Hello family,
Well Mom, You asked for me to write you and tell you about the changes that have come over me since I have been gone and so I thought that I would just like to do just that. Please try to follow me cause I tend to write very random letters. Read this out loud to the whole family and Heather, if possible.
Preach My Gospel is an absolutely inspired book! That book has everything in it needed for anything. There are so many answers in that one book, and it is written in a way that you feel that it is talking to you. Read it, study it, pray about it! Study it with a purpose! I have more than once now, gone into it and gotten an answer to a question that I have had. I was scared to talk to people – personal study the next morning…page 158, scripture study section…WHAM there is the Lord talking to Elder JOHNSON! PMG is amazing. I am committing all of you to study it! And tell all the premie missionaries to study it! Tell them to memorize our purpose on page 1. Tell them to study it knowing that they will be smacked with a whole different meaning when they get to the MTC. And then another new meaning in the field. But that doesn’t matter. The point is to study it. PMG is the 5th book of scripture!! Learn is, Live it, Love it!!
Study Journals are also something that is a must. A Study Journal is a form of personal revelation. When something comes to your mind you can write it down – it’s that easy. It is a good thing to have when you are hearing important people talk but remember to record what you think and what you feel. It’s really nice to look back and remember what you thought and felt from time to time. I have already done that with Pres. Uchtdorf many times and he came on Monday. Try it, you will like it, trust me!
Prayer is the only way to go when it comes to needing help. That is because you are going straight to the person that can help you the most! We do not go through this life using our strength – if we think that we are we need to go read PMG, Chap.6 about Humility! Anything can be fixed with prayer. When I was in the MTC I really wanted to know if I was truly forgiven of all my sins, and if I was truly worthy to serve. I prayed hard and sincerely in the temple and I got my answer and it was absolutely amazing. My Comp and I have prayed for numbers and dates and street and the Lord never lets us down. Trust in Him always and he will be there for you at all times and in all places. I know he will.
Always look for ways to bear your testimony and love it every chance you get. I have a much better testimony now and it has gotten that way by sharing it. Each time I share it I feel better about it. I absolutely love sharing about Joseph Smith, because that is the hinge that makes the rest of the gospel turn. If Joseph Smith was not a prophet then none of this gospel is true, and then for what reason am I out here. I am giving up 2 years of my life – 2 years that I could be at home having a career and being free. But that’s not what I want! I want to be here and I want to share this joy that I have about the gospel with them. This is not a problem for me and I tell people that every day. I have gotten laughed at so many times but I really do not care at all. I am doing what the Lord wants me to do, and that’s all there is to it.
My reputation is not the one that is on the line here. No one over here knows who I am. I am not selling my image, I am representing the Lord. This is his reputation that I have to put forth. This really helped me when it comes to talking to people, because I stopped thinking about what they think about me. It’s not me that they are rejecting, it’s the Lord that they are rejecting and that is on their heads, not mine. I and everyone will be blessed for trying! I must talk to absolutely everyone, so that I can find that one person that will want to listen to me – to the Lord! I have learned that it doesn’t matter what I say because if that person is prepared and ready to receive the gospel, they will listen. If I have to say the absolute perfect thing then they are not ready to hear the gospel. Again, this is not on my head. I am doing my part and I know that I will be blessed for that!!
Study the scriptures all the time…never stop!! Study them along with PMG and you will learn so much more! You should see my scriptures and my PMG. They are marked to high heaven – marked up, highlighter, written in, everything. Do this so that you can more easily find the things that you need to at later dates. I know that you are probably crying by now Mom, but that’s a good thing! I have learned so much and I am excited to share. I want you to start doing these things…especially PMG!!! Chapter 3 is all the lessons. Pres. Uchtdorf said that if you want to convert someone you must teach them that whole chapter. Why not start by converting yourself?! D&C 18:14-16…that the soul should be your soul! Convert yourself and then you can convert others. Mom, I was so happy to hear that you gave Collin a Book of Mormon. To you I assign Chapter 5 of PMG. Shauna, I know that work is crazy – I assign you Page 120, ok? Dad you are undertaking a huge project…Page 121 for you. Angela, all is well and do not fear…Page 116. Craig & Robin, families are amazing…Page 3! Heather…I am doing great, do not fear that, for you I want you to study Page 116-118. Know with a surety that everything is going to be ok. In fact everything is going to be amazing! I forgot – Grandma & Grandpa, Page 66…one of the most important things that we teach!! I must thank everyone for all the amazing help that you all have given me! I do have the most amazing family and support system in the world! Now that Dad is crying, I must continue. Pres. Uchtdorf said that a mission needs to change us. We need to come home men of God, not a hanger in a dark suit! I am becoming that man!!! I love my mission and I have only been out 2 weeks. I have been laughed at, rejected, dropped, but who cares!! I am doing what I need to be doing! I want you to read this out loud to the whole family and Heather, if possible!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Elder Johnson
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