Jun. 5, 2017

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, asI have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man laydown his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

~ John 15 ~


Dear Family,

We have had miracle after miracle this week.

Zack and Cyrus are both on date.
the work is going extremely well.

Zack did not think he was ready to be put on date until by the spirit of the Lord we promised him he would receive an absolute answer, and he would know it before the day of the baptism if he truly sought it out. and then the spirit hit him hard, and he agreed. so now we have two investigators on date!

ive never seen the work busier, the spirit stronger, or more people interested in the truth. but its not just a change in the work, its been a continual change in me. and i am so grateful for it. the mission is changing everything about me down to my roots and to my very nature. and i count it a great blessing to be able to be so refined in gods work. i have never had greater desires in coming closer to the savior, nor have i ever had such success in doing so. i testify to you, that we are not alone. the enabling power of the atonement is enough to get  usthrough. we just need to truly seek him and we will find him. and the peace that he has for us is totally enveloping totally peaceful.

be absolutely obedient -- and if you are, then you absolutely have the right to call on the enabling atonement of Jesus Christ, and can expect that He will answer. He will give the strenght and capacity and assurance you need to press on. I know this to be true. He's done it for me. and He continues so to do, every single day of my mission so long as I heed the promptings of the holy spirit and am truly repentant and willing to follow him to the ends of the earth.

Jesus didn't mince words when he said through the words of Paul:

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. ~ 2 Corin. 12


that is the role of the missionary. the sad truth. the more we love the people and the more we love our god and lose ourselves in the work, the more we are hated of the world. but so too the more we are not of this world, for we are enveloped more and more entirely in his love, until can get screamed at on doorsteps, wait for them to finish, then smile, saying politely, with total love and charity, I hope you have a good day. such is the power of the enabling atonement of jesus christ. its enables us to get through anything.

Keep pressing forward with faith. God loves you. And he doesnt make mistakes. that includes you. you are one of his creations. i also want you to know that those who he calls he qualifies. and the enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ is more than enough for anyone who has ever lived or will yet live. i know that everything is possible to him who submits his entire will to God, stands up inside, and is all in. Keep going. God loves you and He will never abandon you. He will provide. Never underestimate that He will provide for you to do His work, and that He has a work unique for you. I testify that he loves and needs you in this his work.

That for which you sew, that shall you also reap.

So hang on. Remain faithful. And give Him your all. And every debt shall He repay.

 In the name of Jesus Christ amen.