This week has flown by and so much has happened! We got to go to the temple, Elder Holland came and spoke to us, and we have had and appointment every day to teach someone. At the temple, the sweetest old man came up to me and my companion. He told us pretty much his whole life story. He told us about how he joined the church. One of the things he said was, "I have seen what the world has to offer...... nothing!" He said that this gospel holds everything. This is so true and never forget that!
Elder Holland came and spoke to us Tuesday night and he spoke to us about the keys to success. The very first thing he stressed was obedience. When we are committed to the Lord's way rather than our own, miracles will happen. The other things we need are to teach with the spirit, teach with the Book of Mormon, and to give the credit to God. I love all of these things! Having the spirit is so important when you teach anything because he is the real teacher. Another thing he said is that our greatest tool we have in spreading the gospel is the Book of Mormon. And of course giving the credit to God. We are his hands here on Earth and we are simply instruments to further his work, not our own. He then left us with a powerful blessing that, "our fears will disperse, anxiety will calm, and that we will be astonishing." I am so grateful that we got to hear from him and learn from his words. He truly is called of God and there is real power behind his words.
Sister Haymore and I were walking one day and we ran into President LeSueur, who is the MTC President. He asked me if I was an Arizona Beutler and I told him that I did have family there. Come to find out, he knows Grandpa Beutler! He told me that a long time ago, him and his wife were going through a lot of financial struggles and he happened to meet Dean Beutler. He offered him a job and helped him get back on his feet. He told me about what a great man he is and how grateful he is for his generosity. He didn't have to tell me that for me to know! I definitely don't believe that was a coincidence that they met. Who knew that years from then that man would end up being MTC President while his granddaughter was there! Him and his wife are relatively new and have only been here at the MTC for about a month. I love them and even though I haven't talked to them a ton I know that they are meant to be here at this time.
This week I have been focusing on the Book of Mormon and using it while we teach. I don't think I ever really took the time to realize how much people sacrificed so that we could have this book! If you look at all that the prophets went through in the Book of Mormon, the wars that were fought, and the many years it laid in the ground waiting until the time was right, it is amazing! And of course everything Joseph Smith went through to translate and get this book out to everyone! We are so blessed today to live in a country where we have so much freedom. When I think about what others have gone through, I don't ever want to take this miracle for granted. The Book of Mormon is really a treasure! Treat it like it is and don't take for granted the things we have that others fought so hard for!
Our district has two teachers, Brother Boggess and Sister Maughn. They are amazing and have taught me so much! The other day, Brother Boggess shared with us something that President Nelson shared with his mission and that was, "if you are not jumping out of bed at 6:30 in the morning, I question your conversion." Wow! Hearing this was a humbling experience. I do have to say I have been good at getting up every morning and haven't found it to be very difficult, but I wouldn't use "jumping" as the term to describe how I get out of bed. I am always learning and I don't know that I am at that point yet, but I love this work.
This is my last week here at the MTC and I find that crazy! This Sunday our district is doing the musical number in sacrament so we have been working on our song. I am playing the violin and my companion is playing the piano. We are going to sing the song, "Peace in Christ." I love this song and have loved practicing it with them. Music is so powerful and I am so grateful that I am getting to use my talents here while I can.
One more story before I end, Elder Taylor is one of the Elders in my district going to Rochester. Anyway, he loves to talk and has a VERY enthusiastic personality. His companion is the complete opposite and is so quiet. Their TRC (which is just what we call our appointments that we have with our 'investigators') was sick and so they ended up having to give a lesson to one of the teachers. They didn't have any background on their person before so they went into the lesson without a specific plan. While they were talking with her she mentioned that she had an addiction problem. Elder Taylor jumped right into the steps of recovery and then asked if she knew about God. She told them "no" and his response was, "then we will just start at the beginning!" and he went through the Restoration, The Plan of Salvation, and Jesus Christ! This was all his retelling of it, but I imagine it to be pretty accurate! I can just see him getting so excited and his companion, Elder Payne just sitting their silently wondering, "what are you doing?!". The cherry on top is that they did this all in 25 minutes! They were telling us the story and I was literally crying laughing! I am glad they were teaching a teacher rather than a real TRC!
I did get a wonderful package this week and I loved it! I think I have plenty of pens though. Tell Ko thanks for thinking of me! As for things I need, I think I am pretty set. I will let you know if I think of anything! I laughed at your story about scouts and especially about Hank. I miss those guys! As to Ko's hair, WOW!!! It looks pretty good! That was brave of him to do. I have not seen the new chocolate milk, but I am keeping my eye out. I did try a cookies and cream chocolate milk though. That was pretty good so I imagine that the Mint Brownie is so good. As to buying land, that is so awesome! Where is it at? How did you come across it? Are you going to build on it? I want all the details! I shared a few more pictures, but I need to do a better job at taking more. The group one is of our whole district with both our teachers. Brother Boggess is on the left side and Sister Maughn is on the right standing by me. Fun fact- Sister Maughn served in the same mission as Summer Stout and was one of her companions! It is always fun to make connections with people. I love you all and miss every single one of you!!!
Love,
Sister Beutler
Also, I do get to call from the airport when I leave next Wednesday. I will keep you updated and give you more info next Tuesday.
