The Book of Mormon reveals plain and precious truths

Dear Family,

I love you all. I have limited time today. I love you all very much. This week has been hard again but we do have a former investigator that we went and saw this past week. He told us he was still praying and he made the decision to come to church by himself even though I am sure that his daughter is probably against it. It was so good to see him again and I hope that we will work with him soon. He is ready and waiting. I love you all and I know that this gospel can change our lives and build us to be people we never knew was possible. Just look at Joseph of Egypt. He was faithful and became a Pharoah. I love you all. This gospel is true in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sincerely,

Elder Christensen

My wonderful, loving Family,

I was able to take a little more time today. Yesterday was pretty hectic and we had to run within 10 mins so now I have about 30 to share more. I love you all. After I wrote to you about my guitar strings I was able to then read that you all actually went and bought the strings I am using now :) I am glad that you learned your lessons about being prepared ;)

We haven't been able to get a hold of Justin again this week and he didn't come to church on Sunday. But, Heavenly Father has blessed us. When I was in a companionship of 3 we had an investigator named Zhang Hui who we worked to help. His daughter is pretty strong in another church and when we would meet with Zhang Hui his daughter would usually be there. It was hard to know and understand him because he would work off of what his daughter was teaching him. She would say that Zhang Hui is doing well in really getting to know his Savior Jesus Christ. Also, she would make sure that he said "what he was supposed to say" at least that is what it felt like. So we eventually stopped meeting with them. He got a job at a chinese market here and he stopped coming to church because of it. Then about a week ago we went to his work to say hi. He was excited to see us and asked about my companion who was transferred named Elder Lee. Also, he said that he is still praying! It just popped up out of nowhere. I was excited when I heard that, but we had to leave. A few days later he called and talked with my companion again. I didn't think to ask what they talked about. This Sunday Zhang Hui also decided that before he went to work he would come to Sacrament Meeting and then go. My heart swelled with joy to be able to see him at church again. After the meeting we talked with him for a little while and asked about how he had been and what brought him back to church. He said that when he is in church he feels peace and calm and he likes to see us. I thought to myself that I should ask Zhang Hui to be baptized. Unfortunately I supressed the thought... During district meeting today as we role played I tried acting like Zhang Hui and found that I was very receptive to the things that were taught to me and thoughts kept running through my mind of baptism. I can't wait to be able to speak with Zhang Hui again and invite him to make this commitment with his Heavenly Father. I know that this gospel is true and that we can receive revelation for those over whom we preside and have been appointed by the authority of God. I am so grateful I can be on a mission now and for the things I am learning.

I have learned so much from the training that we have received over the past couple of weeks. What I learned this morning was precious and I also as I tried to teach I was able to apply something I learned just a little while ago about how to teach. In chapter 10 of preach my gospel are some great points about how to teach and I have learned more about how these are to be applied. First, we must open with prayer and get to know the investigator. (Talk about their lives and things that are not too personal.) Second, we must Listen to that which is said by the investigator. (This will bring forth the thoughts of those we teach along with their concerns.) Third, we testify of the points of true doctrine that they speak of. (As we listen the Spirit will "bring forth out of obscurity" the truths that the investigators are striving to describe.) Fourth, we teach and expound on those things that ring true to the investigator and strive to resolve their concerns. (Through the direction of the spirit.) Fifth, we ask questions that help us to know how the investigator feels. (This will also bring out more concerns and truths that you may testify of.) Sixth, we rotate through steps 2-5 until our time is finished. I had an experience with this sort of teaching during today's district meeting and I felt the spirit more strongly in my teaching and felt the investigator really open up and feel comfortable. Just as the bible has had many plain and precious things taken out of it. The teachings of this world have small truths that are surounded by lies. The Book of Mormon reveals those plain and precious truths that are lost and that is what we as missionaries must do in the lives of others. Help them to remove the lies and show them the truths. I know that this gospel is true. I know that God lives and loves us. I know that Jesus is the Christ in His holy name, Amen.

Sincerely,

Elder Christensen

To Really Know Something is True Requires Action

Dear Family :)

I love you all. Thank you so much for my guitar. I pulled it out today and played a little bit. Oh it felt so good. Last night I opened the case and found that one of the strings was broken. (I am not blaming anyone ;) ) But, I found out that my years of being a boy scout payed off when I remembered that in the pocket with your note I had a brand new set of strings :D It sounds great and thanks Audrey for taking such perfect care of it :)

This week has been a hard hit on me. I have had many trials but things are working out. Mainly I am finding all of my weaknesses and I never knew how many I had. Some of those weaknesses I also thought were strengths. But I have also found many strengths that I didn't know I had. Also this week, on monday we went and had a great lesson with Justin he was very happy and filled with hope and peace. He was also very excited to have seen Jing Hao get baptized and was excited for his own. Then we went to see him on Wednesday and he had changed completely. It was as though we had just met him and he was bringing up past ideas and concerns that we had talked about before. The whole lesson my heart was aching. I truly felt hurt inside that I wasn't able to help Justin. I felt that he was not sharing his true feelings with us and he was trying to cover his doubts with others. At the end of the lesson I felt that I should ask a few simple questions. After asking these questions and striving with my broken mandarin to share my feelings of the lesson with Justin simply he opened up. We truly understood what he had troubles with. As I look at him I see a child who because of certain circumstances doesn't know where to turn and desires only one thing. He desires peace, he needs to feel the love of his parents. I learned the way our Heavenly Father sees Justin and truly understood him. I wasn't able to keep 100% chinese but he was able to learn a little that night of the love God has for him. This was a sacred experience. Justin still doesn't have another date set but we are striving to work on his true needs and help him to personally gain a testimony of this gospel. He isn't sure if Heavenly Father can help him. He hasn't been sincerely praying for himself and reading the scriptures. I ask you to pray for him. With our combined efforts we will be able to help save this one precious soul. He is also a very deep thinker but I have found that being a deep thinker isn't all that is needed. It is not enough to believe something is true. To really know something is true requires action. We need to step out into the unknown and use our faith. It is like the scene in Indiana Jones with the invisible bridge. Indiana Jones throws some dust out an reveals a bridge and so he sees a bridge there but he is still nervous to take that one step. He then jumps and finds that there is a bridge that will hold him. We must take that leap of faith and do our part to allow our Heavenly Father to show that He will catch us.

Mom, Dad, how did you study mandarin on your missions? I found that a big weakness of mine is studying and balancing the studies I do. I have not had language study for a while and didn't notice the damage it was doing to my language until recently. I can hardly speak with anyone! Tanner how did you study mandarin? I am reaching out to as many people as I can for help.

I love you all. You are a great family. (The Winns told me that as well :) )

Don't forget to each GENTLY give Uncle Bob a hug for me. Tell him how much I love him and pray for him. I am so grateful to hear the he is out of the hospital. Then give each other hugs.

I have learned to a small extent how much our Heavenly Father loves us and how he sees us. Think of President Eyrings son who tried to walk home alone. Tears rolling down his face, he chose to pray. So many in this world are lost spiritually. Tears rolling down their face, they don't know to pray. They are lost until they are shown the way home. You all can be that influence in the lives of others. We as members of the church are guides to those lost. The single most important thing we can learn to do in this life is to pray. Learn to truly, sincerely pray. That is what Joseph Smith did. And because of that prayer he was able to learn from his loving Heavenly Father all things. God desires to show unto us all things and "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) He does this through guiding imperfect hands to make perfect results. We only need to be humble enough to be guided. I know that prayer is powerful and leave this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,

Elder Christensen