A Friday the 13th update

Okay, so this time I only have 24 minutes.... game on!

 

Happy Friday the 13th, what a good day to have P-day (you know, the day where I get to visit the Temple and do laundry and all that fun stuff).  Let me start off with this morning... So we went to the temple this morning, awesome, and after our session we saw that the Temple had a cafeteria for patrons.  My companion and I looked at each other and we're like "Hey, we're patrons! Let's go!" so we did.  Holy sausage gravy and quiche that was a delicious idea.  The quiche they had today was mostly made with olives, I don't even like olives and I was still scrounging my plate for every last morsel I could find, and let me tell you what, hashbrowns and sausage gravy is like comfort in your mouth.  Real food every once in a while is awesome.  If the cafeteria there opened up any earlier I would seriously consider going there for breakfast every morning, but I suppose that at least once a week is sufficient for my needs.

 

One important revelation I had this week during class: don't shy away from all that I have done up unto this point, but embrace it and use it for the betterment of all those who I will eventually teach.  Specifically this week I found a connection between my time as an archery teacher and the plan of salvation.  I realized, that in my own little way, I was able to experience stewardship over people, and help them grow and develop, and learn, a little bit, of the joy that Heavenly Father must feel when we finally get something right and just do what he says.  I like stories, I am a story teller of sorts, so whenever I can find a story to relate to gospel principles, I am a happy camper. 

 

This past Tuesday we had Neil L. Anderson come and talk to us about the atonement; which is awesome because that's what our teaching task is this week, to teach the plan of salvation.  We lived with Heavenly Father as spirits before we came to this Earth.  Heavenly Father had a perfected body, and we, as his children, desired to be like him; for that purpose He created this Earth that we may grow and become as He is.  Adam and Eve were the first parents on this Earth, prior to their fall they were perfectly innocent beings, knowing no sickness, sadness, or ills; however, they also knew no joy, happyness, or peace.  "Adam fell that men might be, and Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 25)  The fall gave men the ability to choose how they will conduct their lives.  "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men (Jesus Christ), or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (2 Nephi 2:27)  We have the ability to choose liberty and eternal life, but only through the atonement of Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer.  He gave us the ability to repent of our sins, no matter the weight.  He suffered for all that we have done, and will do, and he will suffer even if we do not repent.  Do not let Christ suffer in vain.  I have a testimony of the peace and joy that this Gospel brings, I have seen it change the lives of every person that I have met here in the MTC, even in 3 weeks the changes that some people have gone through are astounding.  Be strong and of a good courage, for the lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest.

 

3 weeks are down and the wibbly-wobbly timey-whimey vortex that is the MTC continues to blow my mind.  Some days I can't imagine being here for 8 more weeks, and others it seems like time if flying by faster than I can handle.  I just wish my sense of time would pick one pace and stick with it. 

 

Stuck in my head has been "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd" look it up, find a performance, read the words.  Hopefully it will strenthen you as it has strengthened me this week.

 

こんお教会が真実だと知っています。　私たちは完全福音をとうして神様の御許へ戻ることができます。　私はみなさんを愛しています。　がんばりましょう！ (this is my testimony in Japanese)

エベレット長老

Elder Everett