Elder Taylor: Week 3

Leih houh ma! How is life everybody!

So this week has been one of a high amount of mental, physical and spiritual progress. We did TRC on Saturday, which is where we have volunteers who speak the language were studying come and listen to us share a message and bear our testimony as well as ask us questions and fix any problems that we have with teaching and the language. I wasn't able to do the whole lesson in Cantonese, but my goal this upcoming saturday is to speak no English at all.

As for Papa's question, we do have written material. Two of our main resources we call Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Jackie Chan is a book with about 80 pages about grammar sequences and example sentences related to asking for and giving directions, possessive and descriptive words, using what would in english be sequences related to "through, because, if/then, although, etc..." and also contains example prayer and testimony sequences. Bruce Lee is a smaller but thicker book with translated phrases from Preach my Gospel as well as relevant vocabulary for teaching, getting to know someone, and other Missionary tasks.

Still on track with the push ups and sit ups. I'm so glad to hear that Simon is doing well on and off the field. Hopefully you get my letter in a few days about specific details I would like to hear as well as some important information regarding choices.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a world-wide MTC devotional on last week's sunday (Aug 30). You will have to read my letter to get the details due to my limited time.

I haven't been able to pick up your most recently sent package yet because of today being labor day and saturday having the mail room close early at 2 o'clock. So frustrated about that, but I'm really excited to get it. I always appreciate the kind notes that you include. At some point I would like to have a note from everyone about how they are feeling and how their testimonies have grown.

A question that I wan't Ana and Simon to ask their seminary teachers and for everyone to figure out: In 3 Nephi 7:15, which Nephi is referred to? Is it Nephi the son of Nephi or Nephi the Son of Helaman who in 3 Nephi 1:2-4 was said to have gone off into the wilderness never to be heard from again. I'll give you a hint. The same nephi is also said to have performed the miracle of rescuing his brother Timothy. Who is it?

Elder M is finally feeling better after about a week of serious sickness. Simon was usually the consistent waker-upper of the two of us. Thankfully I have been blessed with energy enough and a surprisingly convenient need to use the restroom after my prayer. Having the top bunk just makes it harder to get out of bed, and I feel so lazy saying this, but it's just so much more effort required to get out of that bed without hurting myself (haven't hurt myself yet). Isn't it amazing what the spirit can do?

I realize now why, even in perfect understanding, I would not change the way I acted in many cases. It is because I never even thought to desire to convert myself to any specific law of God. Just understanding the difference between right and wrong is not enough. Conversion to anything cannot occur without these steps. 1) participation in the act. 2) desire to increase repetition of the action 3)Enjoyment of some sort found in both the participation and the increase. 4) an either physical or spiritual experience that more firmly ties you to that action. Realize that this is a generic conversion pattern, using the word conversion in a sense meaning changing one's view in a conscious acceptance of an external will or influence. This is why addiction to anything of substance, ideal, or act is such a terrible sin, and even the act leading to that addiction is terrible in similitude because of the fulfillment of the law. You are not only deliberately disobeying God's will, but you are becoming tied to something that in actuality will soon fail your faith. This will sadden your Heavenly Father immediately and will at one point sadden you as well as those with whom you interact. It's a form of disobedience to the first and greatest commandment to worship Him alone. Other specific laws will follow such as the word of wisdom, the law of chastity, tithing, consecration, and every single other law. If you are deliberately removing yourself from God, it will surely end in you disobeying all of God's commandments, even unto the denying of the Holy Ghost. This explains why it would be impossible for most to do so, because if any light of Christ is left unextinguished, desire for good is still present to any degree. With that light extinguished though, it seems simply consequential that one would commit such a grievous and unforgivable sin. Either way, their would couldn't get any darker.

So what can we do amidst the trials of our Faith in Christ? How can we remain steadfast and immoveable o'er the moors, fens, crags and torrents till the night is gone? The answer is found in the same hymn: Let Him LEAD YOU ON! Love not the garish day, but immerse yourself in the faith you have, and immerse yourself also in the very things which developed the core of your faith. What did Joseph smith do in trials like Liberty Jail or the time when the church could no longer fund the temple payment? The same thing he was initially instructed by the spirit to do by the spirit when he knew not which way to go: he Prayed, and did so with the most fervent desire to have faith whereby he could obtain truth found only in and through Christ. What do we do if we find ourselves in the pit of addictive behavior? I would recommend the videos about the 12 steps to addiction recovery. Mom and Dad need to watch them first to figure out who it would be appropriate for, but all twelve videos are on the Church Website.

Closing remarks:

I have seen Elder Knowlton, Elder Hale and Elder Beisinger. It's so wonderful to have a few familiar faces here at the MTC.

I will soon be needing new pens. Preferrably black fine point G2 pens. BIC are good too though:)

I want everyone to discuss in family home evening tonight one of these topics

-John Taylor Quote (pg 182 in Preach My Gospel)

-PMG Ch. 2

-Page v (not 5) in PMG.

-12 steps videos

Can't wait for the package tomorrow. Thank you so much for the support. Tell Chrissy and Carry to email me first if they want personalized emails. Love you all!

Elder Taylor

ps, in order, this is Elder Chen,