Week 42: Birthdays and Transfers

So in case none of you knew, it was my birthday this week. All the missionaries are jealous right now, because I have Meet the Mormons. The best birthday gift of the whole day was when one of our potential investigators invited us to come back and teach him and his son the Plan of Salvation!
 

So we got transfer calls this Saturday. There was quite the uproar in my district. Me and Elder L are getting flushed out, and the sisters in our district are taking over our area. I thought for sure my companion's knee would ensure him safety in transfers, but I guess it just goes to show you that NO ONE IS SAFE... I have confidence in the sisters to handle our area, though. I shall be going to North Colorado Springs, in the Monument Ward, which I have heard is also very wealthy. My zone leader will be Elder H, one of my greenie breakers. And funny enough, Elder L is going to be in the same zone with me! My new companion's name is Elder M.
 

Saying goodbye to the ward on Sunday was difficult. I've really grown to love these people, and I think they've loved me being there. But now it's time to go find the one I'm meant to help in a new area.

 

In 2 Nephi 32: 2, it reads, "Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?"
 

Think about that. If you are speaking with the Holy Ghost, your tongue is the tongue of angels. When you speak with the Holy Ghost, you are delivering an angelic message! It doesn't matter how simple YOUR words are, the Holy Ghost speaks more than words can say. Brigham Young wasn't converted in the first year that he started meeting with the missionaries. He was converted after a member bore a simple testimony. In his words, he said, "If all the talent, tact, wisdom, and refinement of the world had been sent to me with the Book of Mormon, and had declared, in the most exalted of earthly eloquence, the truth of it, undertaking to prove it by learning and worldly wisdom, they would have been to me like smoke which arises only to vanish away. But when I saw a man without eloquence or talents for public speaking, who could only say, ‘I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord,’ the Holy Ghost proceeding from that individual illuminated my understanding, and a light, glory, and immortality were before me. I was encircled by them, filled with them, and I knew for myself that the testimony of the man was true.”
 

You have the power to change lives. You can save those around you who are sinking into despair! If you have been baptized and been instructed by the Priesthood to "Receive the Holy Ghost," then you have been given the power to be a savior to your neighbors and friends, helping them receive the Savior into their lives. Don't ever hold that gift back. Use it. Elder Thomas S. Monson said in 1973: “Regarding one’s testimony, remember, that which one willingly shares he keeps, while that which he selfishly keeps he loses. … Teach and testify. There is no better combination.”
 

I promise you that if you share your testimony, then you will grow in your testimony, and both you and your friend will feel the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I leave that with you in His Holy Name, amen.

 

Until next week, remember, the world needs your light.

 

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The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

The district I am now leaving.

The bishop's son's shoes. The bishop said he offered to toss them out, but his son told him, "You can take them home, but you have to promise me you won't throw them away. My testimony is in those shoes."

 

Week 41: Fractured Feet and Dog Bites

So we had zone conference this week, and it looks like we are going to start making a major push to increase the quality of Sabbath Day Observance. It is a major problem for a lot of people, and it is one of the biggest reasons we have so many less-active members. It looks like we are in sync with the Spirit, because that is the lesson we are planning on teaching with I, because the family doesn't attend Sacrament Meeting as often as they could.

 

So the title of this email is a bit of a misnomer. I actually DON'T have a fractured ankle, but that was my worry. I had an X-ray recently, and it is just some soft-tissue swelling. My companion's knee is broken, however, so he'll have to stay in this area due to it being so close to a hospital. I hope that doesn't mean that I'm getting transferred. This is the last week of the transfer.

 

We have had lessons with all of our dinner appointments this week, and they referred us to two part-member families that might be ready for the lessons now. We've already set up an appointment with one of them later on today. I think these part-member families might be a big focus in this area for us.

So we went on exchanges, and I was in Castle Pines. We went to an investigators house, and the missionary I was with pointed at the little Dachshund and said, "Don't worry, it bites." I thought he was joking, and when he pet it, it didn't bite him, so I thought that was confirmation. but as soon as I started to pet it, it bit my hand. It wasn't that bad, just enough to break skin, but now I have that mission experience. I actually remember right after being bit, thinking, "Cool, I just reached a milestone in my mission!"

 

When the Savior was suffering in Gethsemane for all the sins of mankind, his Apostles were fast asleep, just a stone's toss away. He woke them up and told them, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (Matthew 26:40) Brothers and sisters, I ask you that same question: Can you not watch with Jesus for one hour? You get that opportunity every Sabbath Day at Sacrament Meeting. Sacrament Meeting is a time for us to focus all of our thoughts on the Savior of Mankind, leaving behind all other personal affairs and distractions. It is a time for mercy and healing, yet so many refuse such a gift. How do they refuse it? By choosing to focus their thoughts and energy on something less important, sometimes in the middle of the very ordinance of the Sacrament! It is not a time for Facebook or Twitter. It's not a time to text your friends. It is not a time to think about that cute girl or boy sitting a few pews in front of you. It is not a time to think about the burden of school work or the ever-looming deadline of your company project. It IS a time to forget all about those things and focus on forgiveness and repentance. The Sacrament is the only ordinance that we get to take more than once for ourselves, and that is because it holds all the other ordinances together. Without it, we cannot progress into the eternities, because despite our best efforts, the stain of our sins still linger. The Sacrament that Christ instituted is an integral part of the Atonement, and in many senses, it was the beginning of the Atonement process. We cannot be cleansed of sin without utilizing the fulness of the Atonement.

 

Brothers and sisters, NEVER take the Sacrament for granted. Never take the Sabbath Day for granted. They are immeasurable gifts from an Almighty God.

 

Until next week, be true to the faith. Here are some pictures from the mission conference with Elder Holland. (No, I am not in any of the 90 pictures taken there. My companion thought it would be a good idea to sit in the right-side pew near the very back, though I protested. He has a picture of shaking Elder Holland's hand, but I am just barely out of the picture.)

Picture 1: Elder Holland entering.

Picture 2: Elder Holland speaking.

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The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

Dog bite :)



Elder Holland enters.

Elder Holland speaks.

Elder Holland speaks.

Mission quartet.

Singing.

 

Week 40: Super-Progressing Less-Active

This week we didn't do as much teaching as usual. We did a LOT of service, however. There is a less-active family that lives in Castle Pines that is preparing for a family reunion. We got to take down one of their bushes. I got to use a saw that unfolded like a switch-blade. We took out both of the stumps. I wouldn't mind carrying that saw around with me.

 

We had dinner with a family that we ate with when the Spanish elders were having dinner with us, so they invited the Spanish elders for dinner again. I got to relive sitting next to a German, an El Salvadoran, a Samoan, and me, the Utahn. The Spanish elders made sure to remind me of that joke. We are going to be starting active-member lessons with that family next week, when they have us and the Spanish elders over for dinner again. One of them is an RM from Mexico City, and he said he loved the active-member lessons, because they were the only way he could really find people to teach since they weren't allowed to go tracting.

 

Last Monday we went to Devil's Head in Pikes National Forest at the request of the YSA sisters and some other missionaries. If we had known it would cost us about 90 miles from our monthly mile allotment, we wouldn't have gone. We have been trying so hard this week to conserve our miles, but most of our appointments this week have taken us to the far parts of our area. Looks like we might be using the soles of our shoes for transportation a lot this month.

 

We met with B again this week, our less-active member. He came to church this week again. That's three times in a row! He told us he hasn't done that in about 10 years! He is progressing so much, and he doesn't even realize it all the way. I told him that out of all the people I've met with in my mission so far, he is probably the one who has progressed the most. He said that the first time he went to church out of these three times is because somebody challenged him to fast. He said it was too hard, so they said that they would fast for him. He didn't want to feel lame for not fasting when somebody else is fasting for him, so he decided after to fast, and since he was already fasting, he decided he might as well come to church. He never mentioned a name, either because he forgot or because he didn't want to mention the name. That was me! I'm the one who said I'd fast for him, and I never realized the good that came out of it until now! He is now coming to church, reading his scriptures, and praying! He has made so much progress since the first time I met with him. I'm grateful that the Lord has placed me in this area to see Him work miracles with this guy!

 

Sometimes we may feel like we are suffering with too many trials and temptations than we can possibly endure. The Lord has promised us that we will never be given more than we can bear. Some of you may wonder how that is possible. There are many ways, but here is one reason that we can always overcome. One of the servants of Elisha felt overwhelmed by the Syrian army that encompassed their city. He was frightened, and asked Elisha how they could possible prevail. In 2 Kings 6: 16-17, we learn an important truth. "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

 

Never forget that the Lord has given you legions of angels to bear you up. No matter how difficult the situation may seem, YOU CAN OVERCOME IT, because you have the armies of heaven to help you.

 

I leave the Lord's blessing upon all of you, that you may be able to utilize the legions of angels round about you, and that through your faith in the Savior, you may find peace in the midst of turmoil. And I do so in the name of the Holy One of Israel, Jesus Christ, amen.

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

The beginning of Devil's Head Trail,
which left us with a famine of miles.

The ultimate prize in ascending to the top of Devil's head.

 

Week 39: The Work Progresses

The work in this area continues to speed up. This area is not the same as when I first came here. Transfers are in 3 weeks, and I pray that I will stay here. I say that for every area I've been in, but I am amazed by the miracles the Lord has blessed us with.

 

We had dinner with an active member family, and they invited their non-member friend, E, over for dinner as well. They've be talking with her for a while, and she has grown up her whole life with Mormon friends. She didn't grow up in Utah or Idaho, but she was that girl who didn't want to smoke or drink or be immoral, so she tried to find friends like that. Turns out that was the Mormons. She grew up in a different church which she described as very dogmatic, and after some things, she became estranged from the member of that church. Since then her relationship with God has been strained. We had a nice fun conversation about the Church and other things, and we taught her briefly about the Restoration. She said she'd text the members if she wanted us to come by again, but the whole time we were there it was fantastic. We did service for the members' other next-door neighbors, moving them out, and E was there. She texted the members later and told them how impressed she was with us. By the way, the mother of the member family happens to be the sister of one of the AWESOME guys I graduated with! Hopefully more will come out of this.

 

We met with I again for the second time, and taught the family the Plan of Salvation. We tried to extend a baptismal invitation, but he refused, saying, "You can't set a date on a spiritual journey." He said some other things as well besides that, but that was what I remember the most. We invited him to look at all his favorite aspects of all the religions and philosophies he studies, and to compare them to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to see if the Church doesn't match up to or improve those aspects.

 

B, our less-active member, has come to church 3 times in a row now! Before that he hadn't come in years from what I understand. He even came to Gospel Principles with us! He is progressing by leaps and bounds, and I don't think he even realizes it! He is incredible!

 

We had a Stake Priesthood Meeting yesterday, and they emphasized temple attendance and Sabbath Day observance. President L told a story about a family that was pressed for time in finishing their new house. They decided that they'd stop coming to church for the next 6 months to focus on finishing the home, since that was the father's only day off of work. It was strongly advised against, but they stopped coming anyway, deciding that it would only be a short amount of time, and after that they'd come every Sunday. That family never came back. Six months came and went, and the house was finished, but the family never returned to church. Brothers and sisters, in the words of Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve, "An old proverb says, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step', so watch your step," With every passing Sabbath Day that they did not attend Sacrament Meeting, that family took one step farther away from the path of light and truth. Soon they were far off course and in the dark, and they forgot the blessings that come from partaking of the Sacrament. We cannot allow this to happen to us. President L said that back in the days where there were three separate meetings, instead of one three-hour block, his family used to drive home from Priesthood Meeting and buy donuts, but President Kimball came out and said that shopping on Sunday was breaking the spirit of the Sabbath, so they immediately stopped. Look at your own Sabbath day observance, and see if there is anything you can do to be better. I promise you that you will feel more rejuvenated and refreshed as you do so each Sunday. The Lord loves you, and so do I.

 

Until next week, remember, "You don't know WHO you are." -Elder Holland (in an address to the youth in the Colorado Springs Mission boundaries)

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

Me at the top of the Castle Rock

It's the CIRCLE OF LIFE!!!!!

 

Week 38: The Work and the Temple

The work in this area has really been picking up over the last few weeks. We are teaching a lot more lessons, and the members are getting more on-board with missionary work. There was only two sad parts about this week. One was the passing away of Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, though that was not too sad for me, because I know that he has served the Lord with his whole soul and that he gets to continue to serving Him on the other side of the veil. The other sad thing was that R and M, some potential investigators we've been trying to start teaching, slammed the door on us, well Mary did, who we hadn't really met before. I am considering going back and asking for just 5 minutes of their time.

 

I is the non-member of a part-member family. He is awesome. He has a calling in the Church and everything, but he hasn't been baptized yet. We weren't able to meet with him at all last transfer, but we had dinner with his family last week. We taught them the Restoration after, then we talked about how one of the commandments God asks us to follow is to be baptized. I then looked at I and said, "We know you haven't been baptized yet, but you are extremely active in the Church. If you don't mind me asking, what are your reasons for not being baptized yet?" He said that he doesn't think there is only one way to return to God, so he gets hung up on our claim to be the one true Church of Jesus Christ. We are starting the lessons again with them.

 

We had dinner at a member's home who are friends with B, one of our less-active members. We were planning on having a lesson with him at their home that weekend, so they just invited B to dinner with us. After having a sugar-loaded dinner, we naturally shifted into a spiritual conversation. B told us something that is probably one of the highlights of my mission so far. He said, "My reasons for coming back to church are really just selfish. I keep trying to come back to the Church because it makes me feel better." The members said, "Doesn't that tell you something about the Church?" He admitted that he knows what it means, but that he is stubborn and scared sometimes to actually say that. It made me feel wonderful to know that he knows that this is the true Church. He has been progressing so wonderfully. We ended up having a 2-hour-long discussion. I knew it was going on for a while, but the Spirit was so strong that I couldn't end it.

 

Elder L reached his half-way point, so he got to go on a Temple Jubilee with everybody at their half-way point, including the Sisters that came out with me. It was a full temple day, and I was rather jealous. I actually tried to get into the van, but the sisters knew I wasn't at my halfway point yet and told me to get out.

 

We had Ward Conference this Sunday. In the youth class, one of the stake leaders had the two laurels in our ward come up and look in a mirror and describe themselves. Then he had the rest of the class describe them. Then he pulled out two Sister missionary nametags, one from his mother, and the other from his daughter, and had them put them on, then had everybody describe them again. I had to remind myself to breath, because it was so powerful to see them put on those nametags. It felt to me like I was watching the mantle of a missionary being placed upon their shoulders.

 

To all of you who are reading this email, I proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He is the Savior of Mankind, the God of this Earth, and the Guardian of my soul. He is my perfect Exemplar, and my kindest Friend. He offers limitless mercy to those who will follow Him. He will lift you up and bear your burdens. He is the Light of the World, and He is the Way. I invite you to come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him. He will take away your sorrows, and He will save you, for He is mighty to save.

 

Until next week, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

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The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts