Monday, March 3rd, 2014

We have had a good week. We have been out a lot knocking on doors to try to find people to teach. It still is really warm, which is a great blessing since it makes it a lot easier to be out. We did see some pretty cool Northern Lights on Friday, but I think we tend to miss the coolest parts since we have our bed times. I do go to bed on time. It is a lot of fun being able to talk to different people and share the message of the gospel with them. We want earnestly to find a family who will receive the gospel and experience its profound and eternal blessings. There are a lot of people who say they are not interested, but it is really because they do not understand what they are saying. When we share the gospel we are offering people a gift, but a lot of times we really need to unwrap it for them so that they can understand that it truly is something that will bless their lives. Once people receive the message of the restored gospel and act upon it, they will feel the difference in their lives. They will most certainly feel of the Savior’s love and will desire to do what is necessary to be able to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Everything is coming along really well for the family history course. I do not know what more we could want. We are hoping to start it a week from Sunday.

As a missionary, it is a tremendous blessing to constantly feel as though I am being strengthened by a power that I know is not my own. I know that Heavenly Father lives and watches over us and that His son Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer who also loves us more than we could ever begin to comprehend. I know that we can receive strength, power peace and forgiveness because Christ has taken upon himself our sins and our burdens. His grace is sufficient. We must come unto Him by living His gospel of faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. That is the source of true and eternal peace and happiness. I hope that we may all feel of His love and constantly live the principles of the gospel and remember the covenants that we have entered. The Norwegian phrase of the week is Å Holde Ut til Enden, which means to endure to the end.

Love,

Elder Ankenman