Tough Week

Well!

This week has been a tough one. We have three progressing investigators in Coal Mine. We had two appointments this week, and they both cancelled. Because of the split, our teaching pool is half of what it used to be. We have spent nearly all of our time trying to find less-active members to teach, or tracting. Tracting has yielded no fruits thus far... It's disappointing to see person after person after person be "not interested" in the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I know will bring so much joy into their life. They came down here to earth, and now they're completely blind. This is their opportunity to get on the path that leads them back to their Father, His plan all along; they just don't know it.

But I won't give up! The thing I've learned most this week is that members need to be finding people for the missionaries to teach. This is the Lord's time, and we're spending it knocking on doors. We should be teaching!! Please, please keep the missionaries in your area busy. I wish we could just teach lessons all day, but this week, that hasn't been the case.

So, my new companion! His name is Elder Kelly. He's taller than me (maybe 6'2"), he's 21 years old, and he's a ginger. His name is Charles Isaac Kelly (Charlie, Isac?!?), which I thought was quite the coincidence. Training is a big responsibility, but I think I'm doing alright. Elder Kelly isn't hard to train. He's really smart, and he's a great missionary. He's going to do great things on his mission. I wish we had more teaching opportunities for him to experience, but so far his idea of a mission must just be tracting. I have told him that there are usually more people to teach! We keep trying everywhere, asking everyone, anyone! for someone to teach. We've tracted into two pastors, who were both really nice. It's nice when people aren't disgusted with you. If anything, Elder Kelly's getting a great crash course in the tougher parts of missionary work, so the rest should seem like a breeze! Well, not really, but at least I'm sure we're both growing from this experience.

My hope and prayer is that the members in our area have the opportunity and courage to share the gospel, and to invite us to get involved. I'll just strive to choose the right and work hard, and I know the Lord will provide! There are ups and downs in life. I guess this is just a part of it! But I'm here to serve the Lord, and I'll continue to do that with all my might!

I hope you all are well, and that you choose the right, always!

Sincerely,

Elder Rogers

A Thought from Mom:

I know I probably already sent this one before, but it is one of my favorites:

"As you shed tears in your Gethsemane while others laugh with the sinners, don't curse the purifying fire in which you have been placed. Your challenges are divinely appointed and they will ultimately perfect you." Glen L. Pace

 

Talk

By the by, here's a talk I wrote for when a general authority is coming to the mission. I don't know if I'll have to give it, but we've all been asked to write one.

It's about the Doctrine of Christ.

Our Heavenly Father loves us. His knows our potential as His spirit children: "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) We can all reach this potential, and it is His Plan for us to do so.

He has given us this life as an opportunity to gain a physical body, to experience trials and temptations, and to overcome them using our free agency. These are all essential parts of the Plan for us to become like our Father in Heaven. At the center of this Plan is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our All-knowing Father knew from the beginning that we would make mistakes; mistakes that would separate us from Him physically and spiritually. For the purpose of making available to us, his children, the ability to repent and overcome these mistakes, thus having the opportunity to return to His presence in the flesh, the Greatest of all His spirit children was foreordained to be our Savior and Exemplar, even Jesus Christ.

Through His Atonement we can be cleansed from sin. The Savior satisfied the demands of justice, that unchanging law, so that mercy could be extended to those who believe on His name in the day of judgement. Our faith in Him, faith that He performed the Atonement, that He truly is the Son of God, is essential. It is the first principle of the gospel. We cannot obtain a remission of our sins without it, for a remission of sins can come from no other source than He who suffered to take the penalty of all sins upon Himself.

True faith in the Savior leads to action. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all men are redeemed from the fall. "All little children are alive in Christ" (Moroni 8:22), having known no sin; and all people will be resurrected with an immortal body of flesh and bone. However, for the Savior's Atonement to have effect on us, so far as to cleanse us from the sins we have committed, we must humble ourselves, forsaking our own will for that of the Father. As we do this, we will change our lives to be in harmony with the Savior's teachings and commandments. We will make recompense for the wrongs we have done. We will strive to become more like the Savior, and seek to share His Gospel with others. This is the process of repentance. True repentance comes from our love of the Savior, and an earnest desire to please Him, and to keep and do His teachings.

As our Exemplar, Jesus took part in the ordinance of baptism. Though the Father knows our hearts, baptism by immersion is the way prescribed by Him as an outward expression of our inner desire, and the way by which we can enter into a covenant with Him. Jesus taught the inquiring Pharisee, Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)

The reception of the Holy Ghost here referenced is a great gift from God. The Spirit sanctifies us, and is given as a Comforter and Guide to all those who have been baptized and strive to live according to the will of the Father.

The prophet Nephi taught: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel." (2 Nephi 31:13)

Our submission to the will of the Father in doing these things will bring peace in this life, and eternal joy in the life to come. This is the Doctrine of Christ. This is His Gospel, the good news that we are called to share. May those we teach understand this amazing message. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Transfers!

Helloo!

This has been a looong week! Elder Brunson is super impatient. He seems to have been constantly thinking about who will get which ward tomorrow. I was just like, "Elder, we'll know eventually..."

On Friday, we got leadership calls. Elder Brunson was called to a special assignment. That means that there is a missionary who needs special attention because of disobedience, illness, lack of motivation, or what have you. He was actually excited for that! I'm not sure why. Maybe he just loves the opportunity to raise someone up! He was also called as the district leader of our new district (because our district split, too), which consists of Ken Caryl, Coal Mine, and Chatfield.

I was called to be a trainer! Tomorrow, I'll get a greenie companion fresh from the MTC! Now, before you go thinking I'm the greatest missionary around-- it's typical for missionaries to train in their third transfer. Usually you get trained, then train while it's still fresh! My MTC companion, Elder Hawkes, is also training, as is Elder Donovan, who came out with us and is in my district now. Training is quite the responsibility! I get to set the whole tone of this Elder's mission! Full-time missionary work is never what you expect it to be, and it's my job to make sure that it's better, not worse, than what he expected!

Then, on Saturday, we got transfer calls. My new companion and I will be serving in the Coal Mine area! Coal Mine has a few progressing investigators, two investigators with a baptismal date, and a lot of good potential. We will be in Bishop Jensen's ward. We'll be moving in with the Lavecchias. They have a sweet setup for the missionaries-- two separate bathrooms and an exercise room! The Coal Mine ward meets at 12:30, so we'll have time to get up, have breakfast, study, eat lunch, then go to church! And another bonus-- we get the car!!

Elder Brunson and his new companion will be on bikes... I do feel sorry about that, but at least he's excited to get some exercise!

So, I've been doing some packing this morning to move to the Lavecchias'. Tomorrow morning we'll have transfer meeting, where I'll meet my new companion! I'm pretty excited. I'm recommitting myself to exact obedience, which is not easy. If I can show this missionary that exact obedience is possible, he'll be striving to achieve it his whole mission, which will bring miracles! I won't be too tough on him; I'll just try to lead by example.

Anyway! Yes, you're thinking of the same Jensens. So, cool! You know them!

I didn't get your last letter, nor one I was expecting from someone else... I think the mailman might have it in for me. (Yes, i said "nor").

Yes! I got your package with clothes and bread and sweets. Thank you!! Yum.

The work is hastening. 36 new missionaries are arriving in the Denver South Mission today! They're probably on a plane from Provo right now. Lots going on!

I love you all! Choose the right and be happy!

Sincerely,

Elder Rogers

By the way,

Elder Brunson takes forever to email, so I've clicked through a lot of family history while I wait.

I've made it back to Adam three times, but never the way Grandpa got there. I made it once through Mom's line and twice through Dad's. (I just found one, and that's why I remembered to tell you).

Happy Family History!

A Thought from Mom:

"All that I now hold dear in life began to mature in the mission field. Had I not been encouraged to be a missionary, I would not have the eternal companion or precious family I dearly love. I am confident that I would not have had the exceptional professional opportunities that stretched my every capacity. I am certain that I would not have received the sacred callings with opportunities to serve for which I will be eternally grateful. My life has been richly blessed beyond measure because I served a mission."  -Richard G. Scott

 

Flat Elder Rogers at the Smith Birthday Party

        Isac and Charlie had a combined birthday party. Flat Elder Rogers was there to enjoy the party!

Charlie and Flat Elder Rogers

Isac and Flat Elder Rogers

Sweet Isac sharing his cake with Flat Elder Rogers!

Well, Hello!

Hello!

The correct answer is grizzly bear. You can research it if you want!

It has been raaaaiiiining this week! We haven't had any flooding in Littleton, that's all going on up north of Denver. But we've heard about all of that! Yesterday we were in a cloud... I mean to say, the clouds just came down to the ground and misted us all day! It was quite awesome.

Yesterday we got a new bishopric in Coal Mine! They replaced the bishop and both counselors. Our new bishop is Bishop Jensen. I know that means nothing to you, but he's a cool guy. That was kind of a big deal. We had a chilli cook-off on Saturday night! I love chilli!! If you have the missionaries over, you might consider making chilli.

We taught a lesson to our new investigator, George, on Saturday as well. He is old and very, very Catholic, so he tells us a lot about what they believe, and it's good to get some insight on others' perspectives. People everywhere are just looking for truth and doing what they believe to be right. I think it shall be well with them in the end. He is very open to learning about what we believe as well! It was a good lesson.

We started over with Dave, teaching the lessons from scratch. He's been meeting with missionaries for about three years, and he says everything we're teaching is new to him! Whaaat have these missionaries been doing?? Well, he's on the right path now, and that's what counts! He's receiving the lessons really well.

We have been going through our former investigator records for the area to see if any of them would like to start meeting with us again. We met with a guy named Scientific Joe. We call him that because his name is Joe and his teaching record says he wants scientific proof of everything. He invited us to sit at a table on his porch so he could Bible bash with us for an hour. Towards the end of our meeting, he said he wanted us to come back so he could tell us what else he thought was wrong with the Book of Mormon. I explained, "Joe, we're not coming back if that's what you want to do. That's not why we're here. We're here to offer you the ordinances of salvation by proper priesthood authority, as restored to the earth in these last days, preparatory to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ."

We'll go back there sometime this week and explain lovingly what our message is and what we have to offer. I hope he can open his heart and his mind!

We are going to start doing some service at an assisted-living home this week, reading to people. That should be fun!

Elder Brunson and I are ready for transfers, going mad speculating who will get which ward! Next Monday, I'll be able to tell you!

Well, the work goes forward at an ever-increasing pace! Be great examples and live excellently.

Much love and care,

Elder Rogers

A Thought from Mom:

"First of all I would like to thank every missionary who has ever labored in this transcendent latter-day undertaking we have been given. The rolling forth of the restored gospel is a miracle in every sense of the word, and not the least of the miracle is that a significant portion of it rolls forward on the shoulders of 18-year-olds! As we have seen your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, faithfully laboring, I have pictured the tens of thousands of others like them we have met all over the world. Clean, clear, bright-eyed missionaries, laboring two-by-two, have become a living symbol of this Church everywhere. They themselves are the first gospel message their investigators encounter--and what a message that is. Everyone knows who they are, and those of us who know them the best, love them the most."

~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Abide In Me

From the May, 2004 Ensign

*Note: (I changed 19-year-olds to 18-year-olds)

 

This is an email from me, Elder Rogers!

Hello!

I hope you guys had fun at Rocky Point! It hasn't cooled down here yet. In fact, we've had a bit of a heat wave; it's been in the 90s all week! Blechque. I am planning on going to the Stake Center to watch General Conference. I can't wait!!

George hasn't answered his door... One time we stopped by and his lights were on in the house, but then they turned off (a clear sign that somebody was home). He still didn't answer the door. Gah!

Kelly is doing well! She's very eccentric. I think that's a fitting word... She seemed to imply that she had (re)read the entire Book of Mormon in three days! We had a good lesson with her with a member present, which is always very helpful. We should be seeing her again soon!

Keep helping the missionaries! We love that kind of thing!

We had two dinners on Labor Day. We pulled through. On Tuesday we went on exchanges, so I was with Elder Serr, our District Leader. He was Elder Brunson's companion in the MTC! Cool guy. We went contacting in the valley (the rich part of our area) and saw a bunch of deer chillin' out max and relaxin' all cool in some people's front yards.

Elder Brunson and I had two opportunities to give priesthood blessings this week. I love to see the power of the priesthood work in people's lives.

 

At district meeting on Thursday, we got to know each other a little bit better. It was our first district meeting of the transfer, even though it's almost over. That was really fun. There's one question in our district that everyone has to take a stance on: Who would win in a fight, a grizzly bear or a silver-back gorilla? There is a correct answer.

On Friday we did some service at a thrift store called Arc. They have a ton of cool stuff there, and a lot of stuff that should be really expensive, but it's not! Anyway, we just helped them sort through their old clothes and make sure all was well with the clothes on the racks. It counts for service, I think because they do a lot to help the mentally disabled.

We had dinner scheduled for that night, and a less-active member called us up to see if we were free for dinner. Ahh! You can't say no when a less-active member invites you over for dinner! So we told her we could have dinner with her and her husband. The people we had dinner scheduled with called us that morning and told us they were just going to drop off a pizza at our house. Yay! We graciously accepted and refrigerated the pizza before going to our new dinner appointment. When you do what you can to help the people, the Lord will provide.

We had a couple of good lessons with investigators this week as well. We did a whole lot of contacting, but got no new investigators... Hopefully some seeds were planted!

I hope all is well with you and that you all choose the right! Don't forget to study the scriptures!

Sincerely,

Elder Rogers

Oh yeah, per-duh!                We Went to the temple on Wednesday!

 I love going to the temple! We ate lunch afterwards at CiCi's Pizza, and all-you-can-eat buffet for $5.

Elder Brunson and Elder Rogers

Chillin' in front of the Temple

Denver Temple

 A Thought from Mom:

"This is at the very heart of our sacred work—to feel a spiritual impression and be willing to follow it."

—Neil L. Andersen