Wonderful Week with the Mashburn Family Baptisms as the Highlight!!

So, this is my second time typing this email already because it defeated it the first time so it's going to be shorter than the first time.

This week we had a ton of stuff happen and I probably won't remember everything. Some of the highlights are I found a dollar bill while clean up trash from some abandoned houses in the ghetto, they gave me free fries at five guys, I found a baseball bat and a Frisbee also while cleaning up trash, I found another dollar bill, I met a bills player when we were getting dinner late one night, the ward is awesome, and the Mashburn’s got baptized! So a pretty good week! I was pretty excited about the dollar bill thing ;) haha!

So, obviously the big thing was the baptism. That went great and everything went smoothly and they make great new additions to the ward. The ward has done a great job with fellowshipping them, they already have home teachers working with them, the daughter is going to the temple Saturday to do baptisms with the youth so everything went just how it's supposed to. We had a great turn out to the baptism as well.

We did a bunch of service this week picking up trash for the city. We

also met this cool guy who drove up in his car and asked us if we could meet with him sometime and teach him about our religion. We had dinner at the Robison’s yesterday and they are super awesome! She gave me this cool book with the outline of New York cut out of it so I'll send pictures of that. They also said you guys could stay with them if you want but it's pretty far from Palmyra and you already have a place. That was super nice of them though!

Anyways have a great week!

And sorry it's shorter because I didn't want to type it all again.

Love you!

Mashburn Family

Lake Erie

The book Sister Robison gave me

We had to take down Christmas lights but didn't have a ladder so we used a trampoline

April 18th, 2016

Hey guys! This week was good as usual! We had a couple good lessons with our family with a baptismal date and kind of finished up everything we need to teach them and read from the Book of Mormon with them. They actually had their interview this Saturday and passed so they are all set for next Saturday to be baptized!! They are great and the ward has really accepted them.

We had a couple other lessons with random people so hopefully they lead somewhere and we will be able to meet with them again. We had dinner with the Robison’s twice this week and they are awesome! They are a young family and have four boys 11 and under so it's pretty fun to go over there. After dinner we went out to the driveway and played basketball and they just moved into this nice neighborhood so hopefully all of their neighbors saw us and will have questions or something. They at least all know that they are Mormon now. :)

We went to the town halls and we finally found something to do for service. So now we are going to go around a couple times a week and just start clean up the trash on streets so it's not the most effective service for missionary work but at least it's something. We also went to the Hamburg library and helped organizing books and we might start a weekly class thing helping people learn how to use computers, fill out job applications, etc... I guess it's something the library needs help with so we will see where it goes.  We did some tracting, looking for service and the other usual missionary activities. We taught a rapper this week and that was pretty cool. He's a young guy, who has a huge house, nice cars and everything, lives by himself and has a legit recording studio so we just walked into his studio because we say the light on and taught him and gave him a Book of Mormon.

We met some Muslims this week too and I'm still unsure how to really go about teaching them because you have to help them develop a belief in Christ before you start with everything else.

We also had dinner at the Linscom’s in Orchard Park and they have an awesome view! They lived on top of the tallest hill and you can see Lake Erie, Canada, Buffalo, and a bunch of other stuff from their house. He's the ward mission leader.

I think that's pretty much it. Have a great week!

Love you!

April 11, 2016- Beautiful Lake Erie

Hey guys!

This week was great and I will probably forget to tell you all of the things that happened so hopefully I get them all. So first off on Tuesday we went to the Peter Whitmer Farm in Fayette, which is where the church was restored 186 years ago on April 6th and I got to be there on the fifth so that was really cool! We had trainings and just a bunch of activities with our zone and Palmyra South zone so it was really fun to be with the other missionaries!

So this week we did quite a bit of tracting and going around looking for service. We don't really have any service here in this area so hopefully we can get a little bit of it soon. The tracting has been going pretty good. We get a couple potentials on each street and hand out some Book of Mormons. We had some good lessons with a couple of less actives here in West Seneca and down in Hamburg. We had dinner with the Robison’s, who are a younger family here in the ward and they have four younger boys and that was a lot of fun.

We had a couple good lessons with our awesome family the Mashburns. They are set to get baptized on the 23rd if everything goes to plan!! So that will be awesome!!! They came to church today, they go to young women’s, scouts, and other church activities, and they are accepting everything we are teaching them. And the ward is doing a great job in fellowshipping them too.

We had a really cool lesson with a younger guy from Scotland! And yes he has a really cool accent. He's agnostic but we talked for a while and he's willing to try things out and he said if God answers his prayers and tells him that the Book of Mormon is true then the only reasonable thing he could think of to do is to join the Mormon church. We didn't even mention that he just said if it was true he would have to join. So hopefully he recognizes God’s answer to him.

Saturday night we had a variety show at the church and that was fantastic!! This ward has so much talent and it was so much fun. I will send a couple of videos. I wish I would have gotten more but they ranged from, napoleon dynamite dancing, lip singing frozen while riding a hover board Segway thing, piano, and everything between.

Then on Sunday we had really good meetings and everyone still seemed to be on a spiritual high from conference and our 10 year old investigator Austin bore his testimony in sacrament, we had good lessons, and the people are great so it was good!

Then we had dinner/lunch at the Alessi's which is a super cool

family. They have four daughters and only one is still at home and

she's super cool, he works for Thermo Fischer here and he goes to Logan sometimes for meetings, so we have that in common so it was just a lot of fun! I really like this ward and it actually reminds me a lot of Spring Creek ward. It's a bigger ward for out here, it's got tons of young families and kids, and some older, a bunch of youth, and a lot of the members moved out here to work for some company that shut down in Utah so they came here so there’s a lot of Utah families. Might end up being my favorite ward out here?

We'll see. Have a great week!

Love you!

Lake Erie and Buffalo

Great Week! ~General Conference

Hey guys!

So this week was great! (mostly because of conference).

So, Monday we did the usual stuff and then we went and said goodbye to the Pfaffs :( They will be missed, but I'll see them in a couple months so it's all good!  Also, change is good and I'm liking my new area so far. I cover West Seneca, parts of Orchard Park, Hamburg, and Lackawanna.

So, finally I get to an area with lots of people!

Tuesday, we had the transfers and I got to Buffalo at about 1 and then came, unpacked, bought some food because the fridge had nothing except salad dressing and ketchup!

Then we went around and met some of the people here.

There's not too many investigators here so we've been doing a bit of tracting, which isn't too bad because you can spread it around to the different places and it was pretty good weather. We were able to hand out a couple of Book of Mormon and a couple of people said we could come by and share a quick message sometime so that's good! We had a lesson on tithing with this family called the Mashburn’s and they are really cool! They accepted the message and they are progressing towards baptism and they even came to a session of conference at the church and watched one at home!

Saturday morning we had a church deep cleaning with the ward down in Orchard Park so that was a good opportunity for me to meet some of the members. Then we had conference which if you can't already tell, I loved!! It was my favorite conference by far! I don't know why, but it was just awesome! All of the talks had my attention, and I learned a lot from every one. By the time Sunday was over, I wish they had more! I just love the apostles and prophet so much and I wish I could be around them more often just to get counsel and learn from all of the stuff they have to say.  Now I'm looking forward to it to be put on the gospel library so I can study them and re-watch them again. I don't have any favorite talks, because I loved them all! Anyways I hope you guys loved conference as much as I did! Let me know what your favorite talks were?

Oh yeah and since conference was at twelve we went to a Kingdom Hall Sunday morning to a service and boy was that interesting! They are good people and have good intentions but boy has Satan confused them! It was good though because then I got the contrast and it made our church seem just that much more true.

Have a great week!

Love you!

General conference 😃👏🏻🎉

Saturday morning

Henry B Eyring

•  the lord is in our midst by the power of the spirit.

•  Draw near unto him

•  There will be a precious opportunity in the next few days to nourish a seed

•  Create a more fertile ground for gods words to grow 🌱

•  Only the Holy Ghost can bring the blessings the lord desires for us

Mary R. Durham

•  being more like a child

•  Increasing the spiritual capacity of our children

•  Point out when our children are feeling the spirit 

•  Teach them in the home🏡

•  Immersing our families in the spirit

•  Help our families understand how the spirit speaks to them

•  Teach them to focus on what they feel

•  If you do these things you need to fear when your shield ten enter the world

Donald L Hallstrom

•  all of us are spirit sons and daughters of a living God👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

•  Do we really KNOW that we are a child of God

•  Remember who we are... Always

•  We live in a world when we can forget who we are

Gary E Stevenson

•  everything we need to do to get back to Heavenly Father requires keys🔑

•  It's never too early to prepare for missionary service 

•  Attend the temple🕍

•  There is a relationship between priesthood keys and blessings

•  Always keep yourself worthy of the temple even if you can't go

•  Go forward with faith

•  Kneel each morning

•  Study the scriptures every day📖

•  Be obedient 

Kevin R. Duncan

•  we can forgive and we can be free

•  An unforgiving heart harbors unnecessary pain

•  Leave the judgement to God⚖

•  God will console us in our afflictions 

•  God will compensate us for every injustice done to us

•  Understand that we are all growing spiritually

•  See people as God sees them

•  God sees people as they currently are and who they can become

•  It is required to forgive all men

•  We all fall short

•  Our forgiveness is incumbent upon us forgiving others

Steven E Snow

•  remain humble

•  Find joy in the success of others

•  We must all strive to become more humble

•  Humility enables us to better husbands, wives, children, neighbors, friends, etc...

•  There will be less contention when we are humble

•  Our prayers will become more earnest 🙏🏻

•  Blessed are they who are humble with out having to be compelled to be humble 

Dale G Renlund

•  the closer we are to Christ and Heavenly Father the more grateful we are.

•  God is more pleased in the direction we are heading than how fast we are going 

•  We can choose how close we are to God

•  The best way to grow closer to God is to prepare for and take the sacrament 🍞💧

•  The sacrament is indispensable for a spiritual foundation 

•  We will all receive more than we deserve 

•  Draw nearer unto him

Saturday Afternoon

Ronald A Rasband 

•  Questions are a indication of a further desire to learn

•  We need to help each other find answers 

•  Listen to our leaders council

•  Sustain with purpose

•  Be committed to following Jesus. Night or day🌇🌃

Neil L Andersen

•  the churches standard on families will always be the same. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

•  A child's earthly situation might not be ideal but the spiritual on is perfect

•  Help our children choose the right path

•  The youth of the church need our time and our testimonies 

•  Knowing someone's name can make a difference 

•  Help youth feel included

•  God loves his children

•  Reach out got the youth who feel alone, outside, or behind the fence

Mervin B Arnold

•  as we go to the rescue God gives us power and courage 

•  We must not delay going to the rescue

•  We must never give up

•  It is never too late to go and help

•  How great shall be your joy if you bring but one soul to Christ

•  No matter our age we are all called to go to the rescue

Jairo Mazzagardi

•  continue to search for answers🔍

•  Answers will come

•  God has a perfect plan and he knows how it will work

•  If you lack wisdom... Ask God

David A Bednar

•  always retaining a remission of our sins

•  Ordinances are essential 

•  Ordinances are far more than rituals 

•  Baptism is the essential preparation for receiving the companionship of the Holy Ghost 

•  The sacrament is to make us pure or holy 

•  Partaking of the sacrament doesn't remit sins... It coupled with the preparation we put forth does

•  Our weaknesses can be strengthened and limitations overcome💪🏻

•  We can be blessed with increased worthiness 

M Russell Ballard

•  councils are the most effective way to get real results 

•  Family council

•  Meet to discuss family problems, finances, etc..

•  Start with a prayer

•  Understand circumstances of each family member

•  A family is much like a ward

•  You can council with friends and roommates as well

•  Consider holding a family council on Sunday

•  Every night before you retire to bed you should kneel and pray, holding hands with your spouse🙏🏻💑

•  Children desperately need parents who are willing to listen

•  Council with the lord in your family councils

•  Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, Christ will be in the midst of them

Priesthood session

Russell M Nelsen

•  Be willing to submit to guidance from priesthood leaders

•  Some have been given priesthood authority but have no power

•  Laziness, uncleanliness, etc... Cut off priesthood power 

•  Don't loss the power of the priesthood

•  Live up to our privileges as bearers of the priesthood

•  Only a man who has payed the price can bring about miracles and keep a marriage safe

•  Develop the attributes found in doctrine and covenants 121

•  Are we willing to pray, search the scriptures, worship in the temple, follow president monsons example of  service, cherish and care for your wife, in order to have the priesthood power

•  Humble ask the lord to teach us 

•  Spiritual earthquakes happen but priesthood power can calm the storm🌊

•  We have the authority of God to bless others

•  Be eager to pay whatever price is required 💰

Stephen W Owen

•  Christ is the greatest leader because he is he greatest follower🐏

•  The greatest leaders have always been the greatest followers 

•  Your commitment to follow Jesus is what makes you a good leader

•  Whether we realize it or not people look up to us and we need to be inviting all to come unto Christ

•  When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren

•  Whenever and wherever we follow Christ, we lead others to him 

Dieter F Uchtdorf

•  don't have a mindset of replacing 

•  Marriages are the order of heaven💍💑☁️

•  Strong marriages don't just happen, they require constant work

•  We aren't looking someone perfect, but someone we can make a perfect relationship with 

•  If there was a perfect woman she probably wouldn't be interested in you😂

•  Lay a foundation for a great marriage

•  It may be gradual but it doesn't have to be a cheerless one

•  Be happy!😃

•  Do things that make your wife happy

•  If we look for imperfections we will find them because everyone has them....if we look for the good we will find them, because everyone has them

•  Remember why you fell in love 

•  Every family needs saving, there are no perfect families

•  Appreciate the things that make your families unique 

•  There is one thing that is right in every case, no contention 

•  Charity is the beginning and the end to any solution... Charity never faileth 

•  Pride has no place among holders of the priesthood

•  Let love conquer pride❤️

Henry B Eyring

•  the great purpose of priesthood holders is to help people progress towards eternal  life

•  Try and move families towards eternal life

•  Focus on our love for the savior to help us know what to do

•  Get married💍💑

•  Make the choice with earnest prayer and consideration🙏🏻

•  Make any necessary changes to live with your family in eternity

•  Love and support each other in your family 

•  The most important work we do will be within he walls of our own home

•  Help others to qualify for gods blessings

Thomas S Monson

•  remember what God expects us to become

•  Be prepared for our time of need, service, and blessing

Sunday morning

 Thomas S Monson

•  the choices we make determine our eternal destiny 

•  The path we follow in this life determines where we and up in the next

•  Choose the harder right, not the easier wrong➡

Bonnie L Oscarsen

•  do we believe it or not?

•  What we have been taught all of our life is more than just words

•  This church is more than just a good place, good ideas, etc... It is Christ's church, we have his priesthood, we have the Holy Ghost, apostles, prophets, we make covenants with God in temples, we can live together for eternity, etc...

•  This is the only true church on the earth and it is Christ's

•  Do we believe this?

•  We have the greatest message of hope ever known with these principles 

•  We all need to seek to be truly converted

•  Search the scriptures instead of the Internet 🔍📖🚫🖥

•  Keep feasting and don't heed to doubts

W. Christopher Waddell 

•  The lord does not shield anyone from sorrow or sadness

•  He will give us peace if we have faith in Jesus Christ

•  Learn, listen, and walk 

•  Learn of God in the temple

•  Listen to the prophets and other church leaders

•  Never listen to the people in the great and spacious building

•  Ignore the commotion and stand by the prophet

•  Walk with Jesus Christ, in his journey to Gethsemane, and to Calvary...walk with him through sincere repentance 

•  Cry unto him for mercy to find peace to our soul

•  Walk with him and find peace

D. Todd Christofferson 

•  fathers👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

•  Put your family first👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 1st

•  Preside in love and righteousness 

•  The roles of fathers are of divine origin 

•  Strive to emulate our Heavenly Father

•  Fatherhood requires sacrifice 

•  Turn the hearts of your children to their Heavenly Father 

•  Teach you children the doctrine or the sin be upon you

•  Make the gospel a high priority in your family

•  Be a role model for your children 

•  Loving your children's mother is one of the best things you can do for your children

•  Challenges are an indication of the lord trust in you

•  Prepare now, be diligent in school, church, etc...

•  Think first of the happiness and well being of others

•  Pray for your children 

Quinten L Cook

•  picture yourself in the temple

•  We live in a sacred holy time, despite the challenges of the world

•  Be valiant in attending to temple responsibilities 

•  Everyone be worthy of a temple recommend

•  The lord organizes eternal families only in temples

•  We are all equal before God in the temple

•  Study 109 section of doctrine and covenants

•  Never underestimate the assistance provided in he temple from the other side of the veil

•  Honor the savior and make any necessary changes to see ourselves in the temple

Dieter F Uchtdorf 

•  it matters not how ruined our lives may seem, how lonely, how abandoned, how scarlet.... We can be rebuilt

•  God is fully aware of those that are lost

•  Our savior knows and loves us 

•  He know when we are lost and he knows where we are

•  It matters not how we got there... All that matters is that we are his child

•  Draw near into him... That is how we show that we want to be rescued

•  Obedience is a cherished concept in the gospel

•  We carry with ourselves the substance of divinity 

•  Loose the desire to sin through obedience 

•  Obedience is a path to our divine destiny 

Sunday Afternoon

Robert D Hales

•  use our agency and bring decisions to God in prayer for confirmation 

•  Don't seek the Holy Ghost on every single trivial thing on our life... This is misuse of a sacred gift

•  Sometimes the adversary tempts us with false ideas and with the Holy Ghost we can discern this thoughts

•  Don't let personal desires to overcome the promptings of the Holy Ghost

•  Always heed the holy ghosts promptings 

Gerrit W Gong

•  6 ways to remember him

•  Have confidence in the covenants that we make with him

•  The lord remembers his promises

•  Gratefully acknowledging his hand in our lives

•  Trusting when the lord assures us

•  Fully repenting 

•  Life is not as cruel as it can sometimes seem

•  He always welcomes us home

•  With God there is no point of no return

•  Partaking of the sacrament reminds us of him

•  Always remember him as he always remembers us

Patrick Kearon

•  refugees 

•  We were once refugees and so was the savior

•  Minister to the poor and needy

•  Don't wait for leaders to organize activities to give help to others

•  Iwasastranger.lds.org

•  Do all we can to help the refugees 

Dallin H Oaks

•  We progress by making choices

•  There must be opposition 

•  It is opposition that enables choice

•  All things have been done in gods wisdom 

•  The lord didn't make it easy but he did make it possible 

•  We are warned to not be at ease in Zion

•  Exercise faith, and by their fruits ye shall know them

•  God doesn't prevent all disasters, but he does strengthen us, or blunt the effects of them

Kent F Richards

•  we need the temple more than anything else

•  The real power of the temple is in the ordinances

•  Everything we do should prepare us for eternal life 

•  We need more converts to temple work

•  Temple work benefits everyone 

•  There is a need for temple ordinance workers

•  The temple is worth all we can sacrifice... No sacrifice is too great

Paul V Johnson

•  without the resurrection we would be miserable forever

•  Jesus has already cured any ailments we may face

•  The resurrection is a source of great hope

Jeffery R Holland

•  hold to the feelings you have had this weekend, on the temple, etc...

•  General conference is intended to give hope and encouragement 

•  We can improve and the great thing about the gospel is we get credit for trying even if we don't succeed

•  The lord blesses those who want to improve

•  Whatsoever you desire in righteousness ye shall receive 

•  Love God

•  God loves us with all of his heart might mind and strength 

•  God will never desert us...he cannot do it

•  If we try our best to live he gospel every day will be magnificent...even if we don't recognize it

•  He will be us especially when we struggle

•  Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the lord will do wonders among us

New apartment