Homecoming talk

August 20,2017 Homecoming

Farewell was on missionary work. 
Homecoming on scripture study.
Thank the bishopric for going super easy on me.

2 Ne 31:15 endure to the end. Easy?? No. Nephi after teaching us this principle of the Gospel continued to expound to us on HOW we can.

2 Nephi 32 angels speak to us all the time. How?? The Holy Ghost! Invite how??? FEAST UPON THE WORDS.

Introduction, peace in this life, eternal salvation in the life to come. Rad promise. What does it mean??

Marion G Romney:
"There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called ‘the words of life,’ and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. … ‘Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit’”

1 Nephi 1. Talk about Lehi. Basically the outline.

Stories not of my recent converts, but converts that helped me become converted.

Morgy morg. Feel like a goober. 3rd Nephi 11. Smiling on the bus. ACTUALLY HER YEAR ANNIVERSARY TODAY!

Aaron. Met Tuesday. Full resto Wednesday. Pos set date. Reading like wild.

Rashard. Desire to read the whole BOM before being baptized.

Anthony. Used the power of the Book of Mormon to quit drinking.

Matthew. Reading at the institute all the time. Going on a mission!

Mason disappearing. Coming back. Why?! Knew the BOM was true!!

Matt committing to read the entire BOM in like 5 days. Animal.

Elizabeth. Any questions?? No. They were all answered as I read!

Ingrid. Story of missionaries knocking on her door, never answered door before really. Fell in love with the BOM. 

Marissa. Gosh. BOM.

Mani story.

Maddy. When reading slipping, errythang slipped.

Serving on campus, became vital that all we did, every conversation, ended with an invite to read. Why??? If no reading, no development of faith.

Because of all of these examples, as well as countless experience every morning as I study the scriptures, I've learned the importance of scripture study, and the absolute vital nature of the Book of Mormon to get through this life and Endure to the End.

Mission Friends

Family

Adam, Matt and the wardies

Alma 17: 2-4

Hardest thing I have ever done

What a blessing it is to be a missionary. Matthew was able to get baptized on Saturday, which was dang cool. We also were able to teach the plan of salvation, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Restoration, all to different people. My Elders quorum president hid a sick tie for elder Bailey and I, and we wore them on Sunday to surprise him, and he wore one to match!! Haha he's such the man.:)

Its crazy to look back on the past 24 months. Honestly, it's spooky to think 2 years ago, I was sitting awake in the mtc in a cold sweat, in fear of what was coming. As this week has approached, I don't think I've ever experienced sweat quite as cold, or nights quite as full of not knowing what was coming. But if there is one thing I've learned on my mission, it's that God is at the helm. 

I'd give more wisdom. But we're swamped with transfer stuff. 

Love y'all. 

Come to my homecoming.

August 20th at 11 am

261 East Center Street

North Salt Lake, Utah

Elder Roberts

Matthew's baptism July 29, 2017

Last discussion...

Matchy Matchy!

Christlike Leadership

Not letting your emails go down the drain is probably the toughest thing I've ever done. But! Recently I've had several very powerful testimonies about keeping records. So I'm trying... bare with me... who am I kidding. At this point no one reads this. There are some good pics you can slide to, though.

This week was so good! We got some serious sun. It was great! Out and about and stuff. It's stinking hot here. And I love it. It's hard to even picture snow, like, I can't imagine that feeling of getting thrown into a snow bank. Not something I'm looking forward to remembering... haha!

But! The most Important thing that happened this week!!! MASON GOT BAPTIZED!!!! It was such a great baptism!! He's such the man. We sat down with him Wednesday before and went over the last little things, and he straight was teaching us. That son of a gun. Hahaha! He also received the priesthood, and will be going to the temple this Friday! Can you believe that?!? Big week planned, this week.:)

Also. Matty Cakes passed his interview. So he'll be getting baptized on Saturday!! Whatta blessing to be a part of these two studs path to the Savior.<3

This week, I also found a new hero! Actually he's rather old. Alma, from the Book of Mormon! Alma Senior, that is. He's such the man. Honestly, reading just the chapters about him have provided me with tons and tons of thoughts about Christlike Leadership. One being about the topic of "which way do I face?" And maybe a better question "which way do I help the people I lead face?"

So often, we take leadership, and everyone knows us, and people look up to us, and our heads get to be the size of Neptune. Where does this say we're helping people to face? Hint. It's right at our ugly mug!!! When leadership becomes popularity, or our decisions are swayed by what people will think of us, being fearful the flow of hot air right to our noggins will be curbed a little, that's when we cease to lead as the Savior did. Ya know, the one who never once made an extremely popular decision, who without fail said "thy (God's) will be done." 

Alma provides us with a great example in Mosiah 24:20. He's just saved his people from bondage, and they're pumped! So much so they name the little valley "Alma," after their leader! Right after, Alma recognizes he may be enjoying this praise a little too much, and what does he do??? Verse 21! Redirects them to where the miracles really came. 

That's the lesson. As leaders, we lead those towards praising God.

Yump. 

Love y'all!

-Elder Roberts

Mason's Baptism

Mason's Confirmation and Priesthood ordination

Frisbee clan<3

Ma

Accidentally matched a members chair...

Skipped a rock here.

EJ, EB, ER

What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgements, which the Lord our God hatch commanded you?

We had MLC this week, stinking good meeting. President Peterson owns
it. haha seriously, it was awesome to see him get up for the first
time in a Mission Leadership Council and just wreck. One of the best
councils i've ever sat in on, because he just brought up everything we
do and take for granted and made us all question it, really figure out
why the heck we do what we do. 

He said a quote that really resonated
with me "as soon as we start checking boxes, we stop doing it the
Lords way." Meaning as soon as we do things simply to do them, they
lose their power. 

It actually reminds me a lot of a scripture in the
Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:20-25. We can do everything right, but
honestly the doing doesn't mean much. Helping us to remember the why
is exactly what Moses was doing in this scripture, helping the Hebrews
remember what the purpose was behind the Law and the Statutes. I love
the reminder he gives in verse 21-25. We are all bondsmen, not
necessarily to pharaoh, but regardless, God truly has shown many
miracles, the greatest of which that makes all other matter is the
sacrifice of his Beloved Son. 

That's why we live the lives we do.
That's why we give up 2 years to serve a mission. Why we don't drink
tea, coffee, or alcohol. Why we attend 3+ hours every week of church
meetings. It's simply because God saved us, and asked us to. And may I
just say, there is no doubt in my mind when Nephi speaks of "living
after the manner of happiness," this is exactly what he's referring
to. Keeping the commandments WITH the understanding of WHY.:)

Mason passed his interview yesterday. Super sick. Going to get
baptized this Saturday. WHOOP!:)

Love y'all.

Elder Roberts

Bishop Martinez

Mar 26 2017

Sisters Barton and Roberts I've had the supreme pleasure of being having your fantastic young men in our ward. They just left our home after leaving a great message with my family on fasting. They are great young men. They work hard, care deeply, and love their mission and the Lord with all their hearts. You should be very proud of them, I am. Thank you so much for sharing them with us here in Texas. We are blessed for having them here.

Enjoy the picture, 

Sincerely Bishop Martinez

Weakly email. (Yes. Weakly, not weekly. Sorry.)

Jul 10 2017

Hey Howdy!

This week was crazy. It's actually weird to think back at the events that happened at the beginning of the week, they feel like ages ago.

It was zone conference week, President Peterson was able to meet all the missionaries! He's legits the man. Taught us about high expectations, and so much more. Seriously. I'm going to learn so much from him! Haha!

Elder Bailey and I taught Sunday School on Sunday about families. It's amazing how quickly conversations about families invite the spirit. Seriously. It was awesome. Even in YSAs, people love families!

Something interesting I've been noticing in the Book of Mormon as I've been studying it is the necessity for work. All of the amazing people inside the Book I always figured were just studs from the beginning, which is partly true, but every last one mentions how much they labored, and not just once, but the phrase "labored diligently" is one of the most common phrases I've seen so far! So much goes undone simply because people don't want to put in the work.

Anyway. Sorry this email is weak.

Elder Roberts

Frisbee squad!

District meeting.

My little bear cub.:'D

Mort is back.:D

Jacob 5

Jul 3 2017

This week I've been studying Jacob Chapter 5. So needless to say, it's been a good week! Something about reading the prophecies about Gods plan to gather his people gives you new eyes to missionary work! And boy, did the Lord provide!!

Like, 4 huge miracles took place this week.

One came at the sacrifice of a turtle. Sounds weird, but we hit a turtle in our car on accident, and we pulled over to see the damage. It got munched. It was super sad. And funny. Anyway! As we're standing there, a security guard of the building we're by comes over and asks what we're doing, and we explain that we killed a turtle and were leaving soon, but she was fascinated!! And then she was fascinated with us being missionaries! And then we taught her the whole restoration! And then she wants to get baptized!! Ya. Pretty stinking cool.

Another one, our good friend Matthew accepted a date for the 29th of July! And then insisted on coming tracting with us. Legits this kid has only come to church twice, and he's out on the streets knocking on doors, and flipping rocking it. It was so sick!!!! He loved it!! He wants to go on a mission!

This, and many other instances this week feed my testimony of the truthfulness of the sculpture in Jacob 5 that says "if ye labor with your might with Meyer shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself..." 

Truly laboring with the lord brings the greatest joy I've ever experienced. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the surest way to find peace, and its such an honor to be a small part!

Love y'all!

Elder Roberts

Love these fellas!!

This spider we gave battle to.

Selfie with the dead turtle! (My rippling bicep is covering it.)