October 30, 2017, "Are We Not All Beggars?"

Email to Family and Friends

          Haha sorry this part of my emails are always so lame haha. But I promise our week was awesome!! We found another 8 new investigators this week! We went on exchanges and I just love the missionaries in our Zone. Kalispell is fantastic! The people up here are just so prepared to hear about the restored gospel!

           I'm healthy and safe, working hard and happy, haha that's me.

"Are We Not All Beggars?"

          This week as I was reading the passages from King Benjamin, I would like to reiterate his words. "And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

            "Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just--"

           "But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God."

           "For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?"

           "And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy."

          "And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another." (1)

           The merciful will always obtain mercy. If you give to those in need, no matter their circumstance or what you may assume it may be, the Lord will be there right by your side ready to assist you and to forgive you of your needs.

            I of myself am weak, and I hope you take nothing away from what I have said, but that you may take and live in your life what the Spirit has taught you from my words. I know in my weakness, God will make my words mighty by the power of his Holy Spirit.

Notes

1. Mosiah 4:16-21

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Mission Home- 1848 Rimrock Rd Billings, MT 59102

Current Address- 3095 Airport Rd Kalispell, MT

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October 23, 2017, "Heavenly Father, are you really there?"

Email to Family and Friends

          We had another stellar week this week! We found 10 New Investigators and had members at every lesson with the exceptions of 1st lesson were they we found :) I love the area here, and the members here and the families that we are teaching are amazing! Elder Wadsworth is such an amazing missionary, I love being with him. His mama should be proud!

"Heavenly Father, are you really there?"

          In the days that Joseph Smith was contained in Liberty Jail, he cried "O God, where art thou?... How long shall thy hand be stayed" (1) 

          King Lamoni's Father "did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying: O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee." (2)

          Even the Savior, Gods perfect Son "cried.., saying,.. ​​​My​ God, my God, why hast thou ​​​forsaken​ me?" (3)

          At times in each of our lives, because of abandonment, sin, doubt or fear; we are lead to cry "Heavenly Father, are you really there?" (4)

          If you feel this way in any shape or form, I plead with you to ask. Prayer is the key, he will answer. Most of us know the Primary Hymn when it says "Pray, he is there; Speak, he is list’ning. You are his child; His love now surrounds you... Some say that heaven is far away, But I feel it close around me as I pray." (5) 

          I testify that God lives! That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he loves you with a perfect love! A love that can never be shaken, by hell, your sins, or the sins of others. Family's can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. This is the truth, whether you have anything to say against it or not, it is true, for God has spoken it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

1. Doctrine and Covenants 121:1-2
2. Alma 22:17-18
3. Matthew 27:46
4. "A Child's Prayer" Children's Songbook #12
5. "A Child's Prayer" Children's Songbook #12

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October 16, 2017, "Lazarus"

Email to Family and Friends

          We are having lots of good things happening! Our Zone is full of Fantastic missionaries! The members here like all the rest of my areas are absolutely fantastic!! We are having a lot of member involvement. We have been having to do a lot of traveling but I think driving wise it should be mostly peace full for the next 2 weeks. We are finding lots of great families to teach and etc.

"Lazarus"

I hope and pray that as you read this passage that you may see something in it for you, maybe you may see how much our Beloved Brother knows you and cares about your family in their trials, or how you can receive his help in your lives.

           "Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."

           "Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

           "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

            "And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there."

             "Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept."

             "Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?"

              "Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days."

               "Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me."

              "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." (1)

This is much more than a story of Christ raising his friend from the dead. It is a story of how and why he does what he does for us. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Notes

1. See John 11

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Mission Home- 1848 Rimrock Rd Billings, MT 59102

Current Address- 3095 Airport Rd Kalispell, MT

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October 9, 2017, "Quick and Powerful"

Email to Family and Friends

          The work is just exploding up here in Kalispell! 2/3s of our Zone just got doubled in, and all of the missionaries except us are either training or being trained. We are all here and ready to work hard! Last night just from 8-9 the members we live with gave a referral to go and see the less active family. They were home and we are coming back later, but we set a goal to find 1 new investigator, so we were determined to knock on some doors around that family. We got quite a few doors slammed in our face and as we were getting ready to leave, we said let's just try one more. Behind this door was the most elect young family! And very satisfied (meeting that awesome family and then having 2 new investigators) we were about to get in our car and felt prompted to knock on the very next door. So we obeyed, and it was the exact same thing! Another cute young family very prepared to receive our message, the wife went to girls camp growing up. We were so pumped!!! That is just a little part of what has been happening up here!

"Quick and Powerful"

           My favorite part of watching conference this last week was seeing how both President Eyring and President Nelson took President Monson's council from last Conference about reading the Book of Mormon. They both, with such humility, hearkened to his guidance as a Prophet of Jesus Christ. 

           If I may add my testimony to theirs in the words of Mormon. Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick (able to take effect in our lives immediately) and powerful (able to change us completely), which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked-

           And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out. (1) 

           The Book of Mormon was given to us to show us what we must do to find peace, find love, and find God. It does nothing save bring men to Christ. I plead with all of you to make the Book of Mormon a part of your daily life. It is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Notes

1. Helaman 3:29-30

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Mission Home- 1848 Rimrock Rd Billings, MT 59102

Current Address- 3095 Airport Rd Kalispell, MT

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October 2, 2017, "The Faith of Nephi"

Email to Family and Friends

          TRANSFERS: I'm getting transferred :( I will miss Great Falls. I have really enjoyed my time here, I love love the people that are here. I have met so many wonderful Stake leaders, ward and branch members, and those with have taught and taught with. I am getting doubled into Kalispell with Elder Wadsworth who is just being made a Zone Leader. It's the prettiest part of the mission for sure, and that is where Nyla and Charlie Remington are from!! Haha little secret I have always known I was going to serve there I just never knew when. 

            It's going to snow today!! Woo hoo! This has been a great week, we have been really using Facebook in our teaching (don't worry I thought it was weird too, but the Prophet and Apostles are truly inspired!) It has been helping so many people we are teaching as we help them on their journey as we and members in a group chat continue to edify each other.

"The Faith of Nephi"

           Just this morning I was reading in the very beginning of the Book of Mormon, and I got thinking and pondering on why Nephi had so much more faith than Laman and Lemuel? They were raised in the same city, with the same environment, with the same mother and father. So what is lacking?

           After their second attempt to retrieve the brass plates from Laban, Laman and Lemuel begin to beat Sam and Nephi with a rod. An angel appears to all of them and says "Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities?" (1)

           That is it! Laman and Lemuel didn't have the same amount of faith as Nephi because of their iniquities! They loved the world and its pleasure and power more than God and his glory and never evading love. And we all know how they ended up in the end of this story, miserable. Same with their posterity that followed them.

            This has opened my eyes to more fully understand the first and greatest commandment. Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." (2)

             If you desire more faith, love God. If you desire peace, love God. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (3) In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

1. 1 Nephi 3:29
2. Matthew 22:37-38
3. John 3:16

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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