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Thursday, December 28, 2017

December 26, 2017, "Bad to Good to Better"


Email to Family and Friends

          Well this week was fantastic! I have been making a really concentrated effort to have the Savior always on my mind. My mission has a bit left but I will NOT waste any second of it. I have been called of God Almighty by the power of the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a witness to the world of the Living Christ and of the Restoration of His Gospel. My authority is greater than the kings of the earth and I will use it as such.
          We have had do so much traveling this last week due to Transfers, 8 hours on Wednesday, 6 hours on Thursday and 2 hours on Friday. 
          Christmas was great! As we went into the home of our dear friends, the Spirit just flooded the homes of these families. The message of Jesus Christ carries with it such a powerful Spirit. One that cannot not be denied once felt. I love these families! I hope and pray everyday that God will pour up out his blessing upon them more abundantly through their obedience to the laws opens ordinances of His Gospel.
            I love you all, and I hope each of you had a Merry Christmas!!

"Bad to Good to Better"

          Elder David A Bednar said "If I were emphasize one overarching point this morning, it would be this: I suspect that you and I are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming power of the Atonement than we are with the enabling power of the Atonement. It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us. That is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us--not only to direct us but also to empower us. I think most of us know that when we do things wrong, when we need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives, the Savior has paid the price and made it possible for us to be made clean through His redeeming power. Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints--for good men and women who are obedient and worthy and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. I frankly do not think many of us "get it" concerning this enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement, and I wonder if we mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities."
           "Brothers and Sisters, the gospel of the Savior  is not simply about avoiding bad in our lives; it also is especially about doing and becoming good. And the Atonement provides help for us to overcome and avoid bad and to do and become good. There is help from the Savior for the entire journey of life--from bad to good to better and to change our very nature." (1)

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Notes
  1. "In the Strength of the Lord" by Elder David A. Bednar

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Monday, December 18, 2017

December 18, 2017, "Glory to God"


Email to Family and Friends

          This week I got a bit of a sinus infection, and thanks to Brother Raish he gave me lots of Vitamin C so I have just been pounding it all week. We have had a great week! We have been out working hard, we found 4 new investigators this week. 
           We had Meghan Shields baptism! She was so ready and excited for her baptism! At her Service Elder Madsen sang Joseph Smiths first Prayer with a beautiful accompaniment with it! It was a great day.
           The YSA had their Christmas Party, and there was a White Elephant! It was so fun! It's a great time of year, lots of snow shoveling and Hot Coco (you better believe I have some everyday ;) 
            I am really coming to love simplicity and plainness. It frees your mind.

"Glory to God"

          In the Spirit of Christmas (as this is my last email before the holiday). Each Christmas season I love to read the account of Christ birth found in St Luke chapter 2. My favorite is when an angel appeared unto the shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night, saying "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
           "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (1)
            I testify that our Father sent his Only Begotton Son into this dark world to be a light for all of us. May he be your guide through these last days of trouble and a tumult of opinions. I love you dear family and friends, I am your humble servant and your never deviating friend.

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard

Notes
  1. Luke 2:10-14

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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

December 11, 2017, "Rod of Iron"


Email to Family and Friends

          We had Zone Conference this week, and the discussions that were given were so inspiring! Our Mission President talked about how we can really change through our Faith in Christ. Not a temporary change, but one that will make a permanent change in our lives and how that can ONLY happen through Christ. We can change our behavior for a bit, but over time and through trials it will Root back up. He related it to weeding.
           We also had a talent show at Zone Conference! Haha Elder Madsen had a great idea! A video will be included! We did a "Hallelujah" Choir, but we didn't sing! We used boards for our words haha. You just have to watch it...
           We had a really spiritual week, we were on an exchange with some other Elders. And I don't want to go in to to much detail, but there were many tears and many prayers! 
           We are having a baptism this week! Whoo hoo!

"Rod of Iron"

          This last week I have just finished the Book of Mormon, I want all who can read this to know, that I am a witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon! Any who read it with a sincer heart will find more peace and happiness from this book than any other! How do I know that, because I've done it!! I've seen it! I am a witness!! 
           It has a special way to give us power over temptation and to help our families grow closer together!

Notes
  1. “My Peace I Leave with You” By President Henry B. Eyring, April 2017

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard


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This video above is seriously funny!  A Hallelujah Choir.





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Wednesday, December 6, 2017

December 4, 2017, "Peace in This Life?"


Email to Family and Friends

          This week was great!! I'll start off with an embarrassing story haha. So last night we went over to give a Sister in the ward a blessing. We got there and her son (who is married) requested one as well. I never met either of them before. Elder Madsen gave her a blessing and I to him. As I started the blessing, I thought it was the Spirit, tell me that although he didn't serve a mission he will still have much opportunities to serve. I was like there is no way I am saying that! What if it's not true! Maybe he did go on a mission? This happened about 3 times, so decided it was the Spirit so I said it, and finished the blessing. I found out very quickly that he in fact DID serve a full 2 year mission 😐. Haha so yeah........ I'm getting better at redeeming my thoughts and the Spirits words haha. You live and you learn!
            We went on two exchanges this week with the District Leaders, they were truly inspiring! I left truly edified from both of them. We have some amazing missionaries here!
            I have absolutely love participating in #LightTheWorld everyday! We are so blessed with a God who loves ALL of his children!

"Peace in This Life?"

          President Henry B. Eyring once said, "I have been thankful for the many ways the Lord has visited me with the Comforter when I needed peace. Yet our Father in Heaven is concerned not just about our comfort but even more about our upward progress." (1)
           Often as missionaries we teach that in this gospel we can find peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. But I have never thought which one is a higher priority to God? 
            As we come unto Christ he want us to find peace in this life! But some times as we go through difficult trials, we need to learn and grow from them through experience. That is a necessary part of receiving eternal life! Heavenly Father cares more about us returning back to him. Don't get me wrong God wants to comfort us time and time again and he often does. I know my words are weak but I hope the Spirit may vary across the things I am trying to convey.
            I love you all! Thank you for everything you do for me! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes
  1. “My Peace I Leave with You” By President Henry B. Eyring, April 2017

Elder Philip R. Bredsguard


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