Take comfort in the fact that God is on your side. And he will fight along side you in every battle you face.

There is an awesome story in the Bible found in the book of 2 Kings. There is a prophet by the name of Elisha who was currently living in a city called Dothan. At this time the King of Syria was looking for the prophet Elisha and found that he was in Dothan. So he sent his army to go and capture Elisha. In Chapter 6 of 2 Kings, verse 14 we read the following:

"14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about."

The next morning, the prophets servant, a young boy, woke up and saw that they were surrounded and that the King of Syria must have found them. We read this in the next verse.

"15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?"

The boy asks what should they do. He cannot see any way out of this trap they have found themselves in. Well the prophet Elisha gives a response that I think we can all take comfort in if we apply this story to our own lives. He says the following:

"16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

I absolutely love this story! Elisha prays and asks God to open up the boy's eyes so that he can see the angels surrounding the army. Angels with horses and chariots of fire! This young man saw no escape. He saw his enemy and that was it. Nothing else. However, God saw much more. His perspective was much greater. He was able to see exactly how the prophet and this young boy were going to escape. I think there are times in our lives where our perspective is exactly like the young boy's. We can see no escape from the trial or obstacle we are facing. We think that we have been defeated. But God can see with a greater perspective. He can see our escape. He can see what we need. And he can help us. However, if the boy never asked what he should do, he would have never known that they were protected by God's angels.

I know that we are always surrounded by angels, armed with horses and chariots of fire. And those very angels are there looking over us and our situation. They are looking for any threat we may face. Any fear that may come in to our lives. And they will be there to drive our enemies away. To fight right along side us. And to protect us from Satan's army. But we must ask!!! We must ask our loving Heavenly Father for help. I shared this scripture on Facebook the other day and I will share it again. Doctrine and Covenants 10:5 "Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work." Prayer is a powerful thing we have in our lives. Let us take advantage of it!!! Take comfort in the fact that God is on your side. And he will fight along side you in every battle you face. I know it's true. We have no need of fear. 

I hope you have a good week and stay safe. I will talk to you next week. 

I love you all!

Elder Anderson

I know Heavenly Father is waiting to answer our prayers.

Sorry but I don't have much time. This has been a great week this week though. Here's a quick one for you all. If you will remember the story of Alma the younger. He was described as the vilest of sinners. Well one day an angel comes to see him and call him to repentance. So that's exactly what he does. Well after he repents, he goes to serve a fourteen year mission for his church. In Alma chapter 5, he is bearing his testimony about how he came to know all he knows.

45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

Alma sees an angel, but when he bears his testimony of how he came to know, he never mentions that he saw an angel. He talks about how he fasted and prayed many days in order to know. Laman and Lemuel saw an angel, but that didn't help them know the gospel was true. Sometimes we want a sign like the one Alma the younger got, or Laman and Lemuel. But what we don't know is that our testimony doesn't come from that. It comes from searching the scriptures and prayer. We can have the same testimony and conversion that Alma the younger had as soon and we want to. All we need is to ask our heavenly father. I know he is waiting to answer our prayers. But we must ask the questions we have. D&C 10:5. Pray always!

I hope you have a great week. I will talk to you all next week! Love you all!

Elder Anderson

The atonement is all encompassing! I use it everyday on my mission.

This is something cool President emailed us this week. I don't have time to write much so I'm just going to steal what he wrote haha:

 

"The Book of Mormon is full of stories about people who change and either commit or recommit themselves to the Lord. One of those stories is of the father of King Lamoni as he was taught by Aaron.

After hearing Aaron teach him from the scriptures, the king “…did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth and cried mightily…” I can imagine the king prostrate upon the ground with both hands outstretched as he prayed that he would “give away all his sins” to know God.

Through this experience, he and his people were converted and religious freedom was declared throughout the land in which the Lamanites lived. The sons of Mosiah were able to teach the gospel freely throughout the land. The result was that thousands were brought to the knowledge of their Redeemer and made covenants with the Lord in such a way that “…as the Lord liveth…” they “were converted to the Lord” and “never did fall away”

As part of this conversion process, “they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more.”

Being willing to “give away all of our sins” and to lay down the “weapons” of our rebellion means that we are not holding anything back from our service to the Lord and are able to pledge both hands, so to speak, to His work.

Holding back with one hand those sins that we are not quite ready to give up or continuing to hold onto a “weapon of rebellion” with one hand limits our ability to serve fully.

We need both hands available to accept the outpouring of forgiveness from our Savior that will come as we “give away” and “lay down our weapons of rebellion.”

We need both hands to serve with all our “might, mind, and strength” and to “lay hold upon every good gift” that would come to us from Christ as we do so."

-President Nicholas

I love what he says here. It remindes me of the talk by Elder Holland called Remember Lot's Wife. I love studying the atonement. It has so much influence in our lives. And it's not just for sin. It is there to help us overcome every trial or hard time we go through in life. Just read Alma 7:11-13. 

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictionsand temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loosethe bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he mighttake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

The atonement is all encompassing! I use it everyday on my mission. It is what made me who I am today. I has the power to litteraly change who you are now into who God created you to be. Don't be afraid to use the atonement. It's not a bad thing when you need it. It's a blessing! And it never runs out! You can use it as much as you want! Why? Becasue God loves you more than you could possibly fathom! As does Jesus Christ. I know it's true. I cannot express my gratitude enough for all that they do for me. Never forget who you are. You are a son or daughter of God. The greatest and most glorious being in existence! And he does exist. And he does love you.  #GodIsAmazing!

Well not much is new this week. Same missionary stuff. Tons of fun. Great times. Maybe never a dull moment but always an awkward moment on a mission. Hope all is well with you! Love you all!

Elder Anderson

God has sent us to this earth to have amazing spiritual experiences that will help us.

Elder Jake and Elder Harkwick

Marvelous Creations is a chocolate bar that is just about the greatest candy to have ever existed on the earth. It's so good. Well this was a pretty slow week. We weren't able to meet with any of our investigators. Kinda lame. But we should be able to do something this week with them. Denise hasn't gotten baptized but she still wants to. We just need to meet with her. Not as easy as you might think. But I can at least share something I read in my studies lately.

I read at the beginning of the Book of Mormon when Nephi is talking about the different plates, or books, that he will keep the record of the people on. He talks about how he has small plates and large plates. On the large plates he will record the reign of kings and wars and contentions and things like that. On the small plates he will record the sacred things. Verse 5 of Chapter 19 says such.

5 And an account of my making‍ these plates shall be given hereafter; and then, behold, I proceed according to that which I havespoken; and this I do that the more sacred things may be kept‍ for the knowledge of my people.

Then in the next verse he says something profound.

6 Nevertheless, I do not write‍ anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred.

Nephi has small plates that he saves only for things that are sacred. When I read this I thought of our lives being like the plates that Nephi has to record the record of his people on. Is our life like the large plates where he just records the reign of kings and wars and contentions? Or is our life like the small plates? Full of only sacred things. Nephi had only a small amount of room to write, so he wanted to make sure that everything he wrote mattered and that we were able to learn from and grow from and better understand our Heavenly Father. He didn't take up room filling the plates with useless, meaningless information. What are we filling our lives with? Useless things that don't matter to our eternal salvation? Material things like expensive cars or phones or TV's or houses? Or are we filling our lives with meaningful, spiritual things that help us grow and progress closer to our Heavenly Father? I hope that we see our lives as a sacred gift we have been given. God has sent us to this earth to have amazing spiritual experiences that will help us. We are trying to be more like him. To grow closer to him so that we can live with him forever. We can only do this if we make our lives like the small plates. Always remember the covenants you made at baptism. Take upon you the name of Christ. Always remember him. And keep his commandments. And if you haven't been baptized yet, then do it! God has created you to be so much more that what you currently are, but you can only achieve all that he wants you to with his help. Turn toward him. In every aspect of your life. Proverbs 3:6 says it best.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I know this is true and am so grateful for the life I have been given. What a blessing it has been. I love you all and hope that you can feel God's love in your life. Take care until next time!

Elder Anderson

Elder Jake is a car guy!  He loves cool cars!

(Kinda funny after what the said in this email about things of the world.)

He sent this pic of a Lamborghini in the church parking lot.

Sounds like we all need to try Marvelous Creations!