Citius, Altius, Fortius (3/4/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Just finished with my 2nd MLC and it was so awesome. I think I have a little bit of heat exhaustion though from the sporting activity. Ayos lang, no pain no gain. The APs asked me and Elder D to  o the games for our FHE, so we played the animal game and Ninja Destruction. It was a blast and I was exhausted on the trip home. It is a bit late so this may be a bit short.

First and foremost is some great news on investigators. Ju and Mas are two of our next scheduled baptisms and they are making wonderful progress. The biggest thing is that Bro. Ju has now quit smoking. He has been struggling with it for a while and we have really been hitting on the principles of addiction recovery. He had gone from a pack to a few sticks to just one stick a day, but was really struggling to kick that one last stick. We talked about priesthood blessings and how they are a way to receive added strength from Heavenly Father. He said he would like one and we gave him one on Thursday. We weren't able to visit them the next day but on Saturday we found out that since the blessing he has not smoked! I know that Heavenly Father  gave him that extra boost that he needed to begin to be completely free of his addiction. We have also started teaching two of his nieces, who are interested and came to church this week!

I am very grateful for the power of the priesthood that was restored through Joseph Smith. I know that the keys and power of the priesthood are held today by the leaders of the Church, especially the prophet, Thomas S Monson, as they were held anciently by the prophets and apostles. We taught another of our investigators, El about the priesthood and how it has been and always will be a central part of Christ's Church. He kept trying to argue with us, but we just bore testimony of how we knew that the priesthood had been restored through Joseph Smith through Peter James and John who received it from Jesus Christ. He stopped trying to argue and just fell back to his usual default question, which had nothing to do with the lesson at all. I know that the Spirit testified to him that what we had taught him was true even if he tried to ignore it. The time will come when he will yield to the Spirit though and then his eyes will be opened and he will recognize the truth.

So the title of our email was a part of MLC this past Monday. For those who don't know the three words, they are a part of the Olympics. They are engraved on every gold medal and they are Greek for Swifter, Higher, Stronger. MLC was focused on how we as missionaries can be come move swifter, reach higher, and become stronger on our eternal quest for perfection, for others and ourselves. At the heart of it is the doctrine. As we learn, understand and apply true doctrine ourselves and then help others to learn, understand and apply true doctrine, we will see great changes take place in our work. We will be able to help more and more people to come unto Christ and through his Gospel prepare to return to live with God and become like Him. I learned a lot form MLC, which I will not be able to share here. I know understand though what doctrine is, why it is important and how I need to use it to help others prepare to live with God again.

I know that this is the work of the Lord and that He is opening the hearts of others to receive his Gospel. There is no greater work on the Earth. It is the work of salvation. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it testifies of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true Church of Christ, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Keep doing all you can to strengthen your won testimonies and help others to find theirs! 

Love,

Elder R Wood