Monday, March 5, 2012

3/5/2012 Elder Christensen: "The Church and Coca Cola"

Okay lets get down to it. Not lots of time here...
First comes first... The title of this email... FUNNY STORY.. We get into this house right? Miracle! These people were amazing. Anyways, they start asking us questions about the church right? Then this one comes out... The dad told us that he heard our church was founded by coca cola... He heard that that was how we were able to achieve such a world-wide influence. I laughed out loud and just shook my head.... Did I tell you guys about the lady who told us that Joseph Smith was swallowed by a whale? She claimed Joseph Smith took credit for what Jonah did.... Ya... BEWARE of false doctrine much? Haha.

It`s been a rollercoaster ride this week. Not really sure how it already disappeared. We burned our totts off walking in the sun though. The members told us that it was 38 degrees farenheit here 2 days ago... Needless to say we are taking Lotsssssssssssssssss of cold showers. Also, we went to a guy in our ward`s house this week that you guys would LOVE. Mom it has a huge vineyard full of grapes.. I got some sick pictures for ya.
This is MY VINEYARD!!!
We`ve been working a lot here with the less active people as well as the leaders of the ward.... What is the difference between knowledge and inteligence? Kinda a weird question right.... There are LOTS of smart people in this world... The sad thing is, there are many SMART but INACTIVE people... I`ve run into people that are wayyyyyyyyyyy smarter than I am with the gospel yet they refuse to go to church and take the sacrament... Hmm... Where more is given more is required.... and he who doesn`t use that will have greater condemnation... Knowledge transforms into inteligence when it is APPLIED. For example.... I can KNOW that cafe rio has delicious salads.... But if I do nothing I`m going to die of hunger.. Correct? I need to put my knowledge into action, get up, and go get myself a delicious salad! THEN it becomes something inteligent.
Like my grape necklace?
First the funny example, and now the serious one......... I KNOW that the sacrament is something necessary in order to renew my baptismal covenants AND maintain the spirit with me.... That is knowledge.. As well it is a blessing. You could go as far as calling me STUPID or UN-INTELIGENT if I didn`t apply this knowledge and actually do what I know is right... It`s something simple, but its often looked over..... 

DyC 93:28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.
Elder Monsen and I at Presidents House. You KNOW that tie is SICK!
We have the choice every day to receive and rejoice in the light. Like I said, lets be inteligent. Sounds funny, but behind it all it has a deeper meaning.... If you are in a fallen state, it is important to maintain a constant vision of what you want to become. Maintain the eye of faith and see the end results from the start... Thats one of the greatest lessons I`ve learned in my entire mission. SEE WITH THE EYE OF FAITH. Nobody sets your limits except yourself. Who says you can`t set a baptismal date in a contact today? Only YOU impede yourself.. So set your goal... Receive the KNOWLEDGE, and apply it. That is how we become inteligent....

Alma 32:40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word (Place your goal here instead of word), looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

If we don`t see with this eye, all is impossible.. All is lost... Remember that through Christ we can become anything we want... He made it possible. I hope you all have a great week and that you can really think about your futures.... Today is the day to change.

Much love, Elder Christensen.

PICTURES!! FINALLY! YEAAAAAAAAAA!
Our group of.... Well.... Really old missionaries.....

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