Oh My Goodness, I Love Christmas!

Mission Christmas party at Fort De Soto Beach!
Elders Coleman, Griffiths, Jones, Stuart, Anderson, Birth, and Raoulx.

Oh my goodness, I love Christmas! I've also gained an appreciation for taking time to remember the Savior's birth during this season too. So often we'll go up to people and say we have a Christmas video to show them that's only two minutes and they'll tell us that they don't have time. People use their "busyness" as an excuse to not remember the actual reason for Christmas. This is the time for us all to reflect on His life and the things He has done for us. It makes me sad that gifts get in the way of us remembering that He is the gift.

I'm glad I have the privilege of sharing Christ's message. He was born. He lived and died for us. He rose on the third day. I know this for many reasons, but one specific instance happened as I listened and pondered on the words of "Silent Night." As I heard this hymn being sung by some Primary children and some of their mothers, I felt the Spirit testify to me of the Savior's birth. Christ truly was Lord at His birth. Merry Christmas!

Elder Griffiths' district's contribution to the sandcastle contest.

Outside the walls was a city...

...a very large city.

Changing People

Elder Griffiths with friends at district training meeting.

And Elder Griffiths with more friends at district training meeting.
His companion, Elder Jones, is sitting on his right.

Something that happened to us this past week was we contacted a media referral, which is someone who went to mormon.org and requested a Book of Mormon or a Bible. This person's name was Frances. As we walked out she told us that she wasn't interested in being a "mormon" but she had liked the video "A Savior is Born." We asked her how much she knew about what we believed and she told us she didn't know much. We asked if we could share a short message with her about some of the things we believe. As we taught her about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, she went from being totally uninterested to having a desire to be baptized by someone holding priesthood authority. The message of the gospel can change people. 

There was another time, clear back when I was in Hudson (my first area). We were teaching a man named Jaime (hi-me). He was mostly learning from us because his wife wanted him to be a member of the church. As he learned more about the gospel and began to apply the commandments in his life, as he read the Book of Mormon every day, and as he prayed to know the truth, he changed. He wanted to be baptized for himself, not for the sake of his wife. In fact, he became the example she needed, not the other way around. I watched him truly become a man of God and it was incredible to see the difference.

Pay Attention

Elder Jones, Elder Raoulx, and Elder Griffiths in a Charlie's Angels-esque shot on Thanksgiving at the chicken farm.

I was praying lately to have some way of having my testimony of the Restoration strengthened. We were walking and we saw two teenagers sitting on a park bench. We went to go talk to them and it turns out they’re part of this group of teenagers that we've tried teaching before but they try to avoid us. The girl was more interested and she convinced the guy to listen. Her name was Danielle and his was Ricky. As we said a prayer, and as we taught them the Restoration, I could tell they weren't really interested. Suddenly the words came to my mind, "Tell them to pay attention." At first I thought, "No! I don't want to sound like a school teacher." But then I did it. Before I explained the First Vision, I told them to quit being uninterested and to pay genuine attention to what I was about to say. Immediately the spirit of that lesson changed. I invited them to watch/feel for the Spirit of God to touch their hearts as I recounted the First Vision to them. They looked me in the eyes and I told them in Joseph Smith's words what had happened. I've done this countless times before, but this time it was different. In my mind I felt like I could see the First Vision happening and a powerful feeling came over me. After I finished talking, I knew that my prayer had been answered. They paid a lot more attention for the rest of the lesson and then we got some contact info and left. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and restored Christ's church.

I had another experience that has a little bit less to do with me teaching someone else and more to do with me being taught. It also has to do with prayer again. I prayed for my testimony of the Savior to be strengthened. That's something that's good for all of us to keep praying for. A couple weeks after saying this prayer, Elder Jones and I were recruited into the ward choir (yes, Mom, it finally happened). Recently we were singing Silent Night. As the women were singing their part they sang, "Christ the Savior is born." It hit me pretty hard. Christ was born and we all benefit from that.

More photos from the chicken farm on the day of the three feasts.

It's quite possible Elder Jones and Elder Griffiths are looking at chickens.

Feasting with the Arterburn family.

Feasting with the Carlson family. Maybe a little too much turkey?