2:56 PM
Hey everyone. I got good news for everyone.
So I got transfered. Yup. I am going to die in Grantsville, Utah. Now, for those of you who are not familiar with Utah, Grantsville is about as far West as you can go without going into Wendover, Nevada. I'm West of Tooele. This whole time I've been classified as a sister missionary because I've been stuck in the valley and I always have to have a car. I've spent my entire mission over on the East side of Salt Lake City. Now I'm on the West side where there are more cows and horses than people. This should be fun.
My new companion is Elder Johnson from North Carolina. You all remember Elder Doucette? My favorite companion on the mission? Well Elder Johnson has got to be 10x better. He is really in tune with the Spirit and we get along great. Of course we're also in the same things (IE D&D, Magic: The Gathering, Munchkin, WoW, Guild Wars, etc etc). Already in this past week we've had a ton of spiritual experiences. And if I'm accurate, more than the whole transfer I spent with Elder Doucette. Don't get me wrong. I love Elder Doucettt. But Elder Johnson takes the cake.
So, I don't know what else to say other than I GOT LESS THAN THREE MONTHS LEFT!
Elder Garcia
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
17 Jan 11 - 24 Jan 11
1:19 PM
Hey everyone.
Transfers is on Wednesday. I really don't want to be transfered right now. I got three months left and I don't want to spend it getting to know a new area and new people. I like the people here and I'm having a lot of success in this area. Plus my last longest area was six months. I want to top this area with nine.
Other than that, I really don't have much to say this week.
Later
Elder Garcia
Hey everyone.
Transfers is on Wednesday. I really don't want to be transfered right now. I got three months left and I don't want to spend it getting to know a new area and new people. I like the people here and I'm having a lot of success in this area. Plus my last longest area was six months. I want to top this area with nine.
Other than that, I really don't have much to say this week.
Later
Elder Garcia
Monday, January 17, 2011
10 Jan 11 - 17 Jan 11
Hi.
Everything interesting that's happened this past weekend had been because of Satan... so... I got nothing to say.
I was going to talk about "Never Give Up, Never Surrender" or in gospel terms "Enduring to the End" but I think you get the picture. If you didn't get the picture then it got lost in the mail somewhere.
So here's a picture of me with RM Sister Larson who served in the Kiev Ukraine Mission for three days with Meagan Howell.
Happy trails!
Elder Garcia
Everything interesting that's happened this past weekend had been because of Satan... so... I got nothing to say.
I was going to talk about "Never Give Up, Never Surrender" or in gospel terms "Enduring to the End" but I think you get the picture. If you didn't get the picture then it got lost in the mail somewhere.
So here's a picture of me with RM Sister Larson who served in the Kiev Ukraine Mission for three days with Meagan Howell.
Happy trails!
Elder Garcia
Monday, January 10, 2011
3 Jan 11 - 10 Jan 11
12:56 PM
So, for some reason I keep having this conversation with people, about what they know versus what they believe. It's such a powerful statement when someone says that "they know" something. When someone says that, you can't refute them. You can't make them believe otherwise. That's why I don't bother with those that say that they know their religion is true. No point wasting my breath. I just think of 2 Nephi 33:
"10...hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. 11...And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory that they are his words, at the last day"
But to those that don't know, that only believe but say they know to end a conversation, I warn you that a belief can either help you or hinder you. Yes it is true that to those who honestly seek him, belief can and will become so much more. Belief turns into Faith. Faith turns into Knowledge. When we know something, we cannot deny it. Here are a chain of scriptures.
"Alma 46: 15 And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
Alma 32: 21 And now as I said concerning faith-faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
Ether 3: 19 And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting."
When I was younger, I had a belief in the church. I had a belief that everything that I was taught was right. But then something happened where I turned away for a while. I eventually came back. I was better, but I still only had a belief. One night, I was fed up with only believing. It seemed like the only things I heard in church were "I know" this, and "I know" that. Well, I knew that they knew those things. I wanted to know those things. I got down on my knees and prayed. I said, "Heavenly Father, I want to know if this church is true cause if it's not I'm done." That night I had felt the Spirit more strongly that I had ever felt my entire life (up until that point of course). I no longer had a belief. I had knowledge.
I can't deny the Spirit. I cant go against how I feel. The church is true. The scriptures are true. Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. They all go together.
"D&C 93: 30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it"
If the church is true, it's always going to be true. If the scriptures are true, they're always going to be true. I know this because I felt the Holy Ghost tell me it. I can never deny this lest I be condemned.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth. Through it we can be saved. Without it we will be condemned. Because the church is true, we know that the scriptures are true. The scriptures tell us
"1 John 4: 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Three basic commandments that He gives us are go to church, read the scriptures, and pray. When we don't do these things we fall away. When we don't do these things, we only believe. We go through the motions, but we don't know. I know that when we do these things, when we follow the doctrine of Christ, when we keep the commandments, when we seek God, we will return to live with God at the last day. Every time I feel the Spirit, I know that that's just a small portion of what it will feel like when I'm in Their presence. I want that. I need that. I will do anything to get that.
I will not fall away. I will not deny what I know. I have lost myself in Christ and found something better. I found what I can become.
Don't just believe. Know.
Elder Garcia
So, for some reason I keep having this conversation with people, about what they know versus what they believe. It's such a powerful statement when someone says that "they know" something. When someone says that, you can't refute them. You can't make them believe otherwise. That's why I don't bother with those that say that they know their religion is true. No point wasting my breath. I just think of 2 Nephi 33:
"10...hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. 11...And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory that they are his words, at the last day"
But to those that don't know, that only believe but say they know to end a conversation, I warn you that a belief can either help you or hinder you. Yes it is true that to those who honestly seek him, belief can and will become so much more. Belief turns into Faith. Faith turns into Knowledge. When we know something, we cannot deny it. Here are a chain of scriptures.
"Alma 46: 15 And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
Alma 32: 21 And now as I said concerning faith-faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
Ether 3: 19 And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting."
When I was younger, I had a belief in the church. I had a belief that everything that I was taught was right. But then something happened where I turned away for a while. I eventually came back. I was better, but I still only had a belief. One night, I was fed up with only believing. It seemed like the only things I heard in church were "I know" this, and "I know" that. Well, I knew that they knew those things. I wanted to know those things. I got down on my knees and prayed. I said, "Heavenly Father, I want to know if this church is true cause if it's not I'm done." That night I had felt the Spirit more strongly that I had ever felt my entire life (up until that point of course). I no longer had a belief. I had knowledge.
I can't deny the Spirit. I cant go against how I feel. The church is true. The scriptures are true. Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. They all go together.
"D&C 93: 30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it"
If the church is true, it's always going to be true. If the scriptures are true, they're always going to be true. I know this because I felt the Holy Ghost tell me it. I can never deny this lest I be condemned.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth. Through it we can be saved. Without it we will be condemned. Because the church is true, we know that the scriptures are true. The scriptures tell us
"1 John 4: 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Three basic commandments that He gives us are go to church, read the scriptures, and pray. When we don't do these things we fall away. When we don't do these things, we only believe. We go through the motions, but we don't know. I know that when we do these things, when we follow the doctrine of Christ, when we keep the commandments, when we seek God, we will return to live with God at the last day. Every time I feel the Spirit, I know that that's just a small portion of what it will feel like when I'm in Their presence. I want that. I need that. I will do anything to get that.
I will not fall away. I will not deny what I know. I have lost myself in Christ and found something better. I found what I can become.
Don't just believe. Know.
Elder Garcia
Monday, January 3, 2011
29 Dec 10 - 3 Jan 11
2:01 PM
I guess it's that time again where I say things and stuff.
Lately I've been on this sort of spiritual high. I've been told all my life that the Spirit is a "still small voice" that you have to really listen to in order to hear it. For the past I don't know how long, I've found out that that's different for me. To me, in order to hear the Spirit it's like tuning into the right radio station. Some people never tune to it because they'd rather listen to something else. Maybe their own selfishness. Maybe their pride. Maybe they'd rather listen to the lies others keep telling them. Sometimes someone would rather listen to the lies they tell themselves. We've all tuned into those stations. Lyrics that spit out words that sound like "I'm doing what's right even when I know I'm wrong." Sometimes we'll find a good talk station on a debate about how we'd rather do what's easy than do what's right. Every now and then, we'll eventually get bored and tune into the Spirit but the volume will still be low enough that other things will block out the sound. Some words might catch our ears and help us feel good about ourselves for a moment, but eventually it'll fade. Me though, I've cranked up the volume.
It's a funny thing following the Spirit. Sometimes (most times) I'm the only one who can feel it. Or maybe someone else will say that they're feeling the Spirit but I'm getting the chills. Occasionally the Spirit will move me to do or say something that others don't agree with. It hurts to hear what I have to say. In that I quote 1 Nephi 16: 2 "And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center." Still it seems like I stand virtually alone in knowing that I do what's right. It's because repentance is a hard thing to understand, especially that it's hard to do and it hurts.
How would you like to be told that you're wrong all the time? That you've screwed up and messed up? That you need to change your ways and align yourself with God or else be consumed in the world? I've practically been told that my entire life. I never seemed to do anything right and when I did do what's right others told me that it was wrong. Well, let's turn to Moroni 7 on this matter.
"12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."
There are a lot of you out there who know me, who have been with me for years and have stayed by my side all that time. I ask you, why? Why would anyone stay by someone who did the wrong things. Sure I have my faults, but I'm as good natured as they come. I don't like lying. I don't like hurting people. I do the right thing even if it's hard because I know that that's what God would want me to do. I'm bold with others because they need to hear the truth in order to change and come unto God. If I don't then I would be ashamed. But I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I am good, I cannot do the devil's work in destroying others. If I am evil, I cannot build up the kingdom of God.
So which side am I?
I decided a long time ago what my number one priority is: To live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever. Everything else falls into place. One thing I've noticed though is that the closer you get to God, the bigger the target is on your back. Satan hates you and others are jealous because you're doing what they refuse to do which is what's right. Cause sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. It's a lot easier to do what's easy. It's easier to tear down instead of uplift. It's easier to take offense instead of humble yourself. It's easier to not listen than to hear and do.
So where do you fall? Where do we all fall? What piece are we playing in our lives? Are we pawns? Or are we Kings and Queens? The Spirit knows us. The Spirit is always there for us, trying to help us achieve our potential. Are we going to crank up the volume and listen, or are we going to change the station?
This gospel is true. God loves us. I know both these things and I'm trying to help others know them as well. If we know these things, then we will do everything that God asks of us. If we don't know or only just believe, then what's the point? I will not fall away. I will fight. I will be the hero I was meant to be. I tried being someone else but that style didn't suit me very much. I heard the call and I answered.
I am a servant of Jesus Christ.
I love you all.
Elder Garcia
I guess it's that time again where I say things and stuff.
Lately I've been on this sort of spiritual high. I've been told all my life that the Spirit is a "still small voice" that you have to really listen to in order to hear it. For the past I don't know how long, I've found out that that's different for me. To me, in order to hear the Spirit it's like tuning into the right radio station. Some people never tune to it because they'd rather listen to something else. Maybe their own selfishness. Maybe their pride. Maybe they'd rather listen to the lies others keep telling them. Sometimes someone would rather listen to the lies they tell themselves. We've all tuned into those stations. Lyrics that spit out words that sound like "I'm doing what's right even when I know I'm wrong." Sometimes we'll find a good talk station on a debate about how we'd rather do what's easy than do what's right. Every now and then, we'll eventually get bored and tune into the Spirit but the volume will still be low enough that other things will block out the sound. Some words might catch our ears and help us feel good about ourselves for a moment, but eventually it'll fade. Me though, I've cranked up the volume.
It's a funny thing following the Spirit. Sometimes (most times) I'm the only one who can feel it. Or maybe someone else will say that they're feeling the Spirit but I'm getting the chills. Occasionally the Spirit will move me to do or say something that others don't agree with. It hurts to hear what I have to say. In that I quote 1 Nephi 16: 2 "And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center." Still it seems like I stand virtually alone in knowing that I do what's right. It's because repentance is a hard thing to understand, especially that it's hard to do and it hurts.
How would you like to be told that you're wrong all the time? That you've screwed up and messed up? That you need to change your ways and align yourself with God or else be consumed in the world? I've practically been told that my entire life. I never seemed to do anything right and when I did do what's right others told me that it was wrong. Well, let's turn to Moroni 7 on this matter.
"12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."
There are a lot of you out there who know me, who have been with me for years and have stayed by my side all that time. I ask you, why? Why would anyone stay by someone who did the wrong things. Sure I have my faults, but I'm as good natured as they come. I don't like lying. I don't like hurting people. I do the right thing even if it's hard because I know that that's what God would want me to do. I'm bold with others because they need to hear the truth in order to change and come unto God. If I don't then I would be ashamed. But I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I am good, I cannot do the devil's work in destroying others. If I am evil, I cannot build up the kingdom of God.
So which side am I?
I decided a long time ago what my number one priority is: To live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever. Everything else falls into place. One thing I've noticed though is that the closer you get to God, the bigger the target is on your back. Satan hates you and others are jealous because you're doing what they refuse to do which is what's right. Cause sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. It's a lot easier to do what's easy. It's easier to tear down instead of uplift. It's easier to take offense instead of humble yourself. It's easier to not listen than to hear and do.
So where do you fall? Where do we all fall? What piece are we playing in our lives? Are we pawns? Or are we Kings and Queens? The Spirit knows us. The Spirit is always there for us, trying to help us achieve our potential. Are we going to crank up the volume and listen, or are we going to change the station?
This gospel is true. God loves us. I know both these things and I'm trying to help others know them as well. If we know these things, then we will do everything that God asks of us. If we don't know or only just believe, then what's the point? I will not fall away. I will fight. I will be the hero I was meant to be. I tried being someone else but that style didn't suit me very much. I heard the call and I answered.
I am a servant of Jesus Christ.
I love you all.
Elder Garcia
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