"And my father dwelt in a tent"

May 29, 2018

"And my father dwelt in a tent"

Hello all!

Exchanges! I was able to go on exchanges this week with Elder Sjökvist. He is from Sweden and hasn't been out too long. I believe this is his first full transfer, being as he came in midtransfer during the last transfer. (I used the word transfer a lot just then) In Porthmadog, it's difficult to get teaching visits, and to my understanding, Elder Sjökvist hadn't been able to teach a proper lesson with an investigator. I wanted to give him that opportunity, so I reached out to Chloe, and she was willing to meet!

When we got to Pontio, we discovered that Chloe brought her friend Mary along! Mary had been to church once with Chloe, but this was her first lesson with missionaries. We went through the Word of Wisdom and everything seemed to be going well, then they started asking some questions about the law of Chastity, and asked if we could go through that as well. So, following their request, we did. It was a good lesson, and Elder Sjökvist handled it very well. It was definitely interesting having Elder Sjökvist's and Mary's first lessons be the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity. That doesn't happen too often. Haha

Later in the week, we were talking to Chloe and she got a scholarship to study in Florence for several months. She studies French, Italian, Spanish and Welsh for her degree, and was wanting to read the Book of Mormon in those languages. So, on Sunday we brought her a French and Italian Book of Mormon. We just heard from her that she stayed up all night and had already finished the Italian Book of Mormon! And now she's started reading the French one! She told us how good she is feeling, and how strong the warm, cozy feeling of the Holy Ghost is with her. She knows that the Book of Mormon is God's scripture.

We also had a fun experience yesterday. There was a group of visitor's that came to church. We weren't able to speak to them before church started, but after the block they flagged us down, and asked "we noticed you have American accents, what part of America are you from?" After I said St. George, to my surprise, I discovered that many of them were from St. George too! They are currently students at BYU, and are studying in Stretford-Upon-Avon. One of them went to Desert Hills High, and one even said that her (cousin? sister?) went to Tuacahn High, but back in the day. I wish that I would've asked their name, but I didn't.

It was nice to hear American accents again!! (I don't count missionaries) I didn't realise how much I've transitioned to the many accents in Britain. Like the whole "r" thing through me for a loop. I didn't realise how much we emphasised them! That moment helped me to see that their actually is a difference in the way we speak

We had quite the discussion and a laugh. Afterward, Elder Larson remarked that it takes so much energy to converse with Americans. Apparently we're a lot more... Bubbly(?) than British people. Haha, it was good though. I enjoyed the conversation.

Invitation of the Week

(this one comes with a bit of a back story)

I've been thinking a lot lately about the verse 1 Nephi 2:15. Many of you may know this verse and as a primary child this was my favourite verse because it was the shortest (much like John 11:35). The verse states, "And my father dwelt in a tent". Now, it's been said that every verse of scripture was put there for a reason, and as I read this scripture I never thought it had any significant meaning. But then I read again in 1 Nephi 9:1, and again in 10:16, and 16:6. Surely, if that phrase is referenced to that many times there has to be significance in it.

As I studied that question, the history of Lehi and his family came to my mind. They were a family of great wealth, and had anything a man of the world would need. He also was a prophet of God, and when asked to warn the people of Jerusalem, he was spiritually in tune to heed that commission. Again, when he was prompted to leave Jerusalem, listened and followed the command. Leaving everything that he had, riches, a home, and I'm sure many friends and maybe even family, he journeyed into the wilderness with nothing but the bare essentials... And a tent.

Even with what little they had, Lehi was still able to keep a strong, personal relationship with God. He was able to hear the spirit tell him what he should do. He read the scriptures and taught from the scriptures. He was able to receive revelation from the Lord and prophecy concerning the children of Israel. All this he was able to do in a tent.

Anywhere we go can be holy ground, and should be holy ground. We can't always be at a church building or a temple, as nice as that would be. We should strive to live our lives in such a way that we can always "stand [ye] in holy places, and be not moved" (D&C 87:8). I know that as we make ourselves holy, we will stand in holy places.

How can we stand in holy places this week?

I love you all, and pray for you =D

Signing off,

Elder Burns

England Manchester Mission
Springwood, Suite G5
Booths Park
Chelford Road
Knutsford
England WA16 8GS
United Kingdom

P.S. Sometimes I feel very preachy...