Hey hey everyone! The past couple weeks have been preeeety uneventful. But, someone left a suicide note at church, and we met a cross dresser satanist yesterday. Anaheim 4th Ward is combining both areas so Elder Meyers and I are taking over the whole thing! Not to much has happened this week. I almost took out a guy that stole a large case of something from a 7-11, but he got to the get away car right before I had him. It was epic. If the darned people waiting for the bus hadn't been in the way I would be telling a different story! We had a much more productive week than usual though! We have a car now! Woooohooooo! 

We are teaching two people. Our days consist of doing our studies in the morning, and then we usually take a nap and eat lunch from 11:00-12:30. Then we head out and just spend hours going to people's houses to try and see if they are there. Hopefully we have at least one set appointment during the day that we can look forward to. Sorry I haven't been taking pictures. There's nothing to take pictures of here. "Anacrime" is not a pretty place. But I can get pictures of the fireworks some night for you! We knocked into a guy named Jenniffer yesterday. Thinks he's a girl. And he's a satanist. That was interesting. We have a set appointment though.....let me know how these pictures turn out. It is really hard to find a computer to use.

1. Me and whatever lady it is from meet the Mormons.

2. Left to right....elder Goodrich, myself (we found out later that the mannequin was actually female.....awkward, right?), Safsten, and Meyers.

3. Me

4. Me and Meyers posing in the grass after biking somewhere and the person not being there.

Since there wasn't too much to write about, here is a talk/sermon I gave in church yesterday. It is changed slightly. I give it 98% originality. I hope all of you have time to read it. I love you all!

Elder Hunter

What does, and what will this church do for you?

 I'm basing my talk on a talk given by President Gordon B. Hinckley many years ago. In it, he outlines a number of blessings that come from being members of the true church of Jesus Christ. 

-First, it will bring you into the greatest fraternity in the world.

Way back when the Greeks used swords and other pointy things to kill people, they used large shields. These shields were often not only big enough to protect whoever carried them, but also those who stood next to them. The reason I'm telling you about this is because the church is the same way. The church has been organized by God in such a way so that we, as a family, watch out for one another. Here we have friendship, safety, family, and the word of God. Everyone on some level, wants to feel loved, wants to feel like they're part of something. Why do we have so many organizations in a ward? We have a sunbeams class, junior primary, senior primary, deacons, beehives, teachers, Mia-maids, priests, and laurels classes. We have Elders quorums, relief society, and the High Priest group. If I know how to count correctly, that is 12 different groups strictly on the ward level that give us opportunities to be a contributing soldier in Gods Army.

-Second, active membership in the Church will motivate a man (and I would add, a woman) to clean up his (or her) life, if that is necessary.

In the Book of Mormon, there were some young men that were not actively involved in church. In fact, "the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities. And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them." He eventually stopped because an angel threatened him with destruction. "And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them. And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them." When we are actively involved in the goings on of the church, we learn correct principles. Joseph Smith, when asked how he managed to govern such a large body of people, he said, "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." That same principle is true today. When we come to church we learn, hopefully, and when we become involved long enough, we start to apply what we learn.

-Third, activity in the Church will afford you growth through responsibility.

A mission President in the Eastern States mission over half a century ago, asked one of his missionaries to ouch a pillar over in the building they were in. The missionary replied that he couldn't because all the weight of the ceiling was on top of it, but if the ceiling were removed he thought he could. The responsibilities we are given in the church are the weight of the ceiling that keeps us from falling over. Yes, there are some people that, although they hold many responsibilities, manage to have their testimonies shaken, but giving us responsibilities, sometimes just beyond our capacity, is how the Lord tries our faith in order to grow it. This following quote by Orson Hyde illustrates this principle. “When an individual is ordained and appointed to lead the people, he has passed through tribulations and trials, and has proven himself before God, and before His people, that he is worthy of the situation which he holds. … that when a person has not been tried, that has not proved himself before God, and before His people, and before the councils of the Most High, to be worthy, he is not going to step in and lead the Church and people of God. It has never been so, but from the beginning some one that understands the Spirit and counsel of the Almighty, that knows the Church, and is known of her, is the character that will lead the Church." I am sure that no one here is going to receive the calling of a prophet, but the Lord WANTS to give us responsibilities. We have all been foreordained to fulfill a role in Gods Eternal Plan for us. But to prepare us for greater things He gives us lesser things until we are able to bear the burden of fulfilling the role he intends us to. I have a very personal testimony of this principle in my life, and I know it is true for all of us.

-Fourth, membership in the Church and active participation therein will give a new dimension to your life, a spiritual dimension that will become as a rock of faith, with an endowment of authority to speak in the name of God. 

In the Book of Mormon, there was a man named Amulek, who was not actively participating in church. He introduces himself to the people he begins teaching with Alma, the prophet by saying, "And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry. Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people. Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges." Now that was before picture. This next part is the after, and it's his respond to a lawyer trying to trick him into contradicting himself. "Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations? Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more than him. And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou saidst unto me--Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will give unto thee--when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward." To me, that definitely sounds like he has an endowment of authority to speak in the name of God. The sure knowledge of the Gospel that comes with active participation in Christ's church includes a correct knowledge of and faith in Jesus Christ, knowledge of and a testimony of a living prophet of God on the Earth, a knowledge and testimony of the Restoration of the true Gospel, and a knowledge and testimony of Gods plan of Salvation for us. And if we do have that knowledge, we will be able to have authority to speak in the name of God because the Holy Ghost will testify of what we say.

     

-Fifth, it will assist you in the governance of your home. 

The family is the central and basic unit for Gods plan for us. What more important duty do we have than to improve the governance of our homes? The Prophet has told us that, "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." Some of these teachings include daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, having a weekly family home evening, and going to church as a family on a regular basis, just to name a few. 

-Finally, as part of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, we have the Priesthood. Because we have this authority from God, we have the ability to seal ourselves to our families for eternity. What greater blessing is there than to live in joy for Eternity with our Father in Heaven, and with those we love and those that love us?" There was a young girl up in Placentia. She just turned 17 in December and she lived on the streets, doing drugs and basically being involved in a lot of bad stuff. She expressed her concern that after we die our consciousness simply exists alone and for eternity in a black corner of space. How blessed are we to know that we aren't doomed to a dark corner of space, but that Families can be together forever?

I wanted to share these things with all of you so you know at least some of the ways the Gospel blesses your lives. I want to share a quote I found by Marvin J. Ashton, who was part of the quorum of the 12 Apostles a number of years ago. 

"Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it by word and example with a family, a member, neighbor, or the stranger? Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it?"

-Marvin J. Ashton

I don't want anyone to raise their hands just in case someone has an answer of 'no,' but how many of you have friends? Now among those friends, how many are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? Among those friends, how many have been introduced to missionaries, or been given a Book of Mormon, or been invited to church? Listen to these paragraphs from the introduction to the Book of Mormon. 

"We invite all men everywhere (not some people, sometimes, in some places. Brother Goodmunsen gives a Book of Mormon to anyone he buys from or sells to) to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah." That is a promise that is given to everyone. 

 A prophet from the Book of Mormon known as the Brother of Jared had an experience where he asked God to do something for him. God complied, and as the Brother of Jared watched, he saw the hand of God, and because of his faith was blessed with seeing Jesus Christ as He would appear in Jerusalem 2000 years before he did. I promise you that as you Look for the hand of the Lord in giving you opportunities to share the Gospel in your lives, He will open your eyes even wider to even greater ones.

This is Christs church, and His work. I know He lives, and I know that He is not an absentee God. I know Joseph Smith is and was a prophet of God, and that he translated the Book of Mormon through the Gift and Power of God. It is not something of his own invention. I leave you with these things and my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.