August 26

Hi Talon,

I was surprised to get your Facebook friend request last night. It's neat to see what's happening for missionaries in cyber-space. Are there any guidelines we need to be aware of as far as posting on your wall or not?

It's been quite a week for Grandma Shirley. Her surgery went well but early last Thursday morning her blood pressure crashed and they moved her into intensive care. After a few days they were able to get her more stable and she moved back to a regular hospital room yesterday. She will probably be released today and Grandpa is considering having her spend 5-7 days at the care center before she goes home. She needs to do some physical therapy on her legs and hopefully be able to shower and care for her personal needs with minimal assistance.

The kids are back into school full swing. Homework started the very first day. They seem to be liking it OK. On Saturday there was a surprise birthday party for Aubree. She seemed to have fun. Raina put most of it together which was really nice.

We didn't let Brandt play in his football game Saturday because at school Friday he slipped on wet concrete and injured his lower back and leg. He was in a lot of pain but he's doing better now. He plays against Beaver on Wednesday.

Hope you are doing well with your situation. I am sure you will be able to work it all out.

Be well,

Love Dad

 

Dear Elder Williams,

I had one of the best times of my life at BYU education week. I feel like I had a glimpse of the glory of God and was able to peek through the veil if only for a moment. I LOVE the Lord and am so grateful for the plan of salvation. I truly "Stand All Amazed" at the love that he freely offers us. I have learned so much and am hungry to feast on the words of Christ. I love the scriptures, the symbolism, imagery, and everything that points to Christ and His atonement. I took classes on Isaiah, Levitcus, symbolism, prayer, and many other things which opened my mind to the beauty of God's word and His greatness and glory. I wish I could tell you everything about it because it filled my soul with light. But I know that you are already filled because of your commission to preach the gospel and your duty as an Elder. Oh, I just feel so happy and I want to shout from the rooftops that the Church of Jesus Christ is true!

I love you so very much and am grateful that you are serving our brothers and sisters. I hope and pray that they will be receptive to the message you have.

God be with you 'til we meet again.

Love you,

Mom

 

 

Dear Mom,

I'm so glad to hear that you had such a wonderful time at BYU Education Week. I love what you wrote about the experience, "I feel like I had a glimpse of the glory of God and was able to peek through the veil if only for a moment." I live for moments like that.

That desire that you have to shout from the rooftops is what I've felt, and the Lord has empowered me to do it with a wider range. The world changed on Thursday.

We had something that has been called "Specialized Training" on Thursday. We had no idea what it meant. I thought it would be a normal meeting, talking about teaching skills and the like. So, I was sitting there in the gym at the mission office in Santa Rosa. The meeting started normal, but President Alba said that he was waiting for a call from Salt Lake. He answered his phone when it rang, and he held it up to the microphone. The man on the other line is named Brother Donaldson. He was a mission president in San Diego, and now he works for the Missionary Department. We've received training from him before. President Alba asked us if we had any questions for him, and a voice rang out, "When are we getting iPads?" We had heard rumors about getting them in the future. All of a sudden, the back doors swung wide and and a cart was pushed through. On it were iPads for every missionary. The lights were being flickered on and off, and music was playing as a video of fireworks was going. It was one of the most intense moments of my mission.

The California Santa Rosa Mission is the first mission in the world authorized to use iPads. They are being called the "8873" after D&C 88:73, referring to the hastening of the work. We now keep our records and teach with them. We have also been authorized to preach to all the world, not just the people in our mission. On Wednesday I taught a girl in Estonia that I met in Santa Rosa a year ago.

That means that I can teach anyone in the world, including nonmember and less active friends. Just as I work with the members here, I can can work with you and anyone else to find people to teach. I am called of God to do this work, and I need everyone's help to find those people who are ready to receive the Gospel. So, I can talk to everyone at home so long as it fulfills my purpose as a servant of Christ.

All my love,

Elder Williams

 

P.S.

Elder Perry and Elder Nelson said that the announcement in the Work of Salvation broadcast about the changes in missionary work is a significant and monumenteal as the First Vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

We are seeing these scriptures being fulfilled:

Mosiah 16:1

And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.

Eye to eye sounds like skype, right?

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We are part of this great work. We all have been placed here at this time to help the Lord in the Work of Salvation.