Oct 11th Week 52 (One Year) Radiant Wings Centerville Utah Week 1(T1 Elder Fairbanks)

皆さん！

 

I promise I'm gonna be better about writing weekly. I can't go into details at the moment, but things have been a little rough over here - but things have gotten much better. But it's alright - that and a sinus infection that took me out for a week didn't help things, either. So it's alright. We're making it work.

 

With transfers come change - and I've left West Layton to... basically return. I'm in Centerville now - covering the Centerville and Centerville South stakes. It's literally felt like coming home. That, compounded with the clouds and rain that we've been able to receive the past few weeks have made this entire week feel like I'm back in Washington. 

 

I'm grateful for my time in West Layton - I've learned so many lessons about myself that I don't think I could have otherwise. I'm looking forward to seeing the miracles that will come this transfer, too.

 

I have a darn good companion in Elder Fairbanks! We get along great, and have a ton in common. He's a little bit of a jovial guy, always cracking jokes - especially dad jokes - and is just generally a good guy with a great heart. We teach together well, though we're still getting used to each others' teaching styles, and we're making everything work as best as we can!

 

I have a good feeling about this transfer. So many small little things - the weather, the people, the connections - it seems the Lord really is looking after me. I'm excited to see what the future holds for me from here on out.

 

"I have often pondered what it means to hold on to [those we love] with faith. I believe it includes simple acts of love, meekness, kindness, and respect. It means allowing them to develop at their own pace and bearing testimony to help them feel our Savior’s love. It requires us to think more about them and less about ourselves or others. That usually means speaking less and listening much, much more. We must love them, empower them, and praise them often in their efforts to succeed and be faithful to God. And finally, we should do everything in our power to stay close to them—just as we stay close to God." - Elder Erich W. Kopischke

 

This whole talk just resonated powerfully with me - most of you probably know the parallel drawn is why:

"Frankly, few of us would probably write into our stories the trials that refine us. But don’t we love the glorious culmination of a story we read when the protagonist overcomes the struggle? Trials are the elements of the plot that make our favorite stories compelling, timeless, faith promoting, and worthy of telling. The beautiful struggles written into our stories are what draw us closer to the Savior and refine us, making us more like Him. [...]

The sublime principle of agency does, of course, allow us to write our own stories—David could have gone home, back to tending sheep. But Jesus Christ stands ready to use us as divine instruments, sharpened pencils in His hand, to write a masterpiece! He is mercifully willing to use me, a scrawny pencil, as an instrument in His hands, if I have the faith to let Him, if I will let Him author my story." - President Camille N. Johnson, Primary General President

 

And of course, whenever the prophet of the Lord speaks, it's always worth listening -

"My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always.

Never underestimate the profound truth that 'the Spirit speaketh […] of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be.' 'It will show unto you all things what ye should do.'" - President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

 

 

...Am I forgetting something?

 

Oh, yeah. Right. Most of you are probably keeping track, so...

 

My one year mark will be on the fifteenth - making this my one year email.

 

...

 

I'm not really sure what to say, to be honest. This mission has meant - and continues to mean - everything to me. I think most of you know me I'm fairly altruistic in nature, so this has been a dream come true for me. Being able to spend every day serving others, helping them to find light in life and meaning in every day... there's no better feeling than seeing someone's eyes light up when they realize they really are lived. That there really is a Savior that knows them, because He's felt everything they've felt. That they have people who so desparately want to help them - and that more than anything, they have hope in knowing they are loved by both Heaven and Earth.

 

I wish words could convey just how powerful that is. How powerful our message is. But any metaphor or simile would only be a pall shadow in comparison.

 

Love, hope, and joy. Those are the gifts that this Gospel provides. Perspective and identity - a release of enmity. This, all because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose name I have the privilege of bearing every single day. To walk in His footsteps, to follow His path... to love as He loved, with an infinite charity for those that we meet.

 

I'm so grateful for all the friendships I've formed, and all of the miracles I've seen. Most of all, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve everyone as best as I can, throwing myself into the work and becoming the best light that I can be for them. Being able to focus all of my energy on helping other people is exactly what I've wanted to do for my entire life - and this past year has been one of pure joy. Though I wish I could say it was all happy... I have experienced so much joy and have seen so much light. I've learned so much, and look forward to learning even more in this next phase of my mission.

 

Thank you all for being a part of it - for coming along with me in this wonderful merry-go-round of life.

 

 

Love you all - you all are amazing. Take care!

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

Sep 13th Week 48 Administration and Activities Layton Utah Week 39 (T3 Elder Favro)

皆さん！

 

I wish I had more to report on this week! Kickstarting an area comes with all sorts of its new challenges, and so it's been a lot of organizational stuff. When we're not talking about leadership, we're walking and talking with as many people as we can. Most people don't go outside around here, but at the very least, we've been able to talk to a few people! 

 

A few lessons sprinkled here and there, and that's about how life has been. Again, wish there were more to report on, but such is life. We have a couple of people who we're going to begin teaching soon, but that all starts next week. Fingers crossed!

 

Hey, I'd love to hear from you all, too! I've had a few people talk here and there about their weeks and things like that, and that's fantastic! I can't promise I'll respond every week, but I'll try my best to do what I can!

 

So... yeah. I don't like writing short emails, but hopefully I've gotten everything said what needs to be said. The people here are amazing, and the area is wonderful. It's four miles to our area, though... and the loaner bike that I have has had three flat tires already. I'm cursed. Perks of the desert - uhhhh... very flat. Downsides - very dry and goatheads. So. Many. Goatheads. You can't walk around without getting a few in your shoes, stabbing you or puncturing your tires. It's... not okay.

 

Hey, one more thing I thought was important. We had a day of service dedicated to those that lost their lives that day on 9/11/2021. It was a good turnout - so many people working alongside each other to make this world and at least this area a better place. Twenty years since that happened... The wounds are still fresh for a lot of us. Take care of each other for me, okay? Be kind to one another - you're loved and you're worthy of being loved. Make sure other people feel that love too, okay?

 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His  Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

 

"[As a child in World War Two,] while the world was drowning in cynicism, bitterness, hatred, and fear, the example and teachings of these young people filled me with hope. The gospel message they offered transcended politics, history, grudges, grievances, and personal agendas. It gave divine answers to important questions we had during these difficult times.

The message was that God lived and cared about us, even in these hours of turmoil, confusion, and chaos. That He actually appeared in our time to restore truth and light—His gospel and His Church. That He speaks to prophets again; that God is among us—and is personally involved in our lives and actively guiding His children.

It is astonishing what we can learn when we look a little closer at our Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation and exaltation, the plan of happiness, for His children. When we feel insignificant, cast off, and forgotten, we learn that we may be assured that God has not forgotten us—in fact, that He offers to all His children something unimaginable: to become 'heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.'

What does this mean?

That we will live forever, receive a fulness of joy, and have the potential to “inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers.”

It is so humbling to know that this magnificent and supernal future is possible—not because of who we are but because of who God is.

Knowing this, how could we ever murmur or remain embittered? How could we ever keep our eyes on the ground when the King of kings invites us to take flight into an unimaginable future of divine happiness?" (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "God Among Us, April 2021 General Conference)

 

Love you all - take care and have a great week!

 

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

August 30th Week 46 Change Layton Utah Week 37(T1 Elder Favro)

皆さん！

 

The long-awaited transfer email. Did I keep you all waiting? Heheh.

 

...

 

We had expected big changes... but I don't think any of us expected what proceeded.

 

I've been transferred out of Farmington North, cutting Elder Roland's training short. He, in turn, has been transferred down to Bountiful... Spanish speaking. Yup - he's speaking Spanish now. Thankfully, he's taken six years of it in school, so it shouldn't be too hard to pick it back up. I'm excited to see how it goes and what he can do with that!

 

As for me, I've been transferred up to the Layton Legacy stake. We live four miles outside of the apartment, so it's a little bit of a walk. Thankfully, it's relatively flat, so we can ride bikes now!

 

The issue, of course, is getting bikes.

 

Oh, right - where are the cars?

 

With this transfer, President Johnson, under the direction of the Lord, has seen fit to readjust the boundaries of the mission, as well as where all the missionaries are focused. We have nearly doubled the Spanish missionaries in the mission, while increasing the number of companionships in the YSA wards from four to fourteen. As such, we now have over twenty companionships focusing on Spanish-speaking areas, and fourteen companionships focusing on YSA. Because they have such wide tracts of area to cover, all of the cars are going to them.

 

Which leaves us in the Syracuse zone with three cars - two going to a set of sisters and the STLs, and one going to the ZLs. Also, did I mention that we're not supposed to get rides from other missionaries anymore?

 

So the entire transfer has been something of a logistical nightmare. And with missionaries shifting all over the place, it's been kind of crazy. We've as of yet been able to get a bike for Elder Favro - who I'll talk about in a second. So we've had to rely on members giving us rides, and they've been more than generous on that front. It feels like we're inconveniencing them, but if we weren't to do so, we would be losing two to three hours every day where we could be working...

 

My new companion is Elder Favro! He's from the Pasadena area - and he's fresh to the field. That's right - apparently, the Lord has seen fit for me to train once again. It's only been a few days, but we're getting along well.

 

... So, uh, about the area - this is the third set of missionaries in two transfers. One of them went home, and the other became a zone leader. As such, there's not a ton of things going on here. We have a couple of leads we're pursuing, but it's hard getting things going again. We've had some amazing members that have helped us get acclimated and get to know some of the progress the area's made, but it's just hard to get everything sorted. That, on top of all the administrative things we've had to do, getting the district in order, and everything like... it's been such an adventure the past few days!

 

We're keeping busy - which is good. It's been an emotional few days. I've been in the Farmington North stake for nearly eight months... it's hard to leave a place and a people I've grown to love. I've learned so much from them, and it feels like I've grown up with them. There are such amazing people there - and I'm so grateful for the time I've been able to spend there serving them. I've seen miracle after miracle, and I've seen so many wonderful people draw closer unto Christ and assisting in the work. That, and we've seen amazing miracles as we've found people to teach!

 

We're excited to see where things go from here - change is hard, but miracles await this transfer, as they always are.

 

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? 

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

 

Love you all - you all are amazing! Take care - have a great week!

 

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

August 16th Week 44 Temples and Tribulations Layton Utah Week 35(T6 Elder Roland)

皆さん!

 

...Hi.

 

It's been a crazy two weeks, as you all probably could have guessed from the lack of newsletter last week. Trying my best to catch up and keep up with everything, but with things starting to get rolling, life has a way of blowing everything up out of proportion.

 

I think the most significant event of the past week was the temple trip our district got to be a part of. And what a district this is! Everyone plays off each others' strengths really well, and we're all really close. We're calling every single night to check in and see how everyone's doing, and hang out most P-Days together. It's always a ton of fun - if you couldn't guess by the picture of Elder Barnes going full dad mode. Being a missionary doesn't mean we can't have fun as we do so! But of course, they're incredibly consecrated - and we've seen so many miracles as a district because of everyone's hard work and dedication to the Gathering of Israel.

 

So being able to go to the temple for the first time in nearly eight months with them was an honor and a blessing. The Bountiful Temple is beautiful - and the way it's constructed close to the top of the mountain, it makes it feel as if it's a castle on a hill, or a monastery overlooking the valley. It's beautiful.

 

And to be able to go and attend with this amazing group of Elders and Sisters... was a sacred privilege. Such peace and comfort therein... it's unimaginable.

 

I remember sitting after the session and glancing around - the beautiful chandeliers, casting lights like rainbows around the room, the beautiful gold and white, the paintings and symbolism for Jesus Christ... I remember thinking that this was the place - sacred ground where we make promises and swear covenants to the Lord. This was where we gain the power to weather the storms of life. This was where we are sealed to our families for time and all eternity - come life, come death.

 

The grave has no power - and we will all rise together.

 

"But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death. Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works..." (Mosiah 16:8-10)

 

With the delta variant ravaging the country once more, I realized that it might be a short while before I'll be able to attend again. Of course, missionary work and the Gathering of Israel takes precedent... But to keep that remembrance from the temple with us - the remembrance that Christ is at once within and without, on our right hand and on our left - that same feeling is what it means to be endowed with power. To have peace amidst storms. To have courage amidst fear. To have joy amidst sorrow.

 

That is what it means to have hope.

 

 

...But maybe enough prose for now. :)

 

Other than that, it's been a lot of service opportunities, rubbing shoulders with nonmembers, lots of walking and even more contacting. We have had a boatload of administrative work that we have to get done in the next little bit, so timelines are a little bit strained.

 

But we'll get there. With the Lord, we'll always get there eventually, right?

 

...Not much more to report on. It's been a lot of lessons and service appointments, and a lot of really cool opportunities. We taught a lesson to a seven year old preparing for baptism, so that was a lot of fun!

 

I'm grateful for all the miracles we've been able to see as we prioritize the work of the Lord. Many of them are tender mercies - yet others are grand miracles of coincidences we know for a fact weren't. As we have faith, I know we'll continue to see more - and not just a passive faith, but an active faith - the kind that gets you on your feet, the kind where you move forward with your ear tuned to the Spirit.

 

Let's all go forward with active faith in our lives this week.

 

You all are amazing - take care!

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

August 2nd  Week 43 Return and Renewal Layton Utah Week 33 (T4 Elder Roland)

皆さん！

 

...It's been a while!

 

Good grief. These past few Mondays have been *chaos.* Two weeks ago for example, we started the day at ten o'clock after prepping and cleaning and all of that good stuff... and then we went shopping, ate lunch with the district, and then we all went to play pickleball (because just as you've probably heard, it's ridiculously big here in Utah. I thought it started in Washington lol) and walked around Station Park. But it was hecking *busy.* Hardly had time to rest. And I ended up calling home for... what, fifteen minutes? Not even that - more like ten minutes.

 

It's been like that for the past two weeks -- now three. So it's been... interesting. I think that's a good way to put it.

 

Where to begin?

 

Let's start with Elder Roland! Contrary to what I believed, he's actually straight out of the MTC. He lived in Spokane all of his life until last year, where he went to BYU, and then did all his MTC stuff at home for nine weeks.

 

That's right - nine weeks. He speaks Japanese, too!

 

To say that Elder Roland is a fireball is a little bit of an understatement. Seriously. He's driven and motivated to learn, always working things out in his mind in order to best help people and help the area progress. We make a pretty good team - he's very logical in the way he approaches things, and I tend to err on more of the emotional intuition. We each pick up on things maybe the other misses - and so we're constantly working to make sure our lessons are the best for those that we teach.

 

He has an immense love for everyone he meets, and is about as people person as people people gets. He makes friends incredibly easily, and is just an amazing sport about everything. Ridiculously athletic and about half a foot taller than me - I've been learning a ton about basketball and stuff like that. But he's also constantly pushing himself to learn more about everything around him - and constantly elevating the level he's at. The grind never stops!

 

We've seen so many miracles already as we've gone forward in faith. I like to call it "acting with an ear open" - choosing to move forward in the way we thing best, while listening to the Spirit for any redirection we might have to have. It's interesting that as we've made our decision, we have to consistently listen. The Spirit will guide us - but often, the Lord wants us to learn and go forward. That's not to say we shouldn't have faith when we act on our own - far from it; I've seen numerous miracles just by trying my best - it's shifting your faith from the Spirit guiding every single step to having faith the Spirit will redirect you, if you listen.

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has always been a Gospel of Action. To say that it is a Gospel of Passivity is a blatant falsehood. Even looking through the life of Jesus Christ, He was always on the move. He learned as much as He could, being subject to the same veil as all of us. He grew in strength and grace (see Luke 2:52), and continued to press forwards in faith in His Heavenly Father.

 

What struck me this week was studying about the raising of Lazarus. We know this as the miracle of raising the dead - Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus Christ, was ill nigh unto death, and his household sent messengers unto Him, beseeching that He come and heal him. Hearing of the plight, he went down unto Bethany to find the man already four days dead; having been laid in the sepulchure four days, past the accepted point of the spirit leaving the body of three days. 

 

What strikes me is what happens directly proceeding the raising - where He offers a prayer unto Heavenly Father.

"Father," He prayed, " I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. And I knew that Thou hearest me always - but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent me."

 

Nothing that Christ did was against the Father's will. He journeyed from land to land, preaching and teaching those that would hear, and confounding those that would not. But above all, He was constantly moving - acting independently, and making His own decisions.

 

The difference - and where a lot of confusion is derived - comes from how he made those decisions. It is of a truth that Christ never diverged from the Father's will. But that's not to say that He did not have His own will - far from it. The truth of the matter is that Christ aligned His will with His Father's so closely that they were nigh inseparable. What Christ chose was invariably that which His Father wanted and expected Him to do.

 

As missionaries, we're expected to live up to certain standards not because it's a way for the Church to control us, but so that we're living in a way that aligns our wills as completely to the Lord's as we can. The Holy Spirit of the Lord guides and directs us in everything that we do - and if we are living in a way that is contrary to that, our words won't have power, our message will never enter people's hearts, and we are powerless as missionaries to do anything. 

 

Words only have power when the listener chooses to accept them. The Spirit works the same - we can be as persuasive as we can, but if they do not feel the Spirit, we will not be able to show them that light.

 

Conversion is measured by how distinctly we can tell when we end and the Lord begins.

 

There are times where we aren't receiving the revelation that we need. There are times where that revelation seems buried under a mountain of worries and sorrows. But I know - for I have seen for myself - that the Lord will provide a way as we continue to go forth with faith, trusting that eventually, it will come. Slowly, but surely. Sometimes, the greatest gifts are right in front of us - but shrouded in fog. As we take those steps forward, following our guides to that gift, each step will bring us closer, and will allow us to see even more.

 

And soon, we will stumble upon that which is of most worth to us... and will be for as long as we will exist here and hereafter.

 

Love you all - take care, and have a great week!

Cheers,

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

Jul 13th  Week 40 Change, Cheer, and Cornets Layton Utah Week 30 (T1)

皆さん！

Hope you all are doing well! Keep safe, keep drinking water, and keep being kind to one another - and yourself!

This week has been a lot of fun!

Now that we have the huddles up and going, everyone’s doing their part to pitch in. We’re seeing the work progress in ways we’ve never expected, and we’re starting to see pathways open - though they’re not quite open yet, we’re getting there!

This week has been a lot of getting in contact with new move-ins and members of the Church that need a little bit of a boost. As a result of COVID, there are quite a few people feeling down and out, so we’re working with our ward mission leaders to get in contact with them, set up lessons, and help cheer them up. We’re reaching out to everyone, but mostly it’s members that are responding (often times people think that we’re just trying to convert them, when we really just want to help cheer them up…)

We’ve had some good experiences with a myriad of people, including moving a dresser up a tight flight of stairs, teaching lessons and sharing scriptures with all who will listen, and finding strength in Christ’s Atonement as we strive to help others as best as we can!

In other news, I FOUND SOMEONE WITH A TRUMPET AHHH apparently he's performed a ton so he's much, much better than I am - but it's good to be able to just sit down and play again. It's so much fun - I missed being able to play. I mean, don't get me wrong - piano is so much fun, but it's not quite a trumpet, right? They both have their charms - but there's just something about the trumpet (maybe the love and work I've put into improving) that's just so much fun. Playing a ton of different little pieces and classical music, improvising, a little bit of jazz... it was all so much fun. They're an amazing couple - and I'm grateful he allowed me to play with him!

also I realize the subject of this email isn't 100% alliterative because it's not the same syllable but hey, does the same first letter count? eheheh

We’ve kept pretty busy with lessons and meetings. With a new mission president, things aren’t being completely shaken up, but it’s definitely been interesting! President and Sister Johnson are pretty powerful and amazing as they work together - and we’re excited to see what revelation they’ll be able to get on behalf of the mission!

Life goes on - and with life comes changes. Transfers are tomorrow, and the board’s already out;

I’m going to be staying here in the Farmington North stake! Meanwhile, Elder Gibson is going to be transferred up to Roy, where he’s going to be joining Elder Thompson’s district. I’ll be getting a new companion - I don’t know much about him, but he arrives tomorrow. Judging based on the fact I never got a calling to train again, I’m assuming he’s one of the missionaries that was in another country, then got called back because of COVID, and waited a year to see if the country would reopen. We’ll see what happens from here!

I’m hoping to keep the fire up from here on out. We’ve got some good things cooking - gotta keep going full throttle!

I wish I had more to report, but it’s mostly been some interesting lessons and those kinds of things. I’ve drawn so close to the Lord in the past few weeks of trial - I’m so rateful to see the Lord answer my prayers in the best ways possible. Looking back, this transfer board is the accumulation of a lot of prayers answered, stretching back to my first few weeks of being a missionary!

It feels like my time here is slowly coming to an end, though. I don’t think I’ll have another transfer here. I have to give it everything I’ve got - people are depending on us! The Lord has given me this solemn charge and trust - I have to keep going and keep becoming the best missionary in His service that I can be.

I wanted to take a moment and share a scripture from Matthew 13 - a parable given by Jesus Christ.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

This is an insight from Elder Talmage, one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church from a little bit ago:

“The merchant in the story devoted his whole enrgy to the quest for goodly pearls, to find and secure which was his business. When at last he beheld the peal that excelled all others, though it was, as of right it out to have been, held at high cost, he gladly sold all his other gems; indeed he sacrificed “all that he had” -- gems and other possessions -- and purchased the pearl of great price. Seekers after truth may acquire much that is good and desirable, and to find the greatest truth of all[-] the truth that shall save them. Yet, if they seek persistently and with right intent, if they are really in quest of pearls and not of imitations, they shall find…

Observe that in this parable… the price of possession is one’s all… If he willingly sacrifices all that he has, he shall find that he has enough.”

What’s so interesting about Elder Talmage’s explanation of this is that by virtue of having the pearl, he has enough. He has spent his entire life searching for this one pearl - and now that he’s found it, he’s given all to have it. More than any of those other pearls that he’s found or collected… he’s found the one that bring him the most joy.

What a wonderful promise that we have! We can have something that can give us peace - true peace that will stand the test of time. We might have to sacrifice a little - time, effort, energy, unrighteous habits - but we can all receive that fulness of joy. And the  best part of it - when we sacrifice our all give our all to the Lord, He will make up the difference - and He’ll return the best parts of us. The good parts of our personalities - the best parts of our cultures and backgrounds. He’ll return all of that. As President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Bring what you have, and we’ll add to it.”

The Lord wants us to sacrifice - but he doesn’t want us to lose all forever. He wants us to be ourselves - the best parts of ourselves, the parts of ourselves that will be able to be the most happy. The parts of ourselves that will be able to have the most joy - the parts of us that are truly our own.

Love you all - you all are amazing! Take care and have a fantastic week!

Cheers,

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

Jul 5th  Week 39 Respite and Redemption Layton Utah Week 29 (T6 - Trainer DL W/Gibson)

皆さん！

Before we get into it, I’ve had quite a few people ask, so…

No, I’m not quite in Japan yet! Haha. Sorry about that. But because they weren’t sure when exactly we would be able to go over there, they asked all missionaries originally assigned to Japan to not bring phones or bikes to their second call/mission, as they would provide it there once we got into the country. That rule applies to me here in Utah, so my phone is actually from the mission office.

Hopefully that cleared things up… haha.

Other than that, there’s not much to report on this week! We’re continuing to work hard to get things rolling again. I can feel the timer ticking down as to how long I’m here in this area - the 15th will be seven months here in Farmington o.o” - and so I’m trying to get everything set and organized as much as possible. It’s a work in progress for sure - but things are slowly starting to settle down. Sort of. Yesterday kind of blew up scheduling wise. But we made it work.

But with restrictions all but lifted (with the exception of eating with members and tracting), it’s so much fun to be able to go out and talk to everyone! What used to be our least productive hour - 8:00pm - has quickly become our most productive hour. Most people really only step outside after 7:30 because it’s so blazing hot, so we’re making do and trying to fill the rest of our day in other ways!

We were able to have exchanges this past week - and what’s nice was that Elder Cope got the chance to come back to the area! He’s our Zone Leader, and was my trainer while he was here, so it was fun to just walk around and catch up with everyone. He gave some really good advice and we got a lot of stuff done - so that was exciting!

Other than that… just a quiet sort of week. Lots of lessons, and meeting with the people in our coordination meetings for lessons have really helped us to get to know them even better! They’re all amazing and hard working, and expectations are growing now that we’re covering so much area and having to memorize so many faces and names. There are something like 1200 people in this stake - that’s a lot of names. :x we’re trying our best!

But all in all… all is well in Zion. The people here are as kind as they’ve always been, as joyful as they’ve ever been, and the best part of our day is being able to go out and interact with them - help them, and spread light wherever we go! Ultimately, that’s why we’re here - to bring light unto others, to show them what hope and love feel like, and to help them draw nearer unto their Savior - our Savior.

Speaking of which, I mentioned Jesus the Christ last week - and goodness, it’s just as good as I’d hoped. Here’s a little bit of an excerpt from it, out of “The Need For A Redeemer” - 

“Such then is the need of a Redeemer, for without Him mankind would forever remain in a fallen state, and as to hope of eternal progression would be inevitably lost. The mortal probation is provided as an opportunity for advancement; but so great are the difficulties and the dangers, so strong is the influence of evil in the world, and so weak is man in reesistance thereto, that without the aid of a power above that of humanity no soul would find its way back to God from whom it came. The need of a Redeemer lies in the inability of man to raise himself from the temporal to the spiritual plane, from the lower kingdom to the higher...

“So, for the advancement of man from his present fallen and relatively degenerate state to the higher condition of spiritual life, a power above his own must cooperate. Through the operation of the laws obtaining in the higher kingdom, man may be reached and lifted; himself he cannot save by his own unaided effort. A Redeemer and Savior of mankind is beyond all question essential to the realization of the plan of the Eternal Father, ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (see Moses 1:39); and that Redeemer and Savior is Jesus Christ, beside whom there is and can be none other.”

That’s a lot of text, so I’ll break it down.

Above all, we have been provided this life so that we’re able to grow and improve. But ultimately, how do we grow if there’s no goal to achieve, no path to pursue? Those guideposts are the commandments that we are given - and if we are to be perfect, even as He is, we must follow them as closely as we can. But ultimately, we make mistakes - we stumble, we fall. If everyone is to be judged of their work, without an emotional understanding of who they are, all would “surely perish,” to put it mildly. Judgment would be swift and exact - every single sin, every single mistake, no matter how we feel about it or if we ever did it again - would have to be accounted for.

And therein lies the need for that emotional connection. God the Father knows all - but without an advocate for us, He is forced to judge with exactness - no matter how much he does not want to. The Savior came here to provide that - to become our Savior by feeling every pain and affliction we’ve ever been through. He’s walked through life with us - that price was paid in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He paid for empathy with His own blood. That was the plan - so painful, so harrowing, and so terrifying that the Son of God Himself nearly shrunk under the pressure.

But He didn’t.

He suffered all the pains we’ve suffered - and such so that in that great and dreadful day of the Judgement Bar of God, Jesus Christ can intervene. Because He, sinless in and of Himself, has felt what we’ve felt, and has gone through what we’ve gone through… He can say to the Father, “It is enough.” Through Him, if we truly repent of our sins, if we feel sorrow for our mistakes… if we regret and strive to become better, we can be healed.

Through the Savior of the World, mistakes become lessons. Sorrows become blessings. And life eternal can begin once more.

That is why we need a Savior.

I testify of His divinity and His light - for He is the light and the life of the world. All that come unto Him shall find respite, and find peace - for as He has taken upon Himself the sins of the world, He has taken upon Himself every grief. It is this sacrifice in which sympathy becomes empathy - and all can find a hand reaching out, helping us up, and giving us hope that we are not our mistakes - but are the light that continues to shine and burn within.

I so testify in His name, even in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love you all - you all are amazing! Have a great week, and remember to drink lots of water!

Take care,

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

p.s. I guess I got the chance to write before the Fourth of July so ... happy Fourth of July! I wrote a little bit about it in my last email, so feel free to go check it out! :D