when they get to heavy to carry, and someone is here in life to do the same for you.

I know as you do your part in this life to help others through their trials, and hardships that the lord will strengthen you, and send someone for you when you need that same help of lifting your world when it gets too heavy. The lord loves you and will always be there for you no matter what. 

D&C 121:7-8 says

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

I know this to be true. The lord’s answer to hard times is to go forward with faith. You can do hard things as you rely on the lord. 

 

Pres Craig Called as an Area Seventy

April 2, 2018

This week was pretty good! Did a decent amount of tracting, had some good weather to do it in! Rained one day for a few hrs. but it wasn't too bad. Woke up one day to find that the whole town was shut down the water so that we fun... That's probably one of my least favorite things to have happen on the mission, cause we still have to go out and work showered or not and I mean I do my best with what I got to clean up a bit but it's still not the best ha-ha oh well we survived. 

Got the keys to the new place Wednesday! Super excited about that! 

Spent all of Thursday cleaning up the old place and moving to the new one.... So glad that's over! Bro Shugart came with his truck and gave us a hand for a few hrs. in the morning with the big stuff we couldn't get in our car so that made it easier. 9-9 we moved and cleaned... You could say we were glad when Thursday was over ha-ha it was a long, exciting, painful day. But she's all done and we are in the new place! If we have it looking half decent by today you'll maybe send some pictures of the place.

I don't know how many of you caught that president Craig (my mission president) was called to the area 70 on Saturday. That's pretty crazy! All the Missionaries are super excited over here about that! 

Lots of big changes in the church are happening but it'll be good!

Well other than that nothing else rainy happened the week.  Weather here is getting nicer! - 13 today!

Love ya all, talk to you next week! 

 

The Sacrament

March 26, 2018

So this week was kinda bad for me with my phone... With exchanges Elder fowler and I were together for the day in Regina and we didn't have a phone with a Sim card in it. So near the time that we were going to have dinner with the Clarke’s I was going to put the Weyburn card in my phone so we could find out where to go, and there was already some horror stories going around about peoples phones getting cleaned out by putting them in so I took my SD card out to save some stuff incase it did decide to clear everything when I put it in. Good thing I did because it shut my phone down completely and lost everything I had that wasn’t saved to my SD card. So my notes with all my study topics and talks are gone... Some photos and stuff like that. Photos I wasn’t as sad about but my notes!! I spent hrs. of study's working on some of those topics. So idk we'll see if I can get something together for you guys this week.
Elder fowler the next day had the same thing happen.... So he was happy to ha-ha
Elder Fuster is gone... Think I caught a tear in his eye as he walked away after we said our goodbyes. Gonna miss that little Filipino.
The first day with Adabicio was good! Did lots of walking which was nice. Turns out that the gas card for mission vehicles tops out at 700$ a month. We drove a lot this month and hit that mark... So we are walking till sometime today.
Found quite a few people that said we could come back this coming week and they weren't all single moms! Finally found a few men in Weyburn that said we could come.
Good things are about to come here in the Weyburn/Estevan area I can feel it. I'm excited to see what this transfer brings!
Love ya all, talk to ya next week! 

 He says someone put the lady over the peep hole a very long time ago and it's still there.

The Sacrament

Have you ever sat there during sacrament meeting and read the hymn over that you just sang, or really listened to the words sung in the hymn? One of my favorite hymns to listen to while in sacrament is hymn 169 As now we take the sacrament. Some of the song says "As now we take the sacrament, our thoughts are turned to thee, thou Son of God, who lived for us, then died on Calvary. We contemplate thy lasting grace, thy boundless charity; to us the gift of life was giv'n for all eternity.
It goes on to talk about how we review the past, and know we must repent, and that the way to return to God is to live righteously. How we bless this day to him, and will linger with thankful hearts, and silently will pray to have the courage to accept his will.
When I was a priest I would sit at the table and prepare the sacrament while these words were sung and I would think about what I was doing while I broke the bread. I remember his body, and his suffering, especially his suffering on the cross. You can remember that through His mercy and grace, we will all be resurrected and given the opportunity for eternal life with God.
The water, you can remember that the Savior shed his blood in intense spiritual suffering and anguish, beginning in the Garden of Gethsemane. Submitting to the will of Heavenly Father, he suffered more than we can comprehend. Blood came from every pore, so great was his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. You can remember that through the shedding of His blood, Jesus Christ saved you and everyone else. He suffered for the sins, sorrows, and pains of everyone that has come to earth providing a remission of their sins for those who repent and live the gospel.
When you take the sacrament worthily each week you are renewing your baptismal covenants with God, and as you do this the lord is renewing his promise to you that as you follow him you will receive a remission of your sins. Knowing that we can take the sacrament each week is a blessing. Every week I'm sure we all have things we wish we wouldn't have done. The sacrament is there for those little things we do each week, to help us learn and improve from our mistakes and to become better in the coming week.
You do not need to be prefect to take the sacrament, but you do need to have a spirit of humility and repentance in your heart. When you prepare yourself to take the sacrament each week with a humble heart and a contrite spirit it will become a source of strength and a constant reminder of what the savior has done for you.
I'm grateful for what the savior has done for me. I know as I do my best in following him and keeping his commandments I can be forgiven of my sins and become clean again.
As you partake of the sacrament not this coming Sunday but the Sunday after think about what the savior had done for you, and what you have done during the week to come closer to him. Never let your relationship with your heavenly father fade away he will always be there for you in times of need. Make that daily connection with him through prayer and scripture study, and you will have the spiritual safety needed to go about your day.