Hey Mom,
Well, it sounds like work is crazy like always. Hopefully with Caitlin leaving soon and the sale ending, life will get normalish again. How are the church callings? You are still the family history guru right? We have a specialist coming from the Kyiv Stake next week to teach our members how to use Family Search. Elder Monson and I have been helping members a little with it too, just because it is in English. The Temple is so close though and the members are all excited. President Steinagel said in his letter to us last week that they are laying the sod and the fountains are being built and whatnot. It is mostly just the beautification that they have to do before it is done. And in a week and a half, I will be going into Kyiv. We are finishing our transfer early and next Saturday, every missionary will be in Kyiv to listen to Elder Scott.
So, I got a letter from Elder Sudbury last week and he said that last Monday he was taking off for Mexico so he is officially out of Utah. He was very excited about that.
Say hi to Grandma and Grandpa from me. (They're visiting right now.) I haven't gotten any letters from them, but I have slacked and haven't written any either. It is so hard with all that I need to write and such a short amount of time to do it. I did get a letter from Grandpa Chidester this week and he said all is going well.
Wow, it is so awesome to hear that Ian and Miles are both preparing to head off to Brazil. That will be such a great experience for them. It is too bad though that they are stuck in South America with everyone else ;P
Hmm, so this week was a pretty tough one for us. We had to drop another baptismal date, and we have a lot of people who aren't progressing right now. We have some potential families and a couple of investigators who we hope to set baptismal dates with this week. Elder Smith and Elder Fanning are doing awesome right now too. It has been awesome to work with them. Yesterday Elder Monson and I got to sit in on branch council and that was a crazy experience. It was really sad to hear about all of the problems right now with the branch and a lot of the members. We have so much work to do and I am grateful for that, but it was just really humbling to hear of what is happening to people who used to be so strong.
Elder Andersen's talk was absolutely amazing. (Each week we're sharing a general conference talk.) I remember listening to it just a couple of days ago and his testimony is so strong. That quote you shared with me is absolutely amazing and it is true. As Mormon taught, we have hope because of Christ, but if we don't have faith in Christ, then we aren't willing to act, and therefore our hope is lost. As Nephi taught, (along with every other prophet), it is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and his infinite atonement, that we can receive eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:19-21, a couple of my favorite verses). There is no other path, and therefore we need to enter into those covenants, and then endure to the end. The enduring to the end is the hard part, but if we remember to trust in Jesus Christ, and rely on His Atonement, we will never need to fear. (D&C 6:33-37 and Helaman 5:12) All we need to do is live the Gospel and all will be fine. The gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple. First, we need faith, which leads us to action, specifically repentance, which leads to baptism and confirmation. After that, we must endure to the end. And so the cycle begins again, and as it does, our faith grows, we have more desire to repent and to follow the prophets and we are made clean again by sacrament, allowing us to have the Holy Ghost with us always. I know that it is as simple as that. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. This Church is the Church of Jesus Christ and he leads it. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and it teaches us all that we need to do and helps us build our faith in Christ. That is the message that I share with the people of Ukraine, and as they accept it, I see their faith grow and they are able to overcome all trials. I know that this gospel is true. As I live it each and everyday, I feel closer to the Savior than ever and I know that He is here to help each and every one of us to return to live with our Heavenly Father, as families. That gives me the hope to get through all the tough moments of everyday and to look forward to the day that I stand before Christ.
Love,
Elder Jones
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