Thursday, August 24, 2017

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

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

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!

Monday, July 24, 2017

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

Monday, July 17, 2017

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








Sunday, July 16, 2017

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

Saturday, July 15, 2017

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.)


This is a song of Hope.

Jun 26 2017

Hey Howdy!

Well. This is President Mortensen's last week. Tomorrow is his last MLC. I cannot believe it. On Friday President Petersen will fly in, and there will be a couple hour time when the two titans will counsel, and then President Mortensen is off. Pretty stinking weird. President Peterson is going to be the man, though! I cannot wait to meet him!:)

This week, some of my closest friends from the mission went home. Pretty spooky. 17 of some of the best people I've ever met, and I started to realize just how incredible the Gospel is. How amazing it is that something as simple as faith can lead us to desire to become better, and more importantly, hope that it's possible. It's easy to want to be great, but greatness is won only by daily fighting in the trenches of life. The drudgery of daily deciding to put the mistakes of yesterday behind, and look forward to something better. This what faith really is. When Alma says that faith is "to hope for things which are not seen, which are true." When we follow him, this becomes so much more than hoping Christ is real. Faith doesn't mean we're crossing our fingers through life HOPING it's true and following blindly. It's the knowledge that Christ is truly the Son of God, and that helps us find hope that the daily battles, the inches won, and the miles lost in the conquest for righteousness really will end up being for our gain, and somehow one day, the war will be over and the victory won. I was able to see the byproduct of that kind of faith in these missionaries. Teenagers who became men of God by clinging to the knowledge they have that Christ will provide, and letting that fill their souls with hope equal to the task at hand. 

I'm so grateful for the Savior, and the hope he brings to me. I love being a missionary more than anything, and cherish every moment I've been given to serve.

Love y'all!

Elder Roberts







I'm so glad when daddy comes homes!

Jun 19 2017

Elder Bailey and I gave talks on Sunday on fathers. Super fun. We were speaking companions with a future missionary giving his farewell!! So neat. Throw back... haha. Anyway. This Monday I have zero time. So here's my talk. Much love.

Elder Roberts

Howdy!! What a wonderful opportunity it is to be here, especially to be soon to be Elder Bowen’s speaking companion! I’ve been here in the Wonderful Glen Loch Ward for a good minute now, and this fine young man has impressed me from the moment I met him as a valiant Son of God who is ready to take upon himself the name of the savior for the next 2 years! 

Today i’ve been asked to continue speaking on Fathers. It’s funny, i don’t think there is a young man, adult man, or old man alive who would feel qualified to give such a talk. We can talk all day about how incredible mothers are, but somehow, i don’t think there is a father alive who feels qualified to be a Dad. May i start this talk right of the bat by saying that in the time i’ve been here, which isn’t much, i’ve been so very impressed with all of the fathers and father figures in this ward. This fact is especially notable in a world like today, where the way people view fathers has become increasingly more comical, and extremely less vital. 

The Family: A Proclamation to the World clearly states that 

“fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” 

So shock you as it may, fathers are expected to be good for a little bit more than a good punch line now and again. King Benjamin does a fantastic job at describing this role as well in Mosiah 4:14-15. 

14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.
15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

And i’ve seen each of you rise to the occasion, to become the Priesthood Leader and Father that our Heavenly Father would want you to become.

And, if i may, I want to let everyone in on a secret. Had it not been for righteous fathers and father figures in my life, i would not be standing before you as a representative of Jesus Christ today. It’s actually a little spooky to try and imagine where/what i would be doing. From what i’ve seen, there is really just one trick to being a dad, and it’s to be a father, whether or not you have children. This sounds weird, i know. I came from a family of 8 children. I sometimes try to imagine what this must have been like for my poor parents, especially knowing what a rebel rouser i was. But honestly, with 7 other siblings competing for time, it wasn’t nearly as frequent as i would have liked that i got the good ol’ father son one on one time. But, because of the goodness of God, he provided me, and provides all of us, with countless others to fill this role that is honestly impossible for one man to do perfectly. So when i say be a father, this means that every male who is foreordained to hold the priesthood, which means all of us, has a responsibility to be a father figure to everyone, i like to think of this as a not so typical application of President Uchtdorf’s famous “lift where you stand.” 
A few examples come to my mind of people who did just this, and maybe a couple key characteristics that stand out to me from them of good father figures.

Sacrifice Daddy:
As i said, i come from a family of 8. I was astounded to hear the first time my mom told me about all the things my dad gave up to have a family. Things i always took for granted. I can remember growing up, my dad would purposefully leave change in his pockets for us to find while he slept, sacrificing his own lunch money. Of course, i never realized that that’s what he was doing. When I think about my father, I remember the countless times he humbly, quietly put my needs first, and his needs 10th. Compare to what King Benjamin said.

Winning Hearts Brother Brown; staying up late at high adventure, long car rides, stories about mission, goofy stuff about girls, and after released, inviting us over on sundays to eat pretzels and jell-o.

Taking an Interest Hoody; being the supportive and listening, really listening, footlocker story, as well as mission help.

High Expectations Sam Wood; expecting the best, and holding me to it. Beauty doesn’t happen naturally.

Charity Brother Twitchell: loving, caring. Always watching out for us, and sacrificing so much. Cooking at all camps, providing a place for us to bring a date.

When people say it takes a village to raise a child, they mean it. I stand as a witness that despite the inadequacy we all feel to bear the title the Most Powerful Being in the universe chooses to be called, that he has chosen you. Despite your weaknesses and shortcomings, the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ will enable you, and i know that each of you have had experiences when his matchless sacrifice has already carried you past where you thought you could go. I’m grateful to be counted among those that our Heavenly Father has given this sacred mantle, and know that serving a mission and representing the Lord himself is the single best training anyone can go through to become a righteous father, and know that Jackson will be a great example to everyone in Los Angeles!

Love y'all! 

Elder Roberts
This is Elder Lopp. He's the man.

Anthony Brown and I!:)



Agents to act and not to be acted upon

Jun 12 2017

If there is one thing I've learned the last 6 months, it's that we can effect the outcome. In the Book of Mormon, it truly outlines the Plan of Salvation, and teaches us this very principle! Specifically in 2 Nephi 2, there are ideas introduced that revolve around agency, and our ability to act. It explains that everything comes with an opposite, kind of like Newtons law of motion about every action has an equal and opposite reaction. There is happiness and sadness. Joy and misery. Freedom and bondage. For every blue there is an orange (contrasting color, right? Maybe?)

Along with the idea of opposition in all things is the concept of things being able to act, and those that are merely agents to be acted upon. Each and everyone of us has many obstacles and trials that provide us the necessary opposition, often times these come in the form of temptations, but equally as often they come in the form of less than sinning weaknesses, such as not wanting to wake up in the morning or having a really hard time saying no to ice cream. No matter what it is, GOD HAS GIVEN US TO BE AGENTS TO ACT! Meaning we have within our power everything necessary to say no, to choose the right, to act in accordance with what God would have us do. 

It's so easy to see the way something is going, be it grades, the world, our bedrooms, whatever and deciding it's the way it is, and we can't do much. NO. The only way we fail is not by failing to reverse the trend, it's by not doing anything to do so. By accepting that it's the way things are and there is nothing we can do about it we are giving up the God given right to act for ourselves and make a difference. 

This has been especially evident to me recently. As a mission and personally in elder Bailey and my area, we've struggling with getting people to Church. Everyone who's served a mission knows the struggle. Haha but every week, President hits it harder, thinks of what else we could do, never ever accepting that where we are is where we need stay. I've tried to take this into my own personal life, and elder Bailey and I have worked our little buns off to try and act for ourselves and manufacture opportunities. And they all fell through. HAHAHA! But the lesson? God blesses those who try, and the ones we planned on coming couldn't last minute, but out of the stinking blue, 2 people showed up of their own accord, and have the desire to want to come closer to the Lord. A reminder that our attempts are futile, but somehow, He magnifies them to accomplish so much more than we even think.


I cannot begin to describe the gratitude I feel for the Savior, and His help in the mighty work of cleansing and perfecting His children!

Love y'all!

Elder Roberts