Ponderings......

Lanita's baptism. Wonderful!!

Check out this awesome knot I learned!!

I've thought about us being our own worse enemy too and I think of flesh vs. the Spirit. Our spirit wants to do well and knows what is good and bad. But our flesh is what falls so easily into temptation. It just wants what FEELS good and wants it right now. I think of the cookie monster when I think of the flesh. "I WANT COOKIE, I WANT COOKIE NOW" This life is about developing Self-Mastery which falls under the category of Temperance in the Topical Guide of the scriptures. It is not easy, but this life is not easy. Missionary work is not easy. Raising a family is not easy. But the Atonement was not easy either. If we are to call ourselves Disciples of Christ, then we must endure through something, maybe a little speck of something that the Savior went through. Elder Holland gave a great talk about that.

Raymond is getting baptized this Saturday. We had a baptism last Saturday. Our friend, Lanita, ask me to confirm her on Sunday and Elder D. to baptize her. It was a wonderful day. She is so happy and so are we.  Raymond, another man we have been teaching is choosing to be baptized on this coming Saturday. There have been 20 baptisms in Ada since January. The Lord is truly “hastening His work,” and I am so glad to be part of it.

 I want to share a neat quote I found while reading a talk by the apostle, Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

“There is not a higher good than motherhood and fatherhood in marriage. There is no superior career, and no amount of money, authority, or public acclaim that can exceed the ultimate rewards of family.”

Okay so funny story time... Yesterday after the Skype, we went to give Chris, the Sister's investigator, a blessing because he is quitting coffee and is going through caffeine withdrawals. So he asked some questions about the priesthood and my companion answered all of them perfectly. Then we gave him a blessing and he started to say how awesome it felt and how empowered he felt. For some reason I started talking about how he has the power to quit coffee, that he could "punt a bag of coffee beans no problem." And he took that literally and asked me if I wanted to go outside and punt his last can of coffee that he has in his kitchen. Of course I said heck yes, and we went outside and Elder Davis held the can on his foot and I field goal kicked it off of some stairs. Then Chris wanted to try so he ran down and got the can and tried to kick it too, but mostly just nailed Elder Davis' hand and the can rolled down the stairs. So Chris wanted a re-try and he held the can himself and kicked it and it blew up when it hit the ground. It was all so awesome, except we didn't think about the giant smell of coffee that exploded into our nostrils after the can blew up. But Chris thought it was the greatest thing ever! :)

Love you

Elder Olson