Hm... it looks like I have more time. Elder Collier takes longer to e-mail than I do. So I'll extend my e-mail.
Well, Michelle Luper is struggling with coming to church. I was studying the Book of Mormon a few days ago and I came across this verse: Alma 21:23. While reading that I received a strong impression that we need to contact Michelle daily and exhort her, "with all diligence", to keep her commitments. I have faith that she'll start progressing if we keep encouraging her and teaching her "concerning things pertaining to righteousness."
Gee I'm hungry now.
Have a dandy afternoon!
Love,
Tyler
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
April 13th, 2010 (Email)
Hello all!
Well let's see. It was a pretty normal week I'd say. Not too much happened out of the ordinary. President Sexton did come with us to our appointment with Bro. Tice. That went well. Bro. Tice was fine with the Law of Chastity and he committed to live the Law of Tithing. His interview with President will happen next week. Bro. Tice liked President Sexton and said he'd be more comfortable being interviewed by him than by a zone leader he'd never met.
That's cool that Cory Carling is going to El Salvador for his mission. That's where President Sexton served.
Things have been going good in the office. I've finished Mapquest-ing the stake centers for President Bubert's little mission tour during his first week in July. President is having me prepare a binder for Pres. Bubert full of phone numbers and information he'll need. I have Elder D. Todd Christofferson's phone number and fax number sitting on my desk right now.
I'm plowing through the Book of Mormon pretty fast. I started up around Mosia 27 the day after zone conference and now I'm on Alma 29. I really like the story about the conversion of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. They are examples of what it means to be a covenant-keeping people: Alma 24:19- "and thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin." Today I found a triple-precept-combo in Alma 27:13-14. The first principle taught here is that the adversary is diligent (see also Jacob 7:3) and that he devises plans "to ensnare the hearts of men." (see 2Nephi 28:20-22) Then we are taught another precept-- "and thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord." If the adversary is diligently working to bring to pass his purposes, how much more need have we to be diligent in our labors! The third precept taught here is that during this life we are to experience, as Dad used to tell me, "the highest of highs and the lowest of lows."
Yes I'd love for Hannah to sing at my homecoming! Let's see, I like these hymns: "lead kindly light"(97), "my redeemer lives"(135), "let the holy spirit guide" (143). Those are good ones.
That's all I've got this week. Sorry, short e-mail I know. I'll send you another one next week though!
Love you!
Love,
Elder Tyler J. Lewis
California Long Beach Mission
Mission Secretary
Well let's see. It was a pretty normal week I'd say. Not too much happened out of the ordinary. President Sexton did come with us to our appointment with Bro. Tice. That went well. Bro. Tice was fine with the Law of Chastity and he committed to live the Law of Tithing. His interview with President will happen next week. Bro. Tice liked President Sexton and said he'd be more comfortable being interviewed by him than by a zone leader he'd never met.
That's cool that Cory Carling is going to El Salvador for his mission. That's where President Sexton served.
Things have been going good in the office. I've finished Mapquest-ing the stake centers for President Bubert's little mission tour during his first week in July. President is having me prepare a binder for Pres. Bubert full of phone numbers and information he'll need. I have Elder D. Todd Christofferson's phone number and fax number sitting on my desk right now.
I'm plowing through the Book of Mormon pretty fast. I started up around Mosia 27 the day after zone conference and now I'm on Alma 29. I really like the story about the conversion of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. They are examples of what it means to be a covenant-keeping people: Alma 24:19- "and thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin." Today I found a triple-precept-combo in Alma 27:13-14. The first principle taught here is that the adversary is diligent (see also Jacob 7:3) and that he devises plans "to ensnare the hearts of men." (see 2Nephi 28:20-22) Then we are taught another precept-- "and thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord." If the adversary is diligently working to bring to pass his purposes, how much more need have we to be diligent in our labors! The third precept taught here is that during this life we are to experience, as Dad used to tell me, "the highest of highs and the lowest of lows."
Yes I'd love for Hannah to sing at my homecoming! Let's see, I like these hymns: "lead kindly light"(97), "my redeemer lives"(135), "let the holy spirit guide" (143). Those are good ones.
That's all I've got this week. Sorry, short e-mail I know. I'll send you another one next week though!
Love you!
Love,
Elder Tyler J. Lewis
California Long Beach Mission
Mission Secretary
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
April 6th, 2010 (Email)
Hi!
WOW that's so cool that you met Elder Perry and Elder Cook!!! You've already met more Apostles than I have! And Taylor Swift too! Bishop Kovacs, the bishop of the Atherton Ward, loves to imitate Elder L. Tom Perry. "I saw the deacons, shirts neatly pressed. My heart swelled with pride!" Did he speak out of the side of his mouth like he usually does? I remember when Elder Perry came and spoke at the MTC while I was there. He is really tall.
General Conference was so good! I received many impressions. I'm thankful that I grew up in a home where the Spirit could reside and with a family that taught me the gospel. Thank you so much. I liked Elder Bednar's talk about early warning signals. It's something I can apply as a missionary--- discuss doctrines taught from the Book of Mormon with others so as to identify their needs, bear testimony spontaneously, and invite others to act. It was amazing how all of the talks harmonized-- I felt a strong impression that the leaders of this Church are prophets, seers and revelators and they know exactly what the world needs to hear and know because the Lord reveals it to them. I was especially amazed when Elder Andersen of the Twelve said that the speakers aren't assigned topics-- they don't collaborate or anything-- yet somehow it was very apparent that the central message the Lord wanted His people to hear was to fortify the home and to fortify our families.
Brother Doug Tice is firmly committed to be baptized April 24th. He's told his home teachers, the bishop, and even the stake president! He's come a long way-- from not even having a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Savior to believing that being baptized into His Church is the right thing to do. Elder Collier and I are pretty excited for him. It's been a while since either of us have seen someone we're currently teaching get baptized. It's a great blessing. President Sexton is going to come with us to our lesson with Bro. Tice tomorrow when we teach him the Law of Chastity and the Law of Tithing.
We're still working with Michelle Luper too. She still wants to be baptized but she's struggling with coming to church so we're going to have to push back her baptismal date. Hopefully she'll be baptized on the same day as Bro. Tice. We contact Michelle daily and teach her short lessons. She's reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and doing other things neccessary for her to be baptized. She's met the Relief Society President and another sister from the ward so she has fellowship. She just needs to come to church a couple times to show that commitment!
These Nike socks are wonderful. Elder Collier and I have listened to all the good music you sent. I love Cherie Call's "he gives flowers to everyone" CD. I like the song about moving mountains. The cover of her "ocean in me" CD is funny because the "ocean" she's standing next to is very obviously the Great Salt Lake. Antelope Island can be spotted on the back cover. And of course the Johnny Cash music is great. Elder Collier's from the south so he loves it.
So we're on for IHOP next GC right?
Love y'all!
Elder Tyler J. Lewis
California Long Beach Mission
Mission Secretary
WOW that's so cool that you met Elder Perry and Elder Cook!!! You've already met more Apostles than I have! And Taylor Swift too! Bishop Kovacs, the bishop of the Atherton Ward, loves to imitate Elder L. Tom Perry. "I saw the deacons, shirts neatly pressed. My heart swelled with pride!" Did he speak out of the side of his mouth like he usually does? I remember when Elder Perry came and spoke at the MTC while I was there. He is really tall.
General Conference was so good! I received many impressions. I'm thankful that I grew up in a home where the Spirit could reside and with a family that taught me the gospel. Thank you so much. I liked Elder Bednar's talk about early warning signals. It's something I can apply as a missionary--- discuss doctrines taught from the Book of Mormon with others so as to identify their needs, bear testimony spontaneously, and invite others to act. It was amazing how all of the talks harmonized-- I felt a strong impression that the leaders of this Church are prophets, seers and revelators and they know exactly what the world needs to hear and know because the Lord reveals it to them. I was especially amazed when Elder Andersen of the Twelve said that the speakers aren't assigned topics-- they don't collaborate or anything-- yet somehow it was very apparent that the central message the Lord wanted His people to hear was to fortify the home and to fortify our families.
Brother Doug Tice is firmly committed to be baptized April 24th. He's told his home teachers, the bishop, and even the stake president! He's come a long way-- from not even having a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Savior to believing that being baptized into His Church is the right thing to do. Elder Collier and I are pretty excited for him. It's been a while since either of us have seen someone we're currently teaching get baptized. It's a great blessing. President Sexton is going to come with us to our lesson with Bro. Tice tomorrow when we teach him the Law of Chastity and the Law of Tithing.
We're still working with Michelle Luper too. She still wants to be baptized but she's struggling with coming to church so we're going to have to push back her baptismal date. Hopefully she'll be baptized on the same day as Bro. Tice. We contact Michelle daily and teach her short lessons. She's reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and doing other things neccessary for her to be baptized. She's met the Relief Society President and another sister from the ward so she has fellowship. She just needs to come to church a couple times to show that commitment!
These Nike socks are wonderful. Elder Collier and I have listened to all the good music you sent. I love Cherie Call's "he gives flowers to everyone" CD. I like the song about moving mountains. The cover of her "ocean in me" CD is funny because the "ocean" she's standing next to is very obviously the Great Salt Lake. Antelope Island can be spotted on the back cover. And of course the Johnny Cash music is great. Elder Collier's from the south so he loves it.
So we're on for IHOP next GC right?
Love y'all!
Elder Tyler J. Lewis
California Long Beach Mission
Mission Secretary
March 31st, 2010 (Bonus Email)
Hey!
I couldn't wait so I already opened the package. Thank you so much! I am so excited to wear those socks. Had I waited a couple more weeks and my current socks would reach a sanctified state-- (holy.) I am going to make Elder Collier a Cherie Call fan. So far I think I've only met one missionary who may think Cherie Call's nearly as cool as I do. He's Elder Lefevor, the one who has the Saturday's Warrier soundtrack. And those ties are shnazzy! The candy shall be shared with mine friends in the office. Thank you dearly. I haven't sifted through the whole package but that's what I've found. Muchas gracias mi familia amada!
I still have some time so I'll write you some more words. Last week was the first time in quite a while we taught over 20 lessons. We taught 21 lessons, which is great, especially since we're in the office four days out of the week. The Lord has blessed us abundantly.
I was pondering about Alma 40:12 last week during one of my studies and I received an impression about what Alma teaches there. It may seem obvious and simple but I just kind of realized a little bit more why we need to know about the Spirit World. Remember that the same spirit that you have right now will pass on and carry with it your personality, the knowledge you've gained, and the consequences of the choices you've made in this life whether good or bad (Alma 34:34). In Preach My Gospel if you read about the Spirit World you may notice that the words "paradise" and "prison" aren't mentioned. These are just words used to describe the state of happiness of the righteous and the state of misery and bondage of the wicked. Well, the Spirit testified to me that the paradisiacal state of the righteous in the spirit world is something that we need to achieve in our mortal probation. In fact the only people who are "received into a state of happiness" are those that reach a state of happiness in this life. It only makes perfect sense. No one should leave this life unsure of what kind of a state they'll find themself in the spirit world. How one lives the day they die is who they'll be on the other side.
I'm so excited for General Conference! It's a missionary holiday. General Conference is by far the most quoted movie in the mission field. Our Bishop said he baptized one of the people that's probably going to be called as a Seventy this weekend. That's pretty amazing.
Happy Easter!
love,
Tyler
I couldn't wait so I already opened the package. Thank you so much! I am so excited to wear those socks. Had I waited a couple more weeks and my current socks would reach a sanctified state-- (holy.) I am going to make Elder Collier a Cherie Call fan. So far I think I've only met one missionary who may think Cherie Call's nearly as cool as I do. He's Elder Lefevor, the one who has the Saturday's Warrier soundtrack. And those ties are shnazzy! The candy shall be shared with mine friends in the office. Thank you dearly. I haven't sifted through the whole package but that's what I've found. Muchas gracias mi familia amada!
I still have some time so I'll write you some more words. Last week was the first time in quite a while we taught over 20 lessons. We taught 21 lessons, which is great, especially since we're in the office four days out of the week. The Lord has blessed us abundantly.
I was pondering about Alma 40:12 last week during one of my studies and I received an impression about what Alma teaches there. It may seem obvious and simple but I just kind of realized a little bit more why we need to know about the Spirit World. Remember that the same spirit that you have right now will pass on and carry with it your personality, the knowledge you've gained, and the consequences of the choices you've made in this life whether good or bad (Alma 34:34). In Preach My Gospel if you read about the Spirit World you may notice that the words "paradise" and "prison" aren't mentioned. These are just words used to describe the state of happiness of the righteous and the state of misery and bondage of the wicked. Well, the Spirit testified to me that the paradisiacal state of the righteous in the spirit world is something that we need to achieve in our mortal probation. In fact the only people who are "received into a state of happiness" are those that reach a state of happiness in this life. It only makes perfect sense. No one should leave this life unsure of what kind of a state they'll find themself in the spirit world. How one lives the day they die is who they'll be on the other side.
I'm so excited for General Conference! It's a missionary holiday. General Conference is by far the most quoted movie in the mission field. Our Bishop said he baptized one of the people that's probably going to be called as a Seventy this weekend. That's pretty amazing.
Happy Easter!
love,
Tyler
March 31st, 2010 (Email)
Hello again!
Hm... So it seems as though I forgot to tell you that this was Zone Conference week. Sorry about that! Don't worry, I'll always e-mail you every week. The first week of every transfer I have zone conference on Tuesday over here so on those weeks I'll be e-mailing you on Wednesday. Such is the case today.
The Fed-Ex guy JUST walked into the office and handed me your package almost immediately after I read that you'd sent it off. Good timing!
We had another miracle happen yesterday. Bro. Doug Tice is the husband of a re-activated member of our ward. The missionaries have been teaching him since Elder Rada was serving here and even before that. He's what we call an "eternal investigator." Anyway, we visit him every week and he comes to church every Sunday for all three hours. He's read the Book of Mormon twice and he's currently half-way through the D&C. Yesterday we really focused our lesson on baptism. We usually bring it up but this time we were really bold. He's finally set a goal to be baptized. April 24th is what we're working towards. If he wants to be baptized sooner we'll baptize him sooner. But for now that's the goal. It's a really big deal that he's even set a baptismal goal. We told the Bishop Kovacs and Brother Minus and they were enthralled.
Michelle is still doing good. We still have a goal set for her to be baptized April 17th. She didn't come to church on Sunday because of an issue with her kids but she's made arrangements to come to church to see General Conference next Sunday.
Nick Katanjent came to church for the third time. He's the 16-year-old surfer kid. He's made good friends with the priest quorum. Hopefully he'll commit to be baptized when we visit him tonight. He likes church and he likes it when we visit him but he's kind of intimidated by the rules aka the commandments. He's a good kid and he really needs good influences in his life.
Zone Conference was good yesterday. We were instructed on some of the things we must do in order to have 88 baptisms in May. We focused quite a bit on teaching-- how to begin teaching and how to focus our lessons around baptism. President focused a lot on the Book of Mormon and he invited us to read the Book of Mormon within the next 87 days. Joseph Smith translated it in 87 days so I should be able to read it in 87 days. President emphasized that the Book of Mormon truly is the keystone of our religion. He shared a story about a convert couple that he met when he was teaching at the MTC. They seemed to know a lot about the church, especially for recent converts. President found out that they used to be members of the Re-organized LDS Church. They said that they started noticing that their church wasn't teaching from the Book of Mormon anymore. The Book of Mormon and the First Vision really wasn't emphasized anymore in that religion, and they were alarmed. They called up a family member who was a patriarch in their church and he said "There is only one church you can go to that teaches from the Book of Mormon anymore. I would follow you if I weren't so old." So they called our missionaries and were baptized into our church in a week. I've heard that the R-LDS Church hardly exists anymore-- it rapidly started dissolving when they started ignoring the Book of Mormon and when they allowed women to have the priesthood. President Sexton also taught us to search for the precepts found in the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon would help us draw nearer to God than any other book "by abiding by its precepts." Many precepts in the Book of Mormon start with the phrase "and thus we see." For example: Helaman 3:27-30, Alma 30:60, Alma 24:19. They're all over the place. President also taught us that an important purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of the reality of Christ's resurrection. He said that all around us Christian Churches are changing their beliefs about this fundamental truth. He said that a Baptist once told him that the biggest difference between the beliefs of our Church and the Baptist beliefs is that we take the resurrection of Jesus Christ too literally. It's true. Our belief about the Lord's Resurrection opposes the Trinity.
So in case you haven't noticed yet the subject headers for my e-mails are lines from Saturday's Warrier songs. An elder I went on exchanges with a couple weeks ago had the soundtrack and we listened to it all the way through. It was classic.
Let me list some of the excuses our investigators have given us lately for not coming to church: "My pants don't fit." "I have hemorrhoids." "Our dog jumped out of the window!" (I lie not, these are legit.)
Well I can't think of anything else that happened. Yep Sister Choi has been honorably released. Hope you're all feeling better! And don't worry about the weight loss Dad. "Courage take! For goodness sake!"
Love y'all!
Love,
Elder Tyler Lewis
Hm... So it seems as though I forgot to tell you that this was Zone Conference week. Sorry about that! Don't worry, I'll always e-mail you every week. The first week of every transfer I have zone conference on Tuesday over here so on those weeks I'll be e-mailing you on Wednesday. Such is the case today.
The Fed-Ex guy JUST walked into the office and handed me your package almost immediately after I read that you'd sent it off. Good timing!
We had another miracle happen yesterday. Bro. Doug Tice is the husband of a re-activated member of our ward. The missionaries have been teaching him since Elder Rada was serving here and even before that. He's what we call an "eternal investigator." Anyway, we visit him every week and he comes to church every Sunday for all three hours. He's read the Book of Mormon twice and he's currently half-way through the D&C. Yesterday we really focused our lesson on baptism. We usually bring it up but this time we were really bold. He's finally set a goal to be baptized. April 24th is what we're working towards. If he wants to be baptized sooner we'll baptize him sooner. But for now that's the goal. It's a really big deal that he's even set a baptismal goal. We told the Bishop Kovacs and Brother Minus and they were enthralled.
Michelle is still doing good. We still have a goal set for her to be baptized April 17th. She didn't come to church on Sunday because of an issue with her kids but she's made arrangements to come to church to see General Conference next Sunday.
Nick Katanjent came to church for the third time. He's the 16-year-old surfer kid. He's made good friends with the priest quorum. Hopefully he'll commit to be baptized when we visit him tonight. He likes church and he likes it when we visit him but he's kind of intimidated by the rules aka the commandments. He's a good kid and he really needs good influences in his life.
Zone Conference was good yesterday. We were instructed on some of the things we must do in order to have 88 baptisms in May. We focused quite a bit on teaching-- how to begin teaching and how to focus our lessons around baptism. President focused a lot on the Book of Mormon and he invited us to read the Book of Mormon within the next 87 days. Joseph Smith translated it in 87 days so I should be able to read it in 87 days. President emphasized that the Book of Mormon truly is the keystone of our religion. He shared a story about a convert couple that he met when he was teaching at the MTC. They seemed to know a lot about the church, especially for recent converts. President found out that they used to be members of the Re-organized LDS Church. They said that they started noticing that their church wasn't teaching from the Book of Mormon anymore. The Book of Mormon and the First Vision really wasn't emphasized anymore in that religion, and they were alarmed. They called up a family member who was a patriarch in their church and he said "There is only one church you can go to that teaches from the Book of Mormon anymore. I would follow you if I weren't so old." So they called our missionaries and were baptized into our church in a week. I've heard that the R-LDS Church hardly exists anymore-- it rapidly started dissolving when they started ignoring the Book of Mormon and when they allowed women to have the priesthood. President Sexton also taught us to search for the precepts found in the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon would help us draw nearer to God than any other book "by abiding by its precepts." Many precepts in the Book of Mormon start with the phrase "and thus we see." For example: Helaman 3:27-30, Alma 30:60, Alma 24:19. They're all over the place. President also taught us that an important purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of the reality of Christ's resurrection. He said that all around us Christian Churches are changing their beliefs about this fundamental truth. He said that a Baptist once told him that the biggest difference between the beliefs of our Church and the Baptist beliefs is that we take the resurrection of Jesus Christ too literally. It's true. Our belief about the Lord's Resurrection opposes the Trinity.
So in case you haven't noticed yet the subject headers for my e-mails are lines from Saturday's Warrier songs. An elder I went on exchanges with a couple weeks ago had the soundtrack and we listened to it all the way through. It was classic.
Let me list some of the excuses our investigators have given us lately for not coming to church: "My pants don't fit." "I have hemorrhoids." "Our dog jumped out of the window!" (I lie not, these are legit.)
Well I can't think of anything else that happened. Yep Sister Choi has been honorably released. Hope you're all feeling better! And don't worry about the weight loss Dad. "Courage take! For goodness sake!"
Love y'all!
Love,
Elder Tyler Lewis
