March 27, 2017, "Rock of Offense"

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           This week we had a Zone Conference in Helena and on our way up there the other Butte Elders crashed on the side of the highway 10 miles out side of Butte (no one was hurt). And we forgot our phone, and of course they tried calling us a lot, but obviously we couldn't here it. Haha apertently we drove right past them as well. Haha I must have been to focused on the road or something (zoned out) and we didn't see them. 

          When we get to Helena I walk into the foyer and President Wadsworth is just eying me down. So I was kinda weirded out and I went into the chapel and set my stuff down and I walk back into the foyer and President in right there and urgently asks, "Elder Bredsguard, were is your phone!?" I said, "We forgot it, I'm sorry President." Then he softly says "The Butte Elders crashed right out side of Butte." The way he said it i thought they died!! I felt so bad! Haha I borrow another missionaries phone and call them and they are all fine, the rode was icy, they hit a tree and a fence. They eventually just Skype into the Zone Conference while I held the iPad. 

           So because if that their car was totaled, and we have to give them rides everywhere now haha. I don't mind it, it's fun to see them a lot now.

          We had 2 baptisms this week! One was Trey Smith and the other was Stormy Penn. Stormy just randomly came to church a month ago and was like, I want to get baptized can you help me? She is amazing! She just soaked up the Gospel like a sponge. 

           

"Rock of Offense" 

          "Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread."

          "And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." (1)

          We are to walk reverently and humbly before the Lord. We are to trust in him, for he will be our sanctuary, our place of security. 

          But, if we chose not to, the Holy One of Israel will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense in our paths.

          Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted the ability of  “Immanuel” to both save and condemn:  “When the stone of Israel comes,  he shall be a sanctuary for the righteous; they shall find peace and safety under the shelter of his gospel; but he shall be a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offense (as also a gin and a snare) to the rebellious and disobedient in Jerusalem and in all Israel.  They shall stumble and fall because of him; they shall take offense because of his teachings and be condemned and broken and snared and taken for rejecting them” (2)

          God will allow things to come in our paths and it is up to us to allow Him to make them into stubbing blocks or stepping stones. I plead to all to trust Jesus Christ and he will do marvelous things in your life! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

Mission Home: 1848 Rimrock Road,  Billings,  Montana  59102

Current Address: 1704 Lowell Ave, Butte, MT 59701

Notes

1. 2 Nephi 18:13-14, also see Isaiah 8:13-14
2. Doctrinal New Testament Commentary,  3  vols.  [1971–73],  3:292–93

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March 20, 2017, "The Power of Countenance"

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           So I forgot to tell you all last week but, the most celebrated holiday in Butte, MT is St. Patrick's Day! Butte is full of descendants of the Irish people, full of Catholics, and has very lossy goosy drinking laws. Haha so it gets pretty crazy here, crazy enough for our Mission President to ask us to stay very low all day and be in the house after dinner. In the morning we had to go to Uptown (basically downtown, but it's up on the hill by the mines so it's called uptown. It's also were all the parting is) and it was just green everywhere!! People were already starting to get drunk at 10:00 in the morning! By 6:30 pm there was thousands of people in Uptown.

            So since all 4 of us elders had to be in after dinner, we had our own little St. Pattys day party! A picture will be included :) And no it's not beer, its cream soda haha.

           We have been teach Larry Barlow, he is a blast! We stoped by on Tuesday, and the only thing keeping him from getting baptized was smoking. So right be fore we left, we were like "Larry, when do you think you could quit smoking?" He said maybe next Tuesday. That's tomorrow. But he hasn't had a cigarette since we asked him that!! I love that man!

           

"The Power of Countenance"

          Many of us find Isaiah very confusing. I know I have for many years. But as I have been going through the "Isaiah chapters" lately, I made the determination to understand his prophetic words!

           I can honestly declare, that through the power of the Holy Ghost, that I am now beginning to understand why Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and in the words of modern prophets.

           For example, something I have just read is were Isaiah speaks of the latter days and of its wickedness. He states "The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin" (1) How true are his words! Your very countenance tells the entire world what kind of man or woman you are! You may think you can hide your sins and cover them, but the very look in your eyes is a witness against you.

           But in a similar manner it shows our righteousness. The way you walk, the way you talk, through your mannerisms the whole world can identify you as a true disciple of Christ the Lord, and because of that, they will want to be like you. 

           Brothers and Sisters, cleanse yourself of all ungodliness, cast away your sins that your countenance may shine bright in the presence of the Lord! I love you dearly, may God watch over each and everyone of you. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

Mission Home: 1848 Rimrock Road,  Billings,  Montana  59102

Current Address: 1704 Lowell Ave, Butte, MT 59701

Notes

1. 2 Nephi 13:9, also see Isaiah 3:9

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March 13, 2017, "How to Retain an Enduring Love"

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           Last as I was talking to my Heavenly Father, I just couldn't thank him enough for just how blessed I am! Not only just with the people we are teaching, but with this beautiful Ward here, a wonderful Zone and companion, the personal relationship I have been blessed with with my Father and His Spirit. And not only that but all the wonderful friends and family that show so much love and support to me, as well as all those in the chosen land of Thermopolis, WY. My life is by no means perfect or trail free, but I have been just so blessed and I can't help but shout in gratitude to my God!

           Over the last few weeks, the Zone Leadership Council here in Butte, we have been inspired to do something completely new, and we have putt a lot of thought and prayer into it. What we will be doing is Blitzing our Zone! Keep in mind, missionaries don't just cover wards here, they cover towns. So we will be taking the entire Zone to each area and just truly focus on Finding! I am so exited to see what the Lord has in store for us! We should find so many new investigators from this!

           I feel like or Zone is already pretty unified, but it can only increase after this!

           

"How to Retain an Enduring Love"

          Many of us desire the Christlike attribute of Charity. Mormon teaches us to "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love" (1) And many of us have done just that, and we are filled with the Spirit to the filling our souls with genuine love for those around us. But sometimes we find that after a few hours or a few minutes, we are turned back to our anger and we harden our hearts.

          I have definitely struggled with this in my life and I know I'm not the only one. But in one of my latest studies I have found, through the Spirit, a solution! 

          Mormon again tells us that "the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love" (2) Again the Holy Ghost bestows that love into our hearts, but that "love [will only] endure by [our] diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come." (3) 

           After the initial change of heart, keep pressing forward! Don't let your guard down! We all want this love, so when ever you start to feel pride slipping in again, pray with all the energy of your heart to push it out! And as you do this, I can promise you, that "when [Christ] shall appear [you] shall be like him, for [you] shall see him as he is; that [you] may have this hope; that [you] may be purified even as he is pure." (4) I say these things in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

Mission Home: 1848 Rimrock Road,  Billings,  Montana  59102

Current Address: 1704 Lowell Ave, Butte, MT 59701

Notes

1. Moroni 7:48
2. Moroni 8:26
3. Moroni 8:26
4. Moroni 7:48

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March 6, 2017, "My Doctrine"

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           Elder Merrell, Elder Mckell, Elder Black and I are all training in the mornings for a 7 mile race on Easter weekend! The race is super hilly. Haha we have been running a good few miles every morning this week. 

          A 9 year old boy we are teaching decided to get baptized this last well on March 25. His family is all members, when he was asked who he wanted to baptize him, he chose "Superman" (me). It was pretty funny. We also figured out the church building will be very busy the day of his baptism, so he'll be getting baptized in a very very cold lake about an hour north!

          This was the fastest transfer of my mission! Elder Merrell is getting transferred to Great Falls. My new companion is Elder Bell and he just came from Billings as a Zone Leader. He has been out about 10 months more than me. 

          Haha we also through trees off a bridge last Monday with the other Butte Elders. Don't worry it was in the middle of nowhere, kind of. 

           

"My Doctrine"

          Jesus himself declared his doctrine in 3 Nephi 11. He also said "whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock" (1)

          We are to have faith in him, repent, become as a little child, and be baptized in his name or we can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God. (2)

          We are not saved by faith alone! We are not saved by repentance alone! We are not saved by baptism alone! 

          We are saved and perfected only in and through Christ the Lord. And only those who will repent, believe on him, be baptized in his name , and endure to the end can have claim on His grand Atoning Sacrifice! This is the truth.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

Mission Home: 1848 Rimrock Road,  Billings,  Montana  59102

Current Address: 1704 Lowell Ave, Butte, MT 59701

Notes

1. 3 Nephi 11:40
2. See 3 Nephi 11:38

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