5.5 Weeks In!

Hey Mom + Dad! (And Everybody!)

M'bae cha pa? (How are you?) It's been really great to hear that pretty much everything is going well! :) I ran out of time last week to write more (I had 8 seconds left on my time...), but I managed to get most of it out!

I am feeling much better. It was just a one day, weird flu thing where nothing really happened except that I was feeling really bad, but I'm glad I'm okay now. I wasn't actually "quarantined," but that's how it got passed on. My Zone Leader right now actually is in quarantine because he got a really bad flu... so he won't be back in action for another week or so. I feel bad for him... stuck in the same room for a week. Yuck.

OH! I hope your crown treatment went really well, Mom! I know it sucks to do it, but I know that you know that you'll be happier with it done.

There really hasn't been too much going on this week. I still love learning Spanish and how to teach in Spanish! Our devotional on Tuesday was given by Elder C. Scott Grow (Such a cool name!!) about our dual purpose as missionaries to convert and to re-active less active members. I really enjoyed it!

I don't quite know what else to say this week, so I'll just finish off with some Spanish.

¿Cómo están ustedes? ¡Estoy muy excelente! Me encanta mi tiempo aqui en al CCM porque estoy estudiando y aprendiendo mucho! He progresado mucho en las seis semanas aqui. El Evangelio de Jesucristo es mas importante en mi vida. Yo sé que Él es mi Salvador y Redentor. Jesucristo y nuestro Padre Celestial aman a todas las personas. Dios quiere que nos tengamos feliz, pas, y exitóso en esta vida. Yo sé que por medio de la Expiación de Jesucristo, podemos acercarnos más a Cristo y podemos llegar a ser más como Cristo. Tengo mucho feliz para estar un misionario de Jesucristo y aprendé como enseñar Su Evangelio.

Well, I hope everything continues to go well with you! Take care of yourselves! God Bless!

Love

Elder David Watson

4.5 Weeks In!

Dear Mom and Dad!

Staying out of trouble is always a good thing! It's not something hard to do here when you are focused so much on learning! :) I hope that things go well with your quest to do taxes and that everything comes out well!

First off, I've been talking with my teacher who went to Paraguay. He's told me a bunch of cool stuff, including that some families hand make guitars, and that those guitars are really great! It's something I'm really willing to look into on my p-days, if I have the time!

I've been continuing to do a verse by verse "analysis" of the Book of Mormon, which I'm pretty sure I mentioned last week. I really enjoyed going through 1 Nephi 8 yesterday. It reminded me of my Book of Mormon class, and I've gotten a lot out of my studies so far! :D

This past Tuesday's devotional was given by Elder Richard G. Hinckley and his wife. Sister Hinckley's remarks were focused on the importance of keeping journals and recording out thoughts and feelings while studying. (See 3 Nephi 23:13). Elder Hinckley talked to us about avoiding the "Groundhog Day Syndrome," referring to the movie. He gave us six steps. First, understand your purpose. While he was talking about MTC life and a missionary's day-to-day life, understanding our purpose helps us to know why we are here and what we need to do to get there. (See John 3:16, 2 Nephi 31:19-20, Alma 34:32 and Alma 37:44-45.) The second step is to be obedient. Obedience is the first law of heaven, and in obeying the commandments of the Lord, we will find greater happiness and a love of all men. The third step was "be clean." He meant that we need to be worthy, and that through our clean thoughts and good actions, the Holy Ghost is able to guide our lives. The fourth step is to work hard. Working hard helps us to realize the benefits and blessings of this life, which includes our families. I'm kind of adding my own thoughts to this step, because Elder Hinckley only talked about being an effective and productive missionary, which everyone should be anyway. The fifth step is to love the people. Without love, we don't care what happens to them, which is completely and utterly hypocritical of missionary work.. I know I am here to invite all to come unto Christ, that through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring (persevering) to the end, everyone can live with our Heavenly Father in eternal life. The last step is to exercise faith. Without works and our good deeds, which are because of our love for our fellow men, and our willingness to follow the Savior's example, faith means absolutely nothing. Likewise, without faith, our works don't mean much.

I've learned so much here at the MTC, and I can't quite explain it all in a letter. Most of it would be in Spanish! ;) What I can say is this: I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith, because of his faith and efforts, sought to know which church was true in 1820. God, our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, appeared to him as two completely distinct and separate beings. An angel of the Lord revealed the location of records of God's dealings with the Ancient Americans. They too, like the Bible, had prophets, comparable to Moses, Noah, and Adam. Through the power of God, Joseph Smith was able to translate those records into what we have today - The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. And it is just that - another testament of our Lord and Savior. Though the power of the Holy Ghost, we can pray to Heavenly Father to know its truth. All we have to do is have faith in Jesus Christ that He will answer us, and sincerely and intently ask in prayer. Prayer is a two-way communication with Heavenly Father… I know that He listens to our prayers and wants to answer. All we have to do is ask. When we do as the apostle James and the prophet Moroni directs: "Ask of God... and it shall be given you." "Ask with a sincere heart, having faith in Jesus Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost." (See James 1:5-6 and Moroni 10:3-5). Our answers won't be huge - they will be silent promptings in our hearts and minds. I can't tell you how the Holy Ghost will touch you, because every person is different. What I can tell you is that when I've prayed with faith about a decision I've made, my body is filled with a feeling of knowing my decision is right. If the decision is wrong, I feel an emptiness. I promise to all that if you read the Book of Mormon, even just parts of it, and ask with faith and a real desire to know, and a willingness to act on an answer you receive, that God will answer you. I've done it. You can do it too. I know that the Book of Mormon can answer the questions of our souls.

I hope everything is going well with everyone! Take care of yourselves! God bless!

Love

Elder Watson

Delayed Mail... The Email was Stuck in the Server...

Dear Mom and Dad (and everybody),

Well, this week has been really quick! It seems like I was just writing my letter home yesterday! Just for kicks and giggle, I decided not to have any sweets this week (cookies, chocolate milk, etc.), and what do I get? COOKIES! 3 packages of them! And Mike is sitting by me right now doing TALL (Technology Assisted Language Learning, it's a computer program that helps teach languages...) The irony of things... hahaha. But the cookies are great! :)

We've been transitioning more into Spanish this week, which I am REALLY grateful for. I've found that using Spanish is MUCH more beneficial than just learning bits and pieces of it.

This week's devotional was given by Elder Stephen E. Snow. I participated in the MTC Choir too - and we sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer." That was actually quite fun!! And I sat by Mike during the devotional, so that was a definite plus too. Elder Snow talked about incorporating hymns into our lessons and the power of music to invite the Holy Ghost. He also taught us that obedience and hard work solve all of our concern and doubts. How true that is!!

Wow... for some reason I don't have a lot to say this week. We got a new district in our zone, and they are all heading off to Argentina, Buenos Aires South. It was kinda fun to help them get used to the MTC.

I guess the only really fun thing this week that my teacher, Hermano Hanson, taught us a few Guarani phrases. The Bookstore has Guarani copies of the Book of Mormon, but they were out of stock. So I'm going to have to see if I can get my hands on one if I can!

I'm sorry this letter is so short! I promise I'll have a lot more to say next week! Take care of yourselves!!

Love,

Elder David Watson

Elder Watson Expounds on MTC Devotionals

Hey Mom and Dad! (And Everybody!)

It's really good to hear from you guys. It means you aren't drowning! 'Cause that'd be REALLY bad! Thanks for the package! Packages are always great! As well as mail! :)

Just so you know, there are a few people you might run into that are connected to people in my zone here. Elder Hastings is in the Ventura Mission, and he is a cousin of Hermana Stout, who is in my zone. She and her companion, Hermana Dansie (sounds like Densie) are going to the LA mission where it is half proselytizing and half visitor’s center. Also, I think there might be an Elder Davis whose cousin is in my district. Or something like that. It's kinda funny to see how everyone is virtually connected to everyone else. The "six degrees of separation" is cut down to two or three! Hahaha. :D

So how much has it rained? Comparable to '04? I actually miss the rain, which is better than snow and ice, but once I get to Paraguay, I DEFINITELY won't miss the rain!

I'm glad to know that stake conference went really well! I'm sure you were happy to sit together in church! :)

Since I don't know what to say next, I guess I'll talk about the devotionals we've been having.

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles spoke to us on the 12th about being diligent, faithful, and having a strong testimony of the restored Gospel.

Last Tuesday's was given by Elder David F Evans of the Quorum of the 70. He spoke about using the Book of Mormon more in proselytizing and about Christ like attributes found in the Book of Mormon. He used a quote about Christ like attributes from President Ezra Taft Benson, but I wasn't able to get all of it. In addition to the ones found in "Preach My Gospel," I was able to write down 12 out of the 33 he mentioned. "Alive, Constant, Creator, Exemplar, Generous, Good, Gracious, Healer, Holy, Humble... Liberator... Mighty, Miraculous...." Hopefully I can find the quote while I am here.

Last night's devotional was given by Stephen B Allen, who is the Managing Director of the Missionary Department. He talked about how each mission call is extended by revelation, that each missionary has been called as a personal representative of Jesus Christ, and asked us a poignant question. "What price are we willing to pay to become Saviors on Mount Zion?" What he meant by "Saviors on Mount Zion" is that the Lord can act through us, and our actions, in order to help bring people unto Him. As a missionary, it is a very important question to consider, but I thought of a way it could be rephrased. "What price are we willing to pay to be able to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Also, what price would we be willing to pay to help others to do the same?" In other words, what are we willing to give up in order to have the opportunity to accept the Gospel and live the commandments of God faithfully, and worthily complete each ordinance that is necessary for salvation? In 2 Nephi chapter 31, verse 19 & 20, Nephi the prophet tells us of 5 things we need to do in order to gain Eternal, or God's, Life. I don't have my scriptures with me, so the wording might be a little off. The first thing he talks about is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (and his Atonement.) Second, we need to repent and change our hearts to be more like Jesus Christ. Third, we need to be baptized, by immersion and by one who has the proper authority and power, for the remission of our sins. Fourth, we need to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost so that we can be guided, given that we are trying to live righteously and to the best of our ability, throughout our lives in choosing right from wrong. Lastly, we need to endure to the end in righteousness. I just realized that sounds a lot like the fourth Article of Faith. An interesting thing - in Spanish, 'Endure to the end' is translated as 'presevarar hasta el fin' (Spanish 'Preach my Gospel', p. 1). Translated directly, it means persevere to, or unto, the end. So it's not just enduring, but persevering in doing what's right. Just an interesting translation, I thought.

Well, I am really out of time. I hope everything continues to go well with everyone! God bless and take care of yourselves!!

Sincerely,

Elder David Watson

Second Week in the MTC

Hey Mom and Dad! (And Everybody)

I'm glad everything at home is going well! It's been pretty cold here, but it is Utah, so what can I expect?

Hahahaha! I can SOOOO picture Flash doing that! I hope everyone got a laugh out of it, 'cause I sure would have! {He is speaking of the picture where Flash is staring at the bookcase}

Life here flies by so fast! It's pretty routine, except for the times Elder Burley and I get the chance to go to the Teaching Evaluation Center (TEC) and work with return missionaries on contacting and teaching lessons. We went to the Referral Center this week as a district and made some outbound calls to make sure that people received the item that they wanted (a Bible, Book of Mormon, Church DVD's, etc.) and talk to them about the area missionaries and if they wanted to know more about the Church. You know how I hate talking on the phone, but I learned that if I go in with a positive attitude, it helps!

To answer your questions - first, I can read letters whenever I get them, except during class. "DearElder" letters come like any other mail, just usually during the evening sorting which is done by 5 PM. I just have to wait for Pday to write people back. Yes, we took a picture of the 4 of us {David, Michael, Alec and Joshua} and I just put it in the mailbox to be sent. I usually write my letters before and during laundry. After I study or talk with missionaries who have been here longer to get some good advice. My district has a total of 10 Elders, and our fearless leader is Elder Clyde from Bluffdale, Utah. There actually hasn't been any snow - just a little rain today. That's been the first precipitation since I've been here - so no snowmen. My classes are great! We either have one of two teachers, Hermano Hanson or Hermano Clarke, who are both excellent teachers. We normally study Spanish (grammar, vocabulary...) or how to teach Gospel principles. I don't really know how to describe it except that they are teaching us what we need to know out in the mission field.

I love you guys and I miss you! I don't quite know what else to say at the moment, besides that this is the second time I've typed this message because MyLDSmail.net decided to reset. Take care of yourselves and always do what's right!

Love ya!

Elder David Watson

{The comments inside the brackets {} are side notes by me to explain what he is referring to.}

Elder Watson's First Letter Home (His Preparation Day is Monday)

Dear Mom and Dad (and everybody),

I'm glad to hear that you got home safely. I sure do miss the warm weather though. How is everything at home? Well, I hope! Did you get the flat tire fixed? I would think that Flash would miss Mike more, but oh well. I can always get a new one. Have you heard anything from the travel office yet?

Life here is great! It's getting kind of difficult to think in English though. I'm really picking up Spanish well. I've already written a couple of lesson plans in Spanish. Yay! I see Elders Raymond, Day, and Wilkes (one of the guys from my ward who is going to Argentina also) more than I do Mike. It's all good though. I really love how the Spirit is so strong here. It really assists in learning Spanish and the lessons that we need to learn.

It feels like it has been weeks here. There's a saying 'round here, and it goes something like, "The weeks pass like days, and the days pass like weeks." Each day seems like forever, but looking back at the past week it feels like it has been less than a day. It is weird, but if you were here, you would understand.

The typical day I spend about eight and a half hours in class, either learning Spanish or Gospel principles, or both; One hour in gym (the five days I have class); and about two hours in the cafeteria (breakfast, lunch and dinner combined); and about an hour of daily planning and review. I have classes Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday being the Sabbath and Monday my preparation day. On Sundays, I have a LOT of study time, a two hour block of church (Priesthood and Sacrament meeting), and an hour temple walk where we get to walk around the temple grounds. On Mondays, we attend a temple session as a district in the morning, and we have all afternoon for free time (writing letters, laundry, etc.) until 6, when we have class again.

My companion is Elder Burley, who is from Chandler, Arizona and is also going to Paraguay. He's a pretty good guy, and we work well together. What's funny is that Elder Gillette, who is in my district, has a twin. And his twin's companion is Elder Watson. Yup, Mike. Also, the Elder Gillette who is in my district is going to Buenos Aires North too. It's interesting to see how things work out here.

Well, my time's about up. I miss everyone! If you have the chance, please write! It's really cool to see how everyone is doing. I know that my time spent here preparing to serve the people in Paraguay, as well as my time spent serving the people of Paraguay, will be some of the best two years of my life. I know that God lives and loves each and every one of us, and His Son Jesus Christ came to the Earth to be our perfect example. If we follow Christ's teachings, especially love for our fellow mankind, we can greatly improve ourselves and the people around us. All we have to do is come unto Him - He is waiting with outstretched arms. If you have doubt about that, please pray to our Father in Heaven and ask if He loves you. I promise if you will sincerely do this, with real desire and faith that He will answer you, Heavenly Father will manifest His love unto you through the power of the Holy Ghost. It won't be amazing, loud or pronounced though - you will have to pay deep attention to how you feel. When I do this, I feel peace and comfort. I love all of you, and I only want the best for you. God Bless!!

Love,

Elder David Watson

Elder Watson Has Entered The MTC!

David entered the MTC in Provo, Utah on January 6, 2010. We will post his current activities after his first letter home.