January 22, 2017 - From Mom

Good morning my amazing son!

So much in the news this week!  Are you ready???

First the really cool news.  Of course you remember the movie Rudy, right?  The real life Rudy was baptized this weekend.  Isn't that cool!  A guy with such character would of course be drawn to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm sending you a separate email with a picture of him that was posted on facebook.

The other great news is the inauguration of President Trump was on Friday.  It was a nice day and at the national prayer meeting on Saturday, they had about 20 spiritual leaders in the country pray one at a time and included in that group was Elder Christofferson.  Trumps talk was pretty good.  However, the bad part is on Saturday there were Women protests all across the country.  Hundreds of thousands of women protesting in the most obnoxious way.  I'm not sure what their message is entirely.  I think primarily they are pro abortion right messages. The interesting thing is that Trump has never said anything about taking away abortion rights, so I'm not sure why that is their message as they protest Trump.  The country is incredibly divided.  I hope Trump can rise to the occasion and be a conduit of positive change in our country.  I think he has the skills to do it.  However, his temperament always gets the attention and overshadows the positive that he can do. For example, he has been working with Car industry leaders to help them keep their auto production here in the US rather than sending it overseas.  It's estimated that he has already saved thousands of jobs here and billions of revenue that will stay in the US.  However, at his very first press conference his press secretary comes out angry about how the press has falsely reported how few people came out to the inauguration. Such a petty thing to argue about in his very first press conference when he could have had a more positive message.  Anyway... only time will tell now.  I'm hoping he will do great things for our country and people will look past their prejudice of him and see the good. 

We've had a quiet week.  Dad and I worked around the house this weekend on lots of little projects that needed to get done.  I'm getting ready for a girls trip to Hawaii in 2 weeks!!!!  I'm so excited!  Kellie, Monica, Angel and I are going from Feb 4-11. It's gonna be incredible.  I'm sad to not be going with dad but we couldn't work out the timing so that all the husbands could go... I'll take lots of pictures for you:)

I had an interesting experience in seminary this week.  I asked each student to write down questions they have about the gospel (anonymously) on an index card.  I told them that together we would try to find answers.  As I read them later, I was surprised by how many of them struggle to feel the spirit of the presence of God and the Savior in their lives.  I've been doing a lot of praying about it so that I can help these kids feel their Savior's love in their lives and His guidance. 

I've thought a lot about how much effort we put into our relationship with our Heavenly Father and the Lord.  If being a disciple of Christ is our priority, then our time and effort should reflect that.  This will be something for you to think about when you prepare to come home.  How will you continue to grow and keep the spirit once you are not a full time missionary anymore?  How will you keep this tremendous growth you've experienced and add to it instead of allowing it to dwindle away?  In my praying about it, I've thought about how much Satan loves our phones.  For youth especially, they are such a distraction and a time suck. There is never a time that someone can be quiet and thoughtful.  If they are bored for one second they grab their phone and fill that time with numbing social media or worse.  We should have quiet, pondering time each day when we are still enough to feel the spirit.  How can the spirit influence us if we never are still and quiet? 

I'd love your advice and thoughts on this!

One other thing... We are studying the book of Acts this month which is really a book about missionary work, so I plan on reading many of your letters to my class:)  Hope you're ok with that.

How was your week my boy?  How is your back?  What did you end up doing about your contacts?  I'm waiting for your new contacts to arrive.  If they get in by Friday this week, I should be able to get them to you in the February 5th shipment. 

How are you and Elder Larsen doing?  Tell me about the work you are doing.  A scripture that I read this week that I really love... Jacob 4:6.  To me it gives me hope and faith to endure the tough times.  Whenever you feel like you are having a difficult time, have faith and hope in your Savior, in the gospel, in truth and in your family's love for you. 

You are always in my thoughts and prayers.  We love you so very much!  Thank you for your amazing example to your brother and sister and to us.  So many people have been touched and influenced by your example.  I'm the most happy mom to have you for my son!  I love you infinity + infinity.

Mom

xoxoxox

P.S.  Here are a few talks for you to listen to.  I found a few on the atonement that should help in your study of that subject as your mission focuses on it. The second one is about the atonement and the value of one soul.  I thought it would go well with your focus on "the one."

January 16, 2017 - From Sam

hey mom :)

I had a good week! The work is going well, ive just been kinda homesick mainly because of the cowboys and i really wanted to watch the game but oh well. Kinda glad they lost ish just because i wouldnt survive here if they went to the superbowl without me home.

I will get some stuff together to try to send in the package! 

I did meet jesse and saw him quite a few times! Hes a great guy. His roommates are solid too. He was at the family dinner as well.

I think Id be ok with that family reunion. Itd be really fun i think! Itd be kindaaaa weird not being able to chill for a sec haha but yes I think thatd be fun as long as we can try to plan to spend more time together just us five and not be around the millers and albrights and waltons the whole time. Like id want it to be us 5 and the brands the majority of the time, just because the millers are just weird to me now and i havent seen the albrights in forever. haha I dont want us to miss out on our fam reunion though so im good with that. Just what location?

My back is good. I havent had a blessing yet, ill ask one from my companion as well. Its not really bugging me anymore, but i know i need to take care of it. I put a goal this week to do just 15 minutes of exercises and stretches each morning this next week so that should help. Thank you for that insight though i know its true!

Me and E Larsen are really just trying to do what president taught us. President changed the mission goal just recently and called it ¨One by One¨ because of the verse in the BoM when Jesus comes and blesses the children one by one. The point is to try and bless one person of each of the key indicators we have as missionaries. One lesson with member present, one lesson to recent convert or less active, one lesson to an active member, one reference received, one contacted, etc. Its an awesome goal.  E Larsen said when he was assistant president and them were meeting for weeks about trying to change the mission goal and for prob 2 months they couldnt figure anything out. The day we had zone leader council he presented this goal. It was just revelation he literally received that day when he woke up and its pretty incredible. Its working so well.

I remember that talk by e Bednar vividly because i wrote so many notes on it! I loved it. Send that link of that talk in youtube!

I love you so much mom! Youre my hero always. Thank you for everything you do for me :)

January 15, 2017 - From Mom

Hello my love!  How was your week?  I hope you saw my earlier email about sending items/letters home.  If you'd like to send some letters home, we would love it.  I'm not sure if you can get things to the mission office in time, but they will pick up on Feb 2nd.  This is the same shipment I'm hoping to send your contacts in.  It will be cutting it close.  I've ordered new contacts but they take about 2 weeks for them to arrive and then I have to ship them to CA by Jan 31st.  Hope I can get them there!

We had a fun night on Friday and went to dinner with the Hines (jesse Hines parents).  They were our first good friends here in TX and you and Jessie were best friends!  Jesse told his parents that he has seen you a few times at BYU and that you are "awesome."  Did you talk to him? He rooms with Chance Fox (our cousin - remember when you went to Steve and Debbie Fox's house for the king family dinner?) The Hines are a great family and their second son is serving in Brussels right now.  He was friends with the 3 missionaries that were injured in the Brussels train station bombing.  He should be coming home about the same time as you. 

Speaking of you coming home... I don't want to really get ahead of ourselves but I calculated approximately when you might come home and it looks like to me the closest transfer would be July 26.  Here is the hard part that I need you to think about... We have a family reunion scheduled in Utah from July 27-30 with all the descendants from my grandparents, GG and GG Jim (Brands, Millers, Albrights, Conklings and Waltons).  If you do come home on the 26th, would you want to go to the family reunion the next day for 3 days?  It is going to be at a dude ranch where we would be riding horses, river rafting, games, etc.  I just need to know because I have already paid a deposit and I need to either plan for us to all be there or cancel our attending.  We're all happy to do what you want to do. I know the timing is kinda rough but it would be a chance to see everyone all at once and I'm not sure when our next reunion will be.  This is our first.

The big news today is the Cowboy game... I'm sure Dad and Gray will tell you about it.  It was a disappointing end to an incredible season.  But I have hope for an exciting future with this team. 

How is your back?  Have you had a blessing?  Have you started the exercises?  I was praying about this for you and I had a little inspiration... I want you to think about this as a good lesson for you.  As you get older in your life, you will have increasing responsibilities with you job, wife, children and family.  You will many times feel overwhelmed by it.  But it is always important to take care of your health so that you can meet those demands.  If you don't take time for your health, you will completely fall apart and won't be able to do much until you recoup.  So taking 20 mins each morning feels difficult for you know, but I promise that if your back goes out, you won't be able to do much of anything until you nurse your it back to good health.  So try to take the time to take care of yourself.  xoxo

Tell me about what you and Elder Larsen are doing in your area to work with the members.  I hope you're seeing progress in this area.  What is elder Larsen like?

I was listening to a talk today that I want you to go read.  It is in the October 2016 conference issue of the ensign that I think I sent to you.  Did I?  Anyway, it is Elder Bednar's talk about knowing the Lord and how we do that.  His talks are so dense that I feel like I need to read a few sentences and then digest that before I go on.  So much doctrine and so much truth that there is hardly a sentence of fluff.  It makes it hard to read, but when you take your time, it is so full of treasures.  Just try to read it this week in your personal study.  Just incase you don't have it I've attached it here.  I've spent so much time in seminary this year teaching the difference between testimony and true conversion to the gospel.  Basically the difference between knowing the gospel is true and living it (taking it from your brain and putting it into your heart so it changes who you are).  This talk goes along with that and helps me to understand that I can know the Savior better by living his teachings. 

I love you so much Sam!  With all of my heart and soul.  Have an amazing week!!!

xoxo

Mom

January 9, 2017 - From Sam

Howdy yalllll! 

We had a conference with President Crapo this past week and I learned so much! Hes truly an awesome mission president. We talked a lot about the Atonement and Repentance, so thiis week weve been focusing on teaching the Atonement alllll the time and teaching repentance.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ, very, very briefly described, is the sacrifice and actual  ¨paying for our sins¨ that occured in the Garden of Gethsemani, where he truly suffered for every single sin that every single person on the earth has ever committed. Every pain and every affliction. Every sad moment and heartache.  He experienced it all! Just so that we could have the opportunity to repent and live with Him for eternity.

Mosiah 3:7

 7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

What a scripture! King Benjamin here is prophesying of the great Atonement. Jesus bled from every poor, as if he was sweating blood. We truly can’t comprehend the pain and anguish he experienced, but it was great. He did this to know how we feel in every dark moment and in every hard experience, so that He might know how to comfort us in those moments.

Matthew 26 gives us an exact description of what occured...

 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O  my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I  will, but as thou wilt.

He was suffering beyond belief that He prayed to the Father to ¨let the cup pass¨ from Him. Suffering for every anguish and sorrow of billions and billions of people can we possibly imagine such a thing?

More importantly, how can we ever repay Him for what He did for us? Well the truth is we can’t 100% repay Him for what He did. It’s simply not possible to do something of equal action to that of what He did for us. But the thing that comes closest is repentance.

Repenting of our sins is the ONE thing we can do to show Him we are grateful for His sacrifice.  He suffered so that we can repent.  If we do not repent of our sins, we are simply saying we are not grateful for His sacrifice. But on the other hand, if we repent, we can show our gratitude to Him and we can feel His love!

Doctrine and Covenants 18:11 and 13

 11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh;  wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.

If we repent, we may feel the love of God in our lives again. The burdens we carry may be taken from us, and we can feel the Lord´s spirit in our lives again.

 13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!

I testify that the soul that repenteth is joyful. I have experienced it in my own life many a time. If we may turn our will to the will of the Lord and repent every day, we may become closer and closer to Him and the blessings of the Atonement will be poured out upon us.

I invite all of you to not only stop doing something bad, but to stop doing whatever it is you´re doing in contrary to the Lord´s will, and start doing something great! Change your will to that of the Fathers and we may all feel more happiness in our lives.

I know these things are true! And I know that He lives.

With love!

Elder Gurksnis

January 8, 2017 - From Mom

Hi baby!  Boy did I miss you this week!  I thought about you so much and just wished I could have talked with you during the week.

I'm hoping you had a great week with Elder Larsen.  Do you feel like you are making some progress in your area?  Did you get some healthy food?  Are you feeling rested at all??  I'm praying everyday for your strength, success and happiness.

Were you able to decide about the pictures on your leather scripture covers? 

We had a fun weekend.  The Steeds had a game night for about 7 couples and we had a blast.  We played some games and laughed a lot.  So much of the laughing was about dad's sleeping habits.  He ran out of ambien and has been taking melatonin which gives him really weird dreams.  I never hear dad curse except for when he sleeps on melatonin!  He has really aggressive dreams and kicks and punches things.  I get a little worried I'm going to get hit in the middle of the night but other than that, it's pretty funny.  Then on Saturday night we had a fondue night and game night with the whole family to say goodbye to Grayson and celebrate pop pops birthday.  We did the whole fondue thing like we had at the Cordy's and it was delish and really fun.  Everyone had a great time. 

Grayson headed back to Provo yesterday.  School starts today.  I think he was ready to go back and is ready to tackle a new semester.  He met with Pres. Platt and it seems that there is nothing they can do right now about G turning in mission papers.  I think once G is home in April they will submit his papers right away, but as long as his records are in the BYU ward, that bishop has responsibility for G.  It makes it really difficult to know what to do.  If he stays for Spring then his records will stay in Provo.  But I'm not sure being here is the best thing for the summer.  Dad and I are going to meet with Pres Platt to discuss.  I'm just trying to keep you in the loop.

Church was also really good yesterday.  It was fast sunday and Bro. Steed shared his testimony and it has helped me to give words to some feelings I've had studying the New Testament this year.  He talked about how during his mission, he was teaching people and telling them the "church was true" over and over and he started thinking about what those words really mean.  He said the word true not only is the opposite of false, but its origin is from a building term.  When something is built "true", it is made straight and correct and aligned perfectly.   So of course you can see how that applies to the gospel.  Not only is it not false, but following it's teachings puts you on the straight, correct and perfect course.  Those thoughts led him to understand that not only is the church true, but the gospel is real.  It is not just a great idea and a perfect plan in theory.  It is a way for us to live our life, grow and have the most happiness in life.  This is the way I've thought about the Savior as I've studied the New Testament.  The NT is not just stories told about a great man.  He is real.  He really was born and lived a perfect life.  He overcame struggles, temptations, persecution, disappointment and then ultimately every sorrow, disappointment, frustration, and pain known to mankind.  And in his final moments on the cross, the spirit of His father withdrew from him so He would know what that feels like.  Being perfect, the spirit had never left the Savior.  But we experience the loss of the spirit because we sin.  When we feel that sorrow and loss, we can go to the Savior in prayer, asking for his help, and he will know how we feel and how to help us because He experienced that loss to inorder to fully understand what we would need.  Jesus Christ is real.  He really did walk on water, heal the lame and blind, forgive sinners and mostly teach us how to love and serve each other.  I love Him.  I am more deeply committed to being better because of Him.  I want to be a better mother, daughter, sister, friend and teacher because He showed me how and I love Him.  I want you to know my testimony of Him.  He lives and is real.

I can't wait to hear about your week my son!  I love you with every ounce of my heart and soul!  You are prayed for many times each day.  We talk about you all the time and can't wait for your return home. And most of all, we are so incredibly proud of you and look to your example.  I love you infinity + infinity. 

xoxox

mom

January 2, 2017 - From Sam

Happy New Year Muh Duds!

Hope it was a great New Years Eve for everyone!  Guatemala loves fireworks and things that make loud noises so it was a pretty nutty 31st here. Ill send a video! We got to go to the roof to watch it all go down.

So my new companion is Elder Larsen! Hes from Las Vegas, NV and superrrrr awesome. He was the Assistant for 6 months and finished his time so he came back to be a zone leader with me! Its been such a great change having a companion I get along with and who wants to work hard and be obedient. 

Weve already seen a difference in our area and its been great. Were working really well with members and encouraging them to read the Book of Mormon and to be missionaries individually. Were kinda starting from scratch and changing a lot together, so we may not see the ¨fruits of our labors¨for a while, but February will be a good month for area Colombia. 

I wanted to share a short spiritual thought for this New Year for you all! Mosiah 3:19 reads

 19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

King Benjamin is giving his speech to all the people under his kingdom here. It says the ¨natural man¨is an enemy to God. Anything that isnt a Christlike attribute that we have is the natural man (impatience, anger, pride, etc.). We are invited by King Benjamin to put off the natural man, and become a saint through the atonement of Jesus Christ! Become meek as a child and willing to do the will of the Lord. 

I invite you to ponder this scripture and as you make new years resolutions, think of the things you do that are part of the natural man that keep you from being more Christlike. Then make goals to be able to conquer those weeknesses and become more like Christ through the Atonement. 

Im out of time, but I love you all! Have a great 2017!

Love,

Elder Gurksnis

January 2, 2017 - From Mom

Happy New year Elder G! 

I'm so anxious to hear about your week!  How is your new comp?  Have you felt like you've been able to get back on track?  Here are a few questions, before I forget, that I really want you to answer:

1. How is your back?  What are you doing about it?  I'm attaching some core strengthening exercises that are helpful for a strained back.  These should help whether it is a muscular problem or a disc problem.  Just be gentle when you do them but do them day and night to help give you strength and relief.

2. Do you still have the cash and credit card we sent you with for emergencies?

3.  How tired are you feeling?  Are you able to get some more protein and veggies in your diet?  How about the protein shaker cup and protein powder?  Can you get some today?  I was thinking you could bring a protein bar or pb sandwich with you when you leave so you don't have to rely on the little stores with chips and junk food.

4.  I forgot if you were going to print your fb pictures or if I was going to send them to you.  The next time I could get them to you is a February 5th trip that the delivery service is taking.  I have a deal for $.04 per print.

5.  I really can't wait to hear about your comp and how your week went!  I'm praying it has been a positive change!

We've had a good week.  They never found our suitcase... it was probably stolen so I've spent a good amount of time dealing with providing the airlines with a detailed itemization of the contents and receipts so they can reimburse us for the contents.  Such a bummer.  But the fun part was on Friday we got together at the Cordy's and had our fondue dinner like we did last year.  I really love the Cordys.  For New Years Eve, Dad and I went with Ama and PopPop and the Waltons to Babes for dinner and then a movie after.  The movie was so great and I'm adding it to your list of things to watch after you get home. 

We have been talking about our family goals like you suggested.  As a family we are reading the BOM by the time you get home.  We mainly need that much time because  Abby and I are so focused on the NT right now with seminary and so I can't start the BOM until May.  But it will be great to do it as a family and really talk about it.  The other thing we are going to do is pray daily for missionary opportunities.  I think it will help us to be focused on sharing the gospel and be more aware when they come.  We started by giving a BOM to Misti (well sortof a BOM... it is like an easy reader version.  I told her it would help her begin and she can understand the story.  But then I told her she should switch to the actual BOM once she becomes familiar with the story and she will get much more from it.)  I'm hoping she and Kevin will read it together.  We had them over one night this week and had a great talk about the gospel with them.  Kevin definitely knows the gospel is true but he doesn't know much about it.  It would be great if they would read together.  What do you think we should do as a family?  Can you add to the discussion?  What are your personal goals?

I start seminary back on Tuesday.  Its tough to get back on schedule when I've had two weeks of sleeping in.  But I love being immersed in the New Testament so that part is great.  We are finishing up with the last days of Christ's life.  I'm learning so much and my testimony is so much stronger.  It reminds me of a quote I gave to you in your journal (the one I made... do you still have that?) that says what today feels like a sacrifice, will become one of the greatest investments you'll ever make.  Seminary has been a huge blessing in my life inspite of how difficult it is.  I'm sure you can relate:) 

I am still on a high from getting to talk to you last week.  I just want you to know how incredibly sweet and meaningful it was for all of us that you told each of us how much we mean to you.  And then when you prayed for each of us... it will be something I will always remember and one of my most precious memories. I went and bought a journal because I wanted to write about it and never forget.  You are such a wonderful son and brother.  We all love you so very much.  And I feel so blessed to be your mother.  I love you so very much!  I don't know if I could ever convey it to you.  But I hope you have some understanding of it. 

One final thought... Dani's grandmother died a few days before Christmas.  She was a really wonderful woman and Dani posted one of her grandmother's favorite things to say... "The good thing about big trouble is that you really have to turn to the Lord and it is such a good feeling to find Him there." I just love that.  And I have found it to be very true. 

I love you my sweet son!  I think about you all the time and pray for you multiple times a day.  Sometimes in the middle of the day I say a silent, quick prayer that you are safe and you feel my love for you.  I hope you do.

xoxoxxo

infinity + infinity

mom