This was a great week because after Stake Conference with President Teixera we had Zone Conference with President Kopischke and I think they are a lot more open with missionaries than they are in general audience stake conference. What we got from that was a bunch of things but here I have got two things.
1) Alma 32:27-29 Faith Cycle
----all about desires
2) Mosiah 4:9-10 B.C.D.
-----Believe. Change. Do.
The faith cycle starts with a desire to believe, give place, don't cast out by unbelief. THat is our part of showing our faith by our action and then God will show his Power by the result. It will swell within us, increase our faith, then our knowledge will be perfect in that thing and our faith will be dormant.
Hence the quote from Pres. Benson. "The Gospel is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable" Because if we are comfortable it is probably because we already know the answers to the situtations we are being placed and placing ourselves in. We have to CHANGE IT up.
"If we are too content, then maybe a divine dose of discontent will be needed" to shake us back to progress.
If our Action of Faith is Dormant then we are not going to see God's power.
#2 is talking about how we can keep good feelings with us after spiritual meetings and experiences. Then we need to apply B.C.D. Believe what you heard. Change too be in line with that spirit you felt and then DO what you learned.
I love you all
Elder Blackburn
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
October 24, 2011 There are LOTS of Mountains in Wrexham
The only good story I have for you is that my companion and I were trying to do a "small act of kindness for our bishop who lives at the top of a mountain outside Wrexham. I sorta remembered where someone said he lived and I had been driven there twice both different ways and so I said, Ok lets go we got the time. Well We start riding and we get up on top of the mountain about an hour later and then I say...."hmmm, Elder this doesn't look like the place..." He just stares at me..."Yupp, we went up the wrong mountain Elder..." Well then we rode down and just to let you know the return trip in the pitch black dark at about I would guess 30-40mph took only about 5-10 minutes. Elder Gordon got scared though and hit his brakes so I had to stop and wait for him at a couple places. But let me tell you, I haven't had an adrenaline rush like that for about 3 years or so. It felt a little like Splash Mountain...Too bad it wasn't raining then it would have been exactly the same! We went up to Bishop's mountain a couple days later and it was not as tall nor as fun on the way back...it flattened out at some points which just made it like a normal road...LAME! Wales and its back roads are beautiful though...
Anyways, We have been finding new and filtering through the old investigators we have and trying to figure out which one God wants us to focus on. We will see what we can do for the work here. There is only so many first lessons you can teach before one of them sticks and at the moment we are about 40-1/0 and so we have been evaluating the lessons and trying to figure out where we are going wrong, but the people commit, they have calendars, another time to see, the spirit is there. We are trying to follow up and so that is where we are going to put a lot of our emphasis this week. We have ZC with President Kophishke of the European Area Presidency. There is also another meeting I have to go to in Manchester this friday and with exchanges, I may not be in my area until Saturday. So we shall see how that goes!
There was Stake Conference yesterday. The stake presidency was released. Elder Teixera, 2nd counselor in the Area Presidency, was there with Elder Wright of the Seventy. He mentioned something about his family. And a thought came to my mind. Underdog. Now I am not talking about the movie about a flying superhero dog with a red cape and a yellow U. I am not talking about the underdog of a BYU sports team when Dad was watching them. But I am thinking about the swing set. Specifically in Pennsylvania. I hadn't thought about that for years. I hadn't though about Dad besides talking about the Plan of Salvation on the street. I hadn't thought about him all day really, but rarely a day goes by without something reminding me. But it was only 10 in the morning and nothing had really happened yet. So there I was sitting and this though and the images of the swing sets in Pennsylvania came into my mind. I thought of the word Underdog and how I could hear it as he ran underneath me and us. Again and again and again. I spaced out for awhile thinking about it and then another thought came. This was something I have thought about a lot. Something I knew I would always remember right when it happened.
Dad was in the grey recliner, unconcious from the medicine, he had been there for a couple days. To prevent bed soars, he needed to be moved. Mom was there. Dana was there. Michael was on his way over. Mom asked me to see if I could move him from the chair to the bed. I can feel him in my arms right now, like I just did it. Mom held his head. Dana held the equipment and I slid my arms around him and as gently as we could moved him to the bed. I never knew how much agony he was in or how concious he was until then, but the groan from that lift was not from me, but him. I did it and can remember it because I love him so much. I lifted him who once lifted me. The scriptures that tie this in is this:
3 Nephi 27:14
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
Luke 22:42-44
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, aremove this cup from me: nevertheless not my bwill, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an aangel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an aagony he prayed more earnestly: band his sweat was as it were great drops of cblood falling down to the ground.
I am grateful for the example he set. Mosiah 24:16. He endured with Patience and Faith and submitted cheerfully to the biggest task ever asked of him. He was delivered from the enemy which held him bound. His spirit had to leave because his spirit had out grown the frail frame. The resurrection is not yet, but when it is, he will be there.
I love you all,
Elder Blackburn
Anyways, We have been finding new and filtering through the old investigators we have and trying to figure out which one God wants us to focus on. We will see what we can do for the work here. There is only so many first lessons you can teach before one of them sticks and at the moment we are about 40-1/0 and so we have been evaluating the lessons and trying to figure out where we are going wrong, but the people commit, they have calendars, another time to see, the spirit is there. We are trying to follow up and so that is where we are going to put a lot of our emphasis this week. We have ZC with President Kophishke of the European Area Presidency. There is also another meeting I have to go to in Manchester this friday and with exchanges, I may not be in my area until Saturday. So we shall see how that goes!
There was Stake Conference yesterday. The stake presidency was released. Elder Teixera, 2nd counselor in the Area Presidency, was there with Elder Wright of the Seventy. He mentioned something about his family. And a thought came to my mind. Underdog. Now I am not talking about the movie about a flying superhero dog with a red cape and a yellow U. I am not talking about the underdog of a BYU sports team when Dad was watching them. But I am thinking about the swing set. Specifically in Pennsylvania. I hadn't thought about that for years. I hadn't though about Dad besides talking about the Plan of Salvation on the street. I hadn't thought about him all day really, but rarely a day goes by without something reminding me. But it was only 10 in the morning and nothing had really happened yet. So there I was sitting and this though and the images of the swing sets in Pennsylvania came into my mind. I thought of the word Underdog and how I could hear it as he ran underneath me and us. Again and again and again. I spaced out for awhile thinking about it and then another thought came. This was something I have thought about a lot. Something I knew I would always remember right when it happened.
Dad was in the grey recliner, unconcious from the medicine, he had been there for a couple days. To prevent bed soars, he needed to be moved. Mom was there. Dana was there. Michael was on his way over. Mom asked me to see if I could move him from the chair to the bed. I can feel him in my arms right now, like I just did it. Mom held his head. Dana held the equipment and I slid my arms around him and as gently as we could moved him to the bed. I never knew how much agony he was in or how concious he was until then, but the groan from that lift was not from me, but him. I did it and can remember it because I love him so much. I lifted him who once lifted me. The scriptures that tie this in is this:
3 Nephi 27:14
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
Luke 22:42-44
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, aremove this cup from me: nevertheless not my bwill, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an aangel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an aagony he prayed more earnestly: band his sweat was as it were great drops of cblood falling down to the ground.
I am grateful for the example he set. Mosiah 24:16. He endured with Patience and Faith and submitted cheerfully to the biggest task ever asked of him. He was delivered from the enemy which held him bound. His spirit had to leave because his spirit had out grown the frail frame. The resurrection is not yet, but when it is, he will be there.
I love you all,
Elder Blackburn
Monday, October 10, 2011
October 10, 2011
Hello Family,
This was a quick four days of work since I last emailed you. I hope the move is going well. It is October 10th so I am officially homeless. I might as well set up camp on this side of the pond eh? Elder Gordon and I stayed together and we have set personal and transfer goals for the next 6 weeks. I just finished Doctrine and Covenants yesterday. And that means that I have 1 more read through the Pearl of Great Price and The Book of Mormon and then I would have finished my mission goals of the scriptures. BoM-6, D&C-4, PoGP-4, NT-2, OT-1. I finished the other missionary library books last winter and I just want to let you know that all that is the word of God unto us in this generation and until we poor ourselves over these which we have, no more will be given to us. It is up to us to help God bless us via our prayers and our personal study. 2 Nephi 32 sheds insight on the importance of reading the scriptures. The whole short chapter is a discourse on how our studies should be and puts extra emphasis on the words we hear and read and learn daily and weekly and semi-annually.
The people of Nephi's time were pondering and wondering what they were to do after they entered in by the way or after they were baptised...He asked why are you puzzled about this? Did I not already tell you that the Holy Ghost will teach you all things you will need to do? Angels (PS: you can be one) speak by the power of the Holy Ghost which are the words of Christ! Wherefore...or in other words...SOOO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO!!!! Feast upon the words of Christ for the Words of Christ will teach you all things you need to do.
I stand by Elder Richard G. Scott when he is discussing the power of scripture. Each sacred book of scripture when you are reading it to find something that can help you in your life is 1) interesting...2) powerful and 3) a friend in time of need. Search them. Ponder deeply over them. And begin to understand the mysteries given you in the temple and strengthen your testimony that they are Eternal tokens that your God has given you. Do this with prayer as Nephi also instructs in verses 8-9 and you will be successful. God mourns, His servants mourn, and your spirit starves when you do not feast upon the words of Christ. You have seen what I have done and I haven't even scratched the surface of what God is willing to give me. Just be Obedient.
I love you all.
Elder Blackburn
This was a quick four days of work since I last emailed you. I hope the move is going well. It is October 10th so I am officially homeless. I might as well set up camp on this side of the pond eh? Elder Gordon and I stayed together and we have set personal and transfer goals for the next 6 weeks. I just finished Doctrine and Covenants yesterday. And that means that I have 1 more read through the Pearl of Great Price and The Book of Mormon and then I would have finished my mission goals of the scriptures. BoM-6, D&C-4, PoGP-4, NT-2, OT-1. I finished the other missionary library books last winter and I just want to let you know that all that is the word of God unto us in this generation and until we poor ourselves over these which we have, no more will be given to us. It is up to us to help God bless us via our prayers and our personal study. 2 Nephi 32 sheds insight on the importance of reading the scriptures. The whole short chapter is a discourse on how our studies should be and puts extra emphasis on the words we hear and read and learn daily and weekly and semi-annually.
The people of Nephi's time were pondering and wondering what they were to do after they entered in by the way or after they were baptised...He asked why are you puzzled about this? Did I not already tell you that the Holy Ghost will teach you all things you will need to do? Angels (PS: you can be one) speak by the power of the Holy Ghost which are the words of Christ! Wherefore...or in other words...SOOO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO!!!! Feast upon the words of Christ for the Words of Christ will teach you all things you need to do.
I stand by Elder Richard G. Scott when he is discussing the power of scripture. Each sacred book of scripture when you are reading it to find something that can help you in your life is 1) interesting...2) powerful and 3) a friend in time of need. Search them. Ponder deeply over them. And begin to understand the mysteries given you in the temple and strengthen your testimony that they are Eternal tokens that your God has given you. Do this with prayer as Nephi also instructs in verses 8-9 and you will be successful. God mourns, His servants mourn, and your spirit starves when you do not feast upon the words of Christ. You have seen what I have done and I haven't even scratched the surface of what God is willing to give me. Just be Obedient.
I love you all.
Elder Blackburn
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
October 5, 2011 Well...conference and other things!
Hello Family,
I got a lot out of conference this week. Also we had Training camp this past week for all of the new missionaries and their trainers. It was better than the last one because last time the trainers just went finding in an area they knew nothing about and had never worked on before. Last week was the hottest it has been in 2011. But don't worry I am not getting spoiled. It is back to British weather and is supposed to snow in 2 days. It was close to 30 Degrees Celsius last week. It will be below 0 by the end of this week...So ya...Right now it is just really windy which makes bike riding near to impossible. Elder Gordon and I are staying together for the next transfer as well. So it looks like the Lord wants me to get my license here in Wrexham rather than anywhere else before I move on. We will see. I would rather do it in a less hilly place/remote place but oh well. I haven't taken any lessons this past transfer as I was working just on my theory. But that is that goal for ya. We shall see. President Kopischke of the Area Presidency is coming in a couple weeks to see the mission. One of the early check ups on President Preston we assume =D.
But besides that...I had a good study this morning. I was thinking about D&C 107, PMG 19, and My Patriarchal Blessing.
Covenants are not an Earthly Life sorta thing. They are an Eternal Life sorta thing. We made covenants with Heavenly Father before this life, (namely one that we would return to live with him again) and need to make them in this life. And if we do and keep them, we will then be able to make many more after this life, which, by keeping them, give us the power to progress throughout the eternities. God cannot and will not break his side of the covenant, so let us develop the faith to keep our side with exactness so we can obtain all the blessings our God wills to give us.
I learned a lot from General Conference. The one quote I liked was this-
Eliza R. Snow (part or something along this line)-"Seek Wisdom and not power, and then you will be given all the Power that your Wisdom can Exercise."
It is true.
I love you all and hope you are doing well,
Elder Blackburn
I got a lot out of conference this week. Also we had Training camp this past week for all of the new missionaries and their trainers. It was better than the last one because last time the trainers just went finding in an area they knew nothing about and had never worked on before. Last week was the hottest it has been in 2011. But don't worry I am not getting spoiled. It is back to British weather and is supposed to snow in 2 days. It was close to 30 Degrees Celsius last week. It will be below 0 by the end of this week...So ya...Right now it is just really windy which makes bike riding near to impossible. Elder Gordon and I are staying together for the next transfer as well. So it looks like the Lord wants me to get my license here in Wrexham rather than anywhere else before I move on. We will see. I would rather do it in a less hilly place/remote place but oh well. I haven't taken any lessons this past transfer as I was working just on my theory. But that is that goal for ya. We shall see. President Kopischke of the Area Presidency is coming in a couple weeks to see the mission. One of the early check ups on President Preston we assume =D.
But besides that...I had a good study this morning. I was thinking about D&C 107, PMG 19, and My Patriarchal Blessing.
Covenants are not an Earthly Life sorta thing. They are an Eternal Life sorta thing. We made covenants with Heavenly Father before this life, (namely one that we would return to live with him again) and need to make them in this life. And if we do and keep them, we will then be able to make many more after this life, which, by keeping them, give us the power to progress throughout the eternities. God cannot and will not break his side of the covenant, so let us develop the faith to keep our side with exactness so we can obtain all the blessings our God wills to give us.
I learned a lot from General Conference. The one quote I liked was this-
Eliza R. Snow (part or something along this line)-"Seek Wisdom and not power, and then you will be given all the Power that your Wisdom can Exercise."
It is true.
I love you all and hope you are doing well,
Elder Blackburn
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