This letter from Colin was super great and really shows his spiritual growth but there are some things people who aren't Mormon won't get unless it is explained so I'm going to do that real quick. (Ok, Colin actually uses a lot of Mormon/missionary lingo in all his letters but this time it's particularly necessary to explain).
First, he talks about "The District" which is actually kind of like a reality tv show of missionaries used for training missionaries. It's actually really good/interesting, as Colin explains, and I think non-Mormons and Mormons alike would enjoy watching it so click here to see all 8 episodes.
The next big thing that Colin talks about (for pretty much the whole email) is "General Conference." Twice a year our church has a giant conference, located in Salt Lake City but available around the word. You know how Jesus had apostles? And also had prophets (Moses, Abraham, Noah, etc.)? Well, we have prophets and apostles on the earth just like in Christ's time. So the concept of "General Conference" is a chance for us to hear from the prophet and apostles. It is similar to like how after Christ died, all his apostles went out and preached to people and that became the New Testament, more or less. Fortunately, now we have the internet so we are able to have a conference twice a year that everyone can hear! I included the link for each talk in each name if you want to listen to or watch it (they will be available to read next week).
That's pretty much it. I just felt it needed to be explained. If you have other questions, Colin would love to answer them, I'm sure. Or you can ask me or you can live chat with someone on mormon.org.
-Rachel
Ok so the title and the rest of the contents in the email are absolutely true. (Also I think the title of this email is going to be the title of my biography.)
Alright so to start off I want to thank all my real homies. The ones that read my emails. You know who you are. Keep doing it big. Tell your friends about it. Love my fans, love my haters too.
Alright so the broma (joke) from last week was for fun. I must've made it sound pretty bad. It wasn't that bad tbh. I'm good and having fun.
Elder Crawford and I went on divisiones again for like 2 or 3 days. But to be fair, we started Thursday night and we were supposed to finish Friday night but because of general conference and stuff, Crawford and I ended up spending the night in my pension again. And also for Saturday night too. It was just a weird weekend schedule. Crawford is a good time and we get along real well. We watched the District 1 and 2 and honestly I LOVE the district. Sometimes it's funny and sometimes it's like fire. I seriously can't wait for the day when a District 3 comes out. Oh man that would be too much for me. I'd be too excited.
Also Crawford and I have been discussing making a cheesecake one of these next p days but on Thursday night we decided to treat ourselves and we bought the ingredients and made a BOMB oreo cheesecake. Honestly if I get fat on my mission it's because of that cheesecake. But for real it was sooo good!!!! And actually a LOT easier to make than I thought.
Ok and now for the highlight of the week. #LDSConf!!!!
Conferencia General... more like Conferencia Genial (great), amirite???
Alright so we watched it in the capilla (chapel) in centro. There was a small room with it in English for us yankees. I got front row seats to all sessions!! Score! tbh I've been waiting for conference since before last April so it came up real quick. And now it's gone and we have to wait 6 more months! ughh
Anyways, here's my conf review for yall!
Saturdays main themes: prayer, Book of Mormon, missionary work, Plan of Salvacion.
Sunday be like: Sacrament, Atonement, joy
This conf was TOO money. Oh wow. Just real good all around.
It started out with Uchtdorf, the man himself
Here are my notes in the moment:
- Uchtodorf is to technology as Colin is to Spanish
- Don't take technology for granted
- Eternal doctrine of Jesus Christ is not for granted
- "Don't sleepwalk on the path to discipleship"
- The resurrection is like the party favor of life
- CONTEMPLATE THE GREAT PLAN OF HAPPINESS (ok but for real, have you ever really thought of it? it's too great)
- As you share your testimony, your faith will grow
- Pray for guidance when to speak, what to say
- Prayer is a way to strengthen faith
- A loving God is as close as a prayer
- Sincere prayers, NOT rote memeory
- It's not what I want, it's what God wants
- Do His will
- Prayer is a gift from God
- The spirit speaks to us in inspired thoughts and feelings
- Read the BOM as Jose smith would've (honestly I'm gonna try it. Sounds real legit)
- "I did not listen to Him but he listened to me"
- Pray with sincere heart
- Are you really praying or just saying prayers??
- Are the heavens opening when you pray???
Ok this guy was talking STRAIGHT TO ME. Like it was a convo. It was a real answer to prayers. Super good talk
- We must stop comparing ourselves to others!
- We must not punish ourselves
- The only opinion that matters is that of our Heavenly Fathers
- That is satan's thoughts
- keep repenting, dont rationalize, or rebel
- Heavenly Father intends for us to make it
- All the Lord requires of us is to try. But we have to really try!
- All we have to do is ask for it and act on it
- Plead for the grace of God
- You WILL make it
Straight flames. Another real answer to my prayers. Talking directly to me.
- Millions are connecting the puzzle
- He will assist us in our labors
- Guilt helps us make changes we should make
- The timing of someone's conversion is not up to us
- with mortal eyes we cant judge our own efforts
Cook:
- A stumbling block is anything that takes us away
- Jesus is the mark
- Turn them into stepping stones
- As she looked to the Book, she looked to the Lord
- A greater power to resist temptation, a greater desire to stay on the straight and narrow
- What is the Book of Mormon for me?
- "Your joy will increase"
- We see ourselves through dark glass
- All the He fully offers us
- Keep the commandments
- Enjoy what we have now
- Be llike Nefi, not like a young Boy
- Some things can only be learned by faith
- He knows more than us so trust in it
- I have enough to have a testimony
- BOYS BE AMBITIOUS
- Serve faitfully and willfully
- Be truly ambitious for Christ
- Without complaining or murmuring
- Why am I here?
- Patience and faith
- He knows our desires
OAKS:
Boom he slayed me on this. Seriously, this talk was a convo with me and a direct answer to prayers. Oh my gosh Oaks is too good.
- Now is the time to labor in the vineyard
- He will help us as we do His work
- 1. Pray for desire
- 2. Keep the commandments, have the spirit
- 3. Pray for inspiration on what we can do
- Will I do it? YES!
- We aren't the judges! He knows the hearts
- Love for our brothers and sisters
- People learn when they are ready
- The spirit brings interest into the gospel
- 1. Pray for discernment
- 2. Jesus Christ > church
- 3. Authentic concern
- 4. Not limited to our friends and circles
- 5. Plan special Sacraments
- 6. Are we reaching out to them? We know too many people
- 7. Social media. (oh I would if I could)
- We would do the best we could with the resources we have
- $$$
- Discover power of BOM
- God was preparing Amulek
- Amulek not only belived but he became a champion of truth
- 1. What can I learn from Alma?
- 2. How am I like Amulek?
- FIND YOUR AMULEKS
- Deep down many want to build the church
- The Lord has trusted us with his priesthood/spirit
- Pray for the Almas
- Seek out, find, and inspire the Amuleks
- Open your heart to Him
- Many things may help
- But must be lifted and cultivated
- The Word of Wisdom will give us added power and strength and endurance
- The great gift of the plan that God has for us
- We are here to have Joy!
- "Saints can be happy in any circumstance"
- When we focus on Him we can feel joy when things aren't going our way
- Focusing on joy brings God's power into our life
- The spirit can put off the natural man
- Anything that interrupts the doctrine of Christ will stop our joy
- 1. Prepare in advance [for the sabbath day]
- 2. Arrive early invites inspiration and is a period of prayer
- 3. Sing and learn from sacrament hymn
- 4. Spiritually participate in prayers
- "Are we willing to change?" "Are we willing to trust?"
- 5. Ponder Him as it's being passed
- What will I do this week to prepare for the sacrament meeting??
- Sincere repentance makes sin completely gone
- Be confident before the Lord
- One's very desire changes
- What is holding me back? Where can I improve?
- The greatest miracle is sincere repentance and being forgiven
- "To whom shall you go?"
- Things have a way of resolving themselves
- Our church has too much for us to leave
- The Savior is on board too. He's our captain.
- Am I just fulfilling my duties or am I worshipping?
- If we aren't worshipping, we are missing out
- Our souls will be refined
- From ordinary -> extra ordinary
- The natural man judges others unrighteously or ourselves self righteously
- Be patient and then conquer with love
- Unkind things are not of the spirit
- Kindness unlocks hearts
- BE GRATEFUL FOR THE SABBATH DAY
- If my cross seems heavy, count all the blessings
- We may not see the full picture
- Heavenly Father works in quiet
- Pray to know who is lonely and who needs help
- You WILL receive an answer
- Your very nature will change
- Are we increasing our relationship with Jesus?
- Rely on His mercy
- True faith is in the Lord
- Be Doers, not just Hearers
- Pray and seek
- Take up our own cross
- We know Him and we do, say, go whereever He wants us to
- His desires = our desires
- We would not ask contrary to His will
- Believe Christ specifically and personally
- Have His image in our countenance
- Being born again is a process not an event
- Faith takes away what others think of us and more of what Heavenly Father does
- Holy Ghost changes our nature. We gain spiritual gifts and chirstlike attributes
- Increase of faith = increase of repentance
Cook:
- "put her in compound"
- All church callings are of God
- When we recognize Gods hand in our callings we gain added pain
- When the lord calls you, he qualifies you
- Put our shoulder to the wheel
- All who serve will receive God's grace
- pray to know what to say
- no sin will remove God's love for us
- Bring to remembrance how good the Lord has been to us
- What greater witness can you have from God?
- "I already told you what you need to do, now DO IT!"
- Write down spiritual promptings (Ya this is for me)
- We gain knowledge that can be gained no other way than in trials
- He hears our prayers. He will help us even if he doesn't take it away
- Seek to learn and apply eternal principles in your own trials
- Are who we are, representations of what we know in the gospel?
- Mothers are angels (he had me tearing up here, I didn't cry though but it was defs close. I don't even know why tbh)
- Devote ourselves to help others come unto Christ
- changing our behavior is part of repentence
- The Atonement leaves no tracks. No scars
- Repentance is joyful, because of the Savior.
And just like that, lds conf is over. It was REAL GOOD. I realized as I was typing this that my notes kinda suck.
Also I need to write down my spiritual experiences more. I mean my "large plates" are pretty good but my small plates are real small.
Now that's all said and done... SEND ME THE LDS CONF MEMES!!!!
Anyways, I have a sure testimony of how boss the prophets and apostles are, and that lds conf will answer questions you have for any situation you're in. Lots of it was about the Book of Mormon, so read it!! It's super powerful stuff.
Praying for you all if you pray for me.
Elder Colin Ross
Sorry guys, the computer I'm using isn't allowing me to upload pics. I'm sad bc they were pretty good too!! oh well next week I hope.
Thanks for your pics too. I really appreciate them. I'm glad to see that you guys are using some of my slang and stuff. Also that flame comment was pretty good.
**I'm just going to add some pictures of the city where Colin is at so you can get an idea and also of general conference in Salt Lake City, UT**
I think fishing is a big deal in this area. I came across a lot of fish photos.
*General Conference portion*
The Prophet, Thomas S. Monson
The Conference Center
Inside the conference center. It seats 21,000
The conference center is right by the Salt Lake temple
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