Dear Family and Friends,
Before I begin, I would like to thank everyone who sent Christmas cards, this week I received from:
Joe Barton family, Ellsworth family, Turley family, Jennifer and Grant Anderson-they have a missionary from their ward-Elder Hall here in Brasilia, we were in the MTC together, he is in the group after mine, the Taylor family and the "New" Stices, Skyler and Katie. Very fun to hear from everyone and I really appreciate the letters.
I have received in several letters a question I would never think of, but I will answer. "What do missionaries dream of?" Personally, I am usually teaching or doing street contacts. In the rare occasions where I appear to be home, talking to friends or family, I still know I am a missionary, so those are always weird.
The past few days I have been studying about the Plan of Salvation. Teaching the Plan of Salvation (2nd lesson) is something that is always daunting because 1) it is so big, 2) you have to talk about Adam and Eve (and if there ever was a subject that Satan managed to mess up the understanding of, it is this one), and 3) you never know what the person will ask. I believe that I teach the Restoration and the Gospel of Jesus Christ fairly well, so I am working on improving my ability to teach simply, so that everyone can understand.
In my studies about the council in Heaven, I have been reading a lot about agency (Elder Hale's talk about agency in Conference really helped) and Satan's alternative plan. In God's plan, we would have agency. Some would use their agency well, others would waste the opportunity. To give all a chance, God would send a Savior, who would be a normal (but perfect) person, suffer and die that all could resurrect (which would destroy the power of physical death) and repent (destroying the power of Hell, or spiritual death).
After Father presented His plan, Satan decided to present his plan. No one would have agency, everyone would "return" home and he would receive the glory and power of God, without being the Savior. Fairly innocent looking, looking out for everyone, but really, it was a giant trap. In "Jesus the Christ" we read in the footnotes a declaration of President John Taylor where (badly paraphrased) that without agency or really being tested, we could not return to God's presence and we would have to be resigned to live outside the presence of God forever. Everyone...or almost everyone? Everyone except for Satan, because he would have received the power and glory. So it was essentially a ploy to get himself home free...at the expense of everyone else. He was willing to trade everyone so that he could receive the power and glory (without any work to boot). He didn't fool God and our Savior also saw this fault, because he understood the plan. "Father, THY will be done and the glory be THINE." God accepted and chose (ordained) Jehovah. Satan rebelled and those that didn't have the faith/confidence in God, God's plan, the Savior, themselves, went with him. And now they are a bunch of miserable cusses.
Other thoughts. In a recent letter that included the email of the most excellent and always thoughtful Elder Ray in Russia, I greatly enjoyed his thoughts about the end of times. The name of the church in Portuguese is "A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Ultimos Dias." People always have a question about the name of the church-why saints?, which saints, who are the saints?-this one is always solved by opening the Bible to Romans where it begins-To the Saints, and after a quick explanation, no one is wondering if I am Saint Elder Barton. The other part in English-Latter-day, in Portuguese is translated (translated by Elder Barton)-ultimate days or final days. Everyone then asks what that means. We explain that we are awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Which no matter how you try to explain it, invites everyone to freak out, ask when, and where. And then talk about all the terrible things happening. It is interesting and also sad how few people understand how wonderful and glorious the Second Coming will be. Yes, terrible things are happening. People are suffering and dying and many more are losing hope. But the light is at the end of the tunnel. We are living in the time when all the prophets from Adam to Mormon/Moroni have been waiting for, hoping for. We are at the end of the game and the end is arriving, whether I am alive to see it or not, doesn't matter. But we are literally awaiting the Return of The King. Our job is to hold on to the iron rod with one hand and use the other to grab hold of as many other people as we can.
One year ago, everyone here was watching about what happened in Haiti and saying things like "it's so good we don't have natural disasters like Haiti or the U.S.". Hurricane Katrina is still very fresh in their minds. Now, they are watching the flooding in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero. Divers places. Just do what the prophets said-pay the debts, have the food storage, go to the temple, study the scriptures as a family and personally and it will end well. And if it didn't end well, it isn't the end.
Okay, that was a lot randomness, but it is what is on my mind.
-Could you send me (through email) a copy of the talk of President Benson about the 14 points about the Prophet?
-That is so cool you guys will go to the Nauvoo Pageant (our family was selected to be in the Nauvoo Pageant in mid-July)! When do you guys head out to Nauvoo? I want a brick please.
-The new study schedule really helped, I think we might be getting there now. We just have to keep applying and doing better. I had my annual interview with Presidente Pizzirani. He talked a lot that to have problems is normal, part of life. But to not move or change to respond to the problem is not acceptable. He also talked about how if we change and it still doesn't work, that is fine, part of learning. He shared one of my favorite quotes (yet another proof that he receives revelation) from Thomas Edison. "I haven't failed. I have found 1,000 ways not to make an incandescent lamp."
-Good luck to everyone leaving on missions. That's cool to hear about who is going where.
-Congrats to Adam & Marcie, great to hear that everyone is healthy (they just had a baby girl on Sunday-Josie Barton).
That's about it.
Love,
Elder Barton
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