April 27, 2014 Letter to a friend

Hey HHH,

This might be a little chaotic in response, but I am going to go through as quick as possible and share with you my feelings.

I can definitely understand your being more stressed and under pressure from school. Definitely when I was at college I had some pretty busy and stressful times. Sadly I actually regret that I didn't turn to the Book of Mormon or other scriptures more at that time to have a time to be edified. Missionaries want to check up on you to want to encourage you. No one is perfect and definitely us missionaries aren't perfect or best. Sometimes our meanings or our invites and desires can come across in the wrong way. Especially when we have come from different backgrounds and cultures. 

There desire is that an early time in your life you can develop the habit of turning to the scriptures not just to read because it is told to be read. But rather that you have the desire to turn to it because you are seeking comfort, you are seeking peace, you are seeking answers, or that you may be strengthened. Same with prayer. The encouragement or very much the constant reminders come now so that in your future when the trials and challenges come where you are utterly alone, when you are backed against the wall and your faith is tested, when you will need to make a choice between standing with God or forsaking him, you will have already solidified and fortified your faith through constant nourishment of the word of God that you won't think twice about your decision to always stand with God.

Of course it comes completely to your decision how and when you wish to come closer to God. That is one of the greatest and best parts but also sometimes one of the most frustrating and hard to understand parts in this life we have and the plan Heavenly Father has prepared. Agency is given to every single person. Missionaries and others reach out so much, encourage so much, and follow up so much because we have felt these things to be true. We know them to be true. We understand and know Heavenly Father's plan. We understand that death is not the end. But that when death comes and we haven't lived according to God's laws and done the things He has required of us in this life, it will be very difficult if not impossible to change our choices and actions and thoughts after death (particularly if we had learned and heard of Jesus Christ and his Restored Gospel and chose to reject it). That is why with so much vigor and energy that missionaries or others call out to you and encourage you. I myself have passed through some very hard, very lonely, very miserable, very hurtful trials and sins. Having to live with some of the consequences of those sins is not easy. But through Christ I have obtained so much peace and calm in my life. This is what I desire and wish to share with you, with everyone that I meet. To warn them, to protect them, to help them to not go down some of the paths I have already trodden. To help point them to this peace, this comfort, this calm, to eternal life.

I also yes realize that you are not 20 yet and through much of your expressions how that your parents in very large parts oppose getting baptizing or any association with church. I also realize and understand the missionaries  push to try and be baptized before 20. It is because Satan, the enemy to God and all righteousness, is not going to rest easy with your desire to be baptized or to come unto God or to join His true church. He will work harder than ever throwing any and all temptations, doubts, and uncertainties at you. I will share with you about a man named TTT. I met him in my first area here in Taiwan. He had a testimony, he truly had received answers that the Book of Mormon was true, and desired more than ever to keep God's commandments and be baptized. He was not 20 yet. His mother opposed him being baptized. We tried everything we could to help in overcoming the opposition. But the mother never let up. He went to college then in Taibei. He very seldom came back. Then one day shortly before my companion was going to go home he felt impressed to call him. He talked with him and found that when he was at college he didn't go to church, he wasn't reading or praying, had met some Buddhist information and brochures, and now questions everything he had learned, felt in his soul, and received answers. I don't know how he is now. But it broke my heart to see a man who left so determined with a knowledge of the truth to completely doubt everything and no more have a desire to be baptized. That is why they push hard on trying to be baptized, because very much there are many forces from the devil that are working against you and not wanting you to receive these special and specific blessings.

I will never have the experience and understanding of having family opposition to what I desire to believe and follow. When we come to a knowledge of the truth though. That when we know that God exists and that He is real, has a perfect body, and knows each and every single one of us. When we know there is a plan provided for us to live eternally. That the authority to enable this gift exists on the earth today in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Then we cannot deny it, we cannot turn back, or we turn our back on God and everything that He has given us. We at times need to be bold and courageous. We don't argue or ridicule or criticize others or their beliefs. But we do need to stand for truth, stand with Jesus Christ, and even if that means we need to stand alone. There is a talk by President Thomas S. Monson from the General Conference a few weeks ago. I believe it was in the Priesthood Session that he shared specifically about being courageous and doing what is right. I strongly encourage to take the 10-15 minutes in your day to read through this talk. It will help to bolster and uplift your own faith and courage. 

 God has created us in His image, Man and Woman, so that they may be joined together in marriage and rear families. There is a reason that only a man and a woman can create life and bring a child into this world. It is how God has established it and provided for the greatest joy, peace, and happiness to be obtained in this life and in eternity. Through the family reared and headed by husband and wife, man and woman. There is an article the the Prophet, First Presidency, and the Quorum of Apostles came out with 14 years ago. It is called "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". I also strongly encourage you to read this (also about 10-15 minutes). I promise as you take the time to read this it will help you to better understand and bless you more than ever. It will give you a chance to take a break from all the studies and I know that God will see your efforts and desires and will bless you in your life more than ever, especially in recalling and remembering all that you have studied for your midterms.

Lastly I have never felt more than on my mission the blessing that comes from attending church. It has touched and transformed my life more than ever. I have felt it uplift my life, help to soften my heart, to heal an aching and broken heart. Don't give up now. Go and ponder. Pray to God, the one who understands your situation more than anyone else and will help you to overcome, face, and triumph the challenges and trials that are in your life at this time.

My time is up, but pray earnestly that you will ponder on the things I have shared as well as others. Pray over these things. Remember the answers and the truth you have felt in your heart. 

I hope all is well with you and that your future will be even greater!

Always,

Elder Dayley

April 20, 2014 Letter

Well first to share about Elder Oldham. Elder Oldham is a great companion! He has been a lot of fun to be with but also a really good example and inspiration to me. He has helped to teach me so much and has many admirable attributes and qualities. Elder Oldham is from Colorado. He comes from a family of 7 (an older brother who also served in the same mission, an older sister, him, a younger brother, and a younger sister). Both his older brother and sister are married. Elder Oldham as well has played soccer for most of his life and yes he is a Colorado Rapids fan (grrrrr......). So can probably have some fun with that. In a lot of ways it seems like he has a similar background. Soccer, playing video games, all around a good guy. But so one of the greatest things I admire and wish to learn more from him is having an upbeat, optimistic, and positive outlook on life and the work in general. He always seems to be alright well what can we do about this or what can be done. Something I really wish to think more on rather than looking in eyes of a sense of how can this fail or go bad or won't work.

Now as for brother QQQ. He is going to be a lot of work right now and I pray that his heart will really be open to the truth. If not we may have to drop him. He had a baptismal interview last Saturday night, but he didn't pass it. We have more sense and direction knowing how to help him. But his needs and problems involve a lot with believing that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer but not our Savior (believing that more in a sense from Buddhist beliefs that we are really the ones that come to save ourselves). Then there is a major problem about his belief in and about that this church is not the only true church of Jesus Christ. This comes from him believing that there is yes only one God, but that all religions are good with them all just having different names for this one God. So he believes that this church yes really was restored by Joseph Smith and really is a true church of God, but not the only true church of God and Jesus Christ. Then there is about the Word of Wisdom that if God doesn't want us to partake of those things, then why do they exist in the first place. Then about Tithing he has a problem about feeling the money given does not need to be money but can be talents or abilities. For the most part our biggest hurdle we are going to try and tackle is about the only one true church of Christ. He expressed talking about that Christ and Christianity started in Jerusalem and moved west. Buddhism started in India and moved east. So they then are two separate religions and can then be both true churches of God. Of course Elder Oldham and I already know the true answers to these and how to share the truth with him. We just are uncertain about sharing so much with maybe not a solid foundation that he could reject it. We know that the 12 tribes were scattered across all the face of the earth. That starting from Adam the gospel had been taught as well as the Plan of Salvation. So when these tribes were scattered, they had that knowledge and teaching but over time being scattered they most likely began changing thoughts and beliefs to create the many different religions. This happened well before Buddha (I can't remember his actual name right now). Then as well we know through the Book of Mormon that after Christ visited the Americas he spoke of going and visiting the other lost tribes from the isles of the sea to other areas. So we know that Christ still did minister and teach other people. It's just a matter of now praying with all sincerity and humility that the Holy Ghost can be with us when we teach brother Lin tomorrow as best we can sharing truth with him. Then praying with all might that he will choose to accept rather than reject.

But you know what we had fun this past week. We worked hard. We didn't have a lot of lessons, but we did find 2 new investigators who have set up to meet again after a first time visit. We have joked a lot, have had fun being with each other, and even one day we biked 42 kilometers as we went to work.

Elder Dayley

April 13 2014 Letter

Hey Family!

So this past week has been as it feels always a week of difficulties, challenges, and burdens. But that I have grown and have been so spiritually fed, it is amazing.

I don't know about you, but when General Conference comes I love it so much. Maybe just being a missionary has allowed me to appreciate it on a galactic scale. 

So yes we get to listen to all of the sessions over the span of Saturday and Sunday. They set it up in the chapel building having Chinese in the cultural hall and then English in a classroom. Needless to say, yes I watched English (ain't no way I am going to watch Chinese. Sorry but I am not a native). But so it started Saturday with 2-4, then 4:30-6:30, then 7-9 (the Sisters do not get to watch Priesthood session, so they leave at this point). Then Sunday is 8:30-12:30 (yeah pretty much no real break, just a straight shot through). 

I won't lie but I feel like my 6th move call will go down in my books as probably one of my most difficult and trying times ever. The morning of conference ended up being hard and we didn't get a lot done that morning, just mainly trying to make some calls. I ended up not being hungry at lunch. And this is my prelude into General Conference.

When I went to General Conference it literally just rocketed me into outer space with so much hope, so much desire to improve and change, and so much motivation. Sadly the talk I was looking forward to listen to (Elder Bednar) because you mentioned it, I actually didn't get to listen to all of it because at the latter half of it Brother NNN had just gotten to the church, so I needed to go out and get him, get him set up sitting by Elder Chen in the Chinese session (and thank goodness he came before President Monson's talk, and he stayed for the second Sunday session).

For me though I feel that one of my actual favorite and most inspiring talks was by Elder Nelson. Which is surprising because as of the past few years he hasn't been one who has touched and reached out to me. But this time it felt like what he was sharing was what I exactly needed. I hadn't ever really formulated it in my mind, but I know now more than ever I need to develop my faith greater than ever in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Which is why I feel that Priesthood Session ended up being a power play for me. Elder Oaks taught for me became very informative and opened up greater understanding. Then it just took off from there as it move through Elder Hallstrom to Elder Ridd, then onto the First Presidency. What it taught me and has helped to really give me the greatest direction in how I want to improve right now starts with the Book of Mormon. I am committing greater than ever with a much more fiery passion to read the Book of Mormon from the beginning, but with this specific focus: building upon the rock of our Redeemer. This comes from Elder Andersen's talk to read the Book of Mormon to strengthen trust and faith. By strengthening and developing my faith in Christ it will help me to have greater courage in facing my fears (whether from temptation and sin to things I don't like or are uncomfortable). And by this courage I will have greater virtue and I feel self-confidence. Then by this I may more powerfully testify, teach, and preach the gospel. I will not feel burdened down and letting the rocks of mistakes, past sins, current temptations and weaknesses get at me and pummel my foundation into dust. For I will be built upon the rock of Christ. So this is my current undertaking and what I am working towards (by the way Priesthood session ended up being the session I took the most notes on, 6 pages).

As for the work here in Zhanghua. Yes I am staying in Zhanghua. Elder Chen moved to Yuanshan (that was the neighboring area my MTC companion Elder Turner was trained in). Elder Oldham (who is actually quite funny is moving from Yuanshan) is moving to Zhanghua to become my new companion. I think he is only one move call behind me. So you got me senior on my 7th with Elder Oldham just on his 6th. We are going to have a hard fun time. Sadly our new investigators has been harder this last move call and is something I will focus and pray more than ever that we can find. That is why I am undertaking the improvement and change to myself to read the Book of Mormon to strengthen my faith and testimony. So I can more fully let the Spirit into my life to guide and direct us. Brother NNN is having his baptismal goal moved back a week. He isn't quite there. He is coming to the baptismal service on Saturday and will have a baptismal interview after the service with Elder Kou. I pray for him always. But this is a lot of my doings here on the island of Taiwan.

Dad, Mom, family, I love you all so much. There isn't a day that goes by I don't think of you. You have some invites as well from Elder Ballard to study Preach My Gospel (something I need to improve upon) and to share with your missionary ;)

Love you so much!

Elder Roo