If you are trying to find happiness or peace, then the best place to start is on God's doorstep.

Well we had a call come in today from a guy we are working with. For the entire time I've been in the area and more he has been convinced he will never join the church. He told us it's a great organization but it's not what he believes. Well he called us this morning and told us he started reading the Book of Mormon and realized that it is what he believes. He said that he has accepted all that he has read so far and now wants to be a part of the whole picture. 

It's amazing to me when I hear people who think that we are not christian or we worship the devil. Our church is the Church of Christ. It's the original church that was on the earth since the beginning. One thing that I love that our investigator said to us was "Whether or not Joseph Smith really talked with God, I know that he created a beautiful message." 

Whether or not the church is true, the message that we have is one that will bless you life incredibly. The lifestyle will bring more happiness and joy into your life than anything else. Even success is often a result of the teachings in this church. These things are facts. 

I don't know about you but it sounds like this is exactly what God would give us if He were real. And I know that it is exactly what He gives us BECAUSE He is real. The church is true. If you are trying to find happiness or peace, then the best place to start is on God's doorstep. 

Elder Anderson

Because of Christ, we have all the hope we need to move us forward.

I just have a really quick thought for you. And it's from a talk I read called the Donaldson Papers. It's incredible. Here's the thought. 

When Christ suffered for us in the garden of Gethsemane, he unlocked our path to repentance and to be forgiven. When he was scourged, he unlocked the enabling power of the atonement. This is referred to as Grace in the scriptures. And lastly when Christ was lifted up on the cross he unlocked our path to exaltation. So what does this all mean. Well we have access to all of these things through ordinances. Our path to be forgiven starts with baptism. As we are baptized, we start down a path that follows Christ. We become cleansed from all our sins when we are baptized. That is the first ordinance. The second is the sacrament. As we take the sacrament each week, we renew the covenant we made at baptism and that enables us to continue to be forgiven. The last one is the temple. The path we are now on leads to the temple. At the temple, we can become exalted. We make more covenants, or promises, with God that allow us to return to live with him again. The Atonement of Jesus Christ has given us the opportunity to live with God again. But we must partake in these ordinances in order to receive the blessings that come with them. And we must hold true and faithful to the promises we have made with out Heavenly Father in order to secure our blessings not only in this life but in the life to come. Without Jesus Christ, we have no hope for a better life. But because of Christ, we have all the hope we need to move us forward. 

I hope this is enlightening to you all. It was to me. I love you all and pray always for your welfare. I know you do the same for me for I feel it. Thank you for all you do.

Elder Anderson

I am a witness of God's miracles

   

Well this week we had an In-Zone ET (Emergency Transfer). So I swapped places with an Elder in the zone. This means that I am back with Elder Peci! I'm so pumped! He is so much fun! We now just cover one ward. They seem pretty cool from what I've seen.

I am sad to leave the other ward and branch. There were some incredible miracles happening in that area like I have never seen on my mission so far. One investigator we were teaching had a softening of the heart like I have never seen. It was incredible. The Spirit is absolutely amazing. Another kid moved into the area and after four years of not being active in the church decided he wanted to start coming back. We met him last week. He is now preparing himself to serve a mission.

The miracles were truly amazing and faith promoting for me. I want you all to know that God is a god of miracles. Miracles are not a thing of the past. They are not fairy tales or fantasies. They are real. Miracles happen every day. And I know that they have happened without you even know it.

A miracle doesn't have to be someone coming back from the dead. Or being cured of cancer. Or surviving a plane crash. It can be as simple as having just enough money to pay the bills. Or having just enough gas to get you home. Or even receiving a call from a friend who was simply thinking of you.

We should never underestimate how involved God is in our lives. A coincidence is a lot more rare than a miracle. Miracles happen a lot more than you think. Never forget God loves you, and never think he doesn't care about you. He's in your life a lot more than you can ever imagine. I have a testimony of it. I am a witness of God's miracles. You can be too if you open your eyes.

Elder Anderson

I am a child of God.

 

Elder Jake and Elder Gonzales with Sister Miles, the mission president's wife

I am a child of God. I want you to say that in your mind. This thought can do many things for us. What I want to focus on is the power it gives us over our adversary, Satan. In the book of Moses, Satan tempts Moses to worship him. This is how Moses overcomes Satan:

"13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?"

"I am a son of God" That phrase helped Moses remember which way he faced. He faced God and Jesus Christ. He remembered that he wasn't just a nobody. He was a son of God. Just like we are sons and daughters of God. If God is our Dad, what does that mean? Moses goes on to say:

"16 Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten."

We have been created after the image of God. We are after the similitude of Jesus Christ. We are more powerful that we imagine because of who we were created to resemble. And finally Moses says:

"21 And now Satan began to tremble, and the earth shook; and Moses received strength, and called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan."

Moses received strength. From who? Where did he get his strength? It was becasue of his knowledge. He was able to use the power of God to receive strength and overcome Satan. Moses knew he was a son of God. And becasue of that, he knew the God would strengthen him when he was in need of it. And the power of God has no limit. As we see in the next verse:

"22 And it came to pass that Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence, even from the presence of Moses, that he beheld him not."

God removed Satan from the presence of Moses because Moses remembered that he, being a son of God, could call on him and receive strength and power. We were created to become greater than who we currently are. But in order to do this, we need God's help along with our Savior's help. 

The last scripture I want to share with you and I want you to remember is Phillipians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." All things. Not just some things. You are a son or daughter of the most powerful being in the universe. Never forget that. And never forget that He has promised to give you power when you need it. Even if that means every day. Especially if that means every day.

Elder Anderson

Jake wrote this about this picture: "We volunteered at a breast cancer run and they gave us this free stuff. It was pretty funny. They had bras hanging up on the building like Christmas lights. hahahahahahaha it was hilarious!"

Knitting class with the YSA ward