Dear Mom,
Here is a long email.
So, I wanted to tell you want I learned in the
TEMPLE - I realized that this world was made for us to use! And the Lord
"beautified' it so that we could enjoy it's splendor! When it was created,
it was perfect, a celestial state. Then a really sad thought came to me!!! When
we fell, the earth fell too, because it was under our dominion. This made me
extremely sad because the Earth in itself did not do anything wrong - the earth
was naturally obedient... it changed with the seasons, followed the pull of
gravity, grew as it was instructed, and supported life as it was created to do
so. But, because we fell, the earth had to fall as well. I remembered how in
the scriptures it talks about how the earth groans with the weight of our sins
- how badly the earth wants to be obedient! How hard we make it by destroying
the earth so it cannot produce life as it was created and how we make it filthy
with pollution and trash. It is in a fallen state, but does not wish to be. I
just felt so sad for the earth, and the sea, and the trees, and just everything
that was trying to be obedient but as in a fallen state because we had dominion
over them. But then I remembered the Lord
would celestial the earth again -- it would become the celestial
kingdom! So long as the earth remained obedient (which was it in it's nature -
no pun intended), the Lord would celestialize it. I realized, that it is the
same for us! We are like the earth. We naturally are pulled towards our
Heavenly Father, but we are in a fallen state. But, So long as we try out
hardest the Lord will no allow us to remain in a degressing state - He will
help us reach a celestial state.... why? Because HE has dominion over all of
us, the earth, the trees, the animals, the people - all of us. We are under His
name so He will not abandon us. I am grateful for this. How much He loves all
His creations, not just us, but the earth too!
Sorry you have a hippy child! Okay! Thought
over!!
I have been studying language again. I realize
that as true church leaves the earth, there is a new language that takes over.
I call in "Language of the Apostasy" and it includes flattery,
bribes, hypocrisy, lies, and boasting. More on this to come! It is a
fascintatnig subject to me!
So, is it bad to have favourite teachers?
Because I definitely have a favourite. His name is Brother Parson and he is
just really a great teacher. I feel that he is the most effective teacher as
well. He stays on point, he is very kind, and he speaks so we understand -- he
makes US figure things out. He RARELY speaks in English. So much so, that when
he does, it is weird. He has an amazing testimony - you can feel it when he
speaks Russian and when he speaks English. He takes the time to get to know us
as individuals. He is very much into role-playing, which I like because it
forces us to use the language. But I also like it because it allows me to take
on the perspective of an investigator and think about questions they may have
or concerns that may arise so that I can better prepare myself for discussions.
He is just a really good teacher. I have learned so much.. I have been studying
verbs like crazy - if you know verbs, you can say anything. I used to have such
a difficult time with verb conjugation in Latin, but in Russian, it has not
been much of a problem - I know this is because the Lord is helping me - I need
to learn Russian not for myself, but for the people I am going to teach. One
time, while Brother Parson was praying I heard him say my name in the prayer -
I thought it was very kind. He is a great teacher, I have great respect for
him. HIs wife is going to have a baby soon and I now from watching him teach he
will be a great father too! I hope I can know the scriptures and bear my
testimony like him someday!
My other teacher Brother Morris is also amazing.
He is great with time managment. I am learning so much from him. What is more,
is he has a great genuine desire to teach. He wants us to understand. He is
very patient and kind, so I like him immensely. I am amazed with his testimony
of planning - he is teaching me so much. He taught us how to create effective
study plans. I am learning at a much faster rate now. He knows what it means to
dedicate his time to the Lord. I hope I am better about that. I am already
obsessed with my time, but he made me reaize it is never MY time. It is always
the Lord's time, especially on the mission, and every moment counts. we teach
him as an investigator too, and he always asks very interesting questions that
are basic, but complicated at the same time. I like this becasue it really
forces us to KNOW the doctrine and to seek out what things the investigator
needs. He is a great teacher.
My Last teacher is Brother Ekkersely. He is
also a great teacher. He is very very fun. We goof around the most with him. He
keeps things light, yet serious at the same time. I really like him. He is fun.
He teaches very well too - though he probably speaks englisht eh most. It is
nice though because he clears things up for us that may have been confusing. He
seems like a very d worker - he comes in whenever he has an hour to spare. I
admire him for this. He is very smart and chill. He is also good at listening.
There is one elder that he always takes time to listen too and talk to. He is a
very kind person.
So really, I love all my teachers. They are all
great!! Like I said, they are all married. They each have different things and
yet they all work together to teach us. I love it! I love the MTC!
We sing in Russian and like I said we
pray in Russian. It is fun. The langauge is coming slowly, but it is coming!!!
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