What do you think the answer is?....

From my first week on the mish, only here in Provo haha

"The answer is in the doctrine, the answer is always in the doctrine."  This was one of the things that Elder David A. Bednar repeated over and over Tuesday evening as he was here speaking to missionaries. One of the greatest things that has been restored to the earth, within Christ's church, is revelation through His chosen prophets seers and revelators; the foundation of His church "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being himself the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2:20).  We have a prophet on the earth, and 12 apostles, whom are called by God and guide and lead His church. In being here on my mission, I have been able to see 11 of the 12 apostles, and many of them numerous times.  What was a bummer Tuesday,  arm in a sling, and I couldn't take notes =( But its okay, I got some notes from other elders and remembered a lot.  One of the things that he touched on while speaking, is the... very concept of repentance.  In that repenting, is far more than just saying sorry or asking for forgiveness, but that it is far more than that.  One way that I have always looked at it, is that repentance is just a fancy word for change; because it is when we change the things that we may be doing wrong and rather follow our Heavenly Father.  Elder Bednar said something like that which gave the same idea, in that repentance means for us to return.  When we sin, we are turning away from Christ, and it is through repentance that we can turn away from that sin, and return to our Savior. Elder Bednar also emphasized, that the answer is always in the doctrine; meaning that all that we need to understand and know how to better do and follow, is by first understanding the doctrine, that truth revealed through prophets, that has to deal with our exaltation.  By understanding the answer to the questions we have of why (such as the atonement of Jesus Christ), we can then understand the principles (the answer of what we then need to do because of the doctrine), and then application (of how to apply and do what we need to do through the principle).  We have a Father in Heaven whom loves us so much and strives to guide and teach us, to show us how we can come closer to Him in our lives.

The 12 Apostles of Christ, on the earth today

And I think I had told you, but I am learning ASL (American Sign Language), and it is going great.  I am now serving in 2 deaf wards, and that is going so amazing.  One of them is a multi-lingual single’s ward.  They have Spanish, English, Tongan, and ASL there.  Last Sunday, testimony was so powerful.  I can understand the English and most of the ASL, but then the Spanish only a little bit, and pretty much no Tongan.  And yet with that, I don’t think I have been in a testimony where the Spirit was more powerful.  It shows so much of how the blessings of the gospel, the language of the Spirit, and the love of our Heavenly Father overcomes any and all barriers that may be up, even of the basic of communication.