Were Back! :)

Painting for Sister Hyland again this week :) 

Kobe drew that deer and sent it to Jake. He was pretty excited :) 

Well as for me this week I have learned so much and want to share so much. So I hope I can share some things that may get you thinking about the gospel. 

First off Lynda is so amazing. We helped her do family history and she found out all the work for her parents is already done in the temple and that they are sealed together. She was in tears. Her sister is a member and lives in the states so she called her and they were so happy. 

Second the church historian came and taught us so so much about the church and the history of it. Cool fact Joseph Smith had 40 wives but didn't break the law of chastity with any of them. He only had kids with Emma  and the reason why he had so many wives is because he was helping them do the ordinance of sealings in the Temple. Now the reason Joseph did this.. is because when he had a vision when he was able to look into heaven, he was able to see the importance of sealing families together. A lot of times we think of sealings as an up and down thing like how we have different generations.. But as we see from what he saw by looking up into heaven we see that we should view sealings as a side to side kind of way. So the whole goal for Joseph smith having so many wives was just of the good intentions of having these single woman receive the highest degree in the celestial kingdom. 

Also on a funnier note.. Joseph smith hated to write and keep journals. Me and him would be best friends haha. But the first time he decided to write a journal and record things was 3 years after writing the book of mormon. And it took him three times just to write the first sentence in a structural manner that even sounded good. Not even correct in any sort of English literacy kind of way. That goes to show us how true and magnificent it was that a farm boy.. Joseph could translate a book writing in these ancient languages in only a period of 90 days. And that is also knowing he only did it in one draft. He did not have to rewrite one thing in the book of Mormon. The book of Mormon is true. 

Now I want to teach you about a thing I learned while studying this week. It is called a Chiasmus. in my brain it is kind of like a sports bracket with a championship at the very middle or center. The same way we can apply this chiamsus to alma 36.. 

As we see from verse 1 and 30 state that we need to keep the commandments. 

Verse 2 and 29 we see god delivers his people. 

Verse 3 and 27-28 we see we need to trust in the lord. 

Verse 4-5 and 23-26 we need to change and be born of god

Verse 6-8 and 22 we see the sons Mosiah were visited by an angel so was Lehi in 22

Verse 12-17 and 21 we see that there is much pain that comes from sinning. 

And the very center peace or championship consists of 17-21 about the Atonement. And how we truly need the Atonement and how it can bring joy into our lives. I hope you all study this chapter and find the value in your lives of how the Atonement can help each and everyone of us. 

 this week we had district conference. Lynda was asked to speak on her testimony. The church was packed and all of us missionaries sat in the hall because there was no seats in the church. Everyone comes out to district conference. During Lynda's talk the spirit was super strong. She told the story of how we missionaries found her. And how she had all her questions answered, and that she now knows where to turn.. Her testimony about the book of mormon was incredible she read the promise we read in moroni 10:3-5 on how if we will read and ask god we can get an answer to if the book is of god or not. she spoke on how she felt at her baptism and how the love she could feel. She spoke on us elders and how we have changed her life forever. 

Her talk was amazing!! 

Sorry I know your sick of hearing from me now. But as easter is upon us remember the events that happened this week. Mostly remember that the savior on Thursday night Suffered for you and me. (Mosiah 3:7, Alma 7:11-13) Remember how we all need the atonement. if we are already doing good we can do better. And if we are already doing better we can become best as we apply the atonement in our lives. after the savior died for us we know that Sunday morning he was raised once again as a resurrected being. Oh how great it is to know that the savior lives and loves each and every one of us. It is my testimony that this up coming week we focus on the savior so that Easter Sunday can be a Delight.  

Love you guys 

Elder Dixon

Rugby has become his new favorite sport

Jakes new companion. This was after they painted for Sister Hyland :) 

Last week we got this letter from Jake as well - It wasn't much, bit just a little bit on how he teaches his lessons :) 

Funny thing every district meeting I apply things to hunting. Two weeks ago I applied the atonement to a rifle and taught everyone how a Rifle shell works. And explained that Jesus Christ is like the primer and with out that little metal piece that starts the whole ignition to shoot the bullet out. I Drew a huge picture of a deer and hunter and right on the deers heart I put the word baptism. I explained in detail about how the bullet shoots to hit the deer. And used scripture references and stuff. I taught for 2 hours and the whole time the district was having fun and loving every minute of it. I closed with the saying that only through the atonement we can reach the investigators and baptize.

Another cool story is that. Last week we had a zone conference they asked me to teach. when we showed up president and the aps were there. So we had a full house! it was awesome I taught on the importance of getting members involved in missionary work. I compared a scope on a rifle to member work. I taught how the ocular lens is like what we first look through and is the lesson plan we prepare to go teach people. I then explained how the elevation turret adjustment is like the members. The elevation and turrain will always be there. And how the elevation is kind of like the landscape it is the home of the what we are trying to hunt. Same applies to members. I then explained how us missionaries are like the Wind-age turret adjustment. And how we come and go but we are still very important on hitting the target. I then explained how when we sight in a gun we make sure both are working together and in line. and how if it is just one notch off we can miss the target by a few feet. I then taught on the importance of making sure that we do service for members and get them involved and get them on the same page so we can hit the objective. I taught how once we are both in line we are able to magnify to get to the object better and hit right on the heart. or in other words we can teach with power and authority.

After the meeting was over president pulled me out in the hall and told me that was exactly what the zone needed to hear and he said that was one of the best zone conferences he has ever been too! it was pretty exciting.