May 20, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! It's a big step turning 35 ;) That is fun that Tyson and Dawn are having you over for dinner to celebrate and lunch at the hospital is always a good idea... we would go there to eat lunch during the school year sometimes! It is always good to hear about everyone and how amazing our family is. Mom and Dad you truelly are succesful parents, "by their fruits ye shall know them" and you have done such a good job producing 9 good fruits (we don't know if I am yet) Tell Jayci that i'll think about her when I run because we have to run every morning which is nice.
   Things have been going very well here in the Huntigton Beach 7th ward. (Oh Mom here are a few streets so you can look it up: Main and Utica is the corner I live on; and we are woking all the time in the numbered streets like 6, 7, 8,8... all the way to 22 with the cross streets of walnut, pecan, olive, palm... so just put in any of those and you can explore a little bit. It's right on the ocean!)
  Also before I forget I have a scripture! Ephesians 6:10-13.
  The past week has been good, people don't really ever say we can come back or want us to teach so instead of asking and giving the option to say no we just jump right into teaching and that has turned out well, we have had alot more lessons taught that way, alot of them street lessons. This weeks favorite questions that people would ask was all about the Book of Mormon. It is funny because every week it seems to be a different question. I think the other churches coordinate what things they are going to TRY and disprove about the mormons each week. That is why I have learned so much in every area of our religion and it is amazing how it is always true.
   But it is true that like it says "open your mouth and it shall be filled" not "i'll fill your mouth so then you can open it". We run into alot of preachers, retired pastures, theology teachers, old ministers, religion experts and it's amazing how me and my companion of 18 and 20 yrs old can actually talk with these people. They are so knowledgeable and have studied SO MUCH but we have the truth, and the truth is never wrong. I still hardly know anything but it really is through the power of the spirit and help from God that we are able to do anything.
   This makes we realize how much you know, Dad, having gone through religious studies as well as having the full truth. Because alot of these people have truth but they just are not open at all to more truth, they are almost scared of more truth. It's like wanting to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (the whole truth) they have the peanut butter but call that good and slap the other slice of bread on and close their minds to everything else. A peanutbutter sandwich is good, but it still isn't the whole sandwich, it isn't everything! We have the jelly; being Priesthood authority, the book of mormon, living prophets and apostles, temples, correct ordinances... If you've only had a peanutbutter sandwich, then it seems so good and you don't even want to try anything else. They don't realize what they are missing though, they could be having the whole sandwich! Missions are so amazing, I love it. Thank you for supporting me out here, I know it is a financial sacrifice and I am so thankful for you guys. I love you all! I look forward to hearing about you next week!
Love,
Elder Jolley

at the Morphy's home