February 3, 2020

I spoke with Elder Trezise a little in the morning before work and he called again after work.  At the end of his email he references a car wreck that they were almost in - little did I know how serious it was!  One of his companions, Elder Legas wrote to his family about what happened.  I will include his letter after Ben's.

Hello! Sorry I haven't been sending pictures. I really haven't been taking a ton. I'll look for some to send though. This week was good. Super hectic, but good. We had a few missionaries who had to go home from their missions early, so we got to drive them to the airport bright and early. Fun times :) 

We also had MLC (Mission Leadership Council) on Friday, so I got to see all my best friends. Elders Oringdulph, Brazier, Steele, Garrison, Davies, Smith, Palmer, Brinkerhoff, and many more. The Assistants have to conduct the meeting and give trainings. Same goes for Zone Conferences, so I got to give a training on the power and authority of our calling. I referred everybody back to one of my favorite chapters in all of scripture. Moses chapter 6 tells the story of Enoch. His story is such an amazing one. He's my favorite prophet of old. But if anybody asks, I don't have a favorite ;)

"27 And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off;

28 And for these many generations, ever since the day that I created them, have they gone astray, and have denied me, and have sought their own counsels in the dark; and in their own abominations have they devised murder, and have not kept the commandments, which I gave unto their father, Adam.

29 Wherefore, they have foresworn themselves, and, by their oaths, they have brought upon themselves death; and a hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not;"

This is how the Lord describes the people of the city he is assigning Enoch to. Enoch is a missionary. This city is his area. These people are the people of his area. Suddenly proselyting in the Idaho Falls mission doesn't look so bad. I think all of us, myself included would be terrified to try to fulfill this commission. So I don't blame Enoch for his response. 

"31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?"

I have found a lot of success out here. I have. And I honestly don't deserve it. I feel like Enoch a lot of the time. There are plenty of people who could do this better than me. There are plenty that are. Wherefore am I thy servant? And the Lord responds;

"32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me."

Sometimes, no, most of the time, it's easy to forget that the promises, and the miracles the Lord gave to the prophets, disciples, and children of old, He gives to us today. He has given us the priviledge to perform miracles. Are we willing to go and do it. Our lives are full of choices. Easy choices; hard choices. There are times where we seem to be in a valley. Times where we are walking. We are moving. We are pushing forward, not hard, but we are. We're making progress. But it's slow progression. And there are times we are in mountains. We are climbing. We are pushing. Each step we take becomes harder than the previous one. Everything around us just seems to be steep slopes and falling rocks. This is where we want to be. Where we need to be. We ARE entitled to move mountains. But to qualify to move a mountain we must first overcome it. We have to exercise the faith to climb. 

Spencer W. Kimball once asked in a General Conference setting that; "God would give me mountains to climb." I love that. We all face trials and difficulties. That's a part of life. The days where I struggle to walk and struggle to breath are my favorite days. Not because they are easy, but because they are worth it. In one of my favorite talks, titled; "Please God," Elder Cornish says;

"Please don't misunderstand what this standard entails. To please God rarely, if ever, means doing things the easy way or doing things the way you want to just because it is comfortable. To please God generally means:

Discovering and living up to your personal gifts and potential.

Glimpsing a vision of what is possible for you and pursuing or even creating your own opportunities to accomplish that vision.

Becoming who you were meant to be and who, in a more fundamental sense, you have always been.  Realizing, in the process, that every worthwhile thing you will ever do will derive its meaning in large measure from the blessings it brings into the lives of God's other children."

The trials in our lives are meant to help us along the path. I am so grateful for them. I am so grateful for the man they are forging me into. Please don't misinterpret hard times in your life as hatred from God. Understand that it is quite the opposite. The biggest blessings you will ever receive in this life will come from the terrible, hard, horrible times of your life. It is those times that you are closest to the Savior. Please realize that the path that leads to Christ will ALWAYS take you through Gethsemane. That is the way it is. It always will be. It always has been. So when the trials come, pray in gratitude for the fact that God trusts you enough to go through it. He knows you better. He knows you can do it. In our church we say, "I am a child of God" so often it becomes a little... for lack of a better word, numb. Do you understand that you are a LITERAL son, and a LITERAL daughter of God. The Most Powerful being to ever live. He has the ability to create worlds without end. To form worlds, and destroy galaxies. And you are His child. With the potential to live up to that power. You have the power, the authority, and the RIGHT to become like God. But that path won't be easy. "The path is straight, and the way is narrow." The path to darkness is broad, with too many winding roads downward to even count. But there is one path to Heavenly Father. It is in the footprints of our Savior. One path. Are you on it? Evaluate your life and try your best to stay on that path. When you fall, climb quickly and carefully back onto it. Follow the commandments. Listen to the guidance of the Spirit. You will not regret it. I promise you God is real. Just last night we should have been in a fatal car accident. An enormous truck flew through a roundabout we were in the middle of, and should have hit us. Going back and looking at the tire tracks, it did hit us. But nothing happened. It went through the back of our car, and nothing happened. God is real. Angels exist. They are looking out for you. They are watching over you. On your right hand and on your left. Trust God. And believe in good things to come. I love you all so much. I pray for you daily! Keep pushing!

-Elder Trezise

Here is Elder Legas letter about what happened in their car accident:

Setting the Scene:

It's 7:50 pm on Sunday night, Idaho is already pitch black and for the past 45 minutes it's been raining this rain that just freezes to the car and to the ground, not only does it stick to the ground but because of how windy it was the icy mess sticks to any flat surface. Walls, traffic signs, windows of houses, etc..

We are driving our 2020 Sienna Minivan and I'm a SUPER passive driver, all of my companions have made fun of me for it. 

We are about 100 yards from a round-a-bout getting ready to turn left and in the distance to our left we see a big ol truck about 150 yards out heading towards the same intersection we were going to. This round-a-bout was put in just a few weeks ago and I was noticing that this big truck was HAULING. I slow down as I come close to the intersection, mostly because I know it's icy and I don't want to slide. Also I was wanting to see what the heck that truck was going to do. 

As I'm basically at a rolling stop I see brake lights from behind the truck coming towards us (now about 25 yards away) turn on. I am relieved and begin to make my way around the circle. I failed to remember that ice is no respecter of persons. 

As I reach the first exit of the round-a-bout headlights get my attention and I look over and see that the truck had only slowed down to about 40 mph. He/She comes barreling over the round-a-bout circle (it's only a curb really) and I yell "HOLY" and basically tuck into the steering wheel. It looked like the truck had gotten a few feet of air as hit the first curb and came directly towards us. Our momentum kept us moving through the intersection and somehow, someway the truck missed us. As we make our way out of the intended exit all of us, full of adrenalin and amazement, wonder on what the heck just happened.  

As we catch our breath Elder Meyers in the back right side of the car says something to the effect of, "that truck was heading straight towards us" 

Elder Trezise confirmed Elder Meyers' statement. 

Family and friends, it was as though the truck went completely through the whole back of our van and we came out of it without a scratch to ourselves or our vehicle. 

Y'alls prayers of safety for the missionaries have been cashed in, we felt it. There was a feeling after that incident like I've never before felt. We stop the car and immediately pray in gratitude. 

Surely there was someone "before (our) face. (On our) right hand and on (our) left." 

There was a "Spirit in our hearts, and ANGELS round about us, to bear us up" (D&C 84:88)

"Have the days of miracles ceased?"

"If (miracles) have ceased ... it is because of the unbelief (of the children of men)" (Moroni 7:35,37)

I believe in angels, I believe there are people watching over us that we cannot  see. I am SO GRATEFUL for the prayers from all of you. I know God listens, he hears you, even if you can't see the results of your prayers please try to be aware of His hand in your life. 

I love you all!

PS: We went back through the round-a-bout and saw exactly where the truck had gone through it. (He/She didn't go through just the side. The tracks went straight through the middle of the circle) I hope that driver is safe.