Wednesday, August 3, 2011

MTC Distrikt 37F (4)‏

Heisann all!
Our "take out" breakfast . . . mmm.
A month?? Already!? and yet. . . It's only been one month?? My goodness, I cannot believe it. I wish I could know how all of you are doing so I could adapt my emails a little more to you, but instead you'll just have to suffer. Haha.
The MTC is still amazing. The Spirit is so strong, and the things we learn, and the pace we learn them, are astounding. The Lord truly prepares His servants before He sends them out to the world. Boy am I grateful for a full 9 weeks here. Last Sunday, our Distrikt sung "Næmere min Gud til deg". Church here is, surprisingly, a refreshing release from the every day activities here! Sundays are heavensent. My Mom asked how Sundays go, so I'll explain that here. We wake up, prepare and go to training meetings and have personal study. Then we have sacrament meeting and priesthood. We have choir altogether and then go to a devotional in the evening. After the devotional we watch films such as The Testaments, Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration, Legacy or some choice talks given by general authorities. The movies are a great break from the rest of the week, yet we still feel spiritually enlightened through them! Last night at our devotional we had Elder Gerald N. Lund speak to us on faith. It's astonishing how people can teach faith again and again, and it can still be a good experience. Elder Lund blew us out of the water - and we loved it! Once I get back home I want to read some of his books.
Elder Putnam
Last night I said goodbye to Elder Putnam. He's in Peru right now, down in the MTC until September. It was truly an honor to be in the MTC with him at the same time. We had some wonderful moments singing in the choir together. I am sure he will "Shake Hell!" like nobody's business down in Ecuador! I'm going to miss that Elder.


One thing that has been on my mind, and I may have already stated in a previous email, is the topic of sanctification. I have thought a lot about this topic since coming on my mission, for that is what a mission does to you: it sanctifies you. I only recently learned that this process of sanctification is part of the Gift of the Holy Ghost - the "baptism of fire." It is true we are baptized by water, but then does the real progress take effect. When we have the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are given more direction and guidance as to choices of good and evil. It is up to us to be sensitive and discern between, and then choose the best, according to our abilities. The baptism of fire, in my opinion, is much like wading through a sea of decision, finding and making the better choices, and disregarding lesser ones. That sanctifying effect of the Holy Ghost comes when we make correct choices and lead our desires to righteousness. This process takes time, and eventually you find yourself more sensitive to the Spirit, to those around you and even yourself. It is an amazing feeling to have a richer, more meaningful relationship with the Spirit, those around you and yourself. We eventually become more whole, like our Savior, when we take advantage of the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Polishing some shoes

Another item I think may be of benefit to you all, are some things I think are extremely important to pray for. We ask for charity in order to love and see like the Savior does. We ask for patience in order to soften our hearts, despite the trials that beset us, such as waiting for an answer or expecting more direction. We ask for the desire to bless the whole human race, for that is precisely what our Heavenly Father desires. We ask for God to speak through us in order to speak to the hearts of our investigators. We want them to know the truthfulness and meaning of our message, in order for them to find true joy and happiness. We ask for a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, of Joseph Smith and his call to restore this true Gospel, and of the Book of Mormon, so that we may teach with power and with authority, to help others come unto Christ. And we also ask for the gift of tongues - which I personally feel does not only apply to other languages - it can apply to English as well. We all need help to communicate the Gospel message in a clearer, more powerful way.
Thank you all so much - I can still feel your prayers, please continue to do so, they support me more than you think. I love you all so much, and I pray for you when I have time! I promise! May the Lord bless you for your diligence in this Gospel.
Mye kjærlighet og velsignelser!
Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

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