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| Elder Peterson Family History Event June 2016 |
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
Letter #100
Dear Mum and Family,
Well it has been a pretty eventful week. I have a little video that I will send to you to show you how eventful it was. We woke up on Tuesday morning like usual and found that the cold water pipe under our sink had broke over night, which flooded our kitchen. The water was starting to run into our study room, which was not good because we have carpet in the study room.
To shut off, the water we had to really look hard for the valve, which took a lot of time, and the water was coming out pretty fast. While Elder Stephenson was running around looking for the valve to shut it off, I was using pans to scoop out the water and throw it out the window so it didn't get the carpet too wet. We eventually got it all turned off and cleaned up. A plumber came and fixed it before noon that day so we weren't too long to get our water back.
That event started in the morning at 6:30 when we woke up and by the time we shut off the water and got it all cleaned up it was about 8:00. It was a crazy morning for us. Luckily everything is back to normal now so there is no need to worry.
Other than that not much else happened. We have just been doing the usual of missionary work all day everyday. We are still struggling to find new people to teach at the moment, but we have been working with a few less actives and a couple investigators that have been meeting with missionaries for a while now. It is going pretty well with them. I think they are starting to make a little progress here and there.
The weather has turned to rainy this past week. It is not horrible rain though because it is way too warm to be putting any type of jacket on, but at the same time it is raining. So we have had to use umbrellas to keep us dry so that we aren't getting too warm with a jacket on. Luckily someone was smart enough to invent such a wonderful thing. We would be soaked without it over here in the UK.
Well to answer your question about my camera it is working fine. I just take a lot of photos on my iPad because it is a lot easier because I always have it with me and it is easier to get out. The photos may not be as good, but hey I’m all about the easiest way you know what I am saying.
Oh yeah before I forget. I sent a letter to you for your birthday mum but you cannot open it until your birthday. I also sent one to dad for Father's Day. I just sent them at the same time because it was easier. Don't worry I know that your birthday is not until the end of this month. I told dad that he has to make sure that you don't open it. So make sure you don't or you will be in big trouble.
It is good to hear that everyone is doing well. It sounds like you are all keeping busy with lots of different things. Thanks for the wonderful photos of the sunset and the bike with Brent. The bike with Brent sound like it was a great event and that you all had a great time.
Well I think that I don't have much more to say. I will get on with my spiritual thought. I hope you enjoy.
Spiritual Thought
Well I have been thinking about this scripture a little bit and have enjoyed pondering it because it has been a bit of a challenge for me. It has still been pretty hard to think about and learn as much as I wanted to from these verses of scripture. I hope that the Spirit can guide my thoughts so I can share theses things with you in a way that you can understand it and learn from it as I have.
There are many points in these verses that I have liked, but there is a little bit in particular that has stuck out to me the most as I have read them. It is the part which reads:
"... Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw..."
I think there are two different ways we can be blind. We have the physical blindness and I believe we can be spiritually blind as well.
There are many examples in the Book of Mormon of people who were spiritually blind and they gained their sight. The one I have chose to focus on is Enos. I want to compare his experience with those who are physically blind that the Savior heals throughout the scriptures. I hope that I can do it in a clear way so that you can understand.
The thing that blinded Enos was his sins. In verse 2 of Enos, he says that he wants to "receive a remission of (his) sin." ( vs. 2) We may be like Enos in where we are blinded by our sins, or it may be other things. In order for us to regain out sight it requires us to act.
When the Savior heals those who are physically blind He asks them to do something. The blind man in John 9 is told " Go, wash in the pool of Siloam". (vs. 7) The man went and washed " and came seeing". (vs. 7)
In Mark 10 we read of a blind man named Bartimaeus. He was sitting along a road "begging". (vs. 46) When he heard that Christ was passing by he started to call out for him. Jesus was a little ways off, but instead of going to the man Jesus calls Bartimaeus to come to Him. So he "rose, and came to Jesus". (vs.50) Jesus asked the man what he wanted in which he replied that he wants his sight. "Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus." (vs. 52)
Now these two men were healed from physical blindness. There are many of us who don't suffer from that, but we might suffer from spiritual blindness. I personally think that Enos was spiritually blind in which he recognised and wanted healing from. He went before the Lord and cried unto him in "mighty prayer and supplication". (vs. 4) Enos had prayed all day and throughout the night. He had "prayed and laboured with all diligence". (vs.12)
Enos definitely did his part and he received his "sight". He heard a voice which said: "Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee..." (vs.5) So for Enos, along with those in the New Testament, it required some effort on their part to receive their sight. Whether it was spiritual or physical sight.
When I think of applying this to myself I think of things that may make me spiritually blind. I think it is when I get a little to relaxed in certain things like my scripture study, my Sabbath day observance, repenting of my sins, not saying as heart felt prayers, etc. It is these little things that cause me to start to lose my spiritual sight.
Just like in Kings 6 I need to recognize these things and ask the Lord. "Lord, I pray thee, open (my) eyes, that (I) may see." I know that when I ask and then I act on the promptings, which I receive from the Lord on how I can gain my "sight", He will open my eyes and I will be able to see again. I know that he will not only do this for me, but He will do it for all as we ask and act. It requires something from ourselves.
I am so grateful that I was able to learn so much from this wonderful scripture this week. Like I said there is just so many things that you can pick out and learn from these two verses. Thanks for the challenge this week Chelsey. I am sure it was easier for you guys because you are just so smart.
Thanks again for all you do. I hope you have a great week.
Love,
Elder Peterson
Well it has been a pretty eventful week. I have a little video that I will send to you to show you how eventful it was. We woke up on Tuesday morning like usual and found that the cold water pipe under our sink had broke over night, which flooded our kitchen. The water was starting to run into our study room, which was not good because we have carpet in the study room.
To shut off, the water we had to really look hard for the valve, which took a lot of time, and the water was coming out pretty fast. While Elder Stephenson was running around looking for the valve to shut it off, I was using pans to scoop out the water and throw it out the window so it didn't get the carpet too wet. We eventually got it all turned off and cleaned up. A plumber came and fixed it before noon that day so we weren't too long to get our water back.
That event started in the morning at 6:30 when we woke up and by the time we shut off the water and got it all cleaned up it was about 8:00. It was a crazy morning for us. Luckily everything is back to normal now so there is no need to worry.
Other than that not much else happened. We have just been doing the usual of missionary work all day everyday. We are still struggling to find new people to teach at the moment, but we have been working with a few less actives and a couple investigators that have been meeting with missionaries for a while now. It is going pretty well with them. I think they are starting to make a little progress here and there.
The weather has turned to rainy this past week. It is not horrible rain though because it is way too warm to be putting any type of jacket on, but at the same time it is raining. So we have had to use umbrellas to keep us dry so that we aren't getting too warm with a jacket on. Luckily someone was smart enough to invent such a wonderful thing. We would be soaked without it over here in the UK.
Well to answer your question about my camera it is working fine. I just take a lot of photos on my iPad because it is a lot easier because I always have it with me and it is easier to get out. The photos may not be as good, but hey I’m all about the easiest way you know what I am saying.
Oh yeah before I forget. I sent a letter to you for your birthday mum but you cannot open it until your birthday. I also sent one to dad for Father's Day. I just sent them at the same time because it was easier. Don't worry I know that your birthday is not until the end of this month. I told dad that he has to make sure that you don't open it. So make sure you don't or you will be in big trouble.
It is good to hear that everyone is doing well. It sounds like you are all keeping busy with lots of different things. Thanks for the wonderful photos of the sunset and the bike with Brent. The bike with Brent sound like it was a great event and that you all had a great time.
Well I think that I don't have much more to say. I will get on with my spiritual thought. I hope you enjoy.
Spiritual Thought
Well I have been thinking about this scripture a little bit and have enjoyed pondering it because it has been a bit of a challenge for me. It has still been pretty hard to think about and learn as much as I wanted to from these verses of scripture. I hope that the Spirit can guide my thoughts so I can share theses things with you in a way that you can understand it and learn from it as I have.
There are many points in these verses that I have liked, but there is a little bit in particular that has stuck out to me the most as I have read them. It is the part which reads:
"... Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw..."
I think there are two different ways we can be blind. We have the physical blindness and I believe we can be spiritually blind as well.
There are many examples in the Book of Mormon of people who were spiritually blind and they gained their sight. The one I have chose to focus on is Enos. I want to compare his experience with those who are physically blind that the Savior heals throughout the scriptures. I hope that I can do it in a clear way so that you can understand.
The thing that blinded Enos was his sins. In verse 2 of Enos, he says that he wants to "receive a remission of (his) sin." ( vs. 2) We may be like Enos in where we are blinded by our sins, or it may be other things. In order for us to regain out sight it requires us to act.
When the Savior heals those who are physically blind He asks them to do something. The blind man in John 9 is told " Go, wash in the pool of Siloam". (vs. 7) The man went and washed " and came seeing". (vs. 7)
In Mark 10 we read of a blind man named Bartimaeus. He was sitting along a road "begging". (vs. 46) When he heard that Christ was passing by he started to call out for him. Jesus was a little ways off, but instead of going to the man Jesus calls Bartimaeus to come to Him. So he "rose, and came to Jesus". (vs.50) Jesus asked the man what he wanted in which he replied that he wants his sight. "Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus." (vs. 52)
Now these two men were healed from physical blindness. There are many of us who don't suffer from that, but we might suffer from spiritual blindness. I personally think that Enos was spiritually blind in which he recognised and wanted healing from. He went before the Lord and cried unto him in "mighty prayer and supplication". (vs. 4) Enos had prayed all day and throughout the night. He had "prayed and laboured with all diligence". (vs.12)
Enos definitely did his part and he received his "sight". He heard a voice which said: "Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee..." (vs.5) So for Enos, along with those in the New Testament, it required some effort on their part to receive their sight. Whether it was spiritual or physical sight.
When I think of applying this to myself I think of things that may make me spiritually blind. I think it is when I get a little to relaxed in certain things like my scripture study, my Sabbath day observance, repenting of my sins, not saying as heart felt prayers, etc. It is these little things that cause me to start to lose my spiritual sight.
Just like in Kings 6 I need to recognize these things and ask the Lord. "Lord, I pray thee, open (my) eyes, that (I) may see." I know that when I ask and then I act on the promptings, which I receive from the Lord on how I can gain my "sight", He will open my eyes and I will be able to see again. I know that he will not only do this for me, but He will do it for all as we ask and act. It requires something from ourselves.
I am so grateful that I was able to learn so much from this wonderful scripture this week. Like I said there is just so many things that you can pick out and learn from these two verses. Thanks for the challenge this week Chelsey. I am sure it was easier for you guys because you are just so smart.
Thanks again for all you do. I hope you have a great week.
Love,
Elder Peterson
Monday, June 6, 2016
Letter # 99
Dear Mum and Family.
I would change the beginning of the letter, but the last time I did mum wasn't very happy with me so I guess I will have to keep it. Sorry. Haha
Well it's been a pretty great week. It ended amazing that's for sure. As I told you we were able to go and learn from and Apostle of the Lord yesterday and it was amazing. Elder Oaks is an amazing apostle. The spirit was so strong in that meeting and there was a lot to learn. I will share some of it in my thought with you today since it has to do with the Sabbath day.
I was able to see lots of people I knew from past areas that I serve in at that conference which was definitely a tender mercy. Most of the people I saw were from the Tamworth area, mostly because they seemed to gather in a big group. So once I saw one then I saw them all. Haha. It was great to chat a little bit with them and to see how they were doing. It seems like not much has changed in the area, but the members are as strong as ever. I was not able to see the Stilgers though. I tried to look for them but had no luck. There were just too many people there.
One person I was most excited to see there was J***** M*****. If you don't remember he is the one that Elder Fullmer and I baptized when we served in Tamworth. It was great to see him and hear what he thought of the meeting. It's crazy to think that he will be hitting his year mark since his baptism soon. Time has gone so fast I can't believe it.
Well I was told about the camping trip from everyone and from the sounds of it you like to lie mum. Apparently dad caught the biggest fish and you are just saying that you did because you want to feel like you are the best fisher. I think you need to repent of you fibbing acts and tell the truth next week in your letter. Haha
The work is going pretty well. We have been doing our best to get things all picked up for the sisters leaving the area. We found out that there will be new sisters back into the area in two weeks. Then we will have our area back to ourselves and we won't have to worry about all their investigators. Obviously we will have to help them get into the swing of things, but I am sure they will be fine.
Other than that not much has changed or been really that exciting. Just doing what we can to help the area and to strengthen the members. It is going pretty well and the members really like us I think. At least they make it seem like they like us. Haha.
I think this week will be a better week now that we have everything more organized and ready for the work. Luckily it didn't take us too long to get everything organized I have to say that the sisters weren't very organized with their area book. That was a surprise. You can learn slot about missionaries from their area books that's for sure. Haha
Well I better get to my thought since I am already boring you with everything else. If you endure the thought well I will leave you with some jokes afterwards. Haha that will motivate you to actually finish it this week. Haha. By the way if I missed any of your questions that's my fault. You will have to ask me again if you really want them answered. Haha
Weekly Thought
Well I have another spiritual thought for you all today and am pretty excited to share a few things with you that I have come to learn this past week about the Sabbath day. As I told you I was blessed, along with many others in the stakes, to go and listen to an Apostle of the Lord speak to us. It was a amazing experience as I said earlier in my letter.
Interestingly enough he spoke about the Sabbath a bit which is perfect for this weeks ponderizing scripture and I hope that I can share some of the things he said in a way that you will be able to understand it and learn from it as much as I did.
Quite a few months ago the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency gathered together to discuss some things about the church and how it is progressing. The looked at the church as a whole and they looked at the progression of the church in ten-year periods. As an example Elder Oaks said that in his home ward in Utah, when he was a younger boy, the church attendance for his ward was at 15% and he looked at it through time to where it is now at 50% attendance.
So they did something like that to the whole of the church. Again they looked at in in ten year periods. They noticed that the past ten years or so it hasn't really changed much. Elder Oaks said we have hit a plateau as a church. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve looked at this and discussed what they thought could help this.
They didn't come up with any answers straight away, but they put lots and lots of time into studying and pondering about this topic. It was a big thing for them at the time to receive guidance on what they can do to help us as a church get out of that plateau. After much praying, fasting, studying, pondering, and everything else that they did they met up another time to discuss what they have received. They came to the conclusion that focusing on the Sabbath day and how we can make it a more holy and special than we are was the solution.
I am sure that you have recognized lately in the church the big push for Sabbath day observance. The church has been coming out with loads of things of how we can improve our own Sabbath Day. If you go onto LDS.org there is loads of things just on the front page. Well it's because the brethren have received inspiration that this is what needs to be focused on to help us as a church to Come Unto Christ more fully.
The other day I was chatting with someone about the Sabbath day. He was a more seasoned member of the church you could say so he has watched the world and its Sabbath day observance change through out his life. He said that when he was younger it use to be called the Holy Sabbath, then it went to the Sabbath, then eventually people called it Sunday, and now days it's just a weekend. Sunday is not really that special day to worship, which is sad.
Moses 3: 2-3 were the scriptures that we ponderized this past week.
2 And on the seventh day I, God, ended my work, and all things which I had made; and I rested on the seventh day from all my work, and all things which I had made were finished, and I, God, saw that they were good;
3 And I, God, blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it I had rested from all my work which I, God, had created and made.
The Lord created this wonderful earth in six days and he, himself, set the seventh day aside to rest from His labors. As it says in verse three he sanctified the seventh day or in other words He made the seventh day a Holy Day. As with everything the Lord set the example for us to follow.
I am positive that you are all making the Sabbath day a special day as you worship the Lord. I know that we all can improve just a little more though. I know I can definitely do something just a little better to improve my Sabbath day observance. I don't know what you can improve on, but I am sure you know and if you are not sure I know for a fact that your Heavenly Father knows. It is probably little simple things that we can change a little to make it more special and centered on the Savior.
I hope we can all ponder, study, and pray to our Heavenly Father asking Him "What lack I yet?" By making His day more Holy he will bless us so much more. He has blessing that he wants to shower down on us, but we are preventing them from coming because we are doing, or are not doing, something on His Holy day.
Thanks for enduring through another one of my thoughts this week. I hope you didn't fall asleep at the computer.
Here is a joke for you guys to wake you up a bit.
How many relief society women does it take to change a light bulb?
Four. One to change the light bulb, one to bring the table cloth, one to bring the centre piece, and one to bring the refreshments.
How many High Priests does it take to change a light bulb?
Three. One to change the light bulb and two to hold the wheelchair.
How many Bishops does it take to change a light bulb?
None. He calls together a ward counsel and gets the Elders to do it.
How many Elder does it take to change a light bulb.
Four. One to change the light bulb and three to not show up.
I hope you all have a great week. Keep smiling!! You can make someone's day by simply smiling. There isn't much of that in the world today. Plus we have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives so why shouldn't we be smiling. We are so blessed. Let's help others feel that same joy.
Love,
Elder Peterson
I would change the beginning of the letter, but the last time I did mum wasn't very happy with me so I guess I will have to keep it. Sorry. Haha
Well it's been a pretty great week. It ended amazing that's for sure. As I told you we were able to go and learn from and Apostle of the Lord yesterday and it was amazing. Elder Oaks is an amazing apostle. The spirit was so strong in that meeting and there was a lot to learn. I will share some of it in my thought with you today since it has to do with the Sabbath day.
I was able to see lots of people I knew from past areas that I serve in at that conference which was definitely a tender mercy. Most of the people I saw were from the Tamworth area, mostly because they seemed to gather in a big group. So once I saw one then I saw them all. Haha. It was great to chat a little bit with them and to see how they were doing. It seems like not much has changed in the area, but the members are as strong as ever. I was not able to see the Stilgers though. I tried to look for them but had no luck. There were just too many people there.
One person I was most excited to see there was J***** M*****. If you don't remember he is the one that Elder Fullmer and I baptized when we served in Tamworth. It was great to see him and hear what he thought of the meeting. It's crazy to think that he will be hitting his year mark since his baptism soon. Time has gone so fast I can't believe it.
Well I was told about the camping trip from everyone and from the sounds of it you like to lie mum. Apparently dad caught the biggest fish and you are just saying that you did because you want to feel like you are the best fisher. I think you need to repent of you fibbing acts and tell the truth next week in your letter. Haha
The work is going pretty well. We have been doing our best to get things all picked up for the sisters leaving the area. We found out that there will be new sisters back into the area in two weeks. Then we will have our area back to ourselves and we won't have to worry about all their investigators. Obviously we will have to help them get into the swing of things, but I am sure they will be fine.
Other than that not much has changed or been really that exciting. Just doing what we can to help the area and to strengthen the members. It is going pretty well and the members really like us I think. At least they make it seem like they like us. Haha.
I think this week will be a better week now that we have everything more organized and ready for the work. Luckily it didn't take us too long to get everything organized I have to say that the sisters weren't very organized with their area book. That was a surprise. You can learn slot about missionaries from their area books that's for sure. Haha
Well I better get to my thought since I am already boring you with everything else. If you endure the thought well I will leave you with some jokes afterwards. Haha that will motivate you to actually finish it this week. Haha. By the way if I missed any of your questions that's my fault. You will have to ask me again if you really want them answered. Haha
Weekly Thought
Well I have another spiritual thought for you all today and am pretty excited to share a few things with you that I have come to learn this past week about the Sabbath day. As I told you I was blessed, along with many others in the stakes, to go and listen to an Apostle of the Lord speak to us. It was a amazing experience as I said earlier in my letter.
Interestingly enough he spoke about the Sabbath a bit which is perfect for this weeks ponderizing scripture and I hope that I can share some of the things he said in a way that you will be able to understand it and learn from it as much as I did.
Quite a few months ago the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency gathered together to discuss some things about the church and how it is progressing. The looked at the church as a whole and they looked at the progression of the church in ten-year periods. As an example Elder Oaks said that in his home ward in Utah, when he was a younger boy, the church attendance for his ward was at 15% and he looked at it through time to where it is now at 50% attendance.
So they did something like that to the whole of the church. Again they looked at in in ten year periods. They noticed that the past ten years or so it hasn't really changed much. Elder Oaks said we have hit a plateau as a church. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve looked at this and discussed what they thought could help this.
They didn't come up with any answers straight away, but they put lots and lots of time into studying and pondering about this topic. It was a big thing for them at the time to receive guidance on what they can do to help us as a church get out of that plateau. After much praying, fasting, studying, pondering, and everything else that they did they met up another time to discuss what they have received. They came to the conclusion that focusing on the Sabbath day and how we can make it a more holy and special than we are was the solution.
I am sure that you have recognized lately in the church the big push for Sabbath day observance. The church has been coming out with loads of things of how we can improve our own Sabbath Day. If you go onto LDS.org there is loads of things just on the front page. Well it's because the brethren have received inspiration that this is what needs to be focused on to help us as a church to Come Unto Christ more fully.
The other day I was chatting with someone about the Sabbath day. He was a more seasoned member of the church you could say so he has watched the world and its Sabbath day observance change through out his life. He said that when he was younger it use to be called the Holy Sabbath, then it went to the Sabbath, then eventually people called it Sunday, and now days it's just a weekend. Sunday is not really that special day to worship, which is sad.
Moses 3: 2-3 were the scriptures that we ponderized this past week.
2 And on the seventh day I, God, ended my work, and all things which I had made; and I rested on the seventh day from all my work, and all things which I had made were finished, and I, God, saw that they were good;
3 And I, God, blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it I had rested from all my work which I, God, had created and made.
The Lord created this wonderful earth in six days and he, himself, set the seventh day aside to rest from His labors. As it says in verse three he sanctified the seventh day or in other words He made the seventh day a Holy Day. As with everything the Lord set the example for us to follow.
I am positive that you are all making the Sabbath day a special day as you worship the Lord. I know that we all can improve just a little more though. I know I can definitely do something just a little better to improve my Sabbath day observance. I don't know what you can improve on, but I am sure you know and if you are not sure I know for a fact that your Heavenly Father knows. It is probably little simple things that we can change a little to make it more special and centered on the Savior.
I hope we can all ponder, study, and pray to our Heavenly Father asking Him "What lack I yet?" By making His day more Holy he will bless us so much more. He has blessing that he wants to shower down on us, but we are preventing them from coming because we are doing, or are not doing, something on His Holy day.
Thanks for enduring through another one of my thoughts this week. I hope you didn't fall asleep at the computer.
Here is a joke for you guys to wake you up a bit.
How many relief society women does it take to change a light bulb?
Four. One to change the light bulb, one to bring the table cloth, one to bring the centre piece, and one to bring the refreshments.
How many High Priests does it take to change a light bulb?
Three. One to change the light bulb and two to hold the wheelchair.
How many Bishops does it take to change a light bulb?
None. He calls together a ward counsel and gets the Elders to do it.
How many Elder does it take to change a light bulb.
Four. One to change the light bulb and three to not show up.
I hope you all have a great week. Keep smiling!! You can make someone's day by simply smiling. There isn't much of that in the world today. Plus we have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives so why shouldn't we be smiling. We are so blessed. Let's help others feel that same joy.
Love,
Elder Peterson
Monday, May 30, 2016
Letter #98
Dear Mum and Family,
Well the transfer calls came yesterday and I am staying here in Stourbridge for my lady transfer which isn't much of a surprise. Elder Stephenson will also be here. There were sisters here in Stourbridge to, but they lose their area down this transfer so Elder Stephenson and I are taking over the whole area. That is going to require a lot of work for us this week as we try to organize everything and figure out what we need to be doing. Good thing I like organizing things huh. Hopefully my OCD doesn't get to out of hand. Haha
Other than that not much has really changed. We have been having a great time. This week went pretty slow because the people we were suppose to be seeing this week didn't show up or they weren't in so we didn't see them. That was pretty disappointing. Oh well those weeks happen and there is much we can do about it. Just got to keep going and have faith that there will be people that we meet that want to hear.
We had a couple of those experiences this past weekend when we did the family history stand. I didn't get any pictures on my Ipad because one of the Elders had a nice camera so he took a lot of photos and will get them out to us soon. When I get them I will send them to you.
Anyway we met some really awesome people that were interests in the gospel. Lots of people actually do family history over here so they know quite a bit. It's also crazy how many people we talked to and they already use the churches websites for family history. That's definitely a great way to help people know about the church. We actually taught some people about the gospel just beside they already do family history and they just wanted to know why we were so big into family history. To be honest I would rather talk to people about the gospel than family history because I know very little about family history. Haha
Well from the sounds of it you guys are having some fun camping. I bet you have some more trips all planned out for this summer now that school is out. I hope that the weather starts to dry up for you guys so that you don't have to be wet all the time. Haha. At least you get a bit of what it feels like to be in England. I think it is good for you guys to experience. At least you guys have a car so that you can stay dry when you travel. So it can't be that bad.
Well I don't have much more to say. Thanks for all your emails and the thoughts on the ponderizing scripture. I really enjoyed reading them. Here is my thought for the week on the scripture.
Weekly Thought
I want to start of this weeks thought with a different scripture that has stuck out to me as I have been thinking a little bit about D&C 100. The scripture I want to share is found in D&C 88:81 which reads
"Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor."
Obviously this is talking about us as members of the church who have a testimony of the gospel and the truthfulness of Christ's church and how we need to help others to gain that same testimony.
"Members who share the gospel experience joy and have the spirit of the Lord more abundantly. As we share the gospel, we appreciate how precious and meaningful it is to us, and feel a greater love for God and others." (PMG 84)
What a wonderful promise that is for us who share the gospel. I know it is easy to be scared to talk to others about the gospel. It can be awkward at times because we don't really know what to say, even though we want share the gospel with others. That's where D&C 100:5-6 comes in
"5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say."
We have been commanded by God to "warn our neighbor" and he has given us a promise in D&C 100 that if we do "lift up our voices" then we will "not be confounded". Things will come to our hearts and mind, through the Holy Ghost, of what we need to say to them.
I love what President Spencer W. Kimball says about missionary work and not being scared to do it. He says
"If missionary work is indeed the Lord’s work, which it is, and if it is to go forth by His power, which it will, then why should we, as Latter-day Saints, fear or hesitate in taking the gospel to others?"
The Lord will do His own work, but he needs us as His instruments so that He can do His work. We just need to have faith that He will be there beside us as we talk about His gospel for all of us. We are all brothers and sisters of a loving Father in Heaven.
Some of us have the gospel and are experiencing so much joy in our lives because of it. But there are lots of our eternal Brothers and Sisters that are experiencing sadness and sorrow for whatever reason. Maybe a loved one passed away and they think it's the end and they won't see them. Maybe they have an illness and need to know that God is there and does love them. Maybe they are confused and need guidance on a struggle they are going through at the moment. All of these things, and many others, can be helped with a testimony of the gospel and we have that power to help them. We have been give a wonderful gift, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and it will be with us as we teach others and it will guide us.
I just want to share a quick story of member missionary work that I found in an ensign.
"A beauty operator, a member, asked her new client if she would like to read a Church tract while waiting and placed it in her client’s hand. The answer was “No.” Then she offered a copy of the Book of Mormon and again the answer was “No.” Not giving up, the member picked up a Church magazine from another table as though it were a commercial magazine and gave that to her client to read. Quickly thumbing through the pages the client readily realized it was also Church material, but as she moved to lay it down, she noticed an article entitled, “Love at Home.” Having some serious troubles with her husband, she decided to read the article. Then during the rest of the visit a lengthy conversation developed around Mormon home life. The result was a visit arranged immediately with the missionaries. The husband wasn’t present at the first visit, but the wife gave him an ultimatum: “Listen to these missionaries or the children and I may leave.” He listened. They were baptized as a family. He is a high councilor today."
Sometimes we think that in order to share the gospel we need to go and knock on doors or talk to people in the street. But that's not the case. We are around different people all day long who are not members. There are always simple things we can do that will help them realize that the gospel can bless their lives.
I know from experiences that when we spread the gospel the Lord doesn't leave us hanging. He truly does keep His side of the promise and does guide us. He wants us to teach others the gospel because he does want all of His children to return to Him. He wants us all to experience eternal life with our families and we as members of the church know how that is possible. Let us bless others with the testimonies that we have.
I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for your thoughts this week. They were amazing.
Love,
Elder Peterson
PS you need to send me another scripture to Ponderize this week. We can't miss a week.
Well the transfer calls came yesterday and I am staying here in Stourbridge for my lady transfer which isn't much of a surprise. Elder Stephenson will also be here. There were sisters here in Stourbridge to, but they lose their area down this transfer so Elder Stephenson and I are taking over the whole area. That is going to require a lot of work for us this week as we try to organize everything and figure out what we need to be doing. Good thing I like organizing things huh. Hopefully my OCD doesn't get to out of hand. Haha
Other than that not much has really changed. We have been having a great time. This week went pretty slow because the people we were suppose to be seeing this week didn't show up or they weren't in so we didn't see them. That was pretty disappointing. Oh well those weeks happen and there is much we can do about it. Just got to keep going and have faith that there will be people that we meet that want to hear.
We had a couple of those experiences this past weekend when we did the family history stand. I didn't get any pictures on my Ipad because one of the Elders had a nice camera so he took a lot of photos and will get them out to us soon. When I get them I will send them to you.
Anyway we met some really awesome people that were interests in the gospel. Lots of people actually do family history over here so they know quite a bit. It's also crazy how many people we talked to and they already use the churches websites for family history. That's definitely a great way to help people know about the church. We actually taught some people about the gospel just beside they already do family history and they just wanted to know why we were so big into family history. To be honest I would rather talk to people about the gospel than family history because I know very little about family history. Haha
Well from the sounds of it you guys are having some fun camping. I bet you have some more trips all planned out for this summer now that school is out. I hope that the weather starts to dry up for you guys so that you don't have to be wet all the time. Haha. At least you get a bit of what it feels like to be in England. I think it is good for you guys to experience. At least you guys have a car so that you can stay dry when you travel. So it can't be that bad.
Well I don't have much more to say. Thanks for all your emails and the thoughts on the ponderizing scripture. I really enjoyed reading them. Here is my thought for the week on the scripture.
Weekly Thought
I want to start of this weeks thought with a different scripture that has stuck out to me as I have been thinking a little bit about D&C 100. The scripture I want to share is found in D&C 88:81 which reads
"Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor."
Obviously this is talking about us as members of the church who have a testimony of the gospel and the truthfulness of Christ's church and how we need to help others to gain that same testimony.
"Members who share the gospel experience joy and have the spirit of the Lord more abundantly. As we share the gospel, we appreciate how precious and meaningful it is to us, and feel a greater love for God and others." (PMG 84)
What a wonderful promise that is for us who share the gospel. I know it is easy to be scared to talk to others about the gospel. It can be awkward at times because we don't really know what to say, even though we want share the gospel with others. That's where D&C 100:5-6 comes in
"5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say."
We have been commanded by God to "warn our neighbor" and he has given us a promise in D&C 100 that if we do "lift up our voices" then we will "not be confounded". Things will come to our hearts and mind, through the Holy Ghost, of what we need to say to them.
I love what President Spencer W. Kimball says about missionary work and not being scared to do it. He says
"If missionary work is indeed the Lord’s work, which it is, and if it is to go forth by His power, which it will, then why should we, as Latter-day Saints, fear or hesitate in taking the gospel to others?"
The Lord will do His own work, but he needs us as His instruments so that He can do His work. We just need to have faith that He will be there beside us as we talk about His gospel for all of us. We are all brothers and sisters of a loving Father in Heaven.
Some of us have the gospel and are experiencing so much joy in our lives because of it. But there are lots of our eternal Brothers and Sisters that are experiencing sadness and sorrow for whatever reason. Maybe a loved one passed away and they think it's the end and they won't see them. Maybe they have an illness and need to know that God is there and does love them. Maybe they are confused and need guidance on a struggle they are going through at the moment. All of these things, and many others, can be helped with a testimony of the gospel and we have that power to help them. We have been give a wonderful gift, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and it will be with us as we teach others and it will guide us.
I just want to share a quick story of member missionary work that I found in an ensign.
"A beauty operator, a member, asked her new client if she would like to read a Church tract while waiting and placed it in her client’s hand. The answer was “No.” Then she offered a copy of the Book of Mormon and again the answer was “No.” Not giving up, the member picked up a Church magazine from another table as though it were a commercial magazine and gave that to her client to read. Quickly thumbing through the pages the client readily realized it was also Church material, but as she moved to lay it down, she noticed an article entitled, “Love at Home.” Having some serious troubles with her husband, she decided to read the article. Then during the rest of the visit a lengthy conversation developed around Mormon home life. The result was a visit arranged immediately with the missionaries. The husband wasn’t present at the first visit, but the wife gave him an ultimatum: “Listen to these missionaries or the children and I may leave.” He listened. They were baptized as a family. He is a high councilor today."
Sometimes we think that in order to share the gospel we need to go and knock on doors or talk to people in the street. But that's not the case. We are around different people all day long who are not members. There are always simple things we can do that will help them realize that the gospel can bless their lives.
I know from experiences that when we spread the gospel the Lord doesn't leave us hanging. He truly does keep His side of the promise and does guide us. He wants us to teach others the gospel because he does want all of His children to return to Him. He wants us all to experience eternal life with our families and we as members of the church know how that is possible. Let us bless others with the testimonies that we have.
I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for your thoughts this week. They were amazing.
Love,
Elder Peterson
PS you need to send me another scripture to Ponderize this week. We can't miss a week.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Letter #97
Dear Mum and Family,
Well it's been another great week here in Stourbridge. I can't believe we are to another P-day and I am having to hurry and write you before you get too impatient with me. Haha. I am glad that I have been able to teach you one thing in two years and that is hopefully patience.
Another thing that I hope to teach you is that it is not good to lie. I hope that because you and Caden lied to me that the weather keeps raining on you guys. That will be the curse for not telling the truth. Haha
Well like I said it's been great week. We have been doing a lot of work and trying to help the area to grow, which is normally what we Missionaries try to do in each area. We have been doing a lot of finding like usual, but have seen some cool miracles as we have been doing finding.
On Thursday we had district meeting and then we had tracking planned for after. It was kind of rainy which put a damper on things since we have been enjoying some nice weather lately. But we decided to follow the plans anyway and go knock on some doors. Luckily it wasn't down pouring on us so we didn't get soaked.
We had felt to go to a place near the chapel to do some knocking so we didn't ignore the prompting and that's where we went and we started knocking. Knocking these doors went pretty well because we talked to some really nice people. In the end they didn't want to learn more but they listened and talked a bit. We didn't get very far before we found someone who was interested.
We knocked on the door and a younger bloke answered the door. He was home with his son while his wife was at work or something. Well he let us in to have a really quick
chat with him. We briefly got to know him and shared a bit about the Plan of Salvation.
He doesn't have a strong belief in God, but he is open to learning. He has family that are members of the church in South England. He is pretty close to those family members so he knows a bit about the church. We have set a time to see him and his family tomorrow. We are both excited for that.
Well mum I thought that you would like to know that this next Saturday we are going to be having a big family history finding day. We are going to meet up with the other missionaries in this area and a few members and we are going to set up a stand in the city centre just outside our area. We are hopefully going to be getting people interested in family history. I will let you know how it goes once we do it. I hope it goes well because I don't know much about family history. We shall see.
The mission is going pretty well. We have been witnessing lots of cool miracles and it seems, I am learning a lot everyday, which I am so grateful for. Even though I don't know much I hope that I can continue to learn more and more throughout my life. There is just too much there to learn.
The area is doing pretty well. We have gained a great relationship with the hem members. They really enjoy our company when we visit and are asking us to do service for them, which shows they trust us. At least we think that they trust us. Maybe they are just faking it. Haha
Elder Stephenson and I are having a great time together. We get a long really well, which is keeping the area going I think. When there is contention in a missionary companionship it seems to have an affect on the ward. I think that is so true. So this ward is doing well because we are getting along really well. It's been fun to serve with him.
This transfer is a 5 week transfer so this week is the last full week. We will get transfer calls on Sunday night to see what happens. We both think we will be staying together which would be great, but I guess we just have to wait to find out.
We don't play any sports in this area which is pretty sad because I miss playing every week with the ward. There just isn't anyone in the ward that wants to play or that can play any sports so it just doesn't happen. That's okay though. I can be patient and wait to get back into playing sports. I still have no doubt that I will be able to beat everyone anyways. Haha
Well I hope that I answered all your questions in this email. I always seem to miss out a few, but that's probably because I am too lazy to read through your letter more than once. Haha. I will just share a weekly thought and I will just hope an angry email doesn't come from you shortly saying that I didn't answer all the questions. Haha
Weekly Thought
Well as we all know the scripture for this week was D&C 64: 9-11. Again this eek I didn't think about it as much as I wanted to. I hope that a few thoughts that I share with you will be of benefit in some way.
In D&C 64: 9-11 it states:
9 "Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11 And ye ought to say in your hearts--let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds."
As I was studying this morning I came across a scripture in D&C 82:1 which I think goes along really well with this scripture.
".... inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you."
I was asked to give a talk in sacrament yesterday along with another missionary in this ward. The topics were focused around the parables given in Luke 15. The parables in those chapters include
1. The parable of the lost sheep
2. The parable of the lost coin
3. The parable of the prodigal son
Each is so powerful and has something important to learn from as we study them. As we understand so much about things we need to do about members, but also we learn so much about the atonement and that the savior is there to find us and to forgive us.
The one that I wanted to share a bit of because I think it goes well with the scripture in D&C 64 is the parable of the prodigal son. The parable is found in Luke 15: 11-32. I won't share it all, but I will pull a few things from it here and there. Maybe on your own time you can read it and learn more from it.
It's starts off by saying that there as a man with two sons. The younger of the sons was a little rebellious and he wanted his father to give him "the portion of goods" that he would inherit after his father's death. In the Savior’s time to ask for your inheritance before the death of your father is a huge offence. He is a rejection of your family, rejecting the instructions and treatment your given as you were raised from your childhood, and rejecting your whole community.
Well the father divided his inheritance unto the sons. The youngest decided to to gather all of his things and travel "into a far country" where he "wasted" his inheritance that he was given with "riotous living".
The prodigal son had used up all his inheritance and then there came a great famine in the land and he needed a way to survive. So what did he do? He went to a man who lived in that country and he was sent into " the fields to feed swine".
As we learn in Leviticus 11:7, pigs are considered "unclean" so this goes to show how far the prodigal son had fallen. This would have been another sign of dishonor. It was during the time that he was feeding the swine and was surviving himself off the "husks" that the pigs were eating that he was humbled and "he came to himself" and decided to return to his home.
We now turn to the father and this is the part that I wanted to get to because it really shows how we should forgive everyone no matter what they have done that may hurt us greatly.
I want to share verse 20 of Luke 15 because it has so much power and love in it.
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
In this verse the father saw his son before he got back to the home. This shows that the father was continually watching for the day that the son would return. He was patient and knew that one day he would return. When his son was coming he was ready and he ran to him and embraced him.
It is interesting to know that those who had done the type of things that the prodigal had done would have been brought before the public and would have been considered worthless. Everything he did was a great offence to everyone during the time of the savior, but the prodigal son was not treated in that way. He returned to his family and his father forgave him straight away. There was no hard feelings between the father and his son.
There is so much to that we can learn and apply for this amazing and powerful parable. I just wanted to share it to show the forgiveness. Even though the father of the prodigal son wouldn't have had the Doctrine and Covenants, the Savior in this parable teaches that of each of us "it is required to forgive all men".
I know that as we don't hold grudges towards those who may have offended us and we freely forgive them as does the father in the parable of the prodigal son does, we too will be forgiven from our Father in Heaven.
The atonement was paid for all men. We can all repent and we can all be forgiven. Let's not make it harder on those who are seeking forgiveness and let us freely forgive the straight away and leave the final judgment with our loving Savior and Heavenly Father. They are the only ones who truly understand our circumstances and what we are going through.
Thanks for the wonderful scripture Lyndsey. I really enjoyed learning from it even though I wish I would have studied it a bit more. I hope to do better this week.
I hope you all have a great week!!
Love,
Elder Peterson
Well it's been another great week here in Stourbridge. I can't believe we are to another P-day and I am having to hurry and write you before you get too impatient with me. Haha. I am glad that I have been able to teach you one thing in two years and that is hopefully patience.
Another thing that I hope to teach you is that it is not good to lie. I hope that because you and Caden lied to me that the weather keeps raining on you guys. That will be the curse for not telling the truth. Haha
Well like I said it's been great week. We have been doing a lot of work and trying to help the area to grow, which is normally what we Missionaries try to do in each area. We have been doing a lot of finding like usual, but have seen some cool miracles as we have been doing finding.
On Thursday we had district meeting and then we had tracking planned for after. It was kind of rainy which put a damper on things since we have been enjoying some nice weather lately. But we decided to follow the plans anyway and go knock on some doors. Luckily it wasn't down pouring on us so we didn't get soaked.
We had felt to go to a place near the chapel to do some knocking so we didn't ignore the prompting and that's where we went and we started knocking. Knocking these doors went pretty well because we talked to some really nice people. In the end they didn't want to learn more but they listened and talked a bit. We didn't get very far before we found someone who was interested.
We knocked on the door and a younger bloke answered the door. He was home with his son while his wife was at work or something. Well he let us in to have a really quick
chat with him. We briefly got to know him and shared a bit about the Plan of Salvation.
He doesn't have a strong belief in God, but he is open to learning. He has family that are members of the church in South England. He is pretty close to those family members so he knows a bit about the church. We have set a time to see him and his family tomorrow. We are both excited for that.
Well mum I thought that you would like to know that this next Saturday we are going to be having a big family history finding day. We are going to meet up with the other missionaries in this area and a few members and we are going to set up a stand in the city centre just outside our area. We are hopefully going to be getting people interested in family history. I will let you know how it goes once we do it. I hope it goes well because I don't know much about family history. We shall see.
The mission is going pretty well. We have been witnessing lots of cool miracles and it seems, I am learning a lot everyday, which I am so grateful for. Even though I don't know much I hope that I can continue to learn more and more throughout my life. There is just too much there to learn.
The area is doing pretty well. We have gained a great relationship with the hem members. They really enjoy our company when we visit and are asking us to do service for them, which shows they trust us. At least we think that they trust us. Maybe they are just faking it. Haha
Elder Stephenson and I are having a great time together. We get a long really well, which is keeping the area going I think. When there is contention in a missionary companionship it seems to have an affect on the ward. I think that is so true. So this ward is doing well because we are getting along really well. It's been fun to serve with him.
This transfer is a 5 week transfer so this week is the last full week. We will get transfer calls on Sunday night to see what happens. We both think we will be staying together which would be great, but I guess we just have to wait to find out.
We don't play any sports in this area which is pretty sad because I miss playing every week with the ward. There just isn't anyone in the ward that wants to play or that can play any sports so it just doesn't happen. That's okay though. I can be patient and wait to get back into playing sports. I still have no doubt that I will be able to beat everyone anyways. Haha
Well I hope that I answered all your questions in this email. I always seem to miss out a few, but that's probably because I am too lazy to read through your letter more than once. Haha. I will just share a weekly thought and I will just hope an angry email doesn't come from you shortly saying that I didn't answer all the questions. Haha
Weekly Thought
Well as we all know the scripture for this week was D&C 64: 9-11. Again this eek I didn't think about it as much as I wanted to. I hope that a few thoughts that I share with you will be of benefit in some way.
In D&C 64: 9-11 it states:
9 "Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11 And ye ought to say in your hearts--let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds."
As I was studying this morning I came across a scripture in D&C 82:1 which I think goes along really well with this scripture.
".... inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you."
I was asked to give a talk in sacrament yesterday along with another missionary in this ward. The topics were focused around the parables given in Luke 15. The parables in those chapters include
1. The parable of the lost sheep
2. The parable of the lost coin
3. The parable of the prodigal son
Each is so powerful and has something important to learn from as we study them. As we understand so much about things we need to do about members, but also we learn so much about the atonement and that the savior is there to find us and to forgive us.
The one that I wanted to share a bit of because I think it goes well with the scripture in D&C 64 is the parable of the prodigal son. The parable is found in Luke 15: 11-32. I won't share it all, but I will pull a few things from it here and there. Maybe on your own time you can read it and learn more from it.
It's starts off by saying that there as a man with two sons. The younger of the sons was a little rebellious and he wanted his father to give him "the portion of goods" that he would inherit after his father's death. In the Savior’s time to ask for your inheritance before the death of your father is a huge offence. He is a rejection of your family, rejecting the instructions and treatment your given as you were raised from your childhood, and rejecting your whole community.
Well the father divided his inheritance unto the sons. The youngest decided to to gather all of his things and travel "into a far country" where he "wasted" his inheritance that he was given with "riotous living".
The prodigal son had used up all his inheritance and then there came a great famine in the land and he needed a way to survive. So what did he do? He went to a man who lived in that country and he was sent into " the fields to feed swine".
As we learn in Leviticus 11:7, pigs are considered "unclean" so this goes to show how far the prodigal son had fallen. This would have been another sign of dishonor. It was during the time that he was feeding the swine and was surviving himself off the "husks" that the pigs were eating that he was humbled and "he came to himself" and decided to return to his home.
We now turn to the father and this is the part that I wanted to get to because it really shows how we should forgive everyone no matter what they have done that may hurt us greatly.
I want to share verse 20 of Luke 15 because it has so much power and love in it.
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
In this verse the father saw his son before he got back to the home. This shows that the father was continually watching for the day that the son would return. He was patient and knew that one day he would return. When his son was coming he was ready and he ran to him and embraced him.
It is interesting to know that those who had done the type of things that the prodigal had done would have been brought before the public and would have been considered worthless. Everything he did was a great offence to everyone during the time of the savior, but the prodigal son was not treated in that way. He returned to his family and his father forgave him straight away. There was no hard feelings between the father and his son.
There is so much to that we can learn and apply for this amazing and powerful parable. I just wanted to share it to show the forgiveness. Even though the father of the prodigal son wouldn't have had the Doctrine and Covenants, the Savior in this parable teaches that of each of us "it is required to forgive all men".
I know that as we don't hold grudges towards those who may have offended us and we freely forgive them as does the father in the parable of the prodigal son does, we too will be forgiven from our Father in Heaven.
The atonement was paid for all men. We can all repent and we can all be forgiven. Let's not make it harder on those who are seeking forgiveness and let us freely forgive the straight away and leave the final judgment with our loving Savior and Heavenly Father. They are the only ones who truly understand our circumstances and what we are going through.
Thanks for the wonderful scripture Lyndsey. I really enjoyed learning from it even though I wish I would have studied it a bit more. I hope to do better this week.
I hope you all have a great week!!
Love,
Elder Peterson
Monday, May 16, 2016
Letter #96
Dear Mum and Family,
It sounds like a very eventful week for the Peterson family. Haha. There has been so much going on and it seems like the common theme this week was injuries. Haha. It has been funny to read the stories of everyone getting hurt. Luckily no one is seriously injured which is a plus. I guess that will teach you not to do anything on Friday the 13th. Haha. I am glad that everyone is okay and from the sounds of it Doctor Chelsey is making sure everyone recovers from their injuries. What would you all be doing without her?
It was good to hear that you were being very friendly to the Elders when you saw them. I can imagine how grateful they were for your wonderful service. I have never had anyone offer me a ride so they are so lucky to have members that see them and are willing to give them rides. I am always going to give missionaries rides throughout the rest of my life.
We have had a very nice week with some great service opportunities. Something very crazy is there is an investigator named N****** who lives here in Stourbridge. The crazy thing is I taught her when I served in Sheldon and she has moved here and the sisters are teaching her. We did some service for her this past week and she was so happy to see me. She is a great lady. It was fun to see her again.
We have had some other great service projects this past week that have been enjoyable. We also have also just been doing normal missionary work. Knocking on doors, visiting members, and teaching a few people here and there. I am really enjoying this area and best part is the weather has been super nice for us. Hasn't rained in quite a few days, which I won't complain about. It's been way warm too. Not to make you jealous or anything mother. Haha
Well I don't know what else to say. That is really our week and it seems like it's the same every week so I don't want to bore you with the same things each week.
I guess I will share my ponderizing scripture since no one else did, except for mum of course. I guess she is the only one that receives the blessings. Haha
Weekly thought
Well to be honest I haven't done as much ponderizing on the scripture this week that I have wanted to. I have been studying a lot of other things so I hope that a few things that I share with you will be of benefit to you in some way.
The scripture was obviously Omni 1:1 which you have all read and know. Just for a reminder it says.
"Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy"
The first time I read it I thought about the last part talking about genealogy and the importance of them keeping records. As I looked at it more I focused a lot more on the part where Omni says that he is commanded by his father to write in the Book of Mormon.
I then looked through the whole book of Omni, which is not long, and I read all the accounts of different people that wrote in this book. They didn't write much, but they were commanded to write in them for a reason. The more I think about it the more I realize how precious this amazing book of scripture is and how blessed we are to have it. Just think of the Book of Mormon and how it has blessed your life.
The scripture are there for our benefit. They testify of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and what we need to do to become like him so we are ready for his second coming. It is getting closer each day. Obviously we don't know when it will be, but we need to "live today as if you will meet Jesus this evening, but plan your life as though you will live to be 100 years old. (Richard Neitzel Holzapfel)
So how can we prepare and be ready for the second coming of the Savior?
President Howard W. Hunter said
"We ought to have a Church full of women and men who know the scriptures thoroughly, who cross-reference and mark them, who develop lessons and talks from the Topical Guide, and who have mastered the maps, the Bible Dictionary, and the other helps that are contained in this wonderful set of standard works. There is obviously more there than we can master quickly. Certainly the scriptural field is “white already to harvest”
A scripture came to my mind on how we can study the scriptures. It's 2 Nephi 4:15
"And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children."
This scripture shows 3 ways that we need to read the scriptures.
1. We need to delight in them
2. We need to ponder them
3. We need to write them into our lives or in other words apply them.
As we search the scriptures diligently we will profit from them. (Mosiah 1:7). We just need to put in the time and effort which can be pretty hard. Everyone in the world is so busy with so many different things that need to be done. We have been blessed greatly though. How easy is it for us to access scriptures today? It is way to easy. You don't have to carry around your triple combination everywhere in order to have your scriptures with you. Everyone has some sort of technological device where they can have easy access to the scriptures.
As I have been studying the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, throughout my mission I have come to understand the importance of everything that is written for us to study and learn from. There were so many amazing prophets that went through so much so that we could have the scriptures today. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are given to us by a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to read them, ponder them, and apply them to our lives.
I have been greatly blessed as I have studied them each day and I know that you to can be blessed as you set aside time each day to study the scriptures.
I hope that it wasn't too long for you this week and that it made sense.
I hope that all goes well this week. Have a good one!!
Love,
Elder Peterson
It sounds like a very eventful week for the Peterson family. Haha. There has been so much going on and it seems like the common theme this week was injuries. Haha. It has been funny to read the stories of everyone getting hurt. Luckily no one is seriously injured which is a plus. I guess that will teach you not to do anything on Friday the 13th. Haha. I am glad that everyone is okay and from the sounds of it Doctor Chelsey is making sure everyone recovers from their injuries. What would you all be doing without her?
It was good to hear that you were being very friendly to the Elders when you saw them. I can imagine how grateful they were for your wonderful service. I have never had anyone offer me a ride so they are so lucky to have members that see them and are willing to give them rides. I am always going to give missionaries rides throughout the rest of my life.
We have had a very nice week with some great service opportunities. Something very crazy is there is an investigator named N****** who lives here in Stourbridge. The crazy thing is I taught her when I served in Sheldon and she has moved here and the sisters are teaching her. We did some service for her this past week and she was so happy to see me. She is a great lady. It was fun to see her again.
We have had some other great service projects this past week that have been enjoyable. We also have also just been doing normal missionary work. Knocking on doors, visiting members, and teaching a few people here and there. I am really enjoying this area and best part is the weather has been super nice for us. Hasn't rained in quite a few days, which I won't complain about. It's been way warm too. Not to make you jealous or anything mother. Haha
Well I don't know what else to say. That is really our week and it seems like it's the same every week so I don't want to bore you with the same things each week.
I guess I will share my ponderizing scripture since no one else did, except for mum of course. I guess she is the only one that receives the blessings. Haha
Weekly thought
Well to be honest I haven't done as much ponderizing on the scripture this week that I have wanted to. I have been studying a lot of other things so I hope that a few things that I share with you will be of benefit to you in some way.
The scripture was obviously Omni 1:1 which you have all read and know. Just for a reminder it says.
"Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy"
The first time I read it I thought about the last part talking about genealogy and the importance of them keeping records. As I looked at it more I focused a lot more on the part where Omni says that he is commanded by his father to write in the Book of Mormon.
I then looked through the whole book of Omni, which is not long, and I read all the accounts of different people that wrote in this book. They didn't write much, but they were commanded to write in them for a reason. The more I think about it the more I realize how precious this amazing book of scripture is and how blessed we are to have it. Just think of the Book of Mormon and how it has blessed your life.
The scripture are there for our benefit. They testify of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and what we need to do to become like him so we are ready for his second coming. It is getting closer each day. Obviously we don't know when it will be, but we need to "live today as if you will meet Jesus this evening, but plan your life as though you will live to be 100 years old. (Richard Neitzel Holzapfel)
So how can we prepare and be ready for the second coming of the Savior?
President Howard W. Hunter said
"We ought to have a Church full of women and men who know the scriptures thoroughly, who cross-reference and mark them, who develop lessons and talks from the Topical Guide, and who have mastered the maps, the Bible Dictionary, and the other helps that are contained in this wonderful set of standard works. There is obviously more there than we can master quickly. Certainly the scriptural field is “white already to harvest”
A scripture came to my mind on how we can study the scriptures. It's 2 Nephi 4:15
"And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children."
This scripture shows 3 ways that we need to read the scriptures.
1. We need to delight in them
2. We need to ponder them
3. We need to write them into our lives or in other words apply them.
As we search the scriptures diligently we will profit from them. (Mosiah 1:7). We just need to put in the time and effort which can be pretty hard. Everyone in the world is so busy with so many different things that need to be done. We have been blessed greatly though. How easy is it for us to access scriptures today? It is way to easy. You don't have to carry around your triple combination everywhere in order to have your scriptures with you. Everyone has some sort of technological device where they can have easy access to the scriptures.
As I have been studying the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, throughout my mission I have come to understand the importance of everything that is written for us to study and learn from. There were so many amazing prophets that went through so much so that we could have the scriptures today. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are given to us by a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to read them, ponder them, and apply them to our lives.
I have been greatly blessed as I have studied them each day and I know that you to can be blessed as you set aside time each day to study the scriptures.
I hope that it wasn't too long for you this week and that it made sense.
I hope that all goes well this week. Have a good one!!
Love,
Elder Peterson
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