week 34

It got pretty cold this week. It was 11 degrees this morning when we walked out the door. Luckily, when we bundle up in all of our gear, it really isn't that bad at all.

So we really looking forward to seeing Steve baptized this weekend, but it was postponed due to the weather. We will just have to wait until this next Saturday before we get to see him make that wonderful step towards Christ.

Yesterday our ward mission leader gave us some really important advice that I found very helpful in helping me become better at helping others come to Christ. He started by sharing Alma 4:19

"And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them."

Our ward mission leader made sure we understood that the only way that someone will be given an actual opportunity to choose to follow Christ is by feeling the Spirit. The only way that others can feel the spirit is by bearing "pure testimony" like Alma says. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, and so if we testify that something is true, then the Spirit WILL be there. Then it truly is up to that person to either accept and act upon what they feel or deny and reject what they now know to be true. 

Another thing that was pointed out was the fact that the Spirit rings strongest when someone testifies of Christ. He is the center of everything that is taught in this gospel, and He is the way that we return to live with our Father in Heaven. He lives, and He loves us.

I love all of you, and I love this work!

The Church is True!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

week 33

Yesterday was Presidents' Day (I think), so we didn't get to email until this morning. Sorry it's a day late, but better late than never!

This past week has been full of making adjustments as I've been getting used to the new area. The ward here is wonderful, with lots of members who are extremely willing to help us in teaching appointments. There are actually 3 sets of missionaries in this ward! (one of the companionships is Spanish-speaking, though) This area is a walk/bus/bike area, which is probably the biggest adjustment. I've enjoyed it a lot more than I've thought I would, though. There are so many more opportunities to stop and talk to people as you are traveling, which is great. There are also a lot more people who are willing and interested in talking to us. 

Another highlight from this past week was reuniting with the Robinson family. He is not a member (quite yet), and we were working with them in my last area until they moved here. It was great seeing the expressions on their faces when they recognized who I was. He is planning on being baptized this upcoming Saturday, and he asked that I baptize him. I was humbled by his request. It seems that I'm in this area for very specific people, and I believe he is one of them.

A theme that I've noticed throughout my studies recently is how God really views us. A great example of this is in Alma 26, when Ammon is rejoicing in the success that he and his brethren have been blessed with. In verses 17-20, Ammon says "Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state. Behold, we went forth even in wrath, with mighty threatenings to destroy his church.Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful destruction,yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair. Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought. Behold,he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery,even to the salvation of our souls."

Ammon asks in that passage "Why didn't God immediately condemn us for our sins?" I thought about this and came to the conclusion that God does not look for our immediate perfection, but rather our eternal potential. God could see what good Ammon and his brethren could do, and so he gave them the opportunity to change and do better. What an amazing blessing it is to know that God is doing everything He possibly can to help us become all that we can be. He loves us, and He knows what is best for us.

I love this work, and I love all of you!

The Church is True!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

week 32

Well it's been another great week here in the Weldon Spring area. 

We had transfer calls this past Saturday, and I will be heading to the Maryland Heights ward, which is in the St. Louis Stake. I will definitely miss this area. There are so many amazing people here that I have had the opportunity to serve with. I really feel like I was meant to come to this area to learn specific things. But, I am excited to turn the page to the next chapter of my mission. One thing that I'm really excited about is the fact that the Robinsons, a part member family we had been working with before Christmas, moved away. It turns out that they actually moved into the Maryland Heights ward, so I will be excited to see them again!

Considering it's Valentines Day this Saturday, I thought I would the chance to let all of you know how much a love and appreciate everything that you do. So many people have had such an impact on my life, and I thank each and every one of you for making me the person I am today.

Along with that, something that has been on my mind lately has been the topic of charity. In the scriptures, it often points out that without charity, we truly are nothing. It is essential for each of us to learn the attribute of charity in order to learn to become like our savior, Jesus Christ, for it truly is the "pure love of Christ." I would encourage everyone, including myself, to take the counsel given to us by the prophet Mormon: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." (Moroni 7:48)

If we truly desire to become like Chirst, we need to understand and experience the love that He has for each person that has ever walked this Earth. We experience that love as we sincerely seek it through prayer. 

I love this work, and I love all of you so much!

The Church is True!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

week 29

We had a really good week this past week. The highlight was probably seeing one of our investigators named Sam, as well as two less active families we've worked with come to Church! It was great!! To make it even better, we had Ward Conference that day, so all the messages were just wonderful.

The theme of the Conference was in Helaman 3:35 "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." 

The main focus of all the meetings was the importance of 4 basic activities that, if followed, will continually support and increase our faith:

1. Daily individual and family prayer.

2. Daily individual and family scripture study.

3. Weekly Family Home Evening

4. Paying a full Tithe and a generous Fast Offering.

These seemingly simple activities hold such power. They really are a manifestation of our covenant to remember the Savior always. Even though it may be difficult to begin or maintain these practices, as we put forth the effort to make them a habit in our lives, they bring such wonderful blessings: firmer faith, joy, consolation, and the purifying and sanctification of our hearts. All from simply "yielding [our] hearts unto God." 

It's been really neat this past week as I came better to realize what a privilege it is to be able to devote all of my time and attention to God for 2 whole years. I'm already seeing the blessings and lessons that I have received throughout my mission so far, and I'm excited to continue to see those blessings flow.

I love this work, and I love all of you!

The Church is True!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

week 28

This week has been a week of Less-Active work. We ended up teaching about 6 less actives this past week. 

One neat experience happened one day when we were driving around visiting potential investigators. We then felt that the next place we should visit was the Floods, a family who is a mix of active and less-active members. We showed up and were able to visit shortly with Sister Flood. She then told us that she has really been struggling lately with a lot of different trials and feels very stressed. She asked for a priesthood blessing, and we were able to express to her the love of her Father in Heaven and how much He desires to bless and comfort her. To make the experience even better, she ended up coming to Church yesterday, which is something that is very hard for her to do.

We also found a really neat couple named Buzz and Cher. We trying to find someone in our area book, who ended up not being home. As we were leaving, we saw a man outside across the street. We began talking with him, and he invited us inside. His wife then entered the room and started explaining how many of her friends were members of our church and she just LOVED every one of them. We sat down with them for a few minutes and explained a little bit about the Book of Mormon. They were excited and eager to read it, and enthusiastically took it. We are going back this Saturday to teach them again. It was such a sweet experience to see people prepared by the people around them to receive the truth so willingly.

This morning, I was studying Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. One theme that I had never paid much attention to was those people who were ashamed of the fruit of which they had partaken because of the mocking of those people in the great and spacious building. "For as many as heeded them, had fallen away." When we listen to the many deceiving and destructive voices of the world, it is almost impossible to remain on the path that leads to the Tree of Life. But we can follow the example of Lehi as it says in verse 33 of 1 Nephi 8: "And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heed them not." When we listen to the sweet guidance and promptings of the Spirit rather than the loud and mocking voices of the world, we can never be led astray. 

I love all of you, and I love this work!

The Church is True!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

week 27

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all enjoyed celebrating the joys of this past year and looking forward to the goals for this next year!

A fun highlight from this past week was the chance I got to sit behind a drum set for the first time in 6 months! 

This past Sunday was Fast and Testimony Meeting, and I was amazed at the Spirit that I felt during that meeting. It was probably the strongest I have ever felt it during a testimony meeting. One after another, the members of this wonderful ward got up and shared their sweet, simple testimonies of the love that our Father in Heaven has for us. Despite the trials and hardships that we all experience, we can always trust in the unfailing love of our Father. 

I have been thinking about the different ways our Father expresses that love for us.

One way He shows us this love is by placing us in our families. The family is the social unit in which the strongest bonds are made between the members. Our families our here to help us learn, grow, be happy, and feel of God's love for each of us. He even gives us the opportunity to keep our families with us for eternity. What a blessing and witness of the infinite love of our Father.

Another way He shows us His love is through the Book of Mormon. This past week, I have been able to see much more clearly the importance of a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I've been able to see this past week those with a powerful testimony that it is true, those who are searching to find a testimony, and those who have altogether chosen not to seek for that witness. The Book of Mormon is here to enrich our lives and bring peace and clarity to those areas of turmoil and confusion, but those blessings can only come if we are willing to use the tool that our Father has given us. Preach My Gospel says that "The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion." Our Father in Heaven wants us to become converted to Him, and why not use the most powerful tool that He has given us? I am sure that the more we study the Book of Mormon with the guidance of the Spirit, the more we will be able to recognize the love of our Father in Heaven.

Of course, the greatest expression of love that our Father has given to us is His Son. "For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." What love our Father must have for us in order to send His Son to suffer and die for our sins. "I stand all amazed" when I consider that infinite and boundless love.

I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year!

I love this work and I love all of you!

The Church is True!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

(part 2)

I almost forgot about one of the best parts of my week!

We have started teaching a young girl named Rylie, who is the granddaughter of a member of our ward. She is only 8 years old, but has chosen on her own to be baptized. It is so neat to see the faith of someone so young. It reminds me of the counsel of our Savior to "repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name." It's wonderful to see the gospel bless people of all ages!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

week 26

I hope every one had a wonderful Christmas! We enjoyed caroling, Christmas Eve dinner, games, presents, a fire, and most of all the wonderful gift of Christ to each of us.

On Thursday this past week, we were able to teach a newly married couple who just moved into the area named Ryan and Heather. We taught them about the Restoration, and they were very willing to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. It was a neat lesson, and we're hoping that their lives will calm down a bit so that they will have time to meet with us again soon.

Recently I've been studying the topic of questions. Questions are amazing tools that can help us learn and grow and come to understand things better. In particular I have been studying the questions that Christ asked those he taught. In Preach My Gospel, it says "Jesus Christ often asked questions to help people ponder and apply principles. His questions prompted thought, soul searching, and commitment."

One of those questions that Christ asked is found in 3 Nephi:9-11: "Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" 

I think my favorite part about that question is that Christ doesn't answer it. He leaves it up to us to determine how much our Father in Heaven is willing to bless us. Our Father in Heaven is waiting to pour out the blessings of Heaven upon us, and there is now end to His desire to continue to bless us.

Another soul-searching question that Christ asked is found in 3 Nephi 27:27: "Therefore, what manner of men [and women] ought ye to be?" 

This is something that every person asks themselves at one point or another: "Who do I want to become?" We have so many paths we can walk, and so many examples to follow, that often times we may be confused as to what manner of men and women we ought to be. But Christ gives us the perfect answer to this timeless question: "Verily I say unto you, even as I am."

I hope that with the new year just around the corner, each of us would make a specific commitment to be more like Christ in some small way. He is the great example of how each of us should be living. Indeed He is "the way, the truth, and the life."

I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year!

I love all of you, and I love this Work!

The Church is True!

Love,

Elder Fullmer

He says he's overstocked on treats!

The district.

Christmas Eve at the Wilkerson's. Elder Fullmer and Elder Burningham received St. Louis Rams beanies!

Opening presents on Christmas morning.