2 Miracles (May 22nd 2017)

What a week. I have two really good stories so here we go. 

The first story is about Mickey, Mickey is a gentleman that we have been shoveling rock for, for the past few weeks. Our first week here we really didn't know where we were or what we were doing. So it was about 8:30 pm and we see Mickey in his garage and 15 tons of rock in his driveway. So, we got his number and offered to shovel his rock. We shoveled his rock about 4-5 times since then. Each time we would share small gospel truths about who we are and what we do, well on Tuesday this week. We pull up and Mickey comes out and says "Its a little hot today why don't you just teach me a lesson." Kind of in shock I said we will shovel rock for an hour then we will come up and share a message he said okay. So we shoveled rock then went and shared the Restoration with him. As I was explaining That a dispensation was a period of time on the earth where people believed in God and what the Prophets taught and an Apostasy was a period of time when people rejected Gods teachings and the Prophets. I told Mickey I am having a hard time of thinking of an example. He replied I have one, The missionaries knocked on my door a few months ago and wanted to read the Bible with me and I said no but I am ready to listen to you boys. I was blown away, I was also blown away that he came to church this Sunday. Alma 13:24 24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

Miracle dose, We were walking around last night with not a whole lot to do. We began to walk, I didn't fully understand where, but we walked. We ended up walking 3-4 miles from where we lived on the other side of Troy. As we began to walk through an intersection and was nearly hit, we heard a yell from a car passing through the intersection going the opposite way. Were the man said "Joseph Smith" as he waved his hand, assuming he was another heckler, we continued on. As we walked through a park, we heard "Elders, Elders!" We turned to our surprise to see the same man. He approached us and began to explain his calling out to us "I met with missionaries in the past I tried my hardest to believe in Joseph Smith and I still have my Book of Mormon, I am about done with religion" needless to say we have a meeting tonight at 8 pm 

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who hears my prayers and all those who pray in faith. Matthew 7:7 7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

As a missionary, we pray often. I have seen the power of prayer in the work and in my life. I know as we pray and communicate to our loving Heavenly Father in Faith with a determination to act in Faith we can receive the blessings he has in store and the windows of Heaven will be opened to us. I hope as we continue to see the blessings we receive from our Heavenly Father that we don't forget to give thanks and gratitude for the blessings we receive. I love this work and I know it is true not because of what I have done but what the Lord has been able to help me see and achieve. 

Have a great week.

Love, 

Elder Washburn

Hearers and Doers (May 15th 2017)

What a week we had! Some good things happen, we have been giving a lot of service. We did some service for Mickey again, shoveling more rock. We taught Codi and his wife Julie about how the Gospel blesses families, and Come and See. Taught Mason the Restoration, he loved it! He is a smart 9-year-old. We did a lot of walking on Thursday. It was a lot of fun. Walking is good for the soul. Had a couple good lessons with Kayla West and Michael Hagan, talked about praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Saturday was service day we moved garden beds and stained a deck in the morning. After doing that we went and helped chop wood at a gentleman's house who had a heart attack about 2 weeks earlier. We used a log splitter, it was fun but exhausting. It was a great week, also got to Skype the fam, that was exciting. Last time skyping home. Weird!!!

In my studies, I have been reading from the Epistles of James, Peter, and John. I have really enjoyed this study of the First Presidency of the ancient church. I love what they all talk about. I will share a few scriptures that I liked from each of them and share why I liked it. From James, I enjoyed James 1: 5-6 

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Taught me the importance of asking faith and if we need guidance we should turn to the master compass. As a missionary, we pray a lot and especially for guidance. It has helped teach me and testifies to me that we do have a Loving Heavenly Father who truly does know us and can guide us as we ask in Faith. James 1:22

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

How often do we get in the motion of just listening, I catch myself in that habit all the time of just listening. It is important for us to listen but as we become doers we can really see the blessings of the Gospel come as we experience it. James 2:26 

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Faith is a principle of action, as we act in Faith we can grow/ strengthen our Faith. I have heard of the analogy of lifting weights. If we wish to be stronger we lift more. If we wish to have a stronger faith we do more activities that require and involve faith, such as praying, reading scriptures, going to church, repenting and many more examples. 

I could share a lot more scriptures but what would be the purpose? Learning the scriptures doesn't necessarily in the quantity that you read but in the quality that you apply. Applying the scriptures to our lives is very important. As we do that the scriptures become alive and influential in our lives, which is their intended purpose. To influence our lives in a positive way. I know that the Scriptures are true because I have experienced their instructive influence. I hope everyone can have a great week and have lots of fun happy Monday!

Love,

Elder Washburn

Love is Spoken Here (May 8th 2017)

Super busy week this week it flew by, we had exchanges this week with Elder Havili and Elder Stout in St. Charles, and I was with Elder Stout for exchanges. Throwback it was crazy cool and lots of fun. It rained all day, we were able to teach some people. The most memorable thing we did was we helped one of the people they are teaching try to find her keys in the wet garbage bags outside their house... grossssss. We were wearing gloves but the smell was horrid. Thursday we went to Columbia for Zone Conference, it was wonderful. Got to see a lot of people there that I knew. We shoveled rock for a man named Mickey Friday and Saturday. We are exhausted it feels great though. We have been really busy lately. A Super-fast week this week.

I have shared a lot of thoughts these past few weeks on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our Saviors Atonement also the importance of commandments and obedience. Today I wish to share some thoughts and who helps us do that and where this takes place. In Alma 56:47-48 in the Book of Mormon tells an important story about some young men and their mothers. Back ground to these verses is these young men stood in the place of their fathers in battle because their fathers made promises to never fight again. These young men are being chased in battle by a strong army and the leader of the, what the book of Mormon calls them, The stripling warriors, asks these young men if they would turn around and fight and they said yes with great courage and confidence. In the verses, we read it helps us to understand who helped them develop this courage. 

47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death, and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

What I love about this story are the important roles each member of the family plays. The Father is a righteous covenant keeper and understood the eternal importance of keeping his sacred promises with God (Covenant), The Mother understood her righteous responsibility of teaching truth to her young children, but also the young men who chosen to follow their parent's powerful example of gospel living. 

Where did these young stripling warriors learn these truths and follow these examples? A simple answer would be the Home. Harold B Lee stated "the most important of the Lords work you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home" This statement is true today as well, as we learn together in our families we grow stronger and closer together and that is because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atonement of our Savior. As Grandpa Washburn would say in his talk "The Temple is a Family Affair"... "We go to the temple to make covenants, but we go home to keep the covenants that we have made. The home is the testing ground. The home is the place where we learn to be more Christlike. The home is the place where we learn to overcome selfishness and give ourselves in service to others."

I am grateful for my mother and father teaching me the gospel and giving me examples to follow. It reminds me of the children’s hymn "Love is spoken here" and these are the lyrics to that song.

1. (Girls) I see my mother kneeling with our family each day.

I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray.

Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears,

And I am thankful love is spoken here.

2. (Boys) Mine is a home where ev'ry hour is blessed by the strength of priesthood power,

With father and mother leading the way,

Teaching me how to trust and obey;

And the things they teach are crystal clear,

For love is spoken here.

(3rd ending) I can often feel the Savior near

When love is spoken here.

What I have learned on my mission is that application, the way this example of these stripling warriors applies to me is in the way of serving a mission. I have never served a mission, I was taught that I should go, I had a father who served and countless other friends and relatives go on missions. It is truly through righteous examples and diligent mothers that boys are turned into men.

Have a great week. Do something nice for your mom or in most cases with the people of this email your wife. I love you all have a great week 

Love,

Elder Washburn

Elder Stout

Our New Apartment

New Places and New Faces (May 1st 2017)

My new missionary is Elder Harper from Vancouver Washington, he is a handy man, and he did construction back home, remodeled houses and all different types of things. We got into the area on Wednesday and we are settled in now. We live in Troy Missouri a town of 10,000 people, we cover other small towns around the area. There are good members up here, and some great potential here. I am the District Leader over a district of all girls besides my companion, so I am what they call a relief society president. It’s gonna be fun. 

Jesus Christ was a wonderful example to all of us by loving others, taking care of the poor and needy, living the Gospel, but Christ also did what is called the Will of the Father, In John 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Jesus Christ was Obedient. We like Christ should strive to be obedient to what Our Heavenly Father asks of us. A Children's hymn comes to mind when I think of the question of “What does he ask? 

He Sent His Son

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask? Live like his Son.

We are asked to live as Christ would live and do as He would do. He was obedient to the Commandments, He loved and He lived the Gospel. I read in Doctrine and Covenants section 20:7 "And gave unto him commandments which inspired him;" This scripture is talking about an Angel of God coming to Joseph Smith, what I really like about this section of scripture is that it says that the commandments which he received and was given inspired him. Do we allow the Commandments of God to inspire us? Another example of someone who was inspired by Commandments he received was Nephi in the beginning of the book of Mormon. I Nephi 3:7 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." The Commandments of God can inspire us and guide us in our lives, we know through obedience to the commandments is when the windows of heaven are opened to us such as in Malachi.

Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi teaches us that when we are obedient to the commandments and in this case paying tithing, we can receive many, many blessings from being Obedient. We have two ways to look at commandments. We can either let them inspire us or we can let them become a burden and a struggle. This comes when we do not fully understand and do not seek to understand the reason why we have a particular commandment. For example Laman and Lemuel, two of Nephi's older brothers in the Book of Mormon. Laman and Lemuel didn't fully understand and didn't seek to understand why the Lord would ask them "to do hard things". We can become more like Christ by following the commandments and following the example of our savior. As we move forward seeking to understand the will of the Lord we will be blessed with the blessing that the commandments will inspire us. 

In Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus Christ testifies of the two great commandments, 

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

I am so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and Him setting an example for us, I know that He lives, I know that He loves everyone, He suffered lovingly for our sins and downfalls in life. I know that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ we can feel joy and happiness and as we continue to live obediently we will return to our Heavenly Father one day. 

Have a great day and a wonderful week, be safe and have fun.

Love,

Elder Washburn

Elder Harper, my new companion.

New Beginnings (April 24th 2017)

The week was great, had a lot of fun teaching the Gospel in Cape Girardeau. We received Transfer calls, I will be White Wash, Training, and District Leader in the Wentzville 1 area. I think it is about 40 minutes north of St. Louis up by Dardenne Creek. I will have a brand new missionary my last three months of my mission. It will a new adventure and a new beginning. It will be a fresh start. I am excited to see what blessings and miracles will come through our faith and obedience in the Wentzville Ward. 

On the topic of New Beginnings our Savior Jesus Christ often invited people to have a fresh start or a new beginning in their daily walks of life and to come closer to him, the invitation often was to Repent and to come unto him. The definition of repentance is a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Repentance is joyful, we have the opportunity to come closer to Christ by living his Gospel and making necessary changes to live a more Christ-centered life. Hopefully as me and my new missionary go to the Wentzville area that they will gain a fresh view of how to do missionary work, what missionary work is. I hope that through aligning ourselves with God that the blessings of heaven will pour upon us. 

As we repent and come closer to God we recognize the importance of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, when he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and also on the cross for the sins of the world, That it is only through the merits, mercy, and grace of our Saviors sacrifice that we can be made clean through repenting and being baptized. Baptism is essential in following the example of the Savior, as we are baptized we make sacred promises to God, we promise to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember him and keep His commandments that he has given. The great thing about making sacred Promises with God called Covenants is that he promises us something in return, God promises us that we may always have the Holy Ghost to be with us. Some people refer to the Holy Ghost as the Holy Spirit. No matter how you refer to it is a special gift given to us from our Heavenly Father to guide us and teach us the ways of truth and righteousness. The Holy Ghost is able to teach us and help us but if we wish to always have the Spirit with us we need to be repenting but also be baptized by someone holding that proper Priesthood Authority so that we can be worthy to be given that gift of The Holy Ghost by that same Priesthood authority. A great example in the scriptures is Acts 8:12-17 

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Peter and John held the Priesthood authority to give the Holy Ghost to those recently baptized men and women, they were given that authority from Jesus Christ to bless the sons and daughters of God. That same Priesthood authority that was held by Jesus Christ and His Apostles is on the Earth today and that Priesthood Authority is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I hope as we continue on our path to following Him and his Gospel that we will come to feel His love. Have a great week everyone!! 

Love, 

Elder Washburn

Cape Girardeau Discrtict (April 2017)

Happy Easter (April 18th 2017)

Friends and Family, 

Some of the quotes I have come by this week are the following, "You sow a thought you Reap an Action, You Sow an Action you Reap a Habit, You Sow a Habit you Reap a Character, You Sow a Character you Reap a Destiny". The author of this quote is unknown to me. Also this quote "The Church teaches Principles, the Holy Ghost gives specific applications and Specific practices" Stephen R. Covey 

The Holy Ghost is so fundamental to knowing the truth. The Holy Ghost is described as the Comforter and Teacher. As we learn more about the Holy Ghost we can learn how to be more fully directed and guided by him to the right path that Our Heavenly Father has in store for us. 

John 14: 26 (New Testament)

26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jacob 4: 13 (Book of Mormon)

13) Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.

The Spirit will teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance and will not lie to us. He will say things how they really are and how they really will be. By the Holy Ghost we are able to know truth, in the Book of Mormon, another Prophet again testifies of these same truths. 

Moroni 10: 3-7 (Book of Mormon)

3) Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4) And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5) And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

6) And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

7) And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

The Holy Ghost helps us to testify of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 12: 3 (New Testament)

3) Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.

We can learn more about Jesus Christ as we study His life and Gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World, He came to the World to do the will of His Father. He suffered so I could be forgiven. If you Sow a thought you will reap an Action, If you believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer then we should act as He would act, and learn more about Him. I would encourage you to begin reading and studying more about Jesus Christ daily to help us through hard times. I would also encourage that it comes from the Book of Mormon, not that we don't recognize or appreciate the Bible but because Jesus Christ and His Gospel is so clear and simple within the pages of The Book of Mormon that you will gain a stronger testimony of the Savior. 

The work was a little slow and not too exciting this week. That's okay it will be better this week. One thing that has been exciting, is doing Family History work. Elder Floyd a new missionary in our ward. He Minored at BYU in Family History work. So he knows a lot about it. We had him teach us so we could teach others. I have gotten so excited to do Family History work. To be honest, after I finish this email I am logging on and doing it. So many stories and people that I am related to. President Thomas S. Monson said "We discover something about ourselves when we learn about our Ancestors" Sooo true. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the Earth so that we may learn more about our Savior. 

What a wonderful time of year to remember the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. A document in the year 2000 was put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was made to remember the Savior being born 2000 years earlier. The document was signed by the Prophet and the Apostles, I wish to quote a portion of it "We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.".

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fullness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."

Have a great week everyone, be safe and study about Jesus Christ. I can promise it will help those trials because lighter and your very thoughts and actions will be more Christ like. 

Love, 

Elder Washburn

Hay, Elder Despain

Easter Egg arrived from Arizona.