This week we had the mission Christmas party! It was awesome because they had a ton of cookies, but guess what they fed us as the meal? A FREAKING SALAD!!!!! I was so angry!! Luckily there were a ton of cookies like I said before. This week didn't seem that productive, but apparently we taught 24 lessons so that was pretty awesome. It's not a competition, but the first ward elders beat us as far as lessons the last two weeks so we had to step our game up. I'm not saying it's all about numbers, but when you are winning... It's all about numbers. AND helping others come unto Christ of course. The Christmas party was pretty awesome. I was talking to elder Lott and we decided that it was kinda like an awkward stake dance because we don't know that many missionaries yet. It was fun though.
I'm super excited to talk to you guys on Christmas. I think I am going to use Skype, but if that doesn't work I will just FaceTime. I have both. I got the Christmas packages, but I sorta opened everything up right when I got them... So thank you so much for all everything. Also the fifes and grandma and grandpa sent me a package which was really nice of them. I also love the Christmas tree. It is pretty legit.
This week we got to talk with one of our investigators who's significant other is a less active member. Last week we took them to the visitors center and they came to church yesterday. We also had a lesson with them yesterday after church. It was awesome because he (the nonmember) was the one who really wanted to go to church! He also said that the visitors center made him feel something different inside. (THE SPIRIT!!!) it was awesome. Especially because a couple weeks ago he told us he didn't believe in Jesus Christ... Oh I almost forgot. We taught a lady again this week and she said she would be baptized. We haven't set a date with her yet, but she is really open to the gospel. It is amazing. So the missionary work is going really well. Oregon city is the place to be. Transfers are on the 28th so there is a chance I could leave. We will have to see.
Spiritual thought:
"our knowledge of God does not depend on the amount of information we accumulate. After all, all the knowledge of the gospel which is meaningful for our salvation can be summarized in a few points of doctrine, principles, and essential commandments, which are already there in the missionary lessons we receive before baptism. Knowing God is a matter of opening our hearts to gain a spiritual understanding and a fervent testimony of the truth of these few fundamental points of doctrine. Knowing God is having a testimony of His existence and feeling in one’s heart that He loves us. It is accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and having a fervent desire to follow His example. In serving God and our neighbor, we witness of Christ and allow those around us to get to know Him better.
These principles find concrete application in the teaching which is given in our wards and branches. For you teachers of the Church, the principal goal of your lessons is the conversion of hearts. The quality of a lesson is not measured by the number of new pieces of information that you give your students. It comes from your capacity to invite the presence of the Spirit and to motivate your students to make commitments. It is by exercising their faith by putting into practice the lessons taught that they will increase their spiritual knowledge.
I pray that we will know how to open our hearts like a little child and take pleasure in hearing and practicing the word of God in all the power of its simplicity. I bear testimony that if we do this, we will gain the knowledge of the “mysteries [of God] and [the] peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (D&C 42:61). In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."-elder caussé
Don't try to over complicate things please. The gospel can be understood by 8 year olds. We do not need to try and make it more complicated. This gospel is a gospel of feelings not knowledge or complexity. The more complex we make it, the less likely we are to feel the spirit. Feeling the spirit leads to belief and through continued prayer and scripture study. That belief can become a knowledge. You can know of a surety that God is real, that Jesus is the Christ, and that His church has been restored once again to the earth. This is my testimony. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
LOVE YOU,
Elder Garfield
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