July 25, 2011

Hey Mom,

So I can't believe that Jacob is already on his way to Germany.  That is so cool for him.  I am so excited and I hope to hear from him soon.  (Ryan's friend, Jacob, leaves today from the MTC for the Berlin mission.)  I sent him a letter about a month or so ago and so I hope he got it before going to Germany.  If not, then they will send it on.  Oh and what is up with Caitlin thinking she can take over everything that belongs to me.  I am not dead, just on the other side of the world.  I still want to wear those shorts when I get home.  Tell her that they are really sweaty and gross or something and maybe she won't want to wear them.  She does look really tan and with super bleached hair in that picture!

I sent this picture to Ryan of Caitlin wearing his lacrosse shorts (one of many things she's confiscated of his.

I hope that you all have fun with the trek and that Chels enjoys it.  It will be a great experience for all of you I am sure.  It would have been fun to be a pa, but I am sure that being a missionary is a lot more important so I won't complain.  Hopefully Caitlin won't stress too much with her new computer and with a head start on this week's studies. 

I do remember being at Liberty Jail and I think about that place fairly often.  My patriarchal blessing even tells me to remember it and the suffering that Joseph and his brethren went through and tells me to learn from them.  I think that is part of why I love those verses and that story so much.  Heavenly Father knows that they are important for me to remember too, because sometimes I get impatient with myself or others.  It is really cool how we can learn from the scriptures or from our ancestors and directly apply the things we learn to ourselves.  That is one part of studying the scriptures that the majority of members don't get.  In fact, most members of the church in general just don't get the importance of the scriptures at all, which is one thing that President Klebingat is teaching the members here.  I will bring home what he teaches :)

We had a pretty interesting week and lots of things didn't work out, but we also had some miracles with members and with non-members. We met a couple of people that want help and so we are going to do what we can to help them.  We also have a less active member who has come to church for two weeks straight and started reading the Book of Mormon again which is a huge step for him.  He is a great man and I really feel that we are going to be able to help him become fully active again.  He really doesn't know the doctrine well so we are basically treating him like an investigator and soon I feel that we will be able to help him use the Aaronic priesthood and prepare to do baptisms for his deceased family members in the temple.  Yesterday after church we also had two members who helped us go by less actives and we are working really hard with the ward council to bring back those lost sheep whom the ward has sadly forgotten about.  We have some big goals and plans and are really excited to bring back many of the Lord's children.  The worth of each and every one of these souls is priceless to our Heavenly Father.  That is why home and visiting teaching is so absolutely necessary!

Elder Ballard's message is absolutely true.  This is God's work!  We are all his hands, here to fulfill the work that we have.  The second coming is so very near and there is truly a great sense of urgency in this work.  This work is an eternal work, but the earth's portion is nearly complete and we need to do all we can while we are still here to bring as many of God's children back to Him.  We do need to continue to believe, work, serve and love and as we do so, we will have success.  We need to do all we can everyday to fortify and strengthen our faith which will help us to get through the difficult times and to truly perform miracles for the Lord.  Jesus Christ is at the head and as we follow Him by doing what he did and become as he is, we will succeed in this work and at the last day, God will accept us with open arms and a deep gratitude for our works.

I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.  He lives and this is His work.  Joseph Smith is the great Prophet of the Restoration and Thomas S. Monson and his counselors and the twelve apostles are living prophets today.  This work will not be stopped so let's not hinder it ourselves.  Let's be the best that we can be for the Lord as we continue to perform His great work.

Love,

Elder Jones