Transfer 5 Week 1

Hello Everyone!

    It has been quite a week. I returned to Cary on Tuesday and after dropping my bags off in the foyer I headed out to assist the Spanish Elders: Elder Chupin and Elder Chase. We had a marvelous time catching up and in teaching investigators, both old and new. The focus of our week this week has been preparing Demaris' fiance for baptism. The Spanish Elders had finished up teaching the final lessons while I was in Kinston so we just went over the interview questions so he would be prepared for them the next day. On Wednesday I had a great District Meeting with the Spanish Elders in the Cary District wherein we shared missionary experience and learned ways that we could be more effective servants of the Lord.
   
    In my study this week I came across an interesting thought in Alma chapter 55 wherein the Nephites have captured Gid, a Lamanite city through craftiness. In the verses following this capture, namely 30-32, the Lamanites attempt to poison the Nephites by sending them wine that contained poisonous elements. However, the Nephites were not caught in this snare, the reason stated being two-fold. One: they were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction, and Two: they would not taste the wine until they could gave some to one of the Lamanite prisoners to see how it affected them. This made me think of all of the ways the great tempter and deceiver tries to poison us with the things of the world. They seem attractive at times, but at the core they contain poisonous elements. The way we are able to avoid these poisonous and oft times deadly temptations are also two-fold. One: we remember the Lord our God. Remember His commandments that He has given for our benefit and we will be able to discern between that which is edifying and that which is degrading to our physical, emotional and spiritual health. The other way is to look at other people who have partaken of those temptations. If it poisons them, it will poison you. Just a thought.

    The highlight of the week was by far the baptism of Junior. He has come so far since the time we first met him, over 6 months ago, till today. He has overcome so much in such a short time and I know he will be a wonderful addition to the Spanish Branch. I played prelude (sortof since I only know two hymns on the piano) for the service while the Spanish Elders gave presentations on the Restoration. We all went to the cultural hall to witness the baptism and as soon as he came up from being immersed I felt a strong witness of the Spirit testifying of the validity thereof. I am so grateful for the priesthood authority necessary to perform saving ordinances.

    I know this Church is the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of God on the earth today. I know that the priesthood authority was restored and that it plays a huge part in the salvation of God's children. I know that I am a child of God. I know that He knows me and loves me personally. I know that we are all children of our Heavenly Father. Each and every last one of us, from the top of the corporate ladder to the bottom of the line. Remember that. No one is better than the other. Not one is any less precious in His sight. The worth of every soul is great in the eyes of the Lord, for "[He] suffered death in the flesh, wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him." I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our savior, our redeemer and our friend. No matter what you have done, His arms are continually outstretched towards you. For it is not God who turns His back on us, but we who turn away from the Lord. These things I know. Faith, Hope and Charity, each attribute augmenting the other in the perfecting of the saints. Let us march forth, building grace upon grace, until our work here is done. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 4 Week 6

Dear Everyone,

    It does not feel like the end of the transfer; these past six weeks have gone by so fast and I have learned so much. This past week we found out that our area is being closed to Spanish work. My companion took it really hard and we spent most of the week preparing for that event. We updated the area book (a book that lists the areas, potential investigators, previous investigators, progressing investigators and all other information that a missionary transferring in might need to know to work effectively), taught a few lessons and prepared our investigators to be handed over to another set of Elders. It has been an interesting week...

    This week though, I found out my purpose for being here. We went over to this lovely family's house and had a wonderful dinner. I fit right into the family and we talked about a variety of subjects: English history and literature, gospel doctrine and other fine conversation. Then came the question: "Do you really feel that you can make it into the Celestial Kingdom?" (The Celestial Kingdom is the Kingdom of God, it is where God lives and His Son Jesus Christ). It touched my heart because I had wondered that same thing and even though I tried my best and even though this fine sister and her husband had tried their best, they still doubted their ability to enter into their Heavenly Father's presence once more. It was with great joy that I was able to share the message of hope. To enter into the Celestial Kingdom, in the lowest level therein, one must only keep the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, namely: Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins by one holding the proper priesthood authority, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands and enduring to the end. Everyone who does their best to keep these simple principles is on their way home.

     "The Gospel is easy, life is hard." That is the beauty of the Gospel, that is the beauty of the love and mercy that God has for His children. He's not trying to trick us. He has provided the way for us to return unto Him and partake of a joy beyond measure and we have but to follow it in faith with the hope that He will keep His promises. He has called prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth to teach these great principles and with proper authority to perform the ordinances necessary to salvation and Eternal Life. He has provided families for us to be nurtured in and taught, He has provided the light of Christ, our way of knowing good from evil, and Agency, our ability to choose between the two. Most of all He has provided a Savior, someone to take upon Himself the sins of the world that if we would but repent, turn unto Him and follow His example, we could be saved. My testimony is that Jesus Christ is that Savior. He atoned for all the sins of the world and paid the price for us, if we would but follow Him. The odds truly are stacked in our favor.

    I am so grateful for the hope this gospel brings not only in my life, but in the lives of all those around me. I am grateful for the truth that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, that we have divine identity and eternal potential. I am grateful to know that we are never alone, that even if everyone in the world turned us away, there is one who would not and will not abandon us: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am grateful for the changes the gospel has helped me make in my life through the refining fire of trials and promptings of the Holy Ghost. I am grateful for my faith in Christ, the foundation of my life and His love. Most of all, I am grateful to share that message with all those I know and love. I know this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is the  church of Jesus Christ restored through a modern day prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that he did indeed see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that we have a Prophet on the Earth today, even Thomas S. Monson. I am so grateful to have a church built on the rock of revelation. A living Church, one that breathes and speaks and feels. These things I know and I leave them with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 4 Week 5

Good day to you all!

    I cannot believe that it is already February! Time passes so quickly in the field. This week has been pretty interesting with Zone Conference, the snow that we received on Saturday and the Winter Devotional we held on Sunday due to the other meetings being canceled. This past Zone Conference was, by far, one of the most spiritual ones I have attended during my mission. The Conference was focused around member missionary work and how we could get the members more involved. One of the members of the Raleigh Stake Presidency spoke and explained about how bad of a member missionary he was. He recounted a couple of experiences where the missionaries had extended an invitation to him to engage in missionary work and he accepted and was edified therefrom. However, once the missionaries were transferred out and the next missionaries who were transferred in did not invite him, he ceased to do the work. This highlighted how needful direct invitations are, because people are not likely to work unless they are invited to. Another interesting point he brought up was while he was sharing a spiritual thought within a role play with President Cotterell. He started sharing the vision of Lehi and focused primarily on the tree of life. He talked about how it is the love of God and further explained that it is the most desirable and precious of all fruits. He then explained that when we feel that love we find a balm that heals all wounds and we come to understand the Atonement and that we can always repent and turn our lives toward God once more. We feel how much He loves us and that becomes what we strive to feel each and every day of our lives. Everyone has the right to feel that love. It is our job as members to share with them the ways to help them fully experience that love. I know that as you share the gospel you will bless the lives of others and receive great blessings in your own life.

   On Saturday we woke up to snow. We tried to get our car out but ended up having our Ward Mission Leader take us to the church to clean  the church for the following Sunday. However, the icy weather caused the meetings to be canceled that Sunday. Undeterred, my companion and I put together a Winter Devotional and had the missionaries from our area attend. It was mainly a joke when we were first putting it together, but in the end it fell into place so well and each and every piece was inspired, from the order of the people sharing spiritual experiences to the special musical number. :D I am so thankful that we were able to put something together. That afternoon I was able to go over to the Walkers and make monkey bread for them and then have dinner at the Bishop's house. To close out the night my companion and I gave a blessing to an investigator to prepare her for her surgery this week. All in all it was a pretty amazing week.

    I know this church is the true church of Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost bears record each time I attend, whether it be a ward of 100, a branch of 40 or a group of missionaries seeking to be edified one to another. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I have come closer to God by reading that book and following the doctrine and principles therein than by any other book. I know that the Bible is the word of God and it truly testifies of Christ and His ministry. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer and Savior of all mankind. I know that He lives and guides this church today. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he did see our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God and the only man authorized to receive revelation for the world. These things I know. I leave them with you in the name of our Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ. Amen

With love,

Elder Roberts

  

Transfer 4 Week 4

Dear Everyone,

    This week has been an interesting week; thankfully my companion felt a lot better this week and we were able to get out and do some work. We biked about 40 miles this week, taught 3 new investigators and had them come to church. I also had some wonderful dinners, improved my Spanish and had some other great experiences including a competition to see if my companion and I could write down all 150 original Pokemon from memory, which I did XD.

    This week I have been studying virtue and have started a scripture mastery program wherein I memorize a new scripture each day. I started on the 21th and so far I have D&C 64:33, D&C 121:40-44, D&C 121:45-46 and Ephesians 4: 11-14. In my study of virtue I was reading in Mosiah chapter where Abinadi is admonishing the wicked priests of Noah and he admonishes the wicked priests of King Noah for not having the commandments of God written upon their hearts. This to me seems more than just an admonishment against their wicked teachings, but also an admonishment of their core character and desires as well. Through this I found that to have virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly, you must have a purified heart. This ties back to what I wrote a few weeks ago about having a mighty change of heart, a heart changed by the reception of the Holy Ghost and by using the Atonement in our lives. As our hearts are purified and as we are receptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost we will be instructed and the shine of the world will lose its luster, for we will know what things are of lasting value. When we allow our hearts to be purified through the Atonement of Christ and have a mind and heart open to the promptings and reception of the Holy Ghost, virtue will then garnish our thoughts unceasingly and our confidence wax strong in the presence of God and our hands will be clean of the blood and sins of this world.

I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, I know that be reading, studying and pondering upon the teachings therein we can gain a closer relationship with our Father in Heaven and with His Son Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God to restore the true Church of Jesus Christ, the same church that was organized when Christ was on the Earth, a church with prophets and apostles at its foundation and with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God and that we have a Prophet on the Earth today, even Thomas S. Monson. These things I know by the power of the Holy Ghost, He has witnessed the truthfulness of these things unto my spirit. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; He is our Savior, our Lord and redeemer; He Lives... I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He knows us and loves us as individuals and as a whole. These things I know and I invite you to know too. Ask God and He will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost, but ask in faith, nothing wavering... I know that as you come to a knowledge of and live by these truths, you will find a greater measure of peace and happiness in your lives. I know this because it has had that effect in my life and in the lives of many who I have met. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

P.S. Have a wonderful week!

Transfer 4 Week 3

Dear Everyone,

    I was transferred to Kinston this last week and I have had quite a time here. One of the first thing I did when I got here was go shopping for food. While shopping I warned my companion not to buy Doritos. Well, he did anyways and ended up sick for 4 days. He was feeling better and suggested that we get Mc Griddles in the morning. I made a statement about the unhealthiness thereof and he got one anyways. He relapsed into ill health. Finally, I jokingly warned him about eating french toast.. Well he ate that too and yep, he felt sick again. Through this trial I have learned to heed the advice of my companion, Mc Griddles are downright unhealthy and french toast is not the best food to eat in recovery.

    Now for the good part of the week. A sister missionary returned home from her mission this past week and her family put together an amazing homecoming. It was a pretty well thought out program with all sort of acts. The idea for the homecoming was to showcase the different things that the returned missionary had missed out on, ranging from her sister playing her first major role in a play to two of her friends receiving their mission calls and the Steelers winning the Super Bowl again. We had a pretty amazing time attending that and even got to play a pretty sweet role in one of the acts. For those of you who have seen Saturday's Warrior you may remember the song "In Our Humble Way" wherein Greene and Kessler are preparing to descend to earth from the preexistence. Kessler is fired up and ready to go and breaks out in this memorable number. I played the part of Kessler and my companion was Greene. We forced parts in our hair with gel and wore our ties both too long and too short respectively and I definitely played the part XD. The audience and more importantly, since it was her homecoming, the returned missionary loved it.

    I did not like that we were not able to do much work this week, but I loved the extra sleep. I continued my study of Mosiah and also in memorizing scriptures this week. In Mosiah I am on chapter five wherein the people of King Benjamin have listened to his discourse and have felt the truthfulness of his words as testified by the Holy Ghost. There has been within them wrought a mighty change of heart and they no longer have any desire to do evil but to do good continually. This ties back into the earlier chapter wherein they were preparing to be taught by King Benjamin. They had hearts open to the reception of the Holy Ghost and because of their open hearts the Holy Ghost was able to influence and change their desires. Because they listened to him their lives where never the same.
  
   The heart is such a key point in the process of conversion. You can try to change your environment all you want, but until you change your core desires you can never be truly converted. We must remember that conversion is a process and not an event though. This is because the person must be open and willing to change and even after a mighty change has been wrought they must continue in faith, repentance, hope and charity, being sure and steadfast always abounding in good works to retain that mighty change. This is done through daily prayer and scripture study, attending church meetings, partaking of the sacrament worthily, frequent temple attendance, faithfully paying tithes, serving faithfully in callings, adhering to the counsel of church leaders and putting these as top priorities in life. By praying daily and reading our scriptures we retain a remembrance of the promises and blessings of the gospel and also an eternal perspective. By praying we recognize our relationship to our Heavenly Father and as His Children our worth. Through scripture study we come to know Him and His Son and how we can best emulate and please them. By partaking of the sacrament worthily we renew not only our covenant but our resolve to follow Christ more perfectly and by serving faithfully in callings we show this desire. By faithfully paying tithing we show our willingness to sacrifice for the building up of His kingdom on the earth and in doing so we are able to distinguish between wants and needs better. In faithfully attending the temple we are reminded our our divine potential and the sacred nature of the family and how crucial it is to remain faithful all our days. By attending church meetings regularly we show our willingness to learn, to grow and to progress in learning and living the gospel. Following the counsel of our leaders augments this process of progression.

    I know that as we follow these and many other fundamental principles and applications of the gospel, we will grow closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. We will experience the mighty change of heart and retain it. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the church of Jesus Christ. It is His Church. He leads it, guides it and directs it through a modern day Prophet even Thomas S. Monson. These things I know to be true. Just as the people of King Benjamin's time, I have felt the whisperings of the Holy Ghost bear witness to the truthfulness thereof and I know that if you pray with a sincere heart, with real intent having faith in Christ, even with only a desire to believe and act upon it, you will receive a testimony as I have. You will know that it is true. These things I bear witness of, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 4 Week 2

Dear Everyone,

    First off, I'm being transferred. I am heading out to Kinston to do work in the Spanish area. It was quite unexpected, but these things usually are. I'll be there for the rest of the transfer (4 weeks)  and look forward to meeting and serving new people.

    Secondly, this week has been a pretty amazing week. Our investigators in both wards are progressing towards baptism and we even found another "elect" investigator this past week. ^^ On a lighter note, we had a pretty sweet time at this other family's house on Monday. We walked in that night and ended up in the middle of a nerf war... XD After the treaty was established, which was broken several times during dinner, we had an absolutely wonderful meal, as always, and a great lesson to wrap it up. Sadly, this same family is moving away on the 20th of this month... We taught a lot of different lessons this week and I was happy to help people learn how to pray.

    Prayer is such a blessing to have in this life. Knowing that at anytime, anywhere, vocally or not, one can address their Father in Heaven and express gratitude, petition for blessings or just talk. What a comfort to have in such a confusing world. We teach the value of prayer many times in a week and it always surprises me how many people do not pray on a regular basis. In Elder Bednar's talk, "Pray Always," he brings up the point that "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part" (Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," 752).  Once people realize who God is and who we are to Him, there will not be a struggle to pray. I have found that when God's true nature and of our relationship to Him is distorted it greatly decreases the prayer instinct, while gaining greater knowledge of God and His attributes increases the desire to talk with Him. God is a perfect parent, not a distant manager. God is love, pure and undefiled by the ways of the world. God is patient, long suffering and always trying to see our good and help us to progress. God is just... As we come to a greater testimony of these simple truths prayer and indeed worship acquire an entirely new level. Brother Dunn made an excellent point this week when he asserted that worship in the truest sense means emulation. As we come to understand the true nature of God, talk with Him and worship Him, we should be seeking to be more like Him, more caring, more patient, loving and kind, more honest in our dealings with our fellow men, more chaste in thought, word and deed, more serving and seeking to do good to all. I know that as I have come to a greater knowledge of God and have truly worshiped Him, I have seen changes wrought in my life that I would have told you were impossible, but with God all things are possible. I leave you this testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 4 Week 1

Dear Everyone,

    I cannot believe a whole transfer has gone by it feels like both an eternity and no time at all. Many of the Elders that I had met the past few transfers have completed their missions and have gone home. A farewell to the departing and a welcome those who are just beginning. I have had the honor of getting to know three of the new missionaries and meeting most of them during training meeting this past week. This week has been an incredible one. We've set baptismal dates in both Cary 2nd and 3rd wards, met "elect" investigators or "truth seekers" and are now teaching them. We were also able to take one of our investigators to a baptism and also on a walk around the Temple grounds. :)

    One of the "elect" that we found was while I was with the Spanish missionaries tracting (knocking doors). She invited us in an almost immediately we were able to teach the First lesson. Elder Chase and I taught most of the lesson since she spoke better English than Spanish, which was a nice change. I was glad to dust off my teaching skills and polish them up a bit. I ended up saying too much though and Elder Chupin got onto me. Thankfully when we taught her the 2nd lesson later that week I did a lot better in simplifying and using scriptures to back what I was teaching ^^

    Another really awesome investigator is getting married on the 16th to one of our recent converts! :D I am so happy for them! The rest of our investigators continue to progress and I am always glad to see them at church each Sunday. They seem happy to see me too, even if my Spanish is a bit off... OK a lot off. XD

    I am so glad that I am able to see the differences that are being made in the lives around me. The Gospel of Jesus Christ truly is a Gospel of happiness and change. It salvages that which seems irreplaceable, binds up broken hearts, casts out the devils that plague us, changes the sinners to saints through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and polishes the good to better and best. I have a testimony of the first principles and ordinances of the gospel: Faith in Jesus Christ: the Son of God, Our redeemer, advocate with the Father, the rock of salvation and foundation of our testimony, Repentance: the change of heart that purifies our hearts and minds through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and allows us to begin anew, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins: the cleansing ordinance in which we make covenants with Our Heavenly Father to always remember His Son and strive to be like Him, The Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands: the promise of the constant guidance and companionship of the Holy Ghost as we strive to keep ourselves worthy and finally Enduring to the End: doing our best to keep the covenants we have made and making the best use of the Atonement in our progression through trials, tribulations and other obstacles. I know that in doing these things there is power, there is strength to overcome that which seems impossible to overcome. This is my testimony, that as we do our best to have faith in Christ, repent of our wrong doings, be baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by the proper priesthood authority for those who are not members or partake of the sacrament and renew that covenant for those who are, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost daily in our lives as we strive to keep those covenants and Endure to the end, there will a peace and happiness that attend you through the sorest of trials for you will have an unshakable foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall, even the foundation of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. In His name I testify of these things, even Jesus Christ. Amen


With Love,

Elder Roberts

P.S. Happy Late New Year
P.P.S. Have a wonderful week!