April 10, 2006
Mom,
The spirit is great here in Mass. right now.
this lady at service tells me about the weather in Cali all the time, she said that your probably rowing a boat to work lol. the weather is warming up here, but big storms are forecasted this week. They say that its normal to get snow well into May.
School finishing soon... thats exciting! im proud of you mom. How are Nick and Jamister? i miss em alot. How about Chelsea? she wrote back to E. Johnson, thats good. she would totaly like him lol, hes the skinny white type she likes, adn they are the same age! Hows Natalie? havnt heard about her in a while, and i miss everybody! Hows Dad? tell him to write me more often lol geeze. im jealous that you have Oma food! Geeze, no fair!
Wow, are you missing your PT? what are you going to do about the license plate? can you x-fer it? send me pics of the mini once you get it.
i still want pictures of the stuff youve done to the house.
This week has been pretty great! all of our investigators have been progressing wonderfuly, and Flo's baptism is this Friday! we are having so many investigators come, im SURE they will feel the spirit. We had a great testimony meeting this past sunday, and its always so refreshing to know you can feel the spirit, if you allow yourself. Its so amazing the validity of the saying "when you lose yourself, then will you find yourself". So many people ive talked to in the apologetics forum say that the spirit is 'self-induced', and that you have to be skeptical of what you feel... i understand where they get that idea, but then i DARE them to ACTUALY give up their skepticism and apprehensions and TRY to feel the spirit. The feeling of the spirit exceeds any feeling i have ever felt, and the undeniable inspiration and revelation that one recieves while intune with the spirit. Every day my faith becomes more of a knowledge as i continue to strive to feel the spirit, and recieve a confirmation that i could NEVER induce upon my own mind. So many things in this world test us and shape us to be affraid... when we deal with God we have no reason to fear. the bible dictionary states that "fear is somthing unworthy of a child of God"... thats so true. the words of Isaiah come to mind,
"Behold, God is my salvation; i will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2)
These words bring peace and comfort, as well as teach the doctrine of true conversion. God is my salvation, not my own thoughts and feelings. i will trust him, and not be afraid, for when i trust myself doubt is always a factor that i must deal with. With God, he "cannot lie "(titus 1:1), and will always give me support. Christ is my strength, and my joy. he lends me support, and he enligtens me with the knowledge of a greater, eternal perspective. When i ALLOW myself to believe in him, i will, and then will i allow myself to feel the support, joy and salvation of him. I find it hard to not be upset when people, who so clearly NEED the gospel, refuse to even allow it to help them. i understand the frustration of missionary work, but i also understand the joys of it. "Godly sorrow bringeth a man to repentance", as did Zeezrom as he became concious of his guilt. God offers us joy beyond what we could ever imagin we could ever achieve on our own accord. The Gospel is the gospel of hope. Paul, in his epistle to the Colossians reminds them of that. he reminds them of the uncertainty that exists before they had the gospel. he reminds them of the joy and structure that they can actually feel, not just believe, if they "continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel". the gospel is true, and the church is the organization of Christ based on the gospel. Joseph Smith is the prophet of this dispensation. The Book of Mormon is a true book. and that is truth.
"LISTEN to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I AM, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins" D&C 29:1
Elder Onken
The spirit is great here in Mass. right now.
this lady at service tells me about the weather in Cali all the time, she said that your probably rowing a boat to work lol. the weather is warming up here, but big storms are forecasted this week. They say that its normal to get snow well into May.
School finishing soon... thats exciting! im proud of you mom. How are Nick and Jamister? i miss em alot. How about Chelsea? she wrote back to E. Johnson, thats good. she would totaly like him lol, hes the skinny white type she likes, adn they are the same age! Hows Natalie? havnt heard about her in a while, and i miss everybody! Hows Dad? tell him to write me more often lol geeze. im jealous that you have Oma food! Geeze, no fair!
Wow, are you missing your PT? what are you going to do about the license plate? can you x-fer it? send me pics of the mini once you get it.
i still want pictures of the stuff youve done to the house.
This week has been pretty great! all of our investigators have been progressing wonderfuly, and Flo's baptism is this Friday! we are having so many investigators come, im SURE they will feel the spirit. We had a great testimony meeting this past sunday, and its always so refreshing to know you can feel the spirit, if you allow yourself. Its so amazing the validity of the saying "when you lose yourself, then will you find yourself". So many people ive talked to in the apologetics forum say that the spirit is 'self-induced', and that you have to be skeptical of what you feel... i understand where they get that idea, but then i DARE them to ACTUALY give up their skepticism and apprehensions and TRY to feel the spirit. The feeling of the spirit exceeds any feeling i have ever felt, and the undeniable inspiration and revelation that one recieves while intune with the spirit. Every day my faith becomes more of a knowledge as i continue to strive to feel the spirit, and recieve a confirmation that i could NEVER induce upon my own mind. So many things in this world test us and shape us to be affraid... when we deal with God we have no reason to fear. the bible dictionary states that "fear is somthing unworthy of a child of God"... thats so true. the words of Isaiah come to mind,
"Behold, God is my salvation; i will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2)
These words bring peace and comfort, as well as teach the doctrine of true conversion. God is my salvation, not my own thoughts and feelings. i will trust him, and not be afraid, for when i trust myself doubt is always a factor that i must deal with. With God, he "cannot lie "(titus 1:1), and will always give me support. Christ is my strength, and my joy. he lends me support, and he enligtens me with the knowledge of a greater, eternal perspective. When i ALLOW myself to believe in him, i will, and then will i allow myself to feel the support, joy and salvation of him. I find it hard to not be upset when people, who so clearly NEED the gospel, refuse to even allow it to help them. i understand the frustration of missionary work, but i also understand the joys of it. "Godly sorrow bringeth a man to repentance", as did Zeezrom as he became concious of his guilt. God offers us joy beyond what we could ever imagin we could ever achieve on our own accord. The Gospel is the gospel of hope. Paul, in his epistle to the Colossians reminds them of that. he reminds them of the uncertainty that exists before they had the gospel. he reminds them of the joy and structure that they can actually feel, not just believe, if they "continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel". the gospel is true, and the church is the organization of Christ based on the gospel. Joseph Smith is the prophet of this dispensation. The Book of Mormon is a true book. and that is truth.
"LISTEN to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I AM, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins" D&C 29:1
Elder Onken
posted by Queen Bee at 4:49 PM
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