Ni hao

Hi Talon,
 

We had an adventerous weekend. Brandt had his western states hoop shoot competition in Las Vegas so we all drove down on Friday. We went to the mall we bought school clothes at a few years ago and I was reminded of you shopping there with the Hurley, Billibong and Element stores.

 

On Saturday Brandt had his competition, he took second place. It wasn't a great shooting day for him and he was very sad because he could have won any other day. All the boys in his age group struggled. He did come home with a nice warm up suit with his name embroidered on it and showing he was the Utah State champ and he got a very nice second place trophy and a medal. I hope he will feel that it was a positive experience after the hurt goes away.

 

We drove the Strip at night and saw all the lights but in the end Vegas stinks, what a display of all that is wrong in the world. I found myself feeling repulsed by what was represented. I am glad I live where I do and can be a family man, not a gambling man.

 

Sunday morning we went to Hoover Dam and took a tour. It is an amazing feat of will power and engineering. You will need to go there one day. We stopped in Summit on the way home, your grandparents are well.
 

I am waiting on the last bid for the garage and then we'll get it started soon hopefully. I'll send you pictures so you can see the progress along the way.

Congrats on being called to be a district leader. I enjoyed that duty a lot. I have a bunch of great Elders to work with and we had fun together. You probably heard that the church is forming 58 new missions to fill the demand. What a blessing to the world young people like you are. I am proud of you son and pray you are well and happy.

Love Dad

 

 

Ni hao Elder Williams,
 

On the way to and from Las Vegas I read, Wild Swans-Three Daughters of China. I've read it before, but it was just as interesting reading it again. What a history China has had---a terrible, brutal, difficult history. Under Mao Zedong, there was no foundation for truth. He created an image of himself which led to worship, and if you didn't worship the cult of Mao, there was severe retribution and fearful consequences. It has made me think of the lust for power and control that many have desired over the ages and the destruction and damage they have caused in getting it. It makes me heartsick to read about the terrible treatment of innocent people.

 

 

We are sovereign beings with agency, but freedom also comes with responsibility. I thought of this as we walked through the casino up to our room where we were staying. It seemed like people at the slot machines were zombies constantly feeding their hope, energy, and lives into the void. Maybe I'm overstating it, but why spend your time on something that is meaningless? It seemed like they were selling their soul for entertainment. There was a big huge sign on the strip and it simply stated "Surface". I thought, wow...how fitting. Everything in Las Vegas is a facade-- a surface image with absolutely no depth. What is desirable? Hair, clothes, make-up, fame, fortune, power...this is what the dream is...the dream of making it big. But it can be easily stripped away and then what is left? Well, the people in China learned, especially during the Cultural Revolution, and can say that the only thing that matters is truth, family, and identity.
 

I leave you with a quote from the Chinese Prophet Confucius: The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
 

Thank you for sharing the truth.

Love you,

Mom

 

 

Dear Mom,

 

That sounds like an engaging read. I've had some experiences here that have testified to me that the Book of Mormon is so relevant in our day, and I'm sure you could see that in your reading.

It has been a good week. I'm growing and facing new challenges all of the time. It is tiring sometimes, but I have faith that the blessings are always worth obedience and sacrifice. I feel like now I'm waiting on the Lord.

We have a new investigator with a baptismal date. He has taken to the gospel so well, and I can see how it is going to answer so many questions and reinforce the good that he has. His name is Jack, and he is going to be baptized on the 23rd next month.

Love,

 

Elder Williams

Guten Tag

Guten Tag Elder Williams,

 

I taught the Mia Maids a lesson on the Plan of Salvation. What a wonderful vision we have of the meaning of life. This blueprint for life gives us the answers to the deep questions of humanity. I'm grateful for the overview of the plan, but also I'm grateful to know that there is an individual plan for me. I have a unique mission to fulfill as does every person on earth. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the staggering number of people in the world and weighed down with all the problems that need to be faced. However, I'm comforted by the scripture that says they that are with us are more than they with them. Who do you think "they" are? To me it means the heavenly hosts of angels and ancestors who are on the Lord's side.

 

The plan of salvation also gives us such an ideal to strive for. To be like God and live in eternal glory is a possibility to infinite to imagine. I have a student in one of my classes who has made it known that he is of a different faith. He has mentioned that believing that we can be like God is the ultimate in hubris. (my words, not his---but you get the drift) Anyways, I think it's the ultimate in expectations. Wow... to think God believes we can become like him.... what an awesome prospect. What an ideal to strive for. What a noble pursuit. Of course it is all because of Jesus Christ, his grace and mercy, which is our only hope to meet these great and wonderful possibilities.

 

We must be converted to this hope. I believe that conversion is a continuous process which requires discipline. It's the daily devotion that brings about the spirit of the Holy Ghost. This helps us ward off doubts and negative feelings.

 

How are your investigators doing? We pray for you and your companion and your people.

Love,

Mom

 

 

 

 

Dear Mom,

Oops. I took out the SD card of the tin and took some more pictures. Sorry. I'll send it home in the next few weeks.

Thanks for the Valentine's Day package. That made me pretty happy.

I love the Plan of Salvation. Whenever I am struggling with doubts or fears, all I have to do is remember the Plan. It's perfect. It's God's Plan. It was restored through Joseph Smith. I like your idea about "they".

Existence wouldn't be worth it if we couldn't become like our Father. Suffering would be pointless. It is that final destiny of all who triumph that makes every trial and every tear worth the joy we will have when we are Home.

I'm learning about diligence this week. It is easy to go out and talk to people now. It is easy for me to be obedient. What I must always strive for is putting my faith in the Lord. What I must always remember is that the people I talk to everyday are my brothers and sisters. When I have faith, blessings flow. It is a natural result. God wants to bless us so much. We can only please Him if we trust Him and patiently wait on Him. One of my new favorite verses is Hebrews 11:6. I invite you to ponder it.

Our people are doing well. We picked up a couple of investigators up as a result of us working closer with the members of the ward. Their names are Elizabeth and Brian. I've come to appreciate the grandeur of our message more. We are building Zion, and the only way we can do this is by being of one heart and one mind. There should be no line that divides the missionaries and the members. We are engaged in the same work. Building Zion. Bringing Heaven to earth. Preparing the way of the Lord. I had an opportunity to give a talk in the Miranda Branch on Sunday, and I spoke on that. There is no greater, no better, no more important time than now. I'm so blessed to be a part of this work at this time.

I've got a new calling. In addition to training, I'm now a District Leader. I'll be teaching in a meeting with other missionaries every week. There is another companionship in my district. I'm grateful for this chance to learn about ministering more. There is going to be a new missionary in my district. 26 new missionaries arrived in the field yesterday. There are more on the way. I'm so blessed to be out here at this time.

Love,

Elder Williams

 

Bonjour

Bonjour Elder Williams,

 

 

Je t'aime. Since French is the language of love, and Valentines day is coming I thought I would greet you in the lingua Franca.

 

I've been visiting with a good friend again---Parker J. Palmer and thinking a lot about his words. Technically he isn't my friend, but I'm his friend on Facebook, so that counts, doesn't it? :) I love his wisdom and affirmation of living a life that is true.

 

 

“Humility is the only lens though which great things can be seen--and once we have seen them, humility is the only posture possible.” Parker J. Palmer
 

Humility is the most humble of virtues. It is difficult because "SELF" is always wanting to be promoted, recognized, and praised. Our self-will is excruciatingly hard to tame at times. But humility brings us to a place where grace can step in and raise us up ---raise us to heights not dreamed of. On the wings of mercy, we can soar to heavenly places.

 

 

How are your investigators? Are they making progress? How is your companion? I hope you are all doing well. How is Erik? Can you keep in contact with him? Please send your SD card home so we can catch up with you.

 

 

Here is a quote from Shakespeare that reminds me of missionary service:

"Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better."

 

 

You are freely giving your time, love, and devotion to others and I think this is a supreme act of humility.

 

 

God be with you till we meet again,

Mom

 

 

Dear Mom,

I love Parker J. Palmer. I want to be like him when I grow up.

I love what you said about humility. In Moroni 7:40-48 I've learned that I need to be meek, or humble, to cultivate all of the other Christlike attributes. It is the soil that we must prepare to plant the gifts that are Faith, Hope, and Charity.

This week has been so wonderful. I've been growing in the vision of missionary work. It is all about unity. It is all about Zion. It is all about becoming one heart and one mind. That is the Lord's way. That is how the Father and the Son are one. That is how we can become one with the Son and partake of God's Glory. That is how the Lord brings us to the Celestial Kingdom. I had to go through some refining fire and travel a dark road to know this. It is worth every step.

Now I can see better. Now I can press forward with more determination.

The way that Elder Davis and I have been building Zion in our area is by becoming united with the members of the congregations that we serve. We are obedient and we reach out, so they trust us. When they trust us we can ask them to invite their friends to partake of the joy of the Gospel. I've realized how important this trust is. When missionaries do not represent the Lord, when they do not act in accordance with the mantle that has been given them, they hinder the work in ways they can't imagine. People remember. Even more important, the Lord remembers We will all be accountable before Him one day. I know if I work and give all to Him, it will be the "pleasing bar" (Moroni 10:34). That is what helps me to press on. Also, knowing that I can have great joy in heaven with those people that the Lord places in my way makes me want to do all I can (D&C 18:15-16).

I love this work. There is no greater work in the universe.

We have four people with baptismal dates now, and more on the way. We are teaching a lot of people. We have two in the Miranda Branch, Carrie and Dylan. I've told you a bit about Carrie, I think. Dylan is a boy Brandt's age. He has been coming to church for a while, and he knows that it has blessed him so much. He has a really hard home life, so the Gospel has been helping him so much. We set a baptismal date with him yesterday.

In Fortuna, we have Zack and Tim. Zack is so great. He is all about service and giving back. He has had a rough past, and now he finds meaning and joy in service. He said such a powerful prayer the other day, asking God if he was his son. Tim is the husband of a member of the ward. They moved to Fortuna just a little while ago. The first time we met with him, which was last Monday, we set his date. The Lord has prepared so many people for His Gospel.

Elder Davis is doing great. We are more and more unified, and he is more confident in his teaching. It has been such a great experience training another missionary. He is so willing to improve. I've learned the Savior's way of teaching and leading so much since I've been training.

My SD card will be in the mail today. I am sending a few things home that the mission has new rules about.

I haven't been in contact with Erik, but I work with the missionaries in my old ward. HE IS IN THE ELDERS QUORUM PRESIDENCY! He is doing so well and it is so wonderful to see someone I helped baptize be successful.

I love you Mom. Thanks for all you do. Give my love to everyone.

Elder Williams

Saluti

Saluti Elder Williams,
 

We had a great day on Saturday. After Brandt won the hoop shoot, the girls and I went to The Phantom of the Opera presented by BYU Theater Arts. I had purchased the tickets for a Christmas present and it just happened to be on the same day as Brandt's state competition. The Phantom was phenomenal. It was a quality production with so many talented perfomers, and I really enjoyed it.
 

I've been listening to a book by George MacDonald called Getting to Know Jesus. George MacDonald influenced C.S. Lewis through his writings and led Lewis to Christ. George MacDonald was a fascinating person. He was a minister, but was rejected by the provincial churches, so he was an itnerant preacher with a great love of God. Here is a quote:

“Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does not want the best; God finds it hard to give, because He would give the best, and man will not take it.”
 

That is so true. We aren't willing to accept the best because our sights are on the ephemeral things of this world...the things that rust and corrupt. I'm so guilty of this. I think that's why this has touched such a chord in me...because he spoke of living a simple life filled with truth.

“If we will but let our God and Father work His will with us, there can be no limit to His enlargement of our existence.”
 

We would be content to live in the husk of a walnut shell and think ourselves kings, yet there is infinity as an offering if we would accept it. If we would submit our will and choose to look through the lens of eternity, our views would be grand indeed. But we look through the glass darkly and don't trust in the promises. I am trying to change my focus, and want rely on God to bring me to his home.

I am grateful that you are His servant and helping others to see the truth. I hope you will find those who are seeking.

I love you.

Mom

Dear Mom,

 

It is really good to hear that everyone is having such a good time.

 

I feel like I'm getting to know Jesus a lot more. I'm feeling the need for mercy more and more, and I'm understanding more and more that the Lord wants to extend it to me. I'm grateful that I can feel the Atonement work more in my life. It is so much better yoking myself with the Lord. There is so much more peace and comfort. I'm feeling that change of mind that repentance is, and I'm more confident that it will be changed forever. That's what true repentance is. Never going back.

 

I'm grateful that my mission has changed my life forever. There are going to be even more and greater changes in the future.

 

Love,

 

Elder Williams

 

Hey Talon,
I hope you are well. It sounds lime you and your comp are doing good. Good companions are a real blessing.
All is well here. The snow is melting and we are having a warm day now and again.
We had a busy day Saturday. Brandt had state finals for the hoop shoot. Mom and the girls went to phantom of the opera at BYU and then we went to a BYU basketball game.
Brandt won the hoop shoot and now advances to the Western States regional later this month. It was really neat for him but he's very humble about it.
Work is good for me. Never a dull day.
Be well.
Love Dad



Hey Dad,

 

I'm doing pretty good. I got sick this last week, which wasn't all bad. Elder Davis stepped up and helped with tracting and everything.

 

I'm really proud of Brandt. I'm really glad that he isn't getting prideful, too.

 

I'm glad that work is good too.

 

Love,

Elder Williams