March 3rd, 2014 - MARCH!!!!

Hey Everyone!

My favorite month is here, and it's started off super well! We had a nice couple inches of snow yesterday, which sadly resulted in church being cancelled.... but aside from that it's been awesome! We've had some awesome lessons, met some incredible people, and had a ton of tasty food, so I'm not really having much to complain about.

First on my highlights reel for this week was our visit with Brother Grant! He's doing awesome, and since it was cold outside we were able to have a little longer of a lesson. It was sweet! The member we had out bore some powerful testimony of tithing, and it was intense to see the spirit work on him throughout from the beginning where he had a few issues with tithing to the end where he was a lot more accepting and willing to do it. Then there's the fact that he's going to work to be baptized on the 29th of... March! Instead of the 10th of May, so that was just plain awesome to hear. Y'all should totally keep them in your prayers if you could!

Another highlight from this week has been my studies! I've just loved them, so I hope you guys enjoy some of the scriptures that struck me whilest studying this week:

• Romans 5:3-5
• Romans 6:16, 23
• 2 Nephi 21:2-4
• 2 Nephi 22;2
• 2 Nephi 25:20
• 2 Nephi 25: 23
• 2 Nephi 25:28
• 2 Nephi 26:24-28
• 2 Nephi 26:33
• 2 Nephi 28:3-6
• 2 Nephi 28: 28
• D&C 42:6-7
• D&C 42:12,14
• D&C 42: 44-44
• D&C 42:61
• D&C 43:15-16
• D&C 49:2
• D&C 49:26-27

A few thoughts related to a couple of those I'll throw here that I wanted to share!
First is D&C 42:61, which starts off "If thou shalt ask..." and I loved how it showed the principle that asking is the first step towards joy and eternal life, as we gain more knowledge and receive more revelation.

In another study I came across D&C 49:2, which talks about the shakers wanting to know the truth in part, but not all. It just struck me how often we're content only knowing part of what is really available to us.

In Romans 5:3-5, Paul shows us a chain, that leads to hope which I thought particularly interesting. He says: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.I found it interesting how he starts off with tribulations leading to patience, and then the fact that experiences give us hope as we see things work out and how the Lord truly knows the details of our lives.

Lastly, in 2 Nephi 28:3-6, Nephi tells us what sorts of things different churches will do and teach and I just thought it was interesting to see how that truly has come to pass.

Another highlight of this awesome week was on Tuesday when we were out and about with a member in the afternoon and ended up hitting the end of our plans an hour early... but a few kids invited us to play a little basketball with them, and it was just awesome. We were able to talk to them about what missionaries do, and a little about our church. Hopefully we'll get to play with them again sometime and then get them and their families taking the lessons, but we'll see what happens with that.

Sadly, I don't have as much time as I would like so that's all the highlights you guys get to hear about :( I hope y'all have an awesome week! Oh! Here's a picture of Elder Beus and I, since we've neglected to really take any pictures since I got here... That's not our apartment, just so you know.

Alright... that's all I have time for this week! Love y'all! Have a fantastic week!

'Til Next Time,

Elder Jordan Nielson