Week 80 Letter

Corona Round 2 Transfer 2 Week 2

January 21, 2014

We have a few investigators now. Raquelle, who we OYMed and started teaching at their member-neighbor's house, Ariyana who is living with a member family to watch their kid (S. Mcdonald is studying for the BAR exam which apparently is like a full time job), Christine who is the wife of a recent convert and Juan. There's not a lot to tell about them.  We've just been meeting with them for a couple weeks, no super spiritual experiences with them yet.

Ariyana says she is willing to be baptized, but wants to tip-toe in before she makes a decision.

Today during my personal study I read in Mathew 11:28-30:

28 ¶^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest

.

29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and ^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light.

I was thinking about how if you look at the big picture, and do a cost/benefit analysis of living the gospel vs. not doing so. The logical choice is very clear. Even if the big picture is only this lifetime, the benefits of living the gospel immensely outweigh the costs. That is why we have the natural man. If we didn't have this body that wanted to do it's own (often self-destructive) thing. There would be no challenge, no learning, no growth. That challenge is the purpose of this life. Overcoming the self-destructive behaviors of the natural man. The burdens of sin, the burdens of sorrow, the burdens of pride and take upon ourselves the burden of the Lord. When we do so, we are happy, we become the people we are meant to be, and we live better. So, be smart, Choose Jesus. It is the only logical path to take.

I am really excited to go to the San Diego Temple this saturday for the Solis' sealing. Next week I will send a bunch of pictures of the San-diego temple and such. I'm going to be making some calls to find a ride today (got permission from President Smart).

We also had Stake Conference this Sunday. IT was a broadcast from Salt Lake. One of the seventies or Elder Anderson, I can't remember shared an interesting story about how two fishing boats were caught in a storm. One's engines broke, so the other was towing it. The storm got worse so they radioed for help. The coast guard, navy and fishing association gathered to figure out what to do. But they diliberated, disagreed, and were'nt able to come to a solution. Then they recieved a frantic transmission from the distressed boats. The tow cable had snapped, and the ships were capsizing. Frantically the rescuers went out, but it was too late. Both ships and their crews were lost to the sea.
The purpose of the story is not to spend forever deliberating about rescuing the Father's lost sheep. Go to, and God will see you through.

Thank you so much for everything, Love you guys!
Elder Bryce Johns.