1/26/12

Hello Familia,

It has been another great week here in the MTC. My thoughts will be jumbled, I don't have much time for transitions.

Our progressive investigator lessons finished up nicely with Tomas, two days later we learned that Tomas is actually Hermano Pacheco, our second teacher. It didn't totally surprise us since we had kind of that it would be him. But not knowing it was our teacher made it better for him to know what we needed to work on. He is an awesome teacher, he served in the DR and his Spanish is so good, he sounds exactly like the Natives. He and our other teacher, Hermano Litzenburger, who served in New Jersey, our awesome. We have learned so much in these last few weeks. We started teaching new investigators James (Pacheco) and Mauricio (Litzenburger) and so far they have gone so good. We are teaching about 5 or so lessons a week now, all in Spanish.

There have been a lot of changes in our district. We started out with 11 elders. 3 days ago we had 12 elders and a sister. We now have 9 elders and a sister. Two of our original elders tested out of intermediate and joined the advanced class for three days, they leave to Puerto Rico and New Mexico on Monday, 7 weeks earlier than they had planned. They will do great though. We had an elder move in who has been delayed since he needs surgery, he actually went in today so he will be recovering for a little, he is out of our district now. And the hermana that tried out our class felt brave enough to return, so now she is in with us. That all jacked up our companionships, so now Elder Jellen is in a threesome and Elder Lindsey and I live in our own room, and Hermana Coleman (who is going to Jeff Rock's mission) is in a trio with us during class and when we teach. So it has been interesting.

But like I said, things have been great. I feel so good about my Spanish, I have been so blessed. We had to speak in Spanish all day yesterday for everything, and I only spoke a few things in English, so I feel way good. I can teach very well in Spanish, it is the conversational Spanish that is harder, but it is getting there. I am happy I have so long here, because the time here is invaluable.

I guess not everything has been so dandy actually. There were a few days where I was so frustrated. I just wasn't feeling it, which is bad because I should always be feeling it. But I was down in the dumps about my Spanish, but then yesterday really helped me out. It has taken a little bit of time to get out of my funk, but today I am happy. We went to the temple today, and it was awesome. It keeps getting better and better. I really prepared hard for the temple today, Elder Lindsey and I fasted for our surgery elder and I threw in some other purposes for my fast, like how to teach better and whatnot. I really studied and pondered this morning in study to know what to think about in the temple and what I needed to work on, I ended up with like 10 questions that I wrote on a small piece of paper with some scripture references. It took some time, but I feel like I got my answer. It wasn't just one definite answer. More like a means to an end.

I realized that if I have faith that the Spirit will carry my words, no matter how bad the Spanish is, into the hearts of those I teach; if I strive for total unity in my companionship; If i help bring everyone unto Christ, including myself; If I stay worthy for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost; If I seek charity for myself first, then will I be ready to teach others with the power and authority that I have been granted.

It really is a loft call we have. But with that call is many, many steps until we can realize that authority and gain that power. And I am really thankful that I can know where I need to step, where I need to go to help others, help everyone come unto Christ, because that's what it is really all about.

And I am thankful for my call for Spanish because now I am able to learn, think, teach, and speak simply. For me that really is a blessing. I can just focus on what really matters. Which are the basics.

Well I am almost out of time, I must go. This seemed like a short email, sorry about that. I want everyone to know that I am trying to find time to write everyone back.

Love you all,

Elder St. Martin

P.S. - word is that the 1st presidency is coming next Tuesday for the 50th anniversary of the MTC, if so, my next email will definitely be better.

Zac's First Letter

Subject: Hola!

So far I love the MTC! A lot of people told me that the first few days are the worst, and that it will get better by Sunday, but it is so fun. I mean, I really already lose track of the days and whatnot, but that's just because I am so busy. So, the basics. I am in a threesome, so I have two companions: Elders Jellen and Elder Lindsey. Elder Jellen is from Orem and Lindsey from Alpine. The three of us get a room for ourselves so that is kind of nice. They are both awesome guys and really even better companions. Elder Lindsey is very obedient and helps remind us of what not to do, his Spanish is also much better than mine so far, so that makes me want to study harder. Elder Jellen is also a great companion. He is a very gentle missionary so far, especially when teaching. He has that soft spoken missionary voice down very well. We have a pretty big district from what I have been told. 11 Elders and no sisters. And the rest of our zone is the advanced class, they leave in three weeks. But we are all in the intermediate class, which makes for some really effective language study since we all know quite a bit already. The Spanish is coming along so great. I basically remembered everything I knew by the second day and then I have been learning so fast. I have found lots of success in memorizing preach my gospel lessons and then using them to teach. It really helps with the grammar and my gospel vocabulary is increasing muy rapido. Also, I carry a small comp. book around and write words down that I think about and anything I don't know how to say in Spanish and then look them up later. Also, praying in Spanish really helps. We actually have to all write a 3-5 minute talk in spanish for sacrament meeting this week, which isn't very long, but will still be a bit difficult. Our branch president, Pres. Tyler, is a great guy, as are the rest of his presidency and their wives. He really wants to challenge us. By Sunday he challenged us to read the whole missionary handbook as a companionship, memorize "Our Purpose" and D&C 4, and write that talk. It'll be a stretch, but it should be fine. I already know them in English, so the Spanish will be un poca mas dificil. I really can see how obedience and faith and lots of study can help me learn. It has only been like three days and the language is coming along very nicely. I really am attacking it and loving it.

So, the last few days have been great.

The only thing we really did on Wednesday was a cool orientation and training. They brought in non-members (one was a real member acting as an investigator, that was obvious) and then has a companionship start talking to him to get to know him. Then the Elders were dismissed and the person would ask us questions, or we would ask them questions and teach them. I really have no idea if they were all members or not, if they were, then they were awesome actors. But, I really don't think two of them were. Paul, the first one, was catholic and hounded us for not reading the New Testament and refused to read the B.O.M. It didn't help that the Elders told him that the book of Moses was in the Book of Mormon. Then Arnold, who I think was the member, had recently lost his wife and had never found a church for him. I started actually speaking up with Arnold and I feel like I did okay. The last one was George, who had lost his leg and was introduced to the church by another amputee. He was interesting to talk with. Regardless of their membership it was still very eye opening and humbling. The next day we studied all day and met our Zone Leaders. The next day we began teaching our first progressive investigator, Tomas, all in Spanish. Now, we know he is a member (we could see his garments) but everyday for the next week we will be teaching him. Then we get a new investigator. This will go on for our whole time here. (Oh, by the way, I thought I had less time here, but I have until March 12). Our first lesson with Tomas was not good. We relied TOO much on the Spirit and didn''t prepare. It was bad. Then Today we did much better. We had a very set plan and I prepared to teach him about the Book of Mormon. We taught him about the Book of Mormon, the spirit, and how to pray. We also challenged him to read the Book of Mormon (Alma 32:21-43) and he said he would. He says he knows the Book of Mormon is true because he sees how it blesses his friend Seth and his family, but he doesn't want to get baptized. Next lesson we need to figure out why and continue to teach him, starting with the Plan of Salvation.

It is so awesome because we are already teaching in Spanish. It really drives our study and more importantly it teaches us to find out the needs of the investigator and prepare lessons based off of that. This is all a new curriculum that they started in August of last year. I am way excited to learn more and really can't stop studying.

There really isn't a better feeling knowing that everyday is dedicated to the Lord, it keeps me busy and I really love experiencing my spanish grow.

I will have more to write next week. My P-day is on Thursday. Can you please figure out how to do Dear Elders? I don't really expect a letter everyday, but my whole district has gotten something so far.

Hope everything is going well, I love you all.

Pray for me!

Elder San Martin

Farewell



My family

So, this is the only post I will make directly as myself. I am Elder St. Martin now and that means my sweet, darling sister Shayla will be taking over as the blogmaster. What an honorary title. I am so thankful for her willingness to do this, as well as her blogging prowess. I hope that this blog will be a better way for all my friends and family out there to stay updated on my happenings in the Great Louisville Kentucky Mission!

Let me just say that I am so pumped to be finally serving a mission! I graduated high school at age seventeen and it seems like I have had to wait a lifetime and a half to get on my mission. Yet, when I graduated I also thought that I was leagues ahead of everyone else I knew that was on a mission. So, if this last year and half has done nothing, it has humbled me beyond belief. My testimony and knowledge in and of the gospel has grown so much, and I with them. And, I am equally pumped to be speaking Spanish. When I get back I am going to be the most Hispanic gringo you ever did meet. 

I had my missionary farewell this last Sunday and, in a perfect world, all of you would have been there with me. But, alas, a perfect world we do not live in. So, I thought I would make my own personal first, and last, post on my missionary blog by including my farewell talk. I was assigned to speak on the power of example, and the examples in my life. 

But, before I throw my talk on here, I just wanted to explain how fitting this topic was for me. The chances are that if you are reading this, then you are either a member of my family, or a friend of mine. And, if you are not, then all the power to you. And, if you are not, and you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, then I invite you to look out for the young men and women with black name tags on and invite them to your house so that you can learn of the greatest news there is to be offered. (See what I did there? I'm getting a jump start to this whole preaching thing) But, I can assure you that more likely than not, you have made an impact on my life. And I am thankful for that, and I love you for that. The power of example in my life is so incredibly strong. Definitely with my family, but especially so with my friends. And if you are my friend, it is because I could see in you somebody that would uplift me and enrich my life and make me feel loved. If I am not who I am because of my parents and what they have taught me (which I am) then I am at least a product of the amazing friends I have been blessed to have. So, while reading my talk, I want you to read it knowing that I wrote it because of you, and for you, because I am indebted to you, and I love you. 

(Note: To those of you who did hear me talk in person, you will notice that there is a bit I had prepared that I cut out for time that is included here, and my testimony recorded is probably a bit different since I don't really remember all that I said)

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Today we have had the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. While partaking of this sacrament, we renew our baptismal covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. We covenant, once again to do as Alma commanded in Mosiah 18:9

“Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as  witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life-“

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is our inherent charge to stand as a witness of Christ, and of the blessings that can be received through His gospel. To stand as a witness of Christ, and bear witness of him, is an active fulfillment of the commandments we have received to be an example to others. We are commanded numerous times in the scriptures to be an example.

As Paul teaches in 1 Timothy 4:12

“be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

And Matthew in Matthew 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

We are commanded to be an example, to let our light shine, to share the gospel, not only through conversation, but by righteous action because the power of example is so strong. It is not even what we say, but how we say it. Sometimes, we might not need to say anything to be a good example.

President N. Eldon Tanner once wrote, “It is most important, therefore, that we are always on the alert, remembering that one teaches more effectively by example than by precept. Let us never forget the old axiom: ‘Your actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear what you say’”

It is possible that some recorded examples happened so long ago, that we do not have every single word that was said. The scriptures, for instance, provide us with many examples of righteous, diligent men and women who would have made Paul proud, for they were amazing examples of the believers. Although we do not have a play by play account or a record of every word that was said, that does not take away from the power of example in the scriptures. We can actually see that this is true within the scriptures themselves.

After twice being thrown out of the house of Laban, after being commanded to go and retrieve the brass plates, Nephi, in what would become a reoccurring theme,  was having a difficult time conquering the murmurs of Laman and Lemuel and motivating them to give it one more try. Attempting to explain the might of the Lord, Nephi reminded his brothers of the exodus of the Jews out of Egypt.

We read in 1 Nephi 4: 2-3 

            Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.

            Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.

In this, and many other times in the Book of Mormon, we can see how the scriptures of the time already could invoke powerful examples of faithful people. This particular account emboldened Laman and Lemuel enough to follow Nephi close to Laban’s house so that he could fulfill his father’s commandment.

Through our own full accounts contained in the Book of Mormon, we have many examples such as this that provide us with the faith necessary to motivate us to attempt once again what we might once have thought was an insurmountable task; or, in other cases, the courage to stand up for what we believe.

One such example is that of Abinadi. We learn in Mosiah that Abinadi preached in the land of King Noah, among the Nephites. His words were in contradiction to those that King Noah had ordered his wicked priests to preach to the people. After being brought in before the king and his priests, Abinadi was questioned by the men as they attempted to trip him up and contradict himself. The spirit of God protected Abinadi from the priests of King Noah until he had finished his message. Then after three days of imprisonment, Abinadi was brought back in and commanded by King Noah to take back what he had said and deny the Christ, or Noah would kill him.

In Mosiah 17: 9-10 we read his reply:

             Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.

            Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day.

Abinadi was willing to die rather than take back what God had sent him to say. We then read that he was beaten and burnt at the stake for not denying the coming of Christ and the truthfulness of his message.

Throughout my youth and along my path to preparing for and actually serving a mission, it has been examples such as these that have helped me learn  what is required of me as I seek to love and teach the people that I would one day serve.  Examples like Abinadi’s willingness to sacrifice everything in order to preserve his testimony. Examples like Ammon’s courage in the face of danger but more importantly his undying loyalty and never ending service to the Lamanites whom he sought to teach. And also Enos’ faith in Christ while praying in the wilderness for the remission of his own sins and then his love for both friend and foe as he prayed for the remission of theirs as well.

The scriptures are full of amazing examples for us to follow. They themselves were examples to the people of their time. This is a testament to the power of example.

Though, some of the most enduring examples in my life were not those great men or women that I met through my exploration of the scriptures. So many of the lessons that I have learned, the person that I’ve become, and the missionary that I will be – is in part to the awesome examples that I have in my own life.

Young men, and young women, for as much as you read of the examples in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon, of those great heroes of yours, take notice, and take heed of the equally great men and women, moms and dads and brothers and sisters that you encounter in your life.

Young men, where you don’t see a courageous missionary like Ammon wielding a sword in defense of your king’s flocks, see your fearless young men’s leader as he braves himself to embark on a hike or a campout with a bunch of squirrely, ragtag teenagers.

Young women, where you don’t see a brave woman like Ether fasting for the strength and courage to convince a king to save you and your people, see your loving young women’s leader as she fasts and prays for you, that you might be a loving, virtuous daughter of God, and dare great things. You see, in this chapel today and in your homes are beautiful examples of what it means to live a Christlike life.

 Like Sariah, there are your mothers who wish the best for you, and will love you and wait for you to return, no matter how far you stray. Like Helaman, there are your fathers who will march beside you and want to prepare you for the battles that will surely come your way. These are some of the people who I hold closest to my heart. These parents, teachers and leaders that we have all been blessed with in our lives – everything they do is because they love us, and so much of what you are and what you will become is because of them. Remember what they have taught you, and look to them for guidance.

Think now, how strong is the power of example in your life?

If you answer, not very strong, you aren't looking close enough. It is not just our elders that influence us, we in turn influence them, or our example influences our friends at school, or at work.  We all need to remember, Matthew did not put a limit on where our light should so shine before men, this commandment is given to all of us, and to be obeyed everywhere.

In a 1979 study of thirty-eight young people who joined the Church showed that thirty-one of them became interested because of the good example of Latter-day Saint friends. I am sure that this same percentage would hold up today, if not go up – and, likewise, I do not think this statistic would change drastically if age was taken out of the equation. But, it definitely goes to show and prove something we have known for a very long time: people are watching us.

The peace and knowledge we obtain from this true and everlasting gospel shows in our countenance, and others notice. Now, in what seems like a very condensed group of Latter Day Saints, and going to Mountain View, where it seems like just about everyone is a member of the church, you might think that sometimes the light we are shining might not be bright enough, this could be true, in which we strive more to live the Gospel.

But, sometimes, it might just be that you aren’t directing your light the right way. Your example rubs off not just on others, but more commonly those closest to you. Your siblings and your friends, those that you spend the time with most. It is in these situations where the power of example can be exceptionally strong. If you are where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, your friends will notice, and they will follow. Your example will help them, and your testimony will strengthen theirs.

There is a quote that I have heard a lot of return missionaries, including my brother, mention that sums up most of what I have tried to convey here, and it is this:

"Faith is the power, love is the motive, obedience is the price, the Spirit is the key, for Christ is the reason."

As Christ says to the Nephites in 3 Nephi,

“Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.”

Jesus Christ is the best example for all of us, and he truly is the reason for everything. If we strive to live by his teachings, we will be blessed, and we will be happy. Others will notice.

My testimony is that if we look for God everywhere that we go, and in everything that we do, we will be better prepared to recognize the wonderful examples he has blessed us with. There is a scripture in 1 Samuel 16:7 that I wish I would have paid much more attention to these last several years – it explains that the Lord does not look at the appearance or the stature of a man, but that the Lord looketh on the heart. By doing this we can begin to see each other as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see us. If we do this, and if we then can help others view themselves the same way, we will be well on our way to living a Christ like life.

I am thankful for the great examples in my life, for my parents, and for my diligent leaders in my ward. I am so thankful and excited for my call to serve in Kentucky. I know that I have been called to teach them this true and everlasting gospel. A few months ago I stumbled upon a quote by Bruce R. McConkie that has become a mission slogan for a few missions around the world. It has given me strength and testified to the purposefulness of my calling.

“I am called of God.

My authority is above that of kings of the earth.

By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is my master and He has chosen me to represent Him--to stand in His place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me.

My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts; my doctrine is His doctrine.

My Commission is to do what He wants done; To say what He wants said; to be a living modern witness in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous Latter-day work.

How great is my calling!”

I truly do recognize the divinity of my work I am about to embark on. I know that this gospel is true, I know that we have the world’s true prophet on the Earth today in President Thomas S. Monson. I know that the Book of Mormon was translated by another of the Lord’s prophets, Joseph Smith, and that through reading it we can become closer to God than by any other book. I love this gospel, I love the Lord, I love my family, and I love all of you.

And I say these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.