Exceprt for Josh's email February 4, 2013
Things have been going pretty alright here. I have been learning to rely on the lord A LOT and receiving a lot of personal revelation. I just started reading the Book of Mormon again and also just started reading the Doctrine & Covenants. I'm on 1 Nephi chapter 4 in the Book of Mormon and on section like 43 in the D&C. It's been going good. I actually kind of like reading now. Only about the gospel though. I don't think I will EVER just pick up a story or novel and just read it for "fun" haha. I have been reading from the missionary library a little bit. I want to read all of this stuff at least once while I am on my mission. There is so much information that can help us in our lives. I have a lot of stuff I can read from! Our search for happiness, Jesus the Christ, Preach my gospel, Book of Mormon, The old and new testament of the bible, the D&C, Pearl of Great Price, true to the faith., After I read the Doctrine &Covenants I am planning on reading the Pearl of Great Price. But yeah I like reading and studying the gospel :) Another thing I have come to know is how the Higher law for us as missionaries and obedience really does matter. There really is a reason for it. Some of the missionaries here don't really understand that. I know that if we are obedient than we will have success, if we aren't exactly obedient no matter how good of a missionary or teacher or whatever we are then we won’t have success. Also, when there is contention we do not have the spirit with us and we cannot work. We have to be obedient to have the spirit to be with us. The spirit of contention is not of God like it says in Nephi. It is of the devil. Those days are hard when tension builds for one stupid reason or another when we are around contention the spirit tends to leave us, and then we can't teach by the spirit. Those days are hard, and those days are the days that I pray the most. I know Our Heavenly Father is there and that he loves us, otherwise there is no way I would ever make it through my mission. There are always ups and downs no matter where we are in life and that is part of life. Our heavenly father throws us curve balls sometimes to see if we can hit it. I know however that the lord chastens us so that we can learn, grow, and progress. That is our purpose in life. When we come to understand that that is when all of the experiences in life good or bad begin to sometimes make sense. The lord has been wanting me to learn patience for a VERY long time. I still haven't mastered it but I am working on it. It's so nice to be able to converse with the lord and to learn the things that he would have us know so that we can learn grow and progress to eventually, in the end, receive the gift of Eternal life and return to their presence. 2 Nephi 31:20 is a really good scripture I love the promise in there. At times it is so hard to see the big picture of things and understand why certain things happen in the present time, but I know that it is because Our Heavenly Father wants us to Learn Grow and Progress through those things. Everything happens for a reason. In every instance in life there is a lesson to be learned. The trick is learning what that lesson is through guidance from our Heavenly Father. If we humbly seek answers to life’s questions and trials and if the lord wants us to know he will tell us. Sometimes the lord doesn't tell us right away why things happen or the purpose or lesson behind them, sometimes the answers come later in life. I love seeking personal revelation. That is probably one of my most favorite parts of the gospel. Sometimes it is a little scary or nerve racking to know what our Heavenly Father has in store for us. I know that the future is going to be... Very interesting. I really don't know what the lord has in store. All I know is that if I continue doing what I'm doing then I will be ready and know what Heavenly Father wants me to do. I love being a Tool in the master’s hands, it's such a neat experience. It is hard but it's worth it when you see it change other’s lives. It is so hard for me to see others happy with their families, starting families and things and at times I get distracted by that aspect. but I know someday the lord will bless me with that opportunity to be with my family again, and to start my own family. I know that at this time in my life the lord is shaping and molding me to be a kingdom builder. I don't know what that entails but I know that's what the lord is doing. I am so very grateful to be a part of his plan right now, out here serving him. I struggle sometimes to remember the big picture but I know that in the end it will be worth it. I have been studying a lot in PMG the Christ-like Attributes. I love studying this section. I have learned a lot from that. I love Charity, I think that has to be my favorite one. I love being able to serve people it's such a good feeling knowing you're helping someone out. Like I said I am working on Patience, and I'm learning more about hope and faith. It's so nice to learn more about it and then to apply it and then see how it benefits our lives. Anyways sorry to leave you with a novel haha I love you all so very Much and I miss you too! I am so very grateful to be out here serving the lord! I'm super excited to see everyone else going out to serve, I can't wait to hear how everyone is doing!