May 29, 2016

I've actually thought about a couple of those very things this week, and I love listening after I pray and even while I pray. It should be a conversation with the Lord, not just a list of things we want to say. The mission has really helped me start praying from the heart with almost no repetition. I have found that when I am sincere, I start praying for very specific things and thanking Heavenly Father for specific things as well. Like today I prayed that the hearts of the people we meet will be softened so that the Spirit can testify of the message we bring. Just a random example, but I've noticed the Spirit sooooooooooooooo much more in my life when I pray with sincerity. It is such an awesome feeling. I can say as Alma the Younger did, 

"And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."

Alma 5:45-46

This past week I have been so grateful for the prophet Joseph Smith and the First Vision. There are so many things that testify of the reality and divinity of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It is such a tender mercy that we have so many witnesses of Jesus Christ, and that I also am called to be a witness of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. 

Recently I started carrying a pocket sized Book of Mormon in my front pocket, and it's been awesome because I marked some of my favorite scriptures and I can just have them right there. Of course I have my iPad, but it's nice to have the paper copy of the Book of Mormon right in my pocket. (Don't worry Leslie, I still carry your letter too) 

As far as studying the doctrines of the gospel to improve behavior, I completely agree. However, in the words of President Uchtdorf, "Obedience is a cherished concept in the gospel of Jesus Christ because we know that “through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.'" 

One favor I have to ask of you. Nashville Tribute. I need the Redeemer album and their Joseph Smith album. So if you could buy that on Dad's iTunes account, I can download it onto my iPad. That would be awesome, because they are so good! I've never heard of them before.

I'm sad to leave this area... And I'm going to miss all of the people we have been teaching, and the members are so awesome. But Elder Domnikov served in the Longmont zone last transfer, and he is a pretty awesome missionary from what I could tell. So I won't be serving with someone I don't even know, which is cool. He has been out for about 10 months. It's going to be awesome in Loveland.  I will include pictures of our investigators with some extra info on them and how they are doing. Some of our investigators we didn't get to take pictures with, but all of the ones I'm pretty close to we were able to. Ron almost cried when we said goodbye. It was hard, but at least I will be close by so I can hopefully still come to his baptism!

Anyways, I have almost no time, and I haven't packed at all yet. I love you so much Mom! Also could I get some more protein? Okay that's it. I love you so much!!!

Love, 

Elder Bush

Transfers are this week, craziness. I will miss Elder farnes and the wisdom he has imparted. But I am excited to continue serving elsewhere, although I will miss everyone that I am leaving behind. A lot. 

This week, I have been strengthened in my testimony of the First Vision. I am eternally grateful for the fact that Joseph Smith had the faith to turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer. 

I have studied a lot about the prophet Joseph Smith this week, and my testimony of Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and as the Savior can be attributed significantly to my testimony of the First Vision. 

In the words of the Prophet Joseph F. Smith- “The greatest event that has ever occurred in the world since the resurrection of the Son of God from the tomb, and his ascension on high, was the coming of the Father and of the Son to that boy Joseph Smith, to prepare the way for the laying of the foundation of [God’s] kingdom--not the kingdom of man--never more to cease nor to be overturned.

And to quote D. Todd Christofferson-- "I love and bear witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Through his personal association with the Lord, his translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, and the sealing of his testimony with his martyr’s blood, Joseph has become the preeminent revelator of Jesus Christ in His true character as divine Redeemer. Jesus has had no greater witness nor more devoted friend than Joseph Smith." 

I bear my testimony as well. 

I know that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God to establish the kingdom of God again on the earth, never to be taken away again. I know that although he was not perfect, there was no error in the revelations he taught. 

Because of the prophet Joseph Smith, I know that Jesus is truly the Christ! He is the Only One who can redeem us from our sins. I will stand by the prophet Joseph Smith in declaring that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that the Church of Jesus Christ is His church on the earth again. 

Appropriate love

Elder Bush

Ron is planning on getting baptized on June 25th. We are so excited for him! He is such a great guy, and he is going to be a huge blessing in the lives of many people in the Rinn valley ward. 

Amy and Jason are still going on strong and getting ready for baptism. Their faith is so inspiring, even though they are going through tough times. 

Jacky and Harold- we do a bible study with them. They are suuuuuuper nice. They probably won't be getting baptized any time soon, but they are awesome people. 

This is the Bingham family. Bishop Bingham is awesome! Erik (the one right next to me) is getting ready to go on his mission soon to Spain. 

Bishop Glover is a great bishop! He is so involved with missionary work. I think you guys already saw this picture because he texted it to you. 

When you're too short for the sink, use the stool. 

Our final district picture. 

And an absolutely hilarious picture that caught elder farnes freaking out because I dropped his name tag. That is elder Morris in the foreground. 

An old WW2 veteran gave us a ride in an old Nazi Jeep! Original! From WW2! It was an awesome experience. I took a video in the car too.  It was super cool. The floorboards were wooden and everything.