Save the Rising Generation

Family and Friends,

Wow. I was so happy to see all your loving and smiling faces on Skype. I am grateful for that beautiful technology. haha! Christmas was.... Christmas? i think..? haaahah. just kidding. it was good. Taught some lessons and had some studies, cant complain their right?

This week was interesting. I learned a lot about the culture of the world... and how far it has drifted from God's culture. From what i have heard about some new laws in America, that is very evident. The world needs this gospel in such a bad way. The Book of Mormon is chalked pull of prophecies of our day.. some of them bad.. some of them good. but... we must learn from all of them. God's culture is not the world's culture. I have to teach and emphasize that on a daily basis with or investigators.

I love this gospel. I love my ward here in Hinigaran. My bishop is a stud. He is the perfect blend of bold and loving with the way he handles situations on a daily basis. 

Oh i wanna tell you about one of my favorite people on my entire mission. Brother Bellardo. He was baptized about 20 years ago.. now is endowed and sealed in the temple. When he was about 20 years old, he went completely blind. As in 100%. He literally knows how do to everything though... he cooks, cleans, washes clothes, everything.. without assistance. He knows almost every single area here in Hinigaran just by memorization. He works with us almost everyday to fellowship. His testimony is powerful. He used to be Catholic.. so he loves being bold with presenting his new knowledge to those of his former faith. haha. He is a great example of faith... it really is "the substance of things not seen".. as i watched him take the sacrament last Sunday, it was a great testimony to me. We dont need to see the gospel.. or hear it..  to know its true.. its all about what we feel. Our inner knowledge of the truth is so important. It is what makes us who we are. "One only progresses as fast as he increases his knowledge". You know what i preached to you during Skype time. Read your Book of Mormon.

This week should be interesting... here on New Years, they are all about fireworks. We actually go home early on tuesday and wednesday for that reason! From what ive been told its fireworks from about 10pm til about 3 am.. should be an exciting night of sleep :) haha! 

Well. Jesus is the Christ. He will draw unto us as we draw unto Him. Remember that heavenly law.

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

It's beginning to look a lot like..... Summer?

Family and Friends,

If you are wondering, it hasnt snowed yet here.

But guess what has happened.. a baptism! yay! First one in about 6 weeks... yeah its been a great battle. I was able to perform the baptism of Sister Edwina. If you want to feel the Spirit testify to you of the truthfulness of this church, attend a baptism.

Life is so fast. It feels like yesterday was Christmas.

This week we acquired 2 new RM's in our ward! What a blessing that will be to help have fellowshippers at all of our lessons! The ward is starting to have more and more trust in us, and in turn is helping more and more.

The Holy Ghost is so important in our lives. It's how we experience the power of the Atonement. It comes to those who seek it! I love this gospel. Its true and is here because of... and malaki ng pananampalataya sang isa na bata. ang pangalan niya ay Si Joseph Smith! (ps that is tagalog hehe) This church has been restored. The gift of the Holy Ghost is so precious.

Guess what.. we skype in like 2 days! wow! 30 minutes.. so get prepped and ready. haha!

i love you all!!! haha!

Merry Christmas. Remember your Savior.

"Find Yourself"

Mahal,

Elder Stagg

Parallels

Family and Friends,

First off.. homework (at my mission president's request). I need to hear of some of your spiritual and life experiences with the Law of Tithing. I will use it in my teaching.. so help me to help others,thanks :)

This week was outstanding. We had zone leaders training and a zone conference!! we were able to watch the Christmas Devotional. What a powerful hour or so. Watch it again if you can! Powerful testimonies about the divinity of our Savior. 

We taught over 40 lessons this week. I cant even tell you how great that is. We have been trying to keep our lessons short and also to make daily visits with our investigators. It is difficult but of course rewarding. Even more difficult since we just received more area to our area..wow. Work work work.

I've realized my emails have probably been getting progressively more boring. im sorry. but at the same time, im not. its hard to explain but i just dont feel like i have time to explain or say everything. sorry if thats wrong. just know this.. i am experiencing and seeing others experience the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What more needs to be said? I get on email... write my president.. read your emails.. email back and forth then have barely any time to write.

So dad, i know you want a story. Im struggling big time to think of one. As my mission progresses things get a little more repetitive. You feel like everyday is the same. What I want you to share is this.. The Book of Mormon. We cannot feel the full conversion unto Jesus Christ unless we are reading pondering praying about and applying the Book of Mormon into our own lives on a daily basis. That's the biggest story or experience i am having on a daily basis, is that my testimony growing through the Book of Mormon. I know it is true.. with my whole heart. Tell the ward to read the Book of Mormon. That is a simple plea from a servant of the Lord.

I love this Church and missionary work. More and more i love it.. and in turn my focus goes to this. Thats what i feel is right.

I actually for once had pictures to send... but the computer isnt working here (of course) hahaha! 

I dont know what to say except live the gospel of Jesus Christ. He lives. He is our Savior. His way is the way to eternal life. I love you all with my whole heart... i miss you all dearly. Its close to Christmas, its still hot here in the Pines. hahahah. God Speed the Right.

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Life is a Rough Draft

Family and Friends,

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It has been restored through a prophet in our days. We are so blessed. 

First off. For the fam.. the Christmas call will be between 10 am and 12 noon my time, so 7pm-9pm SLC time on dec 24. 30 minute limit. so write down your questions and ideas (im being serious.. haha. 30 minutes is very short). Skype yes. Hopefully you will all be joined in on the call. i will probably skype about 10:30 my time!! cant wait! 

This week... so, rewarding. I love missionary work. I love the Book of Mormon. I love Jesus Christ. My mission is the greatest thing that has ever happened.. you all need to go on one. haha. But... at the same time, you dont need a mission to increase your faith and testimony. I love my life.. despite how hard and absolutely frustrating it can be... i am so eternally grateful for my trials! I have learned to experience the grace.. mercy.. and love of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

So.. i had this great little revelation yesterday.. while reading in the first section of D&C... about reproof. I was pondering that work.. reproof. Think of when you were in high school english class... and had to write different drafts, and it was proofed. Maybe once by a peer.. next by another peer.. then your parents.. then your teacher. Then.. when you had proofed it over and over, you handed it in to your teacher.. and awaited your grade anxiously. We can learn a lesson there.. WE ALL NEED OUR LIVES TO BE PROOFED. We need the proofing of our.. peers, family, friends.. but most importantly, of our Father in Heaven through.. the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost can purify us. It can help us 'edit ruthlessly' our lives and our desires. I testify that our "proofs" can come in the form of.. arguments.. trials.. sickness.. others' decisions.. everything! But its all necessary. I promise. I am living evidence. I love Jesus christ... we can become like him... day by day, little by little!!

That's all for this week. Read your scriptures. Pray. Go to Church. It's that simple. Trust me.. i see it everyday in the people i teach. I love you all!

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Conquer or Die

Family and Friends,

By the title of this email.. you may have guessed that i have been reading the war chapters in the Book of Mormon. hahahah! I love it all. Makes me wanna go fight a war. But hey guess what.. we do everyday!! Everyday we fight and struggle with our eternal enemy. our should i say enemies. I have learned there are 2 main enemies in our lives. 1. Satan. We all know he is there.. and is fighting to keep us from obtaining eternal glory. 2. The natural man or woman in all of us. Our natural fallen natures are wrong and quick to do evil.  For these 2 enemies, i offer 1 remedy. Jesus Christ and his gospel. We must be constantly fighting on the offence against our enemies. We cannot sit by the wayside and hope to overcome our sins and weaknesses. We need prayer. We need daily scripture study. We need the grace of Christ. We need church attendance. We need daily repentance. Our lives in all aspects, are influenced by our daily repentance and actions. NO ONE IS PERFECT. But if we remember our covenants always.. we will remember and desire to repent each and every day. I cannot explain exactly the faith that is developing in my life. But i can tell you how and why it is happening. Application of Eternal Truths. 

Here is an assignment. Read Romans 8.

The Church is true everyone. I preach it everyday.. because i know it is true. The Holy Ghost has testified to me on a daily basis that the things i am teaching are correct and true.  We must try to progress. I have learned that the gospel of Jesus Christ, namely.. faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.. is the answer. It is the way. It is the path that leads to Eternal Life and Eternal Glory and Happiness. I love it. I truly know it is true. 

We wake up everyday, and as soon as we know it... its time to say our nightly prayers. There is no time to waste. I think we all understand that. But.... what is truly wasting time? Ponder that. Analyze your priorities. That is a big lesson I am learning on a daily basis.

I love the Book of Mormon. It increases my faith in Jesus Christ every single day. It is changing my life and the lives of those around me. I cannot tell you how many people's lives i have seen change through true and prayerful Book of Mormon reading. I love reading. i love prayer. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. Let us not complicate our lives with useless things.. let us focus our time and attention on the Savior. Especially at this wonderful Christmas season. Christ lives. He knows you. He knows me. Romans 8:39.. "we feel the love of our God, through the Lord Jesus Christ". Remember that. If you are feeling alone, pray to Heavenly Father.. in the name of Jesus Christ. Search and fight for his love. Its there.. through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

I know you all have faith. Use it. Daily. Put your faith in Jesus Christ and move forward. Always. There is ALWAYS hope. Please never give up on yourself or anyone around you.

Ps- im starting to try and learn Tagalog.. its nuts. but i love it. I love my area.. my ward.. my mission.. my president.. my companion.. !! woo! life is a battle.. but we have to win! another ps.. i literally almost forgot it was thanksgiving #philippinesmissionaryproblems

pppps... its december already!! hahaha.

Palangga,

Elder Stagg