Week 9 is really late!!! This is not the fault of Elder Jorgensen, but here at the home front. I guess it took me a almost a week to get over the shock of the forthcoming message!!! The first half of this message is Elder Jorgensen's recap of how much he loved General Conference (that is the shocking part). The second part, way down below, is the recap of his weekly experiences. We think he is pretty amazing. Here is Elder Jorgensen...
Guess who loves Conference?!?!?!?!
Elder Jorgensen!!! I'll say it again!!! GUESS WHO LOVES CONFERENCE?!?!?
ELDER!!! JORGENSEN!!!!!! What, you wanna hear it one more time??? ELDER
JORGENSEN LOVES HIM SOME GENERAL
CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, conference was good!!! Would
all of those in favor please, make it manifest??
Any opposed?? Watch it again.
Allow me to share with you some of
my favorite quotes, if you will. They probably aren't all verbatum because I
was writing them down but there are still some good ones.
Saturday Morning Session
-Edward Dube-
Btdubs I could listen to him talk all day, his accent was inspiring!!
"Never look back, only look
forward to what you still have to do." As a missionary I love this one
because it reminds me to stay focused on the work, and to work as hard as I
can!
"Faith always points towards
the future." That one made me ask myself where am I willing to let my
faith take me?
-David A. Bednar - I really liked this talk, I just didn't write a lot down.
The one I did get was
"How is it possible that
tithing funds work so simply? It is simple. This is the Lord's Church." I
think that it is really significant that an Apostole of the Lord chose to talk
about tithing... and it is really cool/mind-blowing to think about how well
designed the tithing program is.
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf -
"Doubt your doubts before you
doubt your faith." BOOM. Short. Simple. Powerful. And it's also a really
cool way to think about it that I'd never thought of before, and I mean our
faith is one of the few things no one should be able to take from us, nor
should they be able to damper it. Our faith is OURS, we shouldn't question it,
but let it shine as a light to others. Another quote that really goes well with
this one is
"Nurture your faith, even if it
is in the sandy soils of doubt." Again, BOOM. I like it because Faith is
the most basic principle of this Gospel that we teach, and we have to nurture
and grow our faith because without faith nothing happens.
Saturday Afternoon Session
-Boyd K. Packer
"Keep scripture reading a part
of your regular routine."
-D Todd Christofferson
"A mother can exhort an
influence unequaled by any other person." Mom this one made me think of
you a lot because you know you have been a successful mother when you get your
children out on missions. I know people can see how well you raised me through
my actions out here, and I also know people can look at you back at home and
say that you sent out a good missionary.
"The world has enough women who
are tough. We need more who are kind." Again, mom that made me think of
you because you are undoubtedly one of, if not the, kindest person I know.
"Jesus' power came from his
single minded devotion to the will of the Father." This one made me think
once again that I really need to be focused on this work, that I really need to
be trying my best.
"Do not be afraid to apply your
good influence." This quote was talking about mothers, and I definitely
think that is a good way to apply it, but I also think that we all have an
influence in some way or another with the people we interact with, and
sometimes we are afraid to share this wonderful message of the Gospel with
them, but we don't need to be.
-S. Gifford Neilsen- I'm not
going to lie, I thought this guy was a little bit goofy. But, nevertheless, he
said some powerful things.
"Whatever our age, capacity, or
calling, we are as one." BBBOOOOOOOMMMMMM. Ephesians 4:10 if I'm not
mistaken says one faith, one baptism. D&C 4 talks about an eye single to
the glory of God... we all have one purpose in this life and that is to help
others come unto Christ.
"Pray for missionaries serving
in your area and their investigators, every day, by name. The only way to do
this is to shake their hand, read their badge, and get to know them." I
need to come up with another sound effect other than boom.... but BOOM. I know
before I left that the missionaries were just the missionaries, they've always
been there, they will always be there, and a lot of times there doesn't seem
like much need to talk to them. Now, as a missionary, I am on the other side of
that mentality, that all people see is the badge and they just assume I was born
and bred to be a missionary, and that that's all I am. A lot of times people
don't see the person behind the badge, thus creating the mentality "the
missionaries." But, surprisingly enough, not one missionary I've talked to
has the same life story. I haven't met any 2 that act the same. We all had
different lives before our missions and for this reason we have been called to
represent the Gospel with the same purpose, as one, but we are a diverse unit.
Aight I'll get off the soap box now...
-Timothy Dyches- This man was
President of the OPM before Morby, so I payed pretty good attention to his
talk.
"Faith precedes the
miracle." Like I was saying, faith is the most basic concept of this
Gospel. It is the foundation for everything. When we move forward, we move
forward in faith, sometimes not knowing what will come but all of the time
believing that we can get through it, learn from it, and ultimately benefit
from it."
"Have faith in the Savior's
timing and purposes for you." God and Jesus know each of us, personally,
individually, better than we know ourselves. We just have to have devoted minds
single to the will of the Father and let Him work through us.
-Jeffrey R. Holland- Love this guy. He is amazing, and I thought his talk was
pretty unique too.
"I am a vigorous advocate of
square shoulders and positive thinking." I liked that one because
sometimes it's hard not to get discouraged out here, but being negative doesn't
help the situation at all.
"Above all, never lose faith in
your Father in Heaven." Wait a second... faith... again?? That's weird...
it's like maybe they are trying to say faith is important or something."
"God's love for you is there
whether or not you deserve it. It is simply always there."
"Take the sacrament every
week.''
"Never lose hope."
"If the bitter cup does not
pass, drink it! And be strong!" Challenges come and go... some stick
around longer and are more difficult than others. But with faith, we can push
forward, get through it, and benefit from it.
"Patiently enduring some things
is part of mortal education." I just liked that one plainly because of how
impatient I am sometimes... and it reminded me that patience is a very
important virtue to have.
"We are infinitely more than
our limitations or afflictions." It's been awhile so I'm gonna bust it out
again... BBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I
can straight up see myself having that as a quote in my house someday!!!!
BBBBBBOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!
"Broken minds can be healed the
same way broken bones are healed."
-M. Russell Ballard- I really liked his talk too... but you probably guessed I
was gonna say something like that.
"There is an urgency for each
one of us to share this Gospel." Yeah there is!
"Now is the time for members
and missionaries to come together in the Lord's vineyard and bring souls unto
him." Word.
"Make the decision to do what
Jesus Christ has asked you to do."
"We must watch for
opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ." I like how he says that
we need to be watching, as in we need to be taking active roles in looking for
ways to share this message with others. We can't just sit around and expect for
opportunities to come to us.
"Sharing the Gospel is our
responsibility."
"The voice of the Good Shepherd
is your voice, and my voice."
"You can pray for the faith and
strength to share the Restored Gospel."
"If you want to teach more,
talk about the Gospel more."
"The key is that you be
inspired of God, that you ask for inspiration."
Priesthood Session
-Gerald Causse
"Whoever enters our
meetinghouses should feel at home." I love how plain, simple, and powerful
that one is. Obviously, when people come to Church, we want them to feel
welcome, but many times it doesn't happen. It is a place of the Lord and we
need to make sure all who enter can feel of his love."
"Unity is not achieved by
ignoring or isolating members who seem to be different."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf-
"Even when we think we cannot
rise up, there is still hope."
"Mankind can repent. However
this does not mean we should become comfortable in our weaknesses or
sins."
"Godly sorrow leads to a
conversion and change of heart. It causes is to hate sin."
"Repentance should be a
transformation, not a torture or a torment." Both of these quotes are really
good because the only way we can feel the power of the Atonement is if we have
the faith to try it for ourselves, if we believe that it can work and even
better work mighty changes within us.
"You may occasionally stumble,
but you will not be defeated."
"Falling is what we mortals
do."
"There will be times when you
think you cannot continue on. Trust in the Savior and His love." Again,
Christ knows all of us on a deeply personal level. He knows what we are going
through even when we might not think anyone else does.
"We mortals do not become
champions without effort or discipline; or, without making mistakes."
"Rise up, and follow in the
footsteps of our Redeemer and Savior, and one day you will look back with
gratitude that you chose to follow the Savior and his Atonement."
Henry B. Eyring
''You cannot repair spiritual damage
unless you have a vibrant testimony."
President Thomas S. Monson- I think it is pretty noteworthy to say that our Prophet, the
man himself, chose to talk about something as common and simple as home
teaching. That that is the message he decided to share should in and of itself
be important.
"Home teaching is the response
to modern revelation."
"If you would win a man to your
counsel, first instill confidence in him that you are his good friend." I
have seen this a couple times already in my short mission experience. Most of
the time to even have a small conversation with someone they have to see me as
more than a missionary knocking on their door. They have to see that I care
about them, that I want them to be happy, and that I am a real person instead
of a robotic missionary, and then things usually go smoother.
"If any of you has slipped into
complacency, there is no time like the present to rededicate yourself."
This goes along with the idea that we should always be trying to improve some
aspect of our lives, always working on improving our weaknesses. And we can
never be perfect, but we can try with everything we've got.
Sunday Morning Session
Henry B. Eyring
"We must expect that it will
take the help of God, and time, to polish us as we pass through
mortality."
"We may be insignificant in our
own eyes, and in the eyes of others... But the truth remains we are children of
God." And that reminded me of another quote I have somewhere in my
scriptures, I don't remember who it's by but I remember it goes something like,
"Our value in the eyes of God does not fluctuate like the stock market. It
is fixed; we are his children and he loves us."
"Joy is guaranteed for the
faithful."
Dallin H. Oaks
"The role and perceived
necessity of Fathers is diminishing."
"Our policies our determined by
the truths God has identified as unchangeable."
"Man's laws cannot make moral
what God has declared immoral."
"Like our pioneer
ancestors, we should push our personal handcarts forward with the same boldness
they exhibited."
"All men have their fears. But
those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well."
Bonnie L. Oscara
"The decisions you are called
upon to make on a daily basis have eternal consequences."
"If you do not have a testimony
that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on
the earth, now is the time." I liked this one because it applies to
anyone. It was directed at the youth, but anyone, no matter their position in
life, can pray to find out that this is true.
"Conversion comes as we act
upon righteous principles."- And to act on those righteous principles,
what do we need?? Anyone?? Anyone?? FAITH!
Richard J Maynes
"The challenges we face, if
successfully endured, will be to our ultimate benefit." One of the ways we
can successfully face our challenges is to draw on the powers of the Atonement
to help us get through them.
"You must become the rock the
river cannot wash away." Our faith has to be so strong that we never
question it; never doubt it. We have to do what we know is right all the time.
"Let us run with patience the
race that is set before us." That is a quote from the Bible, and it talks
about racing. Word.
Richard G. Scott
"The sons were fortified in the
faith of their mothers.'' Mommy, that's you!!
"Fortify weak areas to create
strength."
"The Lord sees weaknesses
differently than he sees rebellion."
"Repentance is not punishment;
it is the glorious path to a hope filled future."
"Make the spiritual development
of your children a very high priority."
President Thomas S. Monson.- I really
liked how at the beginning of this talk he talked about his wife and how he
missed her and how he knows they will see each other again. It was really
powerful to hear.
"Sadness and suffering are
universal."
"Difficulties allow us to
change for the better."
"Were it not for challenges to
overcome or problems to solve, we would remain much as we were."
Sunday Afternoon
Quentin L. Cook
"Righteous living is a
prerequisite for assisting the Lord in his work."
"If we allow our culture to
reduce the relationship between children and mothers/grandmothers, and those
who nurture them, we will come to regret it." BOOM, there is nothing like
a mother's love!
Niel L. Anderson
"Sincerely listening to the
thoughts and concerns voiced by women is vital."
David M. McKonkie
"We encourage you to dedicate
yourself to living the Gospel with more purpose than ever before."
Russel M. Nelson
"In truth not one of us can
ever stop being a child of God."
So I guess one of the overwhelming
themes I noticed was faith, just because it is at the base of everything we do.
I also noticed how we all need to be one in purpose, and that unity is very
important. Honestly I could probably find a way to relate all of the talks
together, as I was typing all of this out I kept noticing connections that I
didn't yesterday or Saturday, and I hope you guys see some of them too!!
Alrighty... I think that's about it.
I wrote down a lot more that I could share but I'm pretty sure as much as I
wrote was getting boring already...:) So, that's it for the first half of this
week's letter! When I get back from b-ball I will tell you guys more about the
events of the week and send some pics!!!
I love you guys!! Don't forget to
nurture your faith!!! Talk to you soon!!!
Elder Travis Jorgensen
OH MY GOODNESS I AM TERRIBLE AT
BASKETBALL!!
OH before I forget... 80 thousand
Missionaries!!!!!! 80 THOUSAND!!!! I also think it's kinda cool because October
9th will be the actual year mark for the day the age got changed, and that will
mark a month for me out in the field... pretty cool in my opinion. To answer
your earlier questions, no, I am pretty sure I was not on tv when the CCM was
spoken of... He must have done that between now and when I left because we
didn't have any live speakers come to us. HOWEVER, directly after Saturday
morning's session there was a little clip about the CCM. I saw that come on and
flipped out, I was jumping up and down and probably got a little to excited but
that's ok. I think there is a chance I might have been on that one... maybe.
Right after they interviewed Presidente Pratt, they showed a short clip of a
lot of missionaries gathering in a room... That room was the seminary room and
the group of missionaries was the group that arrived and left with me... It was
brief so I didn't get to check but it's possible! And in all honesty it might
be possible that I was on during the actual session too, I just know that when
I saw the speaker and knew he didn't speak while I was there, I automatically
assumed I wouldn't be in any of the pictures. But some of the pictures they
showed were of generations older than me.... so idk.
We FINALLY had some stuff happening
last week. Por fin!!! Last Monday we were headed to our last planned
appointment of the night, after having everything fall through, AGAIN. So right
before we knocked on the door we looked at each other and said, "Let's get
a lesson." And they opened the door and we got in and we ended up teaching
them for about 30 minutes about the book of Mormon. Their name is the XXXX
family and the best part is they are a family of 7!!!!!! 5 of them listened to
our lesson and the only reason the others didn't is because they were busy
doing stuff. So that was good.
This is Hermana YYYYY, she is a member we found a couple weeks ago
when we were going by members' houses trying to squeeze some references out of
them. When she saw us, she just got ridiculously happy and started talking and
talking. She is from South America so I don't understand much of what she says,
but really she just needs someone to listen to her. I don't know all of her
story; Her husband died awhile ago and somehow she got to the home where she is
living. The people taking care of her don't speak any Spanish and she doesn't
speak any English, so she is literally alone pretty much all of the time. Elder
Cooper and I both agree that when we are with her there is not a better use we
could be putting our time towards, because our job is to help others come to
Christ and the way her face lights up when she sees us lets us know she needs
some love and we are doing our job when we are with her. We try to see her once
a week and it is usually one of my favorite parts of the week.
Also on Wednesday we taught 4 other
lessons, making our total for the day 5. That alone is almost more than I've
gotten all the weeks previously combined. We hit up a few more less actives,
and we got una fecha suave (soft baptismal date) for ZZZZ. She wants to be
baptized in a river... luckily she asked a member to do it! But hopefully on
Oct 20th I should get my first baptism!! The other member present we got on
Wednesday also happened to be my first Bible-bashing experience!!! Que
divertido!!!! The investigator we taught is named QQQQ, and he is a die hard
Catholic. I kinda think he thought the purpose of our meeting was so he could
teach us, because EVERY TIME we would try to do part of the first lesson, he
would go, "Miren:..." and then go OFF! Miren basically means look
here, or look, but commanding and forcefully. We managed to get a few
testimonies in but the Spirit was not present at all! However when we left we
left him with a Book of Mormon, and though he only believes on the Bible he
flipped through it a little before we left. OH and that guy speaks freaking
fast, paisa (Mexican Redneck or hardcore native) spanish, and "That ain't
what they taught me in the MTC."
On Thursday we took our quarterly
temple trip... pictures coming. It was pretty epic, I mean what else does one
expect from the Temple? We had to get rides from members, and they got headsets
to translate it into Spanish... except the new video hasn't been translated
yet... Pero esta bien I shall see it one day!!!
Also on Thursday you guys' package
came. Freaking getting mail as a missionary is the best, it's like Christmas
everytime
Have I told you guys about TIWI
yet?? No? I didn't think so... Tiwi I am fairly certain is the brain child of
someone who is a back seat driver as a hobby. It is a system that you can
install in your car and it gets mad at you if you drive too fast, brake too
hard, turn to sharp, don't put on your seatbelt... and pretty much everything.
It also records how fast you drive. The only thing is that since I have gotten
out here, the speaker in the Tiwi of our car has been broken... so Elder Cooper
couldn't hear what he was doing wrong, he just saw the red light flash at him.
Well, suddenly, on Friday, the speaker decided to work again... and the rest of
Tiwi decided to lose it's mind. Pretty much it started saying random stuff that
wasn't happening and it was repeating "no driver/invalid driver'
Remember how last week I kinda
whined a little because it had been raining a lot?? Or maybe I whined a lot,
but whatever:) Well, it hasn't really rained much since that venting session I
had... In fact... a like an hour after I sent that email last week, the sun
came out and started shining, and it's been shining pretty much all week. The
weather here is bipolar... I am just afraid of when the rain comes to stay...
but that will be ok because I have a SICK rain jacket, and I either have to
wear that or a suit ALL THE TIME until next conference!!! Yippeeeee!!!!!
Alright familia mio creo que este es
todo... (I think that's all)
I love you guys tons!!! I miss you a
lot!! Wes keep doing good on your running!!!!
Elder Travis Jorgensen
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