Half way through!
Hello Everyone!
You can send me emails at spencer.chapple@myldsmail.net
You can also send me letters or packages by mail:
MTC mailing address:
\
Elder Spencer Michael Chapple
APR18 SCOT-IRE
2005 N 900 E Unit 31
Provo UT 84602
You can also send me letters or packages using dearelder.com, a service that prints out messages written online and delivers them to the MTC.
I would be happy to hear from you!
This has been a fantastic week! And I'm halfway done here as well! We received our flight plans yesterday and I'm travel leader for a party of 5. I don't know who the other two are who are going on our plane trip, but they might be going to the Netherlands, as we are stopping for a layover on the way to Scotland. We check out April 18th @ 9:50am and we will be getting on the plane around 2-3pm. I'm so excited, not only to go to Scotland, but because I get to fly again! I love flying! It's so amazing! You all must think I'm insane :)
The following stories are abridged/transcribed from my journal.
04-01 Saturday:
Today was general conference. It was meant to be a P-day for us (Preparation Day), but we had General conference and district review instead. It was worth it though. The day before general conference, we had written down questions we had and I received answers to most, if not all of them :) One of these answers was this: Make Christ, then others foremost in my thoughts, mind and heart. Later this week, our district goal was chosen - Charity and Love. I feel that I have been able to begin developing this trait with my fellow missionaries and think more of others and less of myself. One of my questions that this answered was, How can I grow closer to Christ?
The talks during general conference were all fantastic! One of the best moments was when it was announced that Elder Holland would be speaking during the Second Session. There's a video of one of his talks that we've seen here at the MTC several times now - It talks about how we must be converted ourselves and do what we want our investigators to do before the Spirit can teach and convert them. Because of that, Elder Holland is a big deal here (Everyone adores him already anyway :) and so when it was announced he would be speaking the whole of the congregation gasped and exclaimed (quietly) in delight. It was awesome! A similar thing happened with our beloved beloved prophet.
I felt the spirit strongly throughout all of general conference - by far the best conference I had ever been to. I strongly encourage any of you who didn't have the opportunity to watch it to do so - listen, watch or read. We ended our wonderful and beautiful general conference experience by watching "Joseph Smith, The Prophet of the Restoration".
"The spirit I felt, no, WE felt was so strong througout this testimony of the restored gospel. Elder Anderson was brought to tears and I shed one or two [as well]. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know that this is the true church. I know miracles can and do happen. I still feel shaky and my heart still aches with the knowledge and love that it holds. I love my Savior. He is our redeemer. He Loves us. The Godhead all love us and care for us and watch each and everyon of us in our individual lives. The film we watched testifies of this.
I want to do my best to be a worthy servant of the Lord and help others. More specifically, I want them to feel what I felt, what we felt, know what I know, and wonder at the Glory and majesty of it all.
This is the true Church, This is Christ's Gospel. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the HOly Ghost love us dearly and want the best for us - most of all, they want us to return home.
I say these things solemly, in the Name of our Savior and Redeemer, [Jesus Christ], Amen." - Elder Chapple, Sunday Night Journal Entry
TRC, Teaching Resource Center, is a wonderful training program here at the MTC. At the beginning of each full week here at the MTC, we recieve 2 investigators which we teach 3-4 times a week. These investigators are real people and most are members, but some are non-members. They each act as investigators. We find out who are investigators are by a slip of paper we receive before the week begins. Each slip contains their names and a short Bio. Elder Gedlaman and I have had a fantastic time bringing our message to our investigators and learning how to better teach by the spirit. It's so amazing to be able to see the spirit guide my words - I'm confident that I wouldn't be able to say most of what I've said during lessons in the way in which I did, or maybe not even at all - without the help of the Spirit. I have also been able to learn to better recognize the prompting of the Spirit: small nudges to ask a question, bring up a scripture or something of comfort, share my testimony, allow my companion to continue speaking, etc. I've been blessed to be able to feel and recognize the Spirit here at the MTC. I know it will be a help for being able to do the same throughout the rest of my life. We've been able to commit all of our investigators to baptism, btw.
-----
I feel like I should share that sometimes we don't seem to be feeling the spirit that often- I've felt this way before. Look in on yourself. How do you feel? Do you feel good? Happy? Peaceful? Even just normal? If you have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, you may have grown used to his presence. You may have taken that Gift for granted. You are feeling the Spirit! Think back to the times when you have made mistakes, hurt someone, or felt guilt for something. Even when you find yourself in a bad place where the spirit cannot dwell! You didn't feel like yourself, did you? You felt something missing. Until you repented, you felt that way, then things returned to normal. As long as you are striving to follow Christ and keeping His commandments, you have been promised the Holy Ghost! Take the time to see that He is with you - always. Work to recognize that how you feel - that peace of mind, happiness, calm that comes with the gospel - that is the Holy Ghost. Don't take this wonderful gift for granted. Strive to recognize the Spirit in all that you do.
Today was our first P-day! We got to go to the temple with our teachers and district, It was awesome! I love the peace of the temple so much. Had breakfast in the temple (first time in a temple cafeteria). Wonderful P day! Spent half the day writing all this :) I wish I could share everything that happened this week, but that would be nigh impossible :)
I love you all! And never forget that you have a loving Savior and Heavenly Father who love you more than us mortals can comprehend - perfectly. I know this to be true.
You can send me emails at spencer.chapple@myldsmail.net
You can also send me letters or packages by mail:
MTC mailing address:
\
Elder Spencer Michael Chapple
APR18 SCOT-IRE
2005 N 900 E Unit 31
Provo UT 84602
You can also send me letters or packages using dearelder.com, a service that prints out messages written online and delivers them to the MTC.
I would be happy to hear from you!
This has been a fantastic week! And I'm halfway done here as well! We received our flight plans yesterday and I'm travel leader for a party of 5. I don't know who the other two are who are going on our plane trip, but they might be going to the Netherlands, as we are stopping for a layover on the way to Scotland. We check out April 18th @ 9:50am and we will be getting on the plane around 2-3pm. I'm so excited, not only to go to Scotland, but because I get to fly again! I love flying! It's so amazing! You all must think I'm insane :)
The following stories are abridged/transcribed from my journal.
04-01 Saturday:
Today was general conference. It was meant to be a P-day for us (Preparation Day), but we had General conference and district review instead. It was worth it though. The day before general conference, we had written down questions we had and I received answers to most, if not all of them :) One of these answers was this: Make Christ, then others foremost in my thoughts, mind and heart. Later this week, our district goal was chosen - Charity and Love. I feel that I have been able to begin developing this trait with my fellow missionaries and think more of others and less of myself. One of my questions that this answered was, How can I grow closer to Christ?
The talks during general conference were all fantastic! One of the best moments was when it was announced that Elder Holland would be speaking during the Second Session. There's a video of one of his talks that we've seen here at the MTC several times now - It talks about how we must be converted ourselves and do what we want our investigators to do before the Spirit can teach and convert them. Because of that, Elder Holland is a big deal here (Everyone adores him already anyway :) and so when it was announced he would be speaking the whole of the congregation gasped and exclaimed (quietly) in delight. It was awesome! A similar thing happened with our beloved beloved prophet.
I felt the spirit strongly throughout all of general conference - by far the best conference I had ever been to. I strongly encourage any of you who didn't have the opportunity to watch it to do so - listen, watch or read. We ended our wonderful and beautiful general conference experience by watching "Joseph Smith, The Prophet of the Restoration".
"The spirit I felt, no, WE felt was so strong througout this testimony of the restored gospel. Elder Anderson was brought to tears and I shed one or two [as well]. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know that this is the true church. I know miracles can and do happen. I still feel shaky and my heart still aches with the knowledge and love that it holds. I love my Savior. He is our redeemer. He Loves us. The Godhead all love us and care for us and watch each and everyon of us in our individual lives. The film we watched testifies of this.
I want to do my best to be a worthy servant of the Lord and help others. More specifically, I want them to feel what I felt, what we felt, know what I know, and wonder at the Glory and majesty of it all.
This is the true Church, This is Christ's Gospel. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the HOly Ghost love us dearly and want the best for us - most of all, they want us to return home.
I say these things solemly, in the Name of our Savior and Redeemer, [Jesus Christ], Amen." - Elder Chapple, Sunday Night Journal Entry
TRC, Teaching Resource Center, is a wonderful training program here at the MTC. At the beginning of each full week here at the MTC, we recieve 2 investigators which we teach 3-4 times a week. These investigators are real people and most are members, but some are non-members. They each act as investigators. We find out who are investigators are by a slip of paper we receive before the week begins. Each slip contains their names and a short Bio. Elder Gedlaman and I have had a fantastic time bringing our message to our investigators and learning how to better teach by the spirit. It's so amazing to be able to see the spirit guide my words - I'm confident that I wouldn't be able to say most of what I've said during lessons in the way in which I did, or maybe not even at all - without the help of the Spirit. I have also been able to learn to better recognize the prompting of the Spirit: small nudges to ask a question, bring up a scripture or something of comfort, share my testimony, allow my companion to continue speaking, etc. I've been blessed to be able to feel and recognize the Spirit here at the MTC. I know it will be a help for being able to do the same throughout the rest of my life. We've been able to commit all of our investigators to baptism, btw.
-----
I feel like I should share that sometimes we don't seem to be feeling the spirit that often- I've felt this way before. Look in on yourself. How do you feel? Do you feel good? Happy? Peaceful? Even just normal? If you have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, you may have grown used to his presence. You may have taken that Gift for granted. You are feeling the Spirit! Think back to the times when you have made mistakes, hurt someone, or felt guilt for something. Even when you find yourself in a bad place where the spirit cannot dwell! You didn't feel like yourself, did you? You felt something missing. Until you repented, you felt that way, then things returned to normal. As long as you are striving to follow Christ and keeping His commandments, you have been promised the Holy Ghost! Take the time to see that He is with you - always. Work to recognize that how you feel - that peace of mind, happiness, calm that comes with the gospel - that is the Holy Ghost. Don't take this wonderful gift for granted. Strive to recognize the Spirit in all that you do.
Today was our first P-day! We got to go to the temple with our teachers and district, It was awesome! I love the peace of the temple so much. Had breakfast in the temple (first time in a temple cafeteria). Wonderful P day! Spent half the day writing all this :) I wish I could share everything that happened this week, but that would be nigh impossible :)
I love you all! And never forget that you have a loving Savior and Heavenly Father who love you more than us mortals can comprehend - perfectly. I know this to be true.
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