Elder Murri is doing well. We (my family and I) were able to Skype with him on Christmas Day!
Now, he has sent a few emails since then as well ... so I feel like I need to say, "let me catch you up".
Like the last time we spoke over Skype with Jed, we had someone take a picture of him holding his family. This time the picture isn't as clear as we would have liked, but I include it here.
On New Year's Day while we were celebrating the New Year coming in, there were plenty of fireworks. We could also see on the TV that there was a great fireworks show in London to ring in the new year. We wondered if he could see or hear them ... he said, "I was asleep, but Elder Cook heard them, so at least one part of the companionship got some of the fun. They actually had us come in at 7 that night, so we cleaned the flat, planned, and organised some things, and then we played a couple of games before we went to bed. So it was fun here in London as well."
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members serve in different capacities. Only as a Full-time missionary do you get to serve for a specific time frame (2 yrs for a guy and a year and a half for a girl). Otherwise you may serve in the primary (for kids under 12), or with the Young Women (12 - 18 girls) or Young Men (12-18 boys). This service may be short (I think I once served in the Young Men's as the President for only a few months), or sometimes much longer. Our ward's Young Men's Presidency just changed. We told Jed, who I think was in Young Men's just about as long as his leader was. He said, "[He] is one of the reasons that I'm out here right now. He's one of the reasons that a lot of boys are better than they were. I think that the Lord will bless him for his service!". The relationships that are formed thru service are awesome.
We were recently asked if we would share some advice for young adults who were preparing to serve a mission. Jed wasn't able to get us this advice before it was needed, but he did share this: "...I'm sorry that I couldn't get the video [the advice] to you. I could still send one, if you want me to? Just let me know, and if I can do it today, I will do so ... If you're doing things because you love God -- because your motivation is to please Him; then your "whole being is filled with light", just like the scriptures say. I actually had a couple of experiences that illustrate that point...[i]s it ok if I share them with you?
The first experience (not chronologically, but the first one that I'll share) happened today in my personal study. We're reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission, and this morning, I read 1 Nephi 6:4-6, which talks about the intent that Nephi had as he wrote the Scriptures. Nephi also gives his posterity and anyone else that would write in the book a commandment that their intentions also be pure. That's such an important word, intention. His intent (and everyone who followed him who wrote) in writing the Book of Mormon was to "persuade men to come unto ... God ... and be saved". That's the Book of Mormon's intention. That's why it's here. I learned this morning that if my intent was also to "come unto ... God ... and be saved", then by reading the Book of Mormon, I would come unto God. And I would be saved. Something would happen! Something does happen! If my intent and the Book of Mormon's intent are the same, then the natural result is that I will come closer to Christ. Note the definitive: "will". I love that. I hope that makes sense. I love the Book of Mormon. So here's my challenge to everybody that reads this: read the Book of Mormon with faith that something will happen inside of your heart. It might not be immediate, but it will happen. When you read it with that intent, then something does happen, and it is immediate. You'll feel the Spirit, and you'll develop a better relationship with God, and with Christ. That's the promise.
The second experience is one that's pretty cool, and it illustrates how real and how involved God is in our lives. How much He knows us personally. Anyway, this Sunday past, we had the opportunity to give a couple of blessings. One of them, I was able to give while my companion and another brother from the ward stood in. I always hope that I'll be able to convey the message that God wants the person to hear, and that was my hope this time too. I love how when our intent (See, there's that word again!) is to be an instrument in the hands of God, He'll lead us through the blessings, and "give you utterance". I felt like that was the case this time as well as in times before. I felt the Spirit, it was there. The blessing ended, and this sister from the Philippines stood up and looked at me and said, "Elder, how did you know"? I didn't do anything special, I just gave her a blessing. Blessings are special, I suppose that I worded that incorrectly -- I was just the one who got to give her the blessing this time. But it blessed her life and helped her out, and I guess that's the point of the Priesthood. It's about service. It's about being God's hands on the earth -- to reach out and bless all of His children with the tender mercies that He wants to give us. It's cool to be his servant.
If we intend to have spiritual experiences each day, then we will have spiritual experiences each day. We find what we're looking for, and God stands at the door, ready to give us everything if we turn our search (and our intent) in His direction.
Growing up spiritually is the best thing that I've ever felt. Alma 5:26." Since we didn't get this advice soon enough, I compiled some previous items I have received from him and forward them. This, along with other missionaries from our stake were compiled and put into this video,here .
I told Elder Murri that I was going to share with the youth in our ward some thoughts on Agency and Accountability in a few weeks. Since he is serving a mission teaching people I asked if he had any thoughts or experiences he could share that I could use. He wrote me, "...I feel honoured (and humbled) by your request. I don't feel like I have anything special or different or revolutionary to give you, but at the same time, the Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't different or revolutionary. It's simple.
In Preach My Gospel, it says "The principle of accountability is fundamental in God’s eternal plan. We will all stand before the Lord at the last judgment and give an accounting for what we have done with the opportunities He has given us." When I'm faced with a difficult situation, or one in which I'm tempted to make the wrong choice, sometimes I'll think about how one day, I'll have to stand next to Jesus Christ and explain why I did what I did. On the other hand, I think that we'll also be accountable for all of the good choices that we make as well, and God will (and does) bless us when we make the right ones.
It's important to make the right decisions for the right reasons as well. It's ok to ask "why am I doing this" ... At the bottom line, we'll make mistakes as we use our agency. I think that we're all aware of that. But there has been a "way prepared", "and salvation is free [to chose]", just like Lehi says in 2 Nephi 2. That was really long, but I think that the most important point that you could stress with them is that when you use your agency incorrectly and make a mistake there IS a way back. There IS a balm in Gilead. There IS hope for those who may think that they have none, and using your agency to use the Atonement and get back on track is actually the most important way that you could use your agency after all. Trust me. I know."
He tells me further that "...Those are my two pence. (I've been saying that to everybody, do you like my British reference?)" Yes, I like his 'British speak', and like his Mom has told me a few times recently after reading his emails I feel like, "he get's it".
Now, he has sent a few emails since then as well ... so I feel like I need to say, "let me catch you up".
Like the last time we spoke over Skype with Jed, we had someone take a picture of him holding his family. This time the picture isn't as clear as we would have liked, but I include it here.
On New Year's Day while we were celebrating the New Year coming in, there were plenty of fireworks. We could also see on the TV that there was a great fireworks show in London to ring in the new year. We wondered if he could see or hear them ... he said, "I was asleep, but Elder Cook heard them, so at least one part of the companionship got some of the fun. They actually had us come in at 7 that night, so we cleaned the flat, planned, and organised some things, and then we played a couple of games before we went to bed. So it was fun here in London as well."
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members serve in different capacities. Only as a Full-time missionary do you get to serve for a specific time frame (2 yrs for a guy and a year and a half for a girl). Otherwise you may serve in the primary (for kids under 12), or with the Young Women (12 - 18 girls) or Young Men (12-18 boys). This service may be short (I think I once served in the Young Men's as the President for only a few months), or sometimes much longer. Our ward's Young Men's Presidency just changed. We told Jed, who I think was in Young Men's just about as long as his leader was. He said, "[He] is one of the reasons that I'm out here right now. He's one of the reasons that a lot of boys are better than they were. I think that the Lord will bless him for his service!". The relationships that are formed thru service are awesome.
We were recently asked if we would share some advice for young adults who were preparing to serve a mission. Jed wasn't able to get us this advice before it was needed, but he did share this: "...I'm sorry that I couldn't get the video [the advice] to you. I could still send one, if you want me to? Just let me know, and if I can do it today, I will do so ... If you're doing things because you love God -- because your motivation is to please Him; then your "whole being is filled with light", just like the scriptures say. I actually had a couple of experiences that illustrate that point...[i]s it ok if I share them with you?
The first experience (not chronologically, but the first one that I'll share) happened today in my personal study. We're reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission, and this morning, I read 1 Nephi 6:4-6, which talks about the intent that Nephi had as he wrote the Scriptures. Nephi also gives his posterity and anyone else that would write in the book a commandment that their intentions also be pure. That's such an important word, intention. His intent (and everyone who followed him who wrote) in writing the Book of Mormon was to "persuade men to come unto ... God ... and be saved". That's the Book of Mormon's intention. That's why it's here. I learned this morning that if my intent was also to "come unto ... God ... and be saved", then by reading the Book of Mormon, I would come unto God. And I would be saved. Something would happen! Something does happen! If my intent and the Book of Mormon's intent are the same, then the natural result is that I will come closer to Christ. Note the definitive: "will". I love that. I hope that makes sense. I love the Book of Mormon. So here's my challenge to everybody that reads this: read the Book of Mormon with faith that something will happen inside of your heart. It might not be immediate, but it will happen. When you read it with that intent, then something does happen, and it is immediate. You'll feel the Spirit, and you'll develop a better relationship with God, and with Christ. That's the promise.
The second experience is one that's pretty cool, and it illustrates how real and how involved God is in our lives. How much He knows us personally. Anyway, this Sunday past, we had the opportunity to give a couple of blessings. One of them, I was able to give while my companion and another brother from the ward stood in. I always hope that I'll be able to convey the message that God wants the person to hear, and that was my hope this time too. I love how when our intent (See, there's that word again!) is to be an instrument in the hands of God, He'll lead us through the blessings, and "give you utterance". I felt like that was the case this time as well as in times before. I felt the Spirit, it was there. The blessing ended, and this sister from the Philippines stood up and looked at me and said, "Elder, how did you know"? I didn't do anything special, I just gave her a blessing. Blessings are special, I suppose that I worded that incorrectly -- I was just the one who got to give her the blessing this time. But it blessed her life and helped her out, and I guess that's the point of the Priesthood. It's about service. It's about being God's hands on the earth -- to reach out and bless all of His children with the tender mercies that He wants to give us. It's cool to be his servant.
If we intend to have spiritual experiences each day, then we will have spiritual experiences each day. We find what we're looking for, and God stands at the door, ready to give us everything if we turn our search (and our intent) in His direction.
Growing up spiritually is the best thing that I've ever felt. Alma 5:26." Since we didn't get this advice soon enough, I compiled some previous items I have received from him and forward them. This, along with other missionaries from our stake were compiled and put into this video,here .
I told Elder Murri that I was going to share with the youth in our ward some thoughts on Agency and Accountability in a few weeks. Since he is serving a mission teaching people I asked if he had any thoughts or experiences he could share that I could use. He wrote me, "...I feel honoured (and humbled) by your request. I don't feel like I have anything special or different or revolutionary to give you, but at the same time, the Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't different or revolutionary. It's simple.
In Preach My Gospel, it says "The principle of accountability is fundamental in God’s eternal plan. We will all stand before the Lord at the last judgment and give an accounting for what we have done with the opportunities He has given us." When I'm faced with a difficult situation, or one in which I'm tempted to make the wrong choice, sometimes I'll think about how one day, I'll have to stand next to Jesus Christ and explain why I did what I did. On the other hand, I think that we'll also be accountable for all of the good choices that we make as well, and God will (and does) bless us when we make the right ones.
It's important to make the right decisions for the right reasons as well. It's ok to ask "why am I doing this" ... At the bottom line, we'll make mistakes as we use our agency. I think that we're all aware of that. But there has been a "way prepared", "and salvation is free [to chose]", just like Lehi says in 2 Nephi 2. That was really long, but I think that the most important point that you could stress with them is that when you use your agency incorrectly and make a mistake there IS a way back. There IS a balm in Gilead. There IS hope for those who may think that they have none, and using your agency to use the Atonement and get back on track is actually the most important way that you could use your agency after all. Trust me. I know."
He tells me further that "...Those are my two pence. (I've been saying that to everybody, do you like my British reference?)" Yes, I like his 'British speak', and like his Mom has told me a few times recently after reading his emails I feel like, "he get's it".