The Greenie Haze

I LOVE MY NEW COMPANION!!

His name is Elder Leavitt and is from a small town in southwest Missouri #BigMO

He graduated High School when he was 16 and has been doing college credit classes up until now. He worked all that time as well for his dads concrete business. Elder Leavitt is the 13th of 15 CHILDREN! That being said, he has nieces that are older than him. Fun Fact: His Brothers were both his Bishop AND Stake President back home. Imagine that! SHYOOO!

He just barely turned 18 and so is still learning lots of new things. (Ex: 1st time buying milk on his own, 1st time needing to shave, 1st time telling someone about a haircut he wants)

He loves to work and that's all that matters as of right now. The rest and the comfort-ability of mission life will follow. He has a strong testimony. We had a really good lesson together our very first day. We taught a 16 year old boy named Chance. It was the most powerful Restoration lesson I've ever been a part of. I am very excited for him to meet all the ward members. He will love it here. He is already loving that we get fed so much:)

I miss Elder O but it's good that he can go learn and grow with someone else.

I've been thinking about this for a little bit, Hopefully it makes sense

There comes a time in all of our lives when we feel or see something that makes us want to "Put off the natural man" (Mosiah 3:19) and be a better person. What sets these tugs and pulls apart from other influences in the world is that they aren't daydreams, or schemes to get richer, be smarter or get more attractive. They are truly and solely focused on BECOMING BETTER.

President David O McKay said,

Man is a spiritual being, a soul, and at some period of his life everyone is possessed with an irresistible desire to know his relationship to the Infinite. . . . There is something within him which urges him to rise above himself, to control his environment, to master the body and all things physical and live in a higher and more beautiful world

For those who have felt this desire to "master all things physical" (Or mental for that matter) have come to the realization that they utterly cannot do it on their own.

They realize that to become "perfected in Christ" they need to "love God with all your might, mind, and strength" (Moroni 10:32) In other words, apply the atonement, and be diligent in all that you are called to do. NOT "Putting your trust in the flesh"

(2 Nephi 4:34 see also 2 Chronicles 32:8 and Proverbs 3:5)

But being "perfected" is a huge step and change for someone like me who still struggles with things as small as staying awake during studies or losing my temper in basketball.

How does one know where to start on this seemingly impossible journey?

1st know this, Jesus Christ said to His Prophet Joseph Smith "As many as repent [...] in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved." (D&C 18:22)

There is no last straw to keep us permanently away from the goals and desires of our hearts. We will be forgiven "Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:22)

*As long as we do our part*

Repentance is a continual process to help us realign our will with Gods.

If our Goal is Heaven and eternal life we need to remember that God is the one that reigns in Heaven and so He makes the rules. He lets us know the rules through the scriptures and through modern day prophets.

Change is scary, change is hard, but in the end you will always feel better. That I can promise.

I am sorry if none of that makes sense, I have 6 Elders around me talking about passing gas when taking a bath. I have tried hard to stay focused but it is impossible.

I promise to make my emails more entertaining and focused next time. But for now.

PICTURES:

1. Last Transfers Frat house (we tried to make the pic as awkward as possible)

2. Elder Knudsons last DC (peep the hands)

3. Reorganized the house / my stuff and looked at all the ties I have acquired

4. MY SONS (Elder Boyack is there in Spirit)

5. Just a good ol shot with me and Elder Leavitt (Thanks sister Brady)