September 25th, 2017

Righteous Indignation

Hello!

I've added like 20ish people to my weekly email so this will be interesting.

I have enjoyed Vegas thus far.  Last night, while proselyting, me and my trainer got to the top of a hill on our bikes and we saw a sea of golden lights.  The city of sin itself. It was neat!

My trainers name is Elder Bybee.  He's pretty cool.  He likes Disney music.  He says it's pretty cold in the mornings.  I laugh and say 70 degrees isn't cold.

I've lost a lot of weight.  At the beginning of this summer I weighed roughly 300 pounds.  Now I'm at 255.  Cool huh?  Although I'll probably add more.  Not on purpose.  The members feed us every day.  The members are nice and they have delicious food.  Mom will be proud.  I've been eating vegetables.  Salads too.

Today we ate food at a restaurant called Great Harvest Bread Co.  It was free because we are missionaries.  And it was delicious.  I had a bacon sandwich...Which speaks for itself.

As far as missionary experiences go they've been glorious.  Day 1 we committed a man to baptism.  He'd had most of the lessons too, so that was nice.  We met a few new people and we even have 3 lessons planned for tonight.

There are a lot of Catholics and Baptists here, surprisingly enough.  We had one lady yell at us to get off her property, so that was funny.

We met a delivery guy from some internet service and he's out of mission area but he expressed a desire to return to Christ and to get clean again.  He has quite a past so we said a prayer and he almost teared up.  It was cool.  Oh I also gave my first blessing of healing for this old lady in one of the wards.  She was super nice.  I was honored.

There are a lot of cool people here around Vegas.  The area I'm in is south of Vegas.  I was talking to my companion about other areas and in the north west of the mission is known as Peach (or something similar).  The missionaries there hike every other week 9 miles to the grand canyon to visit and teach the Native Americans on the reservation.  Supposedly most of the mare members but they have a huge alcohol problem.  I will go where the Lord wants me to go, But I admit I have a great desire to go there.

My mission president is a friendly and awesome guy.  He interviewed all the newbies when we got here. Mine lasted like 30 seconds.  I always wonder why mind don't last long.  It's not a concern, more of a curiosity.  His name is Pres. Youngblood.

Sorry if this emails is jagged and random.  I've been busy and thinking about a lot lately.  Of the people we meet, of how I can be a tool in the Lords hands and how I can use my strengths and strengthen my weaknesses.  That kind of thing.   Also taking it all in.  The new climate and location are weird because summer back home (Idaho) kinda feels like their fall.  At least from what I remember.

Actually being a missionary and reading the book of mormon is way different.  Suddenly the Nephis, Almas, Mosiahs and Ammons are super relateable.  They preach and teach and help people.  The way they do it is even missionary like.  Committing people to pray to repent to get baptized, ett...

The time between getting home and sleeping I oftentimes find myself reading out of the Book of Mormon and reading some cool quotes out of the Journal my brother gave me a while ago.  They've been inspiring and motivation to continue to work.

"We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong.  The amount of work is the same."  -Carlos Castanech

(While the Nephites were in bondage to the Lamanites)
Mosiah 24:14 and 15
14 And I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yeah, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of their Lord.

And here is one more scripture

Joshua 1:5 and 9
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
...
9 Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Friends, family and fellow missionaries: Take courage!  Fear no man or woman!  Trust that the Savior can strengthen you!  Trust that God will prepare the pathway for you!  Trust in yourself to take on all challenges and foes!  I testify of this truth!  Put on the full armor of God and stride into battle with Trust in God and courage in your hearts  (Read Ephesians 6:11-18)

God Speed

-Elder Moore

Vegas from a distance. Aka: a worthy foe.

New missionaries and trainers.

New missionaries training!

September 20th, 2017 (First E-mail from Vegas)

Viva Las Vegas

Hello mum!

I made it to Vegas! We drove passed the strip and I do not care to ever go there.

President Youngblood is a cool guy.  Very funny. Vegas is hot.  One cool thing is one of the missionaries that came with us to Vegas is from Iceland. So that's neat.  2 of the sisters here are from Idaho.  I'm excited to get started.  I find out which area I go to tomorrow.  Woot woot!

I love you mum!

God Speed

-Elder Moore

September 19th, 2017

Onwards! To Glory!

Dear friends and family,

My time at the Mtc is finally over! Tomorrow at 9 am I get on a bus to go to Vegas.  Yeah that's right, we're taking a bus.  6 to 7 hour drive.  Roadtrip!  Woot!

Half of our district, the Reno missionaries, left today. So we're half a district today.  Luckily we get a p day before we go.  I'm ready to get out of here though.  The mtc was fun and all, but I'm ready for Vegas.  It's kinda funny that it is getting colder back home.  It's going to feel like summer where I'm going.  Just way hotter.  I honestly can't think of much to say right now. I pack up today and ship out tomorrow.  There hasn't been anything super exciting to really talk about.  Classes have been more laid back, trcs went by super fast, and every day seems like a blur.  Time has no meaning here at the mtc.  It feels like I've been here forever, honestly.  I'm glad to be moving on though.

This is just the middle ground between my old life and the real work.  Or so it seems.  It's interesting to look back on my old life and see at how it has affected me today.  Hardships and hard work do pay off if you endure faithfully.  Remember that.

Mosiah 8
18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.

Your hardships and trials today forge you into the instrument that God needs you to be tomorrow.

-Elder Moore

PS
Thanks for the letters and the treats.

The Elder on the right is Elder Lu. He was my companion

September 12th, 2017

TRIUMPH AND POWER

Hello Friends and Family!

In exactly a week I ship off to Vegas to party it up for 2 years! (Sorta)

Since last week I've had a few cool things happen.  I gave my first priesthood blessing.  I don't remember what I said so it must have been good.  The spirit was strong then.  Last Wednesday my companion and I had a rough TRC lesson and that day was a bit more challenging.  I was outside and I said a prayer asking heavenly father if I did anything wrong or what the problem was.  After I said amen I got this feeling of comfort.  I felt a spiritual hug and the affirmation that I was doing the right things.  And then the BYU bell rang.  Every night it plays "All is Well". I cried.  It was glorious.

The rest of the TRC lessons went very well.  On the last day she almost cried and was super emotional because she loved the lessons and she definitely felt the spirit.

This week we got two new TRCs. One is an older lady who is going to be a challenge.  I thought she was cool but she has deep philosophical and religious questions that are tough to answer.  Then the other was a college student who I'm pretty sure just needs to be baptized.  Or is a member.  Either way.

Last Tuesday we had Dallin H. Oaks speak at the MTC so that was cool.  Powerful stuff.

My companion and I haven't killed each other so I'd say we're doing pretty well.  The District as a whole is doing well.  The sisters made the Elders a cute little note last week and so we gave them some origami thing with all of our favorite scriptures written on it.  We also have a list of goals that we are trying to follow. Like be more reverent, show more love and charity, pray for the spirit every day, that kind of thing.

A few funny things happened in the dorm.  One of the Elders in my room was able to put his shoes on and then wear my shoes over them.  He looked like he had clown feet.  I also apparently speak with a Scottish accent really well.  So my roommates always ask me to say something in a Scottish accent.  I didn't think it was that good but apparently it is. 

I'm not going to lie today was probably the toughest day ever at the MTC.  All morning I had to listen to my companion and fellow elders talk about Anime and Twenty one pilots in the breakfast line.  It was easily the greatest test of patience the Lord has ever committed upon me.

I guess I could tell you guys about the Elders and Sisters in my district.  At least a little.  My companion Elder Lu is from Boise.  He's also the first American and missionary in his family, which is from China.  He's good with computer stuff and likes video games.  He's also ridiculously organized.  In a good way probably.  In lessons we balance each other out because he's got the words and facts and I jump in at questions, to share scriptures or to bear my testimony.  It is an interesting dynamic.

One of the Elders named Elder Graves is stupidly smart and will probably rule the world someday.  He's been writing a book and he knows all about engineering and ww2 stuff.

Another Elder Elder Day is a flutist and is apparently super good at it.  He's also good emotional support for the Elders who miss their girlfriends. He pillow talks a lot with the other elders.  Not with me thankfully.  Another is Elder Waddoups.  He's a sponsored snowmobile rider from Blackfoot.  Also talks loudly and often.  Very Idaho sportsman.

Another is Elder Hubbell.  He's a talker.  He loves Disney stuff and Marvel comics and he'll argue you to death over either.  Also kind of a treehugger but I'll let that slide.  We have an Elder Jacobs from Alberta Canada.  He's about as tall as I am.  He is loud, and he'll tell you exactly what he's thinking.  Usually about something stupid you've done or how much he hates soccer.  It makes us all laugh.  He's in a trio with Elder Anderson and an Elder Linford.  Anderson is from Texas and loves BBQ.  He's the kind of guy who you would see as an ag teacher at a high school.  Which is what he's gonna be.  Elder Linford is super good at drawing comic style art.  The kind you'd see in the Saturday or Sunday morning cartoons  He also does a ton of pull ups everyday.  The last two elders are Elder Preece and Scoffield.  Preece is going to be a college baseball pitcher at some university in Virginia. He's fluent in sign language and is really easy to get along with.  Elder Scoffield is a smart guy and he loves quoting movies.  He's super good and into soccer.  He wants to be a voice actor and I can totally see that. 

I don't know much about the sisters, but here it goes.  First off is Sister Kindred who is older and smarter about missionary stuff than all of us.  She's been here longer than us and her insights are awesome when she speaks.  She's in a trio with a Sister Black, and Sister Krall.  Sister Black is good at singing and yodeling.  She also has the deepest and coolest spiritual questions out of all of us. 

Sister Krall is quiet and a more gentle soul than the rest of us and that's all I really know about her.  The other two are Sister Mecham and Sister Eichelberger.  Sister Mecham does all of the artsy things ever and is a black belt in Indonesian kung fu, so she could probably beat us all up if she wanted to.  Sister Eichelberger is usually pretty quiet too but she definitely has a steadfast personality in there somewhere.

Altogether my district rules and will all probably be famous someday.  Or rulers of the earth. Either way.

I had a lot more time to write today because laundry is taking a while and I have a cold so I'm moving slower. Which is fine.  That's what p day is for.  Sorry again if the emails were choppy.  There has been a lot going on and I don't know if I got everything important down.

I'm super eager to get out of here.  The mtc is cool and all (even though some days are like highschool) but I want to be in the blazing deserts and serve already.  My testimony is only getting more strengthened and powerful the more I'm' out here.

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou does well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

I love this scripture.  I love work and I know that the principles of faith and work are tied close together.  The more you work at your faith the greater the faith shall be.  If you need the spirit in your life or in your life again, then you have to work for it.  But I know that it is easily worth it.  Line upon line precept upon precept you will be strengthened and blessed in the very choice ways that our Heavenly Father desires you to be blessed with.  This is my testimony.  I love you all and I hope you never forget who you are.  A son or daughter of God, Our Heavenly Father.

Much Love and Hope

-Elder Moore

Here are some pictures.  Including the letter from the sisters.

September 5th, 2017 (First E-mail!)

Dropping Elder Moore off at the MTC! Not goodbye--just see you later!

GLORY AND STUFF

Hello Friends and Family!

     The days have flown by and so my email might be a bit choppy!  Also today is p day for me so I won't reply until Tuesdays every week.

     The mtc has been pretty cool actually.  At first it was surreal and every day feels like Sunday (except for today) so that has been interesting.  My district is probably the coolest district.  My companion is Elder Lu from Boise.  We get along pretty well because we are both on the quite side (mostly).

     Oh and speaking of my district on Day 2 I was called as the District leader.  That is exactly what I needed though.  What a blessing.  When summed up, my district is full of successful people who are super talented and are going places.  Successful places.  Being the DL has helped me get acquainted and friendly with them all so that's been awesome.  Sunday was interesting because we had meetings similar to sacrament about every hour.  At the end we got to choose an LDS film to watch.  My companion and I watched the sequel to Meet the Mormons.  The first family was from Vegas so I got pumped to see the desert wasteland I'll get to serve in!  They also have lots of food there.  Win win for me.
   
     Yesterday we got TRCs which are basically training investigators.  Some of them are acting members and some are actual investigators.  I'm almost positive that the one me and Elder Lu got was an actual investigator.  The spirit was strong and incredible when we taught.  Elder Lu said I was on fire in there and I admit that I only remember half of the stuff I said.  The spirit is real and powerful if you will but listen to its promptings.  When we committed to our TRC to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it, and she said yes, it was the best feeling ever.  When we left back to our room we were so pumped for our next meeting with her.  Shouts for joy did indeed insure.

     I read all of your emails today and sorry if I didn't answer all of your questions or reply specifically to you.  I figured one big email would suffice.  I'm glad that things are going well for all of you.  I am very happy for the good people you are too.  even the smallest things I read brought a smile to my face.  I'm one of the only Elders who isn't homesick but I love hearing from you all!

     Friends and Family, Our Father in Heaven loves each and every one of us and he is eager to bless all of you if you will but hearken to his words.  You are never  too bad or too kneed deep in sins and sorrows for the Atonement and the love of God.  I know this to be true and I know that  trust in God is trust well spent.  He does not fail.

     I love you all!  Good Luck and God speed!

-Elder Moore

PS
Thanks for the jerky.  My fellow elders and I appreciate it!

PPS
Sorry for the misspellings and errors.  Touchscreen keyboards and autocorrect are the worst.

The Call

After a lifetime of preparation, Porter submitted his papers to be considered for and assigned to an LDS mission.  In this age of technology, the ability to check the status of his call online was both exciting and nerve wracking. His family waited anxiously for the mass text from mom saying that his call had arrived in the mail.  

There are many mission destinations, but the final poll simply asked-- domestic or foreign?  We cast our votes via group text and waited.

On Thursday, July 13th, 2017 he received the much anticipated, signature, white envelope.  That evening, immediate family gathered to celebrate his call to serve.  

You can watch him read it here:

Prior to reading his call aloud, he read the call for himself and exclaimed that he was surprised, but that it felt right.  His family can all agree that the call felt right.  A strong sense of peace was shared by all who were there.

The news was shared by phone, text, video and social media with extended family and friends.

With only 6 weeks until he was to report to the MTC, there was much to be done to prepare!

As Elder Moore's mom is known to say:  Las Vegas or Bust!