August 30, 2010

Hey Mom,

So, the Temple is dedicated now!  Everyone here is so excited about it and the members are now ready, and able to get in and do that extremely necessary work.  It was truly a great experience.  I was with my new companion (I will tell you more later) in the Chapel next to the temple where we saw the dedication broadcast.  It was so great to be there and to witness all the members who had waited so patiently finally see this temple dedicated.  There were three sessions and we were able to see two of them.  The talks given were so incredible and the Spirit was so strong.  The dedication prayer itself was full of great promises and gratitude for this event and the members.  President Monson was so loving and showed it to all those people that were there.  He is such an incredible man and he made it one of the most fun, but also Spiritual events ever.  He knew when he could throw in a joke, but he also knew exactly how to listen and follow the Spirit and that really impressed me.  I have no doubts that he is a prophet of God. 

The Cultural Celebration was incredible too, the night before.  The members did a wonderful job of putting it together and they showed how the land of Ukraine has been prepared by the Lord for this event which was really cool. They then had members from each of the different countries in the temple district perform cultural skits full of dance and song.  It was truly one of the most incredible things I have ever seen.  The culture here is so strong and it made my love for these people even stronger to see all their efforts.  Oh and just so you know, I saw the Shipps (a family from Salt Lake we know who also had a son serve in Ukraine) and got a photo with them so go ahead and talk to them when they get back.

Anyway, so as I said, I did get transferred.  They gave me a call and told me to bring all of my stuff into Kyiv and then on Saturday Morning, we had a big meeting of all the missionaries and President Steinagel named off everyone's locations.  I am now serving in a city called Ivano-Frankivsk with Elder Belashov who is from Eastern Ukraine.  I will also be with Elder Fesenko (also from Ukraine) for a week before he finishes his mission and goes home.  It is going to be a crazy experience serving with a native, but I am really looking forward to it so it will be fun.  They are so funny together and I know this will be a lot of fun with them.  We actually just got into Ivano-Frankivsk this morning.  It is a beautiful city in the Carpathian mountains.  The Shipps will tell you about it I am sure.  I am really excited to serve here and can't wait to be able to meet some of the members here.  It is going to be great to be able to work with them and help them to get to the temple so they can do their own work, and then do work for all those who are waiting.  (Here is where he is now located.)

Well I need to wrap up, but I just want you to know that I have no doubts that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.  I have felt the Holy Ghost testify to me that this is true.  I know that He guides His church through a living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  President Monson holds all the keys of the kingdom of God on this earth and through him, God is blessing us and giving us an opportunity to learn and grow.  I know that temples are Houses of the Lord and that in them we fulfill all that need to be done to return to God.  Only through temples is this possible.  I know that there we learn about the Plan of Salvation and we enter those covenants that can bring us a fullness of joy.  I am so thankful that I can be here at this time, and that the Lord has sent me to Ukraine to be a part of this wonderful part of history and of His work.  Christ lives and loves us and He is the way to be happy in this life and forever.  I know this is true and I am grateful for this knowledge.

With Love,

Elder Jones

August 23, 2010

Mom,

Wow you sent a massive letter.  I was surprised as it kept going and going and going.  Don't worry though, it was great to hear about all of your adventures and I especially loved the quotes and thoughts about temples.  By the way, say hi to dad for me, I am too lazy to write him ;P

So I am glad that you had such a great week this past week and that you were able to spend time with the girls and then the girl and then just with dad.  It is crazy that we are all growing up!  I can remember when we were all so young and careless and running around in the yard.  It feels like it was only a year ago, maybe because it was, but still, time is really flying and it is weird to look back on it.  It is so important to do those things that are important because before we know it, we don't have the time or opportunities any more to learn and grow and spend time as a family.  Yesterday in priesthood we talked about Elder Hales' talk from this past conference.  He spoke about the duty of parents and leaders and gave some of his ideas on what that duty means.  He continually shared stories of times that he spent with his family and it made me grateful of all the wonderful experiences that we have had together as a family, learning and growing and building our relationships.  It is so important to know that we are a part of a family that loves us and that is a big part of the message that we as missionaries share.  We know that we are all sons and daughters of God and for many people this is a huge comfort.  There is a little stories in the August Liahona, or Ensign for you I guess about a woman who joined the church when she was 33.  She told a story about how she returned to here school for a reunion where they celebrated athletes from many years earlier.  She said that while she was there they misspelled here name on everything and then called her name out incorrectly.  She said it wasn't anything big to here, but the next day in church, someone testified about how Jesus knows all of our names and that was so comforting to her.  It is true that he does know all of our names.  He loves all of us personally and that is how he was able to perform such a miraculous and perfect atonement for each and everyone of us.  He knows us perfectly.  Alma testified so well when he said in Alma 7:11-13 when he said;
 "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.

  13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

Christ knows us all and he felt all of our sufferings and pains and is ready to help us if we turn to him. 

Well, so for the temple this week, we will be going into Kyiv on Friday night by train and then we will have transfer meeting on Saturday and I will find out if I have a new companion and where I will be.  And then we will have the cultural celebration before we get to go to the temple open house the next day.  It is very exciting and I am looking forward to the Spiritual experience it will be.  I know that I will learn a lot here and that the dedication of this temple will loosen this land from the powers of Satan and will help the work of the Lord go forward.  I know that after the temple opens, the members will be so blessed as they strive to make covenants there.  Through those covenants, they will be endowed with power that will protect them from the temptations of this world and it is going to be so great to see their spiritual strength grow.  As for us missionaries, I don't know any details, but I know we will be able to do sessions every once and a while.  Nothing is set yet though so I will tell you later.  It will be a great blessing for all of us here though, regardless of how often we get to visit the temple.

Well I love you and I am so thankful for the way you have raised me.  I know that you taught me well and that my desire to serve a mission started to grow from the seeds that you helped plant in me.  I am grateful for your wonderful example.  I know that this church is the true church of God.  I am so excited for the opportunity to see the living prophet of the Lord, President Thomas Monson this week in Kyiv.  I know that he has been called of God, and given the keys of the kingdom, the same keys that Christ gave to His apostles.  This is the restored church of Jesus Christ, the one and only true Church of Christ.  I love our Savior Jesus Christ.  I know He is our Redeemer and through Him, we have life. 

With Love,

Elder Jones

August 16, 2010

Hey Mom,

So first things first, don't worry about my shoes, they will be fine.  The Rockports are wearing down a little, but only because I have worn them almost everyday here in Ukraine.  They just get beat up with all the walking we do, but they will be fine.  I will probably have to buy new insoles, but that is pretty normal.

So it sounds like you have a great week in front of you.  Enjoy it, especially at the Manti Temple.  I can't wait until I get to go do a session there. It is a beautiful building.  (We are taking Caitlin to school at SUU and while we're down south Rob and I are doing a session at Manti.)

Speaking of beautiful buildings, the Kyiv temple is absolutely incredible.  Elder Parker and I were there three days this past week and we were lucky enough to go through it twice.  Everything about the temple is absolutely perfect and everyone notices it as they drive by it.  There is not a more beautiful place in all of Ukraine.  The Spirit is so strong there as well.  Every member who is working there has been great as they welcome all who come and prepare them.  The open house tour was perfectly set up.  As you go from room to room, the wonderful volunteers teach basic beliefs for those who don't know the church while testifying of the significance of the temple.  Everything ties together perfectly and makes perfect sense and I have not heard a single negative response from it.  As I went through it the second time, I started to think about change.  20 years ago, this part of the world was completely cut off from the joy of the gospel.  In such a short time, the Lord has prepared His children and the temple is now here for those who have waited.  Since the temple open house began, there has already been a huge change in the work and the way that people act.  Nonmembers who have never heard anything positive now recognize what we truly believe and many of them have a desire to find out more.  Missionary work in Kyiv right now is growing so fast.  There have been hundreds of referrals coming in from members whose family and friends visited the temple and everyone feels the Spirit of this work.  There are so many members too that are working to prepare to go through and do work for their ancestors as well.  It has been absolutely incredible.  This temple is truly a miracle and in two short weeks, Satan is going to lose so much power that he has over these people. The temple is going to bring a new life to the church in Europe.

So Elder Parker and I returned to Rivne Saturday and yesterday at church we had an opportunity to talk to the members who all went to the temple on Saturday.  It was so cool to hear their testimonies and to realize that the work we have done to help prepare them has payed off.  There are so many members that now have a desire to go forward and share with their family the blessings that are about to come into this land.  There was even a member's nonmember brother there yesterday.  He has come to church recently, but never had a desire to meet with the missionaries.  On Saturday he went to the temple and yesterday before church, as we sat and talked to him, he started to explain his experience at the temple.  He talked about what he felt and Elder Parker and I both knew that it was the Spirit he was explaining.  He felt exactly what I felt when I was in the temple.  Immediately, Elder Parker asked helped him to realize that it was the Holy Ghost he felt and I think it was a testimony builder for him.  I know it certainly was for me.  It is just so incredible to me that everyone who visits is feeling the Spirit so strongly.

Well, there is so much more I could say about the temple, if only there was time.  I know that this temple in Kyiv is a true house of the Lord.  It is such a huge blessing for the members here and I know that they will feel the Spirit of Elijah as they continue to prepare and perform this work.  All of us can receive these blessings as we continue to prepare ourselves and find the time to go to the temple. This church is true.  It is the Church of Jesus Christ, "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."  Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet today.  I know that it is through the priesthood of God, that he will dedicate the Kyiv Ukraine Temple allowing the Kingdom of God to continue to grow.

With Love,

Elder Jones

August 10, 2010

Hey Mom,

Thanks for the story.  (Ryan asked me to tell him about the story when Chelsea nearly drowned in the pond at Church and what my thoughts were at the time.)  You are right, I only wanted to make you cry.  Thanks for fighting through the tears and letting me know what all happened.  I am glad that you were paying attention to the Spirit and that the Lord really was protecting her.  Sometimes he challenges us in what seems like cruel ways, but as so many prophets have testified, the Lord never will give us more that we can handle.

So to update you with what is going on here, I am actually with Elder Parker again for the next two weeks.  This week we are in a city called Bila Tserkva, about an hour or so out of Kyiv.  We are helping with the Temple and will have an opportunity to go to Kyiv a couple of times this week.  Yesterday, we went to the metro station up the street from the temple.  There we directed people to the temple and told others who were interested that they could go visit.  It was a really neat experience and I met some people from Russia and from Finland who were coming to visit the temple.  The couple from Finland weren't even members, but they were so impressed by the Helsinki temple that they decided to visit the Kyiv temple.  There are so many people who are visiting, regardless of their beliefs, and each and every one of them has felt the Spirit of the Lord and they are so grateful to be involved here.  There are members who are helping at the open house and get to stand in the midst of the temple all day conversing with visitors.  Others are visiting from all around the world to feel the Spirit of the Lord's house.  There are even nonmembers that have felt the Spirit so strongly that they have asked to meet with missionaries.  Others are even asking to be baptized.  The blessings of the temple are so evident and they are felt by everyone that is involved.  Tomorrow I will have a chance to go through the open house myself and I am really looking forward to it.  It is such a beautiful place, the most beautiful in all of Ukraine, and so many people have been blessed by it in such a short time.  The Lord is literally opening the windows of heaven here in Ukraine and all of us are receiving the promised blessings.

So all is going well here and I am so very excited to continue to help people prepare to visit the temple and to see it.  We will be telling everyone we see as we continue to go on this week and then in a week, we will do all we can in Rivne to get as many people to the temple as possible.  It is truly the most holy place in all of Ukraine and so many people have commented about it.  The open house is already a lot bigger than was expected and the Area Authorities are really excited to see the work expand.  I have done all I can to testify to people of the holiness of the temple and the blessings that they can receive, along with their families from going through.  It is truly a miracle here and I am super excited to continue to tell others.  I know that the Temple ordinances which we have entered into will allow us to live happily ever after, as a family.  I know this is true.

All my Love,

Elder Jones

p.s.  Have fun with the pictures.  The first two are of Rivne.

The next are from when we played baseball.

The next two are the two Elders that we are staying with in Bila Tserkva.

Finally, the last two are of the Temple!  (Posted above in the email.)  Enjoy!

August 2, 2010-Dad's email

Hey Dad, 

So thanks for the sports updates.  Go Giants.  It is great to hear that they are doing so well.  I miss watching games just a little.  Especially after this past weekend.  You'll never guess what we got to do this past weekend.  This guy gave us a call, telling us that he had an amateur baseball club here in Rivne.  He invited us to come play, so on Saturday, we went out and played real...ish baseball.  It was so much fun to get the old arm warmed up again.  I ended up pitching too which was crazy.  I am an awful pitcher, but it was still really fun to play.  It was certainly interesting playing against Ukrainians.  They are all really good at soccer, and I have played with some who play basketball really well, but Ukrainians can't play baseball very well.  It is certainly America's pastime.  Anyway, so that was something that I had to tell you.  I probably won't ever play again, but that one time was great.  My arm is still tired though so it is probably good that we don't have time to play more often.

Well, apart from sports, we did some work too. Yesterday was fast Sunday as you know, and it was really cool.  I love the Spirit that is always present at Sacrament meeting.  It is especially strong when the members here bear their strong, personal testimonies, which they received by reading the Book of Mormon and following the gospel.  I certainly have a new appreciation for Sundays.  Also, next week, two of us from Rivne will be going into Kyiv for the temple open house.  We still don't know who, so I may or may not be there, but I am super excited.  Four weeks from yesterday is when President Monson will be here to dedicate it.

Well, that is what is new here.  Thanks for your letters and love and support.  I am truly thankful for all of it.

Love,

Elder Jones

p.s. I miss you too

August 2, 2010

Hey Mom,

So maybe I should start writing you first because I never seem to leave myself with much time. To answer some of your questions (I am unsure about which quesitons you meant from last week, but we will see. Um, anyway, Elder Powell (Ryan's new companion.)  He is from Mesa, Arizona and is the youngest of three. His sister is getting married on the 5th and his brother is probably going to school. His brother served in Samara, Russia and got back about a year ago. He is really funny and is super sarcastic, which is funny when he is around Ukrainians (many of them don't understand sarcasm). Hmm, as far as letters (I asked who he had received letters from), I get them from the family, from the mission, from Elder Sudbury, and then sometimes one more. I need to write Jacob though. I have been awful at writing to him. Also, I don't have any other family members addresses, other than grandparents'. The pouch is annoying too, because I can only get that mail once every 6 weeks. I haven't gotten much though. Next, so the open house (for the Kyiv temple) does start this week, on Saturday. We find out on Thursday which two of us will go there first. The language is still super hard. I am finally comfortable enough to talk with people and understand them just fine. It is weird though, because not everyone here speaks the language I learned. There is a lot of Russian, or a mix of Russian and Ukrainian too which always makes conversations fun. I love the language though, even though it is super hard. The pictures...the one with me in front of the church is with a member, Roman. He is now living in Kyiv, but he is one of my favorite people here. The one in the field is a branch activity and the streets are just random pictures around Rivne.

Anyway, wow, that was a lot of questions. So here is a question I have for you. I was thinking about it this week and thought I would ask you. So, all those years ago, when Chelsea fell in the pond, what were your thoughts as that whole thing played out. Do you remember what helped you get through the hard moments and how Heavenly Father helped you? I would like to know what you thought and felt.

So I am glad to hear that your family history class went so well. I really enjoyed the quote from President Eyring that you sent last week.  ( President Henry B. Eyring said, "Many of your deceased ancestors will have received a testimony that the message of the missionaries is true. When you received that testimony you could ask the missionaries for baptism. But those who are in the spirit world cannot. The ordinances you so cherish are offered only in this world. Someone in this world must go to a holy temple and accept the covenants on behalf of the person in the spirit world. That is why we are under obligation to find the names of our ancestors and ensure that they are offered by us what they cannot receive there without our help.")   It is so important for us to get those names of our ancestors ready or they won't be able to receive the blessings that are in store for them. Many of them probably already have a testimony and they are only waiting for us to get to the temple and do their work. That is what I have tried to share with the members here. It is so necessary, especially as the temple is nearing completion, to prepare ourselves to go to the temple. We must all be worthy to go to the temple and take part in the blessings that are promised us. We first must go to do those ordinances for ourselves, so that we can be saved. But, once we have done that, we can't stop. We need to go forward, living worthily to go and perform those ordinances for the billions of others who have not yet received it. As the Lord promises in Doctrine & Covenants 18, if we labor to bring just one person to His kingdom, our joy will be so great, but if we bring many to Him, oh how much greater will it be! It is our duty to make plans and set goals to get to the temple as often as possible so that we can bring our ancestors to the Lord's fold.

I have a strong testimony of the temple and I am so excited for the Kyiv temple which will soon open. I know that temples are literally houses of the Lord. There we enter covenants that can bring us protection from all the dangers of the world. I know that as we continue to go to the temple to do the work for our ancestors, we will feel the love of God greater and be more prepared to face our daily challenges. I know that the Lord visits His temples and there we can receive revelation and be endowed with power. I know that we can be together as a family forever through the temple.

With Love,
Elder Jones

July 27, 2010

Hey Mom,

This past week, it was 90's all week and miserably hot and then today, it is in the 60's and has been pouring rain for the past hour.  It is crazy, but a lot of fun to be here.  I really love this country and the people here and I am absolutely enjoying my time.

So this past week, I got a new companion, Elder Powell, who only has 5 months left on his mission.  He knows a lot and has been great to work with so far.  I have learned tons from him which is great and has helped make the work more fun.  I have also noticed that he is letting me do a lot of work by myself, because he is new to Rivne and doesn't know the people.  It has helped me realize how far I have come and what all I have learned since being here.  It is such a miracle to be here, speaking a language that I have never even heard 7 months ago.  It is such a blast.  Elder Powell and I have been working hard this week trying to find new people to teach, and though it is tough, it has been great to feel the influence of the Spirit as He guides me to talk with people.  Often times I have no clue what to say, and sometimes I use that as an excuse, but I have noticed that as I do my part and talk with the people, I figure out what to say and I am getting a lot better at it.  The Lord guides us to those who are ready, even when those who I talk to don't want anything, the next person may be that person, and often times I find them, only because I talked with the first person.

Yesterday, we had zone conference in Lviv.  It was great and we learned a lot.  We really focused on baptism and how it is only the first step we take.  Once we help someone to get baptized, our next step is to prepare them for the temple, one year down the road.  It is this way for all of us.  Once we are baptized, and we receive the Holy Ghost, we have entered into the gate.  But, the end of the path, the Celestial Kingdom, is only achievable (is that even a word?) through the temple covenants that we make and keep.  We must go to the temple, and often, in order to receive the fullness of the blessings in store for us.  We watched Elder Bednar's talk from April 2009 "Honorably Hold a Name and a Standing" together as well.  That is a wonderful talk and I recommend you read it.  He teaches us so well, the necessity of visiting the temple and the blessings we receive.  I really appreciated the scriptures in Alma 26, verses 5 and 6 that he reads.  I don't have time right now to explain it, but read his talk and you will understand.  Verse 6 tells us of the wonderful blessings that we receive from going to the temple.  I know that the temple is the house of God and there we do receive a special protection as we are endowed with power.

Well, I am out of time, but I will write next Monday.  Thanks for all you do and remember that I love you.  Have fun with all you do and strive to get to the temple as often as you can.  You will be so greatly blessed.  I am so excited for the temple here in Kyiv which is opening in one month.  I am looking forward to the day the members here can start taking part in those same blessings we have. 

Love,
Elder Jones