Hello Friends & family! I rejoice with you in the Gospel
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I thank you all for what you do, but
mostly for who you are.
Sorry for taking a month off from writing to yall. I will
strive to get better at this.
This week has been kinda A mixed bag to be honest. The
beginning of the week was super lame.... But Friday through Sunday was
fantastic.
Transfer news came on Saturday and my whole district is
staying the same. I will be serving with Elder Patterson for another 6 weeks.
What is kind of interesting is that at the end of this transfer we would have
spent 1/4 of our missions serving together, and another 1/4 serving really
close to each other. That is pretty cool.
This week Laura dropped us over messenger. We think she had
a lot on her plate, and in our excitement and enthusiasm we may have
overwhelmed her. She researched a lot of Anti church information and had a lot
of other things going on, so we will give her a few days break before we reach
out to her again. Please pray for her.
Anyway.... On to the brighter side of the week.
Friday was great! We actually finished our weekly planning
(which is a blessing for sure), and then after all that we had a lesson with
Mark. Mark is doing wonderful. We finished teaching him all the lessons on
friday. He mentioned to us that he has a lady friend who introduced him to the
Gospel and that she wanted to come to the baptism. Well long story short she
can't come out here until November so Mark asked for his baptism to be moved to
November 10th. So from now until then we will just keep on reading with him
from the Book of Mormon and strengthen his testimony.
Also on Friday we were privileged to attend a Young Single
adult fireside with Elder and Sister Callister of the General Sunday School
Presidency. That was wonderful! They were accompanied by Elder Behesti our area
Seventy. Elder Callister gave us 10 principles of Revelation and that was
phenomenal! I learned so much from that. He expressed the thoughts of President
Nelson on how eager the Lord is to reveal his mind and will to us individually.
How amazing is that!
Saturday we were able to listen to Elder Callister 2 times!
In the Morning he spoke to the missionaries and then in the evening he spoke in
Little Rock. At the devotional in Little Rock Elder Behesti talked about the
Apostasy and the Restoration, and the Elder Callister talked about the Book of
Mormon and WOW! It was incredible. He explained 4 very simple reasons why we
need the Book of Mormon.
Here were my notes
"1. The restoration of lost or confusing doctrine.
One doctrine confused in the Bible is about The Fall of Adam
and Eve.
Most Christians believe that the Fall of Adam and Eve was a
tragic step backwards. The Book of Mormon teaches that it was a glorious step
forwards. 2 Nephi 2
2. The Book of Mormon answers the questions of the
soul.
How can I increase my faith in Jesus Christ? Alma 32
How should we respond to afflictions in my life? 2 Nephi 2:2
Can I really be forgiven of my sins even my egregious ones?
Alma 24:10
How do I know when I am receiving impressions from the
spirit of the lord? Moroni 7:13
Can the Savior understand my sorrow and give me comfort?
Alma 7:11-13
3. The Book of Mormon is a second witness of Jesus Christ
and his teachings. If you only have one witness it is hard to believe
that what they say is true. If you have two witnesses then you can know that
what they teach is true.
4. The Book of Mormon brings us closer to God.
In a world of conflicting voices the Book of Mormon speaks
the word of God powerfully and clearly, thus drawing us closet to God.
That was just a few of my notes. It was incredible!
On Sunday Elder & Sister Callister and Elder Behesti
came to the NLR Ward Sacrament meeting. Elder Behesti told the congregation
that The Callisters were not planning on speaking, but they pulled a talk
together on the ride to the church that morning and it was wonderful. Sister
Callister spoke on the critical need of reading the Book of Mormon and told us
of a promise that President Marion G. Romney gave to the saints that if parents
would read the Book of Mormon to their children every day then they wouldn't
loose them to the ways of the world.
Elder Callister Spoke on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and
how the Atonement covers 4 obstacles in our life.
1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ overcame physical death.
Luke 24:39
2. The Atonement of Jesus Christ overcame Spiritual death
caused by sin. 3 Nephi 11:14
3. The Atonement of Jesus Christ overcame our infirmities.
Alma 7:11-13
4. The Atonement of Jesus Christ overcame our weakness.
Ether 12:27
I learned so many things this week about our beloved Savior
Jesus Christ. Oh how I love my Savior! The English language is completely
inadequate to describe my tender feelings & Love for Jesus Christ. I know
that He lives! I know that he knows my name, and everything about me. I know
that he overcame Sin, Death, human infirmities and weakness. He is my best
friend.
Scripture for the week. 2 Nephi 31:20
"20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God
and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of
Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have
eternal life."
I love yall, stay blessed where ever y'all are.
Sincerely your friend in Arkansas,
Elder Skyler G. Larsen
