So much to
talk about! That's cool to hear that ASU
won the Pac-12 south championship, sounds like it made for a fun evening! Those pictures were sweet, that's not
something that happens every day Bdog! Maybe
one day one of them will go to the NFL, think of that! Dad, thanks for the
email. We've got somewhere to spend thanksgiving with, it'll be the Leavitt
family, so there's no worries there. They're
doing a big shin dig down at the church building so it'll be a lot of people
and a good time. Mom, what an AWESOME
experience!! I loved your story of
sharing the gospel. I've gotta echo
Tyler's statement, it makes it much easier to labor in the Lord's vineyard when
you have the support system like the one we've got!
We had a
pretty stacked week this week. We started Monday off with a district leader
council, and gave a training and set things straight. We're really striving to
implement Joseph Smith's counsel "teach them correct principles and let
them govern themselves." Tuesday
night we went on splits with our bishopric, and got some great LA, PM family
work done. Wed we went out and had our Elders Quorum splits and had a lesson
with Mark (who's getting baptized this weekend! I've got that opening prayer on lock down
again haha) and visited with a LA family. Thur. was the big day, where we had Elder
Craig A. Cardon of the Presidency of the 70 come to a mission conference. Did you know he's born and raised in Mesa? I was talking with his wife and she said that
they raised their children there. He got
his something or other degree at ASU and the whole 9 yards. He talked to us about a variety of things, but
the major commitment he left with us was not to ask the head of the household
if they'd be willing to say a closing prayer in our 1st lessons with
investigators, but rather assign them the closing prayer, and not give in when
they protest or make excuses as to why they don't want to. (which happens a lot
) He said that if they won't begin to say a prayer then, they won't start ever
praying to know if what we shared with them is true. "We are teaching spiritual children. It all starts with prayer, and if they won't
do that, then you've lost them." It
was an unexpected commitment, but I can see how it would help!
The Norman stake also was reorganized this
weekend, so we were able to listen to him and another member of the 70, Elder
Rean this Saturday and Sunday. The theme
was member missionary work, and I pulled the most away from Elder Rean's
message to us. (They both served in
Italy, and both went back as mission president's too, cool huh?) Elder Rean said that from his mission, in
Italy, (the 1st one) he came back feeling like a failure, because all he did
was knock doors 13 hours a day, for 2 years, with 2 converts who went LA and 2
young women who only converted "because of two handsome Americans." He prayed for opportunities and a friend from
high school called him up and said "you left for your church thing, I went
military. My life's a mess. I need help." He then related more experiences that were
similar to this one. He prayed because
he was willing, yet didn't feel like he was capable of going out of his way. So the Lord brought people to him. It reminded me of a scripture that I've been
thinking about lately, relating to member missionary work. It helps us identify who's ready to receive
the gospel, and why we're the one chosen to share the gospel. D&C 35:12-15 "And there are none that
doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fullness of my gospel,
which I have sent forth unto this generation. 13 Wherefore, I call upon the
weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the
nations by the power of my Spirit; 14 And their arm shall be my arm, and I will
be their shield, and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they
shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I
will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation
will I preserve them. 15 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel
preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming
for it is nigh at hand --" The Lord
doesn't expect us to be grand and mighty, but to be willing! Elder Rean left two commitments with the
members here that I extend to you, my wonderful family. #1 Pray for personal missionary opportunities
(which I know you're already doing) and #2 Do something with a friend, who's
not a member of the church, outside of a church activity. He made a comment that struck me as well. He said "We're doing the world a
disservice by not sharing the light we have with them. It's already a dark
enough place. Why allow it to get
darker?" I love you guys, and I
love hearing about your lives! Thanks
for your righteous examples!! Continue
to learn and grow in the gospel, because that's the greatest thing we can do!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Elder
Traasdahl
"4 missionaries,
squeezed in a little green bug. Think it can happen? #itdid
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