Last Letter from the Land Down Unda!

Hello World!

 It looks like another BEautiful day!

 Our week has been really great.  It's amazing that though our indicators aren't the best ever, we still taught, felt the spirit and worked hard.  The miracle of the week is from a new/former investigator, Sonya.  On Sunday night the Elders asked us how we were going and we said that we were finding all the time, they gave us a few ideas to receive new investigators and asked us to go through our area book again.  I didn't think much of it because I've gone through the area book a million times and I know most of the people mentioned there.  But we did as we were asked anyway.  We found one unlikely candidate and put her as a back-up, back-up.  Anyway everything else fell through and we went to see her.  She was sitting on her veranda as if she was waiting for us.  She welcomed us to sit with her and said, "I've been thinking about you and especially about the iron rod."  She then proceeded to tell us about how she was going.  It was like we never stopped teaching her.  Well.....this is just the start!  We began to teach her and since then we have seen her everyday with the exception of Sunday, she has read the introduction, the testimonies of the witnesses, Joseph Smith's testimony and 1Nephi 1 and 2.  She reads the Book of Mormon everyday, is praying alot and is receiving inspiration and answers to her prayers consistently.  Every day she sees us she has something wonderful to tell us.  

What is the most amazing thing ever is that she is a drug addict who really, really wants to turn from her old life, (We just read 1Nephi 2) with her this morning and she loved the parallels to her life.  She wants help and this morning was the first time she prayed with us, which is big considering we've taught her about 6times.  Our lessons with her are short and to the point, haha!  She can only stand about 30minutes and then she's done:)  She is amazing!  It is such a blessing to be able to teach her my last week here.

Today is the last day for me in the mission field and it is amazing.  The weather is stormy, just like it was when I landed nearly 18 months ago.  What a beautiful year and a half it has been.  I sincerely look forward to acquainting myself with everyone again.  

The Church is True!

Love, 

Sister Eldredge

LAST LETTER...remember to change!

Dear Family and Dearest Friends,

 

This week has been absolutely incredible.  Wow!!!  Six weeks ago I thought of the vision I wanted for this area.  We had or were dropping most of our investigators--what an annoying thing to do.... and we spent so much of our time finding.  PS!!!!!!!  You know how I told you that we have to contact 140 people in a week and that it's like climbing Mt. Everest....well GUESS WHAT!!! Miracles never cease when there is faith-last week we contacted 140 PEOPLE!!!!!!  Wahooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My companion is hilarious-she said, "Seriously Sista Eldredge, don't you think we've talked to every person in Mt. Barker??" Our area has only about 10,000 people in it.  It was hilarious.  We saw like a million miracles.  We tracted last Monday and found a really great family, taught them the next day and now they're new investigators.  We met people from the US, which is an immediate connection and then they invited us back! 

 

I was asked to speak in our ward about what I've learned on a mission; did I already tell you that??  Well, it went off marvelously!  I spoke about faith, prayer and the Book of Mormon. 

 

I had the most AMAZING experience while I was cleaning the car last P-day.  Okay, so this is personal, but many of you know how much I've struggled on my mission.  It is definitely, hands down, the hardest experience I have ever had in my short 21 years of mortality. As a result, I have struggled to say, "Wow, I love my mission!" I always feel envious of missionaries who can say that. But in the last six weeks, with much prayer, I have had a change of heart and can say now, "Ï love my mission!!" As I was vacuuming our car, the Spirit told me, so clearly above the hum of the vacuum, "Sister Eldredge, it doesn't matter when you change, it just matters that you change." I nearly burst into tears. How true is that?  I reflected back on the last 18 months and thought of the sleepless nights, the tear-stained pillows, the urgent cries for help and the struggle of loving something that I was 'supposed' to just love; as I did so, I realized the reality of the Atonement and the absolute mercy of the Saviour and of my Heavenly Father.  He listened to me and was patient with me and then was merciful to change my heart and soften it to help me see that this has been the best 18 months for my life. 

 

I know the same is true for all of us.  Do you know that if you're struggling with a personal weakness, forgiveness, charity, understanding, love; whatever it may be, we only need pray and ask for a change of heart and the Lord will grant us that desire? A change of heart is the whole point of the Book of Mormon, it is the thesis, it is the plot line, it is the entire book.  Our natural man is the enemy to God, it is our hardness that distances us away from an all-loving Creator.  For me, I knew that, I understood it, but maybe I was trying to make a point.  It was pride that got in the way.  I don't know if Uncle Mike reads these emails, much less if he remembers a conversation we had a few months before my mission. 

 

We stood at the door frame and he said two things, "Allyse, when you give your talk (my farewell talk) just talk to them like you would if you were one-on-one." Okay, great, I thought, that's good advice, then he said, almost as I was leaving, "Ï can't wait to see how you will change when you get back in 18 months." When he said that my brain said, "What?  I don't need to change. I'm already good.  I know what I want, and I already have a strong testimony. I don't need anything else.  I'll just give the people what I have."  We all know the hymn, "Pride ruled my will...." That described me in the moment.  Little did I know how little I did know. 

 

Well, Uncle Mike, I want you to know, as well as everyone else, that I have changed.  In many ways I feel like a completely different person than I was 18 months ago.  I am nowhere near perfect like I seemed to think I was last year. I understand a little bit more about my weaknesses and imperfections. I understand a little bit more about my relationship with the Saviour, and I understand just a little bit more about the Atonement. 

 

Our roles throughout our life change.  My roles look like this:

 

Full-Time Missionary

Released

Full-Time Daughter and Sister

Full-Time Employee

Full-Time Student

Full-Time Wife

Full-TIme Mother

Full-TIme Eternal Companion

 

But though each stage in life gives me and us a different role, one role always, always stays the same: We are Children of God.  I am a daughter of God.  I know more of my identity because I have had the greatest privilege ever of wearing my name, Sister Eldredge, by His name, Jesus Christ.  I wear this badge with joy, honor, and gratitude.  I have come to learn, dear family, the importance of sacrifice, the joy of the gospel, how to have charity, how to live a consecrated live, and how to keep covenants.  I know that we aren't perfect.  We live in a fallen world without perfection, but perfection, completeness, is something we will attain when the full grace of the Atonement is given to us, after the Resurrection.   So my point: Change.  We must change to be like our Heavenly Father. Change is the only way this is possible.  And some changes are "easy" like the decision to go on a mission, but some change is hard, like giving up our natural man to attain a new man in Christ. 

 

I testify that such a change is worth it.  Is it hard?  Yes.  Does it require massive sacrifice?  Yes.  Sometimes we must be humble enough to ask Heavenly Father to change us, to change our hearts.

 

P.S. Just another tid-bit: service is essential for Salvation.

The End:)

 

I love you all!  and......I WILL SEE YOU SOON!!!!!

Love always,

Sister Eldredge

The happiest Missionary.

Second to Last Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

I email you this morning with tender feelings.  This is the last full, normal week of my mission.  My heart is brim with emotion as my mission closes to an end in the next two weeks.  Every day is a turn of emotions, every hour it is different.  The beginning of this week was very challenging.  Overcoming doubt and discouragement, a real sadness that comes from recognizing that staying here in Adelaide isn't a possibility, that my mission won't last forever.  Since the beginning of this transfer I have felt things for my service here that I have never felt on my mission before.  I don't want it to end. 

Before I left, as some of you know, Grandpa Whiting gave me a blessing in which he said that when it came my turn to leave, that I would not want to.  Up until now I have wondered how that could be true.  I have wanted to escape many of the hardships and challenges that I have experienced here in Australia, wanted to move on and upward, counted down the days, sometimes the hours, of endurance.  But now, as the finish line grows nearer and the beat of the drum intensifies, I can honestly say, I don't want to come back.  I don't want to get on the plane that says, Arrive SLC 12:50pm Wednesday 8 October. 

Yesterday I was asked to speak in our Sacrament Meeting.  I was given 5-7minutes to share with everyone what I have learned in the last 18months of full time service to Heavenly Father.  As I sat on the stand and looked at the faces, I was amazed at my love for these people.  This ward is my ward, this family is my family and I feel love for them in a way I didn't expect.  I thought to myself, "It's okay Sister Eldredge, one day you can just come back and see them." But it's not as easy as just visiting a ward in the States, or in a neighboring county; it is on another continent.  Some of these people I'm not sure if I will ever meet again.

In expressing some of my feelings to President Cater he said, "Sister Eldredge, you will have to leave the comfort of the Pre-Earth Life so that you can experience mortality and all of the other saving ordinances to enable you to Return."  How true that is.  Many times when we knock on the doors, or talk to people in the streets, teach them in their homes etc...I wonder to myself, "Was this what it was like the first time?  Did we have to go and share with our pre-earth brothers and sisters the Plan of Salvation in hopes that maybe they would change their mind and change sides?" I think we did.  I'm sure I've been to some of the places I've physically been before.  I'm sure I've met and talked to the people I have here before.  My greatest disappointment though is that this time they seem to be choosing another path.  They are comfortable in their apathy, and they lack the desire to commit; thus they struggle in their fight for life, literally. 

I spoke yesterday of three simple things that have changed my mission and my life.

1. Faith, in the Saviour Jesus Christ

2. Prayer, the connection to Heaven

3. The Book of Mormon, the key to conversion.

At the end of my talk I said, Ïn the last 18months I have been in the Refiner's Fire, it has been hot, and it has been hard.  A few months ago I may have traded this experience, but now I can honestly say I would never trade it for anything; because I have come to know the Refiner.  He is real. He loves us.  He is there to strengthen the feable knees.  It is Him to whom we will return.

Brothers and Sisters and my family-I know that this work is true.  It is the most important work on the face of the Earth because it binds families together.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.--Sister Allyse Eldredge

Happy Day...all is Well!

Dear Family,

Last week I asked President about the scripture in 3Nephi 13 where it states that 'Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof' and this is his response back to me.  I thought that you might gain some insights about it as well.  Plus his response reminded me of you Dad:)

3 Ne 13:34 Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof

The word, "evil," is used in this phrase to mean the troublesome, annoying, problems of everyday life. In the Matthew version, it reads, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. In other words, every day brings enough problems that we don't need to waste our time worrying about the problems of tomorrow or the next day. We should live in the present and concern ourselves with today's issues. Within reason, we are to live life one day at a time.

Next, we should review how the text was changed for the Nephi version. It reads, sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof. Notice that the placement of the words, "is" and "unto" are switched. This approach is more optimistic. It focuses on the sufficiency of the day not the sufficiency of the evil. In other words, the Lord provides us with enough time and means to effectively deal with all of our problems. The key for us is to learn to live life without worrying about every pothole in the road.

This is such practical advice! Some have perfected worrying to a science. Others have fashioned it into an art form. Yet, worrying doesn't solve any problems. It just raises blood pressure, hardens arteries, and shortens lifespans. In the eternal scheme of things, the small things are not worth the sweat and tears we waste on them.

Our week has been fantastic!  We have really really focused on finding 20people a day and we have exceeded the 20contacts three times this week!  It has been fantastic.  It has been a big struggle of faith for Sister Goisisi and a matter of courage and just doing it for me.  I know that we can find people to teach by talking to everyone, but it is hard for me to muster up the courage to talk to them.  But that's okay, fear on the alter!  And we have seen great success!  We found 124contacts and 16potentials with a few return appointments.  My faith has increased 10fold because we really made that a focus of our week.  Every day our question was, who are we going to contact today.  I feel like, because we committed ourselves to it that, oddly, I know how to do it now.  It's difficult, but so worth it. 

The Question: What degree of spirituality are you choosing?

I hope I am choosing the highest degree.  I was wondering about something though-what's the balance between being a missionary and being able to get to know my companion, still being consecrated yet being okay with talking about things not necessarily missionary connected.  I guess I answered my own question the other day because I felt the Spirit say to me, "Change the subject, Sister Eldredge." We can get to know our companions by talking about every day things, but I guess the Spirit will tell us when we are coming close to or have over stepped our boundaries.  I was really grateful for that insight to the Holy Ghost this week.   With regards to that question though, I guess we try to live as Celestial as we can to be worthy to receive what Heavenly Father has for us. 

I just read something from Elder Jones that really hit a home run with me this week-I think, as we apply it to our interactions with others, especially our family our relationships will be improved and strengthened.

 In DC 121 there is a part where it says, "Reproving betimes with sharpness." But often we forget the 9other Christ like attributes that precede that instruction.  In order to call to repentance, or suggest an improvement we must have a bank account that is full so that the possible deduction doesn't cause the other party to draw away from us.  I have learned this throughout my mission, but especially this transfer.  When I got the call to train I was so grateful and very apprehensive that I would fall into similar unhealthy habits that I had previous companions.  I was really worried about it, especially when we had our Train the Trainers meeting and President Carter pointed this out to us.

Over the next day before Sister Goisisi arrived I pondered and thought and studied about the instruction given to Joesph in this section.  I wanted to be more perfect and complete.  I asked President Carter for a blessing, and explained my desires and worries to him.  He gave me a beautiful blessing and all of the worries left.  I know that it is because of this that this transfer has been so opposite to every other transfer thus far.

Anyway....I'm rambling on....the point is that before  you can reprove betimes (which , PS means at the RIGHT time, not in the heat of the moment, and not when you feel like it, but when the Spirit prompts you to) with sharpness (which, bytheway doesn't mean with daggers or rudeness, it means clarity) you must first show and develop the first 9 qualities, as shown in the verses above.  

A hilarious story from this week...oh boy.  So everyone knows that I love the movie, "7th Avenue Irregulars"...okay I think that's what it's called.  Remember the crazy lady that things the preacher likes her?  I think her name is Claire... (wow, how embarrassing to not know the basics of one of my favorite shows...eye roll...) well, guess what?  I met her this week!  Okay, not her exactly, but seriously there was lady who looked exactly like her, the hair, the hat, the long nails, the bright lipstick....It was hilarious!  My companion made fun of me for how I contacted her, I said,

 "Wow!  I really like your hat!"

She got out of the car and with a flip of her hair, said, Ï have like a million of them."

It was a diva moment for sure!  It was sooo hilarious.  We really had to keep ourselves together to talk to her about the gospel!  Anyway, she accepted a card and has a Book of Mormon already. Sweet!  Hopefully she'll get baptized! 

Anyway, enough for now!  The Church is true!

Love,
Sister Eldredge

p.s. Have a GREAT week!!

I forgot one thing...

Thank you everyone so much for the letters and notes and packages you have sent me for the last 18months.  They have been so wonderful and have really encouraged me though out the weeks.  But seeing I have three weeks left and mail takes a million years to get here, is it okay if you don't send anything after this Friday? I want to make sure I get your notes, but after this Friday with travel time etc...I won't be here to recieve any more mail:)

Love you!!
Sister Eldredge

The World is Awakening!

Dear Everyone,    This week has been pretty good.  We had some great lessons with our investigators and we really worked on following the Spirit.  It was great to see my companion develop her sensitivity to the spirit.  Because of her we had great success in doing small things.  For example, we went tracting to an area that previous missionaries had tracted.  I told her that but she said we should go anyway.  The last house that we knocked on was a part member family.  I had met the wife about three months ago at her in-laws.  She told me they were moving, but didn't seem keen to tell us where.  She allowed us in and we chatted about her and her family. Though she isn't interested now, at least we have a record for future missionaries to find their family again.    We have also been blessed to teach people and not lessons.  It has been a wonderful experience to be inspiried about the needs of our investigators and then to be able to deliver what they need.  We spoke to one girl about light and darkness.  She is only 14 but has seen and been through what most adults never would dream of.  She spoke of someone trying to harm her in her sleep and how she was scared of her room.  Though, because she has been surrounded with darkness for her entire life, it is "comfortable" to her.  While that is really heartbreaking, she has a light in her eyes and a soft heart that easily recognizes the truth.  Throughout the entire lesson we spoke of the Holy Ghost and the light of the Saviour.  She resisted the invitation to allow us to bless her home three or four times.  Sister Goisisi and I taught the doctrine, but until we actually used the Book of Mormon she wouldn't allow us pray that the spirits would leave.  Moroni 7 came to mine about good and evil gifts. When we read that, it discerned her needs and it was more powerful that a two edged sword.  Something clicked for her and when we asked her again if we could say a prayer she said yes.  While we prayed, and dismissed the evil influences in her home, the power of darkness was very, very real.  In my mind's eye I could see, hear, and sense the darkness.  But, my heart was calm as we dismissed, in the name of the Saviour, the powers of Satan. They weren't happy to leave, but left because the Saviour is more powerful. It seemed like an eternity, but it was very clear when they were gone.  Though not as extreme, I understand more about what Joesph Smith felt like when he prayed to Heavenly Father about his question.  At the end of the prayer, this girl said that at first she felt really nervous and scared, but that after she felt really peaceful and calm.    I am so grateful for the power of the Priesthood and the reality of the Atonement.  I know that the Gospel is true and that the Saviour is more powerful than any dark thing.    The Gospel is true, the Book of Mormon is the word of Heavenly Father and our Families can be together forever,   Love Always, Sister Eldredge

August 31, 2014

Dear Family:

 

Mum: Question- can you send me a few of the girls camp songs?  If it is possible to also have the music attached that would be great.  Songs that are fun, not necessarily LDS.  Thanks!

 

The spiritual highlight of my week would be a LA lesson we had last night. Her story is long and complicated, but as we spoke about the Book of Mormon we were able to really understand her. She is reading it for the 'historical content'. We taught her the importance of reading the Book of Mormon, not for the historical content, but also for the actual understanding of coming closer to the Saviour. It was incredible. For myself I really felt like the Spirit was speaking through me as we were able to call her gently to repentance, to stop procrastinating her salvation. It made a difference to her. I think for the first time ever she actually felt what we were saying. Until yesterday we were just talking. I think she will start to really change now. It was such a miracle.

 

Transfers were this past week and it was fantastic!!!  President has given me the greatest opportunity to be able to train for my last transfer.  I am so blessed!  My Companion is Sister Goisisi from Sydney; she's 27 and totally on fire!  She is so ready to go and is different than all of my other companions.  We have totally smashed it this week and are really looking forward to this coming week to make a huge difference. 

 

We had Arriver's Training this past Saturday with all of the new missionaries and President  Carter; it is such a blessing to be able to be sitting at his feet and learning the doctrine of the gospel.  This time he talked about our thoughts and actions.  He said something really interesting- "We can't change our feelings."  That was new--I didn't think about that.  He said though, "But you can change your thoughts.  Thoughts create your feelings and feelings create your world."  I really liked that.  He taught us about putting positive thoughts into our head and letting virtue garnish them so that we could change our circumstances.  I really needed to hear that.  It's true.  What a blessing to have such a specific training.

 

Fiona is doing well, though if you could keep her and her family (the Synnott family ((pronounced Sennate) in your prayers that would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thank you so much for your love and prayers,

Love always,

Sister Eldredge

Happy, Happy, Happy!!!

August 20, 2014

GOOD AFTERNOON!

Okay Family, first things first.... HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER DEAR,  HAPPY DAYS WILL COME TO YOU ALL YEAR,  IF I HAD A WISH THAN IT WOULD BE.... A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ME TO YOU!!! I think your birthday is this week...so happy birthday:) There will be a card in the mail soon, but it will probably get there in a few weeks:)  Kyler! Get better soon.  Hospitals aren't happy places-tell Britney to be careful what she feeds you:)  hehe, just kidding Brit, you're a good cook.  But really, I hope you get feeling better soon! Crandall-remember the law and don't let people hang out of your car:) hehe:) Dally- Keep drawing!  Caleb!  Congrats on recieving your Endowment.  What a blessing. Taylor!  I'm so happy for you!!!!!  I have friends who serve in Washington.  And I'm sooo happy that you don't have to wait for a visa! Mum....guess what!?  Jess and Hannah are serving missions!  I didn't know that!   Sorry that I forgot to tell you that we went to the temple this morning.  We went to the temple.  This week has been huge, but I answered all of your individual emails so I don't have time for a general epistle as such.  But things are going well.  Transfers are on Monday...I wouldn't mind moving:) Oh yeah!  If you are looking for good music, download the EFY from 2013 and 2014, it's really, really good!  Don't worry family, the Church is true! Remember to be happy and enjoy the little joys like a smile, or a happy song. Love you all! TTYL, Sister Eldredge

The Apostasy

Dear Family,

 

I'm sorry, but you're going to have to indulge my weird sense of study this morning as I write to you about the apostasy and the "why" of how the Church is true!  We've had a lot of investigators or potential investigators ask us questions about the Priesthood and about why the church is true, how the Priesthood has anything to do with anything, and the like...so for the last week or so our district leader and we have been discussing the importance of the Apostasy and what we need to learn from it.  In reading D&C 107 and Ch 40 of Jesus the Christ, I have come to some amazing conclusions about  the aforementioned doctrine. 

 

Now, an hour, or even a week is not enough time to study all that need to be learned about the above doctrine, and some of my facts may not be spot on, but they are what I understand from Jesus the Christ and the scriptures, so if anything is false, please correct it! (disclaimer;)

 

Soooo....What is an apostasy? It is a period of time when people don't listen to the prophets; even more personal, though, is when we start doing things that move us away from Heavenly Father, small or big.  We have the Atonement to fix those problems we create ourselves.  But when the church as a whole moves away from the Doctrine established by Jesus Christ, a universal apostasy occurs.  This happened in every dispensation since the beginning of the world.  But for all intents and purposes, we'll focus on the death of the Savior and the Apostles. 

 

The general apostasy around 100 AD started because of two main things (JtheC) 1. the opposition from outside of the church and 2. because personal internal dissension, caused by the lack of faith and works. 

 

 The political powers of Rome and Judaism were the main opposers to early Christianity.  Because of this persecution, the Apostles were killed one by one, thus creating holes in the organization of the church.  Because there were holes, and the Apostles weren't able to come together to call new Apostles (due to circumstance of distance), slowly the organization of the church began to crumble (as taught in D&C 107, a general unanimous decision must be reached to make any important decisions regarding the church as a whole, like calling an Apostle).

 

In the council of Nice (ny-cia), many political people got together and discussed what should be done about Christianity as a whole.  Here they made doctrine like the trinity and changed other basic doctrines central the the Savior's teachings.  The key here is that those changes were unauthorized. 

 

Constantine (4th century, I think he lived in Rome??), the Emperor, decided that Christianity was going to be the state religion.  So he "unbaptized" himself and made himself the head of the church (what??!!), and as time went on, the roles in the church were more important and sought after than military or political power.  Great.

 

So then enter a bishop in Rome, pardon, I forgot his name.  Anyway, he doesn't like the way Constantine is handling things and so he breaks away.  Enter the Roman and Greek Catholic churches, known today as Greek Orthodox and the Roman Catholic church. 

 

During the 12-13th Centuries we get the official Pope (name meaning Father).  Then- Check this out!  The Pope claimed to be the 'vicar or God', sat in His place and proclaimed the following, (not an exhaustive list) 1. that he and the church had control over the destiny of souls, stating that he had the ability to forgive sin, that he could inflict penalties here and beyond the grave, and he sold permission to sin (look at 1Nephi13 and 2Nephi 26-27 for an extensive scriptural description of this widespread apostasy).  Wow. Doesn't that just sound like heaven on earth? (Hint the sarcasm:)   Alright, so over this period, the Bible is being translated like a million times, things are added, taken away and the like, changing the simple and saving ordinances associated with salvation... Examples being the Sacrament, baptism and proper church organization.

 

Apostasy, according to Elder Talmage, is three things:

1. Corrupting of simple doctire, mingled with the philosophies of men

2. rituals changed, added and left out

3. unauthorized changes to church government and organization

 

Check, check, check....

 

Speed ahead to 1534 AD, England.  The Pope is in full power and Henry the 8th has forgotten to live the Law of Chastity.  As a result he appeals to the Pope to get a divorce from his wife, the queen, Catherine.  Why? Because he wants to marry her maid Anne Boleyn.  The Pope says absolutely not and there is a little bit of contention.  Actually a lot.  It goes to Parliament and they pass the Act of Supremacy which states that church and state are separate.  Then-- get this!  This king decides, 'Great! I don't have to listen to the Pope..wahaha!  I have a plan! I'll create my own church!"  Enter the Church of England, now known today as the Anglican church, or depending on where you are in Australia, the Uniting church. 

 

PS in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and found America!!  Wahoo!!! 

 

Okay-now some people don't like either churches (example: Tyndale, Wycliffe, and Luther) and they begin the formal protests which create the Protestant churches we have today--Lutherans, Protestants, Methodists, Baptists, just to name a few.  Some of them move to America in the 1600's because they've had enough and in 1776, well I think a bit before that, the people get tired of being under the British monarchy and wa-la the Revolutionary War happens.  And what do you know, less than 25 years later, Joesph Smith is born.  ENTER THE RESTORATION OF THE PRIESTHOOD!!!!!!! 

 

So OBVIOUSLY the Mother Church, as described about 10 paragraphs earlier, doesn't have the Priesthood.  Here's where D&C 107 comes in handy to help us understand the actual facts about keys.

 

So we have the Priesthood and we have keys; actually I believe the two are inseparable.  This is the part that I'm still learning about so disclaimer--Amateur Student!

 

Christ gave priesthood keys to his Apostles, who after His death gave those keys to others as the church spread (example, Bishops have keys which were given from the Apostles).  The only problem is that because the use of Facebook, Twitter, the Internet and a general broadcast of General Conference weren't available in 55 AD, the doctrine slowly became not so much doctrine.  Some, through no fault of their own, were left with their own opinions about how to answer their own questions.  A classic example of this is when, I think, Peter goes to the Corinthians and they've all been baptized, which is a problem because they've all been baptized in the names of everyone else except the Saviour.  As the church grows and spreads things like this keep happening.

 

Okay, so then the Apostles die and the KEYS are lost, the Priesthood actually isn't lost, but the Keys to use the Priesthood, to confer the Priesthood are. Hence, the Apostasy of the Priesthoood in a nutshell.

 

Just for your information--the Priesthood can't be given because someone says, "Oh now I'm the Pope." Or, "Oh, now I'm the head of the Church."  It must be given through the laying on of hands.  Heavenly Father works through order.  Period.  That's it. 

 

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!  If you made it through all of that then you get a gold star.  Seriously though, this is incredible and simple doctrine.  It proves logically that the church is true.

 

I do have a testimony of the Savior and His church.

 

Love always,

Sister Eldredge

 

 

Oh yes, and PS this is a photo of us at Amanda's wedding.  Oh boy, we had to go to the city.  I HATE DRIVING IN THE CITY!!!!  I just about burst into tears trying to find parking and staying in the right lanes and not running over pedestrians, AND driving on the other side of the road!  TOO FAR!!!  Oh well--thank goodness for small family towns!

Good Morning!

August 3, 2014

Dear Family!

The highlight of this week is church yesterday. I've told you about this family for a few weeks, but they're really great.  The mother is still in the hospital but the kids are really showing their own initiative.  Obviously we can't teach them without both parents so we've just been stopping by every other day or so just to check up on them.  Cathrine, the eldest (14), has come to YW for the past three weeks and has come to church three times.  The other children have followed suit.  The youngest girl, Lisa, she's 5, has begged and begged and begged to come to church so the first time we just took her and her little brother to Primary but yesterday she came to Sacrament Meeting.  It was a little long for her little personality, but she did quite well.  We sat with the Bishop's family and she was really good.  All of the children love church.  And the other miracle is that Cathrine (ps we haven't taught them hardly anything because just as we were going to begin FHE's on a regular basis, the Mum got really sick) asked one of the YW who is fellowshipping her for :One of those books that everyone is talking about." Of course meaning the Book of Mormon!  So this YW, being the excellent missionary she is, gave her one.  Wahoo!!  That is really exciting for us.  Also, yesterday it was just Cathrine and Lisa that came to Sacrament meeting, but then halfway through church the rest of their siblings showed up and put themselves in their classes!  It was awesome. I hope that when their Mum returns that she sees the difference in her children which will then soften her and her husband's hearts. 

So about the photos.  On Monday we had afternoon tea with the Soininens.  Grandpa!  I recorded some of it for you!  I hope you like it...but you'll have to wait until I get home;)  Sister Soininen Sr. was a doll.  When I walked in, she said in her strong Finish accent, "Öhh!  Elder Bud Whiting's granddaughter....oh you are so beautiful...I love you because your Grandfather was the lovingist man I ever did meet!" She's 90 years old but remembers you so fondly, Grandpa.  She told me the story of how you met about 8 times:)  She said that she saw you and your companion walking down the street and knew you were Mormon Missionaries.  She didn't want you to pass by her home.  She was so happy when you came to her door.  Brother Soininen told me of his experience about two weeks before you came.  For those of you who don't know, he was searching for which church was right.  He had many voices in his ear-- Methodists, 7th Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness etc...and was just confused.  He took the counsel from the Bible and went to a quiet place to pray and ask Heavenly Father which church he should join, which one had all of the truth.  He felt like none of them were ít so he just went along.  Two weeks later Elder Whiting showed up.  To Brother Soininen (17at the time)  It was too good to be true, so he had to test it out and got baptized two weeks later than the rest of his family.  Though his father never joined, he told his son before he got baptized that this was the right church.  Now today, they have 6 children and two grandchildren on missions, one serving in Japan! 

It was a wonderful experience to be there with them for a few hours.

Today we are going to one of our Investigator's wedding. Hooray!!!  Her decision to be married is a massive step for her in the repentance process.  Though her heart will have to be softened more to accept the entire truthfulness of the gospel.  The world in it's moral decay has a great hold on the hearts of the children of men. 

Remember to hold tight to the iron rod.  Especially as the voices of the adversary grow increasingly loud and obnoxious.  If we forget to remember, to actively remember, we will get swept away.

I love you all and I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, which really does provide safety for the soul.

Love,
Sister Eldredge

July 20, 2014

Good Morning Lovely People!

WELCOME HOME JOSH MILLER FROM....I forgot where you served...oh boy...

La-de-dah, time flies on a mission.  Seriously, it's ridiculous the days seem like seconds. 

Transfers were last week and I'm staying in Mt. Barker with my previous companion.  I've never had the same companion for three transfers before, so this should be interesting. I think I'll just stay in this area until the end of my mission.

Okay-the highlight of the week:

1.  You'll never guess who invited us over to read the Book of Mormon with her-yep, Bec.  It was great, she'd read 7-8 chapters in 2 Nephi on her own accord and we read the next one together. 

2.  We are teaching the most lovely family, sigh, they are great.  They're from Ireland and are eating up the gospel.  The mum has been visited by missionaries for like the last millenia, just kidding, just about the last year.  But the sisters just did service for her because she wasn't really super interested, and besides that she was in and out of hospital for like a long time.  Then she took a trip back to Ireland to see her family, came home and was like a different person.  We visited her for the first time after she came back, "okay sisters, I'm ready to learn and commit." Okay, wonderful!  So we began teaching her and looonnngggg story short, her three eldest girls came to church yesterday, the mum, Fiona was in hospital again but they LOVED it!  It was so funny, we were walking back from the church (their house is like right around the corner) and they all said, "This is heaps better that the Catholic church, it was so fun!" the Primary and the YW in the ward are fantastic!!  

3. We've also had some great experiences with Lizzy one of our investigators.  She read the entire Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet and did the additional study in the back when we came back to follow up with her.  Hurrah!  She loves feeling the spirit, just having a hard time to get to church, if you want to pray for her that would be much appreciated.  She is one of the people we were meant to teach here, I think I'll always be friends with her.  

Well! The time has come...again...until next week!
Love, 
Sister Eldredge

July 7, 2014

Dear Family and Friends: 

 

I would like to share with you a few things that I learned in my studies this week.  

 

Question: What is the doctrine of Perfection?

 

 I've studied alot about perfection and the Atonement this week.  Perfection is something that continually plagues me and is a source, often of some discouragement etc... So this week I really wanted to study what the actual doctrine is about perfection.  I was reading in the Ensign, I think it's June and there is an article entitled "Becoming Perfected in Christ." Well, I think that's what it's called.  It was such an answer to prayers for me.  Two of the biggest things I took away from it is that perfection is an eternal goal; something we won't achieve here in mortality but something to be realised in the next life. Of course! How could we be perfect with an imperfect mortal body?  We can't so why would we try to hard to do something that we ourselves can't do for ourselves.  Which brings me to the next point-our weakness (es) are what enable us to be exalted.  In Jacob 4:6-7 we read about what we hope for and what we strive to be, "Nevertheless" Jacob states, "The Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that iit is by his grace and his great condecensions unto the children of men that we have power..." It is weakness, plural, not weaknesses.  Our weakness is of course our mortal body and all that entails, it is not our character or personality flaws, it is mearly that we have agreed, for a time to come to a fallen and imperfect world so that we can gain eternal life on some future day. Therefore our weakness enables us to rely on the Saviour and then, ultimately make it back to our Father in Heaven. 

 

I think Satan understood this perfectly, therefore tried to force us to be perfect already, forgoing the Saviour and His Glory that He gives to the Father, and instead saying Ï'll just force them to choose the right'" that 'forcing' completely obviates the need for the Saviour; which as we understand part of the eternal plan given from Heavenly Father.  So-it is interesting that Satan, still, tries to 'forcé' us to be perfect. Why? because in some twisted way we are still supporting his plan if we buy into perfection now.

 

What I have come to understand is completely liberating.  I think throughout my life I have been 'bound down' to the false belief that I need to be perfect.  I'm not sure who is setting the standard, but somehow I have to reach a certain level otherwise I'm not _____ (fill in the blank).  When, in reality it is not perfection that enables us entrance to the Celestial Kingdom, but rather our weakness which then leads to humility and calling upon the Atonement of the Saviour so that we can be ät one" with Him and the Father. 

 

Question: How do we receive personal revelation, and how can we recognise the Holy Ghost?

 

If we turn to 2Nephi 32:1-5 we learn much about what, who, how and when the HG speaks to us.  Often times the question will come, "What should I do?" or "How can I know if it's the Spirit or just me?" Apparently the people of Nephi had the same question.  Recieving revelation is simple if we don't over complicate it.  In vs. 3 Nephi says, Ängles speak by the power of the HG; wherefore they speak the words of Christ..." So what are the words of Christ?  The scriptures, the Prophet's words, our Patriarchal blessings and other blessings given through the power of the Spirit.  We are then commanded to feast upon the words of Christ.  How do we do that?  President...someone...he wrote Ä Witness and a Warning, said that "the feast of yesterday won't satisfy the hunger for today" That is so true, we can have Christmas dinner and then wake up the next morning hungry-I don't know how the anatomy of that works, but regardless we still get hungry no matter how much we eat.  The same goes with spiritual food, though sometimes it is harder to recognise.If we study the Gospel for three hours on Sunday, it won't carry over from day to day, we then need to study it out ourselves every day in order to build a shield strong enough to withstand the temptations of tomorrow.  So to me feasting means actually applying and living the doctrine that we learn.  We receive a promise when we feast up on His words that "the words of Christ will TELL you all things what ye should DO." Now, to me that sounds pretty good.  I would love to be told what I should do in many different circumstances.  Now sometimes we need something more that just the BOM telling us what we should do, so that's where the HG comes into play. vs 5 says, ....if ye receive the Holy Ghost, it will SHOW unto you all things what ye should DO." Isn't that amazing!? The HG can bring all things back and to our remembrance and often it will show us what we should do.  How many times have we lost our keys or phone, we say a prayer and then the place comes to our mind where we can find it?  I have a testimony of those two principles. Heavenly Father gives us many opportunites to learn and to grow in our mortality.  Why?  Because it is in preparation for something more grand and wonderful that we can comprehend now. 

 

Now, just a little extra:

Question: How can I receive answers to my prayers?"

Seven steps:

1. Write you question down.

2. Pray and let Heavenly Father understand the desire and question you have.

3. Read a chapter in the BOM that you think might hold the answer, "Example: Charity- Moroni 7.; Leaving behind the old 1Nephi 2; Faith Alma 32; Repentance Enos etc...)

4. Write down what you think the answer is.

5. Pray again to tell Heavenly Father what you think you received.

6. Read the chapter again and write down anything new and revise your answer,

7. Pray and confirm your answer.

 

 

Have a great week everyone!

Love,

Sister Eldredge

June 29, 2014

Dear Family,

This week has been rainy, rainy, rainy....oh wait, I think that's how it was last week as well:)  Hooray for winter. 

The miracle of the week was finding last Saturday, it was pouring rain and wind etc...as it does in the hills and we had tracting on our plans.  I almost cancelled it for want of a different activity about five times, but as we knelt and prayed about where we should go and then looked at our map we both felt we should go to the same street.  We did and most people allowed us into their homes.  We were soaked and freezing and almost turned in, but knocked one last home;

"Hi we are the Sister Missionaries.

"Would you like to come in?

 "We would love to."

She invited us in and then proceeded to talk to us like she knew who we were and what we were doing, about 3minutes into the conversation we asked her name, whoops:) she said her name and the light bulbs went on in our heads.  Mum, new baby, member, less active, husband, wants to come back to church....!!  Wa-La! She is an MML name from her mother, a member whom we see frequently.  The mum has never given us her address and we just happened to tract into her!  It was amazing.  She told us a little about her self and we talked about Faith, Prayer and the Book of Mormon read a passage to answer one of her questions and she invited herself to church.  Ï know it's true, I don't know why I don't come." She came to church yesterday and really really enjoyed it.  It was a major miracle.  I am so grateful to know that we can be inspired missionaries, even in the wet, wet weather.

Something I learned from Church yesterday is that prayer is a two-way communication.  Right, I knew that before but it really stood out to me yesterday.  You know how in a relationship of any sort you learn to listen and converse with the other person?  Well shouldn't that be the same in our relationship with Heavenly Father?  I think for myself, I know how to talk to Heavenly Father and I am just barely learning how to converse with Him.  Did you know that prayer takes alot of effort?  One district leader I had said that prayer should expend the rest of my energy at the end of the day.  It is something I am working on.

Also you know how in a great relationship the need of the other is put before your own, it is the express symbol of your love for them (Mum and Dad you are the perfect example of this).  Well I was thinking about that in regards to our relationship with Heavenly Father.  Do I put His will above my own?  Or am I constantly pleading and praying for what I want? What kind of relationship is that? 

Just  a few thoughts I had this week, actually yesterday I guess.

I know what the work is true.  I know that I have a living, loving Heavenly Father.
Love,
Sister Eldredge

June 22, 2014

Dear Family, 

It is nice to write to you again; there is a specific reason why sometimes I don't write the long general epistle, but we can talk about that later.

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for me.  You know, sometimes I think missions for sisters are a bazillion times harder than for the Elders because the Elders, as a general rule don't get as emotionally attatched to people as the sisters do.  Not sayin' that the Elders can't connect, but there is just something different about the way we handle things.  Funny- I just remembered being in a Marriage Prep class a few years ago and reading in one of the books, "Men and women are different." I remember exactly which hall way I was sitting in when I read that and I thought, "What the!! That is SO  true!!!" I think I stopped the next person who passed me just to read and tell them what I had learned:) hehe!  Anyway it's true in marriage, it's true on a mission.  

On Monday we learned that Lee and her family can't get baptised because of their father.  It is a really long and complicated story because the father is in a big building with locks on his doors and his windows, if you get my drift.  He got attacked with heaps of Anti-Mormon lit and put a kabosh on the progress of his family.  Oh boy....wouldn't want to be him at the judgement bar.  But the good things is, "NO UNHALLOWED HAND CAN STOP THE WORK FROM PROGRESSING." (only a hallowed hand can...ponder on that for a minute.)  So that is true and it was comforting to us as Sisters to be reminded of that.  Their progress though has stopped, and you can tell so acutely when we go into their home.  I can't believe it.  Satan is SOOOOO stupid!!!!!!  I can't wait to give him a piece of my mind some day.  Shesh!!!! 

Then Ivy, yep, the same problem as above. And Bec, she's been sick for the last millinea and it's just annoying to teach someone that you feel like you're dragging to the Celestial Kingdom.  Good night, you have two legs and a brain work our your own salvation.  It's not nice to spoon feed anyone except a todler (Why? Because they're cute and just smile and gurggle at you! An adult is alot less atractive.) I think my sense of humor is coming out in this email....haha!

Let's see the rest of the week was spent biking and tracting in the rain-just an fyi it's like freezing up here.  Infact the photo attatched is what happened this morning right outside our window during personal study.  Okay...wow.

We had Zone Training this week and had a commitment to read Alma 17 and ponder the question, "What can I do to be a better missionary?" Sometimes I don't like doing that because I can feel overwhelmed about what I'm NOT doing.  But as I prayed to let Heavenly Father know that my prayer was answered as I began to study-simple things came to mind, things that I was doing already that I should keep doing, things that I've stopped doing that were good that I should start again etc...it was also very comforting to read about success in that chapter.  I have come to realise on my mission that success isn't in the number of baptisms, but in the amount of people you invite.  If we invite all of our investigators with the right spirit as taught by the Book of Mormon, and do everything we can to help them recieve the next ordinance, that is what we are called to do, then it is in their court to make the changes necessary to actually follow the Saviour.  One thing I have learned from my companion this week is, yes it is sad and we can mourn for it for a while but then we need to get back on our feet and continue to find the elect. 

Looking back thus far in my mission, I am pleased at the work I have been given as we have invited all our investigators to be baptised and worked to help them make that covenant.   Few of them actually made it to the water, while I served there, but hearing from other sisters I learned that many of the people I taught while in certain areas have now been baptised.  What a blessing and a miracle. 

You know what?  The Church is True.  I never knew that coming on my mission that knowledge woud get challenged every day, and sometimes, actually usually I'm just sick of having anti stuff in my face almost the second I walk out of our door, (example: this is hilarious! - Our neighbour is a Brethren (that is another religion-okay so there's as many religions in the world as there are sands on the beach!)  Well I just wanted to be friendly and I said hello and good afternoon, he turned on me and for the next 5minutes proceeded to take ever aspect of my beliefs and tell me why they were wrong, then I said, "Sorry about that, I just wanted so wish you a good afternoon!" Then again, "I don't associate with you Mormons because of this and that and this and that and I'm a Christian blah blah blah....." You know what was going through my head?  "Don't worry Sister Eldredge, he's still a son of Heavenly Father, just be nice to him and go inside." So that's what I did. But really I couldn't believe it, just from a "Hello, Good Afternoon." Eye roll. 

I love you all, remember to stand up for what we believe, even if we stand alone.

Love always,

Sister Allyse Eldredge

June 1, 2014

TODAY IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!! 6 messages

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Allyse Eldredge <allyse.eldredge@myldsmail.net>	Sun, Jun 1, 2014 at 7:37 PM
To: Mandy-Marie Eldredge <wifeopilot@gmail.com>, Steve Eldredge <seldredg@adobe.com>, Emily Eldredge <emily.eldredge@myldsmail.net>, Matthew Jones <dreamwalker.jonesie@gmail.com>, Britney Eldredge <britluvsfutbol.lead@gmail.com>, Crandall Eldredge <biplanepilot14@gmail.com>, Alyssa Jones <lyssabug995@gmail.com>
Dearest Family!   Oh my goodness!  Happiness does not even express the emotion of this morning!!!! Where to start!!   In my call letter it states, "You will experience more happiness in the labout of love than you have yet in your life." When I first read that, I thought to myself, right.  I have been pretty happy in my life I doubt anything can top a few experiences.  How wrong I was.  This week has been absolutely full of miracles, someone must be paying their tithing because the windows of heaven have literally opened up on our area tis week.  A few examples:   We went from 0 Baptismal Dates to 4 We went from 2 Member Present Lessons to 7 We went from 1 Progressing Investigator to 6 We went from 1 Investigator at church to 6   I think Matt and Emmy will be the ones who can really appreciate those numbers and what they mean, but in short our area has quadrupled in the amount of size and work that must be done there isn't enough time to tell you all about it. We have 8families investigating the church and they are serious about conversion.  The average time it takes an investigator at the moment to read 1Nephi is two weeks.  They come and their BOM's are highlighted and they have a list of questions about everything.  Things I never asked about the BOM until I had read it at least 7-8times.  They have such sincere desires to come to church and progress.  They are recognising the HG in their life and they are making serious changes to follow the Saviour.   Take this morning for example, actually lets start with yesterday...Lee is a single mum with four little girls.  She met missionaries before and almost got baptized then a whole bunch of rubbish came up and prevented her from making that covenant.  She goes out of town every fortnight to see her husband who is in prision and pretty much her family is a mess but they're dealing with it incredibly well.  Anyway Oh! Too much to say!  She got super sick the day before she was to leave and ended up in hospital.  We weren't planning on seeing them that night but felt like we should anyway so to her house we went.  When we got there she could barely get out of bed.  "How did you know that we needed you?" We sang a song with her, tidied her home and then said a prayer with her.  We do not hold the priesthood but I know without a doubt that the Lord hears the prayers of His faithful daughters who are engaged in serving Him, and honors their prayers of faith as He would a Priesthood blessing.  I was privledged to say the prayer and we had a very spiritual experience.  In the prayer we told her that if she would exercise her faith, she would be healed and that she would be albe to recognise it as a blessing from her desire to follow the Saviour and teach her children.    The next day we called her and she was fine.  When she came back from her trip she told us she eneded up in hospital again, this time because she was electricuted.  She said she experienced a 240watt electrical current and the nurse at the hospital said that if she had waited a few more minutes to come in she would have been dead.  She said to us, Ï think God is trying to tell me something."  She knows the church is true because of many miracles that she has experienced in her family.  Both of her girls 10-12 have wanted to end their lives.  But because we have started coming, they are reading and praying every day and coming to church, she says even their teachers have noticed a HUGE difference, theíre house is happier and the girls now have a reason to live.  The YW in the ward are reacing out to the 12 year old and now she feels like she belongs.  The Priesthood holders are gentle with the girls who have no father figure in their lives and it makes Lee, the mum weep with gratitude.    If that couldn't be enough happiness to write about just wait....   We have another investigating family, Amanda and her partner Steve (good name hey;) Anyway she is absolutely incredible.  Their family has nothing and yet, as we found out this morning soooo giving.  Amanda noticed her family at church yesterday and when we came over to her home she asked about them.  We told them just a little about their circumstance.  Well, this morning she texts us, Ï've been thinking about that family all night, is there anything I can do for them?" WHAT!!!!!  She has arranged to give them some of her girls old clothes and she is going to the shops to get them basic toiletries.  "No family should have to go without the basics of life. Steven and I don't have alot, but I feel like this is a privlede." Sister Teauli and I wept from the amazing generosity of one woman who is literally emulating the example of the Saviour.   Every single day is full of miracles. Every day.  This is the greatest work.  I have never felt so much joy and happiness on my mission then I have this week.  Yesterday, seeing two families take the first steps to covenant keeping was a miracle.  I feel like Alma in ch 26.  Glory to God!    If you are sad or unhappy, get up and go to work, get outside of your home and go and serve someone else.  We have covenanted to do so.  This is literally the work of salvation, what an honor to be called as some of the last of the stripling warriors to fight against the powers of Hell for the glory of the Celestial Kingdom.   My testimony is this, God lives.  He hears our prayers.  He answers them.  Faith and reality are often at odds with each other.  Faith is the literal power of heaven.   Love always, Sister Eldredge The Happiest Missionary on the Planet!   p.s. Transfers were today and I'M STAYING IN MT BARKER!!!!!!!! My favorite area!!!!  Hurrah for Israel!!!    p.s.s. I forgot what the photos are about....whoops:)