Hello all.
This week has been really crazy. One of my companions went home this week in a crazy turn of events. It would take more time than I have now to explain the whole story. But he served an honorable mission and returned home honorably and we will miss Elder Casper. Now it's just myself and Elder Mills running the show. We we're the wild ones in our tri-panionship so things are really going to get out of control now I'm sure.
We had a very sacred experience last week. Elder Mills and I administered to a young daughter of a couple who has not been active in the church for a while. We were later told that shortly after we left, the girl's condition improved drastically and rapidly and the doctor attending to her case said it was the only one he'd seen recover in six cases over the last 24 years. What a miracle. Truly, the "'tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Ne. 1:20)
Now, for something extremely hilarious.
Elder Mills and I were in the elevator lobby of a hospital waiting in some chairs. As we sat patiently, I rubbed my eyes and Elder Mills caught attention of a small eyelash that had fallen to rest on my cheek. He leaned in and said "let me get that elder." With his index finger on my cheek and his face scarcely two inches from mine, the elevator doors opened without warning and two women walked off. It wasn't what it looked like, but it was still very bad and Elder Mills and I immediately popped up and started walking opposite ways down the hall. So embarrassing...
Next, we're eating dinner at this Japanese buffet and the member that took us and Elder Mills are just GOING TO TOWN on some crab legs. One problem, there were no crab leg crackers available!!! Crab juice was flying everywhere and silverware was getting bent and teeth were munching through these legs! By the time it was over, the member's beard was completely saturated in crab guts and Elder Mills decided it was time to have dessert. Not one minute after leaving to get some ice cream, he returns with two crab leg smashers that he found with a look of utter disdain on his face. He proceeded to try and eat his ice cream with one out of spite...
Here's a spiritual thought (I know! I'm going all out in this email! It's been a while... consider it my birthday gift to everyone!)
“We must share the gospel with others. That is our responsibility—every member a missionary. That is the call of prophets of God. …
“… Member-missionary work is one of the great keys to the individual growth of our members. It is my conviction that member-missionary work will raise the spirituality in any ward where applied” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 208–9).
If you're looking for immense spiritual growth (and I hope you all are) study from Preach My Gospel regularly (it's not just for missionaries) and figure out how to get involved more in missionary work!!! It's the very essence of living the gospel! I'm inviting you now to especially study chapter 5 out of Preach My Gospel and ponder this week about how you can better use the Book of Mormon in your life. I hope there is no question about the necessity of the Book of Mormon. It is THE tool of the Restoration (3 Ne. 21:6). I know it will draw anyone who reads it with a sincere heart closer to God and Jesus Christ.
Have a great week! Love y'all! Miss ya!
Love
Elder Grabinger
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Only 4 Months Left
Dear Family and Friends,
I just don't really even know what to say anymore... The mission is just a magical experience. I'm so grateful for all of the opportunities I've had to serve others, overcome adversity, teach the gospel, etc. This has been the best experience of my life so far and I have 4 months left!
Things are going alright. We drive all over the kingdom to represent the mission president at baptismal services and training meetings for the missionaries. It's a lot of fun. I'm using my organizational skills to get our own area in order as far as paperwork goes. I've got some killer companions so it's really easy to work hard and have fun too.
The CES Devotional by Elder Nelson was wonderful last night. He asked some very pointed questions and made some even more pointed statements. It was inspiring. I love that he, as far as I can remember, always mentions the Abrahamic Covenant and the Gathering of Israel. That is such a penetrating doctrine and the Book of Mormon has a TON to say on the subject (3 Nephi 21:6 is a good start). It means a lot to me.
I miss that giant buffalo...
Love
Elder Grabinger
I just don't really even know what to say anymore... The mission is just a magical experience. I'm so grateful for all of the opportunities I've had to serve others, overcome adversity, teach the gospel, etc. This has been the best experience of my life so far and I have 4 months left!
Things are going alright. We drive all over the kingdom to represent the mission president at baptismal services and training meetings for the missionaries. It's a lot of fun. I'm using my organizational skills to get our own area in order as far as paperwork goes. I've got some killer companions so it's really easy to work hard and have fun too.
The CES Devotional by Elder Nelson was wonderful last night. He asked some very pointed questions and made some even more pointed statements. It was inspiring. I love that he, as far as I can remember, always mentions the Abrahamic Covenant and the Gathering of Israel. That is such a penetrating doctrine and the Book of Mormon has a TON to say on the subject (3 Nephi 21:6 is a good start). It means a lot to me.
I miss that giant buffalo...
Love
Elder Grabinger
A New Call
Dear Friends,
Yes. The rumors are true. I have been called to serve as an AP (Assistant to the [Mission] President) and that is why I haven't gotten to write my family like I would like to the past couple of weeks. Sorry.
Things are going well. We just run around all day like chickens with our heads cut off doing whatever President needs done and teaching people the gospel. We had a couple of great lessons recently actually. We met with a man named Kyle whose father was recently baptized. He didn't know much about the church and had some doubts/concerns about religion in general. He was just really skeptical, not so much unbelieving. Elder Mills and I taught him about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how the fullness of the gospel is contained therein and that we didn't have to be in darkness and confusion if we would read and pray. Then we did something bold; we asked him to tell us one of his concerns and we promised that the Book of Mormon would have his answer. It did.
The Book of Mormon really is THE tool of the Restoration. The Book of Mormon combined with the Spirit is our best resource for conversion.
Other than that we're really busy planning and preparing for zone meetings and zone conferences and exchanges and Spanish conference and holy cow we just have so much to do............ It's exhausting.
I've reflected a lot lately on the role of missionary work in the gospel. Think about what we do in the church... it's ALL MISSIONARY WORK!!! If you are not actively engaged in missionary work you are not going to receive the spiritual sustenance that you need to grow. Now, if you don't see that, I will challenge you to expand your view of what missionary work is (it's not simply teaching and baptizing people that are not members of the church). My hope is that all of you have a copy of Preach My Gospel and study it regularly along with the scriptures. It is the best guide to keeping the Spirit and we need that in all areas of the church. It will help you in any capacity you serve in the church. Guaranteed.
Or your money back...
I love you all!!!! Have a great week.
Elder Grabinger
Yes. The rumors are true. I have been called to serve as an AP (Assistant to the [Mission] President) and that is why I haven't gotten to write my family like I would like to the past couple of weeks. Sorry.
Things are going well. We just run around all day like chickens with our heads cut off doing whatever President needs done and teaching people the gospel. We had a couple of great lessons recently actually. We met with a man named Kyle whose father was recently baptized. He didn't know much about the church and had some doubts/concerns about religion in general. He was just really skeptical, not so much unbelieving. Elder Mills and I taught him about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how the fullness of the gospel is contained therein and that we didn't have to be in darkness and confusion if we would read and pray. Then we did something bold; we asked him to tell us one of his concerns and we promised that the Book of Mormon would have his answer. It did.
The Book of Mormon really is THE tool of the Restoration. The Book of Mormon combined with the Spirit is our best resource for conversion.
Other than that we're really busy planning and preparing for zone meetings and zone conferences and exchanges and Spanish conference and holy cow we just have so much to do............ It's exhausting.
I've reflected a lot lately on the role of missionary work in the gospel. Think about what we do in the church... it's ALL MISSIONARY WORK!!! If you are not actively engaged in missionary work you are not going to receive the spiritual sustenance that you need to grow. Now, if you don't see that, I will challenge you to expand your view of what missionary work is (it's not simply teaching and baptizing people that are not members of the church). My hope is that all of you have a copy of Preach My Gospel and study it regularly along with the scriptures. It is the best guide to keeping the Spirit and we need that in all areas of the church. It will help you in any capacity you serve in the church. Guaranteed.
Or your money back...
I love you all!!!! Have a great week.
Elder Grabinger
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Neat Stuff
Dear Family and Friends,
I was at a really frustratingly slow computer earlier this morning in Downtown Chattanooga. We left and just went to the aquarium... PICS LATER!!!
This week, I want to take the opportunity to unveil my recently updated mormon.org profile where I answer some of today's hottest doctrinal questions rather extensively. Check it out here:
http://mormon.org/me/84S8
Okay, some I've come across some neat stuff this week. One thing that has often been confusing on the mission is the claim from members of varied faiths and backgrounds to receive manifestations of the Holy Spirit in their regular worship. I've felt somewhat apprehensive about saying "No. That's not the Spirit, bro." But I was studying D&C 50 recently and was reminded that so many of the early church members came from differing Christian denominations and (like the Jewish and Greek proselytes to ancient Christianity) kept a hold of some of their previous traditions and beliefs. Seeking revelation on the matter (because a lot of these manifestations were getting out of control [seriously, like posessions and babblings and real crazy stuff were going down]), Joseph Smith recorded section 50.
Then I found the following quotes from Joseph Smith:
“One great evil is, that men are ignorant of the nature of spirits; their power, laws, government, intelligence, etc., and imagine that when there is anything like power, revelation, or vision manifested, that it must be of God. …"
and...
“Others frequently possess a spirit that will cause them to lie down, and during its operation, animation is frequently entirely suspended; they consider it to be the power of God, and a glorious manifestation from God—a manifestation of what? Is there any intelligence communicated? Are the curtains of heaven withdrawn, or the purposes of God developed? Have they seen and conversed with an angel—or have the glories of futurity burst upon their view? No! but their body has been inanimate, the operation of their spirit suspended, and all the intelligence that can be obtained from them when they arise, is a shout of ‘glory,’ or ‘hallelujah,’ or some incoherent expression; but they have had ‘the power.’
“The Shaker will whirl around on his heel, impelled by a supernatural agency or spirit, and think that he is governed by the Spirit of God; and the Jumper will jump and enter into all kinds of extravagances. A Primitive Methodist will shout under the influence of that spirit, until he will rend the heavens with his cries; while the Quakers (or Friends) moved as they think, by the Spirit of God, will sit still and say nothing. Is God the author of all this? If not of all of it, which does He recognize? Surely, such a heterogeneous mass of confusion never can enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Teachings, pp. 203–4.)
Problem resolved. Pretty insightful, huh? Now, I think it would be foolish to say that the Holy Spirit is never manifest outside of the Church (and I could be wrong), but I'm certain it's much more rare than we might think...
Okay, well have a great week!!!
Love
Elder Grabinger
I was at a really frustratingly slow computer earlier this morning in Downtown Chattanooga. We left and just went to the aquarium... PICS LATER!!!
This week, I want to take the opportunity to unveil my recently updated mormon.org profile where I answer some of today's hottest doctrinal questions rather extensively. Check it out here:
http://mormon.org/me/84S8
Okay, some I've come across some neat stuff this week. One thing that has often been confusing on the mission is the claim from members of varied faiths and backgrounds to receive manifestations of the Holy Spirit in their regular worship. I've felt somewhat apprehensive about saying "No. That's not the Spirit, bro." But I was studying D&C 50 recently and was reminded that so many of the early church members came from differing Christian denominations and (like the Jewish and Greek proselytes to ancient Christianity) kept a hold of some of their previous traditions and beliefs. Seeking revelation on the matter (because a lot of these manifestations were getting out of control [seriously, like posessions and babblings and real crazy stuff were going down]), Joseph Smith recorded section 50.
Then I found the following quotes from Joseph Smith:
“One great evil is, that men are ignorant of the nature of spirits; their power, laws, government, intelligence, etc., and imagine that when there is anything like power, revelation, or vision manifested, that it must be of God. …"
and...
“Others frequently possess a spirit that will cause them to lie down, and during its operation, animation is frequently entirely suspended; they consider it to be the power of God, and a glorious manifestation from God—a manifestation of what? Is there any intelligence communicated? Are the curtains of heaven withdrawn, or the purposes of God developed? Have they seen and conversed with an angel—or have the glories of futurity burst upon their view? No! but their body has been inanimate, the operation of their spirit suspended, and all the intelligence that can be obtained from them when they arise, is a shout of ‘glory,’ or ‘hallelujah,’ or some incoherent expression; but they have had ‘the power.’
“The Shaker will whirl around on his heel, impelled by a supernatural agency or spirit, and think that he is governed by the Spirit of God; and the Jumper will jump and enter into all kinds of extravagances. A Primitive Methodist will shout under the influence of that spirit, until he will rend the heavens with his cries; while the Quakers (or Friends) moved as they think, by the Spirit of God, will sit still and say nothing. Is God the author of all this? If not of all of it, which does He recognize? Surely, such a heterogeneous mass of confusion never can enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Teachings, pp. 203–4.)
Problem resolved. Pretty insightful, huh? Now, I think it would be foolish to say that the Holy Spirit is never manifest outside of the Church (and I could be wrong), but I'm certain it's much more rare than we might think...
Okay, well have a great week!!!
Love
Elder Grabinger
Monday, July 15, 2013
The Work Progresses
Dear Compadres,
Sorry you didn't get an email last week. I wrote one and sent it but there seems to be a failure in the interwebz time-space thingy.
Douglas' project sounds SWEET!
That's how we need to do missionary work! Just set up a bouncy castle on the church lawn and "Let them come". Genius.
Okay, crazy stuffs is going down this week. I'm getting transferred and there is a new zone being created and I will still be a zone leader. I won't find out exactly what's going to happen and where I go until Wednesday morning so you'll have to find out next week.
Exciting. I know...
That's about the extent of the excitement that's gone on this week.
Jacob and Stephanie are doing really well. I will miss them so much. They're great. In our lesson last Sunday, Jacob made it known that he was looking for a job and stuff and that they were struggling. I had just happened to visit the LDS Employment Services office 3 months ago that happens to be in our building and happened to take with me some business cards of the senior couple that staffs that program here. Needless to say, I hooked him up and he got a job within the week through that service. I am just so grateful for the opportunity to really help people in any way that I can and I love being a part of this Church that has so many INSPIRED programs to take care of God's children; all of them. It was such a blessing for me to see that miracle happen in our investigators' lives.
The other exciting thing was that Jacob survived his first anti-mormon experiences!!! I mean, you can't not go around telling people "I'm studying mormonism" and not face opposition. But he was able to stay strong and be like "That's not what the Elders are teaching me at all, they don't believe that." I'm proud of him. It was a witness to me though of the real need to find and teach families where family members can love and support and strengthen one another in the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephanie is just a trooper also.
That is all.
Love
Elder Grabinger
Sorry you didn't get an email last week. I wrote one and sent it but there seems to be a failure in the interwebz time-space thingy.
Douglas' project sounds SWEET!
That's how we need to do missionary work! Just set up a bouncy castle on the church lawn and "Let them come". Genius.
Okay, crazy stuffs is going down this week. I'm getting transferred and there is a new zone being created and I will still be a zone leader. I won't find out exactly what's going to happen and where I go until Wednesday morning so you'll have to find out next week.
Exciting. I know...
That's about the extent of the excitement that's gone on this week.
Jacob and Stephanie are doing really well. I will miss them so much. They're great. In our lesson last Sunday, Jacob made it known that he was looking for a job and stuff and that they were struggling. I had just happened to visit the LDS Employment Services office 3 months ago that happens to be in our building and happened to take with me some business cards of the senior couple that staffs that program here. Needless to say, I hooked him up and he got a job within the week through that service. I am just so grateful for the opportunity to really help people in any way that I can and I love being a part of this Church that has so many INSPIRED programs to take care of God's children; all of them. It was such a blessing for me to see that miracle happen in our investigators' lives.
The other exciting thing was that Jacob survived his first anti-mormon experiences!!! I mean, you can't not go around telling people "I'm studying mormonism" and not face opposition. But he was able to stay strong and be like "That's not what the Elders are teaching me at all, they don't believe that." I'm proud of him. It was a witness to me though of the real need to find and teach families where family members can love and support and strengthen one another in the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephanie is just a trooper also.
That is all.
Love
Elder Grabinger
Families are Forever
I WROTE THIS LAST WEEK BUT I GUESS IT DIDN'T GET DELIVERED
Dear FawnRae,
I miss you bunches.
This week was aight. We had a Zone Conference and a Mission Leadership Council that Elder Davis and I had to train at, so we were busy. It's been raining all week. I feel as though I'm in the Pacific Northwest. It was drizzling Thursday evening, but the fireworks went on so we caught some of those and I enjoyed a delicious caramel shake from Sonic. Yum.
Jacob and Stephanie are still progressing and learning and their testimonies are growing and it's just really wonderful to be a part of it. I love them.
Other than that, not much has been going on.
Okay, except that we went to contact this family this week and there are four children there ages 3, 5, 7, and 10. Well, when we got there the 7 year-old answered the door and he was the only one not feeling well, kinda strange... but he invites us in and then runs back into his room where the matriarch is trying to take care of all the children when we hear on of the kids shout "Kayden just threw up!" and then everyone followed with that "OHhhhHHhhh" sound. Elder Davis and I were just cracking up in the foyer. It was hilarious.
Anyway, the matriarch told us that she loves the church and wants to get baptized, but things kept popping up that day so we didn't get a chance to really sit down and talk with her. The patriarch is a member already. They have a lovely family.
We will make them a forever family. :}
Have a great week!
Love
Elder Grabinger
Dear FawnRae,
I miss you bunches.
This week was aight. We had a Zone Conference and a Mission Leadership Council that Elder Davis and I had to train at, so we were busy. It's been raining all week. I feel as though I'm in the Pacific Northwest. It was drizzling Thursday evening, but the fireworks went on so we caught some of those and I enjoyed a delicious caramel shake from Sonic. Yum.
Jacob and Stephanie are still progressing and learning and their testimonies are growing and it's just really wonderful to be a part of it. I love them.
Other than that, not much has been going on.
Okay, except that we went to contact this family this week and there are four children there ages 3, 5, 7, and 10. Well, when we got there the 7 year-old answered the door and he was the only one not feeling well, kinda strange... but he invites us in and then runs back into his room where the matriarch is trying to take care of all the children when we hear on of the kids shout "Kayden just threw up!" and then everyone followed with that "OHhhhHHhhh" sound. Elder Davis and I were just cracking up in the foyer. It was hilarious.
Anyway, the matriarch told us that she loves the church and wants to get baptized, but things kept popping up that day so we didn't get a chance to really sit down and talk with her. The patriarch is a member already. They have a lovely family.
We will make them a forever family. :}
Have a great week!
Love
Elder Grabinger
Monday, July 1, 2013
An Unprofitable Servant
Dear Friends and Family,
Bo is doing well. I have not eaten roadkill.
We are still teaching Jacob and Stephanie. They are awesome. We went to see them yesterday and I was kinda nervous because they didn't come to church. Stephanie told us that they had gone to a baptist church because they were going to be like 30 minutes late to ours. I was like, "NOOO!!! You can come if you're late. We love you and everyone was asking about you!" They'll be there next week. It's really cool to see their excitement for the gospel and the testimony that is growing inside them. They are studying from the gospel principles manual and reading the Book of Mormon and they loved the Family Proclamation thingy and the gospel is just really being a benefit to them and I don't get to see that often enough in peoples' lives. I'm very happy and excited for them. We love them.
I was listening to m'boy Robert L. Millet throw down some doctrine like he always does a while ago and he referenced Mosiah 2:21 which I've read and treasured many a time before, but this time my understanding was expanded and my mind enlightened. The final portion of the verse reads:
I say, if ye should serve him with all your ewhole souls yet ye would be funprofitable servants.
And I thought, "What does it mean to be an unprofitable servant?" So I imagined that I owned this business and I needed to hire employees to accomplish my goals. Well, if I hired 'unprofitable servants' that means that I would be hiring people and paying them more than they're producing for me. And that's when it hit me, I'm here serving in Knoxville Tennessee, and we can pretend that I've learned to serve him with my whole soul, and I'm basically running His business into the ground but he's paying me the most outrageous salary with unbelievable benefits and plans to make me a joint-heir in the business with His son someday. That was very humbling and made me feel even more gratitude for my Father in Heaven and even my parents here on Earth for all they do for me. I hope all of us realize that we're getting paid way more than we're worth and that we resolve to give our best always.
I'm kinda scared about those announcements to use social media more as full-time missionaries. I was like "I don't know how to talk to people online anymore! All I have are face-to-face interpersonal skills now and those are still shotty at best." So it's good to hear that there's classes on how to share the gospel using social media. I only have six months left though, so by the time they introduce that junk here I probably will be leaving soon or will have left.
I will teach you some simple rules to sharing the gospel effectively though. NEVER argue doctrine (also known as bible-bashing) and ALWAYS stress the importance of sincerely reading the Book of Mormon. You can apply those principles to any question asked about our faith.
Good luck to y'all! Have a great week!
Love
Elder Grabinger
Bo is doing well. I have not eaten roadkill.
We are still teaching Jacob and Stephanie. They are awesome. We went to see them yesterday and I was kinda nervous because they didn't come to church. Stephanie told us that they had gone to a baptist church because they were going to be like 30 minutes late to ours. I was like, "NOOO!!! You can come if you're late. We love you and everyone was asking about you!" They'll be there next week. It's really cool to see their excitement for the gospel and the testimony that is growing inside them. They are studying from the gospel principles manual and reading the Book of Mormon and they loved the Family Proclamation thingy and the gospel is just really being a benefit to them and I don't get to see that often enough in peoples' lives. I'm very happy and excited for them. We love them.
I was listening to m'boy Robert L. Millet throw down some doctrine like he always does a while ago and he referenced Mosiah 2:21 which I've read and treasured many a time before, but this time my understanding was expanded and my mind enlightened. The final portion of the verse reads:
I say, if ye should serve him with all your ewhole souls yet ye would be funprofitable servants.
And I thought, "What does it mean to be an unprofitable servant?" So I imagined that I owned this business and I needed to hire employees to accomplish my goals. Well, if I hired 'unprofitable servants' that means that I would be hiring people and paying them more than they're producing for me. And that's when it hit me, I'm here serving in Knoxville Tennessee, and we can pretend that I've learned to serve him with my whole soul, and I'm basically running His business into the ground but he's paying me the most outrageous salary with unbelievable benefits and plans to make me a joint-heir in the business with His son someday. That was very humbling and made me feel even more gratitude for my Father in Heaven and even my parents here on Earth for all they do for me. I hope all of us realize that we're getting paid way more than we're worth and that we resolve to give our best always.
I'm kinda scared about those announcements to use social media more as full-time missionaries. I was like "I don't know how to talk to people online anymore! All I have are face-to-face interpersonal skills now and those are still shotty at best." So it's good to hear that there's classes on how to share the gospel using social media. I only have six months left though, so by the time they introduce that junk here I probably will be leaving soon or will have left.
I will teach you some simple rules to sharing the gospel effectively though. NEVER argue doctrine (also known as bible-bashing) and ALWAYS stress the importance of sincerely reading the Book of Mormon. You can apply those principles to any question asked about our faith.
Good luck to y'all! Have a great week!
Love
Elder Grabinger
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