April 22, 2019

Email this week was short and sweet:

I got to color eggs a little bit this week too, and I'll try to send you pictures next week. Sorry, I don't have pictures and we're far from home. But anyway, it was a good week. It was a great week up until yesterday night. I had an exchange with Elder Legas on Wednesday. I think I told you about it. We worked hard. He took me to the other district council so I could see what things I would incorporate if I became a District Leader. We had sooooooo much fun. We skipped dinner and made visits. We were actually heading home for dinner when I had a prompting to go to a house about 3 minutes away. He had the prompting to go to the same house. We taught an amazing lesson. I've never had so much synergy with a companion after less than a day of being together. At the end of the day, we did a review in the chapel. We both cried a little bit. And complimented each other a lot. It was probably the best exchange I've ever had. He told me that a lot of missionaries look up to me, and wanted me to realize that. I don't see it, and I expressed my thoughts, and told him I don't feel like a leader. It was a good exchange. A really good one.

 

The rest of the week flew by and I can't remember a lot. We played football with the youth one night, and there was like 6 or 7 non members there. And that was it. It was super cool. Sunday was Easter. The programs were all great, and had a lot of good musical numbers. Elder Legas was acting weird all day. I know now that he got a call Saturday from President, and he had to go see him Sunday. That night we had our correlation with Brother Markham. Elder Legas got a call from the AP's. I didn't think either him or Elder Smith was getting transferred so I was confused. Elder Norman was like, "Elder Smith, you ready for your new companion. It's Elder Rich! He's coming down as the new Zone Leader in Shelley." I immediately looked at Elder Legas. I understood why he would leave. There was only one option. He looked at me and nodded, with tears in his eyes. Elder Brazier didn't understand. He said, "Where's Elder Legas going?" Elder Norman answered, "He's coming to Ammon 2." I laughed, trying to keep the humor. Elder Brazier still didn't get it. I said, "That sounds like the AP's area Elder Legas!" He smiled a little. It got a lot sadder from there. 

As for the Spiritual thought I wanted to send today, I don't know what to say. It's been a weird day. A weird night. I'm tired. But I wanted to talk a little bit about the Resurrection. I know that we all know about it. We all know that Christ was Resurrected, brought back to life, for us. But I don't feel like we all understand the depth of the Savior's love. Agency was given to ALL men. Often times the Savior is viewed as perfect because He was made perfect. But He had agency. He chose to be perfect. He chose to follow the Father in all things. He chose what we can chose. Why did He chose this? Because He loves us. He understood it was the only was to save all of us. Because if He slipped up once, even once, then we would be damned for eternity. He did what He did out of love. Not just the suffering in Gethsemane. Not just the hanging on the cross. Not just the Resurrection from the tomb. Every choice, every thought, every action, was based on His love for each of us. A perfect love. And to have a perfect love, we MUST be obedient. We must do the things we have been commanded to do. What was the FIRST THING that the Savior said to the Nephites. Here He is, descending in glory from Heaven above. The Nephite crowd waiting in anticipation, wanting to know what He's going to teach. They get their pens and pencils ready. What does He say? "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the World. And behold, I am the light and the life of the World; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the World, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." Obedience. He suffered the will of the Father from the beginning. He was obedient. He did what God asked. Always. That's the first thing He wanted us to know. I know how important obedience is. I know that it is the MOST IMPORTANT THING. The first law of Heaven. We HAVE to be obedient. We have to be. I love y'all. Keep doing the things that God asks of you! Have a great week!

-Elder Trezise