April 8, 2019
Hi Jon -
I'm happy that you have a new companion. Try not to be too bad an example for him! hahaha I know you'll do a great job and be a great example. Work hard, have fun, keep the rules. Be the kind of missionary your mom thinks you are.
I've been working in the yard a lot, ripping out ground cover and weeks and putting in bark. The idea is to have less maintenance to do and fewer weeds. Last week was Spring Break and we didn't do a big trip this year like to California or go on a cruise or anything. The boys just wanted to stay in Provo. But I did make them do a 2 day trip to get out and do some hiking. We hiked Angels Landing in Zions National Park and then Peekaboo Gulch in Escalante. Both hikes were fun but I really like Peekaboo the most.
General Conference was really good. I watched all 5 sessions and liked quite a few talks. Some talks didn't speak to me as much because I think they were focused more on non-members and inactive members but that's to be expected. There was a lot of focus on repentance so I've been thinking about ways in which I can improve. We had Maddy and Heber and Alexa and Emily over for dinner and we watched the last session of conference together.
We weather in Provo has been SO NICE lately! It's perfect spring temperatures - every day is sunny and in the 60s or 70s. We've had rain too which is pretty normal for spring, just enough to get the grass looking really green. About half the trees are starting to bud and the other half still think it's winter.
I want to give you some thoughts about feasting on the word. When I was a missionary we had dedicated time each day to study and I think sometimes I took it really seriously and did a good job but sometimes I slacked and didn't get very much out of my study time.
Read all you can get your hands on. Since you are on a mission, everything you do will be quickened by the spirit, which is why learning a new language can come easy. You will never get a chance to read the scriptures again like you can in the mission. You will never again get a chance to stay focused for two years on nothing but good scriptures and books by the prophets.
Read all you can get your hands on. It will soak into your brain like water into a sponge. It will come so easy - new principles that will be life-changing and will even help you to be the bishop when it is time for that. But the cool part is because it is all quickened by the spirit it all stays with you later after the mission. It is like a cool blessing of a mission. So read all you can get your hands on. And make notes. After a while you will be able to read them in your new language.
Stay on the list that is given to you by the general authorities about authorized reading though. This is fuel that goes into your spiritual gas tank. You cannot let one day go by without reading. After getting into this habit, you will start to crave it. It will drive you and push you to want to read and know more. While others are trying to sneak in an afternoon nap, you should be the one reading and growing. The time is so precious that you have, you cannot afford to waste any. Every second, every minute counts.
I know you are working hard and blessing the lives of many people. Some of your investigators will progress quickly, some slowly, and some not at all. You're not in this alone, in fact you are just a small part of Heavenly Father's plan for the people you serve so try not to take too much credit when thinks go well and try not to feel down when things don't go well.
Work hard. I love you and am very proud of you.
Love,
Dad
I'm happy that you have a new companion. Try not to be too bad an example for him! hahaha I know you'll do a great job and be a great example. Work hard, have fun, keep the rules. Be the kind of missionary your mom thinks you are.
I've been working in the yard a lot, ripping out ground cover and weeks and putting in bark. The idea is to have less maintenance to do and fewer weeds. Last week was Spring Break and we didn't do a big trip this year like to California or go on a cruise or anything. The boys just wanted to stay in Provo. But I did make them do a 2 day trip to get out and do some hiking. We hiked Angels Landing in Zions National Park and then Peekaboo Gulch in Escalante. Both hikes were fun but I really like Peekaboo the most.
General Conference was really good. I watched all 5 sessions and liked quite a few talks. Some talks didn't speak to me as much because I think they were focused more on non-members and inactive members but that's to be expected. There was a lot of focus on repentance so I've been thinking about ways in which I can improve. We had Maddy and Heber and Alexa and Emily over for dinner and we watched the last session of conference together.
We weather in Provo has been SO NICE lately! It's perfect spring temperatures - every day is sunny and in the 60s or 70s. We've had rain too which is pretty normal for spring, just enough to get the grass looking really green. About half the trees are starting to bud and the other half still think it's winter.
I want to give you some thoughts about feasting on the word. When I was a missionary we had dedicated time each day to study and I think sometimes I took it really seriously and did a good job but sometimes I slacked and didn't get very much out of my study time.
Read all you can get your hands on. Since you are on a mission, everything you do will be quickened by the spirit, which is why learning a new language can come easy. You will never get a chance to read the scriptures again like you can in the mission. You will never again get a chance to stay focused for two years on nothing but good scriptures and books by the prophets.
Read all you can get your hands on. It will soak into your brain like water into a sponge. It will come so easy - new principles that will be life-changing and will even help you to be the bishop when it is time for that. But the cool part is because it is all quickened by the spirit it all stays with you later after the mission. It is like a cool blessing of a mission. So read all you can get your hands on. And make notes. After a while you will be able to read them in your new language.
Stay on the list that is given to you by the general authorities about authorized reading though. This is fuel that goes into your spiritual gas tank. You cannot let one day go by without reading. After getting into this habit, you will start to crave it. It will drive you and push you to want to read and know more. While others are trying to sneak in an afternoon nap, you should be the one reading and growing. The time is so precious that you have, you cannot afford to waste any. Every second, every minute counts.
I know you are working hard and blessing the lives of many people. Some of your investigators will progress quickly, some slowly, and some not at all. You're not in this alone, in fact you are just a small part of Heavenly Father's plan for the people you serve so try not to take too much credit when thinks go well and try not to feel down when things don't go well.
Work hard. I love you and am very proud of you.
Love,
Dad
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