Monday, September 29th, 2014

I am very grateful for all of the amazing people I have met and been able to work with. Time is going by so fast, but I feel so very blessed for all of the wonderful things that are happening. I gave the family history supplies my family made to our bishop, and he said the timing was absolutely perfect because they are preparing to have a ward family home evening focused on family history and temple work. The ward is working on accepting Elder Andersen's challenge to find as many family names as we perform ordinances in the temple. It is truly another aspect of hastening the work of salvation. One of the things we have been talking about a lot as a mission is the need for urgency. We must do our best to understand the importance and gravity of the work we do. There are indeed millions of people on both sides of the veil crying and pleading both knowingly and unknowingly for us to come and help them. We must do all we can to help families be together forever.

Our recent convert is doing really well and has come to church every week since his baptism. He is a very kind and wonderful guy. I am no longer serving as a district leader, which reduces some stress. We will be having another transfer in two weeks. It is quite likely that I will be transferred, but I am not sure. It is always very sad to leave a place. I love the people here so much. I am very excited about general conference this weekend. It will be a wonderful opportunity to learn.

Truly loving all we come in contact with and sowing them that love to the best of our ability is the most important thing we can do. I know that we are happiest as we focus on other people, and I am really trying to do that. When people feel loved, they will understand our desire to strengthen, help and serve them. We are trying to do more service and to help and let our light so shine before men so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven. I know that loving and helping others softens hearts. The Norwegian word of the week is mykte, which means to soften.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, September 22nd, 2014

We have had some really good experiences applying the things we learned from Elder Bednar (An Apostle of the Church) and Elder Dyches (A Church General Authority). We had a really cool experience one day this week while we were out talking to people on the street. A guy stopped us and asked us if we were Jehovah Witnesses. We told him we were not but came from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We taught him a little about the restoration and the Book of Mormon and asked if we could get his number or set up another time when we could give him a Book of Mormon. He said no thanks it kind of sounds like a cult, but we could read a little bit from the book. I showed him Moroni 10:3-5 and asked him to read. He did and then just kept reading the rest of the page. He then said wow it is really scary how true I think this is. He was skeptical but nevertheless had the faith to try the word and see what it actually was. Because he did that the Spirit was able to confirm to him that what he was reading was good. That is a wonderful lesson for us all about faith. Most of the time we do not have a perfect knowledge of things. We must rely upon the assurance of things hoped for and not seen and show our faith by acting. If we do this we will be blessed. Our faith will be strengthened and we will be guided. I know by acting on the assurance of things hoped for and not seen that the gospel and church of Jesus Christ have been restored to the earth by a loving God through the prophet Joseph Smith. This witness came after the trial of my faith. It is something anyone can know the through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The experiences in our lives shape us into what we must be. It is impossible for us to understand in the moment, but I know it is true. I am so grateful for the knowledge, peace, comfort and power the gospel provides us. There is nothing else that can compare. As Paul says the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed within us. I know that is true for each of us as children of God. The Norwegian word of the week is ren, which means pure or clean.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, September 15th, 2014

Our investigator was baptized and has now received the priesthood, which is really exciting. It is wonderful to see the difference the gospel makes in people’s lives if they will just open themselves up and let their hearts be changed. I am so grateful for the Savior and that He has made that change possible for all of us. One very interesting thing that Elder Bednar said is that if we are really living the gospel we will always be changing because we will always be striving to become like Christ. As we learn about the Savior we receive peace and strength. We also come to understand more our weaknesses, but through Him our weaknesses truly can become strengths. That is something I am really seeing on my mission. Life can be really hard to balance. One of the nicest things about being on a mission is being able to focus basically on one purpose, which is the most important and best purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ. It is not easy, but it is almost always quite simple.

I know that the Lord will empower us to be able to be good disciples and to move forward no matter where we are. I know that the Lord knows each of us individually and that His way is to go after the one. No matter who we are, we can and should seek for ways to touch and help individuals who need us. We were helping a member do some work on his roof earlier this week. We also had a Bishop's youth discussion yesterday all about family history work. I know that we are not alone in this work and that family history and temple work are essential in the work of salvation. The Norwegian word of the week is enkeltpersoner, which means individuals.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, September 8th, 2014

It was incredible to have Elder Bednar (an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) visit. The Spirit was incredibly strong. It was also really wonderful to be able to see members from Oslo and Alta there as well. My Spanish is pretty rusty, but it was so wonderful to see everyone. Both stake presidents and their wives spoke as well as an area seventy from Finland and Elder and Sister Bednar. It was focused of course upon the hastening of the work. Much of Elder Bednar’s address was to people who are not members of the church. He explained why our church is named what it is and taught about the restoration of the gospel. We were asked in preparation to the missionary meeting we later had with him to read a few talks he had given before that focused a lot on the principle of acting in accordance to our faith. Faith is an assurance that leads to action and ultimately reveals the proof after the trial of our faith. His challenge was for nonmembers to read and pray about the Book of Mormon not merely to know whether it is true but so that, just like Joseph Smith, they could then know the action they must take. He said when you know this is true, and then you will know that you need to join this church.

To the members Elder Bednar told us to be converted and live the gospel. He said that missionary work is a byproduct and not the cause of conversion. If we are converted, we will naturally share the gospel. If we struggle with it or fear it, then we must become more fully converted. When we live the gospel people will naturally come to think we are weird and ask questions. It is our duty to give them the answers boldly and simply to the questions they ask. As we do so, many will become curious and desire to know more. He also spoke of how the gospel answers the questions of the soul, which all people have regardless of their backgrounds. We have been blessed with the answers making it our duty to share them.

Our missionary meeting was formatted as a question and answer program. It was completely guided by the Spirit. It was not planned. It was really awesome. He asked people to share things they learned, and then asked many follow up questions to them. He is such a bright, spiritual and loving man. One interesting thing he said is that many people think apostles go around to give talks or just speak in general conference, but that is not actually their job. Their job is to witness of and represent Christ and go after ones as he said. The Savior's way of ministering is truly individual. There is no other way it can be done. It is truly an experience I will never forget. I am very excited to get to work and apply what I have learned.

It strikes me so much how they are ordinary people yet people who receive such strength because of their humility and reliance upon the Lord. One thing Elder Bednar said is that it is so wrong for so many from wealthy countries to believe they need to go in to African countries, or Guatemala and make them more like them. The last thing they need is the pride that affluence often brings. Rather it is us who are from the affluent countries who need to learn from them. Elder Bednar oversees the church in Africa where there is tremendous growth. He said that when you have nothing you focus on what matters most. I have learned much from the faith and goodness of the Guatemalans and Salvadorians among others whom I have come to know. We do have a new baptismal date for our investigator for this Friday, which is very exciting. The Norwegian word of the week is lærerik, which means instructive or profitable for learning.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, September 1st, 2014

We have had a really good week and will have another really good one with Elder Bednar coming to visit this coming Sunday. I will be staying with Elder Cheney (Dan’s current companion), which I am excited about. I feel like there is still so much I need to do and accomplish here, so I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to stay here. I will no longer be serving as a district leader, so I will really be able to focus everything on my area, which will be nice. We have been trying to visit members more frequently and to help them understand the importance of doing missionary work and how we truly cannot do it without them. We all stand in need of redemption which cometh in and through the Holy Messiah alone. This is His restored church, and it is our job to share the blessings of His gospel with the entire world. As we invite others with love in natural ways truly exercising faith in our Savior, the gospel will go forward in incredible ways.

I have also contemplated how grateful I am for the relationship we have with God as His children. It is something that is not understood very widely. He speaks to us and will strengthen and help us. Like any good parent, He will not do everything for us, but He will always provide a way for us. He hears and answers our prayers not according to our will but according to His infinite love and wisdom. He answers in the way and at the time that is best for us. He calls and inspires men and women today as in times of old. He is our Father who sent His beloved and perfect son, our Savior Jesus Christ to atone for our sins and overcome all things for us. I know that they live and love us. I know that they called Joseph Smith to restore the fullness of the gospel and the church of Jesus Christ to the earth. I know that we have modern prophets and apostles who lead the church under the direction of Christ himself. I know that we will hear from an apostle of Jesus Christ this Sunday.

Here is a bit of a run down of our days. We wake up, do our best to exercise, shower, sometimes eat, study, eat lunch, go talk to people on the street, go to visit members, knock on doors, sometimes attend meetings, teach people usually with a member present, eat dinner, plan for the next day, call people, talk and then sleep. I am really trying to make sure we are always doing something truly meaningful and productive, which are often times determined not only by what you do but how you do it. Teaching and then member work are of course our greatest priorities. I hope you have a wonderful week and feel strongly of our Savior's love. The Norwegian word of the week betydningsfull, which means meaningful.

Love,
Elder Ankenman