"People who make promises have good intentions. People who keep promises have good character."
I really like that quote. It's like a gut check to what people actually need to do and that brother's talk in church is really cool. It reminds me of something that John Bytheway said about one of the chapters in the Book of Mormon. He was talking about Zarahemna (the guy who got scalped) and Moroni. Basically, Zarahemna made a promise never to come again against the Nephites, and he kept that promise. John Bytheway said that if apostate generals can keep covenants, then why can't we? It's a good question and I like the other quote and story that you sent, Mom.
So, I am super happy about the success of the temple day!!!! That sounds so cool and I am just itching to go back and do stuff like that with you guys. Every time you tell a story about going to the temple, I just get so pumped up. Especially about the Grandpa Schultz thing. I am so happy I ........ I don't have words. Just to know that my dad had an experience in the temple like that is so worth anything I could ever do out here. My patriarchal blessing talks about this kind of stuff and I think this is just the beginning of things like this. I think that as we move our family closer and closer to the temple, the blessings will come more abundantly. Like it says in Preach My Gospel... I think we need to erase the invisible line in between temple work and missionary work because they are more connected than we think. You guys don't know how bad I want to be there right now doing this stuff along side you. I am absolutely thrilled about the temple day things and what the ward has done and what the Lord has blessed you with.
Also, to hear about what President Shields said about the 7 year old boy and missionary work was really cool. Definitely Heavenly Father confirming prayers right there. Also, thank you for the encouragement. Sometimes it's hard for me to see what's going on and it usually takes someone else to tell me what's actually going on in my life. I think that's why I have my awesome family to help me. Having a support team is fundamental for me if I am going to function right. It's the old "check you engine every three thousand miles" deal and sometimes I forget and have to get someone else to look at it. Having that fresh perspective is a great blessing and definitely helps me function normally. I think that I also need how to learn to check more often and with the person that knows me best (my Heavenly Father).
An interesting tidbit I learned reading the scriptures in John recently. I was reading along and I was thinking or have been thinking about God the Father and how he doesn't say much Himself or we don't hear directly from Him that much (except through the prophet). I was reading and it was after the last supper and Phillip (one of the disciples) asked Jesus to show him the Father that he might believe and then Jesus said something interesting. He said, "Have I been so long time with you that ye do not know me?" I thought to myself, "Wow, Phillip and I are probably missing something here. Jesus said, "He who hath seen me, hath seen the Father." Then I thought about what Jesus does all day in the scriptures and how he has said half a billion times that He does nothing of Himself save He seeth the Father do it. Oh wow! Duh!!!. I felt the Spirit. Everything that Jesus did and does in His life is the will of the Father and they are so unified that it's difficult to tell them apart. So I guess what I am getting at is that everything that Jesus did in the scriptures is exactly what the Father would have done if it were him on the earth at that point and time. That was a sort of revelation for me because here I was thinking that I didn't know too much about my Father in Heaven and then He just gives me this huge demonstration of His love with us. He really does love us which gives added weight to what He said to the Pharisees, when they were talking about who was who and whose sons they were. They said that they were of Abraham and Jesus told them that if they were of Abraham they would love Him and do His works, but since they didn't, he said they were not of the Father, but of the devil. There are some other passages in that particular chapter that were probably very hard for the Savior to say to those people who just thirty-five years before had pledged their alliance to God the Father.
I know that it sounds kind of cliche or even fruity, but I know that love is what makes this world go around. Like Moroni said, "If ye have not charity, ye are nothing." It's true. Nothing good happens unless there exists some sort of charity. It's amazing what a kind word can get you and how people gather to this love, which is the pure love of Christ. Everyone wants to feel more loved no matter what situation we are in. Be we happy or sad, it's like the hymns say- where love is, there God is also- By the way, probably one of my favorites. I challenge you guys to say a kind word or to try and find a way to give some one a boost. I mean really try to give someone a boost and see what it does for your day as well. I promise that as you do this you personally will be a happier person and more opportunities to help will come your way, opportunities that you will have the power to make the difference in.
Well, this email is getting long, but I love you guys and I know that the things you're doing makes our Father in heaven very proud.
Love,
Elder Proksch
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