A State of Love

Life's good in Ohio. A bit hectic recently, but i guess i volunteered for that when i set in my papers over a year ago. Elder Whittle and i had an interesting conversation with President Jensen last night. A companionship in one of the branches in the souther part of our zone has been struggling for a while, and one of the companions has insisted on going home. To ease the pressure on him president is tranferring him out on saturday to a much more productive area. The difficult part is that it leaves his companion without a companion. So Elder Whittle and i are recieving a companion for the remainder of the transfer. His names Elder Warner. He was in my district when i was in Chillicothe. He's got some learning disabilities and will probably be a little similar to serving with Elder Picinich. We're excited though. The only struggle will be that because we live in the city we have a rather small apartment. It'll be interesting, but it's only for the next 3 weeks anyway.

Life's good though. We started teaching a girl named Hannah. She's got a very similar personality to our Hannah. It feels a lot like teaching Megan again, which makes life easy. Her grandparents are members, but growing up with an inactive mother she was never baptized. So we're fixing that. Her date is the 24th of October.

We're also teaching an older couple named Randy and Karen. Randy has a very fun and sarcastic personality. They're member referrals, so they've been progressing constantly and smoothly.

I've spent the last few days studying the doctrine of love and have found some incredible insights into the love of our Savior and how we increase our love for others. I've come to one solitary conclusion: when the safety, welfare, and satisfaction of someone else means more to you than your own -- a state of love exists. I simple and trivial as that sounds, it's incredible that our Savior is capable of feeling that way about everyone.

The other doctrinal points i've been focusing on have been centered around ageny. 2 Ne 2 has been my best friend this week. I've realized in God's eyes most things are very black and white. We have some opportunties to exercise our agency by choosing from more than one good thing, but most decisions in our life are between right and wrong. As we get in the pattern of choosing right it becomes easier and more desireable. Faith, agency and conversion are never stagnat. They are ever progressing forward are backward. Just as it says in D&C "there is a pattern in all things," and we must establish the lifelong patterns that will bring us back to the eternal presence of our Father in Heaven. They are what will determine at the judgment day whether we will wish to be buried in hid from His presence by the mountains, or whether we will be able to look into his face and hear, "well done my good and faithful servant."

Well i gotta run. Life is good. I'm tired. I'm happy. I miss you all.

Love,
Austin

Good Morning to You!

Alas, they did not leave me alone. I just got moved to Scioto to be a Zone Leader. I'm excited, but at the same time a little sad. Luckily, i feel comfortable leaving the Work in Elder Upton's hands. We rode in Alberto Mancuso's 1964 Cadillac to transfer meeting, and it was strange to see Elder Upton take off with someone else so soon. Zanesville was starting to feel like home. It was strange to sit back and analyze the changes in my style of missionary work. I work much differently than when i first came out. I'm familiar with the feelings of productivity and have finally learned some of most effective ways to attain them.

My new companion's name is Elder Whittle. You have a homework assignment. Track down his family and go out to dinner with them. He's from Parker. His family is in the Running Creek Ward. How cool is that? President Jensen said we have to limit the Broncos talk. haha. Elder Whittle's been out about 3 months longer than me. He came out with Elder Soffe. The Scioto Ward covers a small part of Columbus and a number of suburbs including Grove City and Grandview. It sounds like the work is doing really well, so i'm excited to keep it going.

More fun news... Elder Jones, who was trained by Elder Maylett, is now training. I have a great grandson. President said i'm beginning to look like Abraham. I think seeing that productivity of the elders i've trained is one of the most rewarding parts of my mission.

Alright, biggest new of the week. We were on the phone with Alberto last night talking about our ride to transfer meeting when he said, "that reminds me, Elder Montgomery has to find a ride back to Zanesville on the 13th." When we asked why he said, "Because that's the day Brianna and Karleigh are getting baptized." I just about cried. He said that they'd talked about it as a family and Brianna, the oldest daughter, and Karleigh, the youngest, had prayed and felt ready for baptism. Luara and Jossi will take a little while, but i'm so excited.

Your pictures are coming this week. I just merged them all onto a flash card to send to you. There's also some clips of the uke with a couple of songs i wrote.

If i have any input, i'd prefer to come home to that same place, although the Mero's basement would be satisfactory. At least then we'd be back in their ward.

Have you given Devin the same talk you gave me a few years ago when i complained about singing with Voices of a New Day. You said it wasn't all about me -- that's something i think Devin is learning right now.

Tell Dakota he has to get better. No more bad stuff is allowed to happen while i'm gone.

I've been so impressed the last few weeks by the influence of the Holy Ghost. It is amazing the direction that it gives us and how much it teaches a humble. The Savior really did keep his promise to not leave us comfortless. I was talking to president today about how some experiences don't seem as deeply spiritual as they used to be. He reminded me of when Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon recieved a revelation and afterward Sidney collapsed from exhaustion. Joseph's response was the Sidney wasn't used to it yet. The Spirit is such a wonderful thing to get used to. I've learned that there are 3 key elements that play into properly recieving revelation. 1: The application of past experience. 2: The exercising of agency. 3: The presence of the Holy Ghost. When those three things are present revelation occurs in abundance.

Well, I gotta run. I miss you guys. Don't move without telling me.

Love,
Austin