Week 51 - Life in Hannover Week 11: Hannoverscher ZoKo Take Two

Hey guys,

Zone Conference was the highlight of the week, being both the most fun, and the most stressful. We had some great Themas, a pep talk from president, lunch was the best soup that I've ever eaten, and just in general we had some good times.

We finally got the whole crew together! I'm currently Zone Leader over my whole MTC group, and we got some pictures together!

  

Sister Kohlert, Elder Spaulding, Elder Seamons

So that was super cool!

I also gave a Thema on the Book of Mormon, which was super stressful, but I felt was fire. (At least to read, I kind of struggle with the presentation part =p) I wanted to leave it with you guys, as well as the Translated-Into-English edition.

Elders und Sisters, was bedeutet die Aussage: "Das Buch Mormon ist wahr."?

Man darf nicht sagen dass ein Tisch wahr sei, oder dass ein Bild wahr sei. Wenn wir sagen dass die Schriften wahr sind, nützen wir einen besonderen Aspekt der Grammatik. Es darf nur mit kirchlichen Sachen benützt werden.

Noch mall, denn: "Das Buch Mormon ist Wahr." Wenn wir das sagen, ich glaube dass wir an ein paar spezifischen Sachen denken.

Ich lese Ihnen einen Abschnitt von der Einleitung des Buches Mormon, der diese Dinge sagt:

"Wir laden alle Menschen überall ein, das Buch Mormon zu lesen, in ihrem Herzen über die darin enthaltene Botschaft nachzudenken und dann Gott, den Ewigen Vater, im Namen Christi zu fragen, ob das Buch wahr ist. Wer dies tut und im Glauben fragt, wird durch die Macht des Heiligen Geistes ein Zeugnis von dessen Wahrheit und Göttlichkeit erlangen.

Wer dieses Zeugnis von Gott durch den Heiligen Geist erlangt, wird durch dieselbe Macht auch erkennen, daß Jesus Christus der Erretter der Welt ist, daß Joseph Smith in diesen letzten Tagen sein Offenbarer und Prophet ist und daß die Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage das Reich des Herrn ist."

Wenn wir sagen dass dieses Buch wahr ist, zeugen wir dass:

1. Die enthaltenen Geschichten wirklich geschahen
2. Jesus Christus eine echte Person ist
3. Er der Erretter der Welt ist (dazu dass er der Sohn Gottes ist)
4. Joseph Smith ein Prophet war, mit allen den Mächten die damit kommen
5. Wir haben heute noch Propheten, und deren Wörter sind Schriften
6. Dieser Kirche gehört die Autorität Gottes
7. Wenn man die Lehre dieser Kirche lebt, wird er errettet werden  

Diese Wahrheiten sind am wichtigsten zu erkennen, denn von diesen Dingen "hängt das ganze Gesetz samt den Propheten." (Matthäus 22:40) Wenn man weiß dass diese Dinge wahr sind, weiß man dass wir von Gott berufen worden sind, und dass wir sein Werk gerade vollbringen.

Ich will unsere Gedanken zu einer bekannten Versprechung im Buch Mormon bringen, die die Wichtigkeit des Buches erklärt. Moroni 10:3-5 sagen:

"3 Siehe, ich möchte euch ermahnen, wenn ihr dieses hier lesen werdet, sofern es nach Gottes Weisheit ist, daß ihr es lest, daß ihr daran denkt, wie barmherzig der Herr zu den Menschenkindern gewesen ist, von der Erschaffung Adams an bis herab zu der Zeit, da ihr dieses hier empfangen werdet, und daß ihr im Herzen darüber nachdenkt.

4 Und ich möchte euch ermahnen: Wenn ihr dieses hier empfangt, so fragt Gott, den Ewigen Vater, im Namen Christi, ob es wahr ist; und wenn ihr mit aufrichtigem Herzen, mit wirklichem Vorsatz fragt und Glauben an Christus habt, wird er euch durch die Macht des Heiligen Geistes kundtun, daß es wahr ist.

5 Und durch die Macht des Heiligen Geistes könnt ihr von allem wissen, ob es wahr ist."

Das ist mir die wichtigste Versprechung in den ganzen Schriften. Sie ist eine klare Formel, die nicht missverstanden werden kann.

1. Lesen
2. Fragen
3. Empfangen

Einfach so. Es sind genaue Anleitungen, die zu dieser Wahrheit leiten.

Ich mag die Ansprache von David A. Bednar die uns gegeben worden ist. Es gab ein Zitat von Präsident Boyd K. Packer: "Therefore, what?"

Therefore: Jeder, der dieses empfängt, weiß dass das Buch Mormon wahr ist. Das heist noch mal dass:

1. Die enthaltenen Geschichten wirklich geschahen
2. Jesus Christus eine echte Person ist
3. Er der Erretter der welt ist (dazu dass er der Sohn Gottes ist)
4. Joseph Smith ein Prophet war, mitt allen den Mächten die damit kommen
5. Wir haben heute noch Propheten, und deren Wörter sind Schriften
6. Dieser Kirche gehört die Autorität Gottes
7. Wenn man die Lehre dieser Kirche lebt, wird er errettet werden

Erinnern Sie sich daran, was das Ihnen bedeutet, und unterschätzen Sie das buch nicht! Unser wissen sagt uns dass wir auf dem einzigen richtigen Pfad sind, und dass uns werden die Gaben und Mächten Himmels versprochen! So heißt es, dass das Buch wahr ist.

And now some English:

Elders and Sisters, what does the phrase, "The Book of Mormon is true" mean?

You can't just say that a table or a picture is true. When we say that the scriptures are true, you are using something in grammar that can only be used with religious and historical things.

One more time, then, "The Book of Mormon is True." When we say this, I believe that we think on a few specific things.

I'm going to read a certiorari from the introduction to the Book of Mormon that names these.

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth

When we say that this book is true, we testify that:

1. The contained histories and stories really happened
2. Jesus Christ is a real person
3. He is the savior of the world (and the son of God)
4. Joseph smith was a prophet, with all of the power that comes with that
5. We have prophets today, and their words are scripture
6. This church has the authority of God
7. If you live the teaching of this church, you will be saved.

These truths are the most important to recognize because from these things "Hangs all the law and the prophets." (Matt 22:40) If you know that these things are true, you know that we are called of God and that we are doing his work.

I want to take our thoughts to a familiar promise in the Book of Mormon that clarifies the importance of this book. Moroni 10:3-5 says:

"3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

I believe that that is the most important promise in the entire scriptures. It is a clear formula that cannot be misunderstood.

1. Read
2. Ask
3. Receive 

Just like that. They are exact instructions that lead to this truth.

I like the talk from David A. Bednar that was given to us. It had a quote from Boyd K. Packer, "Therefore, what?"

Therefore: Everyone who receives this, knows that the Book of Mormon is true. That means, one more time, that:

1. The contained histories and stories really happened
2. Jesus Christ is a real person
3. He is the savior of the world (and the son of God)
4. Joseph smith was a prophet, with all of the power that comes with that
5. We have prophets today, and their words are scripture
6. This church has the authority of God
7. If you live the teaching of this church, you will be saved.

Remember what that means to you, and don't underestimate the book! Our knowledge tells us that we are on the only right path, and that the gifts and powers of heaven are promised to us! That's what it means, that the book is true.

I love you guys a lot, and I hope you have a great week!

Liebe Grüße,

Elder Austin Spaulding

Week 50 - Life in Hannover Week 10: The Head Full of Mittens

As per the title, Elder Heywood was sick for a significant part of the week, so there isn't much new. That's pretty okay, though, seeing as how I have 10 minutes to write this... GO!

As per the story from last week, sadly the boy from Braunschweig still hasn't been baptized. There were a few problems at home. Hopefully everything will work out in the next few weeks though.

A point of interest:

On Monday last week, I gave a bomb blessing. I was super surprised and shaking at the end. I honestly said things that I didn't feel able to promise, but God works through small and simple things! I felt super privileged to be able to use my priesthood to help another. I know that this church is true, and I'm so grateful to be here!

I'll leave you guys with some pictures from our district P-Day today.

We went to some really cool gardens in Hannover called the Herrenhäuser Gärten.

Liebe Grüße,

Elder Austin Spaulding

Week 49 - Life in Hannover Week 9: Busssssy (with trains)

Hey friends, this has been hands down the busiest week of my mission, but it has been really good as well. I don't have tons of time, but here we go!

Last Monday was super cool, after P-Day we had an awesome appointment. We met a man who said that he would love to meet with us, but only gave us a general area to come and meet with him. We spent about thirty minutes looking for his house, and had almost given up. BUT US BEING LATE WAS PERFECT! We thought that maybe he had just punked us, but apparently if we had been on time we would have just totally missed him. We had a great appointment, and are excited to try and meet with him again.

On Tuesday we had zone interviews, and the zone leaders run that day. It was a nightmare, but we got it done. We, however, didn't get an opportunity to have interviews with him.

The next day we had tausch with the assistants to the president in Berlin, We had "Interviews" with president via phone call while we were on the way.

In Berlin I was with Elder Skidmore, and we spent the day primarily finding. We managed to give out four Books of Mormon and find 8 contacts, which doesn't happen. It was really cool.

On Thursday morning we headed from Berlin almost directly to Göttingen for TWO baptismal interviews. They went really well, and both of them were baptized yesterday! We also accidentally stole Göttingen's keys, which caused a whole bunch of drama further down the line. They meet for church in the third floor of an office building (they are a really small branch) in Göttingen, and their bathroom is across the hall, outside of the area that the church owns. Elder Heywood needed to use the bathroom, and they gave him the keys to unlock the door. They almost ended up needing to sleep in the church that night.

Friday was basically our only day with anything resembling free time, so we dumped all of our appointments in there. We gave a less active member a blessing, and had two lessons with investigators. The train that Göttingen took to come pick up their keys ended up being over an hour late, so after waiting for them for a good thirty minutes they had to come hunt us down at the church later that day.

On Saturday we had a zone harvest day. We had fasted the day before as a zone that we would have success and see miracles the next day. It went pretty well in the zone, but Elder Heywood woke up with a bad migraine, so we mostly stayed home and I did some paperwork. That evening we went to Braunschweig to do another baptismal interview. I got to do that one, and I was really scared. It was the first one that I have done. I would love to elaborate, but I am super out of time. I'll finish next week.

The rough path of our travels this week. I'm an artist.

The newest member of the district, and our new mascot.
Prickly Kong the Cactus. 'Tis Beautiful.

Have a good one you guys!

Elder Austin Spaulding 

Week 48 - Life in Hannover Week 8: Es Wird Deutscher

Moin Moin my friends and family! This week was mostly full of planning, little errands, moving pianos, cold showers, and lessons. We did, however, have a few fun happenings that were out of the ordinary.

I'm going to mostly let my pictures talk as I tell you the story of my little happenings.

On Monday we had to go shopping super cheaply, as it was the end of the month and we had been waiting on reimbursements for train tickets for the better part of two weeks. We were riding it really poor, which was unfortunate seeing as how our fan was broken and the mosquito population just hit a big boom, which meant that we wanted to leave our windows closed as often as possible.

On Tuesday, though, we got our reimbursements in. This caused an amazing adventure to happen. We ended up going to Kaufland (think Walmart but German) to find us a new fan for our appointment. As we were searching for one, though, another gem caught our eyes. First and foremost, a große hübsche Flasche of Nutella. It was glorious.

Just to make things better, though, we also found some decently decent lederhosen at an affordably affordable price. You better believe that the both of us hopped on that opportunity.

ENTER STAGE RIGHT: ELDER SPAULDING

Elder Spaulding: "Hey Elder Heywood... We need to eat the most German meal we are capable of making with our own hands in these."

And so we did.

We had a nice meal of Bratwurst, Knödel, Rotkohl, and happiness. It was wonderful.

Liebe Grüße,

Elder Austin Spaulding

From the mama: This week we had a wonderful email from the Kroes family and they sent pictures!

Hello from Germany!

We had Elder Heywood and Elder Spaulding for dinner tonight - what a wonderful oppourtunity to play, talk and listen with and to them!

Wonderful young men!

Have a nice week

Greetings from the Kroes family :)