December 26, 2016, "Serving Him"

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           We had a white Christmas! So our car has been out of commission for the past week and will for at least the rest of this week. So we have been biking, walking and getting rides to every we're we are going! Hahaha it's been so fun! Especially with the storm yesterday. It truly is a winter wonderland ;)

          The couple who is getting married and baptized this weekend just moved right across the street from the church, which is right next door to us. So we are total small town neighbors now haha. I love it!

           The past few nights I have been rededicating myself to the Lord to be a fully consecrated missionary. I began to notice a little complacency in my life, and I had to put a stop to it. I love all of you!

"Serving Him"

           I have really enjoyed this years Christmas Initiative! It has given all of us amazing opportunity to serve every single day of this month. One of my favorite scriptures that I'm sure most of us can quote from memory is "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (1) I love those words!

          Elder Bednar once said, "Serving Him requires all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. Consequently, selflessly serving others counteracts the self-centered and selfish tendencies of the natural man. We grow to love those whom we serve. And because serving others is serving God, we grow to love Him and our brothers and sisters more deeply. Such love is a manifestation of the spiritual gift of charity, even the pure love of Christ.

    “Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.” (2)

    "We come to know the Lord as we are filled with His love." (3) I love all of you and hope you had an amazing Christmas season! Merry Christmas and a happy new year! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

917 Amoretti St Thermopolis, WY 82443 

Notes

1. Mosiah 2:17
2. Moroni 7:48
3. “If Ye Had Known Me” By Elder David A. Bednar, October 2016 General Conferance

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December 19, 2016, "Servant Leadership"

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           I would like to make  a slight correction to my last email, I was told 3 different transfer news, haha I didn't know what it was tell I call President directly. I am not training, but my new companion has been out almost as long as I have. He is from Thatcher, AZ. Haha he is a goofball! He has the best dry humor.

           On our way up to Lovell, WY to drop Elder Lester off for transfers, haha how do I say this... WE HIT A DEER!! These things are evil!! They will just jump out at you while your going 60 miles an hour on an icy road in packs or herds what ever you call them haha. Luckily I slightly swerved through them and just wacked one in the head with my drivers side mirror. Elder Lester and I had a good laugh though. Especially as not even two minutes later after that another one jumps right out in front of us! Haha good times, good times.

           There was a big storm that hit our mission, we were told to stay in our house as much as possible. Soooo Elder Simmons and I went biking in it haha, but to be fair Thermopolis wasn't hit to bad. It only got down to the -20's. 

          The day before the storm we helped Lori and Lane load up and unload 8 TONS of hay haha. The picture doesn't do it justice. Haha we'll get to do it again in 3 weeks :) It's been a fun week!

"Servant Leadership"

           For a few days in this past week, I had the privilege of spending a few days with my Zone Leaders as I awaited the arrival of my new companion. While I was there I was blessed to have great conversations with my newest Zone Leader, Elder Tucker. This man is a leader, he knows how to make everyone feel special. That's how I want to be. So of course I want to know how. We talked about two topics more than the rest. The first is that the true leader lives by the Golden Rule.

          The people who everyone look up to treat people with kindness and respect. They know each person is a child of Heavenly Father with divine potential for whom the Savior suffered and died. President Ezra Taft Benson taught that the Golden Rule is “the formula for successful relationships with others” (1)

          The second is one I really enjoyed learning more about, it being something that was highly discussed back home in Life Leadership. It is the ideal of servant leadership. I was reading a talk by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone of the Seventy entitled, The Incomparable Christ: Our Master and Model. And in it he said "We will find that those who have the most profound impact on our lives are those who use their leadership roles to serve. Those who are selfish, arrogant, or prideful are loathe to serve but quick to seize power. They love control, domination, and obedience by compulsion. …"

    "Servant leadership is based on a profound respect for the children of men. It requires leadership traits that do not demean, debase, or otherwise cause those we lead to feel inferior. Servant leadership lifts, blesses, and changes lives in a positive way."

    "Servant-leaders exercise the following traits and practices in their roles. They:

•Understand the value of every human soul.

•Have an inborn or developed sense of caring for others.

•Are quick to volunteer to take pressure off someone else.

•Rush to the aid of someone who is going through an embarrassing or humiliating experience.

•Treat all people on a basis of equality.

•Do not feel that tasks they expect others to do are too demeaning for themselves.

•Are not offended by disruptions of people who are themselves going through emotional traumas or stress.

•Expect more from themselves than they do from anyone else.

•Are quick to compliment, give credit, and build up those who perform a given task.

•Judge people by their potential, not necessarily by one single negative experience.

•Do not take credit for someone else’s achievements and love to share credit for any of their own accomplishments.

•Get the facts before finding fault or criticizing another person.

•Help all people feel they had a real part in the success of a project.

•Detest practical jokes or statements that focus humiliation or attention on one soul.

•Always constructively criticize in private and compliment in public.

•Are absolutely honest in their work.

•Are equally fair with all under their direction.

•Are always willing to listen to both sides of a quarrel, discussion, or issue. They know it is a pretty thin pancake that has only one side. …

•Make themselves accessible to all, not just those with position or power."

          Something I have been doing, and that I would encourage all of you to do, is just focus on one of these bullet points and just for today, do your best to apply it. I can promise you that as you do so, you will see a more Christlike son or daughter of God in the mirror. Any problems or issues you are having now will seem minor. You will start to receive grace for grace, until you are "purified even as he is pure." (2)

          God knows us and loves us, that is why we call him Father. He wants us to live up to our fullest potential. And only he knows how great we become, that is why he is so patient with us, and that is why we should be more patient with others and with ourselves. Let us not waste away our lives, may each and everyone of us repent and "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness, [that we may be] sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, that [we may] become holy, without spot." (3) In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

917 Amoretti St Thermopolis, WY 82443 

Notes

1. The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 447
2. Moroni 7:48
3. Moroni 10:32-33

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December 12, 2016, "I Will Give Unto You Success"

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           TRANSFERS- Elder Lester will be going to Belgrade MT!! I have love serving with him these past few weeks! He is an amazing missionary. 

          I will get the privilege of staying here in Thermopolis! (Read the following message to see why I am so exited) This is my second home now haha, this will be my one and only area haha. By the end of this up coming transfer I will have been here 7 1/2 months. Haha I was just telling President Wadsworth, that I could stay here my whole mission! I love this town, I think I'm best friend with almost everyone. 

          I will be a trainer again, I will be finishing a missionary's training that came out with Elder Lester. The following message has some exiting things that has happened this week. Again I love each and everyone of you very much. I appreciate all the support again!

"I Will Give Unto You Success"

          "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." (2) The past few months I have been taking this scripture from Ammon very literally. 

          The past few transfers have been a little tough for me with companions who were struggling. Emotionally it has been a rollercoaster.  But I have been trying to be patient and endure these minor afflictions with hope. And I can say that this has all paid off.

          We now have 8 of our dear friends getting baptized on specific days in January! And also 4 others that should be picking a date to be baptized this week, in January. We also have 2 weddings that will be happening on New Years Eve from less active members. And yesterday at church one of the priests in the Branch brought a friend who is interested in joining the church (his mom is a less active). And just this morning a sister in the Ward gave a very interested referral to us! 

            And now I can declare with Ammon "we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world--not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God."

          "And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks..."

          "And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some."

          "Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us." (2)

          I don't believe this is a message only to missionaries! I believe and know that if we can all bear with patience our afflictions, the LORD will give us success. He didn't place anyone here to fail. We are all sons and daughters of the most high God! May we never forget how powerful we really are.

          This is the church of Jesus Christ! It is the truth! I know God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ live. They are real and they love us and want the best for us. May we always retain a remembrance of His eternal sacrifice, and our true potential. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

917 Amoretti St Thermopolis, WY 82443 

Notes

1. Alma 26:27

1. Alma 26:28-31

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December 5, 2016, "Eternal Life"

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           Our Zone Leaders unexpectedly called us up and went on an exchange with us. Elder Berret (my old District Leader) came down to Thermopolis, while Elder Lester and Elder Tucker went to Powell ( that's over 2 hours away). Haha our next door neighbor and really good friend Brad gave us some MREs for lunch. They were actually really good! 

          While we were on our exchange we get a random phone call at 9:00 at night. Elder Berret answers haha and this guy (we have no idea were he lives or how he got our number, he has a Colorado number) is asking him for a scholar of the Book of Mormon, someone who has had dozens of years of experience.  Elder Berret looks at me with big eyes and just hands me the phone. I have no idea what is happening at this point. JR (the guy on the phone) go through the same thing with me, but I told him I'm no scholar but I feel I have a good understanding of the holy scriptures. After a little bit he started to trust me. To be honest I thought this was a prank at first.

          JR is a Jew who used to be Christian and we share a common favorite scripture John 17:3 (see first line of lesson below). We are best friends now. I have had many very long phone calls with him. He knows the Bible very, very, very, very well. I not sure quite yet how he stumbled upon the Book of Mormon, but in his reading of it, it is contradicting his belief, but explains every question he has had over the years so simply and clearly that he can't deny it and he is just blown away. Now he has some concerns that are very interesting about the God head. He is asking questions I have never heard before that I need to know. I know in my gut that God is trying to help me come to know Him, His Son, and The Holy Ghost ALOT more than I previously have. I can't even tell you a hundredth if the situation, but I feel I have explained it enough. 

           I love all of you! Thank you for all your wonderful support and packages. If any are willing to help I am in a desperate need of some stamps. It is much appreciated :) Thank you all!

"Life Eternal"

          "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (1) This is my favorite scripture. I think Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explains it best. He pointed out the difference between merely knowing about God and knowing Him:

          “It is one thing to know about God and another to know him. We know about him when we learn that he is a personal being in whose image man is created; when we learn that the Son is in the express image of his Father’s person; when we learn that both the Father and the Son possess certain specified attributes and powers. But we know them, in the sense of gaining eternal life, when we enjoy and experience the same things they do. To know God is to think what he thinks, to feel what he feels, to have the power he possesses, to comprehend the truths he understands, and to do what he does. Those who know God become like him, and have his kind of life, which is eternal life” (2).

          This is life eternal (the purpose of our existence) to know God Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Over the past few years I have come to know my Father and his Son close enough to call them my very best friends. They are literally with me and they help me through every circumstance. And I know that is not, and will never be unique to just me. But is available to everyone.

          I would exhort all of you, to come to know the only true God even more. Nothing else take priority of this duty each one of us have. 

          "I close now with this counsel to the Lord’s priesthood servants. Ponder deeply and diligently in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Persist in prayer for the Holy Ghost to reveal to you the nature of God the Father and His Beloved Son. Plead that the Spirit will show you what the Lord wants you to do. Plan to do it. Promise Him to obey. Act with determination until you have done what He asked. And then pray to give thanks for the opportunity to serve and to know what you might do next."

          "I testify that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. They are resurrected and glorified beings who love us and watch over us." (3) I know them, and I know that you do and can know them as well. May God bless each and everyone of you this Christmas season. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

917 Amoretti St Thermopolis, WY 82443 

Notes

1. John 17:3

1. Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:762

1. Act in all Diligence, President Henry B. Eyring, April 2010 General Conference 

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November 28, 2016, "Light the World"

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           This week has just flown by! We have five baptisms coming up, 2 weddings, and we also found a family of five investigators which are really interested in the church, so that is another 5 baptisms that might be coming up. So everything is going very fine and dandy here in Thermopolis!! 

          We have helped the Ward here get really involved in the Christmas initiative as well. I love this area so much!

"Light the World"

This is a talk I gave in the most recent sacrament meeting in the Thermopolis Ward. And I would like to share it with all of you. This was a very emotional talk for me.

          Some of my earliest memories are of pain and of anger. I was raised in a home of violence and abuse. My dad was a man who turned to frustration instead of the Lord.When I was five years old he was taken to prison, and my mother was left to take care of me and my six older siblings.

          Those who know me best, know how much I love Christmas! I anticipate it's coming all year long. And I would like to share with you a Christmas memories that occurred shortly after my dad was taken.

           It was Christmas morning and I was about the age of 6. Finances were very tight, and me being who I am, was ecstatic for this day. Yet, I did not know if there would be any presents for me. I remember us all bolting to the tree, to find large square presents, one for each of us. With excitement we torn them open! We found in them these huge, soft, warm, and thick blankets. And of course mine was the best, it was a blue blanket with a large Whinne the Poo in the middle.

          I still have this blanket, I have have used it all my life. I used it all they way until I left for my mission. I love this blanket! Yet, I have never know where we got this blanket. I never knew tell about a year ago. These blankets were a donation to our family. As a home that went through domestic violence. I never had a blanket like that before.

          That beautiful Christmas Day sits vividly in my mind. It has stayed with me my entire life and I will stay with me for all eternity. The reason for that, is because some one I don't know, and I don't know if I'll ever know who it was, shared the Christmas Spirit with me. President David O. McKay once said that the Christmas Spirit is the Christ Spirit. (1) 

           Jesus once said " I am the light of the world." (2), Christ once said "Ye are the light of the world." (3) This Christmas season may we light the world. This is what the Lord himself is asking of us, to share his light, through us in twenty five ways over twenty five days. These very simple acts of service will impact our brothers and sisters lives, as that random stranger did mine.

          " As we have felt the pure love of Christ [this morning], we have felt more His love for others. Charity is the pure love of Christ. Whatever we feel now is only a beginning. The Lord has promised each of us a glorious future this way: 'That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until that perfect day.' (4)" (5)

          "There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to re dedicate ourselves to the principle taught by Jesus the Christ. It is the time to love the Lord our God, with all our heart- and our neighbors as ourselves. It is well to remember that he who gives money gives much; he who gives time gives more; but he who gives himself gives all." (6)

           May we light the world this Christmas season! I can promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that if you truly apply this Christmas initiative in your homes, you, your wives, and your children will be blessed. I love each and everyone of you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

917 Amoretti St Thermopolis, WY 82443 

Notes

1. See David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals (1953), 551
2. John 8:12
3. Matthew 5:14
4. Doctrine & Covenants 50:24
5. The Light and the Life of the World, President Henry B. Eyring, Christmas Devotional 2014
6. Christmas is Love, President Thomas S. Monson, Christmas Devotional 2012

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November 21, 2016, "Pure Testimony"

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           A priest in the ward we are in, is going to clean our apartment today! Haha I made a deal with him that if he would read chapter 2 of Preach My Gospel that I would clean his room but if he didn't do it by Sunday (a week) then he would have to clean my apartment. Haha I'm sure you already know the result :)

           We got so much snow this week and it's supposed to snow more tonight and tomorrow. I love it when it snows because then we get to go out and spring spontaneous service all day! We're professional snow shovelers now! Haha just kidding. But we went up behind this elderly lady and started shoveling her driveway. She jumped up and turned around and started cussing at us and telling us to go away. We were just like "we're just trying to help." Haha so we start walking away and she asked us if we a "Jehovah's" We said no. So she asked who we were, so we said proudly, " We are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ." We then asked her if she would like some help. She said, "O yes! I listen to the Mormon's on TV every Sunday morning! All those Jehovah's want is my money." Then we had a great visit with her.

          I made a snowman! I ate some icicles. It's been a good week.

"Pure Testimony"

          I have been asked by some, to give my pure and simple testimony. 

          "He is risen" (1), there is no greater three words given unto man. I know that Jesus Christ, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, lives! He is full of grace, mercy, and truth. It is he that came to take away the sins of the world, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. (See Alma 5:48) "How great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth." (2) "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (3) And now I stand with Joseph, the prophet, by saying "Shall we not go on in such great a cause?" 

           In the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

917 Amoretti St Thermopolis, WY 82443 

Notes

1. Matthew 28:6

1. 2 Nephi 2:8

1. Acts 4:12

November 14, 2016, "Change"

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           We have just been so busy! I love it! I love the Thermopolis Area. Sunday brought some amazing miracles!

           One of our best friends and next door neighbors is a less active member of the church and not only did he finally come to church yesterday, but he met with the Bishop afterwards!

           Also one of our favorite investigators that moved back to Irvine, CA came and visited for this week, and we never got her admit that the church was true but she would never deny it either, she would just laugh haha. But Sunday was fast Sunday and I bugged her about going up if I went up she said no, but I still went up any way because I wanted to, and when I came back, Pete (her and our best friend and a member) told her that the Spirit is what pushes people up there. So I'm sitting behind her and give her a little push forward haha. She laughed and after about 2 minutes of quietly bickering between Pete, Helen and I we agreed that if Pete bore his testimony first, then she would bare hers only if I stand right next to her haha. And while she was up there she told the entire congregation, with tears in her eyes that she knew that Joseph Smith is a prophet! And then we had a great lesson with her latter last night. It was a very good week :)

"Change"

          Being a trainer I have been given the opportunity to develop gifts and talents and I have also been given the blessing and curse of seeing my own weaknesses. The new companion that I have been given has been very, very homesick this week. I thought I was at least okay at comforting others in time of need, but haha apparently I'm not the greatest you could say.

          I have done all I know to help him, things that I know work. He has his agency. But I am at a complete loss of what to do. I was listening to a talk titled "His Grace is Sufficient", and I know who the Lord calls he qualifies. I know he will make me who he needs me to be to help my companion, even though I currently lack to gifts to do so. I know that through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ I can grow and develop into an effective disciple of Christ. I can be full of "the pure love of Christ" (1), I can be a mighty teacher in faith and hope, and that one day "when he shall appear [I] shall be like him, for [I] shall see him as he is; that [I] may have this hope; that [I] may be purified even as he is pure," (2) through the grace of Jesus Christ.

          None of us are perfect, none of us will ever be perfect in this life. Our Father in Heaven doesn't expect us to be perfect, but he dose expect us to improve.

          We are saved wholly and completely by grace. Many other religions accuse us of "earning our way to heaven", but that is not true. Christ demands so much of us not to earn our way to heaven, but to learn our way to heaven. So that our "confidence wax strong in the presence of God." (3)

          "The purpose and central blessing of life is change. It is to be changed to become more like Jesus Christ. It is to incorporate into your character, the qualities of His character. It is to move from one degree of intelligence and capacity to the next, and from there to the next, until you see God face to face and know Him as He knows you." (4)

          "You not only can change but you do change all of the time. Sometimes people do not believe this. They excuse their failures and weaknesses by saying: "That's just the way I am." "I am just short tempered, impatient person." I can't get up in the morning. That's just the way I am." "That's my nature." Or, "I'm just shy. That's all. That's just who I am." "I am not really a spiritual person." 

          "To believe that weaknesses and deficiencies in your character are unchangeable is to reject the central truth of the plan of salvation! You are not cast in stone. You not only can change but you do change all of the time. You are a dynamic, changing, evolving being. You are always changing. You never stay the same. You cannot stand still." 

           "You are right now the sum total of what you have thought, said, seen, heard and done. What you think, say, do, hear and see, cause you to change; to change for good or evil; to become either stronger or weaker; to either internalize the qualities of light or the qualities of darkness. You are responsible for who you are and you are responsible for who you will become. Do you know what kind of person you want to become? Do you see in your mind who you want to be? Do you know?" (5)

          "Think of this life as a path on which you never stand still. As you move forward, you incorporate into your being the characteristics and qualities of God. As you move backward you assimilate the qualities of Satan." 

          "Every challenge you face, every hard thing you confront, every bad thing that happens to you, every unfairness, every conflict, every sadness, tragedy, every disappointment and heartache, every temptation and every opposition happens for one purpose only: to give you opportunity to respond by applying in your life the teachings of Jesus. As you do so you are changed to become more like Him." (6)

          We are to turn our heart and will to God. To all, I say "Surrender your will to Him. Unconditionally. Withhold nothing. Turn it all over to Him; all of your desires, wishes, dreams and hopes. Be true and faithful in your head and in your heart, not just in your behavior. Trust in Him. Trust Him who knows all things. Trust Him who has all power. Trust Him whose love for you is perfect. Trust Him, who alone suffered, paid and atoned for your sins, and for your weaknesses as well. Trust Him that He will make of you, immeasurably more, than what you will ever, ever, in all eternity, make of yourself. He will create of you a masterpiece. You will create of you only a smudge. You will create an ordinary man. He will create a God." (7) 

          I think that President David O. McKay once said something like this: "The greatest battles you will ever fight will be within the silent chambers of your heart" That is the battleground between what you want and what the Lord wants. If you surrender, if the Lord wins, you win also. If you win, if your will prevails, you and the Lord both lose. The only way to win is to lose. Lose yourself in the Lord's work, and you will win beyond your wildest imaginations, for "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (8). 

          "Jesus Christ not only came to atone for our sins; He also came to show us the way. He is the Way. You not only may become like Him; everything is stacked in your favor to become like Him." (9) I know that I will be the trainer He needs me to be, and he can make you, into who you need to be. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

917 Amoretti St Thermopolis, WY 82443 

Notes

1. Moroni 7:47

2. Moroni 7:48

3. Doctrine & Covenants 121:45

4. "The Fourth Missionary" By Lawrence E. Corbridge

5. "The Fourth Missionary" By Lawrence E. Corbridge

6. "The Fourth Missionary" By Lawrence E. Corbridge