Letter #87

Dear Mum and Family,

We did receive what is going to be happening this next transfer last Saturday so I know exactly what is happening. Because you are use to waiting a week before getting it I thought that I will let you know next week so I don't mess you up. So in the email next week I will let you know. 
This week was a lot better compared to the last couple weeks. We are still teaching S**** and he is now on a date to be baptized.  He is going to be working towards the 26 of March. He seems more willing to make this date so we are thinking this will be the one. I really hope he makes it because he is ready I think. Who knows maybe I will see it happen or not. I guess you will have to wait until next week to know if I will be in Swansea to see it or not. Haha

We did quite a bit of finding this past week and it was really nice. The weather has been amazing this past week. We haven't had to wear any coats it was that nice and warm and sunny. I think it only rained once this past week. 
We didn't see as many less actives as we wanted to because the member that was going to go out with us wasn't able to do it. We talked to him on Sunday and he said that he will get back to us soon to tell us if we can go out with him this week or not. There really needs to be a lot of work done with the less actives though because there is a ton of them. 

While finding this past week we found some pretty cool people that I am hoping will be able to be taught by the missionaries because we really need new investigators. The one I am most excited about is a young family that Elder Shaw and I stopped in town on Thursday.  At first they weren't too interested because they are not interested in religion. After talking with them for a bit and getting to know them they invited us over to their house and gave us their address. We are hopefully going to be able to stop by tonight and I hope we can find them in. It would be great to see a family be baptized. 

I am hoping that things goes well and start picking up in Swansea. The nicer weather is making it a lot nicer to go out and speak to people. They are more receptive when it's not pouring down rain all day long. 
Brother Roberts is a way great guy. We play football with him and lots of other people every week.  On Sunday he showed me the comments that you had made on Facebook. And then right there he said he was going to send you a friend request. It sounds like you have accepted it. Haha he is a great guy. 

Mum You should have read section 12 in the D&C today so I think you are still a little behind. Tomorrow I will be reading section 13 and then the next day section 14 and the next day section 15 and then just keep going. Does that make sense?  I hope you are not confused. 

Well I don't have much time because we went to the beach to play some sports since it was Elder Shaw's last Pday. It was pretty fun and the weather was super nice. I will end with my thought and I will be on my way. 
Weekly Thought
 I had a thought prepared for you this week that I was excited to share, but after a wonderful sacrament meeting yesterday I have decided to switch it. The scripture that, you asked me to Ponderize this past week was Moroni 1:3. I was just going to share what I learned from it at the end of the letter, but I learned so much especially as I pondered it yesterday that I want to share it with you today. 

The scripture says:
"And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life."
Many different things came to my mind on this scripture.  Moroni is sought after by
 the Lamanites because he will not deny Christ. Moroni is writing because he knows that in the future the things he writes could be a benefit to the Lamanites.  His enemies want to kill him and he wants to bless them.  I would say that is a great example of applying the scripture in Mathew 5:44  "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;". I firmly believe Moroni loved his enemies. 

President Abraham Lincoln was once criticized for his attitude towards his enemies. 
" Why do you try to make friends of them?" asked an associate. "You should try to destroy them."
" Am I not destroying my enemies," Lincoln gently replied " when I make them my friends?"
I would like to challenge if there is anyone who you make not get along with very well to "do good" to them. Show them the type of love that the savior would. 
I don't have enough time to share everything I learned from this amazing scripture, but I want to share one last thing. 

I love when Moroni says that he will not deny Christ even though he will be killed by the Lamanites for not denying Christ. We all know the scriptures in D&C 20: 77&79.  We hear them every single week as we listen to the Priest bless the bread and water which is the sacrament. In that prayer we promise that we "are willing to take upon" ourselves the name of Christ. 

From the scripture in Moroni I know that Moroni had promised God that he would take upon his name and he would do all he could to follow the commandments that he was given.  I know he would do anything to no deny Christ and to not deny the testimony that he had received by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
Have we taken upon ourselves the name of Christ? Are we willing to stand up for the things that we believe in? It is easy to partake of the sacrament every week and not think much about it. Sometimes it can be a routine and we do it because we are use t doing every week. I know that I can do better to really listen to those sacred words of that prayer and to better to take upon myself the name of Christ. 
A chapter in the Book of Mormon just came to my mind that goes well with taking Christ name upon us. It is Mosiah 5. If you have time this week I would encourage you to read that chapter. I love how it talks about the Chang elf heart of those who listened to and followed King Benjamin. 
Thanks for the wonderful scripture to Ponderize this past week. I learned a lot. 
Hope you have a great week and I love you all!!
Love,
Elder Peterson

PS I am still in Swansea with Elder Lam. Haha I made you go through the whole letter thinking you had to wait until next week.