Transfer 8 Week 6

Hello Everyone,

    I am about to leave the Knightdale area and return to Cary once more. I have learned so much in the last almost two weeks and I know with a greater assurance that this is the Lord's work. It seems that everywhere we went was guided by the Spirit; we would be biking along and someone would whisper: "You should talk to that person" or "Go back." Many times there would not be a reason why, just the prompting to go back. Sometimes there would be a wonderful conversation and other times not so much, but when we felt them, we followed them. If not one of us, the other would. I gained a greater testimony that sometimes the Lord directs us to do something simple just to see if we will listen. In a way, building our trust in His voice and preparing us for greater direction that would be harder to follow without those previous promptings. I have gained a greater admiration for my companion and his willingness to follow, even when it seemed we were being led in all different directions. It takes humility and trust to say "yes, it is really hot and we are almost home, but if thou would have us to bike all the way back there, we will." It is wonderful to be in a work that does require that second by second direction, that continuous revelation. I have gained a greater testimony of the Book of Mormon as I have testified of it and have studied the words of Christ within. There is such a peace and light that radiates into my life as I read it. True to the testimonies therein, it does destroy the false teachings and moral ambiguity. It tears down the teaching of Nehor and Korihor and shows that there is a God of Justice and of Mercy, a God of perfect Law. I was involved in a lesson and was happily setting forth principles and talking of the restoration of the Gospel and came to the First Vision. The feelings of peace and joy that attended the sharing of that sacred experience were incredible; it felt almost like being drenched in happiness. Words cannot express or articulate in any sense the feelings of a personal witness by the power of the Holy Ghost. We were talking in priesthood meeting about faith and where faith comes from, I raised my hand and said it came from action.. Well, action can lead to faith, but is not the source of faith. Faith comes from the power of the Holy Ghost. As I have sought to cultivate the presence of the Holy Ghost, by striving to keep my baptismal covenants and as Elder Bednar said "to be a good boy," my faith, or my capacity for action and power in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ have increased. My testimony of the validity of my faith has increased and with the witnesses of the Holy Ghost that I have received my conviction and my conversion have deepened. It is Alma chapter 32 being played out; and I love every minute of it. I want each and every one of you to know that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that it is more words of Christ that testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. I know that the Bible is the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly and that its main purpose is to testify of the Messiah. The Old Testament testifying that a Messiah would come and the need for a Messiah. The New Testament testifying that He did indeed come, that He taught His Gospel in its fullness and that He established His church with a foundation of Apostles and Prophets, He being the Chief Cornerstone. That He suffered, died and was resurrected that the obstacles of sin and death might be overcome. That He ascended to the Father and that He will return. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He lives and that He will come again. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that President Thomas S. Monson is God's mouthpiece for the world today. These things I know and say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 8 Week 5

Hello Everyone!

    I have been transferred to the Knightdale area and it has been amazing so far. My new companion is Elder Dunn from Pleasant Grove, Utah and I have enjoyed having him as a missionary companion. We have been biking this week and the bike I have been using had a off-center back wheel by the end of the week. Well, Elder Gann kindly fixed that and I now have a kickstand and wheel that work like they should. We have encountered much opposition to the work, as missionaries generally do, from apathy to downright hatred. I know that there is a lot of misinformation and "anti" out there, but our calling is not to be apologetic or to explain every deep doctrine or misconstrued quote. We simply ask that people exercise faith and ask God. Just ask God. Not the internet, not your preacher, not your neighbor, or any other well meaning and enlightened person or system. *sigh* It is so simple, yet it takes humility and faith. I am so grateful to have a companion who amidst turmoil and opposition stands strong and bears a simple and sincere testimony of love and of the truth. I can see the love he has for the people in this area and how he puts his all into it, to teaching and testifying of that which he knows to be true. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. I know that there is a Prophet on the earth, I know that we have the priesthood or the authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of His children. These things I have learned by the power of the Holy Ghost with a witness that will never dim. I  have felt it as I have borne testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ and of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon has changed my life; I know that it can change the lives of those around me and all over the world. I cannot give that knowledge to another. I cannot  force someone to accept the witness of the Holy Ghost. I can only promise blessings, bear my own testimony, invite them to ask in faith and wait for them to choose.
    Life as a missionary is a lot different that I could have ever imagined. I went in with high hopes of preaching the Gospel and watching peoples lives change, which I have been able to witness. However, to watch people who have tasted of the blessings, who have had a witness, who know that which they need to do, walk away because of fear or social pressure, is sad. It pains us every time a door is shut and we fight to not allow ourselves to become numb to rejection. Yet, we press on, as our exemplar and day star always did. Amidst toil, rejection, persecution and ultimately execution, Jesus Christ never ceased to "be about [His] father's business." As His representatives, we cannot give up or give in. We must "keep our rudders true" as we brave the storms of life and of this small part of our mortal mission. "Until the end shall come, and all the saints dwell with God."

    I know that Jesus is the Son of God, the only begotten in the flesh. I know that Thomas S. Monson is God's Prophet on the earth today. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that, alongside the Bible, testifies of Christ's divinity. These things I know and testify of the truthfulness thereof in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

   

Transfer 8 Week 4

Dear Everyone,

    I want to apologize for not writing last week, I got caught up in letter writing and in planting some day lilies. ^^ *sigh* I had a wonderful week full of service and learning. I learned a lot from listening to both Elder and Sister Bednar and by immersing myself in the scriptures. There is power found in the written word of God. It is the Word of God speaking to us from the mouths of His servants the prophets. It is the words of Christ that, if feasted upon,  will "tell us all things what we should do." There is a marvellous spirit about reading the word of God, but there is a greater measure of that spirit in doing the word of God. From listening I learned that we must act in accordance to correct principles having shown our faith, which is a principle of power and action in all beings, unto God in those principles through our action and thereby recieve a witness from the Holy Ghost, our hearts are softened and we are brought to a knowlege within our hearts that they are true. The invitation to act leads to action which then leads to the reception of the power of the Holy Ghost and the changing and refining influence that comes therefrom. There is a difference between knowing in our minds that the Gospel is true and knowing in our hearts that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is once again upon the earth in its full and pure form. It is this difference that is the difference between having a testimony of the Gospel and being converted to the Gospel. The difference between knowing that home teaching and visiting teaching are correct principles and the execution thereof. Until we abide by correct principles we cannot truly be converted. Until we abide by correct principles we cannot be true agents unto ourselves, but are left to be acted upon.  It may be said that one is converted to the church and then begins to live correct principles. The truth is that they have received a testimony by hearing the truth and being invited to act upon that testimony, they are then converted as they act upon that testimony and begin living the principles that have been taught. The priciple is that we act and then we receive the strength or knowledge we need to accomplish the commandment. Nephi declared: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know the Lord will give no commandment unto the children of men, except [H]e shall provide a way for them to accomplish the thing which [H]e commandeth them." Here we are counseled to go and do for the Lord will provide a way. In the Doctrine & Covenants we are counseled to open our mouths and they will be filled, not that our mouths will be filled so we can open them. When we act we recieve the power. This can be a life changing principle if you allow it to be. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored through Joseph Smith has this theme threaded throughout it. For example, we seek more than anything to have the Atonement to take effect in our lives, to fully take effect. Every ordinance and activity in the church points to the Atonement and helps us to allow the Atonement to take a greater effect. We have faith in Jesus Christ and show forth our faith unto repentance,  this allows us to be blessed with grace, or the enabling powers of the Atonement, to help us to overcome our weaknesses. As step into the waters of baptism we show our faith by taking the name of Christ upon us and entering into the Baptismal Covenant. We then recieve a remission of sins and can continue to receieve a remission of sins through worthily partaking of the Sacrament and renewing those covenants.  We then have hands laid upon us and are commanded to recieve the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is not thrust upon us, but are given the opportunity to have His companionship as we show forth our faith in being worthy to have His companionship. All from acting in accordance with correct principles and not being acted upon. I testify that as we live in accordance to correct principles, especially those set forth in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will recieve a fuller measure of the Holy Ghost in our lives and we will invite more fully the effects of the Atonement.

I know that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ, build up once again on this earth for His latter-day saints. I know that I am a child of God, I know that God lives and that He loves each and every one of us. I know that we have a prophet on the earth today, even Thomas S. Monson. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, born of Mary over 2,000 years ago. I know that He lived and died for us and that He does yet live for us. In Him is our hope secure. In Him and only Him does true faith rest. May our faith rest upon Him and the path that He has shown, even His Gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Transfer 8 Week 2

Dear Everyone,

    Another week has flown by and I have again learned so much. My topic of study was humility and I learned quite a bit and it seemed to me that I was hearing about and learning about pride and humility wherever I went. Zone Conference was a truly humbling experience as we felt the Spirit very strongly and gained so much light and knowledge from Him. We broke out into roleplays and I found myself having a hard time making the transition from teaching from my own knowledge to teaching by the Spirit. I hope to continue to work on this, though even Elder Bednar said we would crash and burn the first times we tried, but we needed to resist the temptation to slip back into our old teaching habits. I went with the Spanish Elders, both in Cary and in Garner and we even taught a mostly deaf investigator. That got all of us fired up to learn sign language and I was blessed with the capacity to learn the alphabet and a good amount of words. The Garner Spanish Elders and I have had quite the time conversing with one another in sign language, but it has died down a bit. I continued my volunteer work at the Healing Place Thrift Store off of Kildaire Farm Rd and Ten Ten. (We are looking for volunteers if anyone is free to do so.) I also continued volunteering at the Meals on Wheels organization. I have had a really wonderful time and it is crazy that I am over the halfway mark. I almost do not know how to feel. I love being out here, being able to devote all my time and efforts in the service of others and as King Benjamin taught "when ye are in the service of your fellowmen ye are only in the service of your God." As I have served God I have been blessed to see many of the ways I could change to become closer to the Savior and as I have been out I have felt closer to both Jesus Christ and to my Heavenly Father. My love for my fellowman has increased and I have gained a great love for both the Spanish language and culture. My testimony has grown in leaps and bounds and I hope my maturity has done the same. XD I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to serve and even a chance to get a taste of what it is like to be a full-time missionary in the field. I think I have spent at least half of my time out in the field.  The best piece of news this week is that both of the sets of Spanish Elders set baptismal dates! I am so happy for them. :) They do work so hard.

    I know that this is truly the work of the Lord. I know even more surely every day that I am out here. I know that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the World; I know that He lives. 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 the Bible and the Book of Mormon to be the word of God as recorded by His holy Prophets. I know that I am a child of God and that everyone else in the world are children of a loving Heavenly Father. Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 8 Week 1

Dear Everyone,

    Well, I was transferred back to Cary to resume my mission as a service missionary. I am so glad to be back in my home ward! ^^ I was able to attend the Temple, return to Meals on Wheels and Helping Hands Mission along with helping out at the Library and beginning to serve at the Healing Place's newly opened thrift store. I had a lot of fun serving this week at the various organizations and I look forward to continuing to serve them over the next nine months. I love being a missionary, there is something in being called as a representative of the Savior in everything you say and do that cannot be found anywhere else. It is a refining process for the soul, burning out the dross and leaving behind purity and beauty. I have seen my love for those I have served grow and my understanding make leaps and bounds. I am especially grateful for the opportunity I have to study the words of the Savior and receive revelation daily. It is a habit I will carry into the rest of my life. I am glad to be able to be here to help the missionaries in my area. I went with Elder Obregon and Elder Brown and we were able to teach a really good lesson and it was a really sweet experience to see and feel the Spirit working through us. I know that God knows and loves His children on a personal basis, but that we are His hands in reaching out with His infinite light and love. I went with Elder Childs and Elder Reimann and we were able to teach an extremely intelligent, extremely humble man last night. He was so open and I could see the love both Elder Childs and Elder Reimann have for him. Charity truly is a gift from God bestowed upon us as we are in the service of our fellow beings. I am so blessed to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I have been protected from so many decisions that could have ruined my life and am able to press forward with steadfast faith in Christ and with a brightness of hope. I met a lady in Wal-Mart today and she and I were talking about the package I was about to send off to my friend because of her mission. The lady asked what church she belonged to and when I answered she replied that her father joined when he was 74 and is the happiest he's ever been. That is the effect the gospel has on people. When President Hinckley was asked whether it was hard to be a "Mormon," he replied "no, it's wonderful."  It is a privilege to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

    I know that this is Jesus Christ's church. I know that we have a Prophet on the earth today and twelve Apostles. I know that Joseph Smith was the first of these modern day Prophets. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that, with the Holy Bible, it testifies that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah; that He came and that He will come again. I know that God is our Eternal Father and that Jesus Christ is His Son. I know that the Atonement can cleanse us through the ordinances of the Gospel and that it can strengthen us in our daily lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 7 Week 6

Dear Everyone,

    We are now at the end of another transfer. I still am not able to understand how time can go by so slow, yet so quickly. I am being transferred to either the Fayetteville West or Wilmington Zones and will find out tomorrow at Transfer Meeting. I love Dunn and the ward and will miss the people that I have been able to meet and bring the restored gospel to. We found a few new people this week and will be teaching them later on tonight and throughout the rest of the week. I look forward to those experiences and to the experiences I will yet have in my new area. I went on an exchange with one of the Zone Leaders this past week and I learned a lot from him. We had dinner over at one of the members and taught this really nice lady about the restoration and clarified some concerns and doctrinal misconceptions. She seems like she is prepared to let the gospel of Jesus Christ continue to influence and guide her in making righteous choices. I am eternally grateful for the influence the Gospel of Jesus Christ has had in my life and in the lives of those I know and love. I know that I could not be who I am today or where I am today without it or Him.

     The Atonement plays an especially significant part in this with the condition of repentance attached. It is a gift from God to not only cleanse us from our sins, but to strengthen us in our daily lives against our struggles. I was studying this morning on the doctrine of the Atonement and the differences between rewards and gifts. When we are rewarded it is usually something we have worked for and earned. When we are rewarded for our works, whether they be good or evil, we have earned the just sum of what we have worked for. However, when we are given a gift it is usually something we have not or cannot earn on our own. With this gift there are conditions to receive the gift, the primary one being to accept the gift that is given. Otherwise you cannot receive the gift. The gift of the Atonement requires some work on our part to fully enjoy the blessings thereof, but because we cannot possibly perform an atonement for ourselves, it is still a gift. We went over the doctrine of the Atonement in District meeting on Wednesday and I thought a lot about how love is one of the prime motivating factors for the Atonement and all other aspects of the plan of salvation. Heavenly Father's love for us gave us the agency to choose right from wrong which lead to some choosing sin and death. His love for us lead Him to prepare a way for us to overcome the effects of sin and death by preparing a Savior and Redeemer. This Messiah, even Jesus Christ, accepted His calling and out of supreme love and devotion to both His Father and to us, performed the Atonement, whereby we are given the means to return to Our Heavenly Father's presence. It is love that brought the Son of God to the earth; it is love that led Him to obey His Father in all things; it is love that lead Him to the Garden of Gethsemane, and to the Cross at Calvary. His Atonement, beginning with His suffering in Gethsemane and ending with the Resurrection, are manifestations of His love, His perfect love for Our Heavenly Father and for each and every one of us. May we all strive to live according to the example that He has set for us.

    I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. I know that He the Son of God, sent to deliver us from our sins. I know that God is our literal Father in Heaven. I know that They live and lead and guide the children of God through a modern day Prophet. I know that the same church that Christ established with the foundation of apostles and prophets exists today. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet on the earth today. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that the evidence is in the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and alongside the Bible testifies of Jesus Christ. I know that if you read it and ask God if it is true you will receive an answer from God by the power of the Holy Ghost. I have a testimony of the miracle of conversion, how a testimony of true principles can lead one to make necessary changes to procure eternal happiness. I have seen it in the eyes of Sister Messer. She was recently baptized this past week and you could see it, she was absolutely glowing with joy. That is why we are out here. We are out here to share the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with every soul and give them an opportunity to have it change their lives. I know that it is God's will that I am here. In the sacred name of His Son, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

btw: My New Address is:

Elder Andrew J. Roberts (use my full name there are two of us...)

6508 Falls of Neuse Ste. 100

Raleigh, NC 27615

This is the address to the mission office, they will forward my mail to whereever it needs to go unless you use UPS, if you need to use UPS get my home address from me or my family and they will take care of it until I am able to retrieve it there. ^^ This address will work till March!

Transfer 7 Week 5

Dear Everyone,

      

    This past week was another week of miracles that was rounded off by a visit by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, even Elder David A. Bednar. We had a marvelous time with him and were able to spend 3 hours in open discussion about and one of those hours asking him questions. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I hope to remember all that I have learned and apply it now and in the rest of my life. One of the key pieces of advice that he gave us was that if you don't think it can happen to you, it will and if you think it might you can prepare against it. This covers a wide range of difficulties such as returned missionaries becoming less active to breaking the law of chastity during your engagement. If you are not careful or become too prideful you can fall into these. For older people and families it could be falling out of the habit of daily personal prayer, scripture study and family prayer and scripture study.  When you allow this to happen, when you allow the small and simple things to go undone, you open the door to the natural man (woman) and they step in. That does not mean you worry yourself to death over each and every thing that could happen to you or each item on the "checklist", but it does mean that you are looking out and not putting yourselves in situations where temptations are. The key is preparation and the humility it takes to make that preparation.

 

     Another piece I absolutely loved was the pattern of helping others to use their agency, or freewill, to become spiritually self reliant. In our church personal prayer and scripture study are emphasized and there are no paid clergy. This is because God expects all of us to be anxiously engaged in learning of Him and gain our own personal revelation. As missionaries we are not out to hand out fish or spiritual knowledge, but to help others to learn how to fish. We are out to teach others to become spiritually self reliant, or able to find the answers themselves, in other words to "ask God" and not rely on the wisom of man.  We are to remember that men, even when God places them in positions to influence His children and attend in the affairs of His church are not the teachers, the teacher is the Comforter, or the Holy Spirit. We are only conduits for that influence and we best cultivate that influence as we are agents, as we exercise our free will in being actively engaged in learning of Him and doing His will.

 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that Thomas S. Monson is His Prophet on the earth today. I know that families truly can be together forever through the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He knows and loves us. I have a tesimony of prayer and the power in the Atonement to both cleanse and strenghten us. These things I testify of in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

With Love,

 

Elder Roberts