When Life Gets Rough, You Push on Through

This is my second time writing this: somebody bumped the cord at the library and shut off my computer on accident.

Not to worry, not too much happened this week. Most of our appointments cancelled, so we spent most of our week going out and finding.

We were able to get back into the home of a former investigator, J, whose wife is a less-active member. He said he'd love to do scripture study with us again, and possibly the lessons!

We had a Primary Program at Sacrament Meeting yesterday. It is always incredible to see the little children singing and sharing their testimonies of the Savior. There was even a part for the Primary kid with a severe disability. She was able to speak her part through her talker. The Primary President received a specific prompting to give her a part. The whole Program was incredible! And our less-active member D, AND his wife, were there!

If you haven't heard, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve passed away this week, making it 3 vacancies in the Twelve right now. The last time 3 Apostles were sustained was April of 1906. We'll see if 3 are sustained this week, seeing how Elder Scott passed away so close to the next General Conference.

In Matthew 4: 45, the Savior says, "... for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ and being righteous does not ensure you freedom from trials. Nobody is exempt from that. Jesus Christ, the Sinless One, endured more persecution than is possible for us to even come close to imagining. The difference between the just and unjust is that the just can have peace ALWAYS, and the unjust only when times are easy. In True to the Faith, it tells us that peace is NOT the absence of war. Nothing can take peace away from you if you have "your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"(Ephesians 6:15) Your peace is up to you. The Savior was always full of peace, even when He lost his dearest friends, was betrayed by them, and suffered anguish beyond imagination. Pray for peace. The Prince of Peace can grant this priceless gift to you.

Until next week, peace be unto you.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Service, Service, and More Service

Well, we did a lot of service this week. I got to weed-whack a forest, volunteer at the Bishop's Storehouse, haul wood from the first floor to the second floor of a house, and shovel rocks. Let me tell you, service really does lift the soul. I had a fantastic week just because of all that service I did. I actually filled up a ditch with all the weeds I killed, including my mortal enemy, mullen. It reminded me of a scripture: "Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies." (Alma 49:22)

I also experienced not only the lifting power of service, but the rejuvenating power of the Sacrament. I have always noticed that on the Sabbath Days where I have devoted all my energy during the Sacrament to thinking about the Sacrament and the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have felt my body and soul being renewed and refreshed. I definitely felt it this week, and it is an incredible feeling. The whole sacrament meeting was incredible. The topic was on finding peace, and the youth speaker actually started crying when she talked about prayer as a source of peace. I could tell she had a spiritual experience preparing her talk.

The youth speaker said, "I know that we need to talk with our Heavenly Father, because when we don't talk with our family, it really messes things up." It is SO important to talk to Heavenly Father. He is literally our Father, and one of the best ways we can grow in our relationship with Him is by talking to Him through prayer. It can heal our souls, and give us peace beyond our imagination. He wants so badly to talk to us, but only if we choose to listen. President Hugh B. Brown, then a member of the First Presidency, once had a conversation with one of his friends. After discussing the idea that God speaks to man today, his friend asked him why he thinks God doesn't speak to man. President Brown said, "God DOES speak today, but men need faith to hear Him." I promise you that if you will seek to develop your relationship with your Father in Heaven, He will bless you with peace and joy.

Until next week, don't you ever give up.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Me and Elder Ss at O'Malleys.

Our district hiking.

Final district picture before transfers (no, I'm staying).

Alpacas and Emergency Preparedness

Well, I can say that I've bucked hay bales all the way from La Junta to Lone Tree (the bottom and top of the mission), and I've done it in the middle as well. Every time I finish hay bales, my arms are all scratched up, and I tell myself, "You should buy a long-sleeve shirt for working on the farm." Maybe one day I'll listen to that voice in my head. I got to move hay again, at another alpaca farm. For those of you who don't know, there is money in the alpaca business, in case you were thinking of alternative career paths.

We also had an Emergency Preparedness Fair this week, and the members set up a booth for us that was showing Meet the Mormons. It wasn't exactly the biggest hit in the fair for the community, and by that I mean about three non-members came into the room. Two of them was a father and son. After watching it for a while, he got up, grabbed a copy of the Book of Mormon off the table, and turned to me, saying, "You are probably an expert on this book." In my mind, I thought, "Oh no. This could go two ways." He explained that he had a copy of the Book of Mormon for about 10 years now, but every time he tried to read it chronologically, he couldn't absorb all the history and understand exactly what was going on. I suggested some other methods of study, including using the Index for topical study, and also the footnotes on the bottom. He understood the story of Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith pretty well (because he'd actually read Joseph's testimony in the front of the book), though he had just a few gaps of information. I related the story of Joseph's search for the truth leading to the First Vision, and he listened the whole time earnestly. He thanked me and said it would be a lot easier to read the Book of Mormon now. We were able to exchange our numbers, ours AND his (very important), and he said he'd invite us to his house after trying to read the Book of Mormon again.

If you have not read the 4th Missionary yet, I highly recommend it. One of the things that is mentioned in there is the idea of faith. Faith requires two things. First, you need to have faith in God the Father and in His Son Jesus Christ. Second, you need to have a knowledge that the things you are doing are in accordance with God's will and therefore make you worthy to receive God's help in all things. In other words, faith in God, and faith in yourself. Both are necessary to grow and exercise faith. God wants to help all His children, but we must be willing to put forth the effort to do what He would have us do. Faith is the power by which miracles are wrought, and it can not only change the world, but more importantly it can change you. I challenge you to do everything you can to grow strong in your faith. As you do, God will bless you with miracles and divine help.

Until next week, be strong, and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Dem "alpacas"

"Eat Mor Chikin"

The Ward Family

We got a text from B, one of our less-active recent converts, this week, telling us that she was going to be able to come to church this week! Her work has prevented her from coming since April, but she was finally able to get this Sunday off! We have a Work of Salvation Fireside in Colorado Springs, where recent converts and those who have returned to activity share their conversion story. Brook said she wanted to speak at it, and she was able to partake of the Sacrament before she spoke that night! One thing that she said at the Fireside was, "One of the things that scared me most about this Church was that it was a big family. I've never had a real family, but even after not being at church for months, these people have welcomed me back with open arms, not judging me at all." That is one of the biggest things that this Church does for people. They give them a family, a place to belong. Everybody cares about you and wants you to succeed. B is going to be able to start coming to church more often, maybe even every Sunday now, and that is something that excites her so much.

The other great thing that happened this week is that we were able to get in contact with C M again! We have a lesson with her today, and she was excited to see us again. It's been about a month since last contact, and so we are really excited to meet with her again.

Like B said at the Work of Salvation Fireside, one of the greatest things about this Church is that it is a family. We often call our ward our ward family, and rightly so. Home and visiting teachers, quorums and organizations, a loving bishop who wants to help you succeed, and so much more. It has to be of divine origin. But just like any family, it takes work to make it a loving, caring environment. You have to put forth your own effort to reach out and lift the broken-hearted. The ward is only as good as it's members. Are you doing everything you can to make it feel like family? I hope so. I want to invite you to find somebody in your ward/community who is struggling, and find a way to lift them up, just like you would with your brother or sister, because that is who they are. I promise that if you do, you will be lifted yourself, and you will feel the joy of discipleship.

Until next week, the Lord loves you, and so do I.

Oh and by the way, we had a Labor Day Luau back in my old district. I got to dance and eat pig. That's right, be super jealous.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Getting ready to kiss the pig! HAHA

The fully-roasted pig (BE JEALOUS!)

Me and Sister Elama in our awesome lava lavas. You wish you had such comfortable and stylish clothing.