July 19, 2010

 

 

From: Ryan Jay Allred
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 12:08 PM
To: Allred, Kevin
Subject: HEAVEN-A continuation of the ideal home.

 

Hey Everyone!!

                   First before I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!!!   I hope you all get to have a fun Pioneer Day celebration together.  We are preparing for a great stake activity in which we hope to find at least a couple new families to start teaching.  It's really weird but I found that even clear out here in Gridley the whole stake gets together every year to celebrate Sarah's birthday together. ;) It should be a great party especially if we can get everyone to bring a friend or two.  So thanks for having a birthday Sarah, it will give us a good chance to teach people about the restored church.

                   So we had an unexpected pleasure last night when we got to a fireside by Michael Kennedy.  He was the first of Joseph Smith's direct descendants to receive the Priesthood.  He has since then been given the commission to gather all of the Prophet's descendants back into the church.  It was neat to here how he has had to struggle through a lot of myths and false accusations to find accurate information in order to mend ties between his family and the church.  But despite a lot of anti-mormon heritage he has gained a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is helping a lot of others with their testimonies as well.  Something that he taught us was that everyone that joins the church on this earth has specific people preparing and helping them from the other side of the veil.   He said that the First Presidency of the Church wouldn't even allow him to start teaching his living relatives until he had completed the temple work of all those who had passed on.   So it was great to hear his testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and I too have gained a strong assurance that he was called of God to bring back all that had been lost in the Apostasy.

                    We met a really cool guy named Chase at McDonald's this week.  He invited us out to his ranch and we got to teach him a little about our beliefs.   He was humble and willing to learn and we found out that many of his ancestors have been active members of the church.  See?  They are pulling for him on the other side!  And I think he will also become a strong follower of Christ as he continues to learn about the atonement and the priesthood.  There sure are people everywhere prepared to lay down everything to follow the saviour, even in McDonald's.

                    An interesting experience we had this week was with a less-active member who we have recently started to teach.  He has gone through a lot of humbling situations that have compelled him to meet with us again.  Throughout our lesson this past Friday he explained to us everything that had gone wrong in his life and everything he wanted his life to be.  He had kept the commandments for a while but has slowly drifted away from his testimony.  Now he wants the peace and joy that he has felt before but he recognizes the difficult road ahead.  During my mission I have seen many of God's children stuck in the same rut and during that lesson I was reminded of Heleman 5:12.  I have learned that happiness does not depend on circumstances but rather on whether or not we build our foundations on Christ.  This man was able to make it to church yesterday and I hope he will be one of the ones that makes the full commitment to rebuild his foundation.   A lot of people never make that step because it involves completely tearing out your old foundation and starting over.  But those who begin the process have wonderful rewards.

                   We invited Derek to be baptized this week and although he doesnt' feel ready yet, I feel he will be soon.  Earlier on in the week we had taught him about the Book of Mormon and had him pray with us to know if it was true.  He is sincere and the Spirit is working with him.  I love being back on a bike out in the middle of nowhere!!  We meet so many awesome people out here.   The Hamlins who we live with are great people and all of the ward members have been great so far.  It is always hard to leave an area where you know everyone at church and come to a new place where you know absolutely no one.  I can't wait until I know more of the people, that's when it really starts to get fun!

                    Keep it up everyone!  Work hard to create a heaven on earth and live life as fits a true follower of Jesus Christ.  Miracles will continue, they always will.

Love ya!

Elder Ryan J Allred
 P.s.   The First picture is of The great Elder Lee and I this morning. and the second is me and well me I guess.
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HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

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