THE ONLY WAY!

Family,

Well this was a great week! We aren't getting the storm, but we are getting a bunch of cold weather because of it. But I know that yall are getting even more because i saw some pictures of the snow. The BYU game was fun to watch and the missionaries behaved pretty well. It was cool because we went with the attitude that We are representing the Lord at this event in front of thousands of people.

We had a fantastic week! We had a visit from a guy from SLC. He taught us so much and I just wish I had more time to apply it. He taught us alot about the Doctrine of Christ and It kinda opened my eyes to a new perspective. That Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism (or covenant making), receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring faithfully to the end, is THE ONLY WAY. It is amazing how plain and pure and precious the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. We will talk about it when we get home. God is real and he had called us to serve his children.

We had a girl come to church this week who wants to be baptized, he name is Laura, we are teaching her for the first time tomorrow. I love you all!!! Keep being such great saints!

Elder Hendrix

New Companion Elder Morrill:)

Family,

Hey sorry no e-mail yesterday! We are having a visit from one of the guys from the missionary department Tracy Watson (He spent time with Garrett in Ghana so he probably knows who he is). He is the director of proselyting for the church and he is amazing!! Anyway we met with him all day yesterday so we didn’t e-mail. Thanks for the birthday gift mom!!! You are the Best!!!

We are going to the BYU game, so look for us on TV. Tell the Coopers to find us, it shouldn’t be hard there are going to be 80 missionaries at the game. Hey ask him if he is going to be tailgating before the game. If he is e-mail me back as soon as you can and give me Pres Coopers number. I know that sounds crazy but ill run it by the president before I call, but Bro Watson gave us some awesome Finding Ideas yesterday and we are trying to use them.

We got a new companion on Sunday. Since Elder Forbush and I leave so soon we decided we needed to bring in someone new so he could have more experience before we both leave. His name is Elder Morrill, he is from Texas, so I get to make fun of Texas (the state) and Texas A&M, he went to school there. We have become great friends out here because he is just a stellar guy, and a great missionary. He has the exact same story that I do, he is older too, and fell away pretty hard after high school. So we have helped one another a lot because we can understand one another so well. Anyway he is awesome and I’m sure we will stay in contact after the mission, but he has like 9 months left in his mission.

Lastly Elder Fishers wedding was moved up to this Saturday. So I wont be going to the wedding. But we should go to Grandmas still. I loved Julie's Picture with D-bo's deer, that was awesome. A guy in our bishopric told me that Darren met his daughter. He mom is actually a Hendrix (or her mom was a Hendrix) and there ancestors come from Lund NV, Crazy huh!

The Gospel is so True!! The Spirit is so awesome and true. It is completely consistent and the men that lead this church are so inspired!

Elder Hendrix

GA Tech here we come!!!

Family,

Haha, that story was AWESOME Julie. Tell Darren that I’m proud of him, and also that when I get home I will teach him how to shoot, and tell him not to ask Brad! That was the best e-mail I have ever received on my mission :). Julie, you and I will have to go Hunting when I get home.

Mom you are the best. The wedding is in the SLC Temple. I would love to have a slumber party at Grandma and Grandpa's house and stay till Sunday and Go to Mandi's farewell! That sounds like fun. Talk to Pres Fuller and set up a time to be released on the 15th. It would be nice to be released before we go down to Utah. How was your Elk Hunt? Did you buy me anything?

Well this week went by very fast. It was a very busy week, this week was suppose to be a week that was less busy, but I’m sure the Lord didn’t want us being Idol, so He gave us plenty to do. It was a hard week, because we spent a lot of time dealing with issues with missionaries making mistakes and one having health problems and had to go home, which is never fun to see. Ill tell you what though, I have started reading the Book of Mormon front to finish before I go home, its 15 pages a day, and the Book of Mormon is so awesome. I am looking for all of the promises it gives and it is just full of wonderful promises. It is a true book, and A man will get nearer to God by prayerfully reading, pondering and living it that by ANY other book. I’m gonna keep it short i have to call GA Tech and get tickets for the missionaries to go to the Game : ). Look for a big group of missionaries on ESPN! Love ya!

Busiest Week of My Mission

Family,

Yes conference was great! I felt like the theme of this conference was serving our fellow brothers and sisters, wherever they may be. Truly that is the message of the Savior, he said "by this shall men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another". I feel that in serving others we come to learn who we really are, and thus we can understand who "God, and Jesus Christ, whom [God] has sent" (John 17:3). I felt so inspired by Elder Ballard’s invitation to The Church, to ask God to show them an opportunity to serve someone each day, and then to return and report weather or not they had "done any good in the world today [or] helped anyone in need". One can not help but get emotional to think of what this world would be like if every person were to act on that invitation. I invite anyone who reads this e-mail to act on that. As Elder Ballard taught, it will change your heart, you will feel the effects of the Atonement.

This last week had been very challenging. It has been the busiest week of my mission. We had transfers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then Thursday and Friday we had meetings all around the mission and it was just jam packed with so many little details. I felt like we had a P-day, then all of the sudden it was Saturday. I was so thankful for conference!! It has been a good week though. I learned a lot this week. A lot about myself and about serving the Lord in his priesthood organizations. One great thing that this week brought about was the opportunity to see every missionary in the mission. Elder Forbush and I were eating a late dinner on Thursday night, and we were discussing the last few days and were both overcome with emotion and Love for the missionaries. I cannot tell you how great our missionaries are!! I can truly say that our leaders are "mighty men in the faith of the Lord". They have pure intentions, none of them have overriding selfish desires. They truly serve the missionaries that they are called to serve. And it doesn't just stop there! I feel love from the missionaries in every meeting we go to, or every time we get the opportunity to see them. They always lift my spirits. They care about people!! Not about things that are just superficial, or that make them look better than others. We have a real brotherhood in this mission, there are no "clicks, or groups"; and there is rarely disobedience. I love the missionaries in the Georgia Atlanta Mission, they make me want to be better!! I wish you could be here to see there examples. Keep up the Good work! Heed the words of living prophets! I love you all so much!

Elder Hendrix

Share and Study the Book of Mormon

Family,

Hey y'all. Mom no Pres. Harding is not the one that Dad was thinking of. His family did come. That is pretty different, last night we were over there pretty late and they had to worry about putting their son Stockton (9) to bed, and their daughter Kandis (24) was watching some show on TV, I have never seen that TV on in my entire mission. Sis Harding is awesome, she seems very sharp and on top of things. They are such amazing people. They got here on Saturday. We aren’t sure about the game yet, but iI think we might be able to go.

This last week was awesome! We had a meeting with the Zone Leaders this week. So President decided we should all go to the Temple together. So we all went to the Temple (16 Elders), and heard from the Temple President who spoke to us for about 30 min. It was just so awesome to be with all of the Elders that I have come to Love over these last two years, all of us dressed in white and seeking revelation from our Heavenly Father. I learned a lot. Then after the temple we met at a church building right by the Temple and President presented his vision for the mission. All I have to say is that I am so bummed that I have to leave and wont get to serve under his leadership. He is a fantastic leader and a visionary man for sure. He was a big-wig for Franklin-Covey and a bunch of other companies that go around to the biggest companies in the world and train leaders how to be leaders, so he knows his stuff. Not to mention he has the faith of the brother of Jared. It has been such a testimony builder to me to see what the Lord has been doing with this mission. Pres. Harding has met with a ton of the brethren in SLC before he came out, like Pres. Eyring, Elder Holland, Elder Nelson and more. And the vision that they have for the Atlanta Area is big time, like this is a place the the Lord is telling them needs to get stronger and be very strong for the Church in the South East. So with that as I look at the Leadership of these awesome mission presidents that we have had, it is clear that the Lord has prepared this area and mission for some amazing things to happen, for the work to move forward like Pres. Hinckley envisioned it could. Each of the things that they taught built upon each other and each of the things they did were directed by the had of God, for sure. It is just too cool, it is SUCH a blessing to have been able to be a part of that. I hope Darren gets called here.

It is Transfers this week. We are gonna be very busy, but transfers is always an exciting time. This also means that this next transfer will be my last transfer. I have had some weird feelings. It will be sad to leave, it is wierd to think that I wont be part of the mission anymore. But this next few weeks are going to be so awesome. Pres. Harding is putting the pressure on that we who are going home in Nov, do miracles and progress the work farther than it has been before. So it is just gonna be amazing. Mom also don’t make any plans for that first weekend. John Fisher is getting married on the 17th and he wants me to come to the wedding. The wedding will be in SLC though, so after that is over we can do whatever and see whomever down in Utah. Are my brothers and sisters coming up to the airport on the 15th? I’m not sure what time the wedding is but you can just ask Fisher and then you can plan whatever you want, i will be game. I Love you to death. Keep up the awesome work!! Share and Study the Book of Mormon. That book is amazing!!

Elder Hendrix

Going to the BYU-Georgia Tech game???;)

Family,

Wow I tell you what, I cant believe the caliber of men that are called as Mission Presidents! Each of them have been so awesome, they have all been filled with love toward God and his missionaries. They have all cared about doing this work the Lords way, and just been men of integrity. I have to be one of the most blessed missionaries of all time!! This stuff is just too good to be true. I would have to say that President Harding is the best yet... because.... He feels like we ought to be able to go the the BYU Georgia Tech game here in Atlanta! :) haha. Ok that was a Joke, about him being the best for that reason, but its a good reason ;)

So we picked him up from the Airport on Saturday afternoon. His first Idea of what to do was to go strait to the Temple. Essentially his quote was "As a symbolic start to this next chapter, before I go to the my house or your house or the office, lets go to the Lords House", so we did. We did some Initiatory Ordinances together and spent some time counseling together in the Temple. Since then until late last night, he has wanted to go and meet as many missionaries as possible so we have gone around and he has lifted our spirits with his faith. It is amazing how much faith he has. He is a deeply spiritual leader. He is so inspired! One very very cool thing about his vision and Ideas, is that what the spirit has been prompting him to do and focus on are all the same things that the Lord has been putting on Elder Forbush and I's minds. Things are going to get better. The only bad part about all of this is that I come home In 7 weeks. But I know that what I will do and learn, especially what I will learn because of what I will do.

One thing that I have learned from him so far is how powerful it is for us to know who we really are. Divine identity is so powerful. It effects what we even believe in. Joseph Smith taught that to have true faith, you first have to have a correct understanding of who God is. If we know him, then we know ourselves. Knowing who we are effects everything we do. It effects the way that we see the actions that we do everyday. It changes our outlook on how we treat other people, and how we serve in the church, how we look at education and family. "Remember who you are", is really a good ideal to live by. Especially for missionaries. If we really understood that we were literally representing the Creator of all things, in the Atlanta Georgia area, it would change the way that we talked with every single person. It would change the way that we looked at obedience and prayer, it would change the way that we looked at studies, and teaching and planning and companions. Few of us, if any, understand who we truly are as children of God, therefore it is imperative that we study the scriptures, pray every day and attend and serve in the Church. The gospel is so true. This next week we will be doing a lot of talking and planning, and then after that we will be runnin and gunnin. Thank you so much for your prayers and Support! I love you all so much!

Elder Hendrix

My Week Flew By

Family,
Mom, My week flew by as well! These last few weeks have just been a blur! We traveled around the mission again, but this time we were all sick and we had to get up super early and it was just non-stop all week, just like last week. But it was so good. It was great to be with all of the missionaries, it was great to be with President and Sister Snow, and it was great to feel the support of the spirit not only spiritually but physically as well. Driving to each meeting it was near impossible to stay awake, and I was coughing up a lung (we all felt the same). But when we went into our meetings, those feelings were suppressed and we had energy, we were able to teach with power and really help everyone (especially ourselves) make some connections with the Holy Ghost and how we can help the Lord more in his work. These next few weeks are going to be even more busy. This week we will be setting up transfers a couple weeks early and we will be getting prepared for President Hardings' arrival on Saturday. (we are going to the temple this week too, I'm so excited i haven't been since last summer) The Snows are leaving Saturday afternoon, and we will be picking up President Harding at the Airport and its go time from there. Then the next week we will be spending time with him, helping him to get to know the mission and finalizing transfers. Then Sister Harding, her 24 year old daughter and 8 year old son will be arriving, so we will be helping them move in and welcoming them. The next week will be transfers, which will be a wild week, followed by taking the Harding's around the mission so that they can meet everyone. On top of all of that we will be trying to be working in our own area, and working with other missionaries in their areas. So I'm pretty sure i wont even have time to think about home or anything like that, and my mission will be over before i even realize it. I am excited to come home, but to think that my mission will actually be over... wow. Out here you always are looking forward to the things that are in the future, new areas, new companions etc. Because they all represent great opportunities, and to think that they are almost over is sad in a lot of ways. Yesterday we had stake conference and a recently returned missionary talked and it made me ponder what i have learned on my mission. I think the central theme of what i have learned, and what it seems most of my experiences have taught me, is The Worth of Each Soul. I would define the worth of a should like this: That the creator of this universe and all of the complex systems that govern it. The maker of EVERYTHING, is totally concerned with our lives every moment of every day. He knows us, and His most important task is to guide us to happiness and eternal life, were we can have all that He has. That is true doctrine!!!!!!!! He is a real being, and we are really his children! It is our duty, and our delight, to serve, lift, help, encourage, bless and Love his children. We should act just as he does in our relations with our brothers and sisters. I love you all so much! Pleas pray for Elder Forbush and I this week, we will need it. Hopefully the bottom doesn't fall out on this mission with Pres. Snow leaves. I just don't want to screw it up!! ;)

Elder Hendrix

Julie,
Hey there Bud! How are you doing? Mom says you are playing volleyball and having fun with it, do you like it a lot? Do you like your team? How is school, what are you learning about? What did you learn in church? Are you helpful to Mom? Will you give her a big hug and a Kiss for me please. I just was wondering how you were doing, you are so awesome! Be good ya crazy little pill!

Elder Hendrix

Grandpa Hendrix,

Hey Grandpa! I hear that you have been staying in Idaho. I'm surprised that you haven't gone crazy yet being away from the Ranch! I don't think that place could keep running without you there. I think about you a lot, and all of the great times we had out at the Ranch together. I loved be able to go feed the fish with you and be able to hear all of your awesome stories. In fact let me tell you an awesome story. The other day I was with another missionary (not my companion) for the day and He was having a very hard day. I knew that he was and I kinda new why. So before we got together I prayed really hard that the Lord would help me to know how I could help him. The scripture in D&C 121 came to my mind, but not the one a priesthood holder usually thinks of when it comes to helping people. I thought of the part that said "[use] sharpness, when moved upon by the spirit". So as him and I talked, I listened (i know that you know the importance of listening) and then felt the spirit prompt me to use sharpness. But i was afraid, because I didn't want to make him mad, before this week he and I had been frustrated with each other before, so I was nervous. But I followed the spirit and used sharpness and he was thrown back and sat there and thought for a long time. We talked for the next couple hours and by the end of the day he was thanking me for being strait-forward with him. Its funny because we are closer friends now. The scriptures are so inspirational, and the spirit is so awesome. I often wonder what it would have been like to see you as the stake president there in Fallon, and how you tried to help the people. I'm sure that I would learn a ton from watching your example! Grandpa you are the best, I pray for you that you wont feel lonely, if you ever do, you just think of you and me driving around the ranch, talking about the good ol' days! I love you Grandpa, you keep up the Good work. Cant wait to see you!