Temple Jubilee!! One More Year to Serve the Lord

This week was fantastic! I got to go to the temple for my half-way point! I learned so much in that Holy House. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get back there as soon as possible. In this mission, you can go at your half-way point, and when you are working with somebody who is going to the temple for the first time.

We were able to meet with a less-active couple, M and B, that it's been hard to catch, and B told us that she wants to get her temple recommend and her patriarchal blessing. We are working hard with them to help them accomplish that goal.

 

We also met with A. He has a problem with coffee, and he drinks decaf all the time. We taught the Word of Wisdom to him, and we committed him to live it. I was expecting some push-back, but he told us he'll try hard to give up coffee. He is making a lot of great strides, and he is progressing wonderfully. I have already started to see a change in his countenance.

 

This week in Gospel Essentials/Principles class, we had the last lesson in the book, Exaltation. The teacher asked us a question: What do you think it's like in heaven? Do we get to relax and just sit on a beach, resting all day? The answer is that we aren't just working hard here to earn our reward in heaven, so then we can finally rest. Marion G. Romney said, "Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.

 

Knowing that service is what gives our Father in Heaven fulfillment, and knowing that we want to be where He is and as He is, why must we be commanded to serve one another?... Service is what Godhood is all about."

 

C. S. Lewis said, "The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says 'Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.'"

 

May we all strive to become more like our Savior, and become one with our Father in Heaven as Christ has asked of us. I love you all. Until next week, be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today.

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The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

My MTC boys at the Denver Temple.



Elder S, a.k.a. greedy King Laban.

 

Blessings Revealed

Well, this is going to be the last time I mention what week I'm on, seeing how my year mark is in 3 days, and rather coincidentally it is Week 50.

 

Our mission has a newsletter, and those who baptized somebody that month can submit a picture of them and the person that was baptized. I looked at the August Messenger, and I saw a picture of M, C, and S, THREE of the people I was working with back when I was in Indigo Ranch! M and S were baptized, and C was reactivated! That makes me so happy! I am so grateful that I was able to know that, and that I was able to take part in helping them through the conversion process! I am eternally grateful to my Father in Heaven for helping lead them to the light!

 

We went on exchanges this week, and as we were walking down the road, we passed a guy with a boa constrictor on his neck. I waved at him, but didn't say anything. My companion for the day blurted out, "Is that a snake?" It started a conversation, and we were able to get his address and he said he'd love for us to come talk about the answers Jesus Christ has given us for this life. We dropped by the next day and gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, and he seemed very interested. We set up an appointment for Sunday evening. When we dropped by on Sunday, his drunken wife answered the door, "Are you Mormons?" We said yes, to which she replied, "You gotta go." J, the man we met, tried to invite us in, but eventually told us to come back another time. Now if my companion had not opened his mouth, we never would have met Joel. My advice to you missionaries is to OPEN YOUR MOUTHS. Don't make the mistake I did.

 

I get to spend a whole day at the temple in three days. I will get to do every ordinance except for sealings. I am excited beyond belief! I can't wait for the temple! It is a place of holiness and peace, and there is no feeling that can really describe it. I invite you to get to the temple. The Lord will bless you as you attend His Holy House. I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

--

 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

Here's a little fun picture for you wonderful folks, by the way. BEHOLD, THE POWER OF PHYSICS!

 

 

Another view

 

Week 49: Elder Tibbitts, the Trainer Who Trains

Thanks for the movie reference joke, Mom!

So I got my little boy this week! His name is Elder Ss. He is from Michigan, he is a computer genius, and he is AWESOME! Our first week together was packed, and we had a great time! We had a few bumps with the people we are working with, but it was ultimately an incredible week, where a lot of awesome stuff happened.

 

We decided to go through all the former investigators in our area book, and we ended up coming across somebody who was very inviting and wants us to come back! We finally started making some progress with two of our less-active members. They have been progressing incredibly themselves, but now we were able to actually teach them a few lessons and help increase their knowledge of the Gospel, which after years of inactivity can diminish.

 

Also, another awesome thing happened this week. One of the missionaries that came out with me had to go home temporarily right after training, but during transfer meeting, I saw him in the hall! I nearly tackled him I was so excited to see him! Because he'd been gone for a while, he was being re-trained, and so I thought I'd be training him, which would have been awesome, but instead I got my super-cool amazing Elder Ss. Luckily, this other missionary isn't going to be too far away from us.

 

We had 2 missionary farewells this week during Sacrament Meeting. One of them quote a poem that I've heard before, but it reminded me of my duty as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It reads:

"The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear.

I am not ashamed of the gospel . . . Romans 1:16"

 

My brothers and sisters, be not weary in well-doing. Be not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stand valiant in your testimony of the Holy One of Israel. It will be the hardest thing you've ever done, but it will be of eternal significance.

 

Until next week,"be not discouraged, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord Thy God is with thee..."

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

My boy and an overly-excited me.

Me and my boy.

My entire MTC district that came to this mission, with our children (except for Sister Grow's child, who is taking the picture).



District Family History Booth from last week.

 

Week 48: Family History is Awesome!

Our district decided to set up a booth at a park. It was free lemonade and cookies, and free information about family history. It was awesome, and we all had a lot of fun. I also had super fun this morning cleaning out a foam pit. Oh yeah, you are totally jealous.

Our less-active friend A took us for a tour of the huge evangelical church in Colorado Springs. I felt a bit nervous at first walking in, because we aren't exactly the favorite of people there, but I eased up pretty quickly. It was a lot of fun.

Well, I'm going to get my new trainee tomorrow. Together, we will rule the mission.

We had a ton of meetings this week, between Train the Trainers, Specialized Training, and Zone Training, we were sitting down quite a bit.

D, one of our other less-active members, just got a recommend for his patriarchal blessing, and he is so excited. So am I! There are a lot of less-active members in this area that are making big strides to become fully active again and have the full blessings of the Gospel.

I have taken a copy of the Book of Mormon, and I started marking every time it mentioned the name of Jesus Christ. I got to page 77 and went back to see how much I'd marked, not including times where the names are side by side, and of course not pronouns. Do you want to know how many times I marked it in 77 pages? 475 times. The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is a book all about Him. It is a divine witness of the glory of the Messiah. If you haven't read it all the way through yet, I challenge you to do so. There is power in it, and you will find strength beyond your own. I leave you my testimony of the Book of Mormon in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, stand firm in the faith of Christ.

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

After zone training.

Week 47: "When I Left You I Was But a Learner; Now I am the Master."

So I got a call from my mission president on Thursday night. He asked me if I'd be willing to train! I am so excited to be a trainer! Transfers are next week, so I'll be waiting in anticipation of my new missionary for 8 more days.

So besides that awesome call, this week went pretty well. A came to church (two times in a row now since about 2 years ago), as well as a less-active family that we finally we are able to get into contact with this week. J came as well. He wants to move the baptismal date back just a little bit so he can work with his wife so she'll feel more comfortable about it.

We had dinner with J, J, and A and we got to have a wonderful lesson afterwards. I am so excited to continue to see the progress they are making.

I learned something really cool about the Garden of Gethsemane. The name "Gethsemane" means "oil press". There olives from the olive trees are placed in a basket, and put in the press. The incredible amount of pressure placed on the olives causes them to give up their oil. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the weight of all of mankind's sins and pains pressed down upon the sinless Son of God, a pressure so great, that it caused Him to give up His precious blood. "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44) He was completely innocent and pure, yet He took it upon Himself to suffer the pains of a damned soul, so that we could return to the Father if we repented. I am forever grateful to the Son of Man for His Infinite Atonement, for His boundless love and mercy, despite my carnal nature and sins. I am grateful that if I but repent, I can be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. I invite all of you to partake of that goodness, of that grace without end. The Savior's arms are outstretched in mercy and love. All you have to do is reach out to Him, and He can save you. Sometimes it is extremely difficult to make that step, but the Lord makes all things possible.

Until next week, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved.

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The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

My district in our last district meeting before transfers.