Hello!

Hey sorry I didn't get an email out last week. We got to the library and there was a huge line so I only had enough time to read your emails and send a little one to Seth. So I am having a blast. I asked Heavenly Father to help me be like some of the great missionaries of old like Paul, and the super sweet companionship of Alma and Amulek. I still have many weaknesses that keep me from being more like them but the Lord is helping me. We have seen some sweet miracles lately. We talked to this lady on the street late the other night and she told us of the passing of her husband. We talked to her about the Plan of Happiness and she said that she would like to learn more about it. She mentioned right before we parted that it was a strange "coinsidence" because she has wanted to talk to missionaries before and that she had already taken a walk that day with her kids and something told her to go take another. That morning I made it specific in my prayers to plead for Heavenly Father's help to seek out someone He has prepared to receive the Gospel. She was. We're making an effort to talk to as many as our brothers and sisters as possible. I was listening to a lecture by Truman Madsen and he noted the instence where Christ refers to His disciples as friends. He explained the Hebrew and Greek origin of the word friend which involves familiarity and how in the scriptures servants become sons and daughters and then become friends. A servant does what the Master asks maybe without knowledge of why he is doing it whereas a friend does what the Master asks being familiar with the reason why the Master would ask it to be done. Friends understand eachother. I wonder at all that goes over my head as far as scriptures go but am ready to receive line upon line. This upcoming week we have zone conference and it is my turn to get up and bear my "departing testimony" along with my friends that are going home with me. It is weird because you never think that it is your turn and the time arives all too soon. The area is good. The ward is strugglin a little bit but I'm looking forward to helping in any way that I can. My companion is Elder Yang. He is cool. He's grown up in a lot of ways since the time I last saw him about a year and a half ago. We're having fun. If you don't mind I am super low on Proactive so if you could send some out that would be great. Like super low. Thank you for your prayers. Go cougs! Love you all

Boy Howdy

Hey! so I'm getting transfered to Rocklin CA. It will be fun. I'm finally on a bike again so I'll get to get in shape before I get back. plus I don't have to deal with paperwork anymore! My new companion is Elder yang from Samoa. He's had a rough past in the mission but I hear he's straightened up. I had you all in my prayers for this past weekend. Know that you will always be. Something that has really struck me lately is how increasing understanding of the Atonement increases desire to share the Gospel. I believe that I have mentioned that before but I want to share with you what knowledge has been given me from our Heavenly Father on the subject. When dealing with the issues of the other missionaries the Spirit has told me repeatedly in the past that the fix to it is helping them focus on other people because i believe that about 99% of problems that we face can be greatly minimized by remembering the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ and how it affects you and those around you. Namely in every choice between right and wrong we learn that if we choose the right we are happy. The effects of the Atonement and its application in your life hinges on the very moment when you say in your mind that in this case, "I am going to choose the right." When you realize the importance of that concept you desire the happiness for you and your fellow man. It is when, in the pride of our hearts, we say "woa is me" that we fall into selfish acts that, if not now, eventually lead to poor mistakes. The Lord teaches us this as we go thru our trials and tribulations. Our weaknesses, if taken to the Lord, humble us and bring us to that understanding of the Atonement. Anyways off of my soap box. I'm excited for home. I'm not too trunky i don't think but I am excited to see all of you and meet my neice. Since I am going to be in Rocklin I could give all my stuff to Alexis minus the essentials and go on the plane with a backpack and one suit case. that would be super sweet. Give me your number and I'll get it cleared with President and maybe even get lunch out of it haha. Chipotle or no dice! haha anywho I love you and let me know what I can do to help any of you out. Thanks for all the advice too. It helps alot. Loves
Elder B

Hey!

Huh that is some depressing news... This is a prime example of the knowledge of the Plan of Happiness giving us peace. Those family members who really understand the terms of the Gospel will mourn only for the short time that we will miss her. Easy for me to say because we were pretty distant in relation. I heard about the BYU Oklahoma game. I can smell the fresh-cut grass at the beginning of a BCS bowl game already. I'm stoked. This week has been pretty hard out here. It has been one of those weeks where you feel that the whole weeks efforts to help these folks repent have been in vain. It seems as if no one that we are teaching really cares enough to read or pray or anything. Enough of the pity party though this isn't anything new. You gotta just keep crying repentance and soon those who are willing to humble themselves will do it upon hearing the voice of the Lord thru us. I am indeed grateful for the Lords help. It is a privilege to work so closely with the Godhead especially helping some of these people feel the influence of the Holy Ghost testifying to them of the Savior and our Father in Heaven. I will continue to praise the Lord for the grace that I receive daily. He must look down with eyes of divine pity as He sees me struggle thru such minuscule trials. Enough about me. Have fun this Labor Day. Ky you got somethin comin buddy I promise. I just haven't found the right thing yet. President said I might be getting transferred one more time so just heads up. I'll know next week. Love you all and know that my prayers are with all of ya.
Elder B

Howdy!

Happy B-day Ky! Dang the big 1-3. Oh buddy. Are the girls pretty cute to ya yet? Alright I'll stop. I'm gonna send you somthin sweet but I haven't found that something sweet yet so keep an eye out. That was very saddening to hear about Tate's wife... Missionaries now work very closely with Less-active members of the church. As I am seeing all the walks out here I am realizing how and why Satan works the way he does. Often we use a little object lesson to teach about sin in its different varieties. We fill 2 pitchers up one has great tasting kool-aid and one with dyed water with the same color. Sin is the dyed water that looks very appetizing at first and upon tasting it is found to be unsatisfactory and void of anything worth while. The kool-aid on the other hand is great tasting and very fulfilling. You could have guessed that the Kool-aid represents the good choices in our lives. We all know about the snares of the Devil but what are we doing today to prepare for the firey darts of the adversary. It takes constant fortification if we are to shield ourselves from these blows. As we discuss these things with our LA members we explain that the road back maybe hard but it is worth every step. I have a constant and firm belief that if we will listen to and act upon the words of the prophets of olden time as well as those in these latter days then we will find ourselves on the path. Especially reading the Book of Mormon. There really is no substitute for strengthening us spiritually and drawing us closer to God than that of the ancient record of the Nephites, Lamenites and Jaredites. If you find yourself in disagreement with the standards of the Lords Church established on the Earth then turn to 3 Nephi. Do the things that Jesus Christ asks with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and prove Him. It is simple. Every single person finds out at some point that if we follow the commandments then we are happy and if we do not then we are not happy. Prove Him. The Gospel is our rock. Those who fall away will not receive pure joy. I know these things. I love you all and hope you have a great week!! Vian con Dios mi familiasita

Hey!

Well it is great to hear from you. Holy cow Mom that is great that the ball is starting to roll with that program and school and such. Your a true saint. I find myself bragging about my fam often. I can't get over the blessing that it is to have the fam that I do. I must have done somethin right up in Heaven. Actually they do say that the some of the blessings that we have were predicated upon the laws that we obeyed in Heaven aka the fam. That is cool to think about. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve. I say that often but it is such a blessing to be learning and growing as much as I am and helping others with their eternal progression. After all that is what this life is all about. One of the great truths that has hit me recently is that our Father in Heaven loves us despite of our constant yieldings to sin. When my mind is ready to shut down and I get slothful in the work and feel that I am doing just a small fraction of the work that needs to be done I feel the warmth of the Comforter come over me and raise my chin letting me know of the great love that my Father in Heaven has for me and of His constant care. I'm so grateful for that knowledge... I am going to get off the computer so elder Aho can get on. He's sweet. He's from tonga and he teaches me some of it. Anywho I thank you my family for the constant care that I receive from you. I feel your love and prayers... Thanks and Love ya
Peace Elder B
P.s. Yeah that is cool if you come pick me up but problem is we wouldn't be able to do anything but sit and talk and eat and sleep, but hey I'm down if you are.

Sup yo

Hey Fam!!
This week has been good! I can tell that I'm going to miss alot of the people down there in Auburn but I look forward to getting to know the people here. So it was like Christmas today because I received around $60 during Christmas for Walmart but there wasn't a walmart in auburn so I did some shoppin. Got a family size frosted flakes. Dorky but its a treat. So my new companion is nice. He's the peculiar type. He wore suspenders today... Reminded me of my days in middle school haha. So ky your the big guy on campus now huh? How is the new school? Keep up the good work in tennis! Man it is weird having a change of scenery after being in a place for 7 months. Oh cool story. Last night we had one of those lessons where the Spirit was super strong and the set-up was near perfect. A man and his son had us into their home to "get back into the good book." We started off as we usually do by praying and talking about Heavenly Father and His love for all of us. This man voiced his opinion that he beilieves that it is just a bunch of bogus. Someone wrote a book and it stuck is what he expressed. After addressing the fact that he can know of its truthfulness for himself and I expressed how I came to know that it is true. We left him in suspense as we explained that we needed to build a foundation of knowledge before we tell him how he can know. We talked about the Savior and His role in everything... He listened. The Spirit whispered to us to talk about the empowering ability the Atonement gives us to rid ourselves of guilt and addiction. We described that these addictions come from the adversary. He exclaimed how he desperately wants to get rid of the extra baggage that he has carried around and how he wants Jr. to grow up with a clean life. We explained how that was possible. We continued to talk about Joseph Smith and his role as a prophet of God followed by a short summary of the Book of Mormon and it's origen. We commited him to read and pray and promised him with all of our earnestness that if he would read and pray, he will be able to rid himself of the guilt and addictions that he has by coming to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. In a tender expression of earnest desire he pleaded with us... Please come back and teach me more. I just want to get rid of all of these negative things in my life. I want Jr. to grow up right. Plainly put he wants to be clean. We told him that it requires change of attitude and behavior and that it comes from learning the gospel. My heart leaped for joy for this man. Through the grace of our Savior he can be cleansed. I testify that the power of the Atonement is real. It's tangible. As we strive to know God and His Son, we receive their grace. We can be clean. Thanks for continuing to write me and everything. I appreciate all of the love and support. Oroville fyi is in the sticks. The only thing that keeps this place running is an indian casino right inside the city. Yes its great and spacious. ummm there was more that I needed to tell you..... oh when are we going to come back and tour the mish? People keep asking. Thanks grandma for the package! I don't really have a preference on classes... I trust you all. I would like to take spanish that would be fun.... Welp I love you all!! Thanks!

Hello hello

Hey fam! So news... I am getting moved back up to Gridley. I am going to orroville in the Gridley Stake... It is a super interesting place from what I've heard. For matt and alexis that is about another hour and a half up the hill next to yuba city. President told us Friday so it was easy sayin bye cuz I did it all at church. It is sad leaving alot of my friends down here in Auburn but that is the missionary life. I'm excited for the new surroundings and the chance to meet and make new friends. My new comp is elder king. I've heard that he is pre tight so I'm excited to meet him. I've really grown to love the people here. They are great people. I'm happy to say that the thought of home in 3 months isn't effecting me too much. There are some missionaries that you can tell that it really gets to 'em. "Trunky" I learned that that term is like 100 years old. I was talking to a brother in the ward and he used trunky as he was talking about when he was serving the Lord. I thought it was funny. Anywho I'm excited for the move. I had someone set up a facebook account so that some people could keep in touch so feel free to request me to be your friend. I won't be using it till I get back but it is an easy way to keep in touch I figure... Anywho Thanks for all the help and everything. I'll email my new address either tomorrow or next week. I love you all!! thank you