Week 15

Hello All,

This email's theme is TRUST.  For one reason or another, the Lord and I are offering mutual trust to each other.  Honestly, I don't know why He's putting so much trust in me, maybe He just wants me to put trust back in Him?  There's a lot that I don't understand and I need to be humble and make sure I trust the Lord and learn to align my will with His.  I have a new companion, Elder Pendleton, originally called to the Modesto mission which closed in the first quarter of his call.  He leaves in January.  He does missionary work very differently than I do, but that's ok.  We will learn to draw the positives out of each other and become effective missionaries, more effective than those passed.  If he wants to, that is.  I'm helping clean out this area's teaching pool and other projects, and paving the road for consistent and diligent obedience and work.  I had the privilege of speaking to my new ward this last sacrament meeting.  I felt inspired to write on humble obedience to the Lord, His commandments, and the Altar of Sacrifice.  Ironically, my new companion introduced me to the idea of the Altar of Sacrifice.  When you want blessings from the Lord, you find the commandment connected to the blessing and follow it better.  For example, if you want exaltation and celestial glory, you place your imperfections on the altar and sacrifice those vices and sin for the reward of God.  It can be smaller things too, like wanting to be more energized, so you go to sleep earlier.  You want to be more spiritual minded, so you fast and pray for spiritual strength.  I love the Lord and know that He blesses His children, especially those who are obedient to the commandments.  I took commandments for granted back home, but I have learned that every commandment, even the small and menial ones, are necessary.  I encourage you all to read Elder Uchtdorf's talk "Living the Gospel Joyful" and Elder Klebingat's tall "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence",  both from 2014.  I also encourage you to look at the Altar of Sacrifice and see what more you could offer.  I love and miss all of you.  Thank you for the encouraging emails, you're all remarkable friends.

Love,

Elder Gneiting