Monday, August 27, 2012

The Gospel is so simple


Family,



Well its been a good week. We had our transfers and everything went just fine. I know its incredible, I didn't screw anything up. This whole time with Pres. and Sis. Snow has been such a neat experience! I have learned so much. It is interesting how the Lord puts the right people into your life at the right time. I believe he puts us in each situation, with the right people, with the best opportunity for our growth, always. And all that we need to do is make sure that we are keeping our covenants. If we are then we will learn what we need to learn. I have learned things from each companion that I have had, and as I look back it was tailored to exactly what I needed. As well I needed to learn from and serve with Pres. and Sis. Satterfield, to be able to become what the savior needed me to become. And I have learned things from Pres. and Sis. Snow that I really need, that I wouldn't have learned with the Satterfields. I testify that God knows us and will give us the opportunities that we need to grow to become like He is, as long as we are keeping our covenants.



I have just learned some great principles lately about the Gospel and the way the church works through serving along side the Snow's. First of all, the Lord has a way of doing things. It is always simple. And it is not hard to find or do. I don't know why we miss it so often, I have throughout my mission in many ways, even though I have been being taught them by my leaders. They are found in the scriptures. Too often we read other books, even if they are books written about the gospel and gospel principles, and we fail to study the scriptures. I have also recently learned how powerful the Missionary Handbook is (its the little "rule book"). It's not even a rule book, its a handbook for how we do our work. Just like the Church Handbooks, they are how we do the Lords work in his church. Often times we are content with doing things the old way. The way we have always done our work, and we quit studying to check ourselves and make sure we are doing things as we should. Usually we go to those book when we have a big problem or need an answer. But doing it that way (especially with the scriptures) makes it difficult to live the Doctrine of Christ, and exercise faith. Which leads me into something else that I have been learning a lot about. Because to exercise faith, is to act. But to act we must have good and evil, we must be enticed by the one or the other (2 Nephi 2). But to know good from evil we must be looking for the truth, and once we see good, from evil, we must exercise our faith and lay hold upon every good thing. This pattern is how we become like our heavenly father, it takes faith, repenting, making and keeping covenants, obedience to God and His Spirit. The Gospel is so simple, but so profound.... because its simple!



We started teaching this Girl named Katie. She was a friend of a member in our ward. She has been coming for a long time and she was finally invited to learn about the Gospel so we set up some appointments with her. We had 2 great lessons, the spirit was so strong as we taught her about the experience Joseph Smith had as a teenager. It was so awesome, because at the end of the lessons she said, "I know exactly what I need to do...I need to find out on my own if this is true". She is really prepared but also worried about what her family will say and do if she decides to be baptized. After that lesson we haven't heard from her, but we will get back in contact with her, but please pray for her to have the courage and faith to follow the spirit. Love you all your all awesome!!






Elder Hendrix












Julie,



Hey there buddy! I'm so proud of you for being a little missionary. Just remember to love everyone, that is how you do missionary work, be as nice as Jesus wants you to be. (which is about as nice as mom is). I will send you the recorder, I'm proud of you and cant wait to see you!






Love you tons crazy cat!



Elder Jeff Hendrix

Monday, August 20, 2012

Book of Mormon is the most spirit filled book we can read!

Mom,
I love you sorry i didn’t write last week and I only have a minute to write this week. But yes things have been crazy!!! We are changing so much with this new transfer and we have to engineer all of the transfers and changes. We have had a great time. That is pretty funny that Fisher and Jakob Parker came over to see you. I love those two guys. Don’t be worried i only sent him a short e-mail of some pictures.
WOW! it is exciting to hear about the Robisons! Isn't missionary work just awesome!!! Mom the spirit is so great. It is so real. I have felt it more consistently in my life and with more power the past couple of months than i think i ever have. To have that gift it is so simple, just keep the commandments, do what is right, and the spirit is promised to be with you. That takes faith because doing what is right is not always easy, that is why we are saved by faith. I love you so much. I know that this is the Lords Church, and that the book of Mormon is the truest most spirit filled book we can read. The Doctrine of Christ is the way to salvation and it is so profound. I know that My Heavenly Father and Mother sent me to be with you and Dad, I know that for sure!!! I love you so much keep being an example to all. Invite over a family from the ward for dinner this week!
Elder Hendrix
PS: make sure i get d-bos e-mail i have been meaning to e-mail him but i just always have a lack of time. also I will be sending a bike for a missionary who is going home this week (Elder Burke) to the shop. He will come to pick it up in like 3 weeks. I will give him your number and he will call you. I think it comes UPS. Also a while ago you asked me about a birthday present, and anyway i just heard from a bird that Targhee has some pretty cheep student passes. if you need any student info from me, just let me know. It could also work as a Christmas present :)

Monday, August 6, 2012

DO what the spirit prompts!

Family,

Where is D-bo going to college!? Well it was a good week. Lots of work to do, we are super excited for this next week. I tell you what I have been learning some powerful principles of the Gospel lately, i wish i had time to tell you all about them. Ill just have to unload when i get home. The Gospel is so true, the church is so true, and Heavenly Father is so True. He loves us! Please STUDY your scriptures! Please pray that God will show you what to DO as you read. Please DO what his spirit prompts you to do. If you do I promise that the spirit will be more abundant in your life! I love you all so much!! Keep serving your fellow man, look for someone to help each week, even if they are active in church. Pray for Elder Forbush and I we have a very important week ahead of us. I love you!


Elder Hendrix

Friday, August 3, 2012

Importance of "the word"


Family,         

Hey there we had a great week, very busy. We are really working hard to get things going in our area. We don't have any investigators right now, but the members in our ward are really trying to help out a lot and we have been able to teach more this week than i have been able to do in a long time. Teaching is the best no doubt, there is not a better experience, on a mission, than teaching under the influence of the spirit, well actually there is: when the person you teach acts on the message that you shared with them, and they feel the spirit on their own. We had a great lesson with Evan this last week. His life has been pretty crazy, he has just had bad thing after bad thing happen to him. It has discouraged him and made him lose his focus on the simple and important things. We were able to finally sit down and teach him. We have been learning a lot about faith from president Snow and so we recognized that lack of Faith was his real issue. So we had a powerful lesson on Faith. Then yesterday he was so focused in church. He was taking notes like he did before he was baptized and he just had an awesome attitude. You could see and feel the difference in him. This last week I have had some great studies. I have learned a lot about the importance of the "word", it is the beginning to every miracle it seems. The scriptures bring the spirit into our lives, and having the spirit should be our main focus of the day for sure.

Mom i got the package, we don't have an Elder Wright in our mission, are you sure that is the right name. The weather is super hot and muggy!! Well I love you all so much! Share the Gospel, with you kids especially, and with your friends, even if they are members!

Elder Hendrix