Be Crisp

Hello :)

My companion and I have been trying an experiment. It started on Friday when Elder Monibidor got back from Richmond, you see, Elder Monibidor was invited to go to the Leadership conference for four days, leaving me on exchange with our district leader, Elder Van Wagoner. I learned a lot, including how to eat a pizza if it's for breakfast and what happens when you start cleaning the house of a hoarder. Anyway, about our experiment; In the missionary white handbook, it states, "Refined, dignified language will clearly identify you as a servant of the Lord". Elder Monibidor learned something profound at this conference in Richmond. I'll tell you the story as it was relayed to me by my companion, he said:

"There was a certain stake in zion, with a certain Stake President, that was having a Stake conference. At that stake conference, there was a certain visitor, named Elder David A. Bednar. After the Stake conference was held and all was said and done, this certain stake President was driving home, Elder Bednar in the back seat. The Stake President, intimidated as he was to have an apostle in the car, asked through the silence, "What could I have done better in my talk at the conference". The Stake President thought this was a good question, and was excited to hear a reply, but to his surprise, there was none. The passenger in the back seat was silent. The driver and his wife were awkwardly waiting for a while when they seemed to have given up on any response, and turned to their own thoughts, still sitting in silence. Elder Bednar asked "do you really want to know what I think?" There was silence and the Stake President respectfully uttered, "Yes, I'd love to" He sat in silence another 30 seconds and said "Be crisp"

"I know that the Stake President in that story has been crisp ever since, for every time I have heard him talk he has been crisp. That Stake President was and is President Perry, and we should do our best to be like him"

Haha as funny as that was, Elder Monibidor's story really struck me, so we did some research that night. We found some doctrine behind it like what is stated in the white handbook and the nature of parables. Jesus taught in a crisp manner, always getting to the point and teaching doctrine that would change behavior. We also looked at the difference between a conversation and just talking. We have been working ever since to refine our language. To refine is to remove all impurities. Elder Monibidor is so fun and I feel like I'm back with one of the Wazoo crew who aren't afraid to try anything new and make growing and learning fun. It makes me miss Jordan, Zach, and Tyler. This has truly been comparable to the owing circle or doing stuff backwards just so we don't have to do it forwards. Too much fun!!!!

The only reason I tell you this is because I really believe my life changed when my language changed. Talking just to talk is sometimes annoying and especially when you just say loud things out of no where. I don't know, the Elders in our apartment just walk in the apartment and yell things, and I was guilty as well until last Friday.We get rowdy too much and the spirit is there so much more when we are refined and dignified. There are no mis-communications and conversation is crisp and meaningful. We get a lot more done, it has been a meaningful experience. I think we found Elder Bednar's secret, because it seems as though his language is refined and dignified ALL the time.

Everything else this week has gone well also, Esmerelda and Margie are doing well, we found some new people this week, and Daniel still has a date, although he didn't come to church. We had a church tour with Fabiola (did I already tell you that?) and that went well too. She has a desire to be baptized and will come to church in mid august when she quits her second job. (we are keeping our fingers crossed) I studied unity this morning. If you ever want to study unity, the topical guide is a great place to start, but it will just take you to the ultimate story of unity in 3Nephi19 where Christ manifests himself to the multitude and they pray together and turn white through the sanctification of the spirit. WOW, that is an inspiring story. From what I can tell, they had or did seven things that contributed to their unity.1:Communication, in verse 1 and 2 they communicated to the whole people that he had come and that he would come again, they were on the same page because they communicated. 2:Labor. They all "labored exceedingly through the night" so that they could be where the savior would be. 3:Organization:The Desciples organized them into groups 4:Taught only the teachings of Christ 5:Prayer. Prayer was an essential part of the whole story, they prayed in faith, to the Father, in the name of the son. 6:Desire. They desired most the Holy Ghost and it's power to guide them. 7:baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they were ready for Christ to come. He got there and commanded them to Pray, then he went and prayed. He said (paraphrasing) "Father, Thanks for giving them the holy ghost, so that they could come to me and be paired with me, and in turn we can be one, as you and I are one" As we do these things,  Communicate, Labor diligently, organize ourselves, teach only what christ taught, Pray continually together and apart, desire the holy ghost and sanctification, and are Baptized and receive the holy Ghost, we forget ourselves and become unified in a cause. It was a great study.

Well, another week has flown by and I have learned more and more. It is amazing that we have this opportunity. I love you all, every one of you, and I have a strong testimony of repentance. We are to have faith in Christ and repent always. It brings so much joy and our burdens are lifted when we just give our problems to the Lord.

Thanks for listening to me ramble, I am thankful for you all!!!!!!!!!

Love

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ