June 26, 2017, "An Almighty Hand"

Email to Family and Friends

            We started teaching a man named Chris Sizemore. He is definitely one of the many friends I have made on my mission that I will always remember! We have been teaching him with a wonderful family, the Baklys. 

            We have been I Glacier National Park all day today!! Oh it is absolutely beautiful! It is a sight everyone should see! I only have a few pictures I took on my iPad, but we got A LOT of great pictures on good cameras, I will include them in my next email.

            This week has been great! We had Zone Conference this last week. I got to see my good friend Elder Shumway. My MTC companion!

           

"An Almighty Hand" 

            “We admit that God is the great source and fountain from whence proceeds all good; that He is perfect intelligence, and that His wisdom is alone sufficient to govern and regulate the mighty creations and worlds which shine and blaze with such magnificence and splendor over our heads, as though touched with His finger and moved by His Almighty word. … The heavens declare the glory of a God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork [see Psalm 19:1]; and a moment’s reflection is sufficient to teach every man of common intelligence, that all these are not the mere productions of chance, nor could they be supported by any power less than an Almighty hand.”

“God sees the secret springs of human action, and knows the hearts of all living.”

“The purposes of our God are great, His love unfathomable, His wisdom infinite, and His power unlimited; therefore, the Saints have cause to rejoice and be glad, knowing that ‘this God is our God forever and ever, and He will be our Guide until death.’ [Psalm 48:14.]” (1)

               One morning back home, I left home early and went on a hike all by myself and watched the sunrise. As I watched it come over the Superstition Mountain, I had a small yet profound confirmation that there is loving God, who cares about me. As I was filled with knowledge of who God is, I had no more disorder to do wickedly, and to seek love and peace.

               I invite all of you, to simply just go and put yourself in nature. Watch the sunrise or sunset. Go to the beach or river. Watch the stars or the beauty of the sky! See the beauty of the Earth and there will be no way you can deny the existence of a loving Heavenly Father unless your heart is past feeling. And if that is your situation I fear for your state. 

               Know that I love all of you with all my heart! 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: 312 3rd Ave. N.  #8 Great Falls MT 59401

Notes

1. "Teachings of the Presidents: Joseph Smith" Chapter 2

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June 19, 2017, "Establish the Truth of the First"

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            Elder Tucker and I have had an amazing week! We started teaching 5 solid new households this week!! Great families! 

            One of my favorite people here is named Dean, he has met with the missionaries a lot over the last 7 years. And this last Sunday, he finally came to church!! We were so proud of him, he seemed like he had an amazing time. It was defiantly the highlight of the week.

            Happy Father's Day to all of you Fathers, whether you be of my family or out! I hope it was a great one for each of you. 

           

"Establish the Truth of the First" 

            As a missionary I am asked quite often "Why do we have the Book of Mormon, why do we need it?" There are many answers to these questions, but I would like to focus on just one answer today. And it is an answer the Book of Mormon itself gives. "For behold, this [the Book of Mormon] is written for the intent that ye may believe that [the Holy Bible]" (1)

            Nephi, as he is seeing the vision his father saw, quoted the angel when he said, "And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records [the Book of Mormon] , which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [the Holy Bible]" (2)

           Brethren, God has given us the Book of Mormon, to show the whole world that the Bible is true! Those who are fighting the Book of Mormon around us, simply just don't quite yet understand what is contained in its pages. Please be patient with those  who mock and scorn the Book of Mormon, they may just need and loving friend to let them know what the Book of Mormon is really about.

            They may not quite yet understand that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto the world that he is God, that he remembers one nation like unto another. Wherefore he speaks the same words like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

             And this he does that he may prove unto many that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that he speaks forth his own words according to his own pleasure. (3)

            May we even remember, that the divine mission of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, wasn't just to bring forth and testify of the Book of Mormon, but also to convince all the world that the Bible was the very word of God. (4)

            I testify of the truth in the scriptures, and say unto all who will read this that God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true. (5) In my Masters name, Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

Mission Home: 1848 Rimrock Road,  Billings,  Montana  59102

Current Address: 312 3rd Ave. N.  #8 Great Falls MT 59401

Notes

1. Mormon 7:9
2. 1 Nephi 13:40
3. See 2 Nephi 29:8-9
4. See 2 Nephi 3:11
5. See Moroni 7:35

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June 12, 2017, "A Modern Rock of Offense"

Email to Family and Friends

            Elder Tucker and I have had to do a lot of traveling this week. On Tuesday we went down to Helena for MLC and on Thursday thru Friday we had to go to Billings to drop off a missionary who is heading home, as well as to go on an exchange with the Assistants to the President. On our exchange we learn a lot! The Assistants are amazing Elders! Very consecrated to their callings and dedicated to the work.

             While we were in Billings we had the opportunity to attend the temple again! It is such a Holy house! The Spirt is so thick with in those walls.

            We had 2 baptisms this last Saturday! We love the Breeden family! We have grown very close to this family while I have been here! 

            Thank you family and friends for all you do for me! I receive nothing but encouragement from all of you, I love you!

           

"A Modern Rock of Offense" 

            Yesterday I had the privilege of giving a talk in the Sacrament Meeting of the Overlook Ward here in Great Falls. Normally I share my talks with you through my email, but the Spirit has lead me other wise for today. I don't feel it necessary to give the exact same message, but a similar one.

            Elder Holland once said, "I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work--and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times--until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages--especially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readers--if that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit. In that sense the book is what Christ Himself was said to be: “a stone of stumbling, … a rock of offence,”(1) a barrier in the path of one who wishes not to believe in this work. Witnesses, even witnesses who were for a time hostile to Joseph, testified to their death that they had seen an angel and had handled the plates. “They have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man,” they declared. “Wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true.”(2) "(3)

            Family and Friends, just yesterday I finished the Book of Mormon, for the 11th time in my short life. I do not say this to brag nor boast, but to declare unto all, that this book is true! Every time I read it, every time I ponder it and apply it, the Spirit of God, even the influence of God himself runs thru every vain in my body! It full me with such exceeding joy, love, and peace even to the consuming of my flesh.

            And like all the prophets of old and modern times, I give my name to the world, to witness unto the world that which I have seen. And I lie not, God bearing witness of it. (4) 

          My witness echoes that of Nephi, who wrote part of the book in his “last days”:

    “Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, … and they teach all men that they should do good.

     “And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day.” (5)

      Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived”--and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you. Of this I earnestly testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." (6)

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

Mission Home: 1848 Rimrock Road,  Billings,  Montana  59102

Current Address: 312 3rd Ave. N.  #8 Great Falls MT 59401

Notes

1. 1 Peter 2:8
2. "The Testimony of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon"
3. "Safety For the Soul" Elder Jeffery R. Holland, Oct 2009
4. see "The Testimony of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon"
5. 2 Nephi 33:10-11
6. "Safety For the Soul" Elder Jeffery R. Holland, Oct 2009

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June 5, 2017, "God's Moral Compass"

Email to Family and Friends

            This week was transfers and over half the Zone got swooped out haha. We had a whole army of missionaries over at our place for a few days. Haha I only saw elder Tucker (my companion)  a few times in those 3 days haha. 

            I love getting to know all the Elders, haha we have some amazing ones that just came in! Some of the are just absolutely hilarious!!

            We have been teaching so many people! It brings so much joy to my heart when I get to see some start to live a commandment and their whole life start to get tremendously better!

             It was Brother Bailey ps Birthday a few days ago, he is our Ward Mission Leader. There is literally none better than he. Haha we made some Cherry Brownie Cobbler! So good!

           

"God's Moral Compass" 

           I would like to begin my message today with a scripture given to me just this morning by a dear friend. It states "Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity."

          "And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope."

           "And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity." (1)

           I say unto you as I say unto all, "wickedness never was happiness" (2) When we sin, we fall short of the glory of God (3). So what is the glory of God? It is intelligence or in other words Light and truth. (4) 

           Those of you who are fathers and mothers, consider what you try to teach your children. Are not the principles you give to them, the moral compasses that you have seen (in your mortal eyes) bless you and make you happy? As a Father and a Mother you are attempting to show your children how to live a happy and successful life, by teaching them what has brought you your happinesses and your successes in your life.

           Now with this in mind let's read the words of King Benjamin, "I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness." (5)

            So what are the commandment of God? Simply put, they are our Heavenly Fathers morals, that he lives. And now I will revel to you somewhat of the nature of God. He is our Father (and I say that very literally) and he is a being who has mastered through experience, perfect joy. And his commandments to us are basically the moral and principles that He lives by that give him such joy!

            He is our Father, he is our parent. He wants us to be successful and happy as you desire for your posterity. He has been were we are before. He understands and is trying to teach us that our actions = our consequences. That is why we are asked to keep the commandments, not to just simply obey dad because he said to, but so that we may learn and develop into the very essence of who he is and in return receive the consequences of living in such state! Peace in this life, and eternal life in the world to come with an eternal family.

            And now considering all of this, I want to briefly explain by the power of the Spirit and under the authority which I have, that "wickedness never was happiness". God has given us a law, that if we sin we cannot return to abide in Gods presence in eternal bliss. So what is sin but simply disobedience, and what is righteousness but obedience. Our Heavenly Fathers commandments are only there to make us free and happy! And it is up to us if we want to live by them. 

            And again I say unto all that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, and that is why we were given a Savior, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Who can now stand before Father and plead our cause before him saying "Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;"

           "Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (6) I declare these truths to all in the Holy and Glorified name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

philip.bredsguard@myldsmail.net

Mission Home: 1848 Rimrock Road,  Billings,  Montana  59102

Current Address: 312 3rd Ave. N.  #8 Great Falls MT 59401

Notes

1. Moroni 10:20-22
2. Alma 41:10
3. See Romans 3:23
4. Doctrine and Covenants 93:36
5. Mosiah 2:41
6. Doctrine and Covenants 45:4-5

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