Week 81: Part of his family letter

I've been thinking about a lot this week. Why do we need a shepherd? Why isn't it natural that we do what is right? Why isnt it our nature to stay on the right path, avoiding getting lost? Isn't it true that everything that is good comes from God? Were we not created by His hands? So then why is it that our natural being is an enemy to God? These questions filled my mind this week as I studied about the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ. It must have been painful for God to let us come to this earth knowing that some wouldn't make it back to His side. And it's apparent that he was aware of it, because He prepared an Atonement for us. He gave us ALL of the tools necessary to get back to his side, hoping that we would only take advantage of them. In fact, He wanted us to get back to His side so badly that He sent his Only-Begotten to be had as a sacrifice to fulfill with the justice so that even being imperfect beings, we could stand at His side again! What an expression of love! He has given us everything we need; scriptures, a church with perfect organization, living prophets, Authority, temples, and so much more. But even after having done so much for us, even paying the uttermost farthing, He can not force us to utilize these tools and apply the Atonement in our lives. That is a choice we have to make. To often we wait for an angelic appearance or a thunderous voice crying out, "REPENT YE, REPENT YE!" to act when in reality, that usually isn't how it works! We were sent here to act as our Own Agents, always abounding in good works by our OWN FREE WILL. Not having to be asked to do them! Waiting for divine intervention is like waiting for the bus to come anywhere but the bus stop! We have to act! We repent now and get worthy to be inside the temple. We magnify our callings to make the bishop's load lighter. We actively search opportunities to serve those around us, especially our enemies. When they ask us to take one step forward we take two on the road to Discipleship. We apply the Atonement, accepting Christ as our Savior and commit to living with his name proudly etched in our hearts. We listen to and follow the Shepard that we DESPERATELY need. God needs us to act by our own free will, because he wont do it for us. He is the Almighty and has all power, but He has given the power to us. The keys to salvation are in our hands, and the power is in us to reach it. He made it possible, but we make it happen. God is just, loving, and aware. Christ lives and has His hand extended. This church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Week #77: HELLO HELLO

Where to start?? This week we had some of the other Elders in our area working with us to help our area progress! Elder Ethan Foote, and Elder I trained with Elder Marin, and Elder Buck, my fellow Ogdenite! I love those guys! Grandma Hunter had written me an email about how Elder buck lives in their ward and that he took them the sacrament, so I asked him about it and he said, "Dude! That's your grandpa?! He always used to tell us, 'Fill your pockets with goodies before you leave!' and always had a ton of tootsie rolls!" hahah his impression of grandpa was perfect. We ended up hugging because of how excited I was that he knew grandpa and grandma. It was awesome to find that cool connection! Small world!!

 While those guys were here in Pehua, we talked with SO MANY PEOPLE. But almost none of them let us teach there in the moment or let us come back. It was tough and I was very frustrated. I kept thinking, "Why aren't these people open to us? What are we doing wrong?" And then the next day, we were eating lunch with our recent convert Paula and she said, "I have a friend coming to talk with you guys about the church. She's super interested." And so we taught her and one of her friends and then we found another man who let us into his home to teach him. I now understand why the Lord kept telling me to study the bible all through out my mission, because that guy tested me on just about every doctrine he could think of and didnt let me use the Book of Mormon. I was humbled as the Lord helped me to find all of the scriptures I needed and the man left without doubts on what we had spoken about. It true what D&C says about treasuring up the words of life. 

Also, speaking of Paula..... SHE AND HER DAUGHTER ARE COMING TO UTAH TO VISIT US IN OCTOBER!!!!! She is incredible! She wants to go to the temple with us to do baptisms for the dead in the SLC temple!! How cool is that?! 

Also, I want to know who wrote "Baby Ducks" in a concert venue in SLC. That's awesome. If anyone has info on who did it, write me!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! 

The church is true!!

-Elder Holmes

 

Baby Ducks

A member we visited from Tandil got her mission call and emailed me with this picture saying this, "Gracias por haber estado en Tandil cuando preparaba los papeles, realmente me ayudó mucho aunque usted no lo crea!!!" Which means, "Thank you for having been in Tandil when I prepared my mission papers. Really, you helped me a lot even though you don't believe it!"