April 3, 2006
Mom,
oh geeze, a mini coop? lol, GET OFF THE ROAD!!!! lol j/k. congratulations, you deserve it!
Gen Con rocked! Eyring's talk was my favorite i think. Elder Evans' was inspiring, and i hope it touched the heart of many who are struggling with the decission of a mission. Overall, it was sad to think that our time with Pres Hinkley could be running short. hes done such an amazing work, but did you notice how much President Monson seemed... different? we have said that he sounded "prophetic". Ive never been so excited for General Conference. its like... "Hey, who wants to listen to prophets from God give REAL TIME REVELATION, that has NEVER been heard before!" its so exciting! did Nat and Chels get a change to see any? you should get it on DVD when it comes out (6$).
Sounds like your getting senioritis!! lol, school is comming to an end, thats a very big deal!
haha, you ran into Patrick? thats cool. Hes a good kid. im still trying to get e-mail addresses from some of the people back home.
So this week has been interesting. We had Zone Conference. that was awesome! it was taught by Elder Clay Christenson, an area Seventy. hes a professor at Harvard Business School ( i guess like 3 of the professors there are mormon) and gave a great training about using scriptural homework to help others feel the spirit. It was a great opportunity to meet him and hear his words.
Other things this week... we had to move Meg Brook's baptismal date back because she has canceled a few appointments with us because shes sick. we need some more time to prepare her, and to help her stop smoking. Flo however is set and ready for baptism! she has former missionaries flying in from ALL over the country to see it! its gonna be an extraviganza!
Its been hard work lately. the branch refuses to institute Home Teaching, and instead just sends the missioanries to visit the Less Actives... whcih is TOTALY inneffective because we leave every 6 weeks and they are pretty much desensitized to us by now. :/ its sad, because so many people WOULD be active, or WOULD be baptized if they had the fellowship of a home teacher :( its frustrating.
did i mention that we started to teach antoher minister? thats 2... they are cool people, and are pretty busy until after easter, but then we have meetings with them.
We ate lunch at this sweet hole in the hot dog/ burger place called Jacks. the burgers are like 50 cents, and the hot dogs are like a dollar. its totaly rad.
Today we watched the Work and the Glory.... ive seen it before, but wow. its remarkable. they brought up a lot of good points in that movie that i had never before really thought of in such a context. it is amazing how many people are quick to dismiss this church as false or evil, or untrue without even trying the test that the Savior himself said to use. Matther 7:20 states that when testing to see if a prophet is real, or false, that "by their fruits ye shall know them" because a good tree (true prophet) CANNOT produce bad fruit, and a bad tree (false prophet) CANNOT produce good fruit. so many people jump to the conclusion without even attempting to learn, and dismiss it on grounds that at least they have tested it. Its frustrating and upsetting to me to see this happen. I know, and have experienced the great joy, assistance, and enlightenment that comes with the gospel. I have tested, and gained a testimony on my own grounds, not on the grounds of another. I have grown up in the church my whole life, yet it took me seriously contemplanting and testing to validity of the Book of Mormon and the gospel to recieve a real testimony. I would almost consider myself a convert at 18 when i finaly recieved a testimony. i am greatful that i was baptized at 8, because that was the first step in giving me the tools (such as the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost), knowledge, and experience needed to find out that truth at a later time! Isaiah 28:10 states that we all can learn truth, but it MUST come as "line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precepet, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little". the process of this makes our confidence and conviction in the truth even greater, as it makes it a long process, not an instant gratification! few great things have evolved over night and remained great.
I have decided that the greatest gift someone could ever possibly give me, would be to honestly and truely take the time to learn about the gospel of christ, and read the Book of Mormon with heart felt sincerity. the sincerity to know if it is true, not to just blindly believe it. as Moroni stated, i restate as if my own words and testimony:
"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will fmanifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
i challenge not only non-mormons, but even those in the church who feel as though they have no testiomony, or need a reaffirmation of that which God has already given. give this a try. read sincerly, and deeply. do not just read, but "feast" upon the words. then humbly ask of God, as a child would, throwing your own inhibitions and doubts and opinions away. as your mind clears, and thoughts subside, a still small voice of warmth, love and love WILL fill your hearts. it happend to me... and it continues to happen to me whenever i repeat the process. pray with real intent, and the Lord will bless you. when you honestly tell the Lord that you will heed his council, whatever it may be, then he will answer you. Dont let previously obtained opinions, and thoughts prevent you from experiencing truth. Man is imperfect, thus we must rely upon a perfect source of truth. that is our loving Heavenly Father. this is not just a Jesus-Freak dissortation, its a true principal. i say this not because im a missionary, but because i know that all can use the gospel. righteous living, is successful living; spiritualy and temporaly. do not be decieved by doubt, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
there is no greater gift than that of the gospel, and that is an eternal truth that cannot be changed.
I love the Lord and all he has done for me. im greatful for my testimony and the countless experiences ive had to reaffirm that. I am forever endebted to those who have helped me recieve a true testimony, and am greatful for the learning experiences that brought me to such a point. prayer is real, and so is God. Joseph Smith is undeoubtebly a prophet, and anybody who says otherwise has never taken the time to read the fruits of his prophetic call. if all man were like Joseph Smith, this world would be much better. The Lord said that at the last days, all the terrible destructions will come, but that 'righteousness will cut my work short'.
i love you and miss you. take care
Elder Onken
oh geeze, a mini coop? lol, GET OFF THE ROAD!!!! lol j/k. congratulations, you deserve it!
Gen Con rocked! Eyring's talk was my favorite i think. Elder Evans' was inspiring, and i hope it touched the heart of many who are struggling with the decission of a mission. Overall, it was sad to think that our time with Pres Hinkley could be running short. hes done such an amazing work, but did you notice how much President Monson seemed... different? we have said that he sounded "prophetic". Ive never been so excited for General Conference. its like... "Hey, who wants to listen to prophets from God give REAL TIME REVELATION, that has NEVER been heard before!" its so exciting! did Nat and Chels get a change to see any? you should get it on DVD when it comes out (6$).
Sounds like your getting senioritis!! lol, school is comming to an end, thats a very big deal!
haha, you ran into Patrick? thats cool. Hes a good kid. im still trying to get e-mail addresses from some of the people back home.
So this week has been interesting. We had Zone Conference. that was awesome! it was taught by Elder Clay Christenson, an area Seventy. hes a professor at Harvard Business School ( i guess like 3 of the professors there are mormon) and gave a great training about using scriptural homework to help others feel the spirit. It was a great opportunity to meet him and hear his words.
Other things this week... we had to move Meg Brook's baptismal date back because she has canceled a few appointments with us because shes sick. we need some more time to prepare her, and to help her stop smoking. Flo however is set and ready for baptism! she has former missionaries flying in from ALL over the country to see it! its gonna be an extraviganza!
Its been hard work lately. the branch refuses to institute Home Teaching, and instead just sends the missioanries to visit the Less Actives... whcih is TOTALY inneffective because we leave every 6 weeks and they are pretty much desensitized to us by now. :/ its sad, because so many people WOULD be active, or WOULD be baptized if they had the fellowship of a home teacher :( its frustrating.
did i mention that we started to teach antoher minister? thats 2... they are cool people, and are pretty busy until after easter, but then we have meetings with them.
We ate lunch at this sweet hole in the hot dog/ burger place called Jacks. the burgers are like 50 cents, and the hot dogs are like a dollar. its totaly rad.
Today we watched the Work and the Glory.... ive seen it before, but wow. its remarkable. they brought up a lot of good points in that movie that i had never before really thought of in such a context. it is amazing how many people are quick to dismiss this church as false or evil, or untrue without even trying the test that the Savior himself said to use. Matther 7:20 states that when testing to see if a prophet is real, or false, that "by their fruits ye shall know them" because a good tree (true prophet) CANNOT produce bad fruit, and a bad tree (false prophet) CANNOT produce good fruit. so many people jump to the conclusion without even attempting to learn, and dismiss it on grounds that at least they have tested it. Its frustrating and upsetting to me to see this happen. I know, and have experienced the great joy, assistance, and enlightenment that comes with the gospel. I have tested, and gained a testimony on my own grounds, not on the grounds of another. I have grown up in the church my whole life, yet it took me seriously contemplanting and testing to validity of the Book of Mormon and the gospel to recieve a real testimony. I would almost consider myself a convert at 18 when i finaly recieved a testimony. i am greatful that i was baptized at 8, because that was the first step in giving me the tools (such as the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost), knowledge, and experience needed to find out that truth at a later time! Isaiah 28:10 states that we all can learn truth, but it MUST come as "line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precepet, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little". the process of this makes our confidence and conviction in the truth even greater, as it makes it a long process, not an instant gratification! few great things have evolved over night and remained great.
I have decided that the greatest gift someone could ever possibly give me, would be to honestly and truely take the time to learn about the gospel of christ, and read the Book of Mormon with heart felt sincerity. the sincerity to know if it is true, not to just blindly believe it. as Moroni stated, i restate as if my own words and testimony:
"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will fmanifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
i challenge not only non-mormons, but even those in the church who feel as though they have no testiomony, or need a reaffirmation of that which God has already given. give this a try. read sincerly, and deeply. do not just read, but "feast" upon the words. then humbly ask of God, as a child would, throwing your own inhibitions and doubts and opinions away. as your mind clears, and thoughts subside, a still small voice of warmth, love and love WILL fill your hearts. it happend to me... and it continues to happen to me whenever i repeat the process. pray with real intent, and the Lord will bless you. when you honestly tell the Lord that you will heed his council, whatever it may be, then he will answer you. Dont let previously obtained opinions, and thoughts prevent you from experiencing truth. Man is imperfect, thus we must rely upon a perfect source of truth. that is our loving Heavenly Father. this is not just a Jesus-Freak dissortation, its a true principal. i say this not because im a missionary, but because i know that all can use the gospel. righteous living, is successful living; spiritualy and temporaly. do not be decieved by doubt, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
there is no greater gift than that of the gospel, and that is an eternal truth that cannot be changed.
I love the Lord and all he has done for me. im greatful for my testimony and the countless experiences ive had to reaffirm that. I am forever endebted to those who have helped me recieve a true testimony, and am greatful for the learning experiences that brought me to such a point. prayer is real, and so is God. Joseph Smith is undeoubtebly a prophet, and anybody who says otherwise has never taken the time to read the fruits of his prophetic call. if all man were like Joseph Smith, this world would be much better. The Lord said that at the last days, all the terrible destructions will come, but that 'righteousness will cut my work short'.
i love you and miss you. take care
Elder Onken
posted by Queen Bee at 5:51 PM
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