September 25, 2017, "Flaxen Cord"

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          We were out of our area for most the week, we went up to Haver and Rocky Boy which is an Indian Reservation with some Elders up there.

          Haha and all of you that keep me in your prayers, thank you because we needed them! Haha I was with Elder Loran up on the Rez and we were out tracking this village and while we were out this big Native guy just starts cussing us out (he's the kind of guy that would have a gun on him) and I was wearing my big black leather trench coat and I'm white (yes it means something) and this guy just come right in my face and is inches away from me just cussing me out because we think we are better than his people (since I'm white, E. Loran is Mexican so he didn't get yelled at as much) but there's more to the story but we were safe after about 40 min of this. But it was a fun week.

"Flaxen Cord"

           Nephi taught just a little bit about how Satan try's to sift us as wheat. "yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever." (1) 

           A flaxen cord is a very very thin and almost unnoticeable string that is almost as flimsy as a spider web. Satan will try and wrap us with each of these tiny tiny cords. A little anger here and a little judgment there, until he has us completely wrapped and it is almost impossible to escape. 

           Break these cords from off of your backs as fast as you can! Repent and call out for Christ's mercy. If you feel that you have been completely surrounded by these cords, it is not to late, Christ stands there ready to receive you, all you have to do is ask and rely on his power as the Savior of the world. 

           I testify that God lives, that his Son Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he is mighty to save. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

1. 2 Nephi 26:22
2. Omni 1:25
3. 2 Nephi 10:20
4. See Mosiah 4:11-13

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Mission Home- 1848 Rimrock Rd Billings, MT 59102

Current Address- 312 3rd Ave N Great Falls, MT 59405

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September 18, 2017, "The Good Spirit"

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          We had a fantastic week this week! We had Jeremiah's baptism, I love this kid he is going to be one of the greatest missionaries ever! He is 11 right now but, he will go and do great things. I'm and proud of him and his family

          Sunday was great! We had a lot of new people who came to church for the first time which was awesome!!!!!

          It rained for literally two days strait with out any let up! It was so fun, I can't even tell you the last time I saw rain! All of our prayers go Montana are answered, I'm not sure how all the other states are doing.

          No hospital visits this week so that was really good!

          I am so thankful to be a missionary, I am going to hate to leave. I now only have 9 months left :( But I am thankful that I have even been able to serve.

"The Good Spirit"

           Many of us some times wonder about things we feel, ideas that come into our minds and feeling in our hearts. We wounded in our path to eternal life if they are from God, ourselves, or the devil. And sometimes we just have a hard time distinguishing where the source of the feeling is from.

           There is a simple answer, Alma once said "whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil." (1)

           Amaleki also said "for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil." (2)

           As we live our lives, let us always follow that good spirit in our breasts. He is the light and the life of the world. He will lead to peace and happiness, which can be found in no other way. Humble yourselves in the dust, and you will find this joy. Be not afraid only believe. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

1. Alma 5:40
2. Omni 1:25
3. 2 Nephi 10:20
4. See Mosiah 4:11-13

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Mission Home- 1848 Rimrock Rd Billings, MT 59102

Current Address- 312 3rd Ave N Great Falls, MT 59405

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"This is me with a beard!"

(Editor/Mom's Note:  Elder Bredsguard made this bull whip in Montana.  LOL)

September 11, 2017, "The Condescension of God"

Email to Family and Friends

          This week was a whole lot of hospital visits! This Tuesday one of the New Missionaries, Elder Millett, went into the ER, and he has pneumonia. He has been in there all week, the soonest he will get released is tomorrow. So we have gone to the hospital at least 3 times a day to check on them and do mini exchanges, so his companion doesn't die of cabin fever haha.

          Also Brother B one of our favorite friends, members, and neighbor. Went to the ER as well Thursday night! So we got feed his horses all week since he couldn't and this morning our other favorite friend, neighbor, and member went into the Hospital this morning, so that was really our week with some awesome lessons of corse! 

"The Condescension of God"

           In the "Psalm of Nephi" we are pretty familiar with his words "Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities." (1)

            Recently I have been studying the Condescension of Jesus Christ. I wanted to know what the meant. I found later in Nephis words, this, "O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?" (2)

            At a quick glance this verse may have no meaning to you, but as one with authority I will expand on this subject. In a more detailed way, Nephi is saying, "If I have been so blessed to see in visions, dreams, and revelations by the power of the Holy Ghost; the LORD, God Almighty, the Great JEHOVAH descend from the glory he had with the Father, before the world was, to this pathetic (in comparison) earth, where He, the God of Glory, the Lord of Hosts, the Creator of worlds and kingdoms without number; is mocked, scourged, persecuted, spit upon, and crucified. And then hath visited us in so much mercy and love. Why should I allow myself to sit in the slum of self pity, and morn because of my afflictions?" 

             And now I declare in the words of Jacob, "my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off" (3)

              If we can always retain a remembrance of our Savior Jesus Christ, we will have no desire for sin, no place in our hearts for self pity, and no room in our souls for the canker of pride. We will abound in the love of God and neighbor. (4) These things are true for the Lord God hath spoken it, in the sacred name of a Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

1. 2 Nephi 4:17
2. 2 Nephi 4:26
3. 2 Nephi 10:20
4. See Mosiah 4:11-13

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Mission Home- 1848 Rimrock Rd Billings, MT 59102

Current Address- 312 3rd Ave N Great Falls, MT 59405

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September 4, 2017, "Our Fathers Love"

Email to Family and Friends

          I am absolute worn out. Haha we have had such a productive week. I can barely keep my eyes open. We have been making a huge push to have members in our lessons. And it has been awesome!!

          We had a sweet lesson with a gal Dana, she was scheduled to get baptized this last week, but she is having some health problems so we met with her yesterday in the hospital with some of my favorite members in my whole mission, the Gilletts :) 

          I absolutely love being a missionary! There is no greater joy! What a great day to be alive!

"Our Fathers Love"

           If only each of you truly knew how much your Father in Heaven loves you. Nothing will surprise us more, when we pass to the other side, than how familiar our Fathers face is to us. We are His greatest desire, our happiness and well being in the long term is his first priority above anything else. He sees that this temporary experience in mortality is just a moment, but he is there beside us every second of the way in our very minuscule trials we pass through. He can see that they are momentary but he will still move heaven and earth for our well being. 

            God is our Father, I pray that you will plead with him in prayer for him to reveal to you as he has to me, his nature, his love for us. The worth of every soul is great in the sight of God. His love is there for us. Ask him how much he loves you, and he will show you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Mission Home- 1848 Rimrock Rd Billings, MT 59102

Current Address- 312 3rd Ave N Great Falls, MT 59405

Sent from my iPad