January 12, 2009
We are emailing at Davis Library and there are finally students here! After about a month long break for most students, classes started today, and we are excited! We will be able to work in our own area now!
Last week we were on exchanges with some Elders in Durham. Elder Milovich and I were with Elder Banner. We stopped by a lady that had requested the Joy to the World DVD. We had already dropped of the DVD so we were teaching her about the Restoration of the Gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith.
She was 25 years old and had 6 kids. The last two were really cute twins about two years old. They were eating cereal and milk, spilling it all down the fronts of their shirts. The young lady really said that what we were teaching made sense. She is excited to read the Book of Mormon.
When we were about to leave, one of the two year-old twins, Tyquell, asked me to tie his shoe, which had fallen off. He did so by holding it up, with this sad puppy-dog face and said a string of almost English words. I thought, ‘buddy, I can’t even tie my own shoes!’ We managed to get it on and as we were leaving, he and his twin sister said ‘Thank you’ in the language of two-year-olds.
It has been fun teaching the Gospel to some who are slightly different than those I talk to on UNC campus.
Thank you all very much for all your love, letters and prayers!
Elder Walters
Monday, January 12, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
Book of Mormon Challenge
January 5, 2009
I love the Book of Mormon! It really is the keystone of the Restored Gospel. In fact, Joseph Smith said something like, 'Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We'd have none!'
Preach My Gospel, a guide to missionary work, describes how obtaining and maintaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon is as important for a missionary as it is for an investigator! President Faust said something like, 'you can't raise someone above the spiritual plane you are currently at; you can't convert someone beyond your own testimony.'
In harmony with this, President and Sister Wallis gave all the missionaries a gift and a challenge this Christmas; a nice hardcover copy of the Book of Mormon and a challenge to read it from front to back from January 1st to March 1st. They also asked us to mark each reference/name of Jesus Christ, each time He speaks, and each time doctrine surrounding his ministry/atonement is mentioned.
I have loved doing this challenge. I have felt more at peace and closer to the Lord over the last week. We even extended the challenge to a member of our ward, and he is enjoying reading it as well!
I love the way I feel when I read the Book of Mormon. President Ezra Taft Benson, a modern-day prophet, said, "There is a power within the Book of Mormon which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the Book."
I would recommend anyone reading this to evaluate their testimony of the Book of Mormon and study and pray about the Book of Mormon. Ezra Taft Benson also said something like, 'at some time in our lives, each one of us must discover the Book of Mormon for ourselves-and not just discover it once, but rediscover it again and again.'
I am so appreciative of friends and family, Bishops and youth leaders who counseled me to read the Book of Mormon. I know it is the word of God, and because of that, I really do know that Jesus is MY Savior, Joseph Smith was His prophet, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Church that the Lord guides today.
I love you all and thank you for your love, letters and prayers.
Elder Walters
I love the Book of Mormon! It really is the keystone of the Restored Gospel. In fact, Joseph Smith said something like, 'Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We'd have none!'
Preach My Gospel, a guide to missionary work, describes how obtaining and maintaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon is as important for a missionary as it is for an investigator! President Faust said something like, 'you can't raise someone above the spiritual plane you are currently at; you can't convert someone beyond your own testimony.'
In harmony with this, President and Sister Wallis gave all the missionaries a gift and a challenge this Christmas; a nice hardcover copy of the Book of Mormon and a challenge to read it from front to back from January 1st to March 1st. They also asked us to mark each reference/name of Jesus Christ, each time He speaks, and each time doctrine surrounding his ministry/atonement is mentioned.
I have loved doing this challenge. I have felt more at peace and closer to the Lord over the last week. We even extended the challenge to a member of our ward, and he is enjoying reading it as well!
I love the way I feel when I read the Book of Mormon. President Ezra Taft Benson, a modern-day prophet, said, "There is a power within the Book of Mormon which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the Book."
I would recommend anyone reading this to evaluate their testimony of the Book of Mormon and study and pray about the Book of Mormon. Ezra Taft Benson also said something like, 'at some time in our lives, each one of us must discover the Book of Mormon for ourselves-and not just discover it once, but rediscover it again and again.'
I am so appreciative of friends and family, Bishops and youth leaders who counseled me to read the Book of Mormon. I know it is the word of God, and because of that, I really do know that Jesus is MY Savior, Joseph Smith was His prophet, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Church that the Lord guides today.
I love you all and thank you for your love, letters and prayers.
Elder Walters
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Happy New Year
December 29, 2008
Elder Marlatt has made it home safely to Washington state and Elder Farrell has joined Elder Milovich and I in the Durham 3rd Singles ward! I knew Elder Farrell as Jack back at BYU! We had Physical Science and a lab together. He even pushed me up the hill to class once when we were running late. We also sat next to each other at a few BYU volleyball games after he broke his leg and had to use a wheelchair. He is a good teacher and a hard worker!
I was at a doctor appointment when the Elders saw a member of UNC's Basketball team walk into a restaurant on Franklin Street, the happening place of Chapel Hill. Elder Milovich was thus prompted to eat at the same restaurant/pharmacy, Sutton's Drugstore. While there, a bunch more players walked in and, you guessed it, Elder Milovich got his picture with everyone of them. There are now only a handful of players he hasn't gotten his picture with!
At my doctor's appointment, my doctor told me that there was a young man who had received an injury similar to mine at the c6-c7 level of the neck. Last night, the Spanish Elders and I went to visit him.
It is hard to express my gratitude for the Gospel. This young man was hopeless, like so many others I had seen in the hospital and in so many other places. I told Elder Farrell that he was just so sad and wondered how we could help.
Elder Farrell pointed out that not everyone can have a good attitude because not everyone has the Gospel. His comment made me realize again how grateful I ought to be for what I have been given, and how I ought to share it with others as much as I can.
We had a great Christmas. We went to a bishopric member's for breakfast and another Bishop's home for dinner.
Thank you all very much for your cards and gifts. It was wonderful to see pictures of friends and family, especially a 'Walters Family Reunion’ book. Thank you especially to all who were involved in making that.
Happy New Year!
Elder Walters
Elder Marlatt has made it home safely to Washington state and Elder Farrell has joined Elder Milovich and I in the Durham 3rd Singles ward! I knew Elder Farrell as Jack back at BYU! We had Physical Science and a lab together. He even pushed me up the hill to class once when we were running late. We also sat next to each other at a few BYU volleyball games after he broke his leg and had to use a wheelchair. He is a good teacher and a hard worker!
I was at a doctor appointment when the Elders saw a member of UNC's Basketball team walk into a restaurant on Franklin Street, the happening place of Chapel Hill. Elder Milovich was thus prompted to eat at the same restaurant/pharmacy, Sutton's Drugstore. While there, a bunch more players walked in and, you guessed it, Elder Milovich got his picture with everyone of them. There are now only a handful of players he hasn't gotten his picture with!
At my doctor's appointment, my doctor told me that there was a young man who had received an injury similar to mine at the c6-c7 level of the neck. Last night, the Spanish Elders and I went to visit him.
It is hard to express my gratitude for the Gospel. This young man was hopeless, like so many others I had seen in the hospital and in so many other places. I told Elder Farrell that he was just so sad and wondered how we could help.
Elder Farrell pointed out that not everyone can have a good attitude because not everyone has the Gospel. His comment made me realize again how grateful I ought to be for what I have been given, and how I ought to share it with others as much as I can.
We had a great Christmas. We went to a bishopric member's for breakfast and another Bishop's home for dinner.
Thank you all very much for your cards and gifts. It was wonderful to see pictures of friends and family, especially a 'Walters Family Reunion’ book. Thank you especially to all who were involved in making that.
Happy New Year!
Elder Walters
Faith, Family and Friends
December 22, 2008
This is always an interesting time of year in Chapel Hill! Student at UNC and Duke got out of school recently so we've been going on a lot of exchanges in other missionaries' areas.
Elder Milovich and I were with Elder Semler in a poorer part of Durham stopping by one of their investigators. They weren't home so we started talking to this guy that was holding what we thought was an energy drink. We told him about the Book of Mormon and asked him how the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be strengthened by having two witnesses of Christ's role as our Savior. We then realized he wasn't holding an energy drink but some liquor as he gave some random response about, 'I WENT to Catholic school, I know exactly what you're talking about.' While often friendly, people can't really feel the Spirit when intoxicated.
As we were headed to the next stop-by, these two little kids ran up to me and one asked, 'Wha's wrong wichu?' I said, 'Nothing, I'm just a lot faster than everybody else.' He goes, 'No you ain't!' So challenged him to a race to the end of the curb...it was close...but he beat me.
Elder Semler said, 'Do you want a picture?' and gave the little kid, Elsey, a pass along card with Christ on the front. He said, 'Wha' dat?' 'That's a card' 'Who' dat?' 'That's Jesus Christ, our Savior.'
It's always interesting going to different areas and seeing how Jesus Christ is literally the Savior of the whole world, and noticing how He saves us all from a variety of challenges, making bad men good and good men better. I know myself and my own weaknesses better than I know anyone else and I am thankful for the way the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives me hope and strength in my own challenges.
Yesterday, December 21st, was 3 years since I had my accident at work. A few months after my accident, our Stake President asked me to speak on what I was most grateful for. I focused on faith, family and friends. Those are the three things that have gotten me happily and hopefully through the last three years. I love testifying of the importance of these three things everyday in North Carolina.
The three are connected. The Gospel, keeping Christ's Commandments, is what makes us His friends. The unit of the Gospel is family, where we can obtain our greatest happiness. I love the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings me hope and happiness continually in a way nothing else can do. And I am appreciative of you, my friends and family who I am strengthened by daily.
Thank you all for your love, letters and prayers!
Elder Walters
This is always an interesting time of year in Chapel Hill! Student at UNC and Duke got out of school recently so we've been going on a lot of exchanges in other missionaries' areas.
Elder Milovich and I were with Elder Semler in a poorer part of Durham stopping by one of their investigators. They weren't home so we started talking to this guy that was holding what we thought was an energy drink. We told him about the Book of Mormon and asked him how the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be strengthened by having two witnesses of Christ's role as our Savior. We then realized he wasn't holding an energy drink but some liquor as he gave some random response about, 'I WENT to Catholic school, I know exactly what you're talking about.' While often friendly, people can't really feel the Spirit when intoxicated.
As we were headed to the next stop-by, these two little kids ran up to me and one asked, 'Wha's wrong wichu?' I said, 'Nothing, I'm just a lot faster than everybody else.' He goes, 'No you ain't!' So challenged him to a race to the end of the curb...it was close...but he beat me.
Elder Semler said, 'Do you want a picture?' and gave the little kid, Elsey, a pass along card with Christ on the front. He said, 'Wha' dat?' 'That's a card' 'Who' dat?' 'That's Jesus Christ, our Savior.'
It's always interesting going to different areas and seeing how Jesus Christ is literally the Savior of the whole world, and noticing how He saves us all from a variety of challenges, making bad men good and good men better. I know myself and my own weaknesses better than I know anyone else and I am thankful for the way the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives me hope and strength in my own challenges.
Yesterday, December 21st, was 3 years since I had my accident at work. A few months after my accident, our Stake President asked me to speak on what I was most grateful for. I focused on faith, family and friends. Those are the three things that have gotten me happily and hopefully through the last three years. I love testifying of the importance of these three things everyday in North Carolina.
The three are connected. The Gospel, keeping Christ's Commandments, is what makes us His friends. The unit of the Gospel is family, where we can obtain our greatest happiness. I love the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings me hope and happiness continually in a way nothing else can do. And I am appreciative of you, my friends and family who I am strengthened by daily.
Thank you all for your love, letters and prayers!
Elder Walters
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)