Dear
Family and Friends,
My time here at the MTC has been absolutely amazing! I have come closer to our
Heavenly Father than I even thought possible at the MTC. I totally
underestimated the power of the MTC. I have really come to understand that my
purpose as a missionary, which is to "invite others to come unto Christ by
helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His
Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
enduring to the end." (PMG pg.1). I apologize now to all those who were
expecting to hear what my past week schedule has been. I know that my purpose
as a missionary is to "invite others to come unto Christ." (PMG
pg.1).Whether that be a new friend I find on the street or family and friends
back home, I dont see a difference between the two. But dont worry my weekly
emails will still contain things I have experienced or am experiencing that I
feel will pertain to the message the Spirit guides me to write.
As I have been here at the MTC , I have never had a greater desire to have
charity in my entire life so far. I am really starting to understand when
Mormon said that " if [we] have not charity [we are] nothing; wherefore
[we] must needs have charity" (Moroni 7:44) The Apostle Paul wrote to
the Corinthians about this type of love. As you read what he said, I would ask
that you take your time and really ponder what is being said. "(1) Though
I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift
of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have
all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I
give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (4)
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her
own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things. (8) Charity never faileth...........
(13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
these is charity." (1 Corinthians 13:1-8,13). I love what he says in the
first verse. It call really apply to missionary work, But I truly think it can
be applied very well to the daily conversations we have with others.
Those of you who will read my emails on a consistent basis will come to find
out very quickly, that I am a quite a large fan of the brother of Jared. He had
such incredible faith that he saw the finger of God! "..the Lord said unto
him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and
blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast;
for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger." (Ether 3:9). Moroni
tells us that, "because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept
from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus,......and he had
faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. Wherefore, having this perfect
knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw
Jesus; and he did minister unto him." (Ether 3:19-20) The great Jehovah,
the Creator of the universe even said to him, "never has man believed in
me as thou hast." (Ether3:15). But one thing he did that requires
faith the size of a full grown redwood tree is, "the brother of Jared said
unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith
it would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have faith"
(Ether 12:30). The brother of Jared is an example to all of us of faith
and we should strive to emulate him.
I
am sure that as we think of what he did and saw, we are astounded by what he
has done. But, I want to go back to Paul. Did he not say that, "..and
though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2)? If we think of the stellar
man that the brother of Jared was, he would still be nothing if he had not
charity. Mormon declares that, "charity is the pure love of Christ, and it
endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall
be well with him." (Moroni 7:47). You mothers and fathers out there,
think of the love you have for your children. You know that you would do
anything for them. You have absolute unconditional love for them. That is Gods
love. That is the love He has for us. He loves us more than we can even begin
to imagine. We as His children must go out and share that love. The prophet
Mormon explains to us how to receive this love. "Wherefore, my beloved
brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be
filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers
of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he
shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may
have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure." (Moroni 7:48).
I
would like to challenge all who read this message that you will seek after this
love. Study, Ponder, and pray to receive it. I know that as we allow this love
to enter our hearts we will become more like Him, and be closer to Him. I love
all of you, you are all sons and daughters of God. He is our loving Heavenly
Father. I know that, "..if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for
charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of
all, for all things must fail." (Moroni 7:46). I would like all of
you to know that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savoir and Redeemer. He lives!
He came down to this imperfect world in a mortal body and atoned for all the
sins, pains, and afflictions of all mankind. I know that as you come to better
know Him you will become like Him and be filled with "the pure love of
Christ". I love everyone of you and wish you well. Keep trying you are
doing better than you think you are.
Elder Philip R. Bredsguard
The Missionary Training Center (MTC)
Provo, Utah
Administrator/Mom's Note: These pictures are blurry if I enlarge them. This is the way they were sent to me. Hope you can see them. LOL
