Elder Nathan Steed: Email received June 16, 2014

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty good. So last night we got transfer calls. Elder Neville is being transferred and I'll be getting my new companion tomorrow morning. We are all speculating that President Pingree is putting all the Zone Leaders back together this transfer for President Mortensen, who will arrive here in Houston on the 30th. Crazy stuff. :)

On Wednesday this week we had dinner at the Liu's (a Chinese family that was baptized 3 years ago) with President and sister Pingree and the sister missionaries. Brother Liu was president Pingree's first baptismal interview and confirmation as a mission president, so they've developed a good friendship over the years. Sister Liu made some amazing Chinese food. So incredibly good. She made the best shrimp I've ever had. On Thursday we had dinner at another recent convert's home. She was baptized in May. She's awesome. Her husband is not a member and is a really great guy. The highlight of the day was that he made us seafood paella. Oh my goodness. I've never been so scared in my life. It was loaded with shrimp, mussels, clams, and idk what. It actually was pretty good. Way too much work to put in for a meal though. I was sick of opening shells and tearing legs off. haha. :)

On Friday we had Specialized Training. It was all about the Restoration. It was awesome. President Pingree basically planned the training around the Talk entitled "What is the Blueprint of Christ's Church" by Elder Tad R. Callister. Coolest talk ever. Listen/watch it! Anyway, President talked about what needs to happen in order for someone to gain a testimony of the Restoration: They need to 1) understand the pattern of Apostasy & Restoration that has happened repeatedly throughout time. 2) Read & pray about the Book of Mormon 3) Have the Spirit testify to them. He went through a pretty lengthy list of scriptures that prophesied of Apostasy and then scriptures that contained corresponding evidence to those prophecies. Most of the scriptures with the evidence, or fulfilling of the prophecies of apostasy, were from the different epistles in the New Testament. Apostasy was happening even during the life of the Apostles, the epistles were written BECAUSE of apostasy. The Bible is in itself a testimony of apostasy. It testifies of it, not only in the day of the apostles, but also of apostasy to come in the future. Pretty cool stuff. There was a sister missionary who asked the question what we should do when people we teach get caught up in anti-mormon material. We had a very long discussion and President then shared D&C 29:7: "And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts.” As missionaries we are here to gather the elect, not everyone. Only those who hear his voice and harden not their hearts.

To go along with that I have a cool journal entry that I came across the other day that you all might like. Here it is:

January 25, 2014

"Today we went tracting in an area that Elder Bergman felt impressed to go to. We ended up knocking on the door of some crazy old man with a ginormous, cigarette-stained white beard. He then went on and on talking crap about Joseph Smith. He was in my face and staring into my eyes the whole time. I could do nothing but stare back and smile at him. We just testified of the savior and he softened up a little bit. He has had what sounded like many missionaries placed in his path. He has had plenty opportunities and if he never takes them he won't have much of a case to plead. Joseph Smith was a prophet. He saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. He was given the priesthood and this IS Christ's church. It is led and directed by Jesus Christ Himself, through His prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and His apostles. I have this priesthood and I am here to share this gospel, the true gospel of Jesus Christ, with those that are willing to hear."

Happy Father's Day Dad! Hope it was a good one. I had to give the thought at Autumn Leaves yesterday and it was focused on Father's. Here's kind of the gist of it. It started off by a discussion of what our father's mean to us and what role they've played. After a while we came to the conclusion that ultimately what a father does is provide. Whether it be financially, educationally, spiritually, or emotionally. The father's role is to provide for his children. Not everyone has a father on earth who does that. Not everyone has that role model that they deserve, and NONE of us have father's who are perfect. But all of us do have a perfect Heavenly Father who not only loves us perfectly, but has PROVIDED for us perfectly.

John 3: 16-17

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Our Father in Heaven has provided a way for us to return to live with Him again. He loves us more than we can comprehend, and will always provide a way for us to do the things He commands us to do. Dad, I'm thankful that I have BOTH a loving father on earth and in heaven who have provided for me. Thanks for all that you have done for me and our family. A couple of things that I really admire and appreciate about you: 1) You have ALWAYS provided for us financially. You leave home early, come home late, and go to bed early to get ready to do it all over again. You've been doing that our whole lives and not once have I ever heard you complain. 2) You've always been very patient with us, but not too patient. You're a great father and I love you!

Have a great week! Sorry this was so long. I also have a TON of pictures from this week and the week before. Love you all!

Elder Steed