G'Day!
Thanks for the great e-mail this week! I'm grateful for all the things you include and the stories you share that help brighten up my week! Well the past week was pretty good, we were able to get several new investigators, including beginning to teach a part member family who hasn't been to church for a few years but has 2 young boys of baptism age who they want to have baptized soon. So that was wonderful to start teaching them! The rest of our teaching pool is doing very well as well, and Coral was able to have a much better week and able to make good progress on several things! I know that is definitely a result of your added prayers and concern for her, especially when you went to the Temple, thank you so much! Our Zone also had interviews this past week with President Maxwell which was good! It's always a great opportunity to get some one on one time with the mission president, even if it isn't for a long amount of time. So that took up a lot of our Friday because we had to drive around and pick up some other missionaries as well. I'm kind of going quickly through these things because I know you wanted to hear about my thoughts on General Conference so I wanted to save enough time to talk about it. Before I go into which ones I liked and several specific quotes that impacted and impressed me, I just wanted to make one observation that I felt as I listened to the talks and saw a recurring theme. If you remember a lot of the talks, especially in the Sunday morning session, were about putting the Lord first and avoiding the worldly pursuits and ideas that are becoming more and more prevalent. Obviously we know that the world will get to a worse and worse point before the second coming but perhaps the amount of talks on this topic signifies that it will soon become much harder to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ and if we aren't focused on the Gospel 100% of the time then there may be an increased onslaught from the adversary to distract our attention and lead us off the straight and narrow path. So that's just one thought I had after listening to all the talks, as well as the emphasis as always on increased member missionary work. I would say I agree with Dad in saying that Elder Holland's talk was the most powerful to me. I hadn't heard a general authority really speak about such a topic before and who better to talk about it than him! I thought it was perfectly delivered and most certainly will be a blessing to many lives since nearly all of us nowadays are impacted either directly or indirectly by some form or another of Depression. I thought his counsel was also wonderful to anyone without such a condition as well, of just simply outlining a way to stay happy and positive in a world that will try to force unnecessary gloom and despair down our throats, whether by circumstances or people around us or just simply by our own doubts. So anyway, as you asked for and I previously did, here are some good quotes that I really liked. Elder Hales gave all of us some great counsel that applies not only to general conference, but every meeting of the church we attend, in saying, "What is said is not as important as what is heard and what is felt." Sister Carole M. Stephens said, "When we take the Sacrament we don't just renew our baptismal covenants but all our covenants." Elder Edward Dube said, "It is not about where we serve, but how we serve," as well as "The past is to be learned from but not to be lived in," and, "Faith is always pointing to the future," and lastly, "It isn't so much about what we have done or where we have been but about where we are willing to go." Elder Bednar (who's talk was fantastic as well) said, "The grateful are rich in contentment, and the ungrateful suffer in the poverty of discontentment." President Uchtdorf said, "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith." Elder S. Gifford Nielsen gave a wonderful pattern for success for member missionaries in setting forth the 3 step process of 1. Specifically pray to bring someone closer to Christ every day (notice it doesn't say bring someone into the church, but simply bring someone closer to Christ, which can be done in many ways) 2. Pray for missionaries and investigators by name every day (specifically for the ward or branch you are a part of) 3. Invite a friend to an activity within or without your home. Elder Timothy J. Dyches said, "Christ heals body, mind, and spirit and His healing begins with faith." And in Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk there were these wise counsels to those suffering any form of depression, or even those not suffering, "Never lose faith in your Father in Heaven above all else...it is there for you all the time...faithfully pursue time-tested Gospel practices...talk to Priesthood leaders and receive blessings...take the Sacrament weekly...believe in miracles...if the bitter cup doesn't pass, drink it and be strong...be alert to signs around us, and in us...fatigue requires rest...if we don't take time now to be well, we will take time later to be ill...Heavenly Father wants us to use both the church/priesthood and the other things we are blessed with (example: the medical field)...(and finally and I believe most importantly he stated boldly and lovingly:) do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it." Elder Randy D. Funk shared the process of becoming a good missionary by saying, "Humble yourself, abide in His word, and hearken unto His spirit." President Uchtdorf stated beautifully in saying, "Our destiny isn't determined by the number of times we fall but by the number of times we rise back up," and, "There is a difference between the sorrow that leads to repentance, and the sorrow that leads to despair." President Henry B. Eyring spoke of asking others to help you or fulfill callings by stating, "You aren't asking them to help you, you are telling them 'The Lord wants to bless you'." Some good counsel in the next session by him as well for a pattern to happier family life was, "Put yourself where you feel the Lord's forgiveness...accept and magnify every calling you receive...serve others to be more worthy of the Holy Ghost." Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "Man's law cannon make moral what God deems immoral." Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson said, "Conversion comes through living the principles and sacrificing for them." Elder Richard J. Maynes said regarding having spiritual strength, "...comes at a price: dedication, perseverance, and self-discipline." And the last quote which I will include is from Elder Neil L. Anderson who said in regards to the priesthood and men, "A man may open the drapes to let in the light and warmth of the Sun, but he does not own the sun, light, or warmth." Well those are some of the quotes that really touched me and which I will try to apply in my life. Hopefully you enjoyed seeing and reading them! Anyway that has put me out of time for today, but thank you so much for all of your love and support and most of all prayers for me as well as for all those we are working with here in Wangaratta. I love this work and I love the Gospel! Have a fantastic week this week and I will talk to you again soon! I love you!
Love,Thanks for the great e-mail this week! I'm grateful for all the things you include and the stories you share that help brighten up my week! Well the past week was pretty good, we were able to get several new investigators, including beginning to teach a part member family who hasn't been to church for a few years but has 2 young boys of baptism age who they want to have baptized soon. So that was wonderful to start teaching them! The rest of our teaching pool is doing very well as well, and Coral was able to have a much better week and able to make good progress on several things! I know that is definitely a result of your added prayers and concern for her, especially when you went to the Temple, thank you so much! Our Zone also had interviews this past week with President Maxwell which was good! It's always a great opportunity to get some one on one time with the mission president, even if it isn't for a long amount of time. So that took up a lot of our Friday because we had to drive around and pick up some other missionaries as well. I'm kind of going quickly through these things because I know you wanted to hear about my thoughts on General Conference so I wanted to save enough time to talk about it. Before I go into which ones I liked and several specific quotes that impacted and impressed me, I just wanted to make one observation that I felt as I listened to the talks and saw a recurring theme. If you remember a lot of the talks, especially in the Sunday morning session, were about putting the Lord first and avoiding the worldly pursuits and ideas that are becoming more and more prevalent. Obviously we know that the world will get to a worse and worse point before the second coming but perhaps the amount of talks on this topic signifies that it will soon become much harder to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ and if we aren't focused on the Gospel 100% of the time then there may be an increased onslaught from the adversary to distract our attention and lead us off the straight and narrow path. So that's just one thought I had after listening to all the talks, as well as the emphasis as always on increased member missionary work. I would say I agree with Dad in saying that Elder Holland's talk was the most powerful to me. I hadn't heard a general authority really speak about such a topic before and who better to talk about it than him! I thought it was perfectly delivered and most certainly will be a blessing to many lives since nearly all of us nowadays are impacted either directly or indirectly by some form or another of Depression. I thought his counsel was also wonderful to anyone without such a condition as well, of just simply outlining a way to stay happy and positive in a world that will try to force unnecessary gloom and despair down our throats, whether by circumstances or people around us or just simply by our own doubts. So anyway, as you asked for and I previously did, here are some good quotes that I really liked. Elder Hales gave all of us some great counsel that applies not only to general conference, but every meeting of the church we attend, in saying, "What is said is not as important as what is heard and what is felt." Sister Carole M. Stephens said, "When we take the Sacrament we don't just renew our baptismal covenants but all our covenants." Elder Edward Dube said, "It is not about where we serve, but how we serve," as well as "The past is to be learned from but not to be lived in," and, "Faith is always pointing to the future," and lastly, "It isn't so much about what we have done or where we have been but about where we are willing to go." Elder Bednar (who's talk was fantastic as well) said, "The grateful are rich in contentment, and the ungrateful suffer in the poverty of discontentment." President Uchtdorf said, "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith." Elder S. Gifford Nielsen gave a wonderful pattern for success for member missionaries in setting forth the 3 step process of 1. Specifically pray to bring someone closer to Christ every day (notice it doesn't say bring someone into the church, but simply bring someone closer to Christ, which can be done in many ways) 2. Pray for missionaries and investigators by name every day (specifically for the ward or branch you are a part of) 3. Invite a friend to an activity within or without your home. Elder Timothy J. Dyches said, "Christ heals body, mind, and spirit and His healing begins with faith." And in Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk there were these wise counsels to those suffering any form of depression, or even those not suffering, "Never lose faith in your Father in Heaven above all else...it is there for you all the time...faithfully pursue time-tested Gospel practices...talk to Priesthood leaders and receive blessings...take the Sacrament weekly...believe in miracles...if the bitter cup doesn't pass, drink it and be strong...be alert to signs around us, and in us...fatigue requires rest...if we don't take time now to be well, we will take time later to be ill...Heavenly Father wants us to use both the church/priesthood and the other things we are blessed with (example: the medical field)...(and finally and I believe most importantly he stated boldly and lovingly:) do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it." Elder Randy D. Funk shared the process of becoming a good missionary by saying, "Humble yourself, abide in His word, and hearken unto His spirit." President Uchtdorf stated beautifully in saying, "Our destiny isn't determined by the number of times we fall but by the number of times we rise back up," and, "There is a difference between the sorrow that leads to repentance, and the sorrow that leads to despair." President Henry B. Eyring spoke of asking others to help you or fulfill callings by stating, "You aren't asking them to help you, you are telling them 'The Lord wants to bless you'." Some good counsel in the next session by him as well for a pattern to happier family life was, "Put yourself where you feel the Lord's forgiveness...accept and magnify every calling you receive...serve others to be more worthy of the Holy Ghost." Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "Man's law cannon make moral what God deems immoral." Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson said, "Conversion comes through living the principles and sacrificing for them." Elder Richard J. Maynes said regarding having spiritual strength, "...comes at a price: dedication, perseverance, and self-discipline." And the last quote which I will include is from Elder Neil L. Anderson who said in regards to the priesthood and men, "A man may open the drapes to let in the light and warmth of the Sun, but he does not own the sun, light, or warmth." Well those are some of the quotes that really touched me and which I will try to apply in my life. Hopefully you enjoyed seeing and reading them! Anyway that has put me out of time for today, but thank you so much for all of your love and support and most of all prayers for me as well as for all those we are working with here in Wangaratta. I love this work and I love the Gospel! Have a fantastic week this week and I will talk to you again soon! I love you!
Elder Hopkins
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