Week 30: Service, Easter, Conference, and Transfers

This week has been packed completely full with service, so much that we barely even had time to teach any lessons. We usually do maybe 2 hours of service a week, and this week we did about 15! It was just non-stop service! It was so fun! We got to work at the Cheyenne Mountains Zoo, digging holes for posts for the new Bald Eagle Exhibit. We all now realize that there are a lot of Disney songs about digging holes. We kept making jokes like, "Here you can see the Mormon Missionaries in their natural habitat. They live on a diet of green Jello and funeral potatoes. Don't feed them coffee, that'll make them angry. Oh look, they've spotted us, it looks like they want to extend a baptismal invitation!" After we finished volunteering, we got to go through the zoo for free.

Easter was fantastic! It keeps in perspective that our true purpose as missionaries is to testify of Christ, not the Restoration, which is only incidental to our real message. It was a beautiful day, and everybody was so happy. We also got to color eggs!

 

General Conference was AWESOME!!! The General Authorities and Officers were so bold this time around. It is the 100th anniversary this year of Jesus the Christ and Family Home Evening, the 20th anniversary of The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and the 15th anniversary of The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles. There was a big emphasis on The Proclamation to the World, and the Apostles and General Authorities didn't mince words. They made the Church's stance very clear, and they called the members to action. To me, it's a sign of the approaching of the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The world is getting more hostile, so we have to stand up stronger.

 

Well, it looks like I'm getting transferred to Castle Rock zone, Lone Tree area. My new companion is Elder M, who happened to serve in Indigo Ranch with Elder H! I'll be heading out to there on Tuesday. I am sad to leave behind all the people here, but I'm ready for whatever adventure lies ahead.

 

There was a lot said about families in General Conference. They are the focus of our religion, the key to everything we do in the Gospel. Without eternal families, the whole Plan of Salvation would not be what it is. God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be — This is how He shares His love, for the family is of God. If you grew up in Primary or watched the General Women's Session, you may recognize that phrase. Do not forget that the family is constantly under attack by the adversary. They are our greatest source of happiness, and so the enemy of all happiness wants to destroy them. Do all you can to strengthen your families, and do not forget that we are all brothers and sisters.

 

Until next week, remember that faith is the remedy for fear.

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The Lord's Soldier,

                Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts