I am so thankful

This week has really helped me to realize how important the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation is. For those of you who don't yet know, my grandfather passed away a few nights ago. In my dad's own words, "A great man has left mortality to return home". 

I won't lie, this has been a harder time for me, for I was very close with my Grandpa. However, I know that he was surrounded by loved ones and I take great peace in that knowledge. This goes out to all those who have lost loved ones-- there is hope!

I can not tell nor count how many families I have run into that have lost a spouse, a mother, a father, a brother, a son, or nearly everything else. We get the wonderful opportunity to work with some of the most difficult and painful family situations imaginable. I have seen families who have suffered with divorce, custody battles, death, and even suicide. To all those who mourn and feel lost, there is hope!

The Plan of Salvation is a plan that our Heavenly Father created for us to find happiness and joy in this life and live with him in the next life. A scripture that I memorized last week (before I knew about my grandpa) was 2 Nephi 2:25, "25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." I am filled with Joy and comfort as I go about proclaiming the peace that this Gospel can bring!

Christ said, "28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." As a disciple of Christ, I want to echo that. Any of you who are struggling with life, trials, hardships, or anything, there is someone who can bring you comfort. I have felt it. I know it is there.

My mission has helped my perspective broaden as well as given me such needed knowledge and comfort. The way to true happiness is through Christ, and I ama witness to that.

If anyone needs someone to talk to, I am always willing to listen. I can't be there to help, but I can and will do what I can. Thank you all for the love and support you have given to me and my family!

Have a great week everyone!

Elder Francis

Pictures:

I saw some cool deers with a great view in the background. I thought the deers might like to hear the gospel hahaha.

We did service and he had new born puppies so I got to hold one!

Stop it!

Hello everybody! This week has felt super slow even though a lot of things happened. We had interviews with the mission president on Tuesday and then we had companion exchanges on Friday. I spent the day with Elder Ash in the Richfield East stake and it was super fun! 

I have been working a lot this week on recieving personal revelation and deepening my spiritual growth. While I was doing this, I found a talk President Uchtdorf gave in April of 2012 on bullying. This specific quote really impacted me:

"This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:

Stop it!

It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children."

Though I tried throughout high school, and my life, to not bully others, I am very guilty of judging others whether consciously or subconsciously. Jesus Christ said in Mathew chapter 7, 

"1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

After hearing President Uchtdorf's advice to "stop it", I began trying my hardest to do just that. It's not easy, but it is definitely worth it. There is a Mormon message called "Bullying - Stop It" that also shares a powerful message on this topic.

Now I don't mean to be the missionary that only talks about how we can be better and sounds like a preacher in my emails, but this was what I had been studying and I wanted to share my knew understanding with all of you!

I hope you all have a great week! I love you guys!

Elder Francis

I got four strikes in a row and got my all time high bowling score!

There was a lunar eclipse last night and that is a blood moon.

Transfers week!

This week was transfers and... both Elder Lane and I are staying!!! This transfer is going to be great! We started it off strong with a baptism. Linzie is 9 and her dad was able to baptize her! 

We also had stake conference this Sunday and our mission President was able to attend. President Smith is such an inspired man. I have complete confidence that I am where I am supposed to be because I have complete trust in President Smith and the revelation be receives from God!

It is beginning to warm up down here in Richfield Utah. The work is also starting to pick up again now that all the holidays are over! I absolutely love being able to stay busy. It's kind of crazy how, before the mission, I loved lazy days just chilling and hanging out, but, now, I can't do it. P-day where we have nothing but just sitting around kill me Haha. I'm very grateful for this desire I have to work hard.

Other than that, nothing new is really going on here. We are teaching quite a few people who are progressing very well and some that are very close to baptism. I love the work I do and I am excited at the prospects we have this transfer!

I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Francis

Pictures

Linzie lives in Koosharem which is out in the middle of nowhere Haha so I got some great pictures on the ride there.

We played this huge game of Settlers of Catan last p-day and I won!

Oh deer!

Happy New Years everyone!! I hope your new years resolutions have been going great!

So this week was pretty action packed! We had a Multi-District meeting this week. A multi-district meeting is like a zone conference but without President Smith. It was really good! 

We also went on exchanges this week! I got to stay here in Richfield with Elder Arend the Zone Leader. I was able to learn so much about how to be a better missionary.

So transfers are this week, but President changed things up and so we have p-day today and find out about transfers tomorrow... this means that I won't be able to say whether I am going to stay in this area or move to a new one. Either way I am excited! This has been a great transfer, I have learned so much about how better to work in unity with my companion. It's crazy how many awesome people I have been able to meet and help progress in the gospel. I absolutely love the work I get to do :)!

There is not much else going on here in Richfield. It gets pretty cold, but I'm fairly used to the cold Haha. I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Francis