Monday, April 21, 2014

Elder Ellsworth

This is Dallen's latest letter. I don't know if you guys ever get to read them, but this one was especially good. He's the only Ellsworth missionary right now and has four months left, so if you get stumped for FHE ideas you can send him a letter :)  

404 S. Baird 
Greenbay Wi
54301

Sometimes I think that my life couldn't get any better. Then I wake up and it gets better. Rock On. Easter was wonderful. Church was so spiritual. I translated so i dont remember it the best but i know that i felt the spirit. Hmong Sunday school was sweet. Brother Yang taught it and we watched one of the Church videos about Christ and he had me translate it on the Fly. It was great. I never know if i should do different Voices for all the different people in the videos that i translate. I think people might loose sight of the spirituality of it and i would get the different voices mixed up. But anyways it was great and we had a wonderful discussion about Looking to Christ and the Children of Israel it was really good. it was in 3 languages Hmong, Lao and a little English. (one of our Lao less actives came he speaks english too but  the Yang's speak Lao but dont know much English) Lao is funny I dont speak much Lao, I only know "hello grandma" and "Thank you".
After Church we ate dinner with Some non-members that we met at one of the Open Mics I played. They are a really cool family and we are gonna start teaching them. The Pastor of their church was there too. Me and him talked a whole bunch. Nice guy but not called of God. He started tryin to pick at some Doctrine and I Stated some truth and then me and Elder Burgoyne and I Reasoned with him out of the scriptures about the evil of Contention and arguing and strife. then we talked with him about how we come to know truth, the Holy Spirit, and how when the 2 disciples were walking to Emmaus and they met, talked, walked and ate with the Resurrected Savior. But the thing that stuck out the most to them was that their "Hearts Burned" they felt the Spirit, and that was how they, and all men know of the truth (Luke 24.32). Then he didnt wanna argue. hahaha. Bashing is so Lame.
So the big one this week is Desire. I've been studying alot about Desire and the Desire of my Heart.  I really like how the psalmist writes about how the Lord Grants us according to our Desires Proverbs talks about   in  10.24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. Its key to aknowledge that the Lord blesses those who do his will. we are always rewarded according to our true desires. Alma 29:4 States
 4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.
Its Cool and scary that God gives us the things we desire most, According to our wills. So like all aspects of the gospel there is a course we have to take and work we have to do. I really want to have a Sweet Eternal Family. That has become the biggest desire of my heart. The plan of Salvation is so cool. And God is great. He truely loves each and every one of us. He wants us to be happy and he prepared a way. Its the best. Easter is great. I Know that Christ Atoned for my sins and your sins, that he suffered all the pains and afflictions that we deal with in this life; Regret, Sorrow, Depression, Loneliness, Rejection, Discouragement all of it. So that we could be partakers of His Gift, Light, Gospel, Joy and Be able to  return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. What a wonderful truth we have. He is Risen. and because he rose from the grave all of us can recieve the help and enabling power of the Atonement to help us Rise up everyday and become new creatures, putting off the natural man and becoming a saint throught the grace, mercy and merits of our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. Life is so good. I have the Best friends and family a man could ask for.
love you lots
Elder Ellsworth
additional Scriptures
Psalms 37.3-7
Mark 11.24

Friday, April 18, 2014

A New "Goodie" from Elder Holland

I came across this little gem from Elder Holland--a BYU address given back in 1980. I'd never heard/read it before, but it's a good one! http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=869

Monday, April 14, 2014

Large and Small Plates

I don't know if I have brought this up before on the blog, or just in personal conversations but I have a dilemma with note taking/journal keeping. How do I organize what I study? Or better yet, how do you organize your personal studies? Do you keep two journals? On my mission I would have one journal that I took to zone class/conferences, and another journal for personal studies, and a third journal for describing what I did that day or week (the large plates), etc. I need some ideas on how to 1. Organize, so that I can go back and easily find the notes/revelation from that one conference two years ago, and 2. Consolidate.

I have had this challenge for sometime, and just last week I came across this great video that is motivating to act.

The first video is most relevant to this discussion, and the second video is the episode from which the first segment was taken. Let me know your thoughts.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/teaching-no-greater-call/15?v=1520686899001


http://www.mormonchannel.org/teaching-no-greater-call/15?v=1520686899001