Monday, April 20th, 2015

We have had a busy day. I went to splits in Porsgrunn last week. It was very special to be back in that city and see all of the wonderful people there. I am so grateful for the time I had there. We have been planning some activities with the branch, so I am also very excited and grateful to be here. I know that the Lord has a plan for us and for all people. We went out fishing with our branch president today, which was a lot of fun. We went to a very beautiful place. I am so grateful for all of the blessings in my life. I know that the Lord is mindful of us. The Norwegian word of the week is gjenforrening, which means reunion.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, April 13th, 2015

We have a branch here with probably about 30 people. I do not know any of them terribly well yet, but I am very grateful to be here and to hopefully be able to contribute to the growth of the branch here. There are about 200,000 people between our area and the Sandefjord Elders who are also part of our branch. I am in the same district as I was in Porsgrunn, and I will possibly be going there on splits on Thursday, which would be awesome. We cover a large geographical area, which means that we have a lot to work with. We take the bus most places, which works very well. I am really trying to be as bold as I can and talk to as many people as I can, which can be scary, but I know that the Lord will help me do what He wants me to do. I am doing very well and I am still in awe at how quickly time passes. I know that our time is limited, but that we can accomplish much with the Lord’s help.

I have thought a lot about understanding and doing the will of the Lord recently. It truly is the Lord’s will that this work go forward and that all His children will be able to return to Him with our families. Nevertheless, Heavenly Father will not force anyone to do anything. He will always invite but never force. There are truly consequences for our actions, but we only get to choose our actions not their consequences. I struggle sometimes, as I do not know the meaning of all things the way Heavenly Father does. I do not see the full scope of His plan nor the wonders that occur every day. Still I do know that He gives us what we need. I know that the Lord is working miracles in all of our lives. There are certainly times in my life when I have felt the Lord reveal His will for me in a very real and unquestionable way, but there are many more times when I feel the Lord has allowed me to be an agent and use my faith to hope for things I do not yet see. I know that as we all do our best with the light we have that we will receive more light. I know this is true for us all. There is yet much work for us all to do no matter where we are in the world to build up and seek first the Kingdom of God. I am so grateful for the knowledge that God is at the helm of this work. I know that He does work through the simple and weak things of the world, as we are so that we can become what we were meant to be. I love you all so much and am so grateful for your prayers. I know that they are heard and answered. The Norwegian word of the week is en om gangen, which means one at a time.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, April 6th, 2015

It was wonderful to be able to learn from conference and to remember the Savior on Easter. I truly did think conference was amazing. Every talk was so inspired and wonderful. I know that God loves us and that Christ is risen. They also announced three new temples in Haiti, Thailand and the Ivory Coast, which are places where they really need them. I know they will be well used. I am so grateful to know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that He loves all people and wants to lift us up. Tønsberg is a very cool place. I believe it is the oldest city in Norway. We have a branch here, but I did not meet too many members because a lot of people were out of town with Easter. I am so grateful to be able to be in the Lord’s service. I am grateful to know that He will guide and bless all of us. Like Elder Andersen said, we truly can see His hand in each of our lives. The Norwegian word of the week is oppstandelse, which means resurrection.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, March 30th, 2015

I was surprised to find out yesterday that I will be moving to Tønsberg, which is about an hour away from Porsgrunn and Skien. I will be in the same district as the missionaries serving there. I am of course sad to be leaving Kristiansund, especially after so short a period of time, but I know that it is the Lord’s will and that the Lord needs me to be there. I will be serving with Elder Garrard and Elder Rice. Elder Cheney will actually be coming here with Elder Kirk. We had Zone Conference in Trondheim this past week, so it was fun to see people and get some pictures. On Sunday, we had some members from the ward in Trondheim visit us here, which was fun. I am so grateful for the strength of so many members around the world who meet in all sorts of wards and branches. It truly is miraculous that the gospel is the same everywhere.

I gave the Sunday school lesson yesterday on charity. I think that one of the most important aspects of charity is seeing others and ourselves as God sees us, namely seeing others and ourselves as we may become. As Elder Holland once said Heavenly Father has only had one perfect person to work with, the Savior. That must indeed be very frustrating for Him, but He deals with it and always supports and encourages us never belittling or limiting our progression. He has made us free and offers through Christ’s Atonement relief from all of the hardships and faults we have. I am so grateful for this Easter season and for the knowledge that Christ lives. I know that He is risen. It will be a great blessing to hear His prophets and apostles bear their special witnesses of Him in General Conference. I am very excited to be able to learn and grow from that. I am grateful to know as President Uchtdorf expressed last April General Conference that in the gospel there are no real endings, only eternal beginnings. I know that our families can be together forever because of the Atonement. The Norwegian word of the week is udødelig, which means immortal.

Love,
Elder Ankenman

Monday, March 23rd, 2015

We have had a good week. We will be traveling to Trondheim later today for Zone Conference tomorrow. When I was there this past week I was with Elder Cheney. It was fun and interesting to be with him again. We had some cool Northern Lights the night I came. I sang I Stand All Amazed in church yesterday and will be singing it tomorrow at the Zone Conference. I am really excited about General Conference coming up. It is always such a wonderful blessing to be able to learn from the prophets and apostles. It is also very exciting that Easter is coming. The church is launching another missionary initiative in conjunction with the Easter season, I hope it will help a lot of people to remember the reason for the season and come unto Christ. Here is a link to the video: http://www.mormon.org/easter?cid=HP_SA_4-4-2015_dMIS_fMRMN_xLIDyMSTHD1_. The Norwegian word of the week is vår, which means spring.

Love,
Elder Ankenman