May we ever stand....

Dear Family:

What a week! First of all, this week I finished the Book of Mormon in Russian for the third time...reading out loud! I hear so many times that mission presidents promise their missionaries if they read the Book of Mormon out loud, then they will be fluent in their language. It didn't work for me. I guess that Russian is too awesome to learn that easily. Reading out loud is so difficult, but it is great practice.

President Gibbons was impressed when he heard my goal to read the Book of Mormon 12 times before I go home, and he even copied my reading chart I made to keep track of my reading. He told me that he wants to do similar goals, and also read the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price in three months. I figured it out, and I have a new goal: To read the Standard Works of the church in Russian every three months, while reading the Book of Mormon in Russian every month. That is about 40 pages to read every day, and it is not a challenge for me at all. Every time I read the scriptures, I have been gaining new knowledge and insight. One such insight was about Koriantumer. At one point, he is seeing all the destruction of the Jaredites, and he realizes that the prophecies of Ether were being fulfilled. He recognizes that he was leading the people to destruction through war, and he repented and tried to stop it. What I understood from this is that even though Koriantumer might have realized he made serious mistakes, he knew that there was a possibility to change. Unfortunately, the people did not want to, and they were destroyed. Were his efforts in vain, his energy wasted in a fruitless effort? No. He repented, and tried to make amends. We know of Alma the younger and his miraculous conversion, but Koriantumer did not have an angel to call him to repentance. He did that all on his own. We can all change, even though it is hard. Though is seems too difficult to change, it is possible, and any effort is worth it.

Elder Harrison and I got a call on Thursday from President Gibbons, and we were needed to leave the next morning to Finland! It was a huge surprise to us. We packed our bags, and went on our way. We had to send visa documents to the travel agency in Finland, so that the visas could be made in time for the missionaries. This was no vacation, especially when it started pouring rain while we were walking to the temple housing. We were carrying boxes and cartons of food, and they all got soaked. The worst thing was when we were drying off, Elder Harrison found an umbrella that he left in his backpack, perfectly dry...

On the flight to Moscow, I met this kid, about 20 named Denis, who was going to military school. He was very nice, and he showed me this film on his phone of students at the military academy practicing how to control riots. They had all of these shields, and they had to keep close while the "mob" would throw snow balls at them. It was very interesting to talk to him. You always meet very interesting people, and it is good to talk to them.

Fortunately, we were able to go to the temple and perform baptisms and endowments. It was my first time baptizing and confirming in Russian, and it was a wonderful feeling. When at the veil, the attendant was holding a chart that had the words in different languages, as people speak Finnish, Russian, English, and even Swedish. The attendant had it in Russian, but it was written in a phonetic English. I had no idea how to read it, and I thought he was using one in Finnish. All was well in the end, and we even met a worker from St. Petersburg who knows some of the missionaries here.

Afterwards, we went straight to the airport. We had very little money, and ended up using all of our change to pay for the bus fare. It was a little embarrassing to give the driver a handful of change, and I accidentally gave him too little, and he didn't notice. (I would understand, because I wouldn't want to count all of that change as well.) But me being a good missionary, once we got to the airport, I told him I gave him too little, and I gave him the remaining. It was very little, but the honesty was the principle that needed to be honored.

When we got back to Novosibirsk, it was 8 in the morning, Sunday. Though we were so tired, we went to church, and I enjoyed every moment of it. Everyone was sharing their testimonies, and they had such great spirits. I wish you could be here to listen to these wonderful saints. These people have such strong faith, and their testimonies are inspiring. The elders quorum president in quorum meeting asked for us to share our testimonies, and a member named Dima shared his testimony of the temple and the blessings of being sealed for eternity. I shared how great a blessing the priesthood is in my life, and that we as God's sons must be worthy to use it at all times. There weren't any other people who were willing to share their testimonies, and the elders quorum president asked us why we were so afraid to share our testimonies. I thought about when I was younger, and I never wanted to share my testimony. He commented that as the holders of the priesthood, we were the hope for the sisters, and they look to us for guidance and strength. It really hit me, that as holders of the priesthood, we have such a duty, and are we fulfilling it? It is like the words in Elder Bednar's talk last conference. They still haunt me this day, and I promise myself that when I return home, I am going to fulfill all my priesthood duties to the fullest. Here, where the priesthood is few, I see how crucial it is. There is no excuse to be lax in fulfilling of one's duties. I challenge us all to awake, and be men. Be holders of God's priesthood.

There was a fireside last night, and we went to help translate. The Huffakers, who are a senior couple who will be leaving in about a week for home, shared stories about the pioneers from the Willie and Martin handcart companies. (Do we have any ancestors who were part of those companies, or were a handcart pioneer? Could you send me stories of their journeys to the Salt Lake Valley?) The spirit was very present, as we heard of the suffering of these saints. One could say, was it worth it? Were these people's journey in vain as they perished from hunger, sickness, cold, and fatigue, never to see Zion? No. They were able to suffer in a way that only the Savior could have, as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were able to become closer to their Savior, and understand more fully what price He paid for them. Their sacrifices left a legacy, and their testimonies were sealed with their blood. They became martyrs, faithful in the testimony of Jesus Christ. Their testimonies stand as a witness to the world, along with others such as Peter, Paul, Stephen, Abinadai, Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and many others. Shall we not honor their sacrifices?

Elder and Sister Huffaker are on the left

These people here in Russia are the pioneers. They do not walk thousands of miles, or face physical exhaustion. Their journeys are different, but may be just as difficult. They face humiliation and rejection from friends. Family ties are strained. Some are even fired from jobs, for the sake of the Gospel. These people may even walk alone, but they are preparing a legacy of generations of saints to follow. Tears were shed as Elder and Sister Huffaker shared their testimonies of the truthfulness of this gospel.

I am so grateful for my ancestors. For their sacrifices, I am now here sharing the gospel with the blessed people of Russia. I have learned about how to be grateful, as these saints would pray to Heavenly Father in gratitude of their bounteous feast of a cup of flour. These people gave away shawls, Their only covering for warmth, in order to bury those dear ones who perished. These people truly knew how to be like Christ, giving of their all for others. May we be...True to the faith that our parents have cherished. True to the truth for which martyrs have perished. To God's command, soul heart and hand, faithful and true...May we ever stand.