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

It's May, it's May the... awesome... month of May!
I'm going to be 19 on the 14th... the HECK???
So, this week has been FANTASTIC!
Cheryl was baptized on April 30th! The Spirit was SO STRONG. It was
there. I know it and I felt it.
She was then confirmed on Sunday May 4th. The spirit was there and she
stood up with a glow.
I know that this gospel is true, because how could it not be? God set
Cheryl up for us perfectly. There is NO WAY that someone as stubborn
and non-flaky as her could have been baptized 18 days after we met her
if this gospel wasn't true.
The day we got a text about her from a 3rd party without her
permission, we had prayed to find someone, and she had prayed for
direction in her life. THAT CANNOT BE COINCIDENCE.
Today I prayed in my morning prayer that we may find someone and an
hour later we got a call from a bishop about a Spanish couple who had
moved in and expressed interest. THAT CANNOT BE COINCIDENCE.
In August of 2012 I finished the Book of Mormon and decided to pray
about it. When I did, I was filled with joy that i cannot accurately
describe. THAT CANNOT BE COINCIDENCE.
I was sent to the Idaho Pocatello Mission and I have met people who
have affected me in ways that I cannot have gotten any other way. I
also have gotten connections for my future career that I could not
have gotten anywhere else. I never told the person who assigned me
what I wanted to do when I grow up (build temples). THAT CANNOT BE
COINCIDENCE.
To ALL, I know that the church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a
prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today. I KNOW that the
Book on Mormon is the word of God.
I love all of you and I only desire your joy and happiness. I have no
ill feelings for any of you.
I say this because I love you and I know that Christ lives. I know
that he continues to talk to his people on the Earth. These things
cannot be coincidence.
Just like I know that it's true, I know that you can know it too. I
challenge you to pray and find out for yourself if what I have said is
true. It will change and bless your life and it will be worth
EVERYTHING.
Remember who is talking. This is Tim Decker. That singing, dancing,
music playing, bow tie wearing, party loving, crazy kid who you know.
I am all those things, BUT I STILL KNOW THAT WHAT I HAVE SAID IS TRUE.
Don't doubt, only believe.
Honoring God (which is what Timothy means)
Elder Decker

Another week another blog!
shout out: Grant Waters! good job getting the Symphony Scholarship!
This week has been fanFREAKINGtastic!!!!!
We've still been teaching Cheyrel. She's SO ready. I am quite humbled
to be able to teach her. This has been one of the greatest blessings
that Heavenly Father has given me. honestly. Because of Cheyrel, I
have become closer to the spirit. Her testimony has helped me, I
believe, more than mine has helped her. She has such faith, and her
faith has made her and me whole.
What I'd like to talk about today is what she assigned me to speak on
at her baptism: "One in the Crowd."
We all know the story about the woman in the crowd who had a blood
disease. She touched the hem of Christ's robe and was healed. We all
know the story, but how does it apply to us?
The crowd was full of people, mostly curious people, some Pharisees,
some, maybe, there to mock. None the less, there was a crowd, and then
there was the woman. There was one among the crowd who applied what
Christ taught. She had the faith to be healed.
Do we go about our lives in the crowd? Do we hear Christ speak and
think "Well that's a nice idea," then go on with our lives never
changing ourselves? The Gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to change us.
What Christ did, was, and is means NOTHING concerning you unless you
change.
Remember that there was only ONE in the crowd who truly believed.
Christ is becoming increasingly less popular as the world falls
farther and farther from him and the knowledge of who he truly is.
WILL YOU BE THE ONE? Will you have ears to hear and eyes to see?
I challenge you to be the ONE. I challenge you to be faithful. Act on
what you believe and that's how you will receive blessings.
I testify that to be the one is worth it. There is peace and joy that
comes from it. I know that.

Honoring God
Elder Decker
picture: we went and hiked the menan bute last week (the hill with the R)

This week has been amazing! and this is why:

-We've got a baptismal date for April! It's with Cheyrel. She is amazing. She had a work accident that cut her arm off, but it was miraculously reattached by the doctors. She can move it and has good use of her fingers. This experience really brought her to God and she is the most spiritual person that I know. One of the things that she's been doing in recovery is physical training and her physical trainer was a return missionary! After a while he referred her to us and it's been amazing. Pray for her. We thank God for her and for our opportunity to teach her. I am filled with joy. 

-Also, yesterday was Easter! I LOVE EASTER! Because of Christ I, you, and we all will live again, we have the opportunity to return to live with God again if we repent, and we can become CLEAN! Christ's sacrifice is the most amazing thing ever and I am forever and always grateful for it. I testify that he lives and that he loves you. I testify that you can find joy because of Him. 

This past week has also been super hard and this is why: 

-I fell off my bike and destroyed a suit, and my knee ( here are pics from 4 different angles *studio C*) 

-We were given a TON of sweets, so we've wanted to kill ourselves with stomach aches. 

FUN NEWS:

Tomorrow we will start a no carb diet! woot! I've been gaining some weight that I don't want, so we'll be dieting and working out harder! yay! Pray that I have the will power to do such things! :D I want to be 150 again. :/ I'm currently at 168. I know that I can do it! :D 

So, if care packages are sent, please replace sweets with......... jerky or dried fruit. :)

I love ALL OF YOU. Know that I know that this is the true church!

Honoring God

Elder Decker

Rexburg is still the best.

Happy late birthday to my dear sister Andrea! :D 

SO, first item of business, EASTER IS THIS WEEKEND! :D

And with Easter, the church has created a new website JUST FOR THIS WEEK. It's called:

http://easter.mormon.org/

PLEASE check it out. It has the best video on Christ ever! Seriously, I almost cried the first time I watched it. not even joking. It's just 2 minutes long. It is the best 2 minutes that you could spend on anything, ESPECIALLY this week. It's better than any old spice commercial ever, and that's hard. It's EVEN BETTER THAN GUY ON A BUFFALO (if you don't know what that is, look it up on youtube.) The purpose of this new church website is to share it, so SHARE IT! At the top right of the website is the share button things for facebook, twitter, and google plus. DO IT! Do it to help others remember what he did for us. Because of him, we will live again. all of us. Because of him, we can change. Everything is because of him. 

I know that Christ lives and loves me and you and all of us little people on the earth. The only reason that he could bear that great burden of our sins, griefs, and sorrows is because he knew that that was the only way that we could live again. That was the ONLY WAY, and he was the only one who could. How amazing is that? 

I want to end with my favorite scripture:

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

There would be no reason for me to live if there wasn't Christ. If I didn't have his Spirit to comfort me, I seriously don't think I'd be living right now. He has helped me through all things, and I know that he can and WILL help you if you will just take his hand that has been outstretched toward you forever.

Honoring God

Elder Decker

So, I still remain in Rexburg! *and there was much rejoicing* 

If anybody got the Monty Python reference you get an air five *AIR FIVE*

Shout Out to E.D. Who I saw in The choir in General Conference! woot!

Other Shout Out to Shannon Ward Who got her mission call to Chile! :D and is going to the better (mexico) MTC! Felizidades! 

I had an amazing experience in General Conference. I loved how they just started it off with Elder Holland who gave an AMAZING talk! For those who don't know who that is, he is an apostle: one of the 12 apostles in the restored Church of Christ.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the restored church that Christ established while he was on the earth. He Called the 12 apostles and gave them authority (Matthew 10:1), he called others (Luke 10:1). Christ did establish a church with Power and Authority, and I know that that's true. I also know that that authority was lost, but now it has been restored again. 

Honoring God

Elder Decker

So..............

I'M IN REXBURG/ MORMONLAND!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really, it's that great. 

Transfers went awesome and now I'm here with my new comp Elder Tidwell from Atlanta. He's SUPER awesome!

I cover Rexburg North Stake and Spanish work for the whole town. The Ward Mission Leaders are AWESOME and the wards help and support us. They do a thing called "ward days." 3 Days out of the week one of the wards in the stake plan what we do. The Ward Mission Leaders set appointments, get us service opportunities and EVERYTHING! It's SO AWESOME! I'm super stoked. 

We're getting a new car sometime this week (we're hoping a Jetta), so they took our car on Thursday. The weather's been great, but of COURSE it snows when we don't have a car. Yesterday it snowed, so we had to beg rides from people, we couldn't take our bikes. So yesterday we pretty much went to church in 2 wards, walked to dinner, then cleaned up the area book. It was an alright day. 

We had a baptism on Saturday. It was great! We got a referral from it too! 

We're SO happy and experiencing a lot of success up here. We're finding all the non members in Rexburg! ;) haha

As we have patience in our afflictions, we will become relieved. 

I'd just like to share the story of how I came to know that the Book of Mormon is true. I was challenged at the beginning of the summer after junior year to read the entire Book of Mormon before school started. I did it. I finished it in my Grandparents' house in Logan. In the last chapter there's a promise,

Moroni 10:4-5

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.

I Decided that I would act on this scripture and pray to find, from God, if the Boom of Mormon is true. So I knelt down and started to pray. I asked If it was true. The Spirit overcame me with a great joy and I knew that God was answering my prayer that it is true. I knew and I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is true, and because of that I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. 

Matthew 7:20 

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

 In context, Christ is warning against false prophets. He says that a good prophet cannot provide bad fruit, and a bad prophet cannot provide good fruit.

The Book of Mormon is a good fruit and it is the fruit of Joseph Smith. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he restored Christ's church on the earth. 

If you do not know that the Book of Mormon is true, read it, ponder over it, and ask God if it is true. I promise that he will answer.

It IS true.

Honoring God

Elder Decker