Monday, December 30, 2013

Christmas in Shawnee

It was a really good Christmas week. It was so good to talk to my family this week. I can't believe how much has changed within the past year or so. Everyone seems so different and I couldn't recognize voices as well!! The saying is true, "You don't realize what you have, until its gone". I love and miss you guys!!

Well we had a baptism this weekend for Ricky Watson. He's 9 years old and is a very shy little guy. It was really fun to teach him and his family the past 6 weeks. They started coming back to church and so it was really good for the whole family. We have grown to love the Watsons and Ricky. I will attach a picture at the baptism of me and the family. 

As a mission we have really tried to step it up. Since President Walkenhorst got here, he has had a vision of achieving 100 baptisms in one month. Well the first month he got here, we broke the record for this mission and got to 42 I think. We were pretty short on 100 though. So in the month of December we decided to push for a stepping stone of 50 baptisms which has obviously never been done in this mission. Well we got an email from President Walkenhorst telling us that as of today, our mission reached 57 baptisms so far this month. The Lord is truly hastening His work. Miracles are happening. People are being prepared for the truth. Get excited about it!! 

Romans 8:28 has been the forefront of my thoughts the past couple of weeks. 
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose"
That is probably one of the most comforting promises in all of scripture. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, this promise is fulfilled. This scripture can be applied to any of life's situations. If we are truly striving to do our very best and striving everyday to love God and keep His commandments, all things will eventually work together for our good. For we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do. The Lord simply requires of us our best. Our best today might not be our best tomorrow, but if we truly love God and trust in our Saviors Atonement, all things will work together for our good in the end. I especially love this scripture when it is applied to receiving and then acting on answers from our Heavenly Father. We may not always have a clear answer that we can confidently act on in response to the many questions that we take to our Heavenly Father, but we can be assured that no matter what, if we base the decisions we make in our lives on our love for our Heavenly Father we can never go wrong in the end. He wont let it happen. 

So my invitation is to love God. What can you do today to increase your love for Him? Go to Him in sincere prayer and He will answer.

I love you all. Have a great new year. Stay safe, be smart and love God.

Elder Dallin Cutler


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