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

Pride leads us to failure and frustration

Oh what an adventure. It was 9:00 pm as we rolled in to our parking spot at our apartment on a crisp fall evening. The night had cast a dark blanket in the sky, only allowing small sparks of light from the stars and street lights to illuminate the world. As we exit the vehicle, we glance out at the grassy field across the street and recognize a familiar shape in the distance. Our friend roger rabbit. A stark white bunny which has eluded us for some time. But not this time. This time, we will prevail.

Swiftly, we run inside to arm ourselves with a basket and blanket. Ready for war, we enter the dark atmosphere and embark on our journey that will take us to the next level of missionaries. Gonzo leads us, basket in arms, on our course to secure the pet bunny. He circles around the target hoping to corner it and chase it towards me. It moves under a tree. Perfect. We converge. But it suspects this and takes off!!! The chase is on!!!!

We take of after the little bullet at a dead sprint. He bobs and weaves around and under the cars in the parking lot. It's a hot pursuit! But we don't give in! Back and forth, up and down, left and right we go in a desperate attempt to capture the package. As the chase drags on, we find that the little fella is slowing down! Victory is imminent!

He tires! And we have him cornered! But our mistake came when we let pride enter into our hearts. We had already started the celebratory party in our minds knowing we have finally won. As we converged for what seemed to be the last time, the little bunny's pre-workout kicked in! How could it be?! He took off like bat out of outer darkness!

Moving with inhuman speed he shot for the alley! Not the alley!!! Away he went and we followed in furious and determined pursuit! He cannot escape us this time! But alas, he did. He found all too quickly a gate that led him to the safety of someone's backyard. Too afraid to let the hot pursuit take us into an unknown land, we forfeited the effort and accepted defeat. Until next time.

The moral of the story I would like to point out real quick, is that pride leads us to failure and frustration. When we boast in ourselves, we are left in our own strength and will quickly find out that as to our strength, we are nothing.

Helaman 4:13
"And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands."

Alma 26:12
"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

Love you lots!

Elder Anderson

I love the Temple! It is God's house.

Elder Jake with his zone at a zone conference with the mission president

Transfers come and we don't go! Hahaha Elder Gonzales and I are staying together!!!! Halleluhjah! That means Gonzo will die here and then my new companion will kill me after that. (When missionaries end their mission, they say they are "killed" or they "die".  That is what Jake is referring to.)

I am so pumped he is staying! This is such a fun area. We are having so much fun. The YSA branch is so sweet! We have FHE every week and we host a knitting night every week too! It's so swell! And 2nd ward is such a solid ward. We have such great families there too. We are finding more work each day. Life is bliss right now.

We had the opportunity to go to the Cardston Temple this past Saturday. It was amazing! I love the Temple! It is God's house. He lives there. And we have the opportunity to be guests in His home. To go and learn from him. To receive answers and revelation that we are in need of. How blessed are we!

God is forever. We are forever. Why wouldn't our families be forever too? They are. I know it. We can be sealed together as a family and be a family in heaven. Moms and Dads. Brothers and sisters. Sons and daughters. Friends and family.

Make the House of God your goal. Go there as often and you can. I promise you will feel God's love greater than ever before. Prepare yourself each day for the next time you can go to the temple. Whether it's the first time or the thousandth time. Prepare yourselves.

I love you and hope you have a great week. Take care!

Elder Anderson

"If it is to be, it is up to me."

Elder Jake and Elder Gonzales studying at the mission President's house when they went to Calgary for a conference and stayed there overnight

So this week Elder Martino of the Seventy visited the mission. He taught us how we need to work more with members. It was amazing. He is my favorite General Authority who has come to the mission so far. There is one thing he told us that I absolutely love. It's a ten word phrase and each word is only two letters so it's easy to remember. "If it is to be, it is up to me." I love it. 

When we are struggling in our relationship with other people, we have to stop and remind ourselves this. If this is to be, if my sister or brother, my mom or dad, my son or daughter, my friend or neighbor, have been placed in my life for a reason, then it is up to me to get along with them. It is up to me to help them in any way possible. I need to do what I can to strengthen our relationship. 

But the most important relationship of all, is the one we have with our Heavenly Father and Savior. They will never be the problem causing the relationship to not work. If we are to grow closer to Jesus Christ, if we are to feel and understand our Heavenly Father more deeply, then it is up to us. We must change what we are doing and who we are in order to fix that relationship. It is up to us to bring them into our lives. It is up to us to acknowledge that we need them, and that we are nothing without them. 

As we do our best to reach toward them, they will move closer than they ever have been before. Your fate depends on your willingness to work. It depends on your desire to do all you can to clean up your life and get it in order so that when you are reunited with your Father in Heaven, you will be ready to embrace him. You will be ready to enter into his kingdom. And you will feel worthy to dwell among God's greatest children. "If it is to be, it is up to me."

I know this gospel is true. And I know that we can feel our Father's love for us whenever we need it. We can receive strength from our Savior when we are weak. But it is up to us. Always press forward. Continually move toward our Savior. Rest is ahead. Refuge is awaiting you. And endless peace and joy will fill your should for all eternity, after all we can do.

Elder Anderson

Elder Jake and his BFF, a pound of bacon!

Jake said we have to try these, they are his new obsession.

Probably not diabetic friendly!  (Naughty missionary)

Driving from Medicine Hat to Lethbridge

Jake has learned so much on his mission, including how to knit, and apparently drive at the same time.  I pray this is just a joke and that he's not really multitasking!

Jake has learned how to knit ties.  Yes, ties.  I have no words.

I don't think you could search the world over and find a happier missionary!
Elder Jake is having the experience of a lifetime!

Miracles do happen!

Slower week. But fun nevertheless. Here's a sweet miracle that happened though. We tracted into this lady a couple weeks ago and she said that she didn't live there but that we could stop by sometime at her place and share a message. Well we stopped by this week and talked with her and her boyfriend. They are #Gold! We taught them bits and pieces of all the lessons. They are interested in the Mormon church and had a ton of genuine questions. So we literally taught them about the restoration, plan of salvation, gospel of Jesus Christ, and even talked about temples and callings in the church. They are so sweet! They live in 3rd ward so we passed them off to those elders and they told us that the lesson they had with them went amazing! Oh man it was so cool. They are so ready it's sweet! I'm so pumped we were blessed with being able to find them. I have no doubt that God set that whole thing up. We are hoping that this week will be full of miracles like that. 

Miracles do happen! God is watching over every one of us. I know it. And you can too.

I love you all!

Elder Anderson