Romans 1:16
For i am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of god unto salvation unto everyone that believeth.
So I love this scripture. I was studying yesterday and I came across this scripture when I was cross referencing. It is amazing and I think it is a scripture mastery. Anyways I love it and I have it memorized. I look at it so many different ways. You can look at it and think….i am not ashamed of the gospel, although people say many down grading things about the church, I will always share what I believe. How I look at it though is a little different. It has the whole gospel message held within it. First of all, I am not ashamed. When you are talking about the gospel, we reference to salvation many times. The plan of salvation, etc. the gospel of Jesus Christ brings about salvation to everyone as they live the principles, commandments, make the right covenants etc. what an awesome opportunity and life long contractual obligation. As we live the gospel we will receive our place in the mansions of our father. But what I always think is, although salvation is our goal…being saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and having our garments being made clean through the blood of the lamb so that some day we will be worthy to enter the presence of the father….isn’t there a bigger goal. I think about the word EXALTATION. Now this is a different story. Salvation is preparatory to this. We must enter into the waters of baptism(john 3:5), taking upon ourselves certain covenants of this. We must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. This will ensure our salvation. But in this life we have temples to receive exaltation we must enter into the temple covenants and be sealed to our mate for time and all eternity. Only threw making these covenants can we receive exaltation. So then…is it important that we prepare ourselves to enter the temple? I would think that your answer is a resounding YES! We need to become worthy if we are not, or live our lives in accordance to the commandments so that we can become worthy. By doing this we prepare ourselves for the temple covenants and entering into the house of the lord. We must be worthy of a recommend always. If we are living in accordance with these standards….GREAT. because if we are worthy we are keeping all the commandments. And you know what it says in 2 nephi 2:41?.... if we keep the commandments, we will be blessed beyond imagination. We will receive all the things that we need materialistically, and spiritually. What a blessing that is! I know that the temple is the house of the lord. I had the opportunity to enter, and to feel the arms of my father in heaven wrap around me and lift me up above the world, to feel his love, and spirit so close to me. He is our father and he loves us. So I have a testimony that we need to live the principles of the gospel, and endure, but we also need to prepare to enter into the temple. I think of that Sunday school song….i love it. We need to always be worthy of a recommend. I am in an area where I will not be able to go for 2 years, but I have to remain worthy to enter. As we do the lord will bless us. He promises us. And do you think that our father and heaven would lie to us? No! I know that as we enter into the temple covenant we will prepare ourselves for exaltation. I love the gospel. It is truly a plan of happiness. Like tyler told me this week in a letter. It is hard to imagine the people who do not have the gospel. How do they live? Where do they find their joy, and assurance? That is why we need to always be missionaries. Every member a missionary as president Kimball counseled. We need to get our tools ready, be worthy of our baptismal covenant of taking upon ourselves the name of our savior Jesus Christ, and the lord will find the work for us. I know this. That is why it is important to be worthy always. And who knows, the second coming may by tomorrow…..
It sounds like dad the Bachelor made it through the time without his hunny! Ha ha. He stayed busy with kids games, work, the yard, and who knows what else. I heard that he hung out with those who live close to home too. That is awesome. KateLyn even made him sweet roles and put them on the porch for him so he did not starve. Ha. He really has a lot of guardian angles doesn’t he? I just think that he is really loved! He needs it. He is really stressed out with the trek I bet. That is coming up before you know it, and that is a lot of responsibility. He just keeps on going doesn’t he…..mom too. Like dad says…..a rolling stone does not gather any moss. Ha. He is sure rolling. Mom made it home now though and I think that he will be a little better. I know that he missed her. They are so cute. We have some dang awesome parents. I heard that he spoke in one of the Lakeland wards too and did amazing. That is no surprise either. Dad is the man. Then he even took advantage of mom being gone and bought himself a freaking sweet BBQ!!!!!!! What a man. He said he through a couple fatty steaks on there and grilled them up. They came out perfect wouldn’t ya know! He is the best at the bbq.. He is the man. He said that he is going to fix the burners on the other and give it away! Well everyone is in the running. But it is not fair because I am not there to put my word in. ah…. Oh well. Ill just have to use the new on. Ha. Mom had a good trip and it all went well. Lost a bag, but ended up finding it and everything is cool. Our father in heaven watches over us always even if it is in the simplest ways. She is home and can breathe now. She said that she loved the trip though and it was remarkable to see one of cassies babies born. We have all missed them. Man. Sorry cassie.
So ol´ jay stopped in this last week. Sunday wasn’t it? That is awesome. Dad said that he didn’t even say a word. Ha what a punk. It sounds like they had a good visit and he left late. I always loved when jay or nate stopped by at the house on business and talked for a couple hours. We have awesome family. Just wish that we could get together more often than we do. Maybe we should plan a hunt with them for when I get back. Better plan it now cause I don’t know how much time I will have when I get back. It will be crazy I know. But that was awesome that you were able to see him. How is he? What is he up to? Miss that old guy. Ha. Good old times.
So it sounds like everyone is getting out for the summer. The weather is getting way nice. I heard that it was like in the 80s this week. That is nuts. Enjoy it. Ha. Brynne said that she went running and got fried. Ha. You are all so white and I am so tan. I know that your jealous. But I have some pretty nasty tan lines. Ha ha. It is ridiculous. But is everyone going out with time on the boat or what? Have you guys been on it or is he hogging it all for himself. Does he know that it is the family boat now. Just a little newer. Ha ha. Sucks. I cant wait to take her out for a spin. Now all you have to do tim is buy a lake house for the family and a dock we can all use. I expect it when I get back. Just joking. Would be nice though. So brynne has a 10 mile race here in a week or so but she sprained her ankle. That’s the pits. She will heal fast though. She is always staying active and is an example for us all. Sounds like everyone is trying to get that winter gut off and get into those summer bodies. Ya! How are the lakes? Are they still to freezing to swim or what? I bet they are pretty full. Speaking of high water…it sounds like the St. Joe is not going to be that much fun cause your not going to be able to wraft it. That stinks. They are flowing at outrageous levels and it seems like there is no chance to put the wraft in the water. And it is supposed to be raining too mom says so no chance to be out on the water. Maybe by the 4th of july you will be able to get out there and hit it. That will be nice. I love getting out there and wrafting. I know that I was a woos growing up but now that is all I want to do. I feel like its that time of year. I just feel it in my bones. Thinking about cliff jumping and camping. You guys got to have enough fun for me too. When I get back I will hit it up, and buy a new little red. Ya and hit her right in the teeth. Im ready ladies and gentlemen. Ha ha. I have changed a little bit. Have fun though. You guys will have to find some other things to do in place of wrafting this year. Maybe go bear hunting, shed hunting, shooting, who knows what else. Maybe get a snowmobile and go up there. That will be fun. You all will get it figured out!
So I was walking down the street this week and this little girl had chickens in the basket on the front of her bike. She turned the corner and fell. The chickens went everywhere. So I had the change to have a little cowboy round up session. I grabbed some by their feet, but there was this one. Oooooo. It started to make me mad. It was a little quick sucker. Had lots of agility. I had to use my cat like reflexes to get him before he went into this little hole under a barn. Long story short, I helped the girl get her chickens, whipped the dirt off her knee and save the day! Ha. Cool little story.
So like this week has been pretty excellent. Nothing to exciting. I received letters from lori, kate, and dad. Got the pictures of the trip to utah. I love them. Thanks so much for them. I love getting mail. It is seriously a missionaries best friend. I have come to find that out. You really feel at home and it is good to hear what is going on. Sounds like things are amazing as usual. So this week I made sweet rice. It is super good. I never thought of it before, but then I thought of it and it is cheep and good. I remember eating it at home. Its great and cheap. Also made some lemon meringue pie filling. It is awesome. I love it. Mom sent me it and I really am enjoying it. This week I had another talk in church. I think it is cool that dad and I spoke on the same day. Cause a couple years ago we were speaking together in Kellogg, but now he is speaking in Lakeland and I am speaking in Brazil. It is crazy to see how things change. The talk went well though. I spoke for like another 25 minutes. It seemed really easy, and I was totally relaxed. It went well. I spoke on the importance of the members helping the recent converts and less actives. It is so important, thus making it really easy to talk about. I tried not to burn the people to bad! Ha. It went well. I left my comp with 7 minutes. Ya. He was happy. But also this week I did a division with some other elders. I worked with elder povey. He is from Preston, Idaho. Small town. We worked so hard. We taught almost 20 lessons in a day, and found a family to be baptized. What was neat was to se him work. He is not great at the language but he works hard and makes his own way. Is great to see.his determination at work. The time really does fly by when your working your butt off. I love working hard, because if you don’t you feel guilty beyond belief! I just have an itch to go and find everyone and share the gospel with them. Everyone needs to hear the message. I cant let anyone pass me in the streets, because maybe their salvation rests on my shoulders. Ah. It is a tuff calling. Missionary work is hard! I have learned that as I gain more experience. It is nothing like I ever thought it would be like. But when you have baptisms and you see people change their lives it makes it all worth it. To see them make covenants with their heavenly father is amazing. See them all embrace the gospel and have a will to live it daily. That is what makes it worth it. I love the gospel and the opportunity I have daily to change lives through good old fashion hard work and living my life close to the spirit. I sent some pictures of the two baptisms we had this last Sunday. This Saturday we are baptizing a man. He is like 17 but he will receive the priesthood soon, and wants to serve a mission. Awesome huh. Nothing compared to some of Tyler’s stories but still a miracle. We are finding sweet people to teach. This Sunday we have anotherfamily to baptize. Mom dad and two daughters who are in their mid 20´s. they have a brother who is the only member of the family getting home from his mission the 29 and they will be baptized the 1st. he dosent know yet. So that should be super awesome. I hope I don’t get transferred before. Sometimes if your not in manaus and serving far away they will transfer you a couple days early. Weird I know but. They are the 3rd of june. So I hope I will be here for their baptisms. I love the gospel. I love being spiritually juiced as elder Bednar puts it. Having the gospel with you all the time is totally unexplainable. You have new desires and actions. I come to know everyday as I teach that the gospel is true. Sometimes we have problems, but it is not the church. The church is perfect, but the people are not. We are all human. Its tuff seeing people taking offense and leaving the church because of selfish feelings.
So I just found out that Carlee and Jonathan Shirts received their baby! They are parents and they are so happy! I don’t know if I am happier for the baby for to just see them happy. They have gone through so much and have finally got it together. I am so happy. The name is cool too. I am so just emotionally drained. I have been praying for them it seems like forever, but now its over. To receive answers to prayers is so awesome. So if you guys have an opportunity to congratulate them let them know it! They are ecstatic. KateLyn is now an aunt and mike and lori are grandparents. Nuts. And I even feel like a uncle again. Man things are changing so much. It is making me sick. Seriously. Nuts.
I have a testimony of this gospel though. I know that it is true. I know that we have a father in heaven who loves us. We have a brother who gave his life for us so that through his sacrifice we can be made free. I know that joseph smith was a prophet. He saw god the father and jesus Christ. He restored the gospel to the earth for this last and final dispensation. He also brought forth the fruit…the Book of Mormon. Where in we can find the key to eternal life and exaltation with the ones we love. I know that he like our savior died for what he knew was true and could not deny. I know families can be together forever. I am so grateful for my family. I find myself wondering why I was blessed with such a incredible family. I am so blessed. I know that what I am doing is right. I am in the service 0f my fellow beings, thus being in the service of my god. I love you all. Choose the right, and make him proud. Remember who you represent. You took his name upon you at baptism. You do not need a name tag. It is already imprinted in the heavens. I love you.
Your elder
Spike gatten
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