Hello one and all and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! :D
I got to see the face and hear the voice of my wonderful family
yesterday, which was fantastic.
My mom's better than your mom.
This past week has been a bit nuts. We had transfers and my new
companion is Elder Taylor from Los Angeles! He's a pretty cool cat. a
new companion always takes some getting used to, and there are always
some annoying things, but that's to be expected, because people are
people, and people are different.
There have been some SICK things going on here in Rexburg! The Work
here presses forward just like anywhere else. (and better) Just
yesterday as I was on Facetime with my family, we got a call with a
golden investigator couple, and the kicker, THEY'RE MEXICAN! :D That
never happens.
So we met them and they're amazing. They asked questions like "What
does it take to be baptized?" The whole time we were chatting with
them we were holding off laughing with joy! Right when we close the
door behind us it was like in The Best Two Years when they start
freaking out in excitement! We yelled and danced a little bit, then we
got in the car and prayed in gratitude. The work is hastening, are YOU
keeping up?
I'd liketo talk a little bit about one of the best chapters EVER. It's
Ether 12 (in the Book of Mormon).
There are 2 specific verses that I'd like to focus on. the first is Ether 12:6

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I
would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and
not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no
witness until after the trial of your faith.

Many people want a *BOOM* moment when they suddenly know that the
Church is true. This almost never happens. Like... never. It's like
expecting to get buff without ever weightlifting. Then, never thinking
that weightlifting does anything because your body didn't give you the
affects of it before you did it... I'm not sure about anyone else, but
that freaking makes no sense. You have to try it FIRST. You will never
know until you try and try with faith. You have to believe that you
can, and work hard to get buff, but it happens.
I promise that if you put fourth a real effort, you will come to know
that the Church IS true.
Ether 12:12

12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no
miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their
faith.

We must have faith or God cannot bless us.
Sometimes I think we ask the wrong questions. Maybe we doubt the truth
because our lives have not been perfect. That makes me think about the
12 apostles after Christ's death. (Acts 5:40-41)

40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and
beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of
Jesus, and let them go.

 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that
they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

The Apostles were... kinda stoked... that they had been beaten... I

suppose that they saw it as an opportunity to feel a little bit of
what Christ felt when he suffered and died for us.
Do we ever mourn in our difficulties and are happy that Christ has
blessed us with the ability to grow? We shouldn't.
The church is true even though hard times are had. I know it.
Honoring God
Elder Decker