November 27th, 2017

Great!

'Allo!

I'm good.  I had a great Thanksgiving!

Somehow the member family found out it was my birthday so they put a candle in the pumpkin pie and sang to me.  It was surprising.  I also forgot it was my birthday when it happened....

And now I'm 19.  I still feel like a teenager.  Well, it is technically in that age range, but supposedly I have to be more mature now.  Ha!

It's been an interesting week.  Since my companion had his bike stolen, it has been slow walking. However, we met this super nice Lutheran woman who let my companion use her bike for a while until he gets a new one.  The Lord provides!

I've been asked a total of 4 times if I have a potato farm this week alone.  I might just start saying yes at this point!  It would make the conversations a lot simpler....

We've been working with less actives (LA) a bit more lately.  We've been able to help them begin rekindling that faith, which is always cool to see.  These people have faith, but without nourishment...it eventually diminishes.  Like working a muscle or caring for flowers... you must care for it.  Little by little.  Line upon line.

We also had to coordinate a funeral this week.  A less active family moved in recently, and their mother passed away.  This particular LA wants to start coming back, plus one of her daughters is baptism age.  So we are helping them get back on track. I've never had to speak at a funeral before....

There hasn't been much else to really talk about.  Thanks for all the love and support!  Thanks for all of the birthday goodies!  (Those memes were a good pick me up).

Remember that Heavenly Father loves all of his Children!  Remember to be faithful, to be Humble, and to do good continually!  And remember that weakness is something to be made strong!  If you have weakness (which we all do), then strive to make it strong!  There is always room for improvement!  Trust in our Father in Heaven!  I know He loves us, and desires to strengthen us in our weakness, to show us His strength is greater than mans.  I know that through him we are made mighty! Have no fear!

Ether 12
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

I love you, my friends
I love you, my family
God loves you
He is your literal Father
He will bless you

-Elder Moore


Ahhh man I totally forgot!

This week we helped a less active clean and rearrange his room and part of that involved me taking a busted old bed-frame and smashing it to pieces with a hammer!!!

I think I officially intimidated my companion that day.

Anyways, Love you guys!

-Elder Moore

The birthday package with aforementioned memes! 

November 21st, 2017

Prep Day Blues

Hello Friends and Family!

Preparation day got moved to Tuesday for us because today is our District Temple trip! So sorry about the late email.

Sorry that this email is later than normal.  I went through the temple today and didn't get to WiFi until now.  I love the temple.  It's the best!

This week has been a whirlwind. So much stuff has happened...

I went on exchanges with my MTC companion.  That was interesting.  We met some quirky people.  One guy talked in riddles and was being vague and mysterious.  As soon as people see that religious name-tag, they feel it's necessary to explain their beliefs on life...as odd as they are.  At the same time, some people still think we can't drink caffeine...I had someone the other day ask me how long our 'pilgrimage' lasts.  Some people on the other hand don't realize how big the church actually is. The other day a lady yelled at us and told us to 'tell our pastor to never come back' into this area.  I wondered who that would be for us?  The district Leader? The zone leader? The Assistants?  The Mission President?  The local Bishop?  The Stake President? The Primary president? I wouldn't know.

My companion got his bike stolen.  That was a bummer because now we're walking and it takes longer to get to appointments.  We were in an  Albertsons getting our dinner and then when we walked out his bike was gone!  My bike lock key went missing that day (I've found it since then) but he thought we'd be okay without locking our bikes.  And then his was gone when we left! My bike was there.  Luckily some members gave us a ride in their truck to our next destination.

Oh! I wrecked my bike a few days before that!  It was awesome!  We went down this curb and for whatever reason this time my bike ended up flipping forward on its back.  I felt really cool, because in front of all of these people, I jumped forward over the handle bars and landed on my feet, laughing hysterically. I had to buy a replacement piece for it...but it's fixed now!

I had the opportunity to watch the face to face with Elder Oaks and Elder Ballard.  That was cool!  The President requested that we all watch it as missionaries (it was mainly for the ysa people, which we are technically....)

Uhhh that's about it.  It's been pretty cool.  The work is moving, that's all I can say.  Some people are moving forward, others are not.  Thus is life!

My birthday plans are thusly: proselyte, eat turkey, keep proselyting.
I remember a year ago, all I did was play video games the night before and then did birthday stuff...this year I will proselyte and then proselyte.  Oh how the days go by...

Here's a neat scripture

Ether 2
21 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, according as the Lord had commanded.

The Brother of Jared didn't question, didn't argue, didn't complain, he just did it.
That's admirable!  I wish I could be better!  I'd rather not have my personal story end up being "And it came to pass that Elder Moore complained and kicked against the pricks, and then did so, according as the Lord had commanded"

I know that doing as the Lord Commands brings blessings and joy, and that God does not give a commandment save that he provides a way for it to be fulfilled.

I Love you all!

-Elder Moore

District Temple Day

November 13th, 2017

A Note From The Poster: Elder Moore's birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year...If you would like to send him a card or package, we advise sending it out this week so he gets it in time!  His address can be found on the right side of this page!


Embrace The Waters of Baptism

Hello Friends and Family

I had the privilege of seeing one of our investigators get Baptized!  It was a cool experience!  This particular ward hasn't had a baptism in over a year so people were excited.  His name is Will.  His mother was baptized a long time ago, and his younger brother was baptized 4-ish years ago, and now he had the privilege to join the church!

He's had such a countenance change since I first met him.  He was a cool dude with a lot of problems, but he has pushed through and everything is looking up for him!  The gospel changed him in a big way.  I'll send a picture or two from it.

I appreciate all the emails I get from you all. I love reading them.

I have a few more pictures I'll be sending.  One of them is me reacting to salad.  The other is a picture my companion took of me on p-day while a member took us to lunch.  The member forgot his daughter's sippy cup so that's why I'm holding one.  My companion took it when I wasn't looking.  I look majestic though, quite honestly.  Do I always look like that?

So for those of you who don't know, I'm in a place called Henderson.  My particular area is suburbs and apartments and stuff.  At night if you go up the hill, you can see a sea of golden lights, crowned by a spotlight and the strip itself.  During the day, it appears to be a dry wasteland with a smog that blankets Vegas, luckily from a distance.  I may have mentioned this before, but we are in a transient area.  There are colleges nearby apparently, and since these places are more full of apartments, triplexes, and occasionally homes, people move in and out all the time.  We've helped three people move in so far (that will let us help).

Te natural stuff around is desert, rock, cactuses, and palm tress.  This ain't no Idaho.  There are a lot of rabbits around here though.  The same kind as in Idaho.  We have roughly 4 or 5 that hide in the bushes around our apartment.

Oh and also I know what the smell of weed is like now.  It's legal here and people like to smoke it out at night all the time.  Every high person I've come across is usually in their apartment or on a balcony, and are usually nice.  Or ...chill at least.  I think it smells nasty.

My companion says that I will most likely be transferred out of valley, into the more "open" areas.  He says that based purely on my personality, previous hobbies, and interests.  We'll see though!  My companion also thinks that I'm crazy for not bringing a coat or jacket.  I still don't think that 65 is cold.  I guess when the summers hit 117 though....

I had the opportunity to give some blessings the other day.  That was neat.  One of them got better the next day, and the other we'll have to wait and see.  I keep my oil on one of my belt strap thingies, so that I can always remember my priesthood duty and always to be worthy of it.  It's a great reminder.  If any of you brothers are not already, you should keep it with you.  You never know when you might need the oil itself, or the reminder of who you are commissioned by.

Remember also that keeping the commandments of God brings forth blessings.  Many people forget that even simple things like praying and reading the scriptures are commandments as well. Even these simple things will bring you great Joy and Peace.  I have seen it happen to people on my mission, and I have personally experienced it.

Mosiah 2
21 I say unto you that if he should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another--I say, if ye should serve him with all of your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary form that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless and prosper you.

I know that increased direction and strength will come to all how keep the commandments of God.  They may seem restrictive in the moment, but the are far less restrictive than addiction, iniquity and indulgence.  Though those things may perhaps bring momentary satisfaction, Keeping the Commandments of God brings forth Eternal Happiness and Joy that lasts even beyond this life.  This is my Testimony to you.

-Elder Moore

Will's Baptism

Reacting to Salad

Candid Sippy Cup Shot

November 6th, 2017

Iron Sharpens Iron

This past week has been pretty great! We have a Baptism coming up this weekend and we managed to get a few more people dedicated to a baptismal date.  So that's exciting.  This time around I haven't knocked anyone out.  I did manage to skid down a hill and wreck one of my tire tubes. It was pretty cool because I basically drifted to a stop.... but I didn't mean to do it because one of my breaks loosened while riding somehow.  So that was... neat.

Here is something kinda cool.  There is this sweet old lady in one of our wards who got baptized roughly 4 or 5 years ago.  She always forgets names so she gives the missionaries nicknames.  Mine is Moose. I think it's great!

We went to the more ghetto side of town today for my companions haircut.  It was more like a decrepit version of St. Anthony.  Every building has some form of gambling machine.  What a waste.  You could easily put a fridge of chocolate milk in place of those machines. 

We carved pumpkins in our apartment on Halloween.  We had to be in early so that was kinda lame.  The members keep giving us candy. Too much candy...Not enough chocolate anyways.

We saw a black widow spider the other day.  I'll send some pictures of this stuff...and the spider.

There isn't a whole lot to say.  We're getting Facebook this week instead.  Or later.  I don't know for sure.

We had a broadcast on this side of the states with Christopherson.  It was pretty cool!  We sat next to an investigator who said he felt the spirit pretty strongly and heard things that he needed to hear that applied to him.

I did something unspeakable though...something I never thought would happen.  I made a weird decision.... one that may require a higher authority to confess to.......I bought salad.  I bought the materials for salad, and carrots, and apples.  I don't know who to talk to about this because its such an alien experience for me to willingly buy something healthy.....

I made up for it with hot dogs, a beef sandwich, and ginger ale though.

We have some different missionaries in this area.  They're all super good at basketball.  I would rather go on a hike but my companion hates hiking, and it hasn't been organized...

Yesterday we had a lesson....with a deaf person.  We had to Skype in a temple square missionary who could sign.  It was pretty neat!  It was very basic and we had to teach slowly.  We're going to show him how to use the ASL Book of Mormon online next time we meet. 

That's about all there is.  Nothing much else has gone on other than missionary work.  I"ll send a few pictures I took.

In my personal time in the mornings or at night I read the Book of Mormon.  That book is powerful. I find myself wanting to be like the prophets inside who testify to kings and fought valiantly for Christ.  I think I have been doing similar things in my own way out here in the mission field.

Alma 5
45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true.  And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God.  Behold I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.  And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

I strongly encourage any and all of you to read the Book of Mormon if you are not already.  Reading it every day is like putting on armor before battle.  Blessings are poured out on the exercising of faith and there is no easier exercising of faith than saying a prayer and reading the scriptures.  Faith like a seed, requires nourishment, or else it withers and dies. (Read Alma 32) So never forget to nourish that seed.

Don't let that spiritual edge become dulled.

I Love you guys!
Have faith that the Lord can do what He says He can do!

-Elder Moore

The Spider

Halloween Pumpkin Carving

Elder Moore's Pumpkin (1)

Elder Moore's Pumpkin (2)

Both the Elders's Pumpkins

Halloween Decorations

Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty (Alma Chapter 46)