Crazy Week

Hey my awesome family!

This week was similar to last because many of our solid investigators that Elder McKay and I were working with didn't answer, call us back, or come to the door. They are in a way dropping themselves in the Lord's way. I also think this might be the Lord telling us that there are others, more ready and more elect, than these people. It's hard because I love them, but I know that I can't spend time trying to convince people to become interested. We got a new bishop! It is Bishop McCormick, Bishop Ross's first counselor. He has been a Ward Mission Leader and is very missionary minded, so he will be great to work with. President Bailey, first counselor in the stake presidency here in Cheyenne, gave a 3rd hour lesson about the ward doing missionary work through home teaching and fellowshipping. He talked a ton about prospective elders, and there are over 800 in the stake. We got a list for our ward, and we are going to work on inviting them to church, and inviting their families (if they have them) to learn about the gospel. I know you guys have had a lot of success from this approach in the Desert Valley ward.

This week, Elder Anderson and I were blessed to be part of a miracle and tender mercy from the Lord. We were tracting, and on the way, we were visiting potential investigators. I felt like we should visit one, and we knocked but whoever was there (and they were there) didn't answer. As we were walking out of the apartment complex, I got the distinct impression that we needed to knock on a specific door--the middle right door. I hesitated for a second, but then went ahead and knocked. A lady answered the door and said, "Hi Elder." That stunned me because nobody calls us elders. I asked her how she was and she said she just just moved there from Indiana. I asked her if she was LDS, and she said she had been meeting with missionaries in Indiana before she moved, and that she thought we had a "beatiful religion". We set up an appt to meet with her, and she said, I don't speak much English, and I said that's ok, I understand Spanish and we have a ward missionary that is fluent. So on Saturday we went back, and talked to her. She believes wholeheartedly that the church is true and she was working toward baptism where she moved from. She has a boyfriend now who was raised Catholic, but is not interested in religion at all when she brings it up, and he changes the subject. We asked her to come to church, but she is dependent on this guy and doesn't want to ruin the relationship with him--they're plannning on getting married in 6 months. She is waiting until this week when he gets home from his traveling job to ask him, but she is so prepared and the only thing holding her back is her boyfriend. She told us that everywhere she's gone or moved to, the elders have found her. She knows this is God telling her that this path is right for her. It was so awesome being able to hear her story and her faith. The Laws (ward missionaries) had her over for dinner that night and are fellowshipping her. I think she willl progress and be baptized. The Lord has placed her here for a reason.

Elder Anderson and I taught Rita again this week. She read most of the introduction of the Book of Mormon, but is planning on reading much more. She wants to read the whole thing and know what it says. We talked to her about what follows if the Book of Mormon is true. She told us she knew if it was true, then this was God's church. We talked about the Holy Ghost, and how it would answer her. And we asked her when she came to receive an answer from God that the Book is true, would she be baptized? And she said that she would!!!! It was awesome! She is prepared as well, and I think the Lord is continually teaching us we have to go find the elect--those who harden not their hearts when they hear God's word. It was amazing!

Well this week was great, and even though not all the success happened that we wanted, we were blessed immensely. I love being a missionary, and I am trying all I can to become better and work on becoming more Christlike. Charity is the answer, I've come to realize this lately. Charity NEVER fails, and if we have it, we have absolutely no other option but to succeed. If we have charity, we will become like Christ, and when He comes in his eternal majesty and wonder, we will "see him as he is". There is almost no thought that scares me more in this world than thinking that I might not know Christ when he comes. Charity is the only and simple solution to every singular problem or issue we have. To become like Christ is to know, apply, live, have, and understand his perfect, pure, untouched love. Unconditionally he gives us His love, which penetrates us and changes us if only we can give our will to know His and open our hearts to the understanding of God. There is no greater gift that He gives us than His love, and there is no possibility of peace, discernment, or true happiness in this life, without making it ours. We need Him every hour, and He is waiting for us. I love Him immensely. I know the gospel is true, and this work is God's.

Love,
Elder Logan Bryan

Week of Craziness

Hola mi familia!

This week was crazy depressing and sad, but it had an unexpected twist at the end. This week has definitely been one of the most interesting weeks of my mission. I feel like most of it has been a trial of my faith, and of the faith of Elder Anderson. We have had over the last week, many of our investigators that were progressing drop us. Teresa, whose dad was murdered and who was golden, changed her whole countenance when we taught the Word of Wisdom, and she told us she would never quit drinking coffee and smoking and said she wouldn't be baptized. TaShanna and Abby her daughter are dwindling. Abby could be baptized as soon as she comes to church two more times, but Tashanna is telling everyone different stories, and she isn't letting Abby go to church or mutual, and she is lying to us and to the ward. Jeff, the boy Pres. Toombs interviewed, was set for baptism on the 31st of this month, but just yesterday he slipped up and the Olsens might not be able to have him anymore. Ricky and Erik Garnica cancelled on us three times this week. We went tracting for about 8 hours in the last three days and all of the appointments except one no-showed (not super surprised, but it just added to the discouragement). I had been feeling immensely discouraged and wondering what we could be doing differently yesterday. Nothing was working out, and nothing we were doing seemed to change any of that. I had been trying to set a good example of a full and hard-working week for Elder Anderson, but it seemed like nothing had an effect on any of the investigators or potentials or key indicators. I was feeling inadequate, sad, unproductive, and I felt like I wasn't setting a good example for Elder Anderson.

Yesterday, finally we had a return appointment with one of the people we tracted into earlier in the week, and this 80 year-old man we had met let us in. We talked for a while, and his wife Rita was there. Then she asked us, "Well what can we do for you gentlemen?" We then told her what our purpose was, and she asked if we were Mormons. We said yes, and then she talked about how her son converted to Mormonism a while back in Seattle. We asked her if she had ever talked to him about what he believes, and she said once or twice. She told us that she grew up religious, but then got away from going to church, and she said she wasn't sure how she felt about organized religion. It was at this point that I felt very guided by the Spirit in speaking with her. It seemed as if the promise of just opening our mouths and them being filled was fulfilled right then. I started talking to her about the organization of the church, about its divine roots, and its authority. I told her about how it is the same church Christ set up, and it has been restored with apostles and prophets. After that she looked stunned. She then asked, "So you're telling me your church is different than all the other ones?" And we told her yes, we were God's true church once again on the earth. We then testified of the Book of Mormon, and gave here a copy, and she was excited to read it. We set up a return appointment with her, and it seemed as if she was Heavenly Father's way of telling me: "Ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer. For I will lead you along." (D&C 78:18). I am so grateful for that experience.

Well, Elder Anderson is a great missionary. He is ready to go, ready to work, and ready to teach. I am grateful for his willing heart and his faith. In tracting this week, Elder Anderson has been doing great! He has great faith and the Spirit with him. I have been amazed to see that even though each approach he does isn't the most eloquent, comfortable, or polished, the people respond to him and invite us back. I have learned from him this last week that it doesn't matter at all how charming we are at a door, or how well we express ourselves. What matters is the faith we have that the person behind the door is one of our Father in Heaven's children ready to accept the restored gospel. The district I'm in has the potential to be one of the best districts of the mission. The problem has been, not all of them have lived up to their privileges and their potential. The feeling I have of responsibility for these elders and their areas is amazing, and I have never really felt this before. I have so much more respect for the leaders I have had now that I experience a tiny fraction of what they feel. I hope that in some way I will be able to influence these elders for the better. I am so grateful for this gospel, and for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. I love the work. It's crazy every day, but it is so amazing in every way.

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan

Pic 1: Posterity Picture--Elder Washburn, Me, Elder Anderson

Pic 2: Elder McKay and Me with the Blanchards

Hola desde Chay ennay (as the Latinos say)

Yes. It's true. I am in Buffalo Ridge. Still.

Well on Friday, President called Elder McKay and I, that's what he does when you're going to have leadership callings, and called Elder McKay to be a zone leader in Aurora (that was a huge shock to both of us) and me to be a trainer in B ridge. I was so surprised, and for a few days, I had a very hard time accepting I was going to be here for 3 more months. We were also going to lose our car, which would be terrible because we couldn't get the work done that we have been. We have 18 investigators. That would be super estinky on bike. Well, I was having trouble with this, and I don't know why, because the Lord always knows what we need.

On Sunday night, right before transfers, Elder Goesch (my previous zl, present AP) called and asked me to be the district leader here. So I said yes, and we get to keep the car. The Lord knows and cares about us--always. Today in our new trainers meeting, President Toombs (kind of like Kenna's mission president) asked a few people to bear their testimonies, and I figured he'd pick me since I'm the youngest one there besides the greenies. And he did, and I went first and was very grateful to be able to do that. Elder Anderson is from BC Canada, and is ready to work. He's going to be a great msisionary and I'm so excited to be able to be his companion. Don't have much time, but I love you and will talk next week.

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan

Pics: Me with horses

Me with Zone Leaders in our Western Attire

Me with Sister Sengbusch (an 85 yr. old woman with some crazy stories)

Elder McKay, Jeff (Olsen's foster child), Me

Jeff, Me

Wow

Well my dearest family, this week was amazing!

Well this week was pretty great, and Elder McKay and I felt the blessings from Heavenly Father were very abundant in our area. We have felt like the few weeks of the holidays were trials of our faith, and we were being tested. We feel very much like we have seen so many blessings this week that the Lord has held in store for us as long as we exercised our faith in him. We finally saw many of our investigators come to church this week. Teresa came, Abby (TaShanna's daughter) came and actually bore her testimony! We had several other people there at church, and although it was hectic at church, it felt so great to know that finally these children of God were able to put some effort into growing closer to Him and feeling of His spirit. Neil and Jess also came to church, and during Sacrament Meeting (fast and testimony meeting) he started to cry and got emotional. It was so great to see him be able to feel the Spirit. This week he has put a lot of effort into stopping smoking, and although he isn't there yet, he has made a huge effort, while his wife has not. It was such a blessing for me to be able to see how much more receptive he was to the Spirit while at church after having exercised faith and work toward pleasing God and keeping His commandments throughout the week.

This week we also had a lesson with probably the most golden family I've ever met. We tracted into Ricky a week and a half ago, and he was a really nice and polite 14 year old kid. He told us we could come back this past week when his mom was home and we could talk to them. When we did, his mom invited us in, and she, Ricky, and Ricky's brother Eric sat in on our lesson. Ricky and Eric were some of the most attentive and focused teenage kids I've ever seen in my life. We got to know them, did some "How to begin teaching" from PMG, and taught lesson 1. After the first vision, we asked Ricky what he thought about all of this, and he said, "This is serious". We asked what he meant by that, and he said, "There's no joking around about this stuff. It's really serious." We later found out in the lesson that their mom had taken the missionary lessons as a young teenage girl in Corpus Cristi, TX. She actually was baptized! She remembered a little bit about Joseph Smith, and what she learned. Their family is awesome! Their name is the Garnica Family, and it's Tabitha and her husband, and 5 children between 10 and 18 including Ricky and Eric. Well, at the end of our lesson Eric asked us if a certain young man came to our church, and we told him that he did, and he said he knew him. That young man is probably the best fellowshipper a kid could ever have, and his family is one of the best I've ever known. The lesson we had with the Garnicas was probably one of the best lessons I've ever had on my mission, and I know I felt the Spirit there more strongly than I have in a long time. We feel so blessed to be getting to know these amazing people and help them find the truth.

Well, I just feel so blessed to have been able to see these blessings this past week. I would never have thought when I first got into this area that we could have had 7 investigators at church, or 6 new ones in a week, but this week it happened. But I now have a strong testimony of how much the Lord wants to bless us if we just exercise our faith in him, and go to work. It reminds me of the scripture shared several times this past general conference, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." I know that we show our love for God by doing his work, and I really have seen the promises of this blessing in my life over the past 6 months. Recently, the zone leaders and Elder McKay and I have been talking about the work going on in our zone. We have been talking about work, and using time wisely. There is nothing that brings blessings more than just stepping out the door, and doing work. However, there is a way to do work in a wise way. When I first got to the mission, I felt like people here had changed the purpose of missionaries from "inviting others to come unto Christ through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, BAPTISM, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end" to "visiting less actives". When Elder Maynes came to our mission, he told us that if we could summarize our purpose into three words, it would be "Find, Teach, Baptize". Then he said, if you could pick one of those to be an all-encompassing purpose statement, it would be: "Baptize". As missionaries, we have a goal. That goal, if kept in mind and heart daily, will lead us to do things daily to get us there. However, if we are not connected to that purpose, we find ourselves wasting time and participating in fruitless, mindless, and mundane tasks and activities. Missionary work requires work. The same is required in life--if we want a happy, spiritual, and successful life. My testimony of the gospel has strengthened so much on my mission. I realize that it gives us purpose in life. It gives us a goal, that, if we stay connected to on a daily basis, we will find it easy and sensible to do the right things and become more Christlike. I love the gospel and it's inspired and divine plan, and the goal it gives us to work toward.

I have a testimony of this gospel. I know that what we do is God's work. It changes lives, and it changes us. The Book of Mormon has the power to make us "new creatures in Christ". I love God, and I love His Son. I am forever grateful and humbled at how much they love and bless me with mercy, and with love. I love being a missionary.

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan

2012: lovin' it

Hey Family,

Well this week was pretty great, even though the missionary work was pretty slow. I am so ready for the holidays to be over, and I am glad they are now. Well, I'll give you some thoughts since I'm pretty sure I'll be leaving here in a week and a half: I have loved being able to learn from the leadership of Bishop Ross. He is a wonderful man with his mind on missionary work and on power in the priesthood. I have been so grateful to learn from Elder Washburn and Elder Mckay. They are two of the most excellent missionaries I have ever met, and I have loved being able to learn from them and work with them. I don't know how I was so blessed to have such great companions so far, but I know it has been a blessing. I have felt a little down this week, but I have also been awakened to the all-powerful reality of the atonement and Jesus Christ. He really does strengthen us and help us fight each day to become better. I am so grateful for Him.

Something I've gained a stronger testimony and been extremely grateful for lately has been the priesthood. I think for a lot of my life, I have taken it for granted. I have been able to feel the power of it in my life this week, probably stronger than ever. I was really sick one day this week, and Elder McKay and Brother Blanchard (from the Bishopric) gave me a blessing. I felt my faith increase, and I knew that if I kept my faith strong in the power of the priesthood and in Jesus Christ I would be healed. I was better the next day. Elder McKay was extremely sick the next day. He asked for a blessing that night, and Brother Olsen (Ward Mission Leader) and I gave him a blessing. He said that immediately he felt better, and he was better the next day as well. All this brings me back to what Brian Thomas said when we met with him this past week. We asked him how he felt being able to baptize Jess, and he said it was awesome. Then he said, It just hurt looking up at you guys confirming her and knowing that if I lived my life a little differently, I would have been able to be there. He is a wise man, and a good man with a strong testimony. I am so grateful for all those who live worthily and exercise their priesthood boldly with no hesitation or embarrassment. I am grateful for the honor and privilege I have to bear the Holy Priesthood after the order of the Son of God. It is an immense blessing to know that God loves us so much, He has entrusted us with His power to bless the lives of others. I love this gospel, it is true. We met with an investigator today, Amy Robinson. She talked about running into missionaries from another church, and after listening to what they had to say, she was fearful of them and their church. Then she said that when we come over and teach her, everything we say just makes sense. I then told her she was exactly right and she was feeling the Spirit. I quoted the scripture: "For God giveth us not the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind". I told her that was God telling her what we were teaching was right, and Elder McKay and I taught her the rest of lesson 1 and she committed to be baptized on Feb 25. It was a miracle how we found her--walking around downtown Cheyenne, and she lived in our area we found out after talking to her for a while. It is amazing.

Well, I love this work, and I am so glad and honored to be a missionary for my God.

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan

Amazing

My amazing family!

Well this week was really crazy and really great! On the top of the list goes Jess and Brian. They got married on Saturday by Bishop Ross. We saw them on Sunday, and when Brian walked into the chapel for Sacrament Meeting, I asked him how everything had gone the day before (we didn't get to go to the wedding, it was super small), and he just couldn't stop smiling. It was awesome to see. We then had the baptism later that night, and man it was awesome! The word everyone kept using was amazing. There were a bunch of people there, and as it started, I just felt this warm peaceful feeling come over me like someone had thrown a blanket on top of me. It was amazing! I can't even describe how happy I was to see Brian and Jess in the waters of baptism, happy and full of the Spirit. I was asked to give a talk after the baptism, and I just talked about the peace that the Spirit brings. They have truly felt this peace come over them as they have made changes in their lives, and as they've given up things of the world for things of eternity. The ward bought them a framed photo of the Denver Temple, and I know their sights are set on it, and on becoming an eternal family. I'm so excited I'll still be in the mission when they are sealed, and I hope I can go.

The rest of this week was a little bit hectic and crazy, but no surprise. We went on exchanges twice. I went with the zone leaders twice so Elder McKay could do his exchanges with the other elders in our district. It was fun, and both Elder Rheingans and Elder deBruyn are great missionaries who really care and love the work. We also had the Christmas Devotional for all the missionaries in the North half of the mission which was great! I loved it, and Brother Keith Handy had an amazing presentation on the archealogical evidence of the Book of Mormon in Mexico and Central America that really strengthened my testimony. I've always loved the Book of Mormon, but I felt even more of a connection to it during his presentation--it made me appreciate my heritage even more.

As for our investigators, Katrina who was going to be baptized tomorrow is not anymore. She just isn't sure of her answer, and Elder McKay and I are pretty sure that her dad has a lot to do with her unnassuredness. Her dad is pretty against the LDS church because her mom is part of it. They are divorced, and I think he has a lot of nasty things to say about our church. Katrina is very swayed by her dad, and she doesn't want to be known as the mom-pleaser. We have prayed and fasted for her, and are meeting with her tonight. We are just going to rely on the Spirit and Trust in God that He has a greater plan that we are all part of. I hope she makes a decision and realizes she has had an answer. Our other investigators are doing well. Tashanna came to church this Sunday and she met with Bishop. He challenged her to find her own testimony and be baptized. I think Bishop is awesome, and he is a really missionary-oriented Bishop. I can't say how grateful I am to him for all he has done for our ward.

Another cool experience we had this week was with a potential investigator, Lamarr Sherrod. We tracted into him last week, and we stopped by this week to meet with him. He let us in, and we talked with him about his religious background which was going to a Baptist church sometimes with his mom and grandma. We established our expectations with him, and shared a little about our beliefs. We told him we didn't want to take much time with him, and that we would teach him more about what we believed in another appt. He just kept saying, "No, don't worry about it. I really NEED to make time for this, I need to get closer to God." And as we were leaving we told him that we would come by with the zone leaders (who cover the YSA branch which he chose to attend) for just a few minutes the next day and that we wouldn't take much time. Then he said, "Don't worry, it's not taking my time. It's time for me that I just can't deny it anymore. I need this in my life." It was awesome, and he'll become a great investigator for the zone leaders.

The problem Elder McKay and I are facing is getting our investigators to church. Granted, it is a difficult and busy time of the year for some people to find time, or to change churches and social circles, but we have really been searching for a way to help people see the importance of church attendance. It makes me appreciate even more the eight fundamentals that they teach missionaries in the MTC (pulled from PMG). They are truly inspired. "Revelation through church attendance" is a fitting fundamental. We encourage people to receive personal revelation--to pray and read and try to find an answer. We need them to also realize that revelation comes through church as well. I believe that if people came to church asking God a question in mind and expecting an answer, they will always receive that answer. There have been countless times people have said that talks in church or testimonies felt like the person was speaking directly to them. That is the Spirit answering these peoples' concerns, and Elder McKay and I are trying to help people find how spiritually enlightening church really is.

This Christmas week is going to be one full of energy and the Spirit of Christ. I have been trying to understand more fully Christ and my relationship with Him. I know that He cares about me and He knows me by my name. I know that He understands everything I go through and He has gone through all of it Himself. I know that He is on my side, and He wants me to succeed. I also know that I have to be on HIS side as well. When times are tough, when I feel alone or feel like my peace has been destroyed, I know that like my favorite hymn says, "Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side." I know that after Sunday's phone call, I'm probably going to be homesick, and I'll probably feel pretty alone or sad. But I know that all I need to do is turn to Christ because He "was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows". With His stripes I can be healed; through His love, I can find peace. I love Him and I love the work.

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan

P.S. the pictures are of President Toombs dressed up as the grinch for the Christmas Devotional, and Elder McKay and I with Brian and Jess at the baptism. It's a little blurry, I should be getting another, better quality picture soon. Love you.

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Well Family,

This week was great. The title of the email is the title of the song Elder McKay and I performed for our ward party, and for the stake nativity exhibit this past weekend. He sang, and I played the piano. Shout out to Sister Gibson for helping me with my very limited piano abilities. It's a really cool song that I think was a Negro slave spiritual at one point. There are some weird chords that I played. We'll have to do it for the recorder, and then I'll send that home. Elder McKay is an awesome singer. He really brings the Spirit in with his singing, and I am grateful to have been able to help him perform this song.

We saw a lot of blessings, as we have seen this whole past transfer as well. We have been working hard on finding a balance between finding and teaching. It seems that the most effective way to find is to have a specific time planned out each day to find. I think what Elder Maynes talked about was very true. When we start working and teaching, we can't forget finding. He said that eventually we would have to start cancelling appointments to make room for finding. It's very true, and I think Elder McKay and I will be implementing that soon. We have tried to make room for finding each day, and it seems that every time we go out and tract, someone is willing to let us into their homes to teach them. One day this week we decided to finish up a street that we had tracted most of, and the first door that we knocked on was a lady who told us she had just recently gone through cancer treatment and she wanted us to come back and talk to her and her kids and get more information about what we believe. As we walked away from the door after having set up a time to come back, her kids asked her who we were, and she told them, "They're men who do God's work. They're either Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons, but we'll find out." It was really cool to hear that. Then the next door we knocked on, the one right above hers, was a lady who had a baby 3 days before, and she invited us back, and we set up an appointment, but she cancelled on us via text (much nicer than just not showing up). It seems like we're constantly being led to people who are prepared, courteous, and willing to open their hearts to the gospel. I don't think it's any coincidence that this tracting success is happening this time of the year. I feel like more and more peoples' hearts open up during this time of giving and kindness. I'm so thankful for Christ and how we celebrate His birth this time of the year.

Brian and Jess are getting married on Saturday, and she's getting baptized on Sunday. Earlier this week, Jess's mom was giving her a lot of grief for jumping into this marriage, and doing it so fast. It really affected Jess, and she was crying one night about it. She even second-guessed the decision she had made, and one day Brian called us very desperately trying to get us to help Jess out and give her some encouragement. We went over the next day, and we had texted her the day before giving her some scriptures to read and some confidence-boosting encouragement. We saw them again yesterday, and Jess said that the day after we went over there, everything just worked itself out. I'm so excited for them. Bishop Ross is marrying them on Saturday, and then we're having a dinner after the wedding that Elder McKay and I are invited to. It's just awesome to have been able to see all this happen from step 1.

Our other investigators are doing well, we still have a lot of work with a lot of them to prepare them for their baptismal dates--we may have to push some back because of church attendance. There are eight investigators that we have right now with a baptismal date. Jess, Katrina, TaShanna and her daughter Abby (which we'll push back a little bit), Teresa, Kelsie, Neil, and Jess. We had a lesson with Teresa this week, and we talked a little more about the plan of salvation and where her dad is right now. She just needs the peace and comfort of the gospel. We talked about baptism with her, and she got really teary at one point and said, "Would God be ok with me getting baptized again?" She just wants to do what is right, and we talked about the priesthood authority with her, and she committed to be baptized on 1/14. Her mom who grew up LDS is very excited for her, and wants to meet us. She is just prepared for the gospel. We haven't met with Rebecca again, yet, but we will this week. We had a lesson with Kelsie this week and we talked about baptism with her also, and she was totally open to it and committed to be baptized on 1/21. We hope to be able to start teaching her husband as well. We are just being so blessed.

We in particular are concerned, and praying for Katrina. She had a baptismal date of 12/20 and yesterday she texted us saying she didn't understand what we were talking about regarding baptism and she wasn't ready. We texted back telling her she had a lot of faith in God, and she just needed to keep the faith up, and He will answer her. That comforted her, and she said she would keep reading and praying. Elder McKay and I are going to fast tomorrow for her to get this answer. I am constantly amazed at the blessings that God gives to us. It really makes me wonder why I ever doubt. At times before I've been a little hesitant to pour my heart out into the work and just step outside and work. But why? Every time we just go to work and do what God asks us to, He blesses us. It's the simplest formula or equation out there. I can't believe I ever doubt that if I work, He will bless me. Time and time again, He has proved to be completely faithful, and I just continue to try to be faithful to Him. I love missionary work. It's amazing and so rewarding. I feel closer to the Spirit more now than ever before. I've been studying Christ lately, and especially His atonement. I am completely amazed at how little the Bible shares of the atonement, and how much the Book of Mormon brings to light about Christ's infinite sacrifice for us. It's just another testimony to me of how inspired and divine the Book of Mormon is. It really is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. We put on a little fireside at the Wilzbach's last night, and I was in charge of the Book of Mormon christmas part. I shared some thoughts about how the signs given at Christ's birth were a star and light in the night. Interesting how both signs were light. At Christ's death there was darkness in the land. How can people expect there to be light when the "light of the world" was crucified? How could they not expect there to be signs of light when the "light of the world" was born into the world? Now that Christ is no longer on the earth, we are called to be the light of the world. "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid". During this time of the year and throughout all our lives, we are responsible to be representatives of Christ, and do what he did. We cannot hide what we do. We need to be reflections of Him whose wonderful life we try to emulate. The wonderful message of Christ's birth is the redeeming message of His life, His sacrifice, and His triumph over death and sin. We simply need to try to live our lives for the "Light and Life of the world" who saved them. I love Him.

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan