So, I just realized that tomorrow is my 5 month mark... which is ridiculous, because it definitely doesn't feel like it's been 5 months since I got our here. When I hit this point during my year at BYU, it definitely seemed like it lasted forever... but I guess that's what happens when you're out working each day instead of doing something less exciting like studying.
Anyway, this week was pretty grand!
So, some highlights!
First off this week, we'll start with yesterday. We had a super tasty dinner at one member's house - pancakes, a hobo breakfast type skillet thing, and biscuits! It was super tasty, and we had a pretty good chat. We talked about Elder Ballard's talk and the challenge that was issued therein. He said: "We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior." We discussed what it meant to "reach out" as he said, and decided that it could include anything from inviting them to meet with the missionaries, inviting them to church, to read the Book of Mormon, or even to invite them to a family home evening or dinner where the gospel is discussed. If you noticed, each thing we came up with started with "inviting" - it involves doing SOMETHING to invite people to come. We're not being asked to invite them to go somewhere, but to come where we are, to feel the joy we feel each time we do something that invites the spirit into our lives. This same challenge was issued to the Ponca City Ward from our stake high councilman when he spoke yesterday, so it's definitely something we should consider doing. So, for those of you reading this who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I invite you to accept the invitation of Elder Ballard - and the rest of the people included in that "We" (The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). For those who aren't yet, I invite you to check it out! Come and see for yourselves what brings me - and so many others - such great joy.
Another cool thing that I found out this week is that my step-brother Frank has decided to serve a mission! Yay!! He's super awesome, and I'm definitely excited that he's made this decision to follow the commandments of the Lord and serve him. If y'all could pray for him that'd be awesome :) I know that prayer is powerful, and he could definitely use some.
This week we had a ward fish fry! I love when the ward has activities, because it's such an easy way to invite people to meet more members of the church! We had about 60 people there, and about 10 of them were non-members! It was super neat, and everyone there said they had a fantastic time. The great meal was just a bonus ;) even though I don't like fish...
Anyway, this Tuesday we had dinner with this super awesome family! We got to have Chili and Cornbread - super tasty - and we talked a lot about the importance of finding out for yourself what things are truth. Something I realized from that conversation was that even though everyone has to find out for themselves what the truth is, there is and only will be one truth. God, our Heavenly Father, is the source of all truth, and as such he's told us that there will only ever be one true church that is built upon his doctrine. That church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I know that, and you could try to tell me otherwise, but like Alma says in Alma 30:40-41
"40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.
41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them?"
41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them?"
Aside from all that, this week was pretty normal ;) My Studies were grand, as I spent about 90% of my time in the Book of Mormon. I started it from the beginning again on the 4th, with the intent to highlight all the times Christ, God, or any other name for them, or a pronoun referring to them is said - which results in many underlines throughout the book. It probably won't be much use for studying later, but it definitely has opened my mind to how much it truly is "Another Testament of Jesus Christ". I'm at Mormon 9 at the moment, and hope to finish it today sometime, so we'll see what happens :)
So this week was pretty great :)
Love you all!
Love,
Elder Nielson
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