Random bird we found at our apartment complex!
My companion Elder Price & I
(and some photo bombers)!
Merry
Christmas!!
What a
wonderful time of the year when so many more people in the world remember our
Savior and his priceless gift to us--The Atonement. As I've learned to more fully use that Gift,
I've been able to feel more joy in my life. I can testify confidently that God lives, that
Jesus is the Christ and that They want the best for us. I can feel my Savior's
love. It amazes me how Heavenly Father
can change us, when we do our best to have a Christlike character and help others
around us. Truly remarkable!
Although serving
in the Young Single Adults Stake is soooo different than serving in Family
Stakes, I am LOVING it!! We cover 4 wards. Our area goes up to the University
of Utah Campus, so we cover two student wards! Our area also reaches down to 40th South in SLC,
which is about 20 blocks out of the mission boundaries! But we are given permission to go because two
of our YSA wards meet down there :) It's
so much fun! We are teaching quite a few
people. Liz is an investigator from
Vietnam. Aubreyis an investigator from
Maine. Darius is a recent convert from Chicago! And there many more! We were able go with a recent convert to the
Salt Lake Temple to watch her do Baptisms for the Dead for the first time! We were able to do confirmations and be the
witnesses for the baptisms :) I love
being able to meet new people and for the opportunity that I have to bear my
testimony so frequently. I love the mission!
My mission President, President Hansen!
This past
week we had our Mission Christmas Party. President Hansen (Mission President)
shared a story once told by President Hinckley that I wish to share with you,
because it touched my heart. If you have
just a second to read it, please do. I
promise you won't be disappointed.
“Years ago
there was a little one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the
boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them.
“A young,
inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked:
‘Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every
teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.’
“‘I will risk
it,’ he replied.
“The first
day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom
whispered: ‘I won’t need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.’
“The teacher
said, ‘Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.’ They yelled and
made fun at the top of their voices. ‘Now, I want a good school, but I confess
that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You
tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.’
“One fellow
yelled, ‘No stealing!’ Another yelled, ‘On time.’ Finally, ten rules appeared
on the blackboard.
“‘Now,’ said
the teacher, ‘a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall
we do with one who breaks the rules?’
“‘Beat him
across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response from the
class.
“‘That is
pretty severe, boys. Are you sure that you are ready to stand by it?’ Another
yelled, ‘I second the motion,’ and the teacher said, ‘All right, we will live
by them! Class, come to order!’
“In a day or
so, ‘Big Tom’ found that his lunch had been stolen. The thief was located—a
little hungry fellow, about ten years old. ‘We have found the thief and he must
be punished according to your rule—ten stripes across the back. Jim, come up
here!’ the teacher said.
“The little
fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and
pleaded, ‘Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please, don’t take
my coat off!’
“‘Take your
coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’
“‘Oh,
teacher, don’t make me!’ He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see?
The boy had no shirt on, and revealed a bony little crippled body.
“‘How can I
whip this child?’ he thought. ‘But I must, I must do something if I am to keep
this school.’ Everything was quiet as death.
“‘How come
you aren’t wearing a shirt, Jim?’
“He replied,
‘My father died and my mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is
washing it today, and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep me warm.’
“The teacher,
with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then ‘Big Tom’ jumped to his feet and said,
‘Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.’
“‘Very well,
there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you
all agreed?’
“Off came
Tom’s coat, and after five strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in
his hands and thought, ‘How can I finish this awful task?’ Then he heard the
class sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom
with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I
was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me!
Yes, I will love you forever!’”
To lift a
phrase from this simple story, Jesus, my Redeemer, has taken “my licking for
me” and yours for you."
This story
brought quiet tears to my eyes as I thought back to the times when I have so
fully depended on Christ to take away my shame and guilt for my mistakes. I
have felt the enabling power of the Atonement--the cleansing power. I cannot accurately describe it to you in
words. How merciful our Redeemer is, to take our "licking" for us. I am eternally indebted to Him. I know I must devote my life to serving and
following Him. It is the least I can do.
We recently
watched a video series by Elder Christofferson called "Daily Bread". He outlines the importance of daily scripture
study, prayer, and other simple yet essential things to help us keep on track
to joy in this life, and on the road back to our Heavenly Father. If you haven't (or if you have) seen these
three, 3-minute videos, I invite you to watch them (again)!
Daily Bread: Pattern
Daily Bread: Experience
Daily Bread: Change
So many great
things are happening. Life is good. I wouldn't ask to be anywhere other than
here in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. The Lord is good. I hope you have a
very merry Christmas and that all is well! Stay close to the Lord and I promise
He'll bless you!! :)
#ShareTheGift #HeIsTheGift
Love,
Elder Carroll
My favorite quote this week...
"As I
walk daily here on earth,
Give me thy
Spirit as I seek
A change of
heart, another birth,
And grow,
dear Lord, to be like thee." - With Humble Heart (Hymn 171 v. 4)
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