The real "Iron Man."

Good heavens life back at home sounds like it is moving a million miles an hour... Things really hit hard when you receive a wedding invitation from a cousin that is 2 days younger then me and is getting married. Not too mention the week before, you get news that your brother and his wife are 3 months pregnant. Add the fact that your sister is getting close to having a baby, a few more former friends are getting engaged and married and you have quite the disconnection from life. However for reasons that I don't quite understand I am happy I am missing it all. The Lord has me where he wants me and I don't want to leave. I want to grow with him and for that reason (out of many) I am not homesick, not missing out on much, and can really 'forget myself.' I am extremely happy for those events but I have to admit (with maybe a little selfishness) that I don't want to be anywhere else right now. I want to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel. Interesting how that works. Although this could just be me in a weird state with the massive things that are happening back at home that I am totally disconnected from (I can imagine what the missionaries who never have had email think when I say that!) Well congratulations, life goes on...fast.

Well I have to start off by saying that "Come Thou Fount" by the MoTabs has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of sound wave to penetrate the soul. It is one of the very few songs that I could listen to over and over again and still receive some wetness in the eyes. Maybe it was only worthy of the MoTabs to not put it into the Hymn book.

The baptism for the Bennetts daughters were awesome. I was able to fulfill one of my goals with Elder Braford as well, so that was exciting. The goal being getting him in white and baptizing! It was a very Spirit packed room and the service was awesome. Both speakers gave gifts to the daughters pertaining to baptism and the Holy Ghost. Sister Ault who was one of the speakers was confirmed a member exactly 50 years ago on the day of the Bennetts baptism and was the same age as one of the daughters. I think our ward mission leader did an amazing job of putting the program together and it was quite the relief to not have to do it ourselves. They were confirmed the next day in Church and bamboozled by members. Awesome. I did keep having a reoccurring thought in my mind during all of this. We have to do all we can to help their mother be a part of the Gospel so that the family can continue in unity and get to the temple! Pray Pray Pray!

Their interviews were the night before with Elder Runyan and we had them meet us at the Church. The whole family came and Elder Runyan was running a little behind with one his lessons, so we took advantage of the situation and gave a church tour since the mother had only come once. We walked around the primary and relief society room and the Spirit spoke a lot of peace to all of us. It was the first lesson that we have had in the Church for a while and it was a shock to be reminded of how much more room the Spirit has to work there and speak to us. It must have been a really good thing to do because she came to all 3 meetings the next day after her daughters were confirmed.

I must confess that I am beginning to become much more bold and straight forward in all forms of teaching that I can back up with the purest scripture in the universe known as the Book of Mormon. Have I ever told y'all how much I love to Book of Mormon? Best book ever. I was reading it this morning in Alma 13 when Alma is talking about the priesthood. I didn't quite understand a few of the verses so I started looking around for 'True to the Faith' or other reference things that we have when the thought came to my mind. "You are reading pure scripture - why don't you go over it again and let the Spirit tell you what you don't understand." and he did...

This past week a question came up as I was going through Alma 12 that I remember never getting a clear or concise answer on. Why do we need to be resurrected if Adam could just repent and then eat the fruit of the tree of life and live forever? At first I tried to figure it out with my own understanding and logic but then the Spirit said (not literally) "let me teach you - here read it again and listen." The fact is that God can never lie. When God gave a commandment to not eat of the fruit of the tree He said that if they did eat they should surely die. God cannot lie. Thus cherubim and flaming sword were placed in front of the tree making death an essential part of the plan. Death is appointed unto man as Alma continues to say, thus the plan of redemption was made known unto man by angels, prophets, etc etc... Then it hit me in a huge aha! moment. 'I give unto men weakness that they may be humble' Ether 12:27! Ye shall surely die but Christ redeems us. We are desperately dependant on him for everything! Always Always Always doctrine has reflection to the Atonement.

One of my other favorite studies was this morning when I was going through Alma 13 and trying to figure things out when an awesome stroke of inspiration hit me. Here Alma is teaching about the priesthood and the ordinances all reflecting on Christ. 'the they can look forward to Him.' Could you imagine how beautiful it must have been for a Nephite to be baptized in recognition of the death, burial and resurrection that had yet to happen yet. Now tell me that isn't an extremely huge example of faith and hope. Always Always Always ordinances have reflection to the Atonement.

I am pretty stoked, we had zone conference this past week and they asked us all to write a talk on the transfer focus which is "Finding and Baptizing 950 with members." I related to Uncle Kortney and his orchestra that he conducts. We need multiple testimonies and fellowshippers like my Uncle needs multiple instruments to create a sweet sounding song. We need to have investigators come to the Church building before they come to Church to be shown around and get comfortable like my Uncle having others check out the concert hall. We need members to explain that each week after you are baptized you and your best self will shine through here in Church where you will receive precious truths that are for you like my uncle helping others become the best they can be. Then I related how the Spirit is the Ultimate conductor and that we need to help direct those that may not recognize him at the current time.

Well our potential investigator pool is like a revolving door so pray for our contacts and those we talk to. We need to get some more to come unto Christ with these awesome missionary lessons we teach!

Love y'all
Elder Uncle Metcalf X?????