#45 一年 yīnián (one year)

Well everyone, here it is... One year, wowza. Truthfully I never really felt like this day would come. So, instead of my normal weekly email I have decided to share my testimony, and some things I have learned as a missionary. I will try to break it down to 3 points.

1st. We need to be converted, not just have a testimony. "A testimony is what we know to be true by the power of the holy ghost, conversion is consistently living true to what you know." - Elder Bednar. I have been thinking a lot about this quote lately and the power from it. We can say we believe all we want, but until we do something with that belief. It is just that. A belief. Once we exercise faith and act on our beliefs, then we become converts and gain conversion to the gospel. So get up and move on what you know. Don't sit around with it. Because when we allow a testimony to become stagnant it typically goes away. 

2nd. Keep it simple. There is a great acronym I have learned from being a missionary. The acronym is KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Oftentimes in life we overcomplicate church and/or the gospel. This makes things way too hard to do. The Savior never intended for the Gospel to be confusing and neither should we. When we focus on the Gospel and the things that are important, typically things work out how they need to.  "When we answer the primary questions, we answer the secondary questions as well. or they pale in significance" - Elder Corbridge.

3rd. Do the daily. As a missionary I have the opportunity to study the scriptures and the elements of the gospel for 3-4 hours a day. I also have the chance to meet with members of the church who haven't read their scriptures for three years. Typically when we meet with said individuals they say something along the lines of "The church just is not for me anymore". And immediately I want to ask them 2 questions, are you reading your scriptures? and are you praying? Because when we are consistently doing these 2 things We will know that the Church and the gospel is always for us. That is why it exists. So make sure to do the daily things, and do them because you love them and because you want to strengthen your testimony. "You cannot do it unless you love him" - Elder Holland. 

I want everyone here to know that I love this church, and the gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart. I have loved every second of the past 365 days and I would not trade a second of it for the world. I know without a doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is a sure and pure witness of Jesus Christ. I know this church to be the church of God himself. The church will "Stand forever" and I too will "Stand forever" I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

Pics!

1. Thug life.

2. A swing in a members yard

3. 1 year Wendy's

4. the 1 year Shirt burn.