Dearest Family,
First off sorry that this email is a day late... did your heart beat a little faster fromage? thinking that your favorite son ;) had forgot to email you :) Truth is that we came to the library and accidentally logged on 2 minutes before our time started... then when our time started we were kicked out of the system because you can only log on once a day :( I talked to the librarian and there wasn't anything she could do to fix it... So I kind of have a good excuse :)
Wow... That was an inspiring general conference. I wish we had been able to watch all the sessions, but the 3 we watched were Saturday evening, Priesthood session, and Sunday morning (sunday morning session was the only one that we watched live) We would have been able to watch saturday morning live, but we were at a service project, which went really well... oh the blessings we have in this life! That general conference was absolutely incredible, and it answered a few questions I had in my heart. Priesthood session was amazing! The talked by Elder Kearon really hit home. I loved the way he illistrated what happens as we get to close to the edge of sin because of our laziness and small little rebellions. President Uchtdorfs talk in priesthood session was powerful, We as a mission went pretty thoroughly through the talk he quoted by President Ezra taft Benson. It showed me a lot of things about being humble and understand who really is in charge. I never cease to be amazed at all the tender mercies the lord sends to us as we listen and look for them (and be thankful like President Monson talked about) I am so thankful for the living prophet and the guidance he is to us. Our father in heaven has stacked the deck in our favor... we just need to listen to the prophet and trust in the spirit for personal revelation (and be worthy of that guidance)
Did I tell you about the Book of Mormon Challenge that President Brown gave to us? We each received (I before E except after C... Except in receive lol... ohhhh english...) a fresh new copy of the book of mormon, and we are going through and highlighting names and pronouns refering to the savior, times the savior talks, doctrines in the book of mormon, and chirstlike attributes. It has really opened up my eyes to who the savior is and all that he does and did for us. I shared a quote in District meeting from President Ezra Taft Benson about how we need to each more effectively use that witness (the Book of Mormon) to learn about and testify of him of who it is a chief witness... (Badly mis-quoted/remembered) But The effect of the quote was that we can all learn and come closer to Christ through the Book of Mormon which is the Chief witness of him, and that he himself made it as such. So anyways... I went through and counted and in 1 nephi alone it mentions and uses the name of Jesus Christ 639 times... and then I went through and found more... The Book of Mormon is truly a testimony of Jesus Christ! It has been really interesting to see all these things click in my head.. and then to have the general authorities talk and teach just the things that clicked... INTENSE!
hmmm... I really wish I had time to share all of the things that are happening in my life... but then I wouldn't have any stories for you when I get home! haha So I will tell all those later... when I have time! Missionary work has really helped me come closer to Christ and to understand a little better who he is. President Brown is a man called of God and has brought this mission up and helped us rely more fully on God and the guidance of the Holy Ghost... The Finland Helsinki Mission was well... a little bit different 2 or 3 years ago. Here is a quote from my last email "By the way, we had four baptisms conference weekend and as a result we now have 48 baptisms for the year, which is exactly what we had all of last year. We have approximately 20 outstanding baptismal dates and three months left in the year. Add to our total the 20 outstanding dates and we will have a total of 68 baptisms. If you pray hard and work hard we should be able to have many more baptismal dates between now and the end of the year and reach our goal of 75 baptisms. I hope that will be your goal. May the Lord bless you as we move forward to find, teach and baptize."
The things happening here are incredible. God lives and loves us and is waiting to pour out blessings upon us... but as there is a law irrevocably decreed in the heavens, it comes only according to our obedience to that law.
I know that those men who spoke to us were called of God, Miracles happen and bring 30 baptisms a year to 48 and then to 75... God is the master of timing.
Love you family!
Vanhin Thomas Neal Nielsen
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