I cannot believe how awesome this week was! I'm on a spiritual high right now - LOVIN' IT! Before I talk about how amazing General Conference was, I want to tell a little about my week.
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| In the church library before General Conference... |
So... We have a baptism this upcoming Saturday! We filled out the baptism record yesterday, and we are going to have the baptism right before a ward activity so we will have a better turnout. Everyone in the Spanish group is super excited because it will be the first baptism in the group in over a year! I'm glad to have been a part of Y's conversion - she definitely has set her foundation upon the rock!
I taught district meeting about talking with everyone, and how nothing starts in missionary work until you find someone to teach. The whole district is on fire and wanting to talk with everyone! I've been collecting the districts totals, and we are doing great! Loving this! :) After district meeting, we had a "dead party" for one of the missionaries finishing his mission this past Wednesday. We decorated the church kitchen and cooked up some pizzas, haha.
UPDATE: I just received notice that I am getting transferred. It's so interesting because I was only up here in Bellingham for 6 weeks! I have no idea where I am going - I guess you'll know next week!
UPDATE: I just received notice that I am getting transferred. It's so interesting because I was only up here in Bellingham for 6 weeks! I have no idea where I am going - I guess you'll know next week!
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| Elders Jones and Annand |
We did some service for this guy named R.C. He is a less active member that Elder Jones and I have been working with for a while. It's incredible how doing service softens someone's heart. He has been showing so much desire to come back to church, and I think this next Sunday he will be coming! So excited for him!
So... General Conference was absolutely AWESOME! Wasn't it?! Every session was such a blast! I want to share bits and pieces from every talk, but I'll share points that really struck me:
1) I loved Elder David A. Bednar's talk on tithing. Tithing is one of the most important commandments that we need to live! We pay tithing to show our faith and help God's kingdom grow on the earth. Elder Bednar mentioned that tithing is much more than a duty - it is an act of faith and sanctification. The blessings from tithing come significantly, but subtly. The blessings are not often what we expected, and many times we totally miss the blessing in the first place. However, as we are spiritually worthy and observant to our own lives, we can have the opportunity to discern the different blessings that we receive as full tithe payers.
2) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a fantastic talk about the church as a whole. How this church is so true, and how here we will find what is "precious beyond price". He mentioned that we should "doubt our doubts before we doubt our faith." I LOVE THAT! Whenever something goes wrong, we often tend to doubt that something automatically isn't from God. This is one of Satan's tricks. We need to realize that before we can get an answer to anything, that we must study it out in our minds, then ask the Lord in faith. Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith.
3) Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk the Sunday afternoon session was awesome. :) I love how he mentioned that every day is a day of decision, where we need to decide to keep the commandments, be obedient, etc. To be honest, I have definitely had those times where I had to choose to be obedient as a missionary. I realize that I will face the decision to choose right or wrong for the rest of my life. In times when we fall, we must remember that our Savior, Jesus Christ, knows the depths of our problems and is willing to shape us as we turn to Him. Only He knows the depths of our despair, and only He can pull us out of it. I love Him. We can never stop being a child of God.
1) I loved Elder David A. Bednar's talk on tithing. Tithing is one of the most important commandments that we need to live! We pay tithing to show our faith and help God's kingdom grow on the earth. Elder Bednar mentioned that tithing is much more than a duty - it is an act of faith and sanctification. The blessings from tithing come significantly, but subtly. The blessings are not often what we expected, and many times we totally miss the blessing in the first place. However, as we are spiritually worthy and observant to our own lives, we can have the opportunity to discern the different blessings that we receive as full tithe payers.
2) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a fantastic talk about the church as a whole. How this church is so true, and how here we will find what is "precious beyond price". He mentioned that we should "doubt our doubts before we doubt our faith." I LOVE THAT! Whenever something goes wrong, we often tend to doubt that something automatically isn't from God. This is one of Satan's tricks. We need to realize that before we can get an answer to anything, that we must study it out in our minds, then ask the Lord in faith. Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith.
3) Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk the Sunday afternoon session was awesome. :) I love how he mentioned that every day is a day of decision, where we need to decide to keep the commandments, be obedient, etc. To be honest, I have definitely had those times where I had to choose to be obedient as a missionary. I realize that I will face the decision to choose right or wrong for the rest of my life. In times when we fall, we must remember that our Savior, Jesus Christ, knows the depths of our problems and is willing to shape us as we turn to Him. Only He knows the depths of our despair, and only He can pull us out of it. I love Him. We can never stop being a child of God.
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| Look! It's a missionary! |
I love you all so much. You are each incredible examples to me. I am excited for my new area, and for the new experiences that I am about to endure. However, I am very sad to be leaving Elder Jones. I am reluctant to accept this transfer call, but I know this is where the Lord wants me.
Have a beautiful week. :)
Love,
Elder Alexander J Annand
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