Christmas was awesome!! We had a tree decorated with water balloons, Mountain Dew cans, and what I hear are now valuable Twinkies, with a picture of the Savior in the middle. I don't have an SD card reader at the moment (I used Elder Nichol's last week) so, maybe I'll try and send some pictures later when I can get a hold of his. Thank you so much for the gifts you sent! Those pajama pants are SO soft! And I liked your Christmas story mom. I was confused at the beginning until I remembered the idea you'd mentioned earlier and suddenly it made sense. I bet it's even better when you have no idea what's going to happen. :)
After opening presents we went and had breakfast, and then there was the Devotional with Elder Nelson. The choir was supposed to meet at 9:00am to practice, and even though I was there on time, apparently there were way to many people going in and they closed the doors right before I got in. So instead of singing with the choir, I got to be stuck at the packed crowd of missionaries waiting to get in. I was pretty disappointed at first. I went to every rehearsal and I wasn't going to be let in! But then we ended up getting really great seats and it was all okay. In the devotional we heard from two convert missionaries, President Brown (the MTC Mission President) and Elder and Sister Nelson. Elder Nelson talked about being careful in the field, being a rumor-stopper, not a rumor-monger, and working with the ward mission leader and ward Family History assistant to find success. As I listened to all of the talks I felt that there are people being prepared to hear the gospel all over the world. Sometimes I think I expect everyone to reject the gospel, to think it ridiculous, and then few people who are found are surprised that they ended up joining the church. But I keep hearing stories about people who were looking for the truth or who were clearly prepared to receive it. This work is hastening, and the gospel is going to roll forth faster than ever in the coming years! I'm so excited to be a part of that beginning!
After the devotional, we had lunch, went on a temple walk, and then had a talent show. After the talent show, Greg Olsen spoke to us. He talked about not distancing ourselves from the Savior because He was the perfect Son of God. Yes, He was, and He is, but he was also an ordinary man. That was part of the advice Elder Packer gave him when Greg Olsen first attempted to do a portrait of the Savior; He should be depicted as manly, and ordinary. That's why Greg Olsen's paintings are so beautiful I think.
After that, we had dinner and then watched, "It's a Wonderful Life." I love that movie! All around, I had a very, very good Christmas here at the MTC. I hope all of you had a fantastic Christmas as well!
Until next time!
-Elder Ryan Lofthouse-
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Email from Elder Lofthouse, Christmas 2012
Feliz Navidad! I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas so far. I have! My zone got up around 6, put our presents under the tree we put together (I'll send pictures tomorrow) and opened presents. It was especially awesome to see the elders opening packages who hadn't expect to receive anything. We made sure they were taken care of. :) And then we had a devotional with Elder Nelson and I got to sit right near the front! It was great!
I hope that we all remember why we celebrate this holiday. As a missionary, I stand with the Apostles as we testify of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ. His birth was looked forward to by prophets for thousands of years. He was born in the small town of Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago. He showed us the way to return with and become like our Father in Heaven. For three years he ministered among the people of Israel. He taught the gospel, he healed the sick, caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. He called twelve apostles, established His church, and then He finished the work that He came to do. In the Garden of Gethsamane, He took upon Him the sins, pains, and sicknesses of the entire world. Three times He prayed for relief, for some other way, so great was His pain. He bled from every pore and suffered far beyond what any mortal man could suffer. Yet he submitted to the Father's will. He then allowed himself to be taken and tried, mocked, spit upon, accused falsley, tortured, and finally crucified. His life was not taken. As the Son of God, He could have altered His circumstances in any number of ways. But He gave His life for us. Three days later, He rose from the tomb, breaking the bands of death and completeing the Atonement.
Christ lives. He is the Son of the Living God, and He leads this work. This is His church, and it is under His direction. The greatest gift ever given was the Atonement. He is our Savior, our Redeemer from spiritual and physical death, our Brother, and our Friend. He is very real and He can have a very real part in your life if you will let Him. Said he, "I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." He will never forget you. He gave His entire life for you. He suffered everything you have ever suffered, everything you are suffering now, and everything you will yet suffer. He loves you. "I am the way, the truth and the light. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." He IS the way. He showed us how to become like our Father. He succeeded. We just need to follow Him. "Come follow me" is His invitation to all people. I pray that this Christmas season and every other day of the year we will keep Him in our hearts.
If you don't know that Jesus Christ is you Savior, then I invite you to find out. Study His words in the New Testament and in the Book of Mormon. Pray to know if He is there for you. He will answer you through the power of His spirit, and you will be filled with peace and happiness. All of us can have our testimony of Him strengthened. I invite you to all read Moroni 7:48, and consider what it means to become like Him. And then do as Mormon urges and pray with all the energy of your heart to be able to come to truly know Jesus Christ.
I am humbled to have the opportunity to spend the next two years testifying of Him, to stand as His representative on the Earth today. Again, I say that He lives!! I know it! He loves all of us and if we will come unto Him, no matter our circumstances, we will receive peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
Have a very merry Christmas!!
-Elder Lofthouse-
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Email from Elder Lofthouse 12/19/12 (with pictures!)
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| The first one is my district as drawn by Hermana Kennard. :) |
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| The next one should be my companion, Elder Montgomery (the one with the red hair). |
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| Then there's Elder Williams and Elder Nichols, the other two missionaries in our room. Elder Williams was our district leader, but he and Elder Nichols were made Zone Leaders on Sunday and I'm now our District Leader. |
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| There's also a picture of four missionaries at the temple who were my first four zone leaders. They're not sitting next to their companions in the picture. The one on the right and then two left from him were my fist Zone Leaders, Elder Willie-Starkey, and Elder Dubose. They were the best! The other two are Elder Flynn (red hair) and Elder Burnett (the one with the glasses). Those two just left for Tennessee on Monday. |
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| There's another one of him (Elder Montgomery) at the temple. |
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| Then there's a picture of the four hermanas in my district, Hermana Prince, Hermana Kennard (companions), Hermana Poston, and Hermana Barron (companions). |
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| Then there's a picture of my first Zone of which my District is the only one left. I love my district so much. They're just awesome. |
We're getting a brand new district today, and I'm so excited! We had one of them come yesterday because he's from France. And the crazy thing is, he's going to the Paris France mission, Spanish speaking. Whoa!
Elder C. Scott Grow spoke to us yesterday. He said that he was trying to prepare a Christmas talk but the Spirit kept guiding him in another direction. Well of course, that made us listen closer. We knew that this was coming from God and it would be what we needed to hear. It was a very enlightening and powerful talk. He spoke of four prerequisites to teaching with the Spirit: Faith in Jesus Christ, Obedience, Sacrifice, and revelation. He shared a story of when he was a mission president in Uruguay. He had each of the missionaries pray and fast to receive inspiration for a baptismal goal they could set. As he visited with them about what their goals were, one missionary said, "Twenty-three." He was surprised by this number. The most baptisms any companionship had gotten in one month for years was eleven. Moreover, this missionary had only been out for two months. So of course, Elder Grow told him he needed to make realistic goals. And this missionary said, "President, you told us to pray and fast about this, and this is the goal I was prompted to set." Well his companion thought he was crazy too, but after praying about it, he received the same confirmation. The next month, Elder Grow met with this missionary again and asked him about his goal. "President," he said, "we haven't met our goal. We've only baptized twenty." Elder grow was amazed! But then the missionary said (oh yeah, his name was Elder Smith), "But after I'm finished meeting with you, we have a baptismal service and we're baptizing three more." Elder Grow said that that mission changed dramatically. "The glass ceiling had been shattered." Baptisms shot way up as the Elders realized that inspired goals could be met. He counseled us to set realistic goals but to not let our faith be held hostage by previous realities or other people.
Before Elder Grow spoke, his wife shared a story. She has a nephew on a mission in England. He and his companion were teaching a man whose family were members, who'd been taken the lessons for a long time, and just wasn't going to listen. He (the investigator) finally said, "Look, I will open up this Book of Mormon, read a verse, and prove to you that it's not true." He was a man who believed that religion was just a way for people to explain things that science couldn't understand yet. He opened up to Alma 30 and read, "Ye have had signs enough. Will ye tempt your God?..." After reading that whole verse, he agreed to go to church with his family. Miracles have not ceased. This work is hastening. I hear more and more of the coming wave of missionaries. God guides this work and it will not be stopped. The gospel will roll forth to fill the earth as Daniel prophesied. And we are a part of it! Don't be afraid to lift up your voice, to reach out, to bring light to this darkening world! Read the Book of Mormon every day. Pray constantly. Seek to give up your will to Heavenly Father and trust that He knows what is best for you. Miracles happen as we sacrifice and live obediently.
I'll write again next week! Merry Christmas!!
-Elder Ryan Lofthouse-
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Email from Elder Lofthouse 12/12/12
Hello! How is everybody doing? Oh, before I forget again, I can't call home on Christmas. There aren't nearly enough phones to accommodate all the people here. Sorry. I'll be sure to write though. Oh, maybe for Christmas you could send me my orange duffel bag and two more pairs of white socks. :) Oh and I forgot my camera again today, sorry.
Todays e-mail might be short. I'm not sure what to write about. Both of my investigators have baptismal dates and we're picking up two more investigators tonight. I can't wait for the day when those are actual investigators and we're not just role-playing. The BYU mens chorus came and sang on Sunday. They were really good! Our zone is getting a new district today, and next week, my district will be the oldest in our zone. That is so strange. I don't feel like I've been here that long. Yet at the same time I feel like I've always been here and I always will be. :) Maybe throughout the week I should take note of things I should include in this e-mail. That would probably help.
Well, enough of going from one random thing to another. In our devotional yesterday, Elder Hallstrom spoke to us. In part of it he talked about meetings and how if we will go to each of our meetings expecting to learn from the Holy Ghost something that we can change, and we have every intent of acting on the revelation we know we will receive, then we will receive. Meetings will never again be boring if we do that. I encourage each of you to go to church each Sunday with a specific question in mind that you want answered. Write it down in a notebook and take it with you to church. Pray about it and have faith that the Spirit will teach you as you listen to the talks and the lessons. Write down your thoughts and feelings. You will receive an answer. I would encourage all of you to develop that habit of writing down thoughts and impressions all the time, but especially during church and scripture study. When you read your scriptures, have a notebook and a pen or pencil out, expecting that you will receive impressions that you ought to write down. "Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need." - Elder Richard G. Scott. He also taught that if we write down revelation we receive in a sacred place, God will be more likely to give us additional revelation. The Heavens are open. God will speak to you if you will listen. Study, ponder, and pray, and you will receive every answer that you need.
Don't forget to rely on God, and don't forget to be happy. :)
I love you!
-Elder Ryan Lofthouse-
Todays e-mail might be short. I'm not sure what to write about. Both of my investigators have baptismal dates and we're picking up two more investigators tonight. I can't wait for the day when those are actual investigators and we're not just role-playing. The BYU mens chorus came and sang on Sunday. They were really good! Our zone is getting a new district today, and next week, my district will be the oldest in our zone. That is so strange. I don't feel like I've been here that long. Yet at the same time I feel like I've always been here and I always will be. :) Maybe throughout the week I should take note of things I should include in this e-mail. That would probably help.
Well, enough of going from one random thing to another. In our devotional yesterday, Elder Hallstrom spoke to us. In part of it he talked about meetings and how if we will go to each of our meetings expecting to learn from the Holy Ghost something that we can change, and we have every intent of acting on the revelation we know we will receive, then we will receive. Meetings will never again be boring if we do that. I encourage each of you to go to church each Sunday with a specific question in mind that you want answered. Write it down in a notebook and take it with you to church. Pray about it and have faith that the Spirit will teach you as you listen to the talks and the lessons. Write down your thoughts and feelings. You will receive an answer. I would encourage all of you to develop that habit of writing down thoughts and impressions all the time, but especially during church and scripture study. When you read your scriptures, have a notebook and a pen or pencil out, expecting that you will receive impressions that you ought to write down. "Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need." - Elder Richard G. Scott. He also taught that if we write down revelation we receive in a sacred place, God will be more likely to give us additional revelation. The Heavens are open. God will speak to you if you will listen. Study, ponder, and pray, and you will receive every answer that you need.
Don't forget to rely on God, and don't forget to be happy. :)
I love you!
-Elder Ryan Lofthouse-
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Email From Elder Lofthouse 12/5/12
Sounds like life is good back home! I'm glad everyone is doing well and I hope you continue to find success in your writing mom! :) Thirty minutes of computer time is not a lot, so I hope I remember everything I was going to say.
First, I'll answer the questions you sent me in the dearelder.
My companion and I get along fine. We both have more laid back personalities. And we have this thing called companionship inventory (you can read about it in Preach My Gospel) that helps us to keep conflicts resolved. What do we do on a typical day? Well, we get up at 6 (that's the earliest you can get up, 6:30 is the latest) so that we don't have to wait for the showers, at 7 we have personal study in the classroom, and at 8:10 we have breakfast. These times are the same for everyday except Friday. The rest of our activities are the same each day, but vary in their times. Some days we'll have class after breakfast. Classes are three hours and we have two each day. We almost always have our last class at 6:30 except on Tuesdays when we have a devotional. Besides regular class, we have companionship study, gym time, lunch (always at 12:50), dinner (always at 5:45), TALL (technology assisted language learning), and various other "additional study" times. Friday mornings we do service (cleaning).
We get to hear from general authorities every Sunday and every Tuesday. So far, Elder Holland's talk on Thanksgiving has been the only visit from an apostle, but they sometimes come on Tuesdays. And we'll have someone here on Christmas (I'm guessing Elder Nelson :) ). We go to the temple each p-day (today). My favorite part about the MTC is either the devotionals or the gym time. My least favorite part is probably just never being alone. But I'll get used to that.
I like how in your letter you said that Yuki was at in-and-out (well, she does work there) and then almost as an afterthought added that Elder Scott was there. What?? That's so cool! Did you talk to him? And Yuki had better send me a dearelder as soon as she gets her call! Why was dad teaching Sunday school? He doesn't have a new calling does he?
Today, I got a white shirt someone sent me. There was no return address and the note with it said, "Someone is thinking of you. Hope you are in need of this. Merry Christmas!" I wish I knew who sent it, but I am very grateful they did, and if it's someone who is going to read this e-mail, then thank you!
Well I feel like I've finally gotten into the routine of things. And that's just what this week was. Routine. Of course, that routine involves routinely being uplifted and inspired and learning a lot. It's a pretty great thing when amazing experiences become routine. :) I have the best branch president in the world. He is probably the most Captain-Moroni-like person I have every met. He is bold, blunt, powerful, and at the same time caring. He really seems to have a gift of discernment and know what to say to us, what we need, and he has great confidence in us. I am so grateful that God sent President Hollister into my life.
I'm trying to think of what else to write. The weeks go by fast, but they are so long at the same time and it's hard to remember everything that has happened. One of the first things our Branch President said to my district when we got here is that our families will be blessed for our service. I believe it's D&C 35 that talks about that (but I could definitely be wrong). Well, one of the Elders in my district, Elder Nichols, told us yesterday that his older sisters who are inactive are starting to come back to church and take the missionary lessons. Hermana Prince's dad isn't a member, and he's been taking the missionary lessons for years, but this time, he is really serious about it. She fully expects him to be baptized. And Hermana Barron, who was disowned by her family for her decision to serve and had to live with her stake patriarch, her mom has started writing to her, and seems to be experiencing a softened heart. I am so thankful to have come from an active family. I have had so many great examples around me throughout my life. Without the support of you, my parents and family, I don't know if I would be out here. All of us who have the gospel are incredibly blessed and it is so easy to forget that. In the devotional last night, we heard from Elder Dave F. Evans (I think that's what his name was) one of the men, along with Elder Holland and Elder Nelson, who oversees the missionary work. He spoke of opening our mouths. God has promised that if we treasure up the words of life continually then our mouths will be filled when we open them. Don't be afraid to share the gospel! It's true, and anyone who reads the Book of Mormon and sincerely asks if it is true will, WILL, receive a witness from the Holy Ghost that it is true. Believe in that! Trust in it! Get people to read the Book of Mormon, and if you yourself aren't sure that you really know the book is true, then read and pray about it yourself. You will receive undeniable proof if you will do so, and then you will be able to share your testimony with confidence and faith. Let the Spirit guide and you will find opportunities to share your testimony.
I love all of you!
-Elder Ryan Lofthouse-
First, I'll answer the questions you sent me in the dearelder.
My companion and I get along fine. We both have more laid back personalities. And we have this thing called companionship inventory (you can read about it in Preach My Gospel) that helps us to keep conflicts resolved. What do we do on a typical day? Well, we get up at 6 (that's the earliest you can get up, 6:30 is the latest) so that we don't have to wait for the showers, at 7 we have personal study in the classroom, and at 8:10 we have breakfast. These times are the same for everyday except Friday. The rest of our activities are the same each day, but vary in their times. Some days we'll have class after breakfast. Classes are three hours and we have two each day. We almost always have our last class at 6:30 except on Tuesdays when we have a devotional. Besides regular class, we have companionship study, gym time, lunch (always at 12:50), dinner (always at 5:45), TALL (technology assisted language learning), and various other "additional study" times. Friday mornings we do service (cleaning).
We get to hear from general authorities every Sunday and every Tuesday. So far, Elder Holland's talk on Thanksgiving has been the only visit from an apostle, but they sometimes come on Tuesdays. And we'll have someone here on Christmas (I'm guessing Elder Nelson :) ). We go to the temple each p-day (today). My favorite part about the MTC is either the devotionals or the gym time. My least favorite part is probably just never being alone. But I'll get used to that.
I like how in your letter you said that Yuki was at in-and-out (well, she does work there) and then almost as an afterthought added that Elder Scott was there. What?? That's so cool! Did you talk to him? And Yuki had better send me a dearelder as soon as she gets her call! Why was dad teaching Sunday school? He doesn't have a new calling does he?
Today, I got a white shirt someone sent me. There was no return address and the note with it said, "Someone is thinking of you. Hope you are in need of this. Merry Christmas!" I wish I knew who sent it, but I am very grateful they did, and if it's someone who is going to read this e-mail, then thank you!
Well I feel like I've finally gotten into the routine of things. And that's just what this week was. Routine. Of course, that routine involves routinely being uplifted and inspired and learning a lot. It's a pretty great thing when amazing experiences become routine. :) I have the best branch president in the world. He is probably the most Captain-Moroni-like person I have every met. He is bold, blunt, powerful, and at the same time caring. He really seems to have a gift of discernment and know what to say to us, what we need, and he has great confidence in us. I am so grateful that God sent President Hollister into my life.
I'm trying to think of what else to write. The weeks go by fast, but they are so long at the same time and it's hard to remember everything that has happened. One of the first things our Branch President said to my district when we got here is that our families will be blessed for our service. I believe it's D&C 35 that talks about that (but I could definitely be wrong). Well, one of the Elders in my district, Elder Nichols, told us yesterday that his older sisters who are inactive are starting to come back to church and take the missionary lessons. Hermana Prince's dad isn't a member, and he's been taking the missionary lessons for years, but this time, he is really serious about it. She fully expects him to be baptized. And Hermana Barron, who was disowned by her family for her decision to serve and had to live with her stake patriarch, her mom has started writing to her, and seems to be experiencing a softened heart. I am so thankful to have come from an active family. I have had so many great examples around me throughout my life. Without the support of you, my parents and family, I don't know if I would be out here. All of us who have the gospel are incredibly blessed and it is so easy to forget that. In the devotional last night, we heard from Elder Dave F. Evans (I think that's what his name was) one of the men, along with Elder Holland and Elder Nelson, who oversees the missionary work. He spoke of opening our mouths. God has promised that if we treasure up the words of life continually then our mouths will be filled when we open them. Don't be afraid to share the gospel! It's true, and anyone who reads the Book of Mormon and sincerely asks if it is true will, WILL, receive a witness from the Holy Ghost that it is true. Believe in that! Trust in it! Get people to read the Book of Mormon, and if you yourself aren't sure that you really know the book is true, then read and pray about it yourself. You will receive undeniable proof if you will do so, and then you will be able to share your testimony with confidence and faith. Let the Spirit guide and you will find opportunities to share your testimony.
I love all of you!
-Elder Ryan Lofthouse-
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