General Epistle the Seventeenth

Hello, all!

It's gotten colder here. In fact, I'm wearing my coat right now. My hands are cold from typing. No snow, but it has been drizzly and wet. I had to buy a beanie to use with my hood. Now I'm thinking it's time for some gloves.

Some weeks there just is not a lot of work to be found. This week was one of those. We couldn't find things to do that were effective uses of time. 

Despite the circumstances I've found myself in, with all that is and is not happening, I'm holding onto hope. Nobody said the work would be easy, but I know it is worth it. I am trying to push forward in faith and find worthwhile activities. Some days it is hard to get up, even out here in the field. There will be trials that come in our lives that we don't desire. There will be times when there are no problems and we slip into being too lax. Indeed, sometimes the trial we face is that we have no opposition to push against, and we get lazy. 

At all times we need to be aware of where we are headed. If we are going down a wrong path, we should not be far down it before we realize where we are going. We should be often rechecking our location on this journey home. 

This is a journey, and a long, arduous one. However, as we rely on the Atonement and help each other, we can make it home. We can get where we all want to be. It requires faith, repentance, and making sacred covenants, but there is a way provided for us. 

Wherever you are on your journey home, I hope you will not let the obstacles and trials keep you from moving forward in faith. We have a celestial goal to attain.

If any have read the Chronicles of Narnia, there is a point in the last book, "The Last Battle," when Aslan and the children have come into a new Narnia, and the old one has passed away. However, even though this new Narnia is better than the old, he says to keep running north. As they do, they find an even more glorious Narnia.

We may have found wonderful things in this gospel and in this world. Let us not forget, however, that there is a greater glory that we are striving to reach. As Jesus Christ as our guide, we can be led to a better life and a better world.

"Onward and Upward! To Narnia and the North!" ~Aslan

Let us press on, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Murdock

General Epistle the Sixteenth

Hola!

It has nearly been six months since I went into the MTC. Can you believe it? Time has flown by so far, and I'm sure December will go just as fast.

We had a baptism this week. Jeremy was baptized on Saturday and I got to confirm him the next day. It was awesome to see him take this step, but I have some worries about him and his progress. We'll keep trying to encourage him to help him understand and grow.

Transfer call were last night. I am staying here in the Legends Ward. Elder Barney is staying with me. I hope to really get the ball rolling this transfer, or at least push it really hard and make it budge. There is potential here, it's just a matter of finding the magnet that will draw out those interested in the gospel.

As missionaries, we help members and nonmembers alike to come closer to the Savior. Our work here in Legends has for a while been encouraging the members, but now we're trying to transition into focusing on investigators and seeking more opportunities to teach nonmembers. Our ward members, many of them, know how to do missionary work and have brought us people to teach. I hope that you all are trying to do the same. It doesn't require going outside of your comfort zone. It ought to be a natural part of your life. You live the gospel, and it shows through your actions. People take notice and when they ask, you have an answer because you have prepared by studying, praying, and going to church. It really should be a natural, conversational way of sharing your beliefs. 

An example:

You: "You have a cute baby! How old is she?"

Stranger: "Oh, thank you! She's _____. She's a handful, but such a sweetie."

You: "Hi, cutie! Aren't children wonderful?"

Stranger: "Oh yes. . ."

A short conversation ensues about children. Toward the end:

You: "It's such a dangerous world for these kids to grow up in."

Stranger: "For sure. I worry sometimes for her."

You: "I do for mine, too. Our church has a great children's program to supplement what we teach them at home. If you'd like, I can give you the address and you could check it out sometime."

The stranger can then express interest or not. If so, awesome! If not, that's okay, too. You did what you could. Whether they take the address from you or not, you have created a positive experience with the church that could lead to other opportunities later.

Other things can lead into natural invitations to church or just to increase faith in others. We ought to open our eyes to those moments all around us. Complimenting others is a great way to start a conversation. 

I think I've quoted this hymn before, but it keeps coming to mind.

"There are chances for work all around just now,

opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying sometime I'll try,

but go and do something today."

~Have I Done Any Good? Hymn 223

Truly we are all called to labor in the vineyard this last time before the Lord comes. Let us labor with our might, that we may lay up in store for ourselves. Members and missionaries, working together to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of God's children. Now is the time, now is the season. It is the time of thanksgiving for a bounteous harvest, but have we helped with the harvest? There are yet many more sheaves to gather. I hope we all will gather together and thank the Lord for the harvest we have received, but also pray that we may be blessed with more.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Murdock

General Epistle the Fifteenth

Greetings and salutations!

What a roller coaster this week! It began on Monday, when I went to the lab to do blood work and give a urine sample. This is just a routine thing so they can monitor my kidney function. I got a call the next day from the doctor's office. My creatinine was at 3.9. Normal levels are anywhere from 0.8 to about 1.5. They were freaking out a bit, but it has been that high in the past. When it has, I was just put on Prednisone again.

So they ordered more labs, which I went on Wednesday to do. Since they had taken 3 vials of blood on Monday, they only took one this time. I have been feeling a little weak since then, but I'm getting better. 

Thursday I received another call from the doctor's office. They wanted me to go in for an ultrasound on my kidneys. I still don't know why they ordered that, but we scheduled it for Monday at 1. I went to the O'Quinn Medical Towers in Downtown Houston, which is outside the mission, to have it done. They put the warm gel on my belly and I got to look over at the screen as they looked inside my organs. It was weird.

One perk about all this was that I got to call my dad and my mom for information and whatnot. That was cool. I also got a chance to call my family on Saturday. My grandmother is going to pass away soon, so I was given special permission to call and talk with her. I spent about 40 minutes communicating with my family and trying to get the video call to work. I can't wait until Christmas to talk with everyone over video call. 

So apart from all the health drama, there has also been missionary work drama. A man who is getting baptized this Saturday is not living currently in our area, but is being baptized into it. He will move down into Old Spring afterward, but still won't be in our area. We dealt with all that this week. 

As for myself, I'm doing a little better than last week. I have a tendency to focus so much on myself. I'm trying to reach out and help others and not judge them. I'm also trying to be more obedient. 

One highlight of my week was when I got to play the piano in primary. I miss doing that. It was fun to be in there with the kids and to play some of those songs again. I got to play a couple Christmas songs, too! 

There were some extra words I once wrote to a song in the Children's Songbook: Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus. They include telling about His life and ministry, as well as how He'll come again. 

After the 2nd verse, it goes like this:

So Jesus lived in Galilee and taught all that was good.

And showed us by the way He lived the right way that we should.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Oh, let us gladly sing. How blessed that our Lord did come;

Let Earth receive her King!

But by His people Jesus was sentenced to be crucified.

And on the cross, below all things, our Lord and Savior died.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Oh, let us gladly sing. How blessed that our Lord did die;

Let Earth receive her King!

Yet on the third day Jesus rose, the chains of death to broke,

ascending to the Father above to sit down on His throne.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Oh, let us gladly sing. How blessed that our Lord now lives;

Let Earth receive her King!

And soon in glory He will appear, with hosts of angels, too,

To rid the world of hate and strife, His enemies, subdue.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Oh, let us gladly sing. How blessed that our Lord will come;

Let Earth receive her King!

There is a difference between testimony and conversion. I know that we must all be converted to the gospel to really be able to stand at the last day with confidence before the Lord. We must use the enabling power of the Atonement to become, not only do, what the Lord would have us become. 

We have so much infinite potential as children of God. We can all do better, yes, but let us not forget how far we have come. This journey is not a lonely one when we have friends and family all on the same quest. We can help each other along by building each other up and supporting each other. You all have helped me along in so many countless ways. You have urged me to be better. Even with all the support, we each have to rely on the Savior to really make it.

Keep pushing forward; we are on a grand adventure to Eternal Life.

I share that in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Murdock 

General Epistle the Fourteenth

Hello, everyone!

This week flew by, but so has every other week.

We played Catch Phrase as a district on Monday for Preparation Day. It was a ton of fun. 

Tuesday we had an appointment with an investigator. His wife has not been to the last 4 lessons, and we are worried that her disinterest is affecting him. He wants to come to church and even get baptized, but he wants his wife to be as interested as he is. Perhaps in a couple weeks, when she no longer has to prepare the music for her class reunion, she will be more involved in the lessons.

Wednesday we helped a less-active woman move from the ward. We painted all morning and afternoon. I didn't get to go to the scouting broadcast, but I heard it was really cool. If you get a chance, check it out Here.

Thursday was more moving all day. We went to a member's home for Halloween and had dinner. I took my bathrobe and a wand to be a Ravenclaw student. IDK if there were pictures, but I'll check.

Friday was Zone Meeting, and it was really good. We talked about referrals and how to get more people to teach. I need that right now, since we only have two investigators, and only one is progressing toward baptism. We need to find more people to teach for sure.

Saturday we got to meet with our bishop. He is a great bishop and is dedicated to the work of salvation. Unfortunately, he told us he is moving soon. My companion is frustrated because he was finally in an area where the bishop cared and the ward mission leader wanted to work. Now we're losing the bishop, and we just hope that the one to replace him will be as dedicated. 

Sunday was church, of course. No investigators could come. Our appointment with our one progressing investigator fell through because he had no fuel to drive. 

I would share a miracle, but I can't seem to really recognize one from this week. However, I do know that reaching out to others helps myself to refocus on what's important. I have been down on myself for not being the kind of missionary I want to be. While I know I can't be perfect, I also know I could be doing better. Focusing so much on myself, I have forgotten to make sure my companion is doing all right. I was reminded of this today when he was angry and I asked him what was up. Sometimes we just need to get outside ourselves and care for others.

During Zone meeting, there were miracles shared with us. Sister Garlick shared a great one that really strengthened my testimony that we are led by the Holy Ghost when we are doing what we know we should. She is an obedient missionary, and I feel that I have not been. Thus, I have not seen miracles, whereas she really has.

There is a bigger picture so many of us miss. We don't realize that we are a blip in eternity. We do not realize that our decision determine our destinies. We forget that we are eternal beings living mortal lives. We focus on the temporal and not the eternal. 

Our goal is Eternal Life. The church and all the commandments and programs in it are there to help us prepare for that goal. They are there to improve us. Do not get caught up in the minutia of life that that greatest of all gifts goes unnoticed and, eventually, given up.

I know we have a savior, Jesus Christ, who has allowed us to partake of Salvation and Eternal Life. I know we must choose now to serve Him and become His disciples. I know we have a greater purpose here: to help bring to pass the Eternal Life of ourselves and our brothers and sisters.

Be strong and of good courage, for He has overcome the world. 

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Murdock