December 15, 2013

Hello Dearest family!

Thank you so much for your emails, it's comforting to know that the Lord is blessing you while i'm in His service. Demi's experience about her friends' siblings being baptized is a miracle! I'm sure that's something she will not forget for the rest of her life. I'm doing well don't need anything, i'll just withdraw some money to get some more pants done, and a few other small things but thanks so much for that extra money it helps a lot. I barely have anything else left in my suitcase, i don't know i guess it's just what happens when you go on the mission! Your stuff just kind of disappears. I'll probably just come home with a Book of Mormon in my hand and nothing else, haha! But i'm doing great, i'm sure i won't need another package up until the day i come back!

Family, last week was another miraculous experience laboring in the Lord's vineyard. There are so many things i could share with you but i'll be selective! Last week at our Mission Leadership Council i gave a training on Humility, which was such a great learning experience. I based it off of 1 Nephi 2:15, when Lehi dwells in a tent, and related it to us as missionaries leaving everything to dwell in a tent for 2 years or 18 months. Lots of us missionaries are bringing things to the mission field that don't need to be here, like family, friends, memories of the past, etc. But it was such a spiritually uplifting experience, and the missionaries said they were so inspired to more live the higher law of consecration. I encourage you family to read sometime D&C 31, and think about the blessings you have received and will yet receive for supporting me in the mission! I know the Lord will 'prepare a place for you' as my family! I showed them a picture of all of you at the temple, and bore my testimony that the Lord has kept care of all of you as i've tried my best to serve Him!

We were in our zone training on wednesday, wherein the zone leaders and sister training leaders give the trainings they received in MLC to their entire zone. It was such a great meeting, and the Spirit was so strong as they presented the trainings with love. Then, as the clock was approaching 12pm (the time the meeting needed to end), I was moved upon by the Spirit to leave. I could tell the way the meeting was going that it was not going to end by 12, so i didn't want to get up and cause a scene, but the Spirit was nagging at me to get up and leave. So I turned to Elder Sablan and said, "Elder, i feel like we need to go." Then he said let's go, and we got up and left. Walking away i wasn't sure why we left, and i was hoping we didn't disturb the meeting, because they were still in the process of training.

Then we went to go eat lunch, i knew why we left. A man came up and sat next to us and said "Hello elders!" We started talking to him asking how he knew us as elders, and told us he was a long time member, but he went less active this last year. He said no missionaries had visited or talked to him, and he missed the church a lot. Elder and I just testified to him that he's welcome in the church, and the Lord is just waiting on him to come back so he can receive the blessings of the Restored Gospel again. As we continually talked to him, he said, "Alright elders, it's my goal to get to the temple before i turn 60." We were so happy for him. We got his information, told him we would have the missionaries come by and visit him, and we went on our way. Elder Sablan then turned to me and said, "It was God that told you to leave that meeting, so that we could meet His son at that restaurant. I felt the Spirit so strong and it really let me know that we did the right thing.

Later that day, one missionary texted us and told us how rude it was to leave that meeting so early, and that we needed to apologize to them for disrupting the meeting in such a rude way. I was blown away by the text, and the adversary was using it as a tool to get me down the whole day, but we replied back to the missionaries and said that we were sorry if we made any disturbance, or disrupted the training in any way, but we would never apologize for following a prompting.

After we talked with the other missionaries and things they understood, and said it was so great that we followed that prompting to go and meet that man.

I really learned something from this experience family, never miss a prompting. Always follow it! Even if you're doubting whether it's just you, or if it's from God. I promise you, if it's something that is good, praiseworthy, or virtuous, it is from God! We need not worry what man may think, or what it may look like to other people, we only need to consider what the Lord wants. He will help us through the power of the Holy Ghost to follow these promptings and feel the Holy Spirit of Promise as we respond to the still small voice that prompts us to move. I know the Gift of the Holy Ghost is real family! It is such a gift that is essential for us to make it back to Heavenly Father's kingdom at the last days! And we need to follow His still small voice in order to be the Lords instrument in carrying about His work on earth! I know that 'through our repentance, and humility' (3 Nephi 4:33) we can do all things through the Lord's enabling power of His Atonement. I love you family! Always be agents to act and not objects to be acted upon!

Elder Doane

December 8, 2013

Hey Family!

This last week just flew by. Elder Sablan and I were SUPER busy going on exchanges down on the south part of the mission, it was so great though, we worked so hard out there! Yeah that picture makes me look really thin huh? I don't feel very thin though! Last week i weighed in at 258! THe first time i've been under 260 since freshman year! Haha. Sorry i took so much money out of the account, my shoes got destroyed in the mountains we were working in, you wouldn't believe, like the entire sole just ripped completely off and i was still working with them, it was such an adventure! So on friday on our way back i went at got some new shoes, they got a Payless Shoes here at this mall, and they got 13s! So it was a miracle. Okay I will let Elder Peralta know. Thanks so much for the shirts and stuff, it was perfect timing you sent those. Sounds like thanksgiving was good! Glad to hear the family is doing well. I know the Lord is blessing and taking care of you all as i focus completely on the work here.

Well where to start! We worked in the mountains last week, and i mean mountains! Like what i used to call a rough hike in boy scouts is a regular day of work in some of the zone leaders areas here, it was amazing! Such a great time. But i was so touched and edified through the exchanges we had. We worked in Kabankalan, Binalbagan, and Mangapsang. I can just testify family, that exact obedience brings miracles.

In every exchange before we started i opened up the Doctrine and Covenants to section 4:5, and shared with the missionary that Heavenly Father had a 'work' prepared for us that day, and having faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to His glory, would 'qualify' us for that work that He had in store for us! It was so amazing the Spirit we felt, and the amazing Christlike Attributes i saw in these missionaries. Elder McBride, who looks a ton like Drake, is one of the most happiest and patient missionaries i've met, wherever he goes he is just so happy and isn't shy around anyone. Elder Borgolthaus has changed so much on his mission since the time i knew him a year ago, he's so humble, and the Lord is really revealing special things to him in his mission because of him softening his heart, it was amazing to get to work with him. Elder Garner really gave up a lot to come out on his mission, and we both learned and testified that the Holy Ghost will guide and lead us to those people being prepared to hear the Gospel. I could share with you tons of experiences, but i'll save some for after the mission so we have some things to talk about.

One short one i'd like to share though, last week when i worked with Elder Garner, i had high hopes for our day of work. Their area was just mountains, nothing else. So as we discussed what we wanted to see in the days work, set expectations, and headed out, i really kept a prayer in my heart that Heavenly Father would help qualify us for that 'work' that He had laid out for us that day. We got dropped off at this corner by a jeep, and waited for the next one, then i looked across the street and saw this sister, probably in her mid 20's, working a small store she had. I had a feeling we should go talk to her, so we did. I went and bought some candy from her store, and began to talk to her, her name was Maryjoy. She was very nice and noble, she was very open to talking with us. Then i said 'Well Sister Joy while we're waiting for our next jeep can we share a short message with you?" "sure!" she replied. Then we prayed and after asking her a few questions about her life and her religion, we began to testify about the Restored Gospel, and she began to cry, and told us, 'I'm just really confused. And i'm so worried about my old family members who passed away if they don't have a chance anymore.' I knew from that moment she was being prepared by Heavenly Father for the Gospel! We gave her a pamphlet and a Book of Mormon, and set a return appointment to come back, she also committed to be baptized.

Walking away from that Elder Garner and I couldn't speak, we didn't know what to say to each other. But we both knew that through obedience to God's commandments, and having faith hope charity and love, with an eye single to His glory, Heavenly Father qualified us for meeting His daughter Joy that day. How amazing.

November 3, 2013

Dear Family,

I'm so excited to see the family pictures! Thank you so much for doing that, i'm so excited. Could you all write letters to my companion Elder Peralta too? And maybe put a tie in there for him or something as well, please. It would really make his Christmas. Wow those emails were so great, drake is so funny. Sounds like Demi is enjoying jr high as well. Dave and Sam sound like they're close friends now? That's awesome, i love Sam. We saw each other every single day for a whole year with track, football, basketball, and track again, he's great. I'm very excited to see the family pictures at the temple, i just love and miss the mesa temple with all my heart.

You know this last week has just flown by, like always. We had some exchanges last week with zone leaders, i got to go with Elder Sablan from Washington, he's a great leader who has many talents and gifts that the entire mission can benefit from. He really helped me learn how to be more organized and how to structure the work, i'm so grateful for that. I also got to go with the Elder i trained, Elder Malit, who is now my zone leader here in Bacolod Zone. It was great to work with him again, i really saw an improvement in him, which lets me know he has been obedient throughout his mission. That's one of my favorite things with seeing other people or other missionaries again, you will know if they have been obedient to the commandments by the change for better that you see in them. 

On saturday we were pleasured with the presence of Elder Niel L Andersen, which was so unique. Before the program, i was so excited i thought i was going to jump out of my seat. I put so much preparation into this, and got my self personally ready. I just could not sit still before the program started, because it was as if i was going to see my Savior. When he walked in the room, and we all stood up, i recognized him. I recognized the way he talked, the way he moved, the smile on his face, everything. Not just because he had visited before in my home stake, but i felt i had been working with him a lot longer time than just that 2 hours we spent with him on saturday. He shared many things, and focuse don the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The merits, mercy, and grace. The merits of the Savior, when He spent His life here on earth in service of others, and gave His life, so that He could take it again and over come physical death through the Resurrection. The mercy that is only possible through His Atonement that we receive when we repent and the laws of justice are satisfied because He has suffered for all of our sins, and He extends that sacred mercy to us because of His eternal love. And grace, the enabling power of His everlasting Atonement that literally enables us to do things that we could not do on our own that will glorify His name in heaven. When i spent that time with him, the Spirit testified to me that Elder Neil L Andersen is an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that Christ lives. I want to feel the same way when i stand before my Savior, shaking because I'm so excited, ready to jump out of my seat. Then when He enters the room, I will stand, and I want to feel like I felt, recognizing Him. I know i can do that if I live His Gospel, and obey His commandments. That's the way we come to know Him, so that in the last day when He calls us, we will know by what name we will be called, even His name. I know He lives family. And I know Him. I hope to continually know Him more and more to the end of my life, because only through Him i can achieve true happiness and success in this life. And how great my responsibility is to share that with others! How great OUR responsibility is! Let's bare His name and stand of witnesses of God at all times and share this Gospel with everyone, especially our family, friends, and other loved ones. I love you family, keep praying for opportunities to share the Gospel, and be ready to swing when Heavenly Father throws you a pitch.

Elder Doane

December 1, 2013

Hey Family!



Elder Doane and Elder Sablan traveling to exchanges down on
the South part of the Mission!



This last week just flew by. Elder Sablan and I were SUPER busy going on exchanges down on the south part of the mission, it was so great though, we worked so hard out there! Yeah that picture makes me look really thin huh? I don't feel very thin though! Last week i weighed in at 258! THe first time i've been under 260 since freshman year! Haha. Sorry i took so much money out of the account, my shoes got destroyed in the mountains we were working in, you wouldn't believe, like the entire sole just ripped completely off and i was still working with them, it was such an adventure! So on friday on our way back i went at got some new shoes, they got a Payless Shoes here at this mall, and they got 13s! So it was a miracle. Okay I will let Elder Peralta know. Thanks so much for the shirts and stuff, it was perfect timing you sent those. Sounds like thanksgiving was good! Glad to hear the family is doing well. I know the Lord is blessing and taking care of you all as i focus completely on the work here.

Well where to start! We worked in the mountains last week, and i mean mountains! Like what i used to call a rough hike in boy scouts is a regular day of work in some of the zone leaders areas here, it was amazing! Such a great time. But i was so touched and edified through the exchanges we had. We worked in Kabankalan, Binalbagan, and Mangapsang. I can just testify family, that exact obedience brings miracles.



Elder Doane and Elder McBride. Doane say's McBride is one of
the happiest and patient missionaries he's ever met, and looks
like his brother Drake. People would describe Drake's personality
exactly the same way!!!  



In every exchange before we started i opened up the Doctrine and Covenants to section 4:5, and shared with the missionary that Heavenly Father had a 'work' prepared for us that day, and having faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to His glory, would 'qualify' us for that work that He had in store for us! It was so amazing the Spirit we felt, and the amazing Christlike Attributes i saw in these missionaries. Elder McBride, who looks a ton like Drake, is one of the most happiest and patient missionaries i've met, wherever he goes he is just so happy and isn't shy around anyone. Elder Borgolthaus has changed so much on his mission since the time i knew him a year ago, he's so humble, and the Lord is really revealing special things to him in his mission because of him softening his heart, it was amazing to get to work with him. Elder Garner really gave up a lot to come out on his mission, and we both learned and testified that the Holy Ghost will guide and lead us to those people being prepared to hear the Gospel. I could share with you tons of experiences, but i'll save some for after the mission so we have some things to talk about.

One short one i'd like to share though, last week when i worked with Elder Garner, i had high hopes for our day of work. Their area was just mountains, nothing else. So as we discussed what we wanted to see in the days work, set expectations, and headed out, i really kept a prayer in my heart that Heavenly Father would help qualify us for that 'work' that He had laid out for us that day. We got dropped off at this corner by a jeep, and waited for the next one, then i looked across the street and saw this sister, probably in her mid 20's, working a small store she had. I had a feeling we should go talk to her, so we did. I went and bought some candy from her store, and began to talk to her, her name was Maryjoy. She was very nice and noble, she was very open to talking with us. Then i said 'Well Sister Joy while we're waiting for our next jeep can we share a short message with you?" "sure!" she replied. Then we prayed and after asking her a few questions about her life and her religion, we began to testify about the Restored Gospel, and she began to cry, and told us, 'I'm just really confused. And i'm so worried about my old family members who passed away if they don't have a chance anymore.' I knew from that moment she was being prepared by Heavenly Father for the Gospel! We gave her a pamphlet and a Book of Mormon, and set a return appointment to come back, she also committed to be baptized.



Elder Doane and Elder Sablan making transfer calls in their room
 and eating Air Heads!



Walking away from that Elder Garner and I couldn't speak, we didn't know what to say to each other. But we both knew that through obedience to God's commandments, and having faith hope charity and love, with an eye single to His glory, Heavenly Father qualified us for meeting His daughter Joy that day. How amazing.

November 24, 2013

Family!

I got the packages! I know, super early right? Sorry i couldn't wait to open them though. I just want to say, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Those packages really really helped me out, especially the new shirts and ties. I don't know but all my stuff was just getting old. I wore the new long sleeve on monday and it felt so good! I gave Elder Peralta one of the ties as well and he was so happy! It was great. The Mac and cheese is the best as well. Even if you send him like 25 dollars that would be great, that amounts to a lot here. But they're so great! I should be good now till the end of the mission with these shirts, thank you so much.

I actually got a new companion last week, Elder Sablan! He's from seattle washington, but he actually grew up here in the Philippines. He's such a great elder, so humble and ready to perform miracles here in Bacolod 3rd. Also Elder Wilstead is here in Bacolod 3rd with Elder Peralta! They are both the new assistants, so theres 4 of us now due to how large our mission is. We have about 265 missionaries, it's a big family! I hope you all remember Elder Wilstead, he was my companion in the MTC! So it's great to live in the same house as him again, and to work side by side as well, he has really grown a ton on his mission and i'm so happy for him.

Last week we were super busy with orientations for new missionaries, trainings, and work! We were still able to put out great key indicators last week even though we were super busy, the Lord really blessed our work with miracles! Also Jenny Rose was baptized! She's a 9 year old part member, and her testimony is so strong. Her prayers sound like she has a great relationship with Heavenly Father, so it's been a blessing to teach her.

Elder Sablan talked and really decided what would be our goals and things here in bacolod 3rd as a companionship, and in the next couple of months we want to have 18 baptisms! I know the Lord will qualify us to find those 18 people He is preparing right now, because I know we can do it through His enabling power. Elder Sablan and I have a goal to 'make every day a miraculous day', and we know we can only do that through exact obedience and being humble. The Lord has already shown us so many miracles in our short time being together. We have many exchanges this week with zone leaders, we're going to be able to go out and exchange with zone leaders 3 times a week now since there can always be 2 missionaries left in our area now, i'm so excited! I have really prayed and fasted about what i need to share to these zone leaders, and the Lord has revealed to me what I need to do. I'm so excited to be an instrument in His hands to help these missionaries come unto Christ and continue to hasten His work!

Ether 12:4 really has had an impact on me lately, relating it to myself as a missionary. If i have faith in Jesus Christ, and obey, i can surely hope for a better world (world meaning my own personal proselyting area). And as long as i'm doing so, i can expect to be 'sure' and 'steadfast' that i will be 'always abounding in good works'! The Lord will give me the work He needs done as long as i show my faith in Him and obey. I know that's true, I see Him living in our area each day. I am so grateful to be here in the mission with President Lopez at this time. Every mission is different, the Lord runs His work in different ways according to the circumstances, and I'm so happy for all those full time missionaries out serving the Lord across the world, i know the Lord will continue to guide His work, and it will never end. I love you family, and may we all continue to be that light that Jesus Christ commands us to be in 3 Nephi 12, I know others will see that light and desire it!

Elder Doane

November 17,2013

Dear Family,

Sorry I was not able to email this morning! WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD 17 MISSIONARIES COME IN FROM TACLOBAN MISSION and we got to make all the arrangements for sleeping, transfers, and had a FANTASTIC orientation meeting with them today! The Spirit they brought was so powerful, them having gone through what they went through, they all said they felt so loved here in our mission, and they will be here until further notice. I love them all so much! It was such a great opportunity to welcome them here..

Thank you so much for all your emails, they're just so wonderful and uplifting. I really have my testimony strengthened every week that Heavenly Father can take care of you all better than i can, so I leave that to Him and focus on His work and His glory here in Bacolod. I was so touched deeply to my heart when Demi shared that story about the less active beehive they visited, and her whole family returning, i cried. Demi, you're a special spirit, you really gotta keep sharing the gifts Heavenly Father has given you with everyone, and you will keep to see miracles like those!  Mom thank you as well, i really appreciate all of the work you do on the blog. I'm trying to take pictures, but really the only pictures i have are of baptisms, i will try to if i can find some other opportunities! Have you been friends with President Lopez yet? He wants to be friends with all the parents on facebook, thats the way he contacts and keeps in touch with them. Marlo Lopez. Search him and friend him to keep updated with the mission and stuff.

**********                              **********                      **********
Family, last week was the most amazing week of my mission. If I were to tell you everything right now i would be on this computer for hours.. but i just want to share a short part. LAST WEEK ELDER PERALTA AND I SET SOME HIGH GOALS FOR OUR KEY INDICATORS, BECAUSE PRESIDENT TOLD ALL THE ZONE LEADERS "YOU NEED TO BE THE MOST FAITHFUL MSSIONAIRIES IN YOUR ZONES ELDERS!" AND ELDER PERALTA AND I WERE IN THE BACK THINKING, "THAT MEANS, WE NEED TO BE THE MOST FAITHFUL MISSIONAIRIES IN THE WHOLE MISSION."  and Elder Peralta and I were in the back thinking, "That means, we need to be the most faithful missionaries in the whole mission." And last week, we really qualified ourselves. We set such high goals and kept each other accountable for these goals each day we went on exchanges, were training missionaries, and teaching and finding investigators. As the week was coming close to a close.. i felt the adversary trying his best to stop us. I literally felt him pulling me down with every bit of his power. On saturday during my personal study, i felt this sickness coming on, and after a few hours it got really bad. My energy was drained, i had pretty bad diarrhea, and my head was hurting me. I went to go lay down, thinking i wasn't going to be able to work that day! Meaning we probably couldn't reach our goals. But then the elders next door and my companion gave me a blessing, and i felt the most comforting feeling, that i could work. I really asked Heavenly Father for strength in my prayers, and headed out the door to hit the streets. As we were walking, teaching investigators, and attended our baptism, my body was just done for. It was like i had nothing left. But my desire to achieve our goals was too great to let my body stop me. Then coming sunday we were late to our dinner with the new missionaries at the mission home because we had to go to one more appointment. WE TEXTED PRESIDENT, "SORRY WE'LL BE LATE PRESIDENT, WE GOTTA REACH OUR GOALS!" He said it was no problem. Then, we did it. I HAD MY TESTIMONY CONFIRMED TO ME, THAT THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST LITERALLY ENABLES US TO DO MORE THAN WE CAN DO ON OUR OWN. There's no way that I could have gone out to work that day if it weren't for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I would have no hope to grasp on to, no reason to get up out of bed and work. But because He performed the Atonement, I had all the reason and more to get up, and get out the door. 

I read a verse of scripture that day in my personal study right before i got sick, and it can be read in Mosiah 15: 5-8... 'the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the Father.' The Savior overcame His flesh, even unto death. Even when He was suffering in the garden, or on the cross, He did not take the easy way out and let Himself die. He said no, and His love for His Father drove Him to endure all of those pains, even until He himself commended His Spirit to the Father. How beautiful, no? I know the Atonement is real family. I have seen all these people we're teaching come closer to Christ, and as they do, I realize I am as well. I know the Book of Mormon is true. This is the only true church on the face of the earth, i mean there's no question. Thank you for raising me in the correct way, always pointing me to the Savior. I love you all so much.

Elder Doane

November 10, 2013

Dear Family,

YES I'M SAFE, EVERTHING IS FINE HERE IN BACOLOD. The storm went by us, but it really did not touch anything here in Bacolod City, IT WAS TRULY A MIRACLE. Some of the brethren at church said it didn't make sense how the scary part of the storm didn't hit our city, it literally just didn't. I know it's because of the prayers of the faithful, and thank you so much for all of your prayers family and friends, so many people were blessed because of your faithfulness.

**********                     **********                            **********

So much to say so little time. This last week we stayed inside for a few days because of the typhoon, we weren't affected that much but we were kept in to be safe. It gave me lots of time to get caught up on some records and our area book it was really nice. Sister Jifany Cordero was baptized as well! Her 2 older sisters were baptized 2 weeks ago, and they were the speakers at her baptism, it was so great the messages they shared. We also got to go around saturday and help people who had things break on their houses and what not, it was a great opportunity to go about doing good. There was not damage in our area, most of it is up north towards cadiz city, but the missionaries are all okay over there. That's actually where i came from in my last area. We also had Mission Leadership Council, and Elder Peralta and I gave a training on the converting power of the Book of Mormon. I wish you could have attended family, because that training was not from Elder Peralta and I, I know it was from God. Even I myself was amazed at the things Heavenly Father revealed to us when we were spending the time studying, preparing and praying. I actually had a different message prepared to share with you all, but I'LL SHARE THE ONE ABOUT THE CONVERTING POWER OF THE BOOK OF MORMON INSTEAD.

You know, we know a lot of things as human beings. We know the sky is blue, we know macaroni and cheese tastes good, we know concrete is hard, we know flowers smell good, etc. But how did we come to know these things? Of course the answer is, through our senses. We saw the sky, we tasted the macaroni, we touched the concrete, we smelled the flowers, etc. But how did we come to know the Book of Mormon was true?... Through the power of the Holy Ghost. As members of this church, we are blessed with the opportunity to have the 6th sense, the right to have the Holy Ghost with us as long as we are worthy. Through that sense, we can come to know the truth of all things (Mor. 10:5). This is step 1 in coming to know the converting power of the Book of Mormon, we need to read, ponder, and pray to know through the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true.

And when we come to know that Book is true, what is it really that we're coming to know? Is is just the fact that the book is true? That Joseph Smith is a true prophet? That this church is true? The answer is yes, of course, to all those, but the main thing that we're coming to know is, that He lives. Jesus Christ is our Savior, and He lives and guides His church in these latter days through a living prophet. That's why step 2 is, coming to know Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon. So many times i saw myself focusing on Joseph Smith when i taught the Book of Mormon to others, focusing on them coming to know that He was a prophet. But i forgot, and the Lord reminded me again, that the Book of Mormon is centered on the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and one will come to know Him and His teachings by reading pondering and praying about that Book. It truly is another testament of Jesus Christ.

And as we come to know Jesus Christ, we literally draw nearer to God. As we begin to understand and live the principles inside that Book, we will begin to draw near to Him and literally become like Him. Think about Lehi's dream, there was no one who made it to the tree of life, except they grabbed onto and clung to the rod of iron. As Elder Peralta and I gave this training, i just bore my testimony to my fellow servants, and told them, 'Elders and Sisters, I know, that Jesus Christ lives. And I came to know that, through the Book of Mormon. I testify that this Book is true, and through it, the Lord changed me.' Family i bear my testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. It is literal evidence that Jesus Christ lives, and that God is our loving Heavenly Father. The Lord really did change my through that Book, and continues to change me even until this very moment. Everywhere Elder Peralta and I go, we have a Book of Mormon in our hands, testifying that Jesus Christ lives. WE NEED TO COME TO LOVE THIS BOOK! MAKE IT OUR BEST FRIEND! BECAUSE IF WE DO, WE WILL MAKE IT TO THE TREE OF LIFE, AND PARTAKE OF THE FRUIT OF ETERNAL LIFE, GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. I love you so much family, i will never forget seeing that picture of all of you at the temple together, that is forever engraved in my mind and heart.

Elder Doane