Different ends of the spectrum

This morning was a really cool morning. We had the opportunity to have an extra zone leader meeting at Hurst, because Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the 70 is here, and he wanted to meet with the Zone Leaders before the rest of the missionaries. We had a really good meeting and he taught a lot. He started out talking about the principle of Agency.

It was cool, because most of the time when we talk about agency we are talking about the things that we do. Whether or not we do homework. Whether or not we practice piano. Whether or not we see a movie. Whether or not we go to church. But there is more to it than that. He talked about receiving the Holy Ghost for example. He asked if it is possible for someone to be baptized by the proper authority, and have hands laid on their head (again, by the authority)

"And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord" D&C 84:35

and have the blessings given and everything done correctly, but the person does not receive the Holy Ghost, even though the words spoken are "receive the Holy Ghost." Of course, the answer is yes, it is possible to not receive it. Why? Because God has given us our agency. Just because we do something doesn't mean we choose to receive the blessings. Because God loves us, he will not force the Holy Ghost on us. He will not force us to be sanctified, purified, and receive that guidance he wants to give. We have to choose to accept that. And choosing to accept that is more than just going through the motion. It has to do with changing our nature.

He later talked about how Laman and Lemuel walked just as far as Nephi. They helped build the boat. and they had to leave their things behind too. But when all was said and done, after everyone had put in a lot of work, Laman and Lemuel did not receive the blessings. Although they put forth the effort and did what was required, it was not enough. They did not believe it and they did not choose to receive those blessings. The question then is, are we going through motions and doing things without putting everything into it and choosing to receive the blessings?

Now it's my turn to elaborate a little. We can go through the motions and not really believe it and mean it. But we cannot really mean it if we do not do the act. The perfect example I can think of is this. "I have accepted Jesus as my savior, I have been saved. Even though I break the Sabbath every week, and drink, and smoke, and break the law of chastity, and support others who break the law of chastity, I know that Jesus dies for my sins and I have been forgiven." By the way, this is much more common than you may think. If someone really, truly loves Christ, and has accepted Him, their actions will show it. Not eventually, but now. Doctrine understood changes behavior. If nature is changed, behavior is as well. You see, you cannot live the "spirit of the law" without living the "letter of the law."He said it Himself. "If you love me, keep my commandments."

Ok, so back to Elder Bowen, it was awesome. We were able to learn a lot from him. I really enjoyed it. I'm excited for our next meeting with him tomorrow.

So now for the other end of the spectrum. Right after getting fired up about missionary work and everything, I got a voicemail from the mission office. So I called Sister Brown back and she starts asking me some questions. She needed to double check my parents' email addresses, my home address, and my home ward information. And then the question that deems this phone call the "trunkie call." "What airport do you want to fly to when you go home in 4 months? “And seriously, that's how it is worded too. So that is the other end of the spectrum, the fact that in 3 1/2 months I will be on a plane. Which can be potentially dangerous to a drive to do missionary work. So now I get the fun part of my mission. Where I keep it all laid out on the table and see miracles. Like I heard President Sagers say before, I'm going to be the kind of missionary that when I wake up Satan says "Oh no... He's up again."

 --Elder Braxton C Foust--

Elder Phister

 Elder Border

Elder Fa

Elder Fibke

 Elder Johnson

Elder Moore 

A different type of email

This email is going to be different. I don't feel like there were any real stories to tell or updates to give. I am doing well, my companion is awesome, and we are working our tails off. I love being a missionary. But because I don't feel like there's much to tell y'all about with things that are happening, I'm just going to talk about... I don't know what. This is being fed by the things I see around me in Texas, in the world, in people I know and care about, and in complete strangers. But I feel like it will apply to everyone in some way.

We'll see where this all goes.

In this life we face many different situations. Many situations that bring us happiness, and also that bring us sorrow. Situations that bring us stress, and some that bring relief. Some that bring us health, sickness, prosperity, poverty, pleasure, pain, and a multitude of other opposites. Why? Why do we have to face so much opposition?

Many times we have situations in life that are difficult to handle. We don't know what to do, what to say, what to think, or what to feel. We get so caught up in the moment of stress that we just want to freak out, lash out, or shut down. We draw ourselves away from those who love us most, and many times we lead ourselves into darkness, and out of light. The worst part is, we may not even realize it. We still go through our days, minute by minute, until it's been weeks, and then months, and then years have gone by and we don't even realize that we've not been walking in the light. And it is simply because we have desensitized ourselves. It starts with little things. Usually contention of some sort. It leads to anger, fear, and hurt. Communication stops. Without communication, not only can a relationship not grow and become stronger, but it shrinks, becomes weaker, and eventually switches to an opposition, as opposed to cooperation. And the problem is, we are always sure we are right. But the truth of it all, is that we are all unclean, and we all have need to repent. That is the solution to every problem in this world. Repentance. Humbling ourselves enough to submit to the Lord's will, and to stop doing things that are wrong, and start doing things that are right. We all have weaknesses, they come in a variety of ways. But we cannot overcome them alone. If we pull away from those who love us most, we will fall. We learn a lot from the Fall of Adam and Eve, because it is a type and shadow of our personal falls. We all die spiritually, (meaning removing ourselves from God's presence) and we all must repent in order to walk in the light.

This applies not only to our worldly interactions, but our relationship with God. So ask yourself, "How is my relationship with God?" And then ask yourself again, "How is my relationship with God?" and this time be even more honest with yourself. Kneel down and ask God how your relationship is. This is not meant to form some sort of guilt or shame, because that's not my job, but that is the job of the Holy Ghost, so if it happens, ask God why, not me. And be humble enough to learn.

Not apply it again to the interactions with other mortals. Ask about your relationship with your family. Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters. As we live more righteously every aspect of our lives is positively influenced. every aspect. Not a couple, not one or two. All of them.

I don't know why I wrote about this. I don't want to sound preachy, but sometimes we have to. Like Elder Holland said in Conference a year ago, "This is a life-and-death contest we are in, so I am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in my voice to singe your eyebrows a little-the way coaches do when the game is close and victory means everything."

Not that I am anything compared to Elder Holland, but I do know at least one thing. This is the Lord's work. Victory means everything. To quote him again, this time from last month, (he is giving a non-scriptural elaboration as to what the Savior may have said to Peter on the shore of the sea)"What I need, Peter, are disciples-and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world."

 Now how does it apply to us as Saints? Well, it has a huge impact on those around us. Not only in sharing the gospel and trying to be a member missionary, but in a more natural way than that. In April 2001 Elder Holland shared a short experience"A young returned missionary sister from Hong Kong told me recently that when she and her companion asked an investigator if she believed in God, the woman replied, "I didn't until I met a member of your church and observed how she lived." What exemplary missionary work! Asking every member to be a missionary is not nearly as crucial as asking every member to be a member! Thank you for living the gospel."

 (Can you guess which apostle's talks I listen to the most?)

We need to live the gospel. Period. That is the only way to get out of this Hell we are in now, as individuals, as communities, as families, as a nation. Some of us are in it worse than others. And some of us are deluded to think we're not at all. Living the gospel will do more to help us and those around us than anything else we can do. Keep the commandments. Have Faith. Repent. Make and Keep covenants. Always remember Christ. It really is pretty simple.

Again, sorry if this came across as preachy. But take it how you will. It's all true.

I love y'all! Have a good week!--

--Elder Braxton C Foust--

De Ja Vu‏

It is so weird being back in the city, after spending so much time in the country (where i have been since January). From the sounds of it, Elder Nielsen and I are having a similar situation. Other than the fact that Texas Country and Cambodia Country are very, very different places. And I imagine Texas city and Cambodia city are very different too. But that's all beside the point.

This area reminds me so much of Burleson it's not even funny. Maybe even more of my exchanges in Fort Worth, but still, this is the Metroplex. And it has been a year since I was there, so the weather just adds to the memories. Plus, the library that I am sitting in right now uses the same system as the Burleson library and the login and everything is identical. So it is even more like where I was before. The biggest difference now is that I am not training a new missionary, but instead I am with another experienced missionary and we have a lot more responsibilities. Yay.... But I really love being a zone leader, so I'm not complaining.

I don't really know what to say about my new area. Things are going well, we are working to find people to teach and baptize. We are working hard. We live with some really cool members, the Idles. But they are moving once their house sells, so I may be moving at some point, who knows.

I have been studying the Abrahamic Covenant, and it has a lot of really good stuff in it. I realized something though, the basic outline of the Abrahamic covenant is the covenants we make at baptism and confirmation, as we receive the priesthood, and as we are endowed and sealed in the temple. The blessings given to Abraham are available to all of us as we make and keep those sacred covenants.

So to again quote , "So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them." (The Laborers in the Vineyard, April 2012 General Conference)

If you don't, you cannot inherit all the blessings our Father in Heaven has for us. Our eternal progression depends on how we use our agency. So make a choice.

I love all y'all ;)
-- 
--Elder Braxton C Foust--

What does a Cowboy, A ranger,Six Flags, and King of the hill all have in common?

Well, it is transfers this week, and if any of y'all are familiar with Texas at all, you'll know that the answer to the question in the subject line is this:

Arlington Texas

I am getting transferred to the great city of Arlington Texas, and I am freaking stoked. My new companion is Elder Connor Johnson, from Fruit Heights Utah. The same Elder Johnson who I went to Davis High School and played in band with. We are going to have way too much fun. This may even be my last area....

my new address is:

6102 Hedgeapple Ct.

Arlington TX 76001

Oh yeah, as for the Riddle Last week

Fill in the Blank

The ____________ is a good law, although adapted to a lower spiritual capacity than is required for obedience to the gospel in its fullness.

My Dad said "The Law of Moses." which is close. It would be the correct answer if the riddle's wording said "The ____was a good law" not "is a good law"

So with the present tense, the correct answer is actually

The BYU Honor Code is a good law, although adapted to a lower spiritual capacity than is required for obedience to the gospel in its fullness. :)

One interesting thing about Missionary work is that you are always supposed to leave the area stronger than you found it. I'm happy to say that I feel like this is the case. This week the whole zone did the best we have all 4 1/2 months I have been here. We even have a brand new family of 4 who all came to church yesterday and really liked it. But it is sad that I won't get to teach the rest of the lessons to them. I won't get to see them baptized. Obviously the important thing is that they do get taught and are baptized, but sometimes it hurts to leave the field right before the harvest, and know that someone else will enjoy the fruits of your labors. But I am comforted by the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"

In the same way, it does not really matter whether or not I get to be present for their baptism, or any of the other three families that we are teaching, what matters is that they have found the gospel.

I am excited for Elder Border, his new companion is Elder Phister, who I was with in Denton. Both of the missionaries that I trained as ZLs are now companions. And Elder Phister is following in my footsteps. He had 4 different companions in his 4 transfers in Denton, and is now coming to Weatherford. I also had 4 companions in my 4 transfers in Denton and then came to Weatherford. Just kind of funny.

This Saturday was a really cool day. At 11 we had our first appointment with the family of 4 I mentioned before. They came to the church for our first lesson, and were able to see a baptism, then get a church tour, and then have the first lesson. They loved it. They have been prepared like I have never seen before, and they are seeing answers to their prayers, and are also the answers to prayers here. They sat on the second row in sacrament meeting yesterday. Members here don't even sit that close, but they were up there before we even got in the chapel.

Later on on Saturday we had another baptism in the stake center. the Mineral Wells elders had 3 actually. 2 of those have been investigating for 2 years. They are also 72 and 75 yrs old. When the wife (75) was baptized, and came out of the water, the look of pure joy was incredible. I have never seen someone with so much happiness and just pure joy in their face before. It was incredible.

I am going to miss working here, I have had 2 awesome companions in Weatherford, and the members are great. Plus serving in the YSA was a blast. Speaking of YSA, I heard through the grapevine that a member from the YSA was stalking the Foust in Fort Worth blog (the link is on my mormon.org proflie, so that's my guess) so in case she reads this "Hi Bonnie! I hope you're having fun at BYU Hawaii!"

But I am seriously stoked for Arlington. Actually, Elder Johnson trained Elder Moore, so that ties us all in there even more. I am also really excited with my transfer call because I am still a zone leader, and Nov. 12 Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the 70 is coming and is going to have meetings with all the missionaries, but also an extra one with the Zone Leaders, so that will be cool. The entire Arlington stake geographically is smaller than the Weatherford Ward alone, so I am going from a huge zone to a small one, which will be weird, cause Denton Zone was almost as big as Weatherford.

Long story short, I love being a missionary. And I am really excited to keep going.

I love y'all! Have a good week!

--Elder Braxton C Foust--

Holiday in Cambodia

Ok, so this week has nothing to do with a Holiday in Cambodia, I just couldn't think of a subject line so I used Elder Nielsen's. Huzzah for plagiarism. This week was a really good week. For pretty much the first time in my mission we met most of our goals (but I won't tell you what those goals are, because compared to numbers in Cambodia, Mexico, or Mozambique they are look really low). What matters is that we met them, and we taught a lot of lessons compared to what we normally reach.

I got to go on exchange with Elder Tison, he's from the Marshall Islands. It was a lot of fun. We taught a few people and were able to get a hold of an investigator that has been off the map for a while. I had a lot of fun with him. The next day (Wednesday) we taught a bunch of lessons. We were able to have members with us for all of them too. One of them is a girl named Chelsea. She is open to learning about religions and wants to find a good church to raise her daughter in. She has attended a lot of churches and met with missionaries from Baptist churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other evangelical people. And she told us that with all of them after meeting with them for a while she had these feelings of uneasiness, and she just felt like she shouldn't continue with them. But when she met us, she had feelings of peace, and felt like this was good. We explained the role of the Holy Ghost and taught her about the Book of Mormon. Unfortunately she got a little bit of anti from some friends, but we were able to take care of it. Now she just needs to search for truth and pray about the Book of Mormon. She is solid though, she's gonna get baptized.

We have an Investigator named Bill who is in his late 50s and has been investigating the church on and off since he was 14 (talk about an eternal investigator). We don't spend a lot of time there because the likelihood of us baptizing him is very slim since no one else has before. He has read all the standard works, and a lot of Books from the church. Unfortunately he also likes to read the bad stuff too. He recognizes the false things in those other books, but his idea is he wants to know it all before he makes a final decision. He suffers from a need to understand everything intellectually before he'll try spiritually. He is not relying on the Lord in any way. This is a perfect example of what we need to not do. But he feeds us dinner sometimes, he takes us to a place with really good catfish and we discuss things there.

The best things about this week though have been things I have learned from my personal studies. One thing our ward mission leader said the other day was how the Books of Alma and Helaman were written for our time, and how there are showing us some of the things that happened to them leading up to Christ's first coming, and that will happen as we lead up to Christ's second. I have noticed a lot of things in there that are taking place. one of the things is in Helaman 5:2 For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted. We can see this today in some places, and even here in America. Things like homosexual marriage/activities, where the Bible and Book of Mormon teach us very clearly that there are severe penalties for such sins, and those penalties are not just for those participating, but for those supporting it as well. There are other parts where we see that as the people of the church are righteous, many souls are brought to baptism to make covenants with God. When they are wicked, the work ceases, and there are punishments fr everyone. This is a serious time. This is the time when we need to be on our game. We need to be focused on the things that really matter. Living the gospel as individuals and families, helping others to do the same, making and keeping covenants, serving missions if we're in that position in life, repenting of our sins and transgressions, studying, teaching, learning, and applying the gospel of Jesus Christ will do more for our future and the future of our families that anything else we can do. I know this is true.

So my invitation to you is to live it!I love you!

Elder Braxton C Foust--

Conference

This week was a really good week, and it was all topped off with General Conference. This conference was incredible. If you didn't watch all of it, repent and watch it.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/10?lang=eng

President Monson made the announcement that the minimum age for missionaries has changed, so that means if Jaden chooses to, he can leave as soon as 6 months after I get home instead of 18 months after, that's so crazy.

That was such a great start to conference, hearing the changes there. The work is going to increase dramatically, and we're going to see miracles happen. I won't get to see any 18 yr olds in my mission, but I know that when they start showing up things are going to take off.

I loved every apostle's talk. They were all things I needed to hear. Elder Anderson's was perfect for people in Texas, talking about how the Doctrine is taught by all 15 apostles, and the principles are found openly, not in some obscure paragraph somewhere. In other words, 98% of anti-mormon material needs to just be forgotten, because it is just nonsense. the other 2%, comes from people not understanding basic truths of the Gospel, and they just believe differently (and wrongly, by the way. I will be that bold to say.) In my studies I have been reading the New Testament again, I came across this the other day

  

37 ¶Now when they heard this, they were apricked in their bheart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men andbrethren, cwhat shall we do?

 38 Then Peter asaid unto them, bRepent, and be cbaptized every one of you in the dname of Jesus Christ for the eremission of sins, and ye shall receive the fgift of the gHoly Ghost.

 39 For the apromise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are bafar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,aSave yourselves from this buntoward generation.

 41 ¶Then they that gladly areceived his bword were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about cthree thousand souls.

 42 And they continued astedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine andbfellowship, and in breaking of cbread, and in prayers.

These men who were baptized received a spiritual witness that Peter's testimony of the Atonement was true. They knew that he was a true apostle of Jesus Christ, and they accepted the fulness of the gospel. Now look again at verse 42. "they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine." Because they know they are apostles, they know that their doctrine is the doctrine of Christ. In the same way, once you gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, you know that these living apostle's today, and their predecessors back to and including Joseph Smith, are apostles, and you know theat their doctrine is the true doctrine of the Father.

 Back to General Conference, Elder Russell M Nelson gave one of my favorite talks. He explained that if you have any question concerning life, eternity, God, Christ, the gospel, the atonement, or if you need help spiritually, physically, or want help knowing more about family history, or a multitude of different things, "ask the missionaries. They can help." 

But by far my favorite talk, the one that totally pumped me up was Jeffrey R. Holland. He has always been my favorite, and this conference he did it again. His talk was first talked about when Peter and some of the other apostles went fishing after Christ's Resurrection. He talks about how Christ taught Peter that the commission was eternal, not just while Christ was here. And how there needed to be a change.

This makes me think about my mission. Is there a change in my nature? When I go home will I be the same person I was when I left? Will I have the same immature desires and habits? Or will I do as Paul says in 1 Corinthians "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." I need to change my nature. I need to go home and be something I wasn't before. Not just act differently, but Be different. Anyone who goes on a mission and goes home without changing their nature has wasted the Lord's time and their own. So I need to be able to say I have not wasted my time, or the Lord's. I feel like I can say that, but I am in the "endure to the end" phase.  Of course the Atonement is there for those who did not change, they still can. But I don't want to need to figure out how to change once I have the world's distractions again. We all need to be constantly growing, changing, repenting, and becoming more and more Christlike.

That's why I love Elder Holland's talks, because he pumps me up to change.

  

I love y'all! Have a great week!

----Elder Braxton C Foust--

A seed. A Tree. A Covenant.‏

Well, I am at a really weird spot this week, cause I don't really have much to talk about. It was another regular week in Weatherford. On Friday we had Zone Leader Council, it was really good as always. We had really good trainings from President and Sister Sagers about leadership and obedience. It is a good time to be a missionary. We were told that in November we will have another general authority visit, Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the 70 will be visiting. Here's a video you can check out from a talk he gave in general conference. http://mormonchannel.org/video?v=1795507066001 It is really good. Anyway, in preparation for that we are studying the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood (found in D&C 84:33-44). I studied it this morning for the first time and I learned a lot. A couple of the things that we covenant when we receive the Priesthood are "magnifying our calling", spreading the gospel, "diligently studying the words of eternal life", and "living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God". The blessings that come are of sanctification by the holy ghost, renewal of our physical bodies, and eventually receiving eternal life. If we break the covenant, "But whoso breaketh this ^acovenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall ^bnot have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come." D&C 84:41.

It's kind of a big deal.

"So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them."

 - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

It reminds me of Alma 32, after the analogy of planting the seed, now looking at the tree. So you have planted the seed (the fullness of the gospel) in your heart, nourished it, and it grew. You know it is true. "37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
 38 But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out."
If we do not keep the first principles of the gospel, if we do not study the Book of Mormon and the Bible, if we do not go to church to partake of the sacrament to renew our covenants, if we turn away from the fullness of the gospel, the testimony dies. And when those people turn away, they lose blessings in this life, and eternal life in the life to come. 

Again, Kind of a big deal.

So we need to make and keep covenants. We need to help others make and keep covenants. We cannot receive salvation without them. No one can. It takes more than "accepting Christ in our heart" We cannot just confess Christ, and cry unto him. Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that ^asaithunto me, ^bLord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that ^cdoeth the ^dwill of my Father which is in heaven" We need to do the Father's will, and his will is for us to make and keep covenants, just as it has been since the beginning of time, and how it will be until the end. 

It is really quite simple. Read the scriptures, make covenants by ordinances performed by the priesthood authority, go to church to partake of the sacrament to renew the covenants you made with God by the priesthood authority, and pray sincerely for guidance and direction and answers to questions, and then be humble enough to follow the guidance and direction and answers given to you. I promise that as you do, you will find peace in this life, and eternal life in the world to come.

I love you all! Live the Gospel! Share the Gospel! Listen to the Prophet and Apostles this weekend!

--Elder Braxton C Foust--