I Just Love You Guys

Hey Everybody.... :)

Well, it's one of those weeks where I come here all calm and peaceful and happy and I just love everything except for when I don't.... :D  Great week.

Literally, I have dropped SO many investigators during these past two changes.  Not a single baptism.  That's been dumb.  BUT.... When I say 'dropped', I don't mean investigators that really weren't progressing so we stopped visiting them, I mean like.... Full on DROP.  As in they are keeping commitments, progressing, have a date for baptism, and then three weeks in, they tell us 'look, we're happy where we are.  We know the Book of Mormon is true, and all that, but.... We're good.  Thanks anyway!'  And Elder Putnam and I are just like.... WHY. 

But....  That's just the general of why things have been rough lately.  But now....  I'm feeling great.  Super just.... Put together.  :D  BUT.... The downside of this floating-on-air-peace sensation is.... I have no idea what to tell you guys.  Mostly... I love you guys, and next week I'll have more interesting stories I'm sure.  General highlights (kind of?...) of the week:

1.  It has rained every day this week.

2.  I have not brought an umbrella with me this whole week.  Cuz I figured the rain wouldn't keep up.

3.  I was wrong about the rain not keeping up.

4.  On Monday, on our way to a lesson, a random woman slipped by cause of said rain, and... She messed up her foot pretty hard.  Like... Bone out of skin and stuff.  And who came to the rescue?  .... Well, us.  Why else would I ask if it were somebody else?  That wouldn't even be interesting....  But, in a nutshell, after convincing the Hondurans that a ironing board was not necessary to carry the woman, Elder Putnam and I carried her to a car that was ready to get her to the hospital.  She was pretty scared but....  As far as I've heard, she's doing better.  

5.  A random woman offered us a ride out of as residential one day, and we couldn't accept cuz... Mission.... But, we pretty much contacted her while she was in her car.  She is now an investigator. :D  Also, she has a sister whose name translates to Forever Alone.  Well... Solitude....  We decide to call her Forever Alone.  We feel bad for her and she probably has some pretty mean parents.  

6.  We gave an english class on Saturday.  A lot of people said they were gonna come, then... they couldn't.  Cuz rain.  Guys, it really rained hard.  And a lot.  Like.... A LOT.  It was great.  But, the class went well!  We just had this huge division, where the people either spoke really good enlgish and basics don't help them, OR, they speak NO english and the basics even scared them.  Fun times.  Also, as a promise, Odeth, this is your shoutout.  Thanks for all your help in the english class and being cool and stuff.  :D  You're great.

7.  There is no 7.  That's pretty much it. 

You guys are all great.  I'll do a combined shoutouts next week.  Talk to you all soon... And if you need anything, I'll do what I can from here!

Elder Huff

 

Song of the Week  Itching on a Photograph by Grouplove

Step by Step

Hey everybody. :)  

How are you all?  Yes, feel free to address your computer/phone screen and tell me.  I think the spirit will carry it to me for you. ;D  

GUYS....  I got something important to tell you.  But first... Shout-outs.

Rebekah, Kailey, Joy, Ashley J., STEPH, Enoch, Emma-Lee, Scott, Kailey J., Lara and the girls, Kailey R....  Guys, I love you.  Thank you, honestly.  You guys make life to good.

But now, the moment.  I'm gonna open up a bit and stuff, but mostly to thank a couple of people.  You'll understand... Just keep reading. :)

Guys, there will come times in your life, as I'm sure you all know, when you are giving all you have, and I mean literally ALL that you can possibly give, yet it doesn't seem to get you anywhere.  But, you still push forward all you can until you feel you can't give anymore.  Now...  What I want to write about, if even a little, is about this 'breaking point.'  The point at which you say 'nope, no more.  I'm out,' and what I think about this point.

My dear friends and family, this moment is the moment in which our rawest and weakest character comes out.  How many times have you been stressing over that exam, or waiting for that day, and you tell pretty much everyone 'look, I'm just not in a good mood today.  Just, give me a bit.'  We've all been there, right?  Well....  As much as we don't want to admit our weakness, this person that only comes out at the breaking point is still a part of us.  We are that person, but just when we choose to let it out.  In a way, we feel justified in letting that person out once in a while, right?  Well.... I want to look at the breaking point as a personal phenomenon, and not as a social ticket that we have 'the right' to cash in once every few weeks or months or so.  These breaking points usually go in a couple of ways.

1.  You quit.

2.  You don't.  

And... those are the only options.  You either go until you're done, even if you do so angry, or you go til you can't anymore.  Now, I'm just gonna jump to the point of why I lay these answers down so flatly.

The breaking point is the choosing point, and the choosing point is the changing point.

When we reach that point, what we choose to do influences change.  However, I want to share what I've learned from this idea the past few weeks.

As I'm sure some of you have noticed, I've had a lot more like, 'I'm a little frustrated but I'm good!' kind of emails.  My kid is the coolest, and we have a few good investigators, but still.... Honestly, today I learned that quitting isn't always what I thought. So... I now want to write a bit more on the two choices of the breaking point.

1.  You quit.  However, quitting doesn't always necessarily mean dropping it and staying in bed....  Quitting is the moment in which you lose the vision.  Quitting is the moment in which you decide to give halfhearted work.  Quitting is the moment that you start complaining and justify yourself in doing so.  Quitting is the moment in which it becomes somebody else's fault.  Quitting, essentially, is the moment in which the breaking point breaks you, and you refuse to change - even if the work itself gets done. 

My mom always used to ask me in these moments of quitting:

'Kristian, if you don't have time to do it right, when are you going to have time to do it over?'  

And although I LOATHED that statement for so long, only recently am I beginning to understand how true it is.  If we don't do something right... We have quit.  Therefore, the measure of quitting is less in the product, but in the process.  As a wise teacher once told me: 

'A grade can't measure progress, and a medal can't show accomplishment.'  

And, although I am sure there a good number of people who would contradict this statement, I can only attest to it's truth by my personal experience.  I have received good grades in classes in which I did nothing, and average grades in classes in which I gave my whole heart;  I have received many medals of participation, but few medals of true excellence.

(save a black and brown tie, which I wear around my neck with pride, you know what I'm talking about... ;D)

Thus, the first choice, OR, the alternative...

2.  You don't.  So then, if quitting is so easy to do according to my interpretation, what is really keeping going?  Well.... Being a dancer, this is what I call the step by step, or, the counterattack for the breaking point.  

You literally go step by step.  You don't accepting dragging your feet or crawling as a legitimate alternative - you wouldn't freaking take that onto the dance floor.  Every day your on stage, just with a new audience.  You go out with your A-Game, even when you don't want to give it.  You take it step by step, until you get where you need to go.  And what is the trick for this freaking impossible dance move that I say is so easy?  Well, the answer is just like what I'd tell someone struggling with 'the step by step' on the dance floor.

Don't try to learn it alone.

THAT is the trick.  Like I said, I've been struggling the past few weeks.  I get frustrated.  But then, an old dance partner will remind me why I love to dance, show me a few old steps I forgot, and next thing I know....  The step by step continues.  Obviously, sometimes we have to go out for a solo.... It's YOU out there, and YOU alone.  But you already know the steps, because someone else showed you before, and all of a sudden, it isn't so hard anymore.  You're almost excited to go out there and show what you can do.  

Now, I'm gonna flip the table a bit.  

STOP FOCUSING ON YOU.  What EVERY ONE OF YOU need to do now, is GO and REMIND someone of a step they've forgotten to get them moving again.  Stop feeling you're exempt from helping because you need the help.  Funny, how when we reteach an old step, we find ourselves doing it better ourselves.  What do I mean by teaching steps?  TELL SOMEONE YOU LOVE THEM.  Remind them why they're worth the time and what they're capable of!!!  Focus less on what you're so good at, and look at what other people do!  Give!  Love!  Serve!  Be more freaking humble!  Be more patient!  GIVE and TEACH!  And guess what?  In the process.... You progress. You accomplish.  You Change.

To finish up... Where does all this come from?  I know it's a little all over the place, but... Well... I'm aiming the majority of that at myself, thanks to an old dance partner (well, she's actually pretty young...) and a few words she shared with me, about something I once shared with her.  Girl, you made my week.  I love you dearly, and keep freaking doing the dance you do so good.  I Love You, and I cherish you as a friend and sister.  You freaking rock.  So does your whole family. Keep it up, and keep letting your testimony thrive - it did miracles for me.  And yeah,  I'm talking to you.  ;D

Love you guys.  Do the step by step, and I'm always here for you.  

Elder Kristian Huff

Song of the Week - Dedicated to my Kid: Don't Let Me Fall by B.O.B.  

Love you Elder Pootnahm  :)

Life Changing Doctrine

Well Hi!!!

It's a great day and I'm happy to be here writing you all!  First.... Shoutouts of the last two weeks!

Joy and James and Mary and Nate and Jared, Blythe, Kaylie, Kailey, Emily, Lizzie, ENOCH, Ashley J., Brittany, Breanna, Stefany, Khiabethamente, and.. I love you all.  Hope life is awesome, as you are all graduating and such... Dang, that's crazy!  But, just know that real life is seriously way better than high school.  Also, much more interesting.  ..... Well, I mean, I hope the mission life is real life.... O.O  .. Anyway.....

So, a dear friend of mine asked me to write a little bit about the doctrines or ideas that most help in conversion.... So.... I thought I'd just leave a few chapters to look through to tie to some of the most powerful gospel lessons.... I would do an explanation, but I'm sure you've already heard all I could tell you a good many times.  So.... General chapters to study from with awesome important doctrine. :D

What would I say the most important or influential gospel truth that we teach?  Without a DOUBT, the one that everything else kind of hinges on, is...

The Plan of Salvation.

General ideas and awesome things to note, and then the chapters - broken down into three parts:  Life Before, Life Now, Life After.  Here we go.

Life Before:

Self explanatory, it is kind of mind blowing that we existed before and that we can therefore realize that we CHOSE to come here and we already knew how hard and how awesome life would be.  Also, Your Heavenly Father knows you personally.  And you were a boss before because you live in this day. Congrats.

  

Alma 13, Revelation 12, Job 1 (more abstract), Abraham 3.

Life Now:

Life is all about preparation and getting ready to return to God and be like Him.  Decisions have consequences.  We can change thanks to the sacrifice and atonement of Christ - which literally is the most important doctrine ever. Faith without works is dead - therefore, Christ's grace can't make up for our sins if we do absolutely nothing in this life to follow Him.  Also, just do what God asks.  It's seriously worth it.

2 Nephi 2, 2 Nephi 9, 2 Nephi 31, 2 Nephi 32, Alma 5, Alma 7, Alma 32, Alma 34, Alma 42, Helaman 5, all of the 4 Gospels with Jesus' teaching... There's a lot more, but there's a good list.

Life After: 

There is a difference between heaven, hell and the final kingdoms of glory. We will all be resurrected, and therefore we will be with all those who have passed on again.  Life eternal is eternal progression.  It's hard to sum this part up.

Alma 40, Mosiah 2-4, 1 Corinthians 15, D&C 76.  There are a lot more, but I didn't prepare as well as I could have..... Forgive me, but these are still very informative and great.

 

Anyway, I think that is about it!  In general, this lesson just.... Means a lot.  Try finding personal scriptures that help you understand better the life we've lived, are living and will live.  Love you all.  I'm always here for you, just an email away!  LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Kristian Huff

 

Song of the Week: Some Nights by Fun

 

 

...Pause...

Hey everybody!!!

So, frankly, this week was hard and I don't have much to currently report.  So... I'm gonna use another weekly family email day. I'll get you guys caught up on some awesome life changing doctrine princples..... NEXT week. :D

Love you guys.  Thanks to everybody who wrote me.... I'll do a combined shoutouts next week.  Also, Joy?  You're awesome. 

That is all. Talk to you soon. 

Elder Huff

 

 Song of the Week - Let it Be, by the Beatles (Across the Universe Edition)

Hmmm...Mormons? (Part 2)

HI EVERYBODY.

Honduras is great.  I mean, we haven't had water in like five days, but hey, what's a mission without a little adventure??  ... But seriously guys I miss having water.  Oh well.

SHOUTOUTS:

Ashley, Joy (Your speech is gonna blow MINDS. GO TO GRADUATION MOM.), Nicolle, Steph (I do expect pictures ;)), Lizzie, Brittany, Nanny, Khiabeth, Donny, Kailey, Blythe... You guys amaze me.  Thank you dearly for all you wrote, and I appreciate the time you took to send me a little message.  I love hearing about your lives and you are all just awesome.  ALSO, WAY TO GO GRADUATING CLASS OF 2015!!!  Keep up what you've been doing, and you might be as cool as the class of 2014. ;)  ..... Okay, let's be honest, you are all probably better than us already.  But not cooler. Not yet.... :D

So.... Now the moment has come to finish my thoughts on being Mormon and all.  So.... I'm just gonna jump in.

Imagine we just finished the conversation, in the which we explained the basics of our beliefs to someone of another denomination.  Let's just imagine, then, that they then accept that we don't have totally weird beliefs.  But now....  I want to address again, why do we believe that THIS church is THE church?  Cuz that's a huge claim, right?  So... Let's look at it like this.

Is God divided?

I truly believe that almost all of our beliefs can be supported by the answer to this question.  Let me explain.

If God is not divided, it means one of two things:  Either ALL churches are true, or only one is.  It is simply not plausible to imagine that God will be directing two or three churches at the same time, but not the others, correct?  Because every church has different forms of following.  So, if that is the case, either ALL are currently directed by God, therefore assuming that form and custom are superfluous in His sight, and therefore our claim that Joseph was a prophet wouldn't hurt anyone - cuz if God did call him, all the other ones are still true too, right?  Well, I think we can all agree that not ALL churches are true.  If that's the case, varying forms and degrees of following His commandments are acceptable - which is NOT the case.  Therefore, the only other logical answer is that only ONE is currently directed by Him - because God is NOT divided, and therefore form and custom ARE important in His sight, and if we are not following how He wants, we are not in the correct denomination.

Now, why was it necessary to have a prophet, if we have God's word in the Bible?  Once again, I ask you - is God divided?  If it is written that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever, do we truly believe that?  Because if so, we believe that the order in which God works IS STILL the same as well!  And therefore, if God guided His children through prophets anciently, whenever His children were spiritually prepared again after rejecting the previous prophet, I would guess that He will NOT change that order, correct?  Which would also mean that the manner in which they were chosen and the gifts they possessed would not change either.  Therefore, 1. a chosen prophet would be chosen by a direct visit, as anciently, 2. a prophet would be able to reveal God's will for every given time, seeing as they have always been able to speak with God face to face, having been chosen by Him, and 3. a prophet would have the God given power and authority to use special gifts (such as visions, gifts of tongues, etc.) and to be able to show fruits of said gifts.  IF God truly is not divided, this is what we agree to.  Therefore, if the denomination does not have a prophet chosen in said manner, we are not in the correct denomination. If it so is that God is as He is described in the Bible.

If this is all true, then...  Our claim that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet is not as extreme as some people say.  And in that same point, the Book of Mormon coming forth is not as crazy either.  It makes sense, and it is evidence of the calling Joseph received.  And thus... Our beliefs may even make sense.

But now I'm going a step further.

Why do I know that THIS church is THE church?  Well... Like this.  If we all agree on the points I've listed... Then we need to go to doctrine, one last time.  How do we know that the Bible is true?  Well... Because what is written there has happened.  The prophets in the book therefore must have been called of God... And thus, we know they were true prophets by their fruits.  In this way we discern the false prophets from the true prophets.  Well....  Therefore....  A good number of pastors and prophets today have little to no fruit to show for the truthfulness of their calling.  They all rely on the same book and the same doctrine - the same doctrine which contradicts their claims to being truly chosen by God.  So, for me.... If you want to know if what the Mormons believe is true.... Look at the fruit that only THEY have.  And what is that book?

The Book of Mormon. 

You want to know why I know this church is THE church? 

Because of The Book of Mormon.  And if you want to know if Joseph was truly chosen of God, who received His word and His revelation... Well, try the biggest revelation he could have received.  Because, one last time, if we believe that God is not divided, here's what the Mormons can say:

If the Book of Mormon isn't true, all of our claims are wrong and our church is false.

But.... If the Book of Mormon IS true....  All of our claims are true, and our church is true as well.  Because God couldn't lie. And therefore, He Himself is directing this church today.

And just as a little ending tidbit....  You don't even need to depend solely on the words in the book.  You could truly just ask someone who couldn't lie... The same way that Joseph himself did. And if the Holy Ghost bears witness.... There must be something there.

And remember.... All of our claims, and all of the history we have to show, and really, the coming forth of this book and the supposed restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ.... began with a prayer of a 14 year old boy.

Love you all.  I hope that all that I said may touch your hearts, and that in the end, you will depend more on Him than on my words.  I am not perfect, nor do I have perfect understanding.

But He does.  Trust Him - and try the Book.

Talk to you soon.

Elder Kristian Huff

Hmm...Mormons? (Part 1.5)

Well hey everybody!

This has been a FANTASTIC week for the strict reason that I GOT TO TALK TO MY FAMILY YESTERDAY!  (and yes, Rachel, Ashley J., Tyler, you count as family.  I LOVE YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!) 

Best Mother's Day ever.  And I'm not even a mother. :D  I just have the best one in the world.  Seriously guys.... I don't care if you are a mother or not, you gotta come and meet mine.  She'll be like, your best friend whenever you need it and she gives great advise and she's funny and super loving and super humble and like the best listener and she'll never let you feel alone and honestly blog is not the best way to tell you guys this.  I'll figure something out.  Either Way..... 

MY MOM ROCKS.

I love you Mama. And Nanny.  And Dad.  AND JAKOB YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD AND I MISS YOU AND WE ARE WAY TOO COOL FOR THE WORLD. 

And I love you guys.  Frankly, this week is Mormons Part 1.5 because I kind of just wanted to write a few more personal emails.  Next week, I will continue. 

SHOUTOUTS: 

Tyler, Ashley J., Rachel (I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH), Nicolle, Moses, Joy, Rebecca, Enoch, Blythe, Kailey, Mexi Goodness.... You guys are the bomb.  And the best.  AND I LOVE YOU.

Have a great week guys.  This was a pretty chill week.  Also, Mama, I LOVE YOU, and if you feel like it, you can add in a few of the skype moments or phrases you feel are appropriate to share.  :)  

Well.... That's about it for now. Until we meet again.  On my email.

Elder Huff 

Song of the Week:  Best of Me by Sum 41, dedicated to all those who I left behind - I'll be coming back for every one of you.  I LOVE YOU!

Hmmm...Mormons? (Part 1)

Well hi!

It has been a great week, though long and a little difficult!  Mostly, we just had a lot of people from the crazy success last week who weren't as interested the second visit.  No big, it happens!  But other than that, it was a very chill week.  

Thank you to Lizzie, Nicolle, Joy, Blythe, Kailey, Crys, Neysa, Kaysi....  Thank you all dearly.  You are all wonderful.  Kind of trips me out that school is ending for you guys soon, huh??  Like.... I've been gone a long time.  O.O  9 Months this Wednesday....  Well, still have a few more before it's all downhill. :D

Big points of this week.....  Well, we are working hard with a few people that are pretty positive for baptism in the coming weeks, which is always good news!  They are all wonderful people and they are all sincerely coming to know for themselves little by little.  

Speaking of that... That is actually what I want to write about today. What conversion means, and why is it that THIS church is THE church.  I only can hope and pray that what I write comes out the way I wish it to.

It is amazing to see what it does to people when they come to know that what we teach is true for themselves.  I know there are so many people that have the restored gospel in their lives who still struggle so much knowing if it's true.  I have seen people fall away because of questions that seem unanswered.  And I don't claim to have all the answers either, though I can always depend in part on the experiences that I've had that brought me here.  But even then, there's always that lingering 'what if'.  

Okay, firstly... if anyone claims that members of this church are uninformed or blinded, I can state with total surety that generalizing an entire membership of a church is an unstable and even less-informed stat to stand by.  Now, I am also aware that we ourselves also do this in regards to other churches, generalizing and trying to categorize a belief system as 'a certain kind of people', be it good or bad.  So, before we get on that line, let me state the doctrine behind this phenomenon, as far as I understand it:   

The doctrine of Christ is perfect, but the people are NOT.  

As far as I understand, that's kind of the point, isn't it?  

So, with that said, I just want to present some of the strange things we apparently believe in a couple different ways.

If someone was talking to another person who was less than cordially with the church and our beliefs, they might say something like this (I take this from personal experience):

So, you wanna know what Mormons believe?  Well, pretty much they believe that some kid was visited by God and Jesus and they told him that every other church was false and an abomination.  Then, an angel showed him where a golden book  was hidden, and then he magically translated the book, because obviously the language wouldn't exist today.  And, apparently, if you read the book and pray, you will feel good and then obviously know that it's true, and thus, the LDS Church is the only true church on the world today.  There you go.

At that first glance, you would probably think, 'Dang.  these Mormons are freaking weird.'  And then from there, it would appear that we think ourselves better than other religions.  Then, as you get to know all of our commandments, you would think we are really judgmental and probably pretty stuck up.  From there, you would probably think to yourselves, 'how could a church that claims to be of Christ be so far from Him?'   

Yeah, I know.  These were my exact thoughts for years.  I never doubted God, though I definitely doubted this religion called Mormonism.  But, as the years passed, and frankly, during my mission, I have come to see that presentation is very important - and the most important point I can focus on is the Doctrine connected to the belief or event.  Let me explain, but in different words. (Doctrine will be highlighted in parenthesis.)

You wanna know what Mormons believe?  They believe that a young boy who was very lost in a growingly confusing world was concerned with the truths of salvation, and therefore decided to ask the only person who could tell him the truth - thus, he asked God (Personal Revelation - Trust in God, Not in Man).  In this simple prayer (Power Of Prayer), he had an experience - we know that God can answer in many ways - one of which is through visions (Spiritual Gifts).  In this moment, Mormons believe that God and Christ themselves visited this young boy, and simply told him that the creeds of these hundred different churches were not following after the pure doctrine.  After years of the original church of Christ being divided into several sects, the apostles had a difficult time keeping the doctrine from changing - and when truths are changed, truth is lost.  After this experience, Mormons believe that this young boy was called as a prophet (Prophets, Old and Modern).  They also strongly believe in the Bible, and that as the scriptures say, for their fruits ye shall know them (The Bible).  So, although it is next to impossible to describe the whole story in a little blog, Mormons believe that God by a messenger revealed a book that contains the story of people and prophets in the Americas (God Reveals His Word To All His Children).  By the power and gift of God that is given to All His Prophets (God is the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever), this modern prophet translated the book.  All Mormons now, as imperfect as they may be, invite everyone to read the book for themselves (Scriptures - Modern Revelation), and then the same as this young boy, ask of God and He can reveal the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost (The Holy Ghost).  If one does so, they will know that the heavens are not closed, and that Jesus Christ himself (Jesus Christ) is still guiding His church, as this book testifies of Him.  

Doesn't seem as rough, doesn't it?  If you want to get a general idea of what Mormons believe, just say 'Mormons believe in....'  and then read one of the phrases in parenthesis.

I have more to write still.... But my time is short.  I will continue next week.  Until then, I love you guys.  I'm seriously not done.  Get there next week.  Talk to you soon!

Elder Kristian Huff

Song of the Week: Joseph Smith's First Prayer