My Descent into the Underworld

Ok, so I have two epic stories to tell you about this week. I have decided that I am actually a Hero. Because I am in a literature class when we talk about heroes especially greek ones. So I’m going to tell you my second story in Greek Epic form. I’m sorry this is so long. If you don’t have a lot of time, just read my epic poem. It’s pretty cool.
Anyways, this week, we had homecoming, and there was a parade. And I was in it. I marched for the first time in my life. I thought it was going to be really bad, but then we discovered that because Ephraim is so small, it took about ten minutes to march the entire parade. Heh. But it was fun. Then we had an American Football game, and I burned again, but not as bad as last time. So that was fun. I think I was going to say more about that, but I don’t remember anything else cool about it.  Guess what? THIS IS ADAM! Well. Back to Ryan.

Then heavy-hammered Mike decided to go to hang out with a girl.
So he invited his friends noble Adam and quick-witted Ryan.
But noble Adam had Calculus homework to do, 
So quick-witted Ryan left him to do his homework in peace,
And they left the flat. But then quick-witted Ryan discovered
That the so-called “hang out” was a trap,
Because it was just him and heavy-hammered Mike and 
Two girls. So they went to Walmart and bought
a lifetime supply of sugar and set off for the girls’ Lair.

So, across the River they drove,
The awkward love triangle and quick-witted Ryan,
They came to the gate and called for the guard,
The long-haired guard came to the door.
What is your quest? His booming voice challenged.
We are here to eat some pomegranate style chocolate milk,
They answered. Then you may enter.

Up the stairs to the castle of Hades they went,
Past the three-headed Cerberus and the shade of Medusa,
They descended and ate their pomegranates and 
Played a game Hades called “The Game of Hell.”
Then it was eleven o’clock, and quick-witted Ryan
Realized they were in danger and left and 
Brought heavy-hammered Mike out to the sun and they went
Home to their own flat and went to bed.

The End

(The pomegranates are cookies and chocolate milk by the way. And the Game of Hell wasn't actually bad or anything, it was just a card game, I don't know why she called it that, but I thought it was fitting so I left it in there.)

Ok, so anyways, this week I discovered something pretty cool. Again. Well, I already knew it, but then I did it, and stuff. Anyways, what happened is, I was starting to stress about things that were out of my control, or were happening too slow and things again, and I didn’t want to go down that trail again, so I decided that I was just going to focus on good things I could do to help other people. And as soon as I started focusing on other people’s problems, mine just sort of disappeared. And then I was blessed on top of it and things out of my control happened in a good way. So anyways, here’s the story. We went to a band breakfast thing before the parade. And Dr. Fullmer, who reminds me of Mr. Campbell so much, told us that we couldn’t have any waffles until we learned three new people’s names. So I learned the names and just kinda got on with it. So then as I was standing in line (I was one of the last ones because I kept getting moved around and stuff) I discovered that there was a girl sitting by herself looking pretty uncomfortable, so I thought, “Hey, I can sit by Mike and all of the saxophones, or I can go and sit by someone who is lonely and talk to them.” Needless to say, it was a pretty easy decision, so as soon as I got my waffle, I just sat down right next to her and just asked her what her name was. I think it was probably the boldest thing I have done since I came to college. And it was so cool! Because she gave me really short answers at first but I just kept trying, which is like pulling teeth because I’m terrible at making conversations with people anyways, but then she finally opened up and started returning questions and it was really nice. Then our breakfast thing ended and I warmed up. The end. 

The EndThe EndThe EndThe EndThe EndThe EndThe EndThe End THE END. THE END!

P.S. That was a Beethoven joke, if you didn’t get it.

20.09.15

Hi. 


This has been a nice week. But pretty much everything happened in about the last three days. So I will tell you three stories. And some stuff.

So, one day, I was in institute and I played the piano like I do every day, and we talked about how we should talk to people we meet more often because God puts us in each other’s paths for a reason and we can make a big change happen in each other’s lives. So then later that day, I was walking home from something else and some girl that I am pretty sure I have never met before walks past me and says, “Hi Ryan!” and I tried to pull my polite recognition face over my confused memory-searching face, but it failed big time, and she got really embarrassed and she told me she was in my institute class. So that was funny haha. Then I saw her again when I went to get pizza with Adam on Friday because she was on a date with a guy from Adam’s mission who goes to Weber. I’m sure Adam will tell you all about him. But that was a funny story. I felt really bad cause I made a weird face at her.

Then another day, I don’t remember which, I was out on my nightly walk down the street and back and this car pulled up on a road that is normally totally dark and quiet out at ten, and the car swerved to a stop in the middle of and intersection. Then a girl got out and started running at me and I kinda just watched her and she said, “you aren’t even running!” and I was thinking, "yeah, so…?” and then she tapped my shoulder and said, “wait, are you even playing the game?” (I’m assuming it was fugitive or something) and I said no and then she was super embarrassed and got in the car and drove away.

Then, yesterday, Adam and I decided to go to the temple early in the morning, but then he remembered he had plans to go on a jog with someone else already, so we decided to do it later and I hung out with my new friend, Calvin. Then Adam had a test, and I kept hanging out with Calvin, then Adam came home and we watched the third Hobbit, then Adam remembered some other homework/ chores he had to do, so I just got on my bike and left without him. So then I tried to take the extra long way and avoid the highway, and I discovered the extra long way is a lie, and I can’t turn right because I will just hit a barn and plus trespassers will be prosecuted. So I rode back and took the highway, changed at a gas station where a hick was hitting on the gas station cashier, and I made it to the temple for 7:15. Guess what? The last session starts at 6:30. I thought it was 7. And then they told me the temple is closed for the next four weeks… But, then I met a nice person from Ephraim who made the same mistake I did, only instead of riding a bike, he drove. So he offered me a ride and I didn’t really take much convincing. Haha. So that was fun, but at least I know I can bike down there now. The only problem is there might be snow on the ground next time the temple is open… I guess I just need to make sure Mike doesn’t go home for the weekends anymore or find some new friends with a car… So yeah. 

Also, today I got set apart as a ward missionary. And so did Adam. And Mike will be next week if he’s here, but he goes home for the weekend a lot. I’m way excited. We already had a meeting with the ward mission leader and we’ve got some great plans. It must be way hard to be a YSA bishop because there are so many callings to give out, but I know it’s definitely inspired. 

Anyways, have a nice week, bye!

13.09.15

This week has been a nice one. There was a concert on Tuesday with a jazz pianist named Helen Sung and it was amazing! They came and gave us a clinic too, so that was nice. Then my lips got chapped and they finally went back to normal yesterday. There isn’t actually a whole lot to say about this week. I’m pretty happy.

Also, I have a funny story. So once upon a time, like two weeks ago, Adam saw a kid that was sitting or walking or doing something by himself, so he went and talked to him and the three of us became friends with him. Then on Sunday two weeks ago, Adam told me to invite him to something because he was going to talk to someone else, and I did, and now Calvin is my biggest fan ever. It’s super funny. Mike talked to him the other day and said that we should hang out, and Calvin told him to talk to me and I could set it up because I have his Facebook. Haha. Then we did hang out on Friday and he has a Wii and Mario Kart, and Brawl, and Mario Party. So we had a lot of fun. And one of our roommates came and played with us. It was pretty fun. 

Also, I got to go to the temple to do baptisms with the YSA ward. That was really cool, and as it turns out, they let us do temple names even though we are endowed because we are in a YSA ward. So that was cool. But I didn’t know that till we got there, so I brought some names anyways. But, I got to help do the confirmations and it was super good. The temple workers there are super nice, it was just like being in the Bountiful temple again. I am hoping to go on one or two bike rides up to the temple next week. I think they should put a bike lane on the highway because google says it’s going to add a half hour for me to not take the highway, so I’m going to have to take the long way. Oh well.

Anyways, have a nice week, good luck with everything, bye!

30.08.15

This has been a long week. It feels like forever since I wrote my last email. So this week, not a lot has happened. I made Jazz Band though! I’m so happy about that. I’m in the Jazz Band and I’m in a combo with Grant who played the sax with us at woods cross. So I’m pretty happy about that. 

Yesterday we had an American football game and we got to come with the pep band. The dumb thing is though, is that (possibly because we are a junior college) the game started at 11:30 or noon or something. And there were no clouds. So we all burned. I put sunscreen on before and I still burned. But it was fun.

This week in institute we talked about the Doctrine of Christ. I love it because it’s so simple. The way Brother Scott put it, you just do the Will of the Father, even though you don’t know why, and even if it doesn’t make any sense. It’s amazing. 

Also, we had church today. It was probably the best thing ever of the week. It felt so good to go to church again and wear missionary clothes and talk about missionary stuff. And then we had a fireside from a seventy that spoke in Adam’s mission a lot, and he was amazing! He talked about the gifts that God has given us to help us to be happy. He gave us the light of Christ, or the ability to know good and evil, he gave us agency, and he gave us the Atonement. The tree of life is the love of Christ and it is desirable to make one happy. So read your scriptures! Drink the living waters! 

Be happy, have a fantastic week! Bye!

PS I also learned today that Mike can sight sing. Who knew?

Snow College!

Oh my goodness. College is probably the best idea ever. Whoever thought of having a school where you only study one subject all the time was a genius. It’s so much better than doing everything. 

So basically, this week has consisted of I went to college last sunday and did nothing because there was nothing to do. Then on Monday, we had a orientation thingy for freshmen, so I got to take a tour of the WHOLE ENTIRE campus. So, about five buildings. It’s pretty small. But that was nice. And some “motivational” speaker came and talked to everyone about dating and relationships. So that was nice I guess. Then on Tuesday, we had more of the same, but it was shorter. I also found out on Tuesday that I was supposed to have a song prepared on the Trumpet for an audition on Thursday. So I got to start working on that. Haha. Also on Tuesday after all the orientation stuff, Adam and Mike got here! I was so happy because I was getting really bored and my other room mates are weird. So I sat around in the flat while they got registered. 

Then on Wednesday was the first actual day of school. So we went to our classes. Mike and I had one at 7 in the morning. I think it was the first day since I got home that I woke up before 6:30. Anyways, that was fun. Then we had all of our other music classes, and by the end of Thursday, my lips were perma-chapped. It’s super annoying, but it’s way nice because I get to play my trumpet for hours every day! I think I’m already a little bit better than I was before the mission and I’m loving it. 

My jazz audition didn’t go to well. The professor didn’t look too impressed. Oh well. 

Also, Adam spoke in church today for his real homecoming! It was so good. He talked about the Atonement in his mission. Then someone else spoke in his ward about a lot of things. I thought it was really interesting because he talked about Alma and the Zoramites and how they were all members. So instead of looking at it with a perspective of teaching non-members you can look at it as less-active work, and personal study. So that was interesting. 

Anyways, have a nice week, bye!

Hey, so, this has probably been the best week since I got home. No kidding. I don’t even know why. I just feel so good all the time and it’s great. I went on a double date with Mike and we saw Avengers 2 and it was pretty cool. Anyways, it was real good. And aside from that, I’ve just been working a lot and that’s been fun. And that’s pretty much it. 

In other news, I am going to college next week. And it’s going to be epic! I got a phone call from my new trumpet teacher this week and I just remembered I still need to get the book he told me to get. But he’s really nice and I looked at some of the fees and things and it looks like it’s going to be a pretty fun year. 

Also, I got a phone call from someone in the stake asking me to speak with a high councilor in another ward next week because apparently they like to do that with returned missionaries now days, so that’s going to be fun. He asked me to speak on Discipleship and I’m actually way way excited. While I was listening to the voice mail telling me about it I was thinking, yes! I know a talk about that, and YeS! I know a scripture about that! So it will be pretty good. Anyways, that’s about it for this week, Bye!

It's Been A While

Ok I'm sorry, it's been for ever. I went on a holiday to Nauvoo and Palmyra and I kinda forgot/couldn't write anything over those two weeks and then I just sort of forgot this last week because I haven't been doing anything. But life is going good.

Nauvoo was amazing. The rest were cool too, but we spent four days in Illinois looking at everything.  The best part was, they had two pageants, including the British Pageant. I really liked them both. And it was pretty fun because they had some characters that were in both of them. The only thing that was sad was that a lot of the accents in the British one were fake. Like really fake. I have never heard so many different pronunciations of Lancashire. I was cracking up. But it was great. I miss England a lot.

Anyways, since then, I've just kinda been at home, being bored, working, being bored again. I did get to have a good jam session with my friend Mike though. That was so nice. We put a video on Facebook, but I don't think I can put it on here. It was a lot of fun though. Also, I got a new macbook for school and it's pretty nice. They give you a student discount and they gave me a free pair of beats headphones with it, so I am very happy.

Anyways, be good, read the scriptures, avoid burnt cabbage, don't let the bedbugs bite! Bye!

I'm Home!

Hello. Because of a certain request that I have received to not make people trunky, I will just complain to you about all the things that are bad about going home. So… On Wednesday, I woke up, and the wonderful missionary I was on exchange with assumed that I wasn't going to want to work that morning (which was pretty much right but I was going to go out anyways) and he decided to remind me that I hadn't been released yet. And then we didn't even end up going anywhere anyways because a member came to pick us up super early and take us to five guys. 

Then I went to transfer meeting and someone put a missionary with less than zero music points to make a musical number so I got to play the spirit of god while four or five Elders tried to sing along an octave too low because they also had negative music points. 

Then we stayed up all night and I won't tell you what I was doing because it was actually fun, but then we got on a plane in the morning and went to Atlanta and it took a long time. I think about seven hours. Then we got food (I won't say what restaurant we went to because you would be jealous). Then we took another super long flight. Then we went home. And I got released and finally after 48 hours of no sleep, I finally got to bed. I guess one positive thing I can say is I didn't have jet lag. I was just really tired when I got to sleep at normal utah time to sleep. 

Anyways, it wasn't really all that bad, I had a lot of fun. I am really sad to be home actually, I wish I was in England. Especially because in Utah right now it's around 33 degrees outside and in England it's closer to twenty. It's too flippin' HOT! 

Ok, have a nice week, bye!

Going to the temple in England one last time and saying goodbye to England…

Ok. So, I'm going home in a couple of days. So if you want to email me my email is going to be ryan28561@gmail.com 

So anyways, this week was nice. We went to the temple with President Ulrich and that was wonderful. President taught us all sorts of stuff about the symbolism so that was good. Then I've mostly just said goodbye to everyone. And because there's a missionary going home from Middleton, I have been on tons of exchanges to Middleton so I get to say goodbye to lots of my friends! And I saw a few of my favourite members on Sunday and stuff so that was good. 

I'm pretty sad to be leaving England. I like it here. And I don't really get to come back for a while. But it's ok. At least I have facebook and skype and stuff so I won't really be that far away. 

D&C 76:22

 1 John 1:13-14

-- 

Elder Ferguson

I don't get an iPad, but I get to come home. Fair trade.

June 15, 2015

Oooh, the date is a chiasm.

Anyways, this week, we had a full-mission conference so they could tell us all the rules about iPads. I don't know if I mentioned this yet, but I don't get an iPad because I'm going home. That's ok, I think it's a fair trade. Haha. So I just got to listen to all of the things I can rebuke my companion for the next week, so that was fun.

In other news, we found a new investigator last Sunday, I can't remember if I mentioned that, but we taught him three or four times this week and he came to church and at first I thought that one of the other companionships had gotten emergency transferred because he looked like a missionary, so that's pretty good. He's praying about getting baptized on the 27th.

We had a fireside last night in Manchester. I went and played the piano. I did a musical number and we played homeward bound (because it's a nice song, not just because it was me and Elder V and we're both going home). I think the first time I ever tried to play it was about an hour before the fireside started and I had no musicnd we made at least one person cry, so I was pretty happy with that.

I'll tell you what's happening next week since I will probably not email for very long. On Wednesday I am going to the temple with President Ulrich and the rest of the missionaries going home. Then on Monday I'm having lunch with my favorite member (I think) and going to the mission home in Manchester for my departing interview with President Ulrich. And then I'm pretty much just going home, so that will be nice. I'm just telling you in advance because I might not have long to email before I leave for all of my stuff next week.

Bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

The Longest Week Ever….

Longest week ever...

Not really, but it was pretty long. Because pretty much nothing happened, and then my companion got sick. So we got to sit around all day. And I made a new discovery about myself. I hate sitting down, and lying down. I only like walking. I was pacing in our flat pretty much all day, and opening all the windows so we could get lots of fresh air blowing through, and killing flies because the windows were open, and pacing, and watching Mormon messages on my companion's iPad, and pacing.

So anyways, I will tell you about our wonderful amazing day yesterday, which was pretty much the only day that anything happened this week. We had a multi-stake conference, even though we had another stake conference like a month ago, but this one was special because it was broadcasted from Scotland. And Elder Holland was there, so that was nice.

Anyways, Elder Holland talked about the Book of Mormon. I think he has a pretty powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon.  It was epic. The first speaker was a Scottish seventy. Then we had a Swedish lady. Then it was a Scottish Stake President. Then we had a sister who was about to serve a mission. Then we had Elder Texiera and his wife (I don't know how to spell their names). Then we had Elder Holland. And ALL of the talks were good. It was way nice. I would tell you about them, but you have to be a member in the UK or Ireland or some Nordic countries that I can't remember. But it was great. I have to be careful how many sarcastic understatements I make or people are going to think I'm serious.  Also, I don't really think I could retell any of their talks anywhere near the way they told them. That's the main reason I won't really explain it.

Also, when we were waiting for the bus to go to church, a young man sat down next to me and asked how he can become a missionary. I told him he has to join our church first. So he asked how he can do that. So we're seeing him tonight. I'm pretty excited. 

-- 

Elder Ferguson

Short, but not forgotten :)

Hi sorry I didn't email yesterday my email was broken but I'm emailing now. Yesterday I went to the lake district with my favorite member ever. I will send pictures next week when I have time. We rode in a car for two hours straight going up there. It was crazy. 

Ok, anyways, I don't have very much time to email because it's lunch time right now and I haven't eaten and I have to finish soon, but I'll write a nice email next week. 2 Nephi 32:11-12

-- 

Elder Ferguson

God is Hastening His own work

I can't remember what week it is. I might have already told you some of the same stuff, but that might have just been this week. We had our interviews with President Ulrich this week. It was pretty good. I don't really know for sure what I should even say about that. He told me I'm a good missionary and don't be trunky. That's pretty much it.

So two weeks ago, I didn't tell you, but, a lady just kinda walked into the church and asked for me (because some missionaries had told her I was there). So a member from another ward came in during sacrament meeting and told me there was someone there looking for me so I came and sat next to her. So that was nice. But, the reason she came was because she has been less-active for about five years, ever since she was baptized, and she suddenly decided to start living the word of wisdom and come to church. So she moved to some sort of a rehab place and she's been there for two months and then she came to church. So we have started meeting with her, and she's doing way good. She has totally turned her life around and now she's active and she just gave a talk about her change in church on Sunday. It's great.

And then another person who I used to see but haven't seen for a month or two because she had kinda given up on herself and stopped answering the phone, showed up to church. And now she's living the word of wisdom, or at least trying, and she's coming to church and it's so good to see her there again too. There are so many people coming back and there's nothing I've even done. I think it just goes to show that God is Hastening His own work. I hope that we can all keep up the pace.

And again, I have nothing to say about Articles of Faith 1:5

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

-- 

Elder Ferguson

New Companion, Resolving Concerns, & More Church Meetings

So anyways, we haven't really done anything that exciting this week. But, we did find out that my companion's name means crazy cow in Portuguese. That was funny. Because his name is V…, which is cow girl in Spanish, but it's even funnier in Portuguese.

We have one investigator that's kinda come pretty close to getting baptized, but now they're just stuck because her step father is a member of another faith, which I will not name because I'm about to... not show very much respect to it. Basically, her parents will have problems with her if she joins the church, they already did when her husband got baptized. So she probably would have gotten baptized a long time ago if it wasn't for them, but hopefully if we just keep working with her, she will eventually realize that she can just do it anyways. The funny thing is, she actually told us that she knows that if she joins our church, she will get an even bigger family, so hopefully it will not be too long. I will probably still Skype that family when I get home. Just to make sure she eventually gets baptized.

Anyways, ward council was really fun. Our ward mission leader forgot it was happening, so me and my companion (the other two missionaries in our ward thought it started an hour later so they weren't there either) got to have pretty much an interview with the high councilor over missionary work and the stake president. So that was nice. We talked to them about all the stuff that was going on in the ward and they asked us about how the ward can be more involved in missionary work and how they can get involved and stuff. And then, magically, we had a surprise coordination meeting on Saturday. So that was good. And on Sunday, the stake president spoke about calling on the powers of heaven and so did his councilor for the priesthood lesson. It was great. They were quoting Preach My Gospel and everything.

Articles of Faith 1:6

 6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors,teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

Bye!

PS. Was that long enough for you Abbie?

-- 

Elder Ferguson

Rochdale

Well, this week was nice. I am in Rochdale for the rest of my mission now. I have been here five months and I will be here almost seven altogether. This is also my fourth companion in Rochdale. Haha, it seems like I have been here forever. I know the name of every member in the ward, and they all know me, because I have been here forever.

Anyways, I like my companion. He is good. I forgot to take a picture of him though. Next week.

I can't think of anything to say. We blew bubbles outside of our investigators house for five minutes because they told us specifically to come at 7:45 and we got there at 7:40. It was pretty funny. 

Also, I don't really have anything to say about the gift of tongues. Or prophecy or revelation or anything like that. I don't know, except for my companion has it. It's super funny. When he meets Spanish people now, he can't speak Spanish to them any more because he only speaks English most of the time. haha. He said that he was praying for the gift of tongues when to speak Spanish when he talked to some Spanish people. Bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

Meeting w/ Elder Dyches & Elder Allan, Stake Leaders & Mission President - iPads are coming….

Well. Tomorrow is the beginning of the end. It's my last transfer. It will be an extra long one. So that's not too bad. So here are some of the things that happened this week. We had a full-mission conference. And stake conference. So we got to have a meeting on Saturday with Elder Dyches from the First Quorum of the Seventy and Elder Allan who is the managing director of the missionary department of the church because we're getting iPads, eventually. Hopefully this month. And then we went straight from that to the Saturday session of Stake Conference. And then on Sunday, we got to hear from our Stake President, and President Ulrich, and the Chorley Temple President. It was great. And then at the end of Stake Conference, I got to go see all of my old friends from Middleton and probably my favourite member in the UK. So it was good.

A ghost walked into a bar and the barman said sorry, we don't serve spirits.

I'm getting a new companion, he's from Spain and his name is Elder V.

Ok, now I will tell you some deep doctrine because I think it's pretty interesting and it has a lot to do with iPads, even though they didn't really directly mention this this week. So when we go to Missouri right before the second coming, we're not going to all go at once. It's probably not going to be announced in General Conference. The problem is, even in the church, we still have some foolish virgins. Some people simple cannot live the Law of Consecration and we can't establish a Zion society without a Zion people. And that means there is going to have to be some sifting. And my personal opinion is that that is why the Lord is Hastening His Work. Because He is calling everyone to Zion and that means that He wants His saints perfected. So we're getting iPads. The reason that they are giving us iPads, and Elder Allan told us this, is because they want to teach us safe habits and practices with technology so that we will have a more 'sin-resistant' generation. The Hastening of the Work is in preparation for the Second Coming because we need more pure-in-heart saints. So yup.

By the way, the Book of Mormon is true, and so is the Bible as far as it is translated correctly. (A of F 1:8) I don't really have anything else to say about that. Bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

Political Ambitions ;) / Caution About Enduring To The End…

This week has been good. It was really long. I actually don't remember very much of it. We saw those Portuguese people. It was good. They look promising, but we know at least the wife and maybe the husband work on Sunday... Bleh. I think the Government should just put a massive tax on all buying and selling on Sunday. I think that would solve a lot of the world's problems. Maybe I should run for Prime Minister. I could probably do it. I just can't tell anyone my secret plan because no one would like that but the Mormons...

So this week, we found a less-active couple.  So that was weird. But anyways, they are both very old, but they are very healthy and capable of getting around. And they have a car. And the husband used to be a leader in the church, but they got offended I don't know how many years ago, but it sounds like about tenish. I don't think they even remember why they were offended. They just remember that when they came to church for a relative's baptism, some of their old friends didn't talk to them, so they decided if no one wanted them there they wouldn't bother. And now they don't read their scriptures, and they don't pray. But the worst part is, they don't care. We asked them to pray every day and they laughed. They said that it would take 'a lot of effort' but they would try. It was super sad. They were so nice, but they were so clueless. Don't let that happen to you. Don't give up your testimony or your covenants just because church isn't what you always expect it to be. Just keep going, don't stop praying, don't stop reading your scriptures, it is important. It's way important. I don't really know what else to say about that.

Anyways, this week I finished the Book of Mormon so now I'm on to Doctrine and Covenants. It's way more boring than the Book of Mormon. At least for the first little bit. There are a lot of repetitions right at the beginning. I know that means it's important. But anyways, what I have been loving is that Joseph Smith is a Revelator! He is the head of this dispensation and he has revealed so many doctrines and covenants pertaining to our salvation. He received revelation just like all of the Prophets before and I believe the Doctrine and Covenants just as much as I believe the Book of Mormon. And I believe the things that our Prophets are still revealing, and I believe that there are still many things that are yet to be revealed that we need to know about. So don't go less-active. You need to be sustained by continuing revelation!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

Two Unique Appointments

Well, this week was nice. We had our first proper Portuguese lesson. It was funny. I kinda got what they were saying, because I know some Spanish, but not really, but the best part is, the man we taught was a preacher or something like that in another church. Then later that day, we were walking in the area and we stopped a lady and Elder N set up an appointment with her in Portuguese, and she told him her address, and I just heard the number of her house (they all live on one massive neighborhood of flats so they are just numbered from one to about three hundred or something) and I thought, oh, she lives close to our other investigator. Then Elder N told me what her exact address was, and it was the same. We met our investigator's wife. So now we have an appointment with her on Wednesday and an appointment with her husband on Saturday.

Ok, so anyways, guess what I've been reading about? The second coming! Because I just finished Mormon and it's full of prophecies about the last days. Here are some of my favorite things about it. Mormon says that in the last days, Israel will be gathered. And the Book of Mormon is a huge part of that. That prophecy is being fulfilled as we read it! Look at 3 Nephi 29:1-2:

1 And now behold, I say unto you that when the Lord shall see fit, in his wisdom, that these sayings shall come untothe Gentiles according to his word, then ye may know that the covenant which the Father hath made with thechildren of Israel, concerning their restoration to the lands of their inheritance, is already beginning to be fulfilled.

2 And ye may know that the words of the Lord, which have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled;and ye need not say that the Lord delays his coming unto the children of Israel.

When we preach the Gospel and when we share the Book of Mormon, we are gathering Israel. And someday not too far away, we are going to gather to Zion literally as well as Spiritually.

Ok, bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

The New Companion / The Book of Mormon lessons /Be nice to everyone!

Well, this week has been good. So Elder N is from Brazil. We have two Brazilian Elders in the ward now because there are a lot of Portuguese people in Rochdale. We already found two this week, so that will be good. I get to sit down and listen to him teach for half an hour or so, and then smile and say yeah and then we can leave.

Peter and Rebecca are doing good. I think she will get baptized before I go home. Hopefully.

This week, I have changed my boredom habit from snacking to reading the Book of Mormon. Because I forgot to buy snacks last week. So I have read about half the Book of Alma in about five days. I'm in Alma 40. And it's so good. There are two things that I want to point out. Actually, there are like ten, but I don't have time. "Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence." It says that about fifty times in the Book of Mormon. Not really, but it's close. It was a promise given to Nephi and his descendants and it is quoted over and over again. And we all know when something is repeated, it's important. So keep the commandments, so you won't be cut off.

Also, when the system of judges was set up, there was an important law given, and it's mentioned every time an anti-Christ or an apostate group comes up. And that law is a law of religious freedom. God wants us to choose who we will serve, and it is a God-given privilege to worship who, where or what we may. We should never view people as any less that any other simply because of their beliefs. We are all on equal ground and Heavenly Father doesn't love Mormons any more than he does Muslims. So just be nice to every one. We don't need to persecute the non-believers, we need to convert them.

-- 

Elder Ferguson

April General Conference & New Companion, Elder N. /Staying in Rochdale

Ok, well, I have no clue how long I'm really going to be on because I wasn't even going to get a computer today and now I'm on one. I really don't want to say anything about this week because obviously, General Conference will take plenty of room. 

I loved conference! It was so fun, and there are tons of things that I could write about  but, there are a few main things I just want to point out. Probably my favorite talk out of the whole conference that I heard was by a seventy whose name I forgot.

 

Elder Anderson April 2015 LDS General Conference (Sat afternoon session)

He told the story about the indian and the drums. He said that you can learn to dance, but it won't do you any good until you can hear the music. Listen to the music, it's so good. I've met people who are dancing but they can't hear it and they always inevitably either make the choice to listen until they hear, or they just stop dancing. Don't do the last one. It won't make you happy. That's what I've been working on this week, making sure that I am listening to the music loud enough that I don't feel awkward dancing. 

I probably better end this now before I get pulled away by someone, but listen to the prophets! And don't just listen to them, be honorable, keep all of your commitments. If you want to claim membership with the church of Christ, you need to keep the Laws of Christ's Church. If you want to claim citizenship, keep the laws of the land. If you want to be a missionary, keep the rules of the mission. 

I'm getting a new companion named Elder N, and I'm staying in Rochdale. Have a nice week, bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

Having an Open Mind

Well, this week has been about the same, but it's been good. Our investigator came to church again! That's two weeks in a row! Yay! I'm really hoping that I get to stay this transfer, because otherwise she might not get baptized. People should not rely on the missionaries for their testimonies, but it's better than not even trying for one, so we'll work with her on that, but she does not want us to whitewash. (That means both missionaries get transferred out of the area and no new ones come in.) It already happened once and she wouldn't even let the missionaries in to see her husband...

Anyways, Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever thingsare lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Mormons are the best religion in the world, because we follow this scripture. If we didn't always seek for the best things, we would be no more than any other run-of-the mill Christian that doesn't believe in the Book of Mormon, because all things that are good are from God. Joseph Smith said that Truth is Mormonism. We will believe in anything that is true. If science proves it, we will believe it. If science claims to prove it, we will believe it unless we have something more authoritative that tells us otherwise, like the Holy Ghost.

So if someone tells you something that seems crazy, but it doesn't contradict what we know to be true already, don't shoot them down, think on it. See if it isn't true, because there are many good and noble things that can help us to reach heavenward that haven't been revealed through the Prophets simply because they aren't vital to our salvation, but we can learn lessons from every facet of our lives.

Anyways, that's it for this week, bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

The best chapter in all of scripturedom!

Well. This week was... nice. We have pretty much just visited Peter and Rebecca (I think that's what I called her) a ton.  

In other news, I have learned how to solve a Rubik's cube, because my companion has one, and it sucked my brain in until he finally showed me how. It was bad, but I can do it now. So supposedly, I can do pretty much anything now.

There isn't really a lot to say about this week. It was pretty boring. I have been having good studies. A week or two ago one of the missionaries told us that President Ulrich asked us all to read the Book of Mormon from beginning to end a couple of months ago. I didn't hear anything about that. So I started reading it, and wow, the scriptures make so much sense when you are a missionary and not a fifteen-year-old. The Book of Mormon is pretty much the only thing that I have looked forward to this week. I just think, 'in fifteen hours I can have personal study, yes!' and stuff. Today I read 2 Nephi 4. I think that that may be the best chapter in all of scripturedom. It's definitely up there anyways.

Next week I am going to write about something, but somebody better respond to this email and ask me what or I will probably forget. Bye!
-- 

Elder Ferguson

Progressing

Hello all of you!, This week,  I have a story and a new doctrinal sermon. Surprise!!, 

So this one day, we're doing the same things we always do, hoping for different results,  as usual,  and we knocked on Jill's door,  and guess who answered? Jack! Jack who has been hiding from us for like a month! And he was like,  "Hiya mate, how are you?" And I was like,  "Hiya Jack, where on earth have you been?" But I already knew where he had been. Or rather,  I could smell where he had been... But he is turning around again,  and he wants to be active and live the commandments again,  so that was good.

Then we went to a couple's house. I need new names. Peter is a recent convert and Rebecca is not a member. We have been seeing them pretty much the whole time I've been here and they really like us coming over. Rebecca always tells us that she isn't interested in the church because she's smokes and drinks tea. But she listens to every lesson and she loves having us over and she posts Book of Mormon scriptures to another member that she's friends with that she looks up herself, so she pretty much is ready. So one day when Rebecca was in the other room,  we asked Peter what we needed to do to get her to live the Word of Wisdom and he says,  "Oh, well, yesterday I found an electric cigarette and some nicotine patches and she said they were hers. She just doesn't want to tell anyone she's trying to quit because she doesn't want you to be disappointed if she doesn't actually quit." So that was nice. We're bringing her to church now. She mentioned going to church and now we're going to bring it up every time we come over... :), Phew,  this email is already really long. I can't actually remember what I was going to say. But it had something to do with 1 John 4 and 5. 

Have a nice day. 

Bye! 

Elder Ferguson

I love the temple

Wow, I thought I was doing really good on time until I realized that I hadn't actually written this email yet. Just be glad Elder M handed me my camera back or I might have forgotten and you couldn't have had this beautiful letter I am about to make up.

Well, this week, we went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead! That was super fun. Except for the part where we had to leave at the end. We had a proper production line thing going too. There was one couple (from Wrexham!) that were temple workers and everyone else was a missionary. We baptized, we recorded, we witnessed, we confirmed, we did everything. It was so much fun. Before we started, we all waited in the chapel to be given instructions and I got to play prelude music on the piano, but anyways, yeah, it was great doing baptisms. When I look at those cards, I see people. Not literally, but I know that those cards represent souls who are being given a chance for redemption. It's amazing.

Aside from that, this week was really boring. We went finding everywhere, and we found no one, but, we did get some less-actives to church, and we have established a good relationship with a member and his non-member wife. We are going to get her baptized before I go home. That is my goal. Don't tell her though. She still thinks she's a Baptist.

What I have learned this week, is that the Book of Mormon is full of stories with important precepts in them. You can get a message out of any story in the Book of Mormon, it wouldn't be there if you couldn't. So read it. The end. Somebody ask me some questions. I feel like all of my emails are getting really boring cause I have nothing to talk about.

-- 

Elder Ferguson

A Fireside

Oh. I forgot. I guess I should write the weekly email stuff. Well, this week we just said goodbye to everyone, because my companion got transferred, and then we said hello to everyone with my new companion. Boring... There is an investigator lady who's married to a member and she gives all of the missionaries nicknames so she can remember our names. I got two. So my nickname is Harry Potter aka Minion. So anyways, I drew a picture in Elder Hillam's book and then I was so proud of it I took a picture.

Anyways, there isn't a whole lot that happened this week. My companion is ok. I guess. We had a fireside that we were going to go to in Manchester. I guess I'll just talk about that. We were going to go with our golden less-active, but she wasn't feeling good because of a long story, so she cancelled half an hour before we were about to leave, and we're not allowed to go unless we have someone it's going to help. So we texted that part member couple I was talking about and they said they would come! Which was great because the non-member doesn't usually come to stuff like that, and also they had asked me to play the piano for some musical number thing, so we went.

The fireside is supposed to be like a testimony meeting, only with just recent converts and investigators talking about their conversion. It used to be really good, but this time, everyone took about twenty minutes or more. They were all just going up there and talking about whatever came to their minds. It started at 7:00 and it ended at 9:30, and President Ulrich, who normally talks, didn't even talk because he just wanted to end it. It was pretty disappointing. The musical number was fine. I did marvelous as usual.

Anyways, have a nice week, bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson

Transfer call-Staying, & Missionary story

We got Transfer Calls!! I'm staying in Rochdale and I'm getting a new companion named Elder M! He is going home, I think this transfer. And then, I will probably go to a new area and have my last companion.  We are going to be one of the oldest companionships in the mission.

This week, we went to teach a less-active lady we only just recently met, and as we started talking to her, she interrupted us and asked if we could find her a ride to church on Sunday, so we did, and she came. She has not come to church in years and we hardly did anything to bring her back. We just knocked on her door one day and she told us that she wanted her faith back. It was great.

 

Elder Ferguson

FEB 16, 2015 Pictures!/ Keeping Focused/ YSA/ 2 New Investigators

Well, this week was good. Have you ever seen The Best Two Years? It's a funny movie about missionaries and one missionary gets a bunch of letters from home and he's reading them and he says, 'This is Trunking me out of my mind!!' It's pretty funny. That was my Tuesday/Wednesday, not because of letters though. It was because we had a tea appointment with a YSA aged member and pretty much all she talks about during our tea appointments is movies, and they're usually movies that I haven't seen yet, but I will be seeing in approximately five months. So that was nice, but then on Wednesday, we had a meeting in Chorley. Which was great.  We got to see Meet the Mormons because it's coming to England! Be jealous, all of you other foreign missionaries. The only thing is, guess what month it's coming to England? June. 

(He comes home June 25th)

Yeah. And then we had a series of activities in groups and the whole time I was thinking, 'wow, this must be what institute/YSA is like...' So yeah, but don't worry, I got refocused and now I'm fine. Plus, we had some great missionary work which I'm going to tell you about via ctrl+C, Ctrl+V. =D

 

 On Thursday in the hour before weekly planning, we went out and tried by some people who weren't in and street contacted on the way. The last five minutes before we got back to the flat, we found two new investigators in a row. One of them, we've already seen him again. He is amazing, he doesn't really look like the type of person who would be interested in the gospel, but he said that he always talks to Jehovah's Witnesses when they stop him and he's really interested in religion and finding out about the purpose in life and in changing his life around. We met him again at the library on Saturday and he told us that he really wants to get forgiveness and he's really excited to learn about what we're teaching him.

We also have another investigator that we actually met last week, but we didn't get a chance to see her until Saturday. She is Catholic, but she isn't practicing and she was interested to learn about what we believe. She is also looking to find the truth and she told us that she has already studied some other religions, including Buddhism. When we came to our appointment, she invited us right in and we taught her the restoration. Our recent convert, (Jill) was there and she bore a great testimony, and she told her that she used to be a Catholic when she was younger, which we didn't even know. (Jill) knew just what to say to help, and it was amazing.

Have a nice week, bye!

-- 

Elder Ferguson