The Eldership of Three

My dear family and friends,

This week has been a blast. Every single day was an adventure with Elder Curtis and Elder Fleming. This week I continued to study about friendship, but I learned about a new part of friendship. In a talk friendship was compared to charity. In the talk, the speaker read 1 Corinthians 13:4 but replaced the word charity for friendship and I just want to do that right now but with the chapter.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not friendship, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not friendship, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not friendship, it profiteth me nothing.

4 friendship suffereth long, and is kind; friendship envieth not; friendship vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 friendship never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, friendship, these three; but the greatest of these is friendship.

This really gives us a new perspective on what friendship should be. We should treat everybody with Christlike love no matter who they are, where they are from, or what they look like. Christ went out of His way to talk with the sick and afflicted. He looked outside of Himself and focused on others. My invitation to you is to go out of your way this week and help someone in need.

I know that as we go about treating others with love we will find that love being returned to us. I know that Jesus Christ did minister here on the earth and performed miracles. I know that he performed the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus Christ is my brother and my friend. I know that He wants us to come home. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Curtis, Elder Fleming, and Elder Stevenson

Sunday 02/04/2018

We were invited to the Sunday Night Devotional today. It was super good. Noteworthy came and sang to us. Noteworthy is an all female singing group of BYU. It is kind of the equivalent to BYU's Vocal Point. My favorite songs by them were "I'm Trying to Be like Jesus" and "Amazing Grace."

After the Devotional I moved into Elder Curtis and Elder Fleming's room in the residence. It was quite easy since they were just the next room over.

We had three new missionaries join us today. Those missionaries are Sister Van Dam, Elder Heaps, and Mullenaux.

Picture of our mission at a member dinner

Monday 02/05/2018

Today was pretty good. We went to the new buildings for Companion study and we studied the new chapter 8 that was made for preach my gospel. We then had a lesson in the new building's computer labs teaching a man name Ramon who is from Texas. Since it was our first time talking we all introduced ourselves. We also talked about the Book of Mormon.

Tuesday 02/06/2018

I went to the doctors with Elder Fleming today which was super awesome. It was good to be in a doctors office outside of the MTC again. While he was in the doctors I was able to read some of the Book of Mormon. I read Jacob chapter 7 which is about Sherem and Jacob which is always fun to read about.

Sunset over Provo

For the Tuesday Devotional tonight Elder Benjamin De Hoyos and his wife spoke. Something special that Sister De Hoyos said was, "People will see you as angels in their life."

Elder De Hoyos talked a lot about prayer. He said, "Do not just say prayers. A prayer takes feeling, listening and thinking." He also said, "It is a privilege that we are able to pray." Elder De Hoyos also said something really funny, but also added some perspective. It was said that, "Just as we don't like to be around grouchy people, neither does The Spirit."

Wednesday 02/07/2018

We talked with Patrick from Ohio today. Patrick was a referral from Yadz who was a less active when I taught her with Elder Woodruff and we brought her back to church. We did introductions with Patrick and and just got to know him a little bit. He works in an airport which is super cool.

Another view of the sunset

Thursday 02/08/2018

Something super interesting happened today. I was pulled out of a lesson with Gene by President Thomas, but it was okay because Gene likes to talk, and Elder Curtis and Elder Fleming just used that time to catch up and see where he was at. The meeting with President Thomas went well. He pulled me out to tell me that I am going to be with Elder North starting Sunday night. It 's kind of funny in one companionship for a week and in another one the next. It is all good though. I am really excited. Elder North seems like a really good missionary.

We had a pretty good lesson with Heather today. She still has a desire to learn more, however she is still concerned with some things that are going on in her life. So we are just encouraging her and cheering her on.

Friday 02/09/2018

Today was really good. We had a super good lesson with Josefine all about Patriarchal Blessings. Elder Fleming, Elder Curtis, and I all bore our testimonies on how our Patriarchal Blessings have helped us. We ended by inviting her to look for the promised blessings in her blessing and reflect of them. I think it will help her a lot. I believe that she will see how her blessing kind of applies to her life this way.

The sign on our residence door

We were invited by Brother Nelson to have dinner at his house. It was super good. We had meatball soup and bread. They then gave us homemade cake with fruit for dessert. That was really good. It was also a really good chance to come together and to learn more about the new missionaries that joined us on Sunday.

Saturday 02/10/2018

We had a really fun day today. We went to Walmart and bought food. I bought trail mix so that I have something to snack on throughout the day. So I am happy about that. We are having a district activity tonight where we will play True Colors which is kind of a get to know you game. That will be good because both Elder Mullenaux and Sister Van Dam are in our District.

I hope that you all have a good rest of your weekend. I love you.

Love,

Elder Stevenson