November 17, 2014
Hi Everyone! Another great
week in Paradise (aka The Mission Field)!!!
Rube Mine is Gold Hill, UT
(Population: 4.. We literally tracted out the entire town :))
Adventures of Wendover...
A "hidden" Book of Mormon up on "Pride Rock" in Wendover that missionaries sign when they go out there. This (the Book of Mormon) is our main weapon in taking over all of Satan's temples. Don't ask about my apparel...I wasn't prepared to go on a hike at 6am in 20* weather, so I had to mix and match borrowed clothing! haha :)
The time I have
left to serve the Lord full-time here in Utah, in the eternal perspective, is
unfortunately so short. I know I just
have to make the most of it. I'm even grateful for the opportunity the Lord has given me to learn
and grow as much as I have and to serve his children 24/7 for the past months. So much joy, happiness and self-growth comes out of serving others. I love it!
This past
week, I had the great opportunity of going with one of the District Leaders in
the zone out on companion exchanges out to Wendover! If you don't know where Wendover is, it's the
most western side of the mission into Nevada. Almost a 2 hour drive from all civilization!
This is where people in Utah (because it's illegal) go to gamble. There are 5 casinos in the small town of
Wendover.
It's a very
wicked place. I noticed that all the
casinos are open 24/7. It made me think...
If Satan's temples (casinos) are working restlessly, then there is no excuse
for us to as well! The feeling in
Wendover is so weird and eerie. The people
who live in Wendover are either teachers at the local schools or work at the
casinos. They are slaves to the casinos.
They come from Mexico seeking work and
then get stuck working 36 hours a week at 2 or 3 of the casinos. They don't make enough to move away, so they
are trapped. Satan's main purpose is to
tear us down to where he is. He is
miserable and wishes us to be eternally miserable as well.
"And
thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but
doth speedily drag them down to hell." (Alma 30:60)
He’s doing a
pretty good job of this in Wendover. His
temples (casinos) are meant to tear families and individuals apart. And they work very well. It's so sad.
"Now the
cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the
stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them
up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and
the vain things of the world." (3 Nephi 6:15)
I've said it
many times, and I'll say it again: The adversary has so much experience. It would be such a mistake to underestimate
him. He is the father of all lies, all
contention and all sin.
We can
overcome him. We can crush his head. How? Well,
funny you should ask! Haha It's a little
something us missionaries like to call CPR! :) Church, Pray, Read. (The
"primary answers")
"For
there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs
and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very
elect." (Matt. 24:24)
Since I've
been here in Utah, I've run across a handful of those "elect" who
have fallen away. Former Relief Society
Presidents, Young Men Presidents, Young Woman President, Primary Presidents. Mostly all still great people, but who have
totally been blinded by the "mist of darkness."
"And it
came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea,even an exceedingly great
mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose
their way, that they wandered off and were lost." (1 Nephi 8:23)
While do they
fall? Well usually is starts a lack of scripture study. Then prayer ceases. Then church meetings become less and less
appealing. Or any combination of that
formula. And usually some Anti-Mormon
material gets studied within that time. We
must stay strong and steadfast in the in the faith. And remember that the
adversary only wants to "speedily drag us down to hell."
This past
week we have met a family who fosters kids. They are currently fostering 3 boys. All around ages 16-17. One from Mexico, one
from Kongo, Africa and one from Afghanistan! They are awesome! Francisco (from Mexico) is a
baptized LDS member (not active), we are currently teaching Toto (from Africa),
and Mosin (from Afghanistan) doesn't speak a lick of English so we're having to
wait off on him. haha
"Know ye
not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your
God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of
the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I
bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of
the earth?" (2 Nephi 29:7) It's true!
The Book of
Mormon is the power in which we help others around us become truly converted
unto the Lord and His Gospel. Coming out
in the field over a year ago, I thought I was so clever and smart. I did all I could to learn the Bible and
expected to convince people using the Bible. Man was a mistaken. The power to help others become converted is
the Book of Mormon. It has the FULLNESS
of his everlasting Gospel and is the only way man can be led to Salvation at
this time in man's existence.
"It is
not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears
testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin
to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist
temptation. You will find the power to
avoid deception. You will find the power
to stay on the straight and narrow path. The scriptures are called "the words of
life" (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the
Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will
find life in greater and greater abundance." -Ezra Taft Benson
"Ensign", General Conference Issue Nov. 1986
If you have
never read the Book of Mormon, or are not currently studying it daily, I invite
you to do so. Your life will be easier. Not
because the challenges and struggles will be easier, but because you'll be
stronger. If we aren't willing to study
the scripture and knowledge that our loving Father has already given, he sure
as heck won't give us anymore! It's so
priceless.
I love this
Gospel and will defend the word for the rest of my life. The benefits we are
able to reap from this Gospel are to be found nowhere in the heavens or on
earth.
Love,
~Elder Carroll
My favorite quote
this week: "True Christianity is love in action." -David O. McKay
My favorite
scripture this week: " Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not
be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has be come
my salvation. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is
known in all the earth." (2 Nephi 22:2,5)
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