January 25th, Week 16 Time and Rebirth, Transfers Layton Utah Week 6

 January 20th, 2020 Week 15 Scales and Hearts, Layton Utah Week 5

皆さん!

Hope everything has been going well! Staying safe? Anything fun happen? 

As missionaries, we don't get a chance to check news or anything like that (we don't even have access to the internet except for whitelisted sites), so we don't know much about what's going on right now. And the members of the church here are pretty good about keeping us in the dark about a lot of things - which helps us to focus on our missions and helping other feel peace. Stay safe, everyone! There's a lot of confusion and violence out in the world right now - make sure you're all taking care of each other. Above all, make sure that those that are struggling are getting the help they need. Let's band together - and try to find peace, even amidst chaos. 

I love the remarks from President Dallin H. Oaks from the most recent General Conference:

"The Savior’s teaching not to “contend with anger” is a good first step. The devil is the father of contention, and it is he who tempts men to contend with anger. He promotes enmity and hateful relationships among individuals and within groups. President Thomas S. Monson taught that anger is 'Satan’s tool,' for 'to be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice.' Anger is the way to division and enmity. We move toward loving our adversaries when we avoid anger and hostility toward those with whom we disagree. It also helps if we are even willing to learn from them."

Take care of each other - you all are amazing.

This week, Elder Cope betrayed me and almost made me milk a goat. 

We did service for a family in the ward who needed to repair a fence. It looks like their goats were busting through the fences and wandering off into the town. We helped reinforce it and drive new posts in to make sure they couldn't escape again. But I asked Elder Cope to not ask for me to milk a goat - not yet, at least. (Most of you know I'm kind of a germaphobe - poor immune system doesn't exactly help that much. I know they're decently clean but... uh. yeah. maybe later.) He promised he wouldn't... 

Then literally the first thing he blurted out was "Elder Decker wants to milk a goat!" 

Thankfully, we didn't have time, but I didn't appreciate him going back on his word... 

But this week's been good - hard, but good. 

It seems the scales of justice have to be met somehow. It feels like I've had either really bad mornings or just really bad evenings. There hasn't been a day where I haven't felt stressed at some point.

I've found that every day has brought some sort of miracle. 

Some of them are small - a good lesson where the Spirit is strong, and has led us to a scripture someone really needed. (That's happened on more than one occasion - and it's happened enough to know the Lord is using us to help others, which is extremely humbling!) But others are really big - like a family we're teaching recognizing the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for them. It's been an amazing week, despite the difficulties, and we've really seen miracles happening here. 

We've had opportunities to meet with some some of the families here that have missionaries out, and we've been teaching the Restoration lesson with them! Sometimes they'll role play as people not of the Church, and other times we'll have discussions on it. It's been amazing to hear their insights, and we're improving a lot! 

We've also begun filling time with serving others! I don't mind it, honestly, but it feels like my companion only makes effort to schedule service, rather than lessons... I'd much rather be teaching and healing emotional wounds, but for some reason he is adamant about filling our schedule with service... 

I'm more than happy to help if there is a need. And there definitely are families we're helping that genuinely need help! But we're doing service for people who really don't need the help, but just give us things to do because they feel bad when he says we're looking for ways to fill our schedule. I'm not sure how to feel about that. I don't mean to complain on my emails, but it hasn't sat right with me... 

I mentioned stake conference, and honestly, it was amazing. So much good stuff. I have... too many notes. But one of the thoughts I loved the most was from our stake president, President Barfuss!

"The darkening skies around us can focus us. It can take our level of preparation of a new place of urgency. And it can help us understand the urgency and the importance to be ready for the events coming around us."

We are in the midst of the thunderstorm - the darkened skies have been amidst us for a long time. So now that the storm is here, how do we prepare? For these storms of sorrow, what is our recourse?

Love. Love as Christ did.

Be kind to others, even if they haven't been kind to you. Forgive them. Love them. Show them that you understand that they are struggling. And not only that, but help them in whatever way that you can!

Show them love. Show them patience. And show them that their struggles are not forgotten. Their sorrows are not forgotten.

They are not forgotten.

And we'll find as we reach out, we will heal parts of our hearts we never knew were broken ourselves. And we can be a light unto others - showing them kindness, mercy, and love.

Take care, everyone - you all are amazing!

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 January 14th, 2020 Week 14 Sickness and Service, Layton Utah Wk4

皆さん!

 

Hope everyone has been doing well! Anything exciting happen? I know a lot of people are starting to trickle back into school, so hopefully you all aren't too stressed! Keep at it and keep studying hard! And to everyone else, hopefully you can find some time to take a breather now and again from work. I know we're just getting out of the holiday season, but make sure you're working hard - but smart! You can't work as well when you're sick - I can testify of that!

 

Because that... was me, all this week. I kind of figured it was coming, and that it was only a matter of time, but it finally happened. I ended up trying to push through it, but ended up only making it worse, and really took me out of commision for a day or two. ...Whoops. I've never had the best immune system, so I'm not all that surprised, but still, take care of yourself, everyone! Don't be like me...

 

Other than that, everything is going well here! Our focus has been learning as much as it has been teaching this week! And boy, is there a lot to learn. We had the opportunity to learn from one of the counselors in the mission presidency through Zoom, and holy cow, there's a lot to learn. We learned even more about asking good and inspired questions - and how it can direct others to draw on experiences that can make lessons more personal to them. But we've learned so much just through the people we're meeting with, too! I always have a notebook nearby to write down things they say - because there are lessons I feel like I learn more than I teach! Those kinds of discussions are honestly the best kind! 

 

We're continuing to teach as many people as we can here, though it largely consists of members. But if I'm being completely honest, that's okay with me - though I recognize we are set apart to preach the Gospel to those who do not have it, I have a strong testimony that in order to do that, we need to strengthen the faith and the zeal of the members here in Utah, as well. People are people - no matter who they are, where they are from, or what they believe. I think during this time of  tribulation, we all could use a message of hope, peace, and comfort. So we've been working closely with the stake presidency (the leadership over this area) to try to minister to the needs of those around us, no matter who we are. And what we've found is that there are a lot of people who appear to be handling it well, but in reality are trying to make it appear that way to others. Some of them aren't really forthright about it, either, and at times the only reason we're able to see it is through some of the wording of phrases or even some cues on their faces. We're working hard to make sure that though these times are hard, everyone can come to know for a better surety that there are people that care about them. It's okay to struggle - everyone is, right now. And some struggles run deeper than the pandemic, as well. Our goal - what we're here to do - is to help them through that. To help them find peace and joy. After all, that is what Christ has always done for us - and it is what He and Heavenly Father are directing us to do now.

 

We've done our best to put love at the forefront of everything we do, which is something we've always tried to do, but have put an extra emphasis on this week. Above conversion, above anything - our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ. And how can we do that if we don't show others the same love that He showed to every person He met? Ultimately, everything we hope to do - all the hope we can ever hope to give - has to start with that fundamental principle of His Church - love. Because at the core of everything we believe resides that truth - that They live, and They love us! And though we face trials, They want us to grow and change. They want us to become better. But they cannot force us to change - we have to choose to do so. After all, in many cases, we can only learn something if we experience it for ourselves.

 

It's fascinating to see how putting love first has truly changed the work here. We've seen so many miracles that have been brought about as a result. Simply changing our focus from teaching with love to teaching because of love has really allowed us to help so many more people than we possibly could have otherwise. We're still working closely with the family I mentioned last week - and though they have a lot of questions, I believe they're truly starting to feel Heavenly Father's love for them. And a lot of that, I think, has been because of that shift in focus. As we've strived to put our love at the forefront... hopefully they are able to feel not only our love, but the love of a Heavenly Father and a Savior. 

 

I love what Elder Bednar said about it - paraphrasing a little bit, he said that ultimately, our job is to carry enough love that our message can be brought to their hearts. It has always been and will always be up to those we teach to choose to allow it in their hearts. And we can only bring our message to their hearts through the Holy Spirit - the Comforter, which dwells with us in light as we strive to follow Him, and which can be with us always when we are baptized, to teach us and to comfort us through times of trial and strife.

 

It is my testimony that it is the Spirit that allows us to communicate with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. But just as we must choose to follow Them, we must choose to listen to the Spirit. It's my belief that's the reason the Spirit speaks so quietly, and only through feelings and thoughts - we have to choose to still our minds and listen. But I know that as we do so, and act in faith, the Spirit will testify to us of truth - and above all, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live!

 

Because They do, and know us perfectly, They will always speak to us in the way that we will best be able to learn and understand. We just have to listen for Them, and They are there. But it is a feeling that we have to try for ourselves. Don't just take my word for it - try it for yourself! Find a quiet place and pray. Try to listen for the "still, small" voice of the Spirit. I promise that if you're sincere, asking in the name of Jesus Christ whether or not They live, you will be able to feel those feelings of calm and peace - and you can know that these things are true.

 

 

Above all, I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to be here. To help the people here. I know that I'm here for a reason - and if I can just share the joy and love that They have for each and every one of us? If I can just share that Christ knows our pains and afflictions, and knows how best to help us and bring us comfort?

 

That's enough for me.

 

Take care, everyone! You all are amazing - take care and stay safe!

 

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 January 4th Week 13 "Dawning Hope" Layton Utah Wk3

皆さん！

Happy New Year's! Did you all get to light off any fireworks? Don't be lawbreakers... but if you can, go have a blast! It's always been such a fun holiday for me just to see all the fireworks being lit off in celebration of the new year - and perhaps this year, more than ever, we have cause to celebrate the dawning of a new year!

We've all faced some incredible challenges this year - challenges that have brought the whole world to its knees. We've seen people struggle through all sorts of diverse issues - social, political, economic. And worst of all, with the pandemic, many lives have been inalterably altered - and a staggering amount of people have lost their lives. 

And yet, though I haven't quite lived as long as others, I've found that there have been very few times where I've seen the whole world come together quite like we have in 2020. Though there is a lot to grieve, there is a lot to be grateful for. We have grown closer as communities - we have grown closer as families. We have worked together to stop the spread of this pandemic - and protect those that are truly at risk.

So though there has been a lot of struggle and heartache...  There is still hope brimming on the horizon. There's still happiness to be found - light, even amongst the darkness! During my studies, I've really come to gravitate towards this idea of light - the idea that we can find peace and joy in the Gospel. 

I love the words of Nephi - "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." I love this idea of going forward with faith and love of all. I really believe that is how we will move forward - by banding together, helping one another, and allowing others to feel that hope. I'm grateful for each and every one of you - stay safe!

As far as this week goes for us, it's been good here in Farmington! Utah's steadily getting colder, and we're usually out in below freezing temperatures... but it's okay! We're doing pretty good, and we're staying warm. A lot of what we've been doing have been going with different members of the church and meeting new people. We've managed to talk to quite a few people - a surprising amount of which are willing to hear what we have to say! At the moment, we don't have any lessons planned, but we have quite a few phone numbers we've been given, so we're excited to begin teaching them!

We're working closely with a family here that has been inactive for quite a few years. They're some of the nicest people we've had the pleasure of meeting - even amongst the people of Utah! We're working with them to find and strengthen the foundation of their testimonies. There are some deep set questions that they're a little hesitant to share - so we're working with them to try and help them resolve those. Hopefully we'll be able to help them through whatever heartache they may have!

But for now, the name of the game is getting to know the people here. It's hard remembering every single face and family, but I'm trying my best! We cover five wards of about 90-100 members each, so it's a lot of getting to know people and getting them excited about serving others!

Other than that, it's been a good week. Can't complain in the slightest! Everyone is really nice and cares for each other... it's a really tight knit community here!

You all are amazing - thank you for the emails! Keep them coming - it's great to be able to hear from all of you!

Take care!

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 December 28th Week Twelve "A Weary Night's Respite" Layton Utah Wk2

(I'm going to try something new - I'm just going to reply to the last message so all of you still get it. Let me know if there are any formatting issues... ._.")

皆さん!

... It's been a grand total of three days, but I figured I'd drop a note to say hi anyways! Hope everyone's been doing great! How was Christmas? Anything exciting happen? I know it's been a little different with COVID, but I hope you all were able to make the best of it.

As far as us, we had a really great Christmas. We had some leftover bananas, so we ended up making some banana bread and went around the neighborhood to people that might be feeling a little down during this Christmas. For many people here, this was the first Christmas during COVID, and we have a substantial elderly population here. Many of them were missing loved ones, and were really just feel g lonely. We asked our bishops for lists of people that might be feeling that way, and the response we received from them was astounding. We ended up the people between the early morning and the afternoon, so that was exciting. Being able to give people those small little bags of cookies and bread, sharing messages of hope... It was really amazing. 

We were able to call our families over Messenger, so that was really great. It had only been four days, but it was really nice to be able to see them and talk to them for a while. I'm glad to see they're doing well, and I'm grateful they've been doing well. We talked for quite a while, and I'm just... really grateful for the opportunity to see them again. And I get to see them again today!

But other than that, we had a modest feast between the both of us! We had rice, potatoes, green bean casserole, and we managed to get a ham! We're... still working through the leftovers. But it was a really nice day.

After that, just like in the morning, we visited the lonely and disheartened - but this time, we went caroling! Elder Cope sang while I accompanied him on the melodica (definitely a good decision to bring it <3). It was a ton of fun - and it was amazing to see that our music was able to brighten their day a little bit - and if it didn't, the treats did!

So our Christmas was amazingly wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better first Christmas on the mission!

Saturday was filled with a lot of walking and lessons, while Sunday was filled with meetings and church. We get to go to three services - it's a lot of fun, and I'm learning a lot from all of those speakers! Every member has such interesting perspectives and ideas whenever they speak, and I'm running out of note space...

It's been an amazing week - and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future brings!

Before I go, I'd just like to share a scripture that really has stood out to me, from the book of Omni.

This is Amaleki speaking - one of the last direct descendants of Lehi. This is his final testimony before he delivers the plates (the written record of his family all the way back to Joseph of Egypt, their ancestor) to King Benjamin, the righteous ruler of the land of Zarahemla (the seat of power amongst the Nephites). Amaleki was a soldier - not really the most eloquent in speaking, but faithful in loyalty to both Christ, who would come, and to his ancestors and people. 

"And now, my beloved bretheren [and sisters], I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

Here, Amaleki asks us to offer our whole souls - and though it sounds daunting, it's not quite as doom and gloom as it sounds. Rather, Amaleki is asking us to live our lives as Christ did - caring for each other. Helping one another. Giving each other hope, especially in a time where hope seems to be quickly fading away. And I know that if we continue to hold on - if we continue to go and help those that are in need, continue to pray, and continue to find opportunities to make another's burdens lighter... we can find light ourselves. We can find joy and peace - and know that by doing so, we are doing as the Lord is doing - and we will not only be able to help others, but we will be able to help ourselves. We can be light bearers - giving other people hope when there seems to be so little of it. I promise that as we do so, we will find that our light will not diminish - but will only grow.

Thank you, everyone! Have a great week - you all are amazing!

Elder Decker

p.s. pictures!

 December 25th Week Eleven "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" Layton Utah Wk1

(Sorry for the late email! Gmail has deleted two different drafts as I've copied contacts from a note to this email [because the mobile app {what I'm emailing from} is having difficulties reading line-by-line contact information...])

皆さん!

Merry Christmas! I hope you all are spending it with loved ones both near and far. Any plans? Or is it just a quiet sort of Christmas together with loved ones? Regardless, it's a wonderful time of hope, joy, and light, and I hope that even amidst all of this toil and strife that's overtaken the world, you can find and take the time to remember the good in our lives - even if it may be hard to see. It may take a little bit of searching, but I promise you it's there.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday just because of how much it centers on family! Being able to watch Christmas movies together, then sit around the Christmas tree, reading from Luke, Matthew, and 3 Nephi, opening the first gifts of Christmas, going to bed early (or secretly wrapping)... Rushing downstairs at 7:00, anxiously watching as we open our presents for each other... It's always been so much fun to laugh and joke around with each other and just... have fun together. Many a Christmas is cherished in my memory, and still is to this day.

And now that I'm in the field, I realized that even more now than later, my thoughts have turned towards Christ even more than they have before. And not only His birth... But His life. Through Him, we can be together with our loved ones for all time and eternity. The Christmases filled with joy and laughter can last forever; we can be filled with joy and happiness forever. 

Because Jesus Christ lived, and suffered the Atonement, not only can we live with our loved ones together, but we can find another Older Brother in Him - He who not only knows how we feel, but has felt our pains Himself. He knows our pains, and the darkness in our lives... because He's felt it, too. In order to take upon Himself the sins of the world, past, present, and future, He had to feel everything that we have ever felt. And so when times get dark, He can be our light. Through Him, we can be comforted by someone that knows exactly what we've been through. That, to me, has brought me a lot of peace and comfort - and I know it's true because I've felt it in my life! And I know that if we truly approach Him in prayer, praying to Heavenly Father to know if He and Jesus Christ know us... through the peace and calm of the Holy Spirit, who speaks with a soft, quiet voice, we can receive a witness that He lives. And that He is the light of the world.

He is the Prinnce of Peace, the Arbiter of Sin. He is the Great Mediator, and the Humblest Shepherd. He is our Oldest Brother. Our hope.

He is our Light.

And He is love.

So at this time of year, I've found myself thinking to that day, where shepherds flocked and wise men found themselves confounded.

Christ was born in Bethlehem not only to save us... but to be with us. To strengthen us. To show us that amidst the void residing between lights, He is a star that shines upon us, comforting us. Allowing us to know He is there. Allowing us to feel His comfort; His sympathy; His empathy. His love.

That is why He is the light of the world - because He loved us, loves us, and will always love us.

But friends... I have some other news I get to celebrate.

On Tuesday, my boots finally hit the ground. After orientation and getting to know the other group of missionaries starting that day, we finally were introduced to our companions - and the work began!

My companion is Elder Cope - an extremely hard working and diligent missionary. He's been out for a little longer than a year, but already has so much experience and is incredibly spiritual. I've been able to learn so much from him, and I'm still learning a lot. He's amazing - and he's incredibly sensitive to others' feelings, and is just a generally good leader, giving people opportunities to learn and grow, but also stepping in with a kind sort of way to help when we get confused or struggle. He's pretty great!

We've been assigned the southern half of the Farmington North stake. The people here are ridiculously nice! They have such a kind and gentle spirit about them, and are incredibly kind and giving. They've been taking care of us in so many ways, even if we're unable to receive gifts or food due to COVID. Getting to know everyone and trying to learn everyone's names has been a little mind boggling, but we're making it work! Just the sheer amount of love we're feeling has been enough to keep me going.

We're teaching as many people as we can, though mostly our efforts are focused on strengthening the faith of members here. Many of them are actually remarkably faithful, but are actually quite nervous about sharing their thoughts and beliefs. We're trying to work with them to help them feel a little more confident and helpful in their beliefs, as well as sharing with their friends who may need a little bit of help. We've been able to teach one person whose faith has been a little bit lacking, and we feel we've helped them to the best of our abilities. Now we can only just encourage them - ultimately, it's their decision, and that's perfectly okay.

But that's all from me! I could go on for days and days about all the people I've met, how amazing the Christmas programs at church were (there was a harp trio that performed!!!), but that would take up ages and ages.

I'll just leave you all with a scripture we've been sharing with numerous people we've been able to talk to, in Alma 7:9-12:

"... prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.

10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

These are the words of Alma, preaching to a group of people within the city of Gideon about who Christ is and why He is our Savior. This is one of my favorite scriptures! Not only is it a Christmas scripture, it talks so much about Christ and what He will do for us. He suffered, bled, and died for us. But He did not do this just so that He could save us, or because He had to - He did this because He loved us. Even before the excruciating moments of Gethsemane, where He bled from every pore in order to understand how each of us felt and take upon Him our sins, He was scared. He knew that what he was to go through would have been terrible beyond comprehension. And still, He did it, knowing that if He suffered through that, we could be forgiven of our sins. We could live with our families again.

We could be happy again.

And not only that... But He knew that If He did those things, He could help us from above. To strengthen us - to comfort us in times of terror and strife. To help us to learn, and to become stronger. To give us the best opportunities to learn, and to know exactly how strong we are to give us trials that we can handle.

And if He knows we can't do it alone, He could always send angels - friends, loved ones near and far, to bear us up. To help us to overcome them, even when it seems when we can't do it ourselves.

And sometimes, He personally will comfort us - through the quiet voice of the Spirit. The Spirit of comfort... The Spirit of Peace... a gift from the Prince of Peace.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas! Go eat tons of food and drink lots of egg nog. I'm excited to be here and serve the people, so don't worry about me! Enjoy your time together - you all are amazing.

Take care, everyone! Love you all!

Elder Decker

 November 29th Week Seven "Drawing Nearer" HMTC

皆さん！

How is everyone! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Did you eat a ton of food? Did you spend time with family? Laugh, sing, and just have a good holiday in each other's company? Hopefully you all stayed safe - and though for many, it has been a much different sort of Thanksgiving, I hope it was filled with as much wonder and joy as it has always been. Technology is amazing in that way, isn't it?

For me, Thanksgiving was amazing! I'm so thankful to have been able to spend one more Thanksgiving with my family. It's always been one of my favorite holidays (second only to Christmas <3) just because it's all about family. Cooking together, joking around with each other. Gathering together around the table, talking and laughing together, talking about what we're thankful for... there's a certain magic about the holiday.

Especially so close on the heels of President Nelson's address, some of the things I found so amazing about this Thanksgiving have been because of the gratitude. One of the greatest things about gratitude is the amount our perspective can change - and how much we can change and become better through it. It's amazing to me that just simple sentences of thanks can bring such warmth within our hearts. It's why gratitude is one of the few things that people commonly say can fill our hearts!

I'm grateful for all of you - and all of your kindness and support thus far. I'll keep learning as much as I can - and I'll keep you all posted!

Unfortunately, this week has been rather quiet as well. It's been a lot of studying and preparing lessons. We've shifted into less instruction as much as it's been a ton of roleplaying, with a ton of different situations. Different lessons, different personality types... we've all become actors and actresses here in the MTC, it looks like. But it's been really good to learn and better understand how we can help people to learn more and more as they go along! I think we've all become a little more sympathetic, as well - and we're realizing that if we treat these activities as if they're real people we're teaching (rather than each other), the Spirit can really take hold in our hearts and teach to their needs - even if those needs aren't even explicitly stated, and only thought by the actor or actress. It's fascinating - Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to become the best people we can be, and any attempt to improve will be welcomed and warmly received by Him. It's really cool, isn't it?

But other than that, not much to report! Time is ticking down... and I can feel myself getting more and more frantic. Well, maybe that's not the right word... but I can feel the pressure starting to set in. I know I'll be going to Utah for at least a transfer or two, but I know I need to continue to study as much as I can to be able to speak as much as I can. Even though I have time to study, I know there will be a least a little entropy in my Japanese-speaking ability... so I have to keep working at it! I know the Lord blesses us in our efforts - so I just have to keep it up!

I recently came across one of my favorite scriptures again this past week - found in John 14:15-18. We've been talking about commandments for all of this week, and we were talking about the blessings we receive when we follow them. These are the words of Jesus Christ - and though He says them multiple times throughout the New Testament and Book of Mormon, as well as through many of His prophets... this is Him, speaking directly to His beloved disciples.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you."

The Lord's hand is always outstretched to us - though we cannot see it, and at times we cannot feel it. He loves us so much, and wants to help us so much - and often, all we must do is ask, having faith that He will deliver us.

But how do we show that we have faith? That's a part of the reason we have commandments.

They may seem restrictive, but in truth, though they serve many purposes, including to guide us and protect us, they are tests. Tests that, when passed, show Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that we are trying our best to become better - to be more kind, more sympathetic, more patient... more obedient.

And as we do so, our Father in Heaven sees that - and recognizes that. And as such, He will send us blessings.

But even more than that... He knows that we will fail at times. Not every test will be in our area of expertise - otherwise, we wouldn't change or grow. We will stumble - we will fall. That's what it means to be human, isn't it?

And even more than that - in the midst of our test, we may feel lost. Discouraged. Alone, without direction.

He loves us too much to allow us to struggle alone.

If the goal is change, often it is best to have someone guiding us, is it not? When in martial arts, there's an instructor to guide us. If it's a sport, we have a coach to help us improve.

Life is the same - but leading us is our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, who know everything. And though, just like how our coaches can't play with us in the game, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can't be with us as we go through our trials, They will give us comfort - shouting inspiration and encouragement from the sidelines through the Spirit, which we can receive if we seek it. As long as we are putting in effort, They will guide us and direct us, give us plays to try, and just give us time to play.

And though we may struggle at first, we gain experience the longer we play. And the more we play, the more we improve... and the more They can trust us to make our own decisions in the field.

All They do will send us comfort and encourage us - and through the Spirit, They can show us that they truly love us and trust us.

I know that as we turn to Them, They will guide us. They know the end from the beginning... and through Them, we can become better, and we can learn and improve ourselves.

I know that to be true - and through the Spirit, I know that if we pray with real intent, acting in faith by kneeling and praying to know if They are there... They will send Their Spirit to speak to us - though the Spirit's voice is quiet, and speaks through soft emotions - blossoms of hope, sprouts of faith that can bloom within our hearts. If we reach out to Them, and listen for that quiet, still small voice... I know They will respond in kind, reaching out to us with love, joy, and peace.

I love you guys! Thank you for all of the emails - keep them coming! :) Talk to you all next week - stay safe, stay warm, and stay grateful! Remember - you are loved, and are worthy of being loved. 

You all are amazing! If you ever need to talk about anything, send me an email and I'll be happy to talk. Take care of yourselves - and keep going strong. You all are such an example to me, and I'm grateful to each and every one of you.

Have a great week, everyone - talk to you soon!

Cheers,

Elder Decker

(p.s. If there's anyone that might want to be added to the emailing list, let me know! I'd be happy to get them on the thread. :) )

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 November 23rd Week Six "Glorious Gratitude" HMTC

(Hey everyone! If you know anyone that would like to be added to the mailing list, please shoot me an email and I'll add them as soon as I can! Cheers!)

皆さん！

How has everyone been? It seems like winter's going to be upon us here very shortly! The leaves are already falling to the ground more than usual, and looking outside my window, it seems that the trees have become more barren than before. But colors still dot their branches, clinging onto the last vestiges of the season.

Speaking of seasons, happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has the opportunity to spend time with loved ones as much as you can - safely, of course! Remember that even if we may be more distant than before, it's easier now more than ever to connect from far away. Technology has made it possible to only be a screen away - and I pray that we're all able to take advantage to check in with loved ones near and far, and to make this season one of true Thanksgiving!

And speaking of gratitude... I hope everyone has had a chance to listen to President Nelson's message of hope! It's incredible that we have prophets on the earth today that are able to receive revelation on how best to help us through the difficulties and challenges of life. If you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend checking it out - studying it has brought me personally a lot of peace!

As for my week, it's been kind of long! We're steadily working on learning all of the doctrine of the lessons in Japanese, so it's a lot of vocabulary we have to memorize. My companions are getting much better at the language, but that also means that now we have to really work on balance. It's a constant cycle of perfection - as life almost always is! But as for the majority of this week... it's been pretty good. I've been really happy with how it's been shaping up - amidst struggles and trials, I've been able to learn a lot.

One thing that I've been able to learn as I've prepared to serve is that fact - we are all here to learn. We were sent here because we wanted to become like Heavenly Father - a loving, just, kind, Heavenly Father, who took time to know each of us individually and care for us. He wasn't just a God - He was a literal Heavenly Father.

And we wanted to be like Him - wanted to have physical forms, as He did. We wanted to learn more about His Gospel. We wanted to become kind, caring, more sympathetic towards others, charitable, and yet humble... all of these things that Heavenly Father were.

But if we were to stay in Heaven, we wouldn't have really grown, would we? We would have remained stagnant - and many of us would have only done what He has asked of us simply because He said we should. And would they truly change then?

I'm reminded of the verse from Moses 1:39:

"For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

Heavenly Father wants us to become like Him - He wants us to become the best people we can be. But He knows that because we're human, and we're able to choose for ourselves what we want to do, we will make mistakes. And often times, we'll feel lost or confused, not knowing where to turn for help.

He's provided us with so much comfort and guidance - the scriptures, the prophet, and more. He is even willing to listen to our prayers - and if we pray with sincere faith, He will answer us, and bring us peace and comfort, especially in times where we feel we need it.

But most importantly, He has sent us His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Through His divine blood, He took upon himself the sins of the world, such that if we truly are repentant, He can forgive us for our sins, and we can become clean again. And not only that - He felt every emotion we have ever felt, and now understands exactly how we feel. In times of stress or sadness, I know that if we pray to Heavenly Father in faith, listening to the quiet voice of the Spirit through which He and Jesus Christ speak, we can come to know that He is there, and understands how we feel.

I know there is power in that - and I encourage anyone to do so. Whether we are content or frustrated, happy or sad, joyful or sorrowful, peaceful or angry... They know how we feel. And They know how best to help us to change and grow.

So in this Thanksgiving season, I encourage everyone to do as the prophet has said, and ask yourself - what are you thankful for? It may seem a little irreverent to those struggling right now, but I promise you, the best weapon we have in our arsenal for this war... is hope. And hope can be contagious - hope can be what truly makes a difference in our lives.

So I ask you - where do you find hope? What is your hope? What do you hope for?

And what can you be thankful for?

I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving! Stay safe and healthy, and eat lots of good food in as good of company as you can safely muster. :) Love you all! You all are amazing!

Elder Decker

November 14th Week Five "Lessons of the Ethereal" HMTC

Let me start this email with one sentence - the Spirit is real... and is powerful.

The beginning of this week has been a little harder than I think I've had during my entire stay at the MTC. Things have definitely been ramping up, difficulty wise - I'm setting higher goals and expectations for myself as the weeks progress. And as a result, the first couple of days were hard. I'm used to setting high expectations of myself, but I think that the stress of learning a new language, as well as feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders, has led to a couple of bad nights of sleep. It's been a while since I've had some of those, not going to lie - and greeting my old friend wasn't really something I was looking forward to.

Like I'm wont to do, I did the only thing that I could - struggle through it. It's something I'm very accustomed to, so I wasn't really concerned about it. But the entire time, I realized that I felt... incomplete, somehow. I couldn't put my finger on it - I was doing everything that I was supposed to, right?

That is, until one of my roleplays went south. Everything was okay, and it turned out to be fine - we were placed into breakout rooms, and one of the other people in my district (group of missionaries) roleplayed as someone who was learning about the Church. For me, whenever I teach, I try to rely on the Spirit to teach - after all, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know each and every one of us individually, and oftentimes, when we're teaching, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will redirect us through feelings and promptings of the Spirit such that the lesson might be more effective, even during roleplays. So long as we're listening, and trying our best to align ourselves with His will, we will be able to hear His Spirit prompting us through small little bursts of peace, or thoughts that slowly bloom in our minds.

But during this roleplay? I felt nothing.

It was something completely foreign to me - during that roleplay, which was one on one, I felt completely and utterly alone.

I know the Lord never forsakes His children - not us as missionaries, but especially those that are learning about the Gospel. Heavenly Father will always help us if we earnestly act in faith and seek after truth - and often times, that is through the missionaries. He will never withhold that blessing - so why had I felt nothing?

Most of my personal studies turned to that moment - the first time I had taught without feeling anything. I stumbled upon the Face to Face with Elder Holland and President Eyring - and one of the things that they said was often, it's hard to receive revelation when our minds are too loud.

I thought about that time and time again - and what I realized was that at that time, my thoughts were so clouded with struggling through, that I had lost focus on the Spirit. It was something strange that I hadn't thought about - but makes sense. The Spirit speaks quietly, urging us to make our own choices and decisions. Usually we associate its withdrawal with our sins blocking Heavenly Father's communication, but it never occured to me that not focusing on His promptings and aligning our will with His might also do the same.

So I did something I haven't done in a long time - cleared my mind.

Usually I have a song playing in my mind while I do tasks, and have thoughts filling the blank space in my mind in order to maximize my focus. But I decided that I would kneel in prayer, and simply... empty my mind.

And as I did, I felt all of my thoughts slip away, and everything faded...

...not to black, but to white.

It was surreal. Why was I seeing white? But as I peered closer, I felt something - the comfort of the Spirit, whose promptings I had missed just earlier that day.

It was a profound experience - and though my sleep hasn't quite improved, I've been able to carry that Spirit with me throughout the rest of this week. And it was challenging - numerous roleplays, two with people from Japan! But as I focused not only on my love for them, but also on listening for the Spirit's promptings above else... I found that somehow, miraculously, I was understanding more and more. And the last one - today - he spoke incredibly fast, faster than I had ever heard someone speak before. And somehow, I was able to understand him and his concerns!

The Spirit is powerful - and is real. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ send the Spirit to our lives to help guide us and direct us, should we be willing to listen. But we should not only be willing to listen - if we are willing to act on the Spirit's promptings, we can know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us.

Often times, if we're struggling to find answers, I've found that the counsel found in the book of James has always comforted me:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. I know that They are watching over us and love each of us more infinitely than I can imagine. No matter who we are, They love us just the same - and were it possible, They would move Heaven and Earth in order to make sure we were safe and happy.

But because we are spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we are blessed with the ability to think and choose for ourselves - and as a result, if He were to impede on that, He would be stopping our growth. He, like all fathers, wants each of us to learn and to grow as much as we can, and to become the best people that we can be. But ultimately, He wants us to return to Him. And if He can't physically be here with us, He will do the next best thing.

He will guide us from afar. He has given us scriptures - he has given us living prophets who guide us and direct us. He has granted us the Spirit, of which promptings, if heeded and if we take care to hear them, allows Him to directly communicate and guide us.

But most of all, He has sent His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to allow us to repent of any mistakes that we have made. By suffering the Atonement, we can all be cleansed, should we choose to repent and become better. But not only that - but through the Atonement, Christ took upon Himself the pains and afflictions of the world. He knows what each and every one of us feels. He knows what we are going through. He knows, and He can comfort us through the Spirit, that Holy Comforter, to let us know that He is there, and loves us.

I know that if we act in faith, we can receive a witness by the Spirit that They are there, and that They love us. Read a passage of the Book of Mormon, and in a quiet place, pray to know of its truth, with an open heart to any feelings you might feel. Through the soft, reassuring voice of the Spirit, I know that we can know that They are there.

I've had so many experiences where I've been a witness to Their miracles - and I'm so grateful for their love and their guidance. I know that They will always love us - no matter what. And all they want to do is to help as much as they can - but They still want to allow us the opportunity to choose and decide for ourselves.

Thus, the act in faith - and through it, miracles can occur. That, I know for a surety.

Thank you for reading thus far! I know this wasn't a conventional email - and I apologize! Unfortunately, there hasn't been much more news as of late... If there's anything interesting, I will definitely let you all know!

Oh, what, that news? Ah... yeah, I guess so.

So, uh, hey everyone, I guess I do have a little bit of news...

In the interim while my visa paperwork is being processed, I've received a new mission reassignment... to the Utah Layton Mission! 

I'm really excited to go - and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve, no matter where I am. I know that the Lord wants me there for a specific reason, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for me. Getting to know the people and the families there, seeing all of the beautiful scenery... and hopefully, being able to teach people and lift their hearts. I mention this a lot, but truly, all I want to do is to be able to help people. To lift their burdens, to make their hearts just that little bit lighter. I know my time there might be short, but I want to hit the ground running. I want to be able to help as many people as I can - and I want to show them how much this Gospel means to me, and how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us!

Thank you all for reading these emails! If you ever want to talk about something, or even just want to shoot an email to say hi, feel free! I'd be more than happy to respond as soon as I can. 

You all are amazing - and I hope you all never forget that. Remember - you are loved. And you are worthy of being loved.

Take care, everyone! Hope to talk to you guys soon.

Elder Decker

 Nov 7th - Week Four "Languages, Lords, and the Lamanites" HMTC

(Hello everyone! Apologies for the late email - I've been adding a couple of people to the mailing list steadily and I was waiting on one more. Feel free to email me tomorrow as well, if you'd like, and I'll get back to you all as soon as I can! Thanks - and cheers!)

皆さん！

What a week it's been! How has everyone been? Staying safe and warm, I hope? For us here in the Decker home, Christmas has already begun in full swing! My family is already decorating the whole house with garlands and gnomes galore. The scent of cinnamon seems to hang on the air, and lights of every kind brighten even the darkest corners of the house. And as preparations continue to unfold, each new decoration placed is another little spark of joy that brightens the home... and our hearts. And it's fun to step outside my room at the end of a day of class to see the railings decorated with festive cheer - red and white a proclamation of the tidings of the seasons.

Now, the Spirit of the Lord is now joined by a new spirit - the Spirit of Christmas.

It's honestly amazing how everything has been shaping up! Christmas is my favorite holiday for a myriad of reasons - family being among them. That's why I'm extremely thankful that my family is celebrating Christmas a little bit early so that I can celebrate with them before I leave for Japan. I'm really looking forwards to spending time with them, laughing, and just enjoying the spirit of the season together. It's a beautiful time of laughter and joy for us - and I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend one more Christmas with them before I head out!

But as for this week... unfortunately, it was fairly uneventful. I wish I had more to report, but honestly this whole week has just been nose to the grindstone. The speed is picking up, for sure! We're learning five new phrases each day related to different aspects of the Gospel, as well as new vocabulary (I'm setting a goal for ten words a day to try to stay ahead!), and learning about the Gospel itself, as well! This week has been focused on speaking the language confidently and clearly. I had a good conversation with one of my teachers during one-on-ones where we talked about using the sentences we already can create to go step by step to a goal. I realized that in English, I was relying on my ability to ramble with a direction to get to an end destination, if that makes sense. Because I'm trying to teach in a completely new language... I can't exactly do that, right? So I've been working hard at making sure my lessons go step by step to an end goal, explaining everything... and asking more questions! I mentioned this before, but I need to learn how to teach by the Spirit, rather than explain. And that comes through testifying of truths that I know to be true.

Overall, though, our district continues to grow closer and closer. Seriously. We're all basically best friends at this point - probably because we spend so much time together. Baxter長老 mentioned that if there was something to have an opinion on, he would be able to take a stance and argue about it - no matter what it is. So Greene長老 came up with a seemingly bizarre debate topic - whether cake should be eaten with a fork or a spoon.

That was a mistake.

The lines in our district have been drawn. The banners of cutlery have been raised, and there is no going back now. Neither side is willing to back down, and it seems war is soon to be upon us... 

...or something like that. I think there's beautiful symbolism in it, though. :)

But other than that, this week has been pretty good! Can't complain about anything too much. It's been a lot of fun to be able to have an excuse to study the things that I love for hours on end every week. It's tons of fun!

This week's spiritual thought comes from the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon - specifically, the story of King Lamoni and his father. As Ammon and King Lamoni were journeying to the place that Ammon's brethren were imprisoned, they happened upon the caravan of King Lamoni's father - a literal king of kings. As they talked, King Lamoni's father mentioned that King Lamoni had missed the feast he had held for his family earlier - and demanded to know the reason why.

But as he turned to see the Nephite standing next to him - the king's sworn enemy - he knew immediately why.

Furious that his son had believed the words of the Nephites, the "sons of a liar", he immediately turned back to his son and demanded that he prove his loyalty - strike down Ammon where he stood, and return to their home. 

If he failed to obey, he would lose everything. Land, possessions, his kingdom and his subjects, even family... it would all be gone. And as such, King Lamoni found his heart torn. Not only did he face the fury of his king, but he faced the fury of his father. And not only that, but his choice seemed impossible - save himself and his kingdom, or continue to stay faithful to the Gospel?

And not only that, but King Lamoni had just learned about the Gospel but a few days prior. Was he willing to stake everything he knew on something new?

King Lamoni made an impossible choice - and yet, somehow it wasn't as impossible as it seemed. He knew Heavenly Father would bless him and protect Him. His life had been irreversibly changed for the better - and he knew, without a doubt, that the Gospel was true. He knew that Heavenly Father loved Him.

And he knew that if he believed... He would be delivered.

Somewhat shakily, King Lamoni stepped forward, heart brimming with fear... and courage. His words are recorded in Alma 20:15 - 

"But Lamoni said unto him: I will not slay Ammon, neither will I return to the land of Ishmael, but I go to the land of Middoni that I may release the brethren of Ammon, for I know that they are just men and holy prophets of the true God."

King Lamoni trusted in the Lord for deliverance - and though the king of the land still remained angered, he instead drew his blade against Ammon, for he was the one that had converted King Lamoni. But Ammon was protected by the Lord, and the ensuing fight was short. With a broken arm and pleading for his life, the king of all the land asked what they wanted in exchange for his life. The two, in turn, simply asked for the release of their brethren, that King Lamoni become a sovereign ruler, and for them to go on their way. And this left a lasting impression on the king - who had surely thought his throne was to be usurped. But most of all, as he gazed upon his son, he realized how much he loved King Lamoni - and that through his testimony, through his defiance, the king of all the land learned that his son had found something special - something beautiful. He had found peace - and he had found joy.

My brothers and sisters, how often do we find ourselves at crossroads like these? There are times where our faith truly is tested - times where it seems that we must choose between the impossible and the unfeasible. What do we do in these times? What should we do? What can we do? 

In times like these, we must stand firm in our testimonies. And if we don't have any... then now is as good as time as any to find one. Act in faith. Read the scriptures, and then kneel before Heavenly Father and ask if He is there. Listen in a quiet place for the quiet voice of the Spirit - and I promise you that if you act in faith, you will be able to receive an answer. And Heavenly Father will answer your prayers in the way that will not only be the most effective... but the one that will leave the most lasting change within you.

I believe that within the heart of that king of kings burst a feeling of love for his child - a feeling sent from one who could only have felt that feeling before Themselves. One that could only be understood by one who feels that not only for King Lamoni... but for the king himself.

It could only have come from a Heavenly Father.

I know that He lives. I know that He is watching over us, and knows each and every one of us. After all, we lived with Him before this life - and we talked with Him and learned about Him. We loved Him... and He loved us.

And if He loved us then, why would He not love us now?

And only as a loving Father would do, He has done everything in His power to help us to become the best people we can be. He sends us trials to help us grow - but none that we are not strong enough to handle, and never any that we cannot handle with help from others. And in the midst of darkness and sorrow, when times seem more than we can handle, and life rears its ugly head in all of its horror, terror, sorrow, and fear... He will be with us every step of the way. He has sent us a Savior - Jesus Christ, who suffered for all of our sins so that He can offer to us in our darkest moments in life... a guiding hand. 

But He will only ever offer it. We have to act and choose to grasp onto it. I promise that as we do, He will guide us through. And along the way, Heavenly Father will continue to bless us and care for us - granting encouragement, strength, and wisdom, as long as we look to Him sincerely, with the intention to act and continue to step forwards, until the day where we break free past the mists of darkness to find our Heavenly Father, with open arms, waiting for us to come back to His embrace.

I know They live. They live, and they love each and every one of us. They want nothing more than to see us happy - truly happy - and do everything in their power to help us to do so. They have granted us the Atonement - which allows us to be forgiven of our sins and move forward. They have given us the scriptures - the Bible, and through revelation to Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon. They guide us and direct us to become the best people that we can be - and help us to become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, so that one day, we might be able to, in the end, return to their loving embrace.

I love Them with all of my heart - and if I can help others to feel even a small part of how much They love each and every one of us... then everything I have ever done will have all been worth it.

Thanks for bearing with me in the long email this week! Not much to report this week, but I've had a lot of really cool things that I've been able to learn and grow from this week, and so I want to be able to share as much as I can with you all. I'm still loving the MTC, between my district, my teachers, and the Spirit that has so completely enveloped my heart and spirit - and I can't wait to see how much more I can learn and improve before these next nine weeks are done!

But for now, enjoy your week, everyone - and keep on keeping on! You guys are all amazing! I think I'm going to go enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate and help decorate the house a little more. It's that time, of the year, anyways!

Cheers,

Elder Decker | デッカー長老