Good afternoon family & friends. I love hearing all the good news from Utah, especially learning of Zach Tauteoli's wonderful talk at his home coming. I'd love to write to him if you'd please send me his email.
Here is some good news:
1. This Wednesday, I will be transferred to a small village called Valencia and my new companion will be Eld. Ferrin.
2. Guess who will replace me and pair up with Eld. Hatch? His own brother! I have never heard of 2 brothers pairing up together, but I am excited for them. Their uncle is in the quorum of the 70 and he made this decision.
3. I did well with my interview with President Mehr, I remembered all the scriptures required of me to memorize and recited all of them to him without forgetting a word.
4. I have lost more pounds and now down to wearing size Large.
5. I did receive my box, it arrived in 2 days and thank you so much for the grill, it'll help me start cooking more home made meals and get me back to eating healthy.
It was mind blowing when President Mehr taught a lesson about obedience. He said, "when you stay true to a commandment, a light is attached to you. The more truth you gain, the more light you receive, but when you sin against that light, you receive just as much condemnation." Listening to how he taught this lesson made me realize that I only scratched the surface of his lesson. Go to D&C 88 and Moroni and read more about it.
Often I find myself struggling to stay diligent just because so many people are unwilling to open their doors to listen to our message. But I keep referring to this scripture in Mosiah 7:33 it reads, "But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in Him, and serve Him with all DILIGENCE of mind, if ye do this, He will, according to His own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." It's mind blowing seeing how the scriptures give an answer to every question I have. No matter how stubborn people can be, I know for a fact that we can be delivered if we serve Him with all diligence of mind.
I truly have a firm testimony that God lives, I know it and I feel it. In Alma 5:40 it says, "For I say unto you that whatsoever is "good" cometh from God, and whatsoever is "evil" cometh from the devil." Seeing all the good changes in my life and the blessings that have taken place with you guys, that all come from God, therefore, I KNOW HE LIVES.
This work is true, you literally have to lose yourself in doing this work, as President Hinckley counseled from Mark 8:35, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." I love this scripture, it sure has changed my life so much. Anyways, that's all for now.
Love,
Elda Brong
