May 2, 2016

This week has been a good one. Colorado weather needs to make up its
mind. Last week it was warm and sunny, and this week, it has been
snowing and cold all over the place. It has been pretty grey and
dreary honestly. But the work is going great. 

 One thing I have learned this week is the importance of diligence and
faith even when times are rough. We cover two wards, and in one of the
wards, it is really hard to find new investigators, and we have been
struggling, while the other ward has been booming. This week we made a
conscious effort to try to spend lots of time working in the
struggling ward, with little success. Then, a couple of days ago, we
found a trailer park (aka new investigators and humble people galore)
that we had never noticed before! Since then we have been able to set
several return appointments, and we have seen several miracles. One
very cool one was when we were tracting and we knocked on the door of
this lady who wanted nothing to do with the church because of bad
experiences in the past with her family. As we talked to her and
helped her see that we honestly cared about her, her heart softened,
and she told us that we could come back some other time. It was an
amazing experience. 

 One last thing that I have learned is the importance of following the
Spirit. In the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 50 it says " Verily I
say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the
word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach
it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
And if it be by some other way it is not of God.
And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by
the Spirit of truth or some other way?
If it be some other way it is not of God.
Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that
receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is
preached by the Spirit of truth?
Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one
another, and both are edified and rejoice together."

We cannot teach without the Spirit, because we have a celestial
message, and it needs to be shared in a celestial way. (by the Spirit)
or else it won't be received into the heart. As my MTC teacher Brother
Balzer said: "A telestial messenger cannot teach a celestial truth."
If we don't follow the Spirit, then we really can't teach the way we
should. In my work I'm trying to really focus on not just inviting the
Spirit into lessons, but following the Spirit in everything I say and
do.

Because I have been striving to do this, my testimony has really
gotten stronger. I know that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is His kingdom here on earth. I
know that the priesthood has been restored to the earth, and that
Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life and happiness in this
life as well. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a true pattern
for living that brings true joy and change. I know that the Book of
Mormon is the word of God. 

 Appropriate love to you all,

Elder Bush

A member of the bishopric is a beekeeper.   

More snake pictures!

Re: May 1, 201

It is amazing to see just how much sincere prayer influences us- I've noticed that as I humble myself and approach my Father in Heaven with a sincere heart, he always answers me, and I have been able to come very close to Him. I've recently started trying to always keep a prayer in my heart, and that has really blessed me so I can always have the Spirit guide me and bless me. I am so grateful for the gift of the Spirit, it is simply amazing. Christ said in the scriptures, specifically in 2 Nephi 26:13 "And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith." As we come closer to Christ through repentance and show our faith in Him, He manifests Himself into us by the power of the Holy Ghost, which will come into our lives and we follow Him. I think that is simply amazing. 

Mosiah 4&5 are really good chapters, I think that is very true- as we feel our Saviors love through the Atonement and the principles of the Restored gospel, we just want to share it with others. 

It truly is a blessing to be able to have the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Sometimes in our efforts to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon, we forget that the bible is also the word of God.  As missionaries, when that happens, we often end up sliding into an argument we never wanted to get into, because when we try to promote one against the other, it leaves us with a dark spirit, because contention is of the devil. That is why bible bashing is so unproductive and leaves you with a terrible spirit- you try to use Gods words to argue against Gods words! It doesn't work, and it is never productive. I have a testimony of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, but specifically the Book of Mormon as evidence of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! 

It came forth the way Joseph Smith said it did, and it has a power that no other book on earth does. The Bible brings us closer to God, it is true, but the Book of Mormon has the power to bring us to our loving Father in Heaven. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only church on earth that had the power of godliness. Many Christians try to argue with us and say that they will get to heaven, and they will! Their idea of heaven is being angels in a peaceful state. Our message is that there is something eternally more than that! We can become like Him and become par takers of eternal life! This is something that the Book of Mormon directs us to, and this is something that can only be found in the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, here in the earth in the Latter Days. What a blessing we have, and what a message we carry to everyone. Eternal joy and salvation rides on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and of its divine origins. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and with the prophet Joseph I stand as a witness that it is the most correct book of any on the earth, and that by it and through the principles it teaches, we can come to our Savior Jesus Christ, and be cleansed from sin, to dwell eternally with our Father in Heaven.

I love this gospel. It's simplicity and the blessings that come from living it are so wonderful, they cannot be described using any earthly tongue.