What’s up family?
Fantastic letter.
Yes, this has been a very bittersweet week. Thursday in our weekly planning
session, I had to pull out my last planner that was made by you back home.
Specifically it's the one made by Bailee. I saved it for the last. Maybe it's
because it has a gigantic picture of the temple on it.
Sounds like
things are great back there. I hope you got my package from the member that
moved up to Utah. He said it got a little wet during transportation but
hopefully it wasn't too bad. I will probably be sending a few more home in the
next couple weeks. I have acquired a lot of goodies. I got a text from Mark
Coleman on Friday saying that he was on his way up to watch the Saturday
afternoon and Priesthood sessions. I was amazed! I told him to visit with you
but I don't think he got my text and you were in Idaho anyways. He is going to
take us out to lunch next week. I love the wards here. Last week for our FHE
activity the Phoenix North YSA came to a barbeque in the park with our ward. It
was awesome to see them all again. There are several groups that are planning
on coming up to my "Return and Report" to the ward on May 27th. The
James' are planning on being there also. A few members of the Phx No YSA
bishopric might come as well. It will be neat.
Last week was a
great week for teaching. We had a lot of great lessons and found a couple great
new people to teach. They all came from part member families. It's funny how
right when you think there is nothing left that you can possibly do, if you but
do just a bit more, the Lord opens the windows of heaven and pours out
blessings. Even through a couple of faith demoting experiences, Kolt is
enduring well and will be baptized this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Example; he was
on his way to our lesson at the church and his brake pad fell off. :/ His rotor
was scraped down like crazy and he ended up having to drive home by using the
emergency brake. He's fine though and continues to have spiritual experiences
which propel him through to the waters. We had a very powerful lesson with him
last night. We had planned to teach about the baptismal covenant and how it
applies to the sacrament. That ended up only lasting about ten or fifteen
minutes before it turned into a testimony meeting where we shared experiences
and stories that have built our faith and encouraged our progression.
General
Conference was fantastic wasn't it? I think I say this every time but it's like
the Super Bowl or World Series for missionaries (if the Yankees are playing). I
loved Elder Holland's talk once again. I felt like it was speaking directly to
some of my recent converts. One convert in particular had always questioned why
she didn't find the gospel until later in her life. Why wasn't she one to have
been born into the covenant. We told her that it was because Heavenly Father
trusted her enough to put her in a situation where he knew that she would
accept it when she heard it. Elder Holland made the comment that whether you
receive it early or late you will still receive the same wage. The blessings
and potential are there for all. I also liked Elder Nelson's talk. "If a
printing shop exploded, could it create a dictionary? And then could that
dictionary produce other dictionaries?" There is so much evidence that
there is a God and that He loves us. SOOOOO much evidence.
Had a pretty neat
experience visiting a less active member this week. Her name is Kim. We had
never been able to get into contact with her in the past. On Tuesday night we
had a few minutes to kill so we decided to go and stop by. As I was about to
knock on the window, a hand appeared on the other side of the door and peeled
back the curtain. I heard a faint "hello?" The only way I can
describe the voice is to say it sounded like Wendy from the movie Hook when she
is at the top of the stairs and says, "Hello boy." Yeah, it scared me
for a minute. I jumped back and introduced myself. She came out and sat down at
a table that was on her front porch. We could tell she was a smoker and wasn't
active AT ALL in the church. As we talked we found out she was baptized in the
early 90s, still believes in the church and has children that have families
which are active in the church. It was really hard to get any sort of
conversation going so it came to that point in the visit where we just share a
spiritual thought, say a prayer, and leave. My thought turned to Ether 12:27.
First, I talked about how God's hand is in the details of our lives. Sometimes
things happen to us that we don't understand, but in the end we see that we
grew substantially from the trial/experience we were given. Before I could even
read the scripture, her eyes got dark. She cut me off and smartly said,
"Even if you have a gun held to your head and you are forced to take the
blame for a crime you didn't commit?" I looked at her puzzled with dozens
of questions running through my mind. The only thing I could say was,
"Uhh, what happened?" She said that her son (non-member) was cornered
by a group of "thugs" (as she puts it) and with a gun pointed at his
head, forced him to take the blame for a crime he didn't commit otherwise they
would kill him and his entire family. He followed their command. She then told
us that this had just happened five days earlier. Her eyes got teary and she
looked up at heaven with a clenched fist saying that she was mad at God because
of what had happened. My brain was spinning! Finally my thoughts focused and I
don't know where it came from, but I started talking about how God gives us
experiences such as this to humble us, and His "grace is sufficient for
all" who humble themselves before Him. I shared the experience of Tom
Hughes, who also was falsely accused in jail. I talked about how Tom had an
amazing experience, gaining a testimony while there and teaching the others in
prison. Suddenly her countenance changed. She looked at me, and as if to have
just scratched the winning lottery ticket, and said, "I have actually been
praying for years that my son would find God and develop a faith in Him. Do you
think that this could actually be an answer to my prayer?" I hoped and
prayed that it was because I told her that I would have to say that was the
case. Her tears turned from tears of anger and hate to tears of hope, faith,
and joy. I asked her if she would like a priesthood blessing for comfort. She
agreed. Elder Brothers gave her the blessing and she was in tears through the
whole thing. As we left, she smiled and thanked us many times for helping her
change her perspective on the experience. It was one of those "tender
mercy of the Lord" experiences. Hopefully things go well.
Lastly, I've talked
a lot about an investigator named Preston who was supposed to get baptized a
few months ago but has to wait a little while to work some things out. His
member girlfriend broke off their engagement. He was pretty distraught. He
called saying he needed to receive some answers to questions from us. At about
9:30, he came by and we talked in the parking lot. His girlfriend had told him
that they can't get married because they each have to be perfect before they go
into it. He wanted to know the doctrine behind that excuse. We helped him to
know that that was actually the opposite of truth and that we will be far from
perfect and need to work through our imperfections before, and after marriage.
He went to conference with many questions in mind. He let us know that they
were all answered. His testimony is unshakeable.
Lately I've been
thinking a lot about the "absolutes" I've learned on my mission. Some
come from one-liner quotes, others are single principles. You will probably
recognize some. Here's a few:
There is no
comfort in a growing zone, but no growing in a comfort zone.
You are as happy
as you are obedient.
The Atonement of
Jesus Christ is real.
Our potential is
incomprehensible.
Submitting to the
Father's will, obedience, and righteous actions breed spiritual and even
temporal/professional education and knowledge. (Just look at the apostles and
prophets). Callings are seldom convenient...they come first.
It's a choice to
be happy and to get along.
"Sacrifice
brings forth the blessings of Heaven."
“The opportunity
of a lifetime can be missed by not seizing it in the lifetime of the
opportunity." We are saved by grace, after all we can do.
Attitude is
everything.
The church is
true.
I love you all
very much!
Elder Mouritsen
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