Are you reading the Book of Mormon?

Dear Family:

Tell Becky Anderson that her words really helped me.  It was something I needed just at this moment.

Tell President Pendelton Привет! (Pree-vyet) That is hello in Russian. I miss him, and he was one of my favorite seminary teachers. I hope to see him when I return.

I give a big hello from Finland. Meaning, I am back from Finland, but it says hello. What a week this has been. I found out that all of the elders here in Barnaul are staying here, and I am still disctrict leader. We must be doing something right, and we need to stay together. I am grateful to still be in a position of leadership, in order to help this work go forward.

President Gibbons, at last minute, decided to come to Barnaul, and sit in a branch council meeting, and interview the branch president, and see the new branch building. (We hope that the building will be finished before the end of this next transfer) It really freaked me out, because I was with Elder Smith on splits, and I left my phone with the other companionship.  I get a call from Elder Duncan, saying that President Gibbons was texting me. When the mission president contacts you, it is either something REALLY good or REALLY bad. Fortunately, it was good, and I had to inform the branch president about all that would be going on.

 It was a very special time at the temple. Members from St. Petersburg were there, and I got to perform an endowment in Russian. Talking to these members in the temple, I just felt such love for the people, and such gratitude for the sacred covenants we make in the temple. They give us a power that no other force on earth can give. I can't explain
it, but there is power in these covenants. God is behind us, because we made this sacred promise with Him, and with Him there is power.

It has been hard to read the Book of Mormon in Russian, but I am right on track to finish it this month. Are you all reading the Book of Mormon, too? I love that book, and reading it in another language has given me even more insight than I ever thought possible. Do you know that Christ is the Law? Read it in 3 Nephi. That means that Christ is
just, as well as God. They work by laws, and that everything is dependant on a law. If we want blessings, we need to follow the laws, or commandments. When we make a covenant with him through baptism, we are protected by Law that we will be blessed.

When President Gibbons came to Barnaul, it was very special to me. He never uses a translator for his talks, despite the challenges. He is such an example to me. He spoke how special this city is, and I believe him. There is a lot of wonderful things in this city, and wonderful people. I hope that I can add something good to this city, and I get another chance to do that.

I love you all, and I pray for you. I pray that the Spirit wil be with all of us. God Lives. Jesus Christ Lives. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Through the power of God, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. It is literally the word of God. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. Families can be together forever. These things, I know.
Love,

Elder Hoggan
The Siberian Messenger