Dear Elder Raven:
It is hard to believe that you’ve already spent 11 days in the CCM. It was such a thrill to hear you speak at Caleb’s baptism and during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. So thankful too to be with you when you were officially set apart as a missionary for the Mexico Monterrey West Mission. And then for Kacie and I to join your family in taking you to the airport was the frosting on the cake. Grandpa and I pray for you daily… often more than once a day. We put your name on the prayer roll in the Meridian Temple and will do so every two weeks for infinity and beyond. It is a wonderful experience to be in the temple and hear the ordinance workers pray for the missionaries. You are so loved. There is a young elder who has served with us in the Temple the past month who will be entering the CCM next week. He is awesome. I hope you can meet him. I think he is from the Caldwell East Stake. Unfortunately, we can’t remember his name but we asked him to look you up.
Every week the Temple Presidency gives us scriptures to think about and a ponder question to go with each scripture. I thought I’d share those with you: This week’s scripture was
2 Nephi 2:6-7
2 Nephi 2:6-7
(6) Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. (7) Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Ponder what it means, “to answer the ends of the law”
Last week’s scripture was: Moroni 7:48 …Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
The ponder question is: What does it mean…” and we shall see him as he is?”
We love these ponder questions. The presidency has also cautioned us to allow the Holy Ghost to teach us the answer through our own personal reflection and study rather than asking another ordinance worker to tell us what it means to them.
Tara Schulthies Rushton gave a talk in sacrament meeting last week and talked about how their family is enhancing their scripture study. They are using Hank Smith’s teachings on how to study the scriptures. She expressed that Brother Smith taught that scripture study is three-fold. 1. Read it. 2. Find it. 3. Use it! She gave examples regarding each of the steps, but I especially appreciated learning about Step 2… which is that each of us should understand that “the Lord has embedded messages just for you…. Don’t compare yourself with others, but find the meaning for you personally.” I’ve thought of that concept before but when she talked about the embedded messages for us personally it felt more profound. It will be a nice challenge for us to study the scriptures with these concepts in mind.
All is going well here on the VHS FARM. We will soon be in harvest. We express to you our deepest love and appreciation for your willingness to serve a mission. May you be abundantly blessed as you serve.
Love, Grandpa George and Gma Sue!!!
P.S. We will be contributing $100/month for your mission expenses.
