November 14, 2011

Dear Family,

 

Lenox, IA is treating me fairly indeed.  I've already met all of the members and they are really nice.  We average about 55 at church every week.  Last week we had over 75 though so that was fantastic.  Their were 12 non-members that came. We meet for church in a house.  They just tore down a bunch of walls so that it is more open and put a pulpit in so that is pretty sweet.  Elder Huston has been here in Lenox for 3 months.  We had a snow storm mid week and it dumped on us.  It was really wet and a lot of tree branches fell down.  But now the snow is all gone and it's pretty warm again.  It's supposed to be getting colder again by tomorrow though.  That is fantastic to hear that USU beat BYU.  It's been a long time coming.  Is BYU still pretty good without Jimmer?  I didn't know that Kallie and Casey were speaking in sacrament meeting, but that is great that they did a good job.  That is crazy that you are speaking in church next week already.  good luck!  those are great topics to be speaking on.  But then i think that you need to get out their so you can be back home before i get home. 

 

So i had a really interesting experience happen this week.  We were teaching this guy, Murl.  He is a pretty solid, but crazy, investigator.  He was with his girlfriend, Peggy.  Haha gotta love Iowa names.  but anyway, Murl got a tatoo of Peggy's name on his chest on the right pectoral muscle.  We were talking to him about tatoo's because he had a question about it so we told him that the prophet strongly recommends that we don't get them and our bodies are temples and such.  Later that day after we left we got a call from him and he said he needed us to drive him to the emergency room at the hospital.  so we went and picked him up and it turns out that he had taken a fillet knife and filleted his chest and cut his tatoo off.  At least he was a hunter so he knew how to fillet so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  But we took him to the hospital and he refused to have the doctors put that same piece of skin back onto his chest so they just had to pull the skin that was already there and attach it.  so now his nipples are uneven and it just looks funny.  but then later he got back together with Peggy so he took the skin with the tatoo on it and tanned it and turned it into leather pretty much and put it on a key chain for her.  People in Iowa are freakin crazy.  I can't help but just laugh at stuff like that though.  I love this small town kind of stuff!

 

I thank you and appreciate that you would share that story dad.  Our purpose really is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement... But we always learn things we can do better on.  I've really noticed myself already that when we don't bring up Christ at all when we are talking to people and trying to get them interested that it just doesn't work. 

 

So we have been talking with people lately about receiving answers to their prayers.  They think that they are praying wrong because they don't receive answers the first time they pray.  In my personal study i was reading in 1 Nephi chapter 7 and came across these versus:

 

16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me.  And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.

 

17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

 

18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

 

Nephi prayed for a specific answer to his prayers.  He prayed to break through the bands.  But what happened?  The bands were loosed from around his hands and feet.  He didn't get the specific answer he was looking for, but he still got an answer.  And he recognized it as an answer.  He also said he prayed according to his faith will thou give me strength to break through.  Nephi had an extremely strong faith in Jesus Christ, but that doesn't mean that he always receives answers to his prayers exactly how he wants to.  The church is true and prayer works.  Just keep looking for those answers in many ways, shapes, and forms.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

November 7, 2011

Hello Fam,

 

Tell Rachael and the crew hello for me. I am sending this from Lenox, IA.  Never heard of it?  Neither had i.  It's even smaller than Story City.  It's in the very southwest corner of the mission.  It's pretty close to the border of Missouri.  We also cover two kind of bigger cities called Corning and Creston.  My companion is Elder Huston.  He is from Boise, ID.   We have fun together.  I can tell this is going to be a good transfer.  We meet for church in a house.  It was converted into a church building which is pretty cool.  I've already met most of the branch members that come regularly.  I feel like it's easier to get to know people when you are no longer a "greenie".  They are all pretty Iowan.  I've seen a lot of overalls and cowboy boots at church haha.  The people that we are teaching are pretty close to baptism so i should be having some of those coming along pretty quick.  Probably in this month even.  Mostly older people.  Yesterday, and every sunday, we go around with the ward mission leader and teach people.  The members are really into missionary work here which is fantastic.  One of the ward missionaries names is Clark and he just got back from his mission to Honduras in August so he comes with us to teach people on sundays, or sometimes his dad.  We had dinner with Peggy and Amos Barnhouse yesterday.  Amos is close to baptism... just has to kick smoking.  We also ate with Murl Jackson and his wife.  He is a character.  I just thought the name represented the midwest really well.  The apartment we live in is actually a small one floor house.  It's smaller than my last apartment but we don't have to worry about neighbors getting mad at us for being too loud which is nice.  We also still have a car and we have it full time now because we are pretty secluded from the rest of the missionaries in our district/zone. 

 

That is good that Braden is doing well.  Has he thought more about serving a mission?  It's fantastic!  I love my mission more and more every day.  The drive from Iowa City (where transfer meetings was) to Lenox was over 4 hours.  The Branch President drove us so i already know him pretty well and i was able to catch up on some z's.  the extra hour of sleep was nice too.  but now it's dark by 5:30!  the sunsets are beautiful as usual.  There isn't a whole lot you can do after dark if you don't have teaching appointment so we might have to get creative to keep oursevles busy.  The weather has been great too!  I wore a short sleeve shirt yesterday and it was just fine.  today is also proving to be a good day weather wise.  If only it could stay like this through winter too.

 

In 3rd Nephi 27 i believe it says that as Christ was lifted up on the cross by man so shall man be lifted up by the father to be judged according to Jesus Christ.  I have thought about what it means to really be lifted up by the Father.  In one sense it just means that every single person will be resurrected and judged.   But it can also mean that as we are IN our sins we are lifted up out of our sins when we repent to be judged.  We aren't going to be saved in our sins, but from them.  In order to get out of our sins we have to be lifted up out of them and brought to a higher plane of spirituality.  So in the end, just keep doing all of the primary answers.  The basics are what we first must master.  I love you all and hope you have a great week!

 

Love, Elder Peterson

November 2, 2011

Hello Family,

Put another transfer in the books.  Story City has been great, but i'm being transferred!  I don't know where to yet, they don't tell us until we are at the meeting tomorrow.  So today for P-Day i'll be packing up my stuff.  We need to leave by 5:30 in the morning to get to Iowa City by 9 for the meeting.  I'll be sure to let you know where i'm going to when i know myself.  For Halloween in the mission the rule is that you have to be in your apartment by 6 and stay there for the rest of the night.  Unless a member accompanies you somewhere and drives you as well.  Which means no trick or treating for me.  But we did have a member pick us up and we went over to their house and had dinner.  Then i helped them change the brake pads on their car.  Never thought i would do that in a suit.  I got your package in the mail a couple of days before Halloween even and it was great.  Members gave us a lot of candy too so their was no shortage of goods.  The weather has been fantastic here.  Yesterday it got up to about 63 and even felt a little hot at times while we were walking around.  Today it is cold and rainy though.  what did Blake and Bridger and everyone else dress up as for Halloween?  In Iowa they have a night called "Beggars Night" which is the night assigned for kids to go trick or treating.  Usually it is on a day separate from Halloween so that the adults can have their parties on the 31st.  But in story city it was on the same night.  In the little outlying towns though some were on as early as Thursday through Monday.  If you went to a different town every night you could get a lot a lot of candy.  And i'm sure some kids do.  I'm glad that the ward missed my annual visits.  Although i don't think i went last year either... oh well.

That is neat that you are able to talk with a few people who have recently been to Russia and have experienced the church over there.  I still get excited when i tell people that my parents are going on a mission when they ask me about my family.  Tell Rachael and the family hello for me.  And enjoy the sunny warmth.  I'm assuming the weather is still fairly nice over there.  I am excited to get an extra hour of sleep this weekend, especially because i'll be losing some tonight.  I sent off a package today that has a tape in it that i've been making for a long while now and also a suit coat that i can't where because it's too light.  I figured it might fit wade so he can hang on to it for me until i'm back.  Also i ordered an extra name tag that i'll probably send home in case you want it for display or to put on and go do some missionary work out in Orem.  In our district we have 3 Elders leaving.  In my predictions i didn't think there would be any change so i was really surprised when i found out the results.  One of the families in our ward has a boy in high school who is a senior this year.  He is planning on going to Utah State so i've been able to talk to him about where to live, and meal plans, and all that good stuff.  that's been pretty fun.  That is also the same family that i borrowed my bike from.  I did have to go buy a helmet though.  and we only used the bike twice i think.  One short ride out to the church and then Elder Nielsens bike broke on our longer ride so we haven't been able to use them since.  It seems like just as soon as i have every bodies names down i'm being transferred.  It will be weird going and jumping into the middle of a whole new batch of peoples lives.  We are seeing pretty good success in Story City.  We picked up  our first new investigator this week.  (from tracting)  and we have had multiple of our current investigators accept baptismal invites as well.

I guess i'll base my thought this week off of a quote by Jeffrey R. Holland.  He says "In the end Christ surely won't be looking for full hands, just clean ones."  I don't think that is exactly it but it gets the same point across.  In Iowa we have been teaching and working with a lot of people who have recently lost jobs or who have been looking for work for a while now.  It is always humbling to see them come to church and still keep the faith.  I feel like I have never felt hard pressed for money at any time in my life... probably just because my parents are so good to me.  But in the end, it doesn't matter what we have in our hands, more than what our hands themselves are like.  In order to wash your hands in a sink you have to set down what you are holding and take that time to rub them together and get them clean.  When we are trying to make ourselves clean, we have to set aside whatever may be holding us back and wash ourselves clean.  And once we clean ourselves, we don't want to pick up that dirty object anymore because we enjoy the clean feeling.  I can never remember who gave this talk in general conference but the story has always stuck with me.  it's about a missionary in Hawaii who had a dream.  He was on a road and was in a hurry to get to a council meeting or something.  As he was running down the road he stopped at a bath house and cleaned himself.  when he was done with that and arrived at the meeting it was with Christ and some other prophets i think.  They told him he was late, and he replied yes, but i'm clean.  It is always better to be late and clean.  I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  It is through his atonement that people are made clean and i have seen that so much already in the lives of the people out here and in my own life as well.  I love you all! 

Elder Peterson

October 24, 2011

Dear Family,

This week has really been the epitome of long days but a short week.  We had 16 appointments set up this week and 13 of them canceled on us, weren't home, or were sick.  But we still had fun and managed to stay happy.  We took a bike trip out to Jewel, which is a city about 12 miles away.  We originally had a ride set up to go out there, but they canceled on us.  We had an appointment set up with some potential investigators after them though so we still decided to go out there.  We didn't have the car this week and we couldn't find a last minute ride so our bikes were our option.  It was a rough ride but we did make it there.  And on time too!  But the potential investigators weren't home.  The most growth and learning comes after the trials.  On our ride back, about half way the petal fell off of Elder Nielsen's bike and the tread was non-existent so we couldn't get it back on.  Then a nice fellow, Denny, pulled over in his truck and drove us the rest of the way back.  I wanted to be like Kim when we were hiking Kings Peak and just throw my arms up in the air and yell "Heavenly Father answers prayers!"  Because he really did that day.  That is my exciting adventure for the week.

It sounds like exciting times at home.  It sounds like Little Mermaid would have been quite the production to see.  It sounds really cool.  The emphasis for our mission is now starting to be studying about the Abrahamic covenant, The oath and covenant of the priesthood, the baptismal covenant, and the House of Israel.  We have a mission tour coming up pretty soon and the person from the seventy has asked us to study those topics in preparation for his arrival.  So if you have any good insights you would like to share in the upcoming weeks about those things, please do.  I got your tape and it was so fun to hear from all of you.  The Russian sounds like it is coming along.  That is crazy that you are going into the MTC in only a transfers time.  A transfer is 6 weeks and pretty much how us missionaries measure time now.  How long do you stay in the MTC once you officially enter?

I don't get too much of an opportunity to play the piano.  The organ/piano we have in the chapel can play itself, and their are also pianists in our branch that play.  I played for a district meeting once though.  Other than that i get the chance to rattle the keys every now and then on a p-day.  That is so awesome that Wade played in church. Way to go!  The weather here has been pretty chilly.  I've been wearing my sweater a lot this past week and at night usually some lighter gloves and a beanie.  Today it is actually supposed to get up into the 70's again though which should be nice. 

Church was good yesterday.  They reviewed the Sunday afternoon and morning sessions of conference in sacrament meeting.  And then we talked about temples in priesthood.  The youth were able to take a temple trip and all of them were able to go to the Nauvoo temple.  They had to leave really early in the morning to get there and do baptisms and make it back in the same day.  One of the things I've been noticing as a missionary is that using videos can really be a great way to invite the spirit when teaching lessons.  With Colin this last week we watched the Prophet of the Restoration.  It certainly strengthened my testimony of Joseph Smith.  I know the Joseph Smith is a prophet.  He translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God.  This church is true and it is great to be able to be a tool in pushing along the Lords work.  I love all of you!

~Elder Peterson

October 17, 2011

Hey hey fam

 

My week has been great.  It is definitely cooling down here.  Plus it's been windy too so it's getting quite chilly.  We came outside today and the sun is nowhere to be found.  Just a gray cloud covering the whole sky... and there is a lot of sky out here.  I got the coat and it fits good.  It should work supremely if it is fit for russian winters.  I think the good weather is coming to a close here.  I'm jealous that Rachael is taking all the good weather.  And can go swimming too when the good weather does come.  That is fun that you got to go hear Caleb speak.  I think i did go out to the State Hospital once if i remember correctly.  Anybody still floating around that we all know in that ward?

 

So what sunday is it exactly that you are speaking in church?  Also, do you want me or do you think that i should change/update the address that the mission home has or just keep it the same since Wade will still be living their?  Maybe i can work something out to have both or something.  I'll be sure to look for Elder Bailey once he gets out here.  We got another Elder Peterson into our zone recently and often Sister Talbert (an office couple lady) calls me to see which Elder Peterson mail is for when their is no first name on the envelope.  We also got another senior missionary couple into our mission as well.  So now we have like 6 couples or something in our mission.

 

Story City is doing good.  No big new updates.  We weren't able to meet with Colin this last week at all and he wasn't at church.  Billy came to church again this week and is still just wanting to keep learning more before he gets baptized.  We meet with him and his family at least once a week consistently.   His wife runs a day care center and so sometimes when we are over, she has another families kids over as well which can make teaching a little hard.  At church this week she was taking care of four other kids when she came to church.  Their names are Keishon, Trayshon, Tayshon, and Jayshon.  And yes, they are black.  So between her kids, billy's kids, and those 4 kids they had 10 children with them at church on Sunday.  It was also the primary program at church yesterday.  It was so good and the spirit was really strong in hearing the testimonies of those little kids through the songs they sing.  And those stories about Blake are funny!  I miss those little boys.

 

So our branch president is President Kjell Aamodt.  Pronounced Kell pretty much.  He is not a convert to the church.  He was raised out in Iowa City.  And he lives in Gilbert right now.  We actually do a lot of work in outlying little towns and cities.  Gilbert (where Billy and President Aamodt live), Roland, Jewell, Ellsworth, Randall, Radcliffe, Mc Callsburg, and Story City is where we spend most of our time.  And then we used to have Iowa Falls, Williams, and Alden which are bigger cities too, but they put another companionship of Elders up there this last transfer.  They still come to our branch though so that is fun.  We do a car share with them as well so on the weeks we don't have the car we spend most of our time in Story City, but the members are pretty good at giving us rides when we need them as well.

 

So there is a story of these people called Smoke Jumpers.  And what they do is they help out with forest fires.  They get helicoptered to the above lying ridge and then help from the top down pretty much.  So they went to help with this fire and the dispatcher told them to check in through their walkie talkies once they found a good path that they could go down and help fight the fire.  So they get dropped off on the top of the ridge and immediately see a couple good paths that they could potentially go down.  They call in to the dispatcher and only get static.  So they wait 10 minutes and call in again, but they only get static.  And then 15 minutes, 30 minutes and only static.  So they decide to take their packs off on the top of the ridge where they are safe from the fire and start having lunch.  7 hours later a tired fire chief comes walking up the mountain and asks them why they weren't/didn't help.  They told them that they never got an answer from the dispatcher.  The fire chief takes the walkie talkie and starts down one of the paths.  About 20 feet down the path the dispatcher comes in nice and clear.  Then he tries down another path and the same thing happens.  The Smoke Jumpers were sitting in a dead zone on top of the ridge.  We need to be careful not to sit in spiritually dead zones.  They may seem safe and away from danger, but we are not receiving revelation or putting ourselves in a position to receive personal revelation for our lives.  Sometimes all we need to do is just start down a path and God will tell us if it is not the right path.  I know that this church is a church where we have to keep moving, enduring, and growing.  We are preparing ourselves now for Eternal Life so we need to watch out for these spiritual dead zones.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

October 10, 2011

Hello Family! 

 

Oh dad and his shopping kicks... gotta love 'em.  Well i didn't buy a coat so that's good.  Actually the weather here has been holding up nicely for us.  It's been in the high 70's this last week so i haven't even had to wear my suit coat lately.  Hopefully it stays good for this coming week as well.  The colors are starting to change here and it is really beautiful.  Also pretty much all of the corn and beans are being harvested so it's becoming even more flat now, if you can believe it.  Aside from thermals and a coat i am good for winter. 

 

The work is going good.  There is a plaque in story city that says something to the effect of here in 1950 or something, nothing happened.  And that is still pretty much true.  But this week we have had a lot more finding opportunities.  We now have one progressing investigator as well.  His name is Billy.  He has come to church the last 2 weeks in a row which is excellent.  We have been teaching him about once or twice a week and he always feeds us dinner when we go over so that's good as well.  He says that mainly he just wants to learn more before he gets baptized, so that really isn't a definite yes or no answer but i have good feelings about him.  Another investigator, Collin, is almost to the point of progressing.  He works at McDonalds and so he is usually working on Sundays and can't come to church.  But the last time we sat down with him we taught him about prayer and finally commited him to pray about the book of mormon.  We are meeting with him again tonight so we'll see how it goes.  In Story City, their is a bible camp.  And they have been open this last week.  So some people have been sending their kids there.  At the camp they spend a couple of hours a day specifically role playing and training how to combat mormons.  So there have been quite a few people coming up to bash with us on the streets as we walk around.  It can be annoying but all we do is bear testimony that what we know and teach is true so they can't really combat with that.  I've been getting to know the branch members a lot better.  They continue to feed us really well plus they usually stick around church for a little while after it's over so i get a chance to talk with them their as well.  This last week at church was a full house.  It was awesome to see the building full.  We actually had to set up more chairs in the back.  I don't know what this week offered, but a lot of less actives showed up.

 

Well it sounds like the birthday scene is really coming alive this week.  And i hadn't heard that Cody got his mission call.  I am stoked!  Thank you for telling me.  Serving missions is great.  I've already learned so much.  I can definitely see why it really is the best 2 years for your life.  A member of the branch shared a story of when he was at work he was listening to conference and the choir started singing i am a child of God when a co-worker came in.  It was just that easy to get her looking into the church and asking questions.  We really can learn a lot from the music of the church and it's one of my favorite things about conference.  This week i was looking for a hymn that you could teach one of the lessons as a missionary on.  I found that you can teach the plan of salvation through the hymn Lead Kindly Light.  In the 1st verse it says "the night is dark and i am far from home."  That is like birth. We forget the light and brightness of our heavenly home and come to the dark and dreary world.  Then it says "keep thou my feet; i do not ask to see the distant scence.  One step enough for me."  During our earthly life, we should be content and willing to just take one step at a time.  We don't know everything, and we can't see everything that is going to happen.  The light that is leading doesn't illuminate the whole path, just the next step in that path of life.  And the light does exactly what it says: leads.  It doesn't push, pull, or follow.  We still have the choice of whether or not to follow the light and let it lead.  We shouldn't be afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.  We still need to walk forward and take the next step.  So what exactly is the light that we should be following?  In Psalms 119:105 it says: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."  The word of God will lead us where to go.  And that is where the General Conference tie in comes in to play.  Also the scriptures.  In the song it says: "lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom."  That sounds like it could be quite familiar to Lehi's vision.  And what was it that led the people to the tree of life and through the mist of darkness?  The iron rod... aka the word of God.  The scriptures and prophets are our directions of how to get through life. 

 

But during this life at some point in time we will mess up.  We don't "pray that thou shouldst lead me on."  Or we let "Pride rule our will."  But thanks to repentance we can "remember not past years" and move on and get back on a path that the light can lead us on.  And then in verse 3 it tells us of our triumph in life if we continually follow the light.  "So long thy power hath blest me, sure it will still lead me on o'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone.  And with the morn those angel faces smile, which i have loved long since, and lost awhile!"  The light will continue to lead us on until we die, or until the morn comes and the night is over.  Then if we are righteous those angel faces will smile and welcome us with open arms to live for eternity in the presence of God and our families.  And that's how you can teach the plan of salvation through Lead Kindly Light. 

 

Love, Elder Peterson

October 3, 2011

Hello Familia

 

Conference really was great!  especially as a missionary.  It almost seemed more influential and that i was being spoken to more directly more often.  We had one investigator watch most of the sessions but the other ones didn't show up.  We also had a less active come to one of the sessions who hasn't been to church for a long time!  so that was good too.  That is crazy that they are building another temple in Provo.  The audible gasp through the entire audience speaks for the surprise that that is.  If I remember correctly, the Provo tabernacle wasn't that big of a building was it?  It seems like it will be a pretty small temple.  But nonetheless, two temples in one city is definitely proof of the moving forward of this marvelous work.  I was really greatful when Elder Holland was speaking in Priesthood Session to be able to say that my family is a family that serves missions.  There were a lot of powerful talks and a lot of things that i learned.  You had told me already about Brother Richardson speaking so i wasn't surprised.  He really did do an excellent job of speaking.  I guess i didn't realize that he was the second counselor in the sunday school presidency.  Conference does bring back good memories.  I'm not sure how old i was when i sang in the choir, but i was singing the highest part that was available so not too old.

 

I'm glad that you got my letter quickly!  Next transfers are on November 3rd so i'll be at that address at least until then.  Congratulations to Rachael and Dave! That is super exciting. You will definitely have to keep me updated on the progress of how that goes.  That is one thing i miss is being able to play with babies.  It's hard when we go over to families houses and things to not pick them up or anything because it's technically against the rules.  That is also cool that you got to see Dave for a little bit.  How did his ring end up at the bottom of the ocean?  There is one member here, Kaiden Billings, who is going to Utah State after he graduates from high school this year to enter the aerospace engineering program.  He is also captain of the football team right now so he keeps me updated on how Utah State is doing.  They sound like they are at least able to keep up with the better teams and now they just have to beat them. 

 

I am eating well and haven't been feeling sick at all either so that's good.  We get fed by the members at least 5-6-7 nights a week and sometimes lunch appointments too.  I haven't had anything too unusual to eat yet either.  We did have a jerky chilli one night which was pretty interesting.  It wasn't the greatest, but it would have been if you really like beef jerky.  We also had a fresh apple pie with the apples we helped a lady in the ward pick that night too and that was delicious.  The budget is pretty easy to stay in.  I haven't ever been hard pressed for money yet.  My shoes are working out great.  No complaints there.  I've been wearing the Dockers ones and i'm kind of saving my Echos for later in the mission or for dressier occasions when the Dockers start to wear out more.  Today my goal is to find a good winter coat to buy.  The weather is slowly getting cooler and we have extra time today.  This next week it's supposed to get back up to the low 80's though so if that happens that would be really enjoyable.

 

In thinking what kind of spiritual thought to share today, a lot of options come to mind.  We had zone conference this last week and were taught by my mission president and his wife and other leaders around us.  But, with general conference just being broadcasted, i'll quickly share one of my favorite talks.  You'll probably end up going around at an FHE or something and sharing all of yours so i thought i would still add my input.  I think the very first talk on Saturday Morning by Richard G. Scott was one of my favorites.  He told us to make the scriptures our friend.  When i think of a friend i think of someone who helps me uphold my standards, comforts me, i can trust, is always their, we have good times together, etc.  All of these attributes can also be applied to the scriptures.  However the scriptures are never blocked off from us by either geography or calendar is how he said it.  No matter where you go or what time it is, you may not always be able to talk to a friend here on earth, but you can always read from the scriptures.  One of my goals since being out here has been to try and memorize more scriptures.  Elder Scott said that when me memorize scriptures it's like forging a new friendship.  We get to know them better and add new meaning to reading.

 

In my normal studies this past week i have been reading now in Helaman.  In chapter 3:29-30 it reads

 

"Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked --

 

"And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of god in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out."

 

The scriptures truly are important.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord always knows what we need to hear and connects our studies or ideas with it seems everything around us.  I know that if we lay hold upon the word of God and do the things that it tells us to do we will be much happier in our lives.  We can either live the gospel hard and our lives easy or live the gospel easy and our lives hard.  I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ here on the earth today and that if we continually read the scriptures and make them our friend they will never let us down in times of need.

 

Love, Elder Peterson