A Year Out: A Missionary Memorium [Admin]

It has been a year since I've been out in Montana [on this day exactly], while serving a two year term mission.
I've been a member all my life, but I was converted [or began to understand God's word] back in 2005, when I had gone to a camp that emphasized missionary work and had taken reading the Book of Mormon more seriously.
I went into high school shortly after been home schooled from the first grade until that point. I did well in terms of grades, but my biggest trial was my apprehensiveness of interacting with peers that didn't share the exact same values that I had. Because of this, I learned that people within and without the church can be both good or bad [depending on attitude], and that members of our church have spacious array of verbiage vocabulary [We used words either not common or not defined the same as the rest of the world does].
Two years later, I entered into my third year of high school and my first year in college. After another two years, I nearly completed my associates in Graphics, and two classes away from completion when I turn in my papers.

Matter in the MTC
I’ve heard thousands of stories relating to the MTC [missionary Training Center] in Provo, Utah. While I did experience some discomfort [I have claustrophobia, and they keep us in classes for two three hour increments a day], I didn’t think it was as bad as people said; My companion was great, my roommates were [and still are] great, and even after a minor dysfunction our entire district became awesome! Yes, even the orange juice provided those with constipation with good help.
All and All, I was getting rock-happy, and was glad when a small airplane took us away across the great Wyoming sky….

Moving Forth in Missoula
After staying in Billings, Montana for a day, I was shipped out via Gray Hound  northward to Missoula. The trip gave me a pretty good idea where I would end up during the next few months after, and gave me a taste of both craziness and goodness that people have.
After being dropped in Missoula, my trainer showed me the ropes around. Missoula was alive in the work, and not just because of the missionaries alone: the member’s proved to be the real power in bring those we taught unto Christ.
I remember feeling at a loss when I was not sure what kind of missionary I should be. I soon learned that I needed to be ME, not some other missionary everyone looked up to-ME. However, I also realized that everyone with deep appreciation for the Gospel came about it the same equation: they studied, prayed, and received answers in some way or another. It was here when I learned what kind of missionary I needed to be.
I was confident I'd stay and my trainer would leave, but I ended up getting the call to go down to Livingston....

Living in Livingston
Everyone told me Livingston was “the windy city”.
I saw some truth at that at times, but it was here where I spent a fall and winter season at once.
The people themselves were great people with heart's of gold and were down to earth.
My companion was great. He was [like everyone else] taller then me, and built like a barrel [he'd lost a lot of weight while being out], and had been through some interesting times. He's was like an adapted brother in a way.
However, spending several holidays reemphasized what I missed back home; Halloween was just like another day [only we could go home earlier], and Christmas Eve was also another day.
It was a letter from an old friend [who passed away just recently] who helped me pull through this time.
All and all, most everyone in Livingston was like an extended family.
Time passed, and I ended up changing companions with one from Maryland [also tall]. I spent a productive transfer [six weeks] with him tracting and setting up Big Timber for missionary work before the Lord called me away to Helena....

Holding out in Helena
Helena, so far, has been yet another great place as well as a refiner's fire. Closing into my year mark, I’ve struggled with missing family back at home, as well as my other brother serving a mission in Wisconsin.
But the service here with my companion has been a good one. We are always kept busy at Food Share, moving people, and simply helping people all around who are both in and outside our faith.
I ended up being there for 3 months, and thought I was going to see my year mark there.
However, the Lord had other plans, as I was sent up to Columbia Falls.

Conclusion…
On the way to my new area, I went to Missoula for a pick up. It was strange just how full circle my year had been as I found myself helping the driver navigate through these once frustrating roads.
After Missoula was the long, six hour drive to Great falls and then to Kalispell where I’d met my new companion.
I’m now stationed in Columbia Falls at my “halfway” mark with yet another year to go. Along with that, our old mission president is leaving and a new one will soon be taking over.
I still have a lot to learn, and with great changes happening in the mission, more great things are yet to come.

God bless those and their loved ones who sacrifice their lives/time for their country, family, and God.

"By What Authrority?"

A homeless man attempts brain surgery on a street curb.
A street racer pulls over another citizen on the road and writes him a ticket for speeding.
A crazy old man decides he should run government, and tries to kick the current power out of office with his cane.
Does not make much sense, does it?
Even in the human world, a person must be given a certain authority to fulfill their stewardship.
Some people may feel threatened or discussed at the idea of organized religion [and for most of the time, with good reason].
But if God is a god of order, would he not have an organization [and proper authority] even as far in mortal affairs?

A Biblical Example with Authority…
In Acts 19, Paul [a recent convert and ordained apostle] found some disciples, and inquired if they had received the Holy Ghost. The disciples replied that they had no idea who this being was.
So then Paul asked a question: “Unto what then were ye baptized?”
They told him of John the Baptist mode of baptism.
Paul corrected these people, telling them that they had not fully received the full blessings.
Upon correcting them, the converts were re-babtized AND THEN given the rest of the ordinance by the power of the Holy Ghost.
The scriptures [not just the bible] are FULL of men with authority making corrections and helping God’s children.
However, the scriptures also contain some people doing whatever.

A Biblical Example withOUT Authority…

In the irony of Paul’s authority, in the same chapter in acts some exorcist tried to do the same things that Christ apostles attempted.
These supposed exorcist walked into this home with a man possessed with a devil, and in the name of Jesus Christ [who Paul spoke of] tried to cast him out.
The ironic twist was that the devil replied, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”
The possessed man then lashed  upon the exorcised and forced them out both wounded and naked.
However funny as the account is, it contains a serious lesson:
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BACK YOU UP!

What Qualifies for that Authority?
The priesthood is given to men* beginning at the age of 12 up.
There are 3 main qualifications are as follows: 

-One must be in compliance to the covenants [or promises] that they made [such as those made in baptism and keeping the commandments as disciples of Christ]

-One must receive it from someone with the authority to do so

Once a male qualifies, like Paul and others after Christ they will have the authority passed to them in a unbroken line directly back to the savior [this is done with laying on of hands]

In now way is secular education important, nor is deep knowledge of doctrine either [it helps, but you don’t need it]
Like any organization, this priesthood holds different offices that allow the holder to perform a certain task [although some responsibilities are intertwined, anything outside these bounds usually leads to disaster; remember the exorcist?]
The priesthood is NOT a passive power, but only works on the principles of righteousness and righteous works, NEITHER is it handled by unrighteous dominion.

*HOLD THE PHONE!

Why would only men be given the priesthood? How is this fair to women?

An article in the 1980 Ensign [A magazine from the church] brings about some perspective. While this post will not go too deep into detail, it will list of some key points:

-Women hold responsibilities different from the man.

-The blessings of the Priesthood are NOT exclusive to man alone.

-Both Priesthood holder and his wife both compliment each other: ONE IS NOT WHOLE WITHOUT THE OTHER.

In Conclusion…

How great is this authority that God has given to men, for without  neither it or its blessings, no one could bring themselves into the glory of God’s presence.

Tribute: The Head and his Body

Just weeks ago, Deus Ex Gospel celebrated good mothers everywhere.

This week's post will celebrate our fathers.

What kind's of things do they do?

Fathers are the ones who stand, usually in quiet reserve, behind us.

They encourage us, teach us, and usually enforces law in the home.

Good fathers are the ones who presided as Patriarch [or male leader] of the home, respects judgment of his spouse, and is willing to ensure the success of his family.

Scriptures with Stalwart Fathers

In biblical times [and even in some cases today] linage was traced through the fathers. There are many great fatherly figures who forged great men [and woman] who forever changed history.

Here's a few:

Adam: The first man on earth, and with his wife Eve started the human race.

Abraham: The Great patriarch and Father of MILLIONS around the world. Showed trust in God in tough situations and was blessed and blessed his grand prosperity.

Jacob/Israel: Another Patriarch who had 12 sons, who would later develop into a great covenanted nation.

Joseph of Nazareth: The mortal “step-father” of Jesus Christ, and accepted the call as such despite social pressures and preserved his family in times of danger.

The 2000 stripling warrior's Fathers: Although the mothers are credited for the bulk of these young men's success, the fathers gave them supplies and aid to allow them to continue their success.

When the father of a family sets his home up in Gospel principles, he [along with his kids and wife] will find respect, honor, and great men rising from his own home.

Conclusion [to this post]

To conclude this post [there's not much to it], here's a clip that most families [and fathers] can relate with. It is a message that both inspires us all to overcome adversity, and to fathers to not give up, as there are good things to come.

[click here in case the video does not show up, or switch browsers with Adobe Flash installed]