February 21, 2012

So the coolest thing that's happened this past week....
K there are two things.

First off, it snowed on Sunday. It started in the afternoon and snowed until morning. We got about five-six inches of snow!!!! I was so excited!!!! The scary part was we were still about seven miles from home when it started sticking to the ground... It took us about 50 minutes to get home. Don't worry, I used my snow driving skills that I acquired in Utah and we made it home with out sliding around the road and with out any problems. We even made it up a pretty steep hill. I threw it into the lowest gear and went really slow, probably no faster than 5 mph. I was praying so hard right then because we just saw a car back down the hill because they couldn't make it up. But we were already going and had no where to turn around so, up the hill we went. And when we made it to the top that's when I started breathing again.

So that was number 1.

Second thing, this past Thursday we had a lesson with one of our investigators who's set to get baptized in March. He is an awesome guy and he was so excited to see us so that he could tell us his fiance, who's a member, got him church clothes for Valentine's day so that he didn't have to wear his work pants anymore. And he told us that he had Sunday off again (third time in a row!!!!!) so he would make it to church. (He ended up being really sick on Sunday, and he was so bummed, but he's praying to have next Sunday off, too) During the lesson I felt like asking him why he felt the way he did about the Gospel, why he felt so strongly about it. For the next five minutes it was him telling us about how he came to know this is true, went from being interested in learning to being interesting in living the Gospel, and how he knows God wants him to do this otherwise the missionaries wouldn't have found him when they did. He then closed with "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."!!! I was about to cry because of how strong the Spirit was in the room. It was amazing!!!

It is so amazing how this gospel changes ordinary lives and ordinary people into amazing Christlike lives, and amazing disciples of Christ. This Gospel is the only way to receive the blessings God wants for you, you all know that. I know that by staying strong to it and holding to the rod, you can make it through anything.

Satan works the hardest right before something great is about to happen. Don't let him win those battles. He's already lost the war and he knows it so he's going to try and drag down with him as many as he can. That "rod" is the thing that will keep you from being dragged down. If you feel as if you've fallen, get up and grab on to it again. Keep going towards it and never stop, never give up, and always look to Christ for help. I know He will be there to help you through those times, because He is helping me through all the difficult times I'm going through. Because I only have a little bit of time left on my mission Satan is working hard to keep me down. But I'm not going to let him because I choose Christ. I choose my Heavenly Father, and I choose to be a missionary for my Lord Jesus Christ.

I know this is the only and true Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ. I know He lives. I know God the Father lives and loves us. I know that in my heart and soul, and I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all,

-Elder Ricky-dude

--
P.S. The Church is true!
P.P.S. FROG - Fully Rely On God

13 February 2012

So, there is something I want to talk about. It's called: Motivation.
It's something that I have had a hard time with. For those of you who knew me before my mission you probably already know that. So, why am I talking about something I'm definitely NOT an expert in? I'll tell you....

I finally have gained some self-motivation. I finally gave up my fears and nervousness and just started doing. It's sad that it's taken me this long to start getting it, but at least I AM getting it. It's strange really, because it's actually not as difficult as I thought it would be. The trick is: choosing to be motivated, then to GO AND DO. And it pays off. Once you start, it keeps going as long as you don't stop.

I have about three months left on my mission. You're probably wondering "Is he trunky? Is that why he's talking about this?" No, that's not the case. I've come to accept that I'm going home in three months and there's nothing I can do to change that. What I can do is change how my mission is going to be for those three months. I'm going to make the last three months of my mission the best three months of my life so far. It's gonna be fun. I used to tell myself stuff like that all the time at different points of my mission, that I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna do that. And everytime, I failed to achieve that goal. This time it's different. This time I have something I didn't have back then: motivation, urgency, and an understanding of how vitally important this gospel is.

Something I learned in my last zone meeting was:

Vision, without action, is just a dream
Action, without vision, is passing time
Vision and Action, working together, can change the world

That's what I'm going to do. I have a vision, now I'm going to act on it.

I know that this gospel is the only way back to our Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ lives, that God the Father lives, and that they both appeared to Joseph in the Sacred Grove. I know that with a shadow of a doubt. This is God's church. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

-Elder Ricky-dude
--
P.S. The Church is true!
P.P.S. FROG - Fully Rely On God

PICTURES

A random salamander we found outside our investigators apartment. He was just chillin' on the sidewalk when we came out.

It snowed Saturday!!!! But then the snow melted in about an hour....

I left a cup of water outside last night to see how cold it got and I found it like this in the morning.

Yesterday we made rolls and cinnamon rolls with a less-active family. It was great! (except I don't know how to make them fluffy, they were really thick and heavy.... any suggestions?)

6 February 2012

Cristan Mangum Weber
15 Aug 1963 - 2 Feb 2012

There is a mormon message that I want you to watch: http://bcove.me/fjzsfps1
Watch this mormon message. I have and I know it will help you.

I love you all so much. And I know that Heavenly Father will help you through this thing, if you will but talk to Him and ask Him for help and do what He asks you to do. I know that to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all so much and I'm praying for you all.

I forgot to tell you, read True To The Faith, the section on Death. It talks about losing a loved one and how mourning is one of the greatest expressions of love. Please read D&C 42:45 also because that has helped me.

D&C 42:45 Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection.

I love you all so much.

-Elder Ricky-dude

---

True To The Faith
Death, Physical

Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the mortal body. The Fall of Adam brought physical death into the world (see Moses 6:48).

Death is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation (see 2 Nephi 9:6). In order to become like our Eternal Father, we must experience death and later receive perfect, resurrected bodies.

When the physical body dies, the spirit continues to live. In the spirit world, the spirits of the righteous “are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:12). A place called spirit prison is reserved for “those who [have] died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets” (D&C 138:32). The spirits in prison are “taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that [are] necessary for them to know” (D&C 138:33–34). If they accept the principles of the gospel, repent of their sins, and accept ordinances performed in their behalf in temples, they will be welcomed into paradise.

Because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, physical death is only temporary: “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Everyone will be resurrected, meaning that every person’s spirit will be reunited with his or her body—“restored
to their proper and perfect frame” and no longer subject to death (Alma 40:23; see also Alma 11:44–45).

You have probably experienced the pain that comes at the death of a family member or friend. It is natural to feel sorrow at such times. In fact, mourning is one of the deepest expressions of love. The Lord said, “Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die” (D&C 42:45). The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.

Even as you mourn at the death of loved ones, you can receive comfort in the promise of resurrection and in the assurance that families can be together forever. You can “see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life” (Alma 28:14; see also verses 9–13).

In addition to receiving comfort when loved ones die, you can be at peace with the knowledge that you will eventually die. As you live the gospel, you can remember the Lord’s promise: “Those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them” (D&C 42:46).

Additional references: Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58; 2 Nephi
9:6–15; Mosiah 16:6–8

January 30, 2012

So... I'm tired. But, hey, that's missionary life.

Anyway, Elder Quiambao and Elder Ward are my new companions. They're awesome. Elder Ward is waiting for a Visa to go to Ukraine and he's pretty funny. He's from LA. Elder Quiambao originally from the Philippines (or however you spell it) and he's pretty funny too. He plays the piano and is actually quite good at it.

I get to be a district leader and it's weird to be in a leadership position again. I forgot how stressful it is. Yeah, I'm a little stressed, but it means that I have opportunity to grow! :D

The coolest thing that happened this past week, well, one of the best things, was being able to talk with a member family, we'll call them the Barnes family, about the gospel. Really, what it actually was was Bro. Barnes teaching US about the scriptures. He was raised Methodist and when he was growing up, in his sunday school, for every 5 scriptures you memorized you got a red star. For every 5 red stars you got a blue start; for every 5 blue stars you get a gold star; a
gold star and a years perfect attendance and you got a bible. Bro. Barnes got 7 bibles. Yeah, he knows the scriptures. So, for about an hour and a half, Bro. Barnes taught us about how to be better missionaries and about how we need to find out what kind of people we're teaching.

Two of the biggest things that stuck out to me are:
1 - The Church doesn't need defending. It is what it is and it's the truth. You can take it or leave it but it doesn't need defending;
2 - When someone brings up a concern (i.e. polygamy, blacks and the priesthood, etc.)
ask them "is that important to you?" If they say no, then ask them to ask the question they really want to ask; and 3 - (I know I said two but this one is important also) be bold and when someone starts trying to argue just tell them "I've been sent by a prophet of God to share a
message with you. Would you like to hear it or not?"

So, I'm gonna try and do that now, but I'm going to follow the Spirit in knowing how to best use them, because being bold without the Spirit is just plain old rude and annoying.

I'm so glad that I could be here on a mission. There are so many blessings I've received while being out here that have helped me so much and that will help me long after my mission is over. I wouldn't trade this for anything.

I love you all and hope and pray y'all are doing well.

Love ya,

-Elder Ricky-dude

January 23, 2012

I'm staying in Midlothian!!!

So I'm not being transferred. I'm staying in Midlothian (I might even finish my mission here, I don't know). Elder Monibidor is going to downtown Richmond. My new companion is from the Philippines and I think you spell his name Elder Quiembao (pronounced key-EM-bow, I think). He's pretty awesome from what I hear. Also, we're going to have a "VISA-waiter" with us. This missionary is going to Ukraine and will be here with us until he gets his visa to go over to Ukraine. So it's gonna be fun.

So last week we had interviews with President Perry and the first thing he said was "rumor has it you're coming up on your 20 month mark." I just told him "Yep". Then I went on to explain how I came to accept that fact. We were talking with a member and she had her husband on Skype (her husband is deployed). They asked me what I wanted to do after my mission and I said I have no idea. Then the husband said "you gotta have a plan". Then for the next hour he taught us about how we need to have a plan about where do we want to be in a year, 5 years, 10 years; where, when, and how do you want to retire, and things like that. I took notes on it so that I can remember what he said. It was in that moment that I finally accepted the fact that I'm going home in about four months and there's nothing I can do to change that. I better make the best of what time I have left.

President the proceeded to ask me about what I want to do after my mission and if I needed help to get into school, or if I'm looking into employment and need letters of recommendation, to let him know. I told him I'm looking at two options: 1 - going to BYU-Idaho and their Return Missionary program; or 2 - Joining the Air Force ROTC.

When I told president that he kinda raised his eyebrows as if to say, "Well, THAT'S new". Then he told me that when I get closer to going home I can start looking into it.

Anyway, life's going great. I'm having fun. We have two people set for baptism. We're teaching quite a few people right now. I'm having fun....... wait, I already said that...... oh, well.....

And the biggest things I have learned this past week:

1 - Getting frustrated, nervous, or anxious, about things you can't control is useless. It's a waste of time and energy. Focus on what you can do and the things you can effect. "You cannot change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails" as President Monson said in this months Ensign.

2 - Do not ever take anything for granted. That is one of the biggest problems some people in the Church have is taking the Gospel for granted. That only leads to you being led down a wrong path that you will have a hard time getting back from. And finally: 3 - Never, and I mean Never, think that because you slipped up and made a mistake, that's it, it's over, you can't be forgiven.

That is Satan telling you that you're nothing and God doesn't want you now because you're stained with sin. You know what, you are nothing compared to the glory of God. But to God, you're EVERYTHING. You are His work and His glory and He loves you more that anyone can ever say in the most beautiful of song or the most elegant poetry. No words can describe His love for you.

I know that is true and I know he loves you and wants you back, no matter what you've done. There is always a way back.

I bear testimony that God lives, Jesus Christ is the Savior, YOUR Savior and Redeemer, and that Joseph Smith DID see God the Father and His Son and hear them speak, and The Book of Mormon is evidence of this, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all and hope and pray you are doing well.

-Elder Ricky-dude

January 17, 2012

So, I first off want to tell you all that I was a bit frustrated last week when I was typing that email so some of what I said may have been a little off. Just wanted to warn y'all.

Anyway....

This week was interesting we were really busy and we taught quite a few people last week. A few of them new investigators and some we've been seeing for a while. We saw that Catholic guy again on Friday and after doing some research (http://mormon.org/faq/church-position-on-abortion/ and http://mormon.org/faq/plural-marriage/) we shared with him what we learned from there. We were actually only able to share about abortion and then he took over the conversation.

It was during that conversation when I finally realized something momentous....... I was mad about what he was saying. I wasn't mad or frustrated or annoyed at all because I finally realized that to cause a fight right there would be to cause a rift and let Satan win. Both me and my companion realized that. Then what made that meeting even better was that we started to talk about our potential to become like God. The guy we were talking to (I'll call him Billy-Bob from now on) was completely thrown off by it. Not by what we were teaching, but HOW we were teaching it. You could see it in his face.

Now, the doctrine of our potential to become like God is not some mysterious thing that is talked about in only very private settings. No, it's talked about all over the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. To teach this doctrine with your companion in the spirit of unity and
in the spirit of teaching and love, you can teach it so that a three-year-old could understand it. And that's what happened. It was awesome! I've never been that unified with a companion than in that moment right there. And it was because we loved the person we were talking with, we loved Billy-Bob so much that we listened to the Spirit. It was amazing.

I know without a doubt that this gospel is true and that by living it we won't ever be left without an answer to our questions and that we won't ever have to worry about whether or not we are doing the right thing because the Spirit will tell us as long as we are living worthy
of his presence.

Then on Sunday we went by one of our newer investigators we taught and talked with him about stuff. He brought up some concerns about things he read on the internet about us and he presented them to us. We just calmly said "thank you for bringing these up to us because it gives us the chance to help you understand everything". He brought up a lot of things about what the Book of Mormon talks about and every time he did, we calmly just read a scripture about those things. For example, someone wrote that Nephi built a temple equal to that of Solomon's
temple, but with only 19 people. We read 2 Nephi 5:16 (I think that's the scripture, if it's not 16 it's around there) where it says he built it after the manner of Solomon's temple but without the precious materials that Solomon's temple had.

Basically any concern he brought up we just calmly answered it with scripture. It was AWESOME!!!!

Anyway, so I've written an epistle to y'all and now I'll give you time to read it. But by the time you get to this part you'll have read it and depending on how fast you read you'll probably finish reading this in about 10-15 minutes. (Jake I know you'll have it read in like 5 minutes because you're a really fast reader).

I love you all and hope a pray y'all are doing well.

Peace, love, and happiness (maybe some chocolate) to all of you.

-Elder Ricky-dude

Pre-P.S. I haven't taken any pictures for the past little while, but
I will have some for you next week. I promise!

January 9, 2012

So this past week was interesting, very interesting. This past week has been a blur, to put it simply. It's all mushed together into one big thought. If I think about it for a minute, I can separate it........ so bear with me here.........

The biggest and strangest thing that happened was when I went on an exchange with a fairly new missionary. We went to see this staunch catholic guy. Basically what ends up happening when we see him is that he ends up trying to convert us to Catholicism. Yeah, it's interesting. He's very smart and know the history of the Catholic church very well. So well, in fact, that it's kind of creepy. Everything that we say somehow gets twisted around by him to throw it back against us. It's fun going over there because I get to see how twisted things have become in today's world.

Whenever I do go over there and it starts becoming a little contentious, I just shut down and listen. Whenever I think to add something that I can see could possibly help him understand but would most likely end up being twisted around on me, the Spirit just stops me. I end up bearing testimony about the truthfulness of the Gospel. It's crazy because most of the things that he brings up are about church history or something else that we as missionaries don't really study about or about an issue that's done and over with, such as Blacks and the Priesthood, polygamy, and abortion. (This guy believes our church condones abortion) His biggest argument about why things changed with this is because the Church succumbed to social pressure. IN NO WAY IS THAT TRUE. I put that in bold letters because I really want you all to know that that is not true. The reason why polygamy stopped was to keep the temples open.

The Church does not succumb to social pressure. God does not succumb to social pressure. No matter what.

No matter what anyone tells you, this is the true Church of Jesus Christ because it fulfills prophecy, is lead by a living and true prophet, and holds the Priesthood of God. This true church is what's going to save all mankind from itself. Everything depends upon us who know the truth. I will be honest with you, it is not an easy task, nor will it be an easy thing. God didn't make this life and our responsibilities easy. He made it hard. But He also made it possible to work through the challenges and reach higher levels. I know that our loving Father in Heaven made it possible for every, I repeat that, EVERY soul to come back to him no matter what that person has done, if they will but follow His son, Jesus Christ and be willing to humble themselves and submit to Heavenly Father's will. He knows what's best for us and He will make it possible for us to achieve true happiness and lasting joy, not just a temporary euphoria that ends when something throws it off course. I know that that is true with all my heart and nothing is going to separate me from that knowledge because I have received that witness from the Holy Ghost that tells me this is Jesus Christ's true church and that I am following him. I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all so much.

-Elder Ricky-dude

January 3, 2012

So, let me teach you something...

Being compelled to be humble is NOT FUN. Let me explain why I'm telling you this.

Last week I had a really rough experience and that was a moment when everything in my life flipped upside down. It was then that I finally realized how prideful I had actually been. I never realized what I was doing until that moment. The next few days were some of the hardest days for me on my mission. The Lord was really humbling me and I thought that He would say, you messed up and you need to feel some of the punishment to help you, and then I'd be sad and feel guilty for a little bit and then by the end of the day be fine. Nope. That's definitely not what happened. For the next two and half days I felt like throwing up and I was seriously feeling the weight of what I've done by being prideful. It was so difficult. I wanted to just curl up in a ball and cry for the entire time, but I couldn't because I needed to go and work.

After studying so many different Ensign articles from General Conference and studying the scriptures and praying for help and forgiveness like I've never prayed before, I finally was able to feel relief. I'm coming out of this understanding, at least a little better, what it means to be humble. I've been trying for the past few days to focus on helping others and about what the LORD needs me to do, and what the LORD wants the people to know, not what I want to tell people. When I talked to people I would always try to think of situations that I was in to help them. That's good and all, but the best and most effective thing would have been to think of things the Savior said, in scriptures and through the prophets, that would have helped the most. That's what I've been trying to do now and it is helping me to understand better what my purpose is as a missionary. It's brought me such joy that, just like Alma said in Alma 36, nothing could have been so exquisite and bitter as my pain, and nothing could have been so exquisite, sweet and wonderful as my joy.

Being compelled to be humble is not a pleasant experience and it never will be. But it is so worth it that I will gladly take it over never knowing I was being prideful. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be humbled by the Lord because that means He loves me and wants me to do better and NEEDS me to do better because I'm supposed to help people out here. He can't have me goofin off and not focusing on what I'm supposed to do.

So, why am I sharing this with you? Because we learn in the Bible that he who has been warned should warn his neighbor. If you've ever read the talk "Beware of Pride" by President Ezra Taft Benson, read it again. If you've never read it, read it. Because it was that talk that helped me to start choosing to be humble. There are two things in that talk that stick out to me right now:

"The Lord will have a humble people" and "Let us choose to be humble"

Let us all (that includes me, too) choose to be humble, because being compelled to be humble by the Lord is not pleasant, and that we will all feel the joy that comes from knowing the Lord is pleased with us, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Ricky-dude

P.S. The Church is true!
P.P.S. FROG - Fully Rely On God