Did the J5 speak on Elder Bednar's talk about personal revelation? I absolutely love that talk. Those examples of light are so cool. I've noticed that the more powerful converting experiences and revelations come like the sun rising in the morning--we don't realize it happening, but by the end, we can see how much we have grown. It sounds like Ben had a neat experience too. I love to gather experiences like that, and they only come if we are truly seeking them. It sounds like everything is pressing on. And no shool tomorrow. It's kind of funny how those days off turn into days full of homework.
I love you so much.
Elder Steed
Flying over the North pole? What? Is that part of your flight plans home or something else? I don't think mom will get any sleep tonight because I see that she sent me an email at 10:13 my time, so she probably slept at about 3 your time. That's so cool that Ben is finally leaving. I'm sure he's so excited. At least for me, I saw going on mission as the end of my life to a point because I was thinking "I have 3 days until I leave. What will I do with my life?" Time is incredibly short, and unfortunately, we realize that only when the time is short--For example, see what time mom starts writing her emails to me and marcus. And coach fielding was there. That's so cool. I miss that man so much. And the golf team is smashing touchdowns out of the park against Juan Rodriguez who just got in from Tijuana. Poor guy. It sounds like Jace is a pretty good pitcher. That's cool. I hope everything is going well and that Buddy isn't getting stepped on too much by his Master. Take care.
Elder Steed
Lions in the city? Only one or two. In the township, there are dogs everywhere, and they are so rabid and starving that they kind of look like lions sometimes. That's pretty funny with the laser pointer. I did that with a flashlight to a little kid; he didn't buy it fully, but he still grabbed for it.
I'm so glad to hear that Kolby's doing better. That's cool that J-5 is back too and that cody is going out. Ben is leaving really soon too. I think on wednesday. I love the personal revelation aspect of the gospel. One time about 4 months ago, we had a lunch appointment with President Mkhize (the branch president in Imbali). Pres. Mkhize loves to talk and tell stories and he talked about how there are many missionaries around the world that get in the habit of reaching for study manuals while they're studying instead of learning by the Spirit. He went on to say that by the end of the 2 years on mission, missionaries are no longer teachable because they think that they can't be taught anything else, so they are sent back into the world to be torn down and retaught (like Jared in the RM). Those study manuals that he was referring to are really, really good sources of knowledge, but the way I see it is that those books are collections of revelations given to prophets, apostles and other authorities of the church. So when we read those books, we are learning, but we are denying ourselves the opportunity to receive that same revelation ourselves. It is promised that we will receive revelation, and it will be the same revelation that the apostles and prophets have received--God will confirm the same truths to everyone. What I've learned is that the revelation we receive is not simply about gathering information, but a large part of the learning comes from the process of receiving that revelation where we are able to grow closer to God as we commune with Him instead of learning from secondary sources. It's so cool to come on mission and to learn line upon line, precept upon precept, so at the end of those two years, we can look back and realize that we would never go back to the wickedness that may or may not have been present in our lives before those two years.
I'm so grateful for the sacrifices that all of you are making for me to be out here on a mission to serve the Lord. I have learned so much in these last 6 months, and I can't wait for all the great and marvelous things that I will yet learn in the coming year and a half. I want you all to know how much I love you and how much gratitude is in my heart for the influence that you've had on my life. It means so much to me.
Elder Steed
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