July 31, 2017, "Our Fellow Beings"

Email to Family and Friends

            This was the fastest paced week I have had on my mission so far. We set a huge goal as a Zone to find 34 New people to teach from Tuesday to Wednesday (8 days). The Zone is just exploding! We are already at 31 as of last night and we still have 3 days.

             We have been gone a lot this week, we were down in Billings and went on exchanges with the Assistants and to go to the temple, then we went to Lewistown the next day and went on exchanges with the Elders there. We are so blessed to have such great missionaries in our mission!

              Then the next day we got back into our are in the late afternoon and had an investigator accept to be baptized on Aug 26. Then we had a booth at the famers market and woke up at 430 didn't have time to eat or study and were quite literally out teaching from 530am to 9pm. Haha then we got locked in this random property way up in the Highwood mountains for about an hour with no cell service, and no way to get out with the car and the nearest member was an hour away haha that's Montana life.

           

"Our Fellow Beings" 

            "If you are struggling, confused, or spiritually lost, I urge you to do the one thing I know will get you back on track. Begin again to prayerfully study the Book of Mormon and live its teachings every day, every day, every day! I testify of the profound power in the Book of Mormon that will change your life and strengthen your resolve to follow Christ. The Holy Ghost will change your heart and help you see “things as they really are.” He will show you what you need to do next."

             Life is hard, but we are not alone. We are blessed with friends and family all around us to continue on the right path. Sometimes we need to get hit in the head with a 2x4 before we realize what is right and true haha. Our Father loves us, he has given us the Book of Mormon and fellow saints to help us along. I love each of you who read this, I pray for you, and I hope each of you can feel the love of God in your hearts as I have felt it.

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. "Stay By the Tree" Kevin Person, April 2015

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Check out this fun video!  LOL!

July 24, 2017, "No Greater Relationship"

Email to Family and Friends

            This has been such a great week! Elder Christensen and I have just been working and working! We are literally finding new Investigators everyday. The Lord is softening the hearts of the people as we put forth our best efforts. 

             I have talked with my Mission President quit a bit in this last week, I saw him on Tuesday for Mission Leadership Council, Thursday for Transfer Meeting, and Friday for interviews. It is always a real pleaser to be around such an inspiring man.

            A few missionaries in the Zone have been having a really hard time with major family troubles back home. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to serve them and share my experiences with them. They are such mature Elders! They have such eyes of faith and hope! I am so proud of them!

           

"No Greater Relationship" 

            As I was reading in 4th Nephi, I found these two verses. "the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people."

            "And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them." (1)

           Nephi also once said "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife... and also, I, Nephi, had been blessed of the Lord exceedingly. (2)

            In these verses you can see that there is a direct correlation between marriage and being blessed exceedingly! It is a relationship that is so holy, so sacred and pure, that it demands the utmost respect and virtue. If and once properly sanctified, no earthly words can even begin to describe the joy and happiness that radiates from such a honored relationship. 

             No greater joy can come into the heart of man, than through a Holy and sanctified marriage sealed by God Almighty. Come to love your spouses with all your heart and cleave unto them and none else and you will find this joy that I speak of. In Jesus Christ name, 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. 4 Nephi 1:10-11
2. 1 Nephi 16:7-8

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July 17, 2017, "Joseph, the Man, the Prophet"

Email to Family and Friends

            My new Companion is Elder Christensen from Tucson, AZ. He has been out 23 months now, and he wants to finish strong! For which I am truly thankful. We had 2 dear friends accept the invitation to be baptized on August 12! And another investigator named Kenna accept the invitation to be baptized! 

             We have a great Zone of missionaries! Elder Lester, a missionary and close friend that I trained is now the District Leader here in Great Falls! It is so great to be working with him, he is so efficient and diligent as is Elder Wilson our other District Leader in Lewiston. I love these missionaries!

             All is well as ever up here! I didn't come on my mission to mess around and it is great to see all these missionaries I am surrounded by with the same attitude. God Bless!

           

"Joseph, the Man, the Prophet" 

A portion of a talk I gave in the Belt Branch yesterday.

            ......Joseph smith saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ! This is the truth! Shortly after he said "I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." (1)

           Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was called in his weakness until he shall be made strong (2) I will be quite honest when I say this, but I believe that there in no one else in these years who has a greater love for the prophet, than I. My favorite game is Stick Pull, one of his favorite games, and if any of you are willing to take me on, I'll be more than happy haha.

            As one who has studied the life of this man, there are many weaknesses. There is a lot of Anti Mormon material out there about the prophet. A lot isn't true, but quite honestly a lot of it is true. I'm not here to hide anything, do you want to know why? Because he is an example to me, of one who can confer the natural man through the Atonement of Christ. Grace upon grace, line upon line, here a little and there a little. HIS WEAKNESSES ARE NOT A TRAIL OF MY FAITH, BUT A STONE OF MY FAITH! 

             If Joseph Smith, the man, can overcome his weaknesses, through Christ than we all can. His life is a message of hope to all......

            

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. JS- History 1:25
2. See 2 Nephi 3:13

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July 10, 2017, "Afflictions"

Email to Family and Friends

            I am losing Elder Tucker! He is going to Missoula. My new companion is Elder Christensen, he is coming from Kalispell, he goes home in 75 days, so I may or may not send him home. I've seen him around a lot, I am really exited to be serving with him!

            We are still having lots of success here in Great Falls! We are teach lots of truly prepared people! I see lots of my weaknesses lately, and I am really trying to fix them before I waste anymore of the Lords time. I absolutely love being a missionary, I don't think there is a better calling to one of a full time missionary! I have learned so much! The closer I get to coming home the more I really don't want to haha. This is were I belong, this is my passion, this is my purpose, this is my love to bring friends to repentance as I strive to repent as well. My heart belongs in Zion, it can't not find comfort anywhere else.

             We detailed our car today! I love you!

           

"Afflictions" 

            It's no secret that life is hard, that life beats us everyday. It's no secret that life can abuse us, over whelm us, and torment us. None escape it, not the wicked nor the righteous. It is true that if we keep the commandments that you will avoid most trials in life, but if they were to take away all of you afflictions, that would destroy God plan for our happiness. 

             Friends, family sometimes life is just hard, and in these situations we must learn to smile on, pray on, hold to the rod, and look to the future with faith and hope. I can promise you in the name of Almighty God, that if you can just do these 4 little things, you will be okay.

              Amulek once gave us this wise council, to "have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." (1)

              Although, by keeping the commandments we may not escape EVERY trail in this life, we will in the next if we are righteous, for time and all eternity. May we thank God and the Lamb for the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In is in his Holy order that I am called and it is in his name that I speak, 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. Alma 34:41

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Glacier National Park (don't worry I have way better pictures than this!)

Preparation Day on a hike of the Sluce Boxes

4th of July

This is how we quit smoking no a days, you make you favorite

milkshake in a blender and you unroll a whole pack of cigarettes into
the shake! It will ruin the taste of cigarettes forever!

Our detailed car :)

July 3, 2017, "Eternal Judge"

Email to Family and Friends

            Brother Bailey got released from being our Ward Mission Leader this last week. He was known throughout the whole mission for being the best Ward Mission Leader in the Mission. It was said but we still live in the same building so we still see him every day!

            We were in Haver for a few days this week for exchanges, we had lots of fun experiences while we were there. Elder Tucker and I have been trying to teach our Zone a lot how to find with faith. And we do training on it when we go on exchanges, and every time, miracles happen!

             This area is just so prepared! There are so many wonderful friends here who are ready and happy to hear the glad tidings announced from the hill Cumorah, even God the Father announcing the Restoration. I love being here!

           

"Eternal Judge" 

            Abinadi once declared to the wicked priests of King Noah "The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just." (1)

            The redeemed young Alma rejoiced when he said "Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye." (2)

             These are 2 of my favorite scriptures! God is merciful! In the day of Judgment the Lord says "Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding your sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. I will not utterly cast you off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy." (3)

              Brethren and sisters, my message to you is to come unto Christ and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness. May we look forward to the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge, 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. Mosiah 16:1
2. Alma 27:31
3. Doctrine and Covenants 101:9

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