Here are some quotes from Joseph Smith that I stuck out to me while I was browsing them. I especially like the last one. If we want to go where God is, We have to be like God...Families can be together forever, but only if we as individuals are pulling ourselves closer each and every day to our Father and His Son.
Hell may pour forth its rage like the burning lava of Mount Vesuvius . . . and yet shall "Mormonism" stand. . . . God is the author of it. He is our shield. . . . It was by Him we received the Book of Mormon; and it is by Him that we remain unto this day; and by Him we shall remain, if it shall be for our glory; and in His Almighty name we are determined to endure tribulation as good soldiers unto the end.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 139.
Brethren, some of you are angry with me, because you did not fight in Missouri; but let me tell you, God did not want you to fight. He could not organize his kingdom with twelve men to open the gospel door to the nations of the earth, and with seventy men under their direction to follow in their tracks, unless he took them from a body of men who had offered their lives, and who had made as great a sacrifice as did Abraham. Now, the Lord has got his Twelve and his Seventy, and there will be other quorums of Seventies called, who will make the sacrifice, and those who have not made their sacrifices and their offerings now, will make them hereafter.
Quoted in Joseph Young Sr., History of the Organization of the Seventies (1878), 14.
I defy all the world to destroy the work of God; and I prophesy they never will have power to kill me till my work is accomplished, and I am ready to die.
History of the Church, 6:58.
I know not why; but for some reason I am constrained to hasten my preparations, and to confer upon the Twelve all the ordinances, keys, covenants, endowments, and sealing ordinances of the priesthood, and so set before them a pattern in all things pertaining to the sanctuary and the endowment therein.
Quoted by Parley P. Pratt in "Proclamation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," Millennial Star, Mar. 1845, 151.
I shall speak with authority of the Priesthood in the name of the Lord God, which shall prove a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. . . . If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from Him and drawing towards the devil. . . . Search your hearts, and see if you are like God. I have searched mine, and feel to repent of all my sins.
History of the Church, 4:588; paragraph divisions altered.
I love you all. Wrexham is doing well. Our investigator Elaine is being baptized this coming Saturday the 30th of July. Elder Webb will hopefully be able to baptist her or else I will be doing it. The gospel never stops spreading. Everyday someone else is accepting the Spirits invitation to "Come Unto Christ".
I love you, hope to hear from you,
Elder Blackburn
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
July 18, 2011
Well the last couple days have been very interesting. I am getting a little taste of Logan's mission life or at least that transfer of it. Elder Webb is healing up from his Appendicitis from a week ago. He wants to go out but we are commanded to take it slowly by President Preston. He is looking ok and we walked the 20 mins here to the library this morning. But I have to tell him to slow down because he doesn't want to look weak. I was going to send you a picture of us, but I am pretty sure for some reason my Gigaware cord is broken now...sorry if it cost a lot =/. No more pictures for awhile. Wales is beautiful and the language is hilarious. Doesn't make any grammatical sense of ANY kind LL makes the flem sound.
This week we will probably take some planned walks so I can at least get to know our area and not just the way to the library and ASDA (Walmart owned UK store). But we have cleaned out one of the messiest area books I have seen. I threw away A LOT of junk and then have finished the New Testament again. I am now in the middle of my Backwards Book of Mormon reading verse by verse. It is really interesting. It cuts out a lot of the war stuff that I like, but it is helping point out other verses to me and it points out to me when I start spacing off because I have to finish a verse and skip up but sometimes I just keep reading. See it does work. Today what really stuck out to me was Mormon 9. All of it was good. But I really like Mormon 9:1-5, and 28.
28 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.
It is sort of a rebuking scripture to me because I think I have gained a good chunk of Knowledge on my mission, but I do not think I have turned it into wisdom which is frustrating. The difference between knowledge and wisdom to me is that one can know a lot but still act like an imbecile (spell check corrected that and that is just a weird way to spell it!) but moving on...When one is wise he is able to take the knowledge he has gained and apply it positively, correctly, and continuously to each circumstance he finds himself in. That is why I think I am lacking in the Gift of Wisdom and why I think that gift is greater than the gift of knowledge...
It was sad to leave the Reynolds family and the rest in Ashton, but I found I already know a lot of people here in Wrexham just because they are family members to the people in Bolton and Ashton and President Preston himself.
Stake President, President Martin was here this weekend for Ward Conference and he taught the Priesthood lesson. I would say it resembled President Uchtdorf's talk about living below our standards and his last couple. Except President Martin took a little bit more bold approach with these brethren which he can do because of his relationship with each of them. He said that there were probably only 20 priesthood holders in the stake that would do anything that the bishops asked them to do. I started thinking of our own ward. How many are there that would do anything that the bishop asked, whether it was to teach primary or teach the High Priests? How many can be called on and counted on in a moments notice? Can you be called and relied upon to render the service required? Really what people are saying to the bishop when they say "No" to a calling is saying, "No, I don't sustain or support you. I don't believe that you are inspired in your decision making, and I will not do what the Lord has asked me to do to build up the kingdom at this crucial time." Have you ever wondered why very strong high priests end up teaching primary classes? Have you ever wondered why the strongest are not up front? Because one of the most stressful things for a Bishop is filling the callings that "no one wants to do". So he calls on the faithful, the humble, the willing, the submissive, the Mosiah 3:19s of the ward. He is confident that they can and will do it HAPPILY! What is the difference between Laman/Lemuel and Nephi. Not the fact that they didn't do it. They did everything Nephi did. But it was their attitude.
The Lord will not command us to come into the Celestial Kingdom if our heart is not desiring it and focused.
No, he has prepared a lower degree of glory for those whose hearts are aimed for a lower degree. So my challenge for all of you is to aim a little higher and steady your shot, so that when the captain calls 'Fire', you will hit what your heart desires.
(Yeah it rhymed...) It is that true.
I love you all!
Elder Blackburn
This week we will probably take some planned walks so I can at least get to know our area and not just the way to the library and ASDA (Walmart owned UK store). But we have cleaned out one of the messiest area books I have seen. I threw away A LOT of junk and then have finished the New Testament again. I am now in the middle of my Backwards Book of Mormon reading verse by verse. It is really interesting. It cuts out a lot of the war stuff that I like, but it is helping point out other verses to me and it points out to me when I start spacing off because I have to finish a verse and skip up but sometimes I just keep reading. See it does work. Today what really stuck out to me was Mormon 9. All of it was good. But I really like Mormon 9:1-5, and 28.
28 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.
It is sort of a rebuking scripture to me because I think I have gained a good chunk of Knowledge on my mission, but I do not think I have turned it into wisdom which is frustrating. The difference between knowledge and wisdom to me is that one can know a lot but still act like an imbecile (spell check corrected that and that is just a weird way to spell it!) but moving on...When one is wise he is able to take the knowledge he has gained and apply it positively, correctly, and continuously to each circumstance he finds himself in. That is why I think I am lacking in the Gift of Wisdom and why I think that gift is greater than the gift of knowledge...
It was sad to leave the Reynolds family and the rest in Ashton, but I found I already know a lot of people here in Wrexham just because they are family members to the people in Bolton and Ashton and President Preston himself.
Stake President, President Martin was here this weekend for Ward Conference and he taught the Priesthood lesson. I would say it resembled President Uchtdorf's talk about living below our standards and his last couple. Except President Martin took a little bit more bold approach with these brethren which he can do because of his relationship with each of them. He said that there were probably only 20 priesthood holders in the stake that would do anything that the bishops asked them to do. I started thinking of our own ward. How many are there that would do anything that the bishop asked, whether it was to teach primary or teach the High Priests? How many can be called on and counted on in a moments notice? Can you be called and relied upon to render the service required? Really what people are saying to the bishop when they say "No" to a calling is saying, "No, I don't sustain or support you. I don't believe that you are inspired in your decision making, and I will not do what the Lord has asked me to do to build up the kingdom at this crucial time." Have you ever wondered why very strong high priests end up teaching primary classes? Have you ever wondered why the strongest are not up front? Because one of the most stressful things for a Bishop is filling the callings that "no one wants to do". So he calls on the faithful, the humble, the willing, the submissive, the Mosiah 3:19s of the ward. He is confident that they can and will do it HAPPILY! What is the difference between Laman/Lemuel and Nephi. Not the fact that they didn't do it. They did everything Nephi did. But it was their attitude.
The Lord will not command us to come into the Celestial Kingdom if our heart is not desiring it and focused.
No, he has prepared a lower degree of glory for those whose hearts are aimed for a lower degree. So my challenge for all of you is to aim a little higher and steady your shot, so that when the captain calls 'Fire', you will hit what your heart desires.
(Yeah it rhymed...) It is that true.
I love you all!
Elder Blackburn
Thursday, July 14, 2011
New Address
My new address is this.
Elder Blackburn
8 Acton Park Way
Wrexham
CLWYD
LL12 7LD
I am in Wrexham or Wrecsam if you are Welsh. Welcome to Wales! =P
Elder Blackburn
8 Acton Park Way
Wrexham
CLWYD
LL12 7LD
I am in Wrexham or Wrecsam if you are Welsh. Welcome to Wales! =P
Letter from a Member
Dear Vickie & Bob,
We just through we'd drop you a quick note to let you know how wonderful it has been for us to have your son in our Ward for this past 3 months.
Our family has truly been blessed with the fantastic example that Elder Blackburn has been to all our 5 children. We have had the opportunity to have the Elders in our home for meals and Elder Blackburn has been a really positive influence of how a Missionary should be in his fun-loving and spiritual nature. He, along with his companion, have shared Gospel messages with our family and both of us have had the opportunity to be a part of teaching a couple of investigators with him too which was a real blessing to be a part of.
Elder Blackburn has probably told you about our garden which we bought a little over a year ago now (an eighth of an acre within sight of our house). Unfortunately I was admitted to hospital after an accident within a day of completing the purchase and was unable to walk for months, I have since had several operations on my knees with more lined up in a couple of months. On top of this Steven was admitted to hospital just over a month ago and to cut a long story short Elder Blackburn and his companions have on several occasions spent a couple of hours of their 'service' time helping us which has been very much appreciated as they have been able to do things that we are currently unable to do (though I am now able to walk around to the garden and 'potter' around!). They have been helping us get the ground prepared for the swing-set that the children saved their birthday money for, the photo was taken this Tuesday as they were digging out some of the ground!
We have found him to be very hard working and he has been seen on a number of occasions running up to people in the street in order to start up a Gospel conversation. He and his companion have managed to get a number of investigators out to Church and despite the disappointment with the Baptism falling through on his birthday he has continued to work hard and a number of investigators appear to be progressing well towards baptism.
We shall certainly miss him!
Kind regards,
The Reynolds
(Ashton 1 Ward)
We just through we'd drop you a quick note to let you know how wonderful it has been for us to have your son in our Ward for this past 3 months.
Our family has truly been blessed with the fantastic example that Elder Blackburn has been to all our 5 children. We have had the opportunity to have the Elders in our home for meals and Elder Blackburn has been a really positive influence of how a Missionary should be in his fun-loving and spiritual nature. He, along with his companion, have shared Gospel messages with our family and both of us have had the opportunity to be a part of teaching a couple of investigators with him too which was a real blessing to be a part of.
Elder Blackburn has probably told you about our garden which we bought a little over a year ago now (an eighth of an acre within sight of our house). Unfortunately I was admitted to hospital after an accident within a day of completing the purchase and was unable to walk for months, I have since had several operations on my knees with more lined up in a couple of months. On top of this Steven was admitted to hospital just over a month ago and to cut a long story short Elder Blackburn and his companions have on several occasions spent a couple of hours of their 'service' time helping us which has been very much appreciated as they have been able to do things that we are currently unable to do (though I am now able to walk around to the garden and 'potter' around!). They have been helping us get the ground prepared for the swing-set that the children saved their birthday money for, the photo was taken this Tuesday as they were digging out some of the ground!
We have found him to be very hard working and he has been seen on a number of occasions running up to people in the street in order to start up a Gospel conversation. He and his companion have managed to get a number of investigators out to Church and despite the disappointment with the Baptism falling through on his birthday he has continued to work hard and a number of investigators appear to be progressing well towards baptism.
We shall certainly miss him!
Kind regards,
The Reynolds
(Ashton 1 Ward)
July 14, 2011
Hey everyone,
I am now in Wrexham or Wrecsam, Wales. The first spelling is English and the Second spelling is Welsh but then that is probably the closest you will get in any of the words. They do not even look like words just puzzle pieces on the signs here. Luckily, most people still speak 95% English here. Most know Welsh and if they don't like you will start speaking Welsh to you haha.
My new companion is Elder Webb from Bristol, England. He is 1 of 6 children. Extremely good looking and about 5 lbs lighter since last Thursday because he was rushed to the A&E with a bursting appendix! haha. No kidding. We are going to be taking it nice and slow for the next week and a half by president's, doctor's and my orders. It will take some effort because he has a real desire to work. If you remember Elder Stubbs...Austrailian, He was trained by Elder Jager from Germany and I follow up trained him. Well Elder Webb was trained by Elder Jager too and I am follow up training him. But he is ready and prepared so my job is basically done. We have got along great so far.
Anyways, Wales is beautiful. I did not think I was going to miss Ashton 1st as much as I do, but I guess that comes with PMG chp 6. I felt a little bit of a twinge. I am now not looking forward to any bittersweet moment of Manchester Airport...NOT GOOD! The other side of the mountain is very steep and it seems to go faster!
We will try and be as diligent as we can for the next 2 weeks while being stuck inside almost...LOVE YOU ALL!
Elder Blackburn
I am now in Wrexham or Wrecsam, Wales. The first spelling is English and the Second spelling is Welsh but then that is probably the closest you will get in any of the words. They do not even look like words just puzzle pieces on the signs here. Luckily, most people still speak 95% English here. Most know Welsh and if they don't like you will start speaking Welsh to you haha.
My new companion is Elder Webb from Bristol, England. He is 1 of 6 children. Extremely good looking and about 5 lbs lighter since last Thursday because he was rushed to the A&E with a bursting appendix! haha. No kidding. We are going to be taking it nice and slow for the next week and a half by president's, doctor's and my orders. It will take some effort because he has a real desire to work. If you remember Elder Stubbs...Austrailian, He was trained by Elder Jager from Germany and I follow up trained him. Well Elder Webb was trained by Elder Jager too and I am follow up training him. But he is ready and prepared so my job is basically done. We have got along great so far.
Anyways, Wales is beautiful. I did not think I was going to miss Ashton 1st as much as I do, but I guess that comes with PMG chp 6. I felt a little bit of a twinge. I am now not looking forward to any bittersweet moment of Manchester Airport...NOT GOOD! The other side of the mountain is very steep and it seems to go faster!
We will try and be as diligent as we can for the next 2 weeks while being stuck inside almost...LOVE YOU ALL!
Elder Blackburn
Monday, July 4, 2011
July 4, 2011
So as you may know already, us missionaries get the Ensigns a month later. I just finished reading through the conference edition and I have a lot of thoughts about what I have read. A lot of advice I guess you would call it, but I would have each of you go back and read those. There were some I was not able to hear. It just happens that way with being a missionary in England and having a bedtime. Can't break the rules to even hear from the prophet. I really liked Elder Richard G. Scott's talk about marriage.
The Eternal Blessings of Marriage
Richard G. Scott Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Close Video
The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment.
You can watch it, listen to it, read it, but whatever you do study it. Does the Lord know the situation of His children? I have never been to a General Conference or ever listened to one where Marriage was such a hot topic. Why? Why did almost half the speakers feel that they needed to speak on the importance of marriage and of deciding on the temple as the place and the way that marriage should take place? It is called revelation. The only true and living church receives revelation and if you do not know how it is done read Elder Hollands talk about General Conference. He will tell you in better words than I can. Satan has done and is doing a traumatic job on even the Elect and Correct marriages of the church. He is getting his little wedge shaped toe in the door and not letting up until we just let him in. Keep him out. You are stronger. And if you can't find your strength, pray for angels and the help of heaven. They will come in the help of friends and heavenly messengers when needed.
This isn't the whole quote but it is all I remember from Joseph Smith:
"What do we hear from the gospel we have received? Truth out of the ground. Mercy from Heaven."
God Loves us and wants to help us. We are the ones that hold him at arms length and keep those blessings from coming down. Let him come. The key to do that is by humbling ourselves to ask for help from the Lord's annointed and from our Father in Heaven. Asking anyone for help will show some degree of humility. Just look for the true messengers that are sustained.
I love you and pray for you,
Elder Blackburn
The Eternal Blessings of Marriage
Richard G. Scott Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Close Video
The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment.
You can watch it, listen to it, read it, but whatever you do study it. Does the Lord know the situation of His children? I have never been to a General Conference or ever listened to one where Marriage was such a hot topic. Why? Why did almost half the speakers feel that they needed to speak on the importance of marriage and of deciding on the temple as the place and the way that marriage should take place? It is called revelation. The only true and living church receives revelation and if you do not know how it is done read Elder Hollands talk about General Conference. He will tell you in better words than I can. Satan has done and is doing a traumatic job on even the Elect and Correct marriages of the church. He is getting his little wedge shaped toe in the door and not letting up until we just let him in. Keep him out. You are stronger. And if you can't find your strength, pray for angels and the help of heaven. They will come in the help of friends and heavenly messengers when needed.
This isn't the whole quote but it is all I remember from Joseph Smith:
"What do we hear from the gospel we have received? Truth out of the ground. Mercy from Heaven."
God Loves us and wants to help us. We are the ones that hold him at arms length and keep those blessings from coming down. Let him come. The key to do that is by humbling ourselves to ask for help from the Lord's annointed and from our Father in Heaven. Asking anyone for help will show some degree of humility. Just look for the true messengers that are sustained.
I love you and pray for you,
Elder Blackburn
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