Elder Gordon: Elder Oaks

Ok so what a week! I am going to go over my week real fast because I have some dope things to tell y'all,

Monday we went for a "hike" (more like a walk in a park... because it was) but it was fun and it was something to do. We had dinner at our bishop's house that was nice for sure! Tuesday we had our district meeting (DM) and it was fun, kinda rushed but it was fun. Then we (me and elder Andersen) drove up to Natchez Mississippi to go to their DM and it was way fun to go there. First off it is gorgeous there and the missionaries there are pretty cool! Right after their DM we drove home so we could get home on time, we had dinner at a member's house and it was really good! Wednesday we had DC. app for Andersen all morning and once we got home we planned for then rest of the week and this week. We had dinner that night with some older members that have been all around the world for the church, so they had the coolest stories and souvenirs and their house was so cool! Then we got to see a missionary that was home it was way fun!! Thursday, we drove up to our area parked the car then walked to go and try to see people, we ended up walking 5 miles in between tracting and what not it was a good day! We had dinner at the Smith's house and that family is so cool, they are the type of family you look at and are like #goals!!! Then we had a super awesome lesson with them, we brought 4 Preach my Gospels and we had them (mom and dad, kids are young) chose two Christ like attributes and to explain them and how it can help then improve or what they need to work on and it was super cool!

Friday we had a lesson with a less active in the morning, once that was over we drove to Zachary to see one of my really good friends she fed us and then we drove to Baton Rouge for a YSA meeting. (so for us to be able to go to this meeting we had to get a less active YSA to go as well) And wow that was way cool the meeting was with Elder Dallin H. Oaks Elder Jörg Klebingat and his wife and they all had something super cool to say then they had Questions and answers time. It was so cool to be able to have that experience! Once that was over we stayed the night with the AP's and it was so fun. One of the AP's is a way cool kid from Wyoming but he gave me his super nice weighted vest!!! In the morning we went back to the Stake Center, for a meeting with all of the missionaries and Elder Dallin H. Oaks Elder Jörg Klebingat and his wife, that was the best thing ever we got to shake their hands and I got a hug from Elder Oaks!!! After that meeting we went to lunch with my two most favorite people, and it was super nice to see them! Then the long drive home, we got here and we had 4 elders stay with us, and that was fun we went to play b-ball it was a good night for sure! Sunday we had a broadcast with Elder Dallin H. Oaks Elder Jörg Klebingat and his wife and wow it was awesome to hear from them for a third time! We got home I took a nap then we got a text from Sister Sanders and she told us there is food here for us. so we biked there (15 miles) and wow it was the best meatloaf I had ever had!! Then we went to another member house to just chill! so yep that was my week! But let me tell you some of the things that I learned!!

So one of the first things said was "Have you ever wondered what it felt like when all of the people were sitting with there tents facing King Benjamin and he was preaching to them?... well this is how it feels. We are in the mists of an apostle of the Lord!" so ya it was a big thing!

I am going to just say things that stood out for me then give my thoughts.

"Talk to our Lord don't just pray", so when we kneel before our maker we don't just say things to get it over with, we have a conversation with Him, and he does respond through feelings and the Holy Ghost! "Don't read the scriptures Study them".

"We will not be fearful walking with our Savior" give him your all (and I mean give up your sins)

"you will get more spiritual experiences if you talk less of them" your spiritual experience are personal so keep them that way, until moved a upon the spirit, dont share with others!

"The Sun always comes up!" the sun is the light of Christ within you, and there are times in our lives where it is dark within us! But there will always be that light and once we let that light shine we will be more happy and full of joy! So let the light of Christ shine on you so you can shine as well!!

"Coming unto the Lord is a surrender" we will never get anywhere unless we surrender our selves.

"You should look forward to being judged (by the Lord) not being scared of it" there should be nothing scary about facing our maker, if we give Jesus Christ our all (I mean our sins)

Elder Oaks gave a super cool analogy with a pen... so he took out his pen and took it apart and said we are a tool in the Lords hands and there are things that we as the tool need to be! First we need ink. Ink is our studies we need the knowledge to teach we need, ink to write. We need the point of the pen out. We need to be ready when He needs us, we can't be like "o I don't feel like writing today." No you need to be ready! Last we need to let the Lord write what He wants, not what we want, because we are nothing without Him so if we don't let Him write we will get nothing done!

There is a difference in being active in the church and being active in the gospel. Anyone can come to church and pay their tithing, but if they don't mean it, it means nothing. We need to be studying the word of the prophets, we need to be on our knees repenting every night (and we don't repent because we are terrible people we repent because we want to become closer to Jesus Christ) We need to want to come to church and do our callings with joy in out hearts, not becasue if we don't people will look down on us!

"Be quick to repent and quick to forgive" If we let sin sit in our heart and soul they will be much harder to give to the Lord, and don't forget the Lord has already suffered all pains of this world for us, for You! So don't let His suffering go in vain because of you stubbornness!

I have given you (put your name here) may gift's but I have given you one that is the biggest yet and that is my son Jesus Christ!

It's better being 10 ft from Hell and moving away from it then 1000 ft from Hell a coming closer to it!

Love y'all so much have a good week!

Love Elder Gordon!