How is Darla and your folks doing? I've been thinking about them and hope that they are happy. We pray for your people every night.
I read an interesting and entertaining book called Maphead. It's all about maps and geography. I'm a geography nerd and love to learn about new places, cultures, and people. My wish is to explore the world and tramp about for a few years before I die. Perhaps dad and I will get the chance if we are able to go on missions someday.
We had our Young Women's "Evening in Excellence" night yesterday. Jimmy LaRue just returned from a mission and he spoke to the girls. He has conviction and a testimony of the gospel. It's a neat thing to see the excitement, love, and passion that newly returned missionaries posses.
How do you answer questions about evolution, biology, carbon-dating, and things that don't fit into the story of the Bible? What about Australopithecus-man and other hominid types? Are you asked these types of questions? Obviously there were creatures on earth that predate the Adam story, for example, the carved ivory knife bone and cave painting that are validated as thousands upon thousands of years old. What do you say to those questions? I love science and I love the gospel. How do you fit the two together? I know we have to walk by faith, but I also believe that God gave us our logical reasoning capability to use it. I believe in empirical evidence, yet I also believe in the metaphysical world around us that can't be quantified. I have a testimony, but I really empathize with people outside of the gospel and wonder how they are able to take that step into becoming a member. Is it a suspension of disbelief? Or is it true knowledge? I just put myself into those shoes and wonder if I would be able to accept Jesus as the Christ and Redeemer if that wasn't my previous worldview. Would I be able to trust in the vision of Joesph Smith and the Golden Plates? I think it's a true miracle when anyone accepts the gospel and changes their life. I wonder if I would do the same.
I hope you can maintain your convictions of truth and belief in the principles of the gospel for your entire life. I hope you will sustain your passion and love for the Savior and our fellow brethren. I hope you will continue your journey of faith and walk with the Lord through mortality and into eternity. I hope I can make that journey with you.
I love you my dear boy,
Love,
Your Momma
Dear Mom,
Darla is going through a lot of hard family trouble now. We've been praying for her a lot. Thank you for keeping her in your prayers. I'll let you know how she is doing.
Tyler is doing so great! He came to stake conference with us yesterday, and he seems to be more and more comfortable with the church. The young couples in the ward are doing such a great job fellowshipping him.
We've been teaching some new people. I hope that they keep on progressing.
It is good to hear about Jimmy. It is good to hear about how he is still making a positive impact. I want to do that too.
Most of the time we don't get questions like that, because the types of people who ask them aren't very open. They use those kinds of questions as weapons. Still, I've had to answer those questions for myself. Honestly, it is only because of the spiritual experiences that I've had throughout my life that I believe in the Gospel. It is only because God has answered my prayers. Without them, I'd be totally adrift. I would feel lost in a dark ocean. I wouldn't see purpose beyond immediate pleasure, and even that wouldn't be worth living for eventually. All things will be reconciled one day. That day is not now, and I will not compromise my values and doubt my faith even if the "facts" seem totally opposed to the Gospel.
I've asked myself the same question. Would I accept the Gospel if I hadn't been raised in it? I doubt myself sometimes. I doubt the goodness in me. Sometimes I don't think that there would be any way that I would accept the gospel because I would be too hard hearted.
I know now that those thoughts are wrong. I know better than ever that the Gospel has a power. I believe that the Gospel is so powerful that even I could accept it if I was born out of the Church. I'd just simply have to take the same steps that I invite the people I meet every day to do. I would simply have to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, humbly and sincerely. I'd have to make those choices. I have this confidence not because I think that I'm special or good, but because God is good. I know that He gave me a fair chance in the premortal life. I chose to come here. I know no matter what situation He put me in, it would be fair. I'd have the chance to accept or reject the Gospel. I'd be accountable.
I love you Mom. I hope what I said can convey some of the conviction I feel.
Love,
Elder Williams
Hey Talon,
Sounds like you will be staying there a bit longer. How do you feel about it? How's it going training? So your car got egged. Hopefully it was only a 1 time thing and not an ongoing problem.
Grandma has decided to stop her chemo treatments. We are all praying the cancer was all removed during surgery. She says she'd rather have a higher quality of life for a shorter time. What a hard choice to make though. She has a lot of faith and feels good about it.
Last month I signed up for the runner's series to gain entry into the St. George marathon so the past 2 weekends I've run 2 5Ks. I am in bad shape but I finished both of them without any walk breaks.
All in all not much changes here at home.
Be well and happy,
Love Dad
Hey Dad,
I'll be here until the beginning of December. I'll be out after that.
I'm pretty glad that I get to be here another transfer. The ward really likes us. We are communicating well with them. I wish we could get the bishop to raise his expectations. I want to tear it up more, and tracting and contacting are just not the most effective way to do it.
Hopefully we have a couple of more baptisms this transfer. We are working with a few solid people
Training is going well. Elder Snow is stepping up and lessons are getting better. He is pretty willing and learns quickly. He is going to do well when he takes over the area. It has been a good experience. I have been learning a lot about myself lately.
I hope Grandma recovers from her treatments quickly. When are they going to check and see if the cancer is gone? I'm praying for her. I've been feeling peace and comfort when I think about her.
Runner's series again, eh? It is sweet that you are going to do another marathon. I've been running in the mornings and I'm getting faster and faster. I feel good. So far my knees aren't giving me trouble. Something I could use, (maybe for Christmas?) is a new pair of running shoes. I have had mine since high school. They are beat.I'm trying to take time in the evening to work out too after planning.
I'm glad to hear that all is going well at home. I pray for ya'll.
Love,
Elder Williams
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