Week 80 "Easiness of the way"

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! It was great to be able to celebrate with very few distractions and to focus on what I am truly thankful for. In response to the question "what are you grateful for"? Given by my oldest sister, Heather. I thought of many things, my thoughts initially went straight to my parents and my family and all that they have done for me. After briefly reflecting upon my conversion, I am filled with gratitude and love for Heavenly Father and the Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the personal witness I feel from the Holy Ghost when I ponder the verses of Mosiah 14. There truly is much to be thankful for.

Elder Jowers and I are doing great I love him and appreciate his constant friendship and brotherhood. I am sad to see our time winding down together. Towards the end you start thinking about the begging and everything in between. I am grateful for the many things we have learned together that will play major roles in our futures. As I now share a quarter of my mission with Elder Jowers and all the experiences, ups and downs that entails, it unites us and strengthens our friendship. These last two transfers have truly been amazing and ones worth remember. There is still much great to come in our small amount of time left together.

This last week was full of greatness. We try our best and the Lord does the rest. I see this time and time again in every way. We have a lot of great investigators that I know will be baptized. Many of them are progressing at their own rates but we are doing all we can to activate their agency. This last week it was incredible to see the Lord place many in our path to find and teach. There are so many people that are ready out there. The Lord knows where all of them are at and how to reach out to them. I pray daily to be filled with the spirit to know where to go, what to do and how to do it. The idea of heeding to the spirit is so general but as we act (faith), the spirit becomes specific and unique for the situation and the individual being taught. It truly is all about keeping this member of the God head with us at all times.

As I have been studying the gospel in greater depth I recognize the simplicity it contains. I am grateful for the scriptures and the pure knowledge they contain. I have recognized them to be a blue print for our days and the pattern of life that brings true, lasting joy and happiness. I am learning many things and trying to internalize them all, however, I take solace in the fact that having the spirit in my life through the basics of prayer, study and applying Christ like attributes encompasses all the areas of improvement. I love you all and I hope we remember the basics and cut out the noise in our lives. Smile!

Love, Elder Lunt

To the missionaries:

Dear Missionaries,

Much has happened these last few weeks, as we have been blessed with revelation, the work hastens to an even greater degree. It is clear that "the principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation" (progression). Lately, as we receive knowledge and revelation in a variety of different methods and small means to accomplish our purpose more fully, it is critical to remember that it is given to us to simplify our approach in discipleship and help us more effectively help others-- in essence, our core purpose.

Alma 37:6 "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass, and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."

"The more fully the details are understood, the greater will be our appreciation for the theme, If we fail to catch the glimpse of the theme, we fail in our comprehension no matter how many details are understood." -Bible dictionary; revelation

The theme is The Gospel of Jesus Christ; faith, repentance, baptism, receiving The Gift of The Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Everything we do is an appendage of God The Father,Jesus Christ and their gospel. Our part is inviting all... Why? Because we love those we serve. How? The Holy Ghost, which by pure osmosis encompasses all areas of missionary work and more.

"Life is hard, not the gospel". As we seek to internalize and apply what we have learned and will learn, let us seek to remember the overall theme and appreciate it as we understand and apply the details--small and simple things. Let us keep things simple, not overwhelm ourselves with things that are out of our control (1 Nephi 17:41). Happiness is the product of righteous actions and desires. From there happiness is a choice. Faith, hope, charity and virtue "qualify him for the work"--The Holy Ghost.

Love,

Elders Lunt & Jowers