Tuesday, February 25, 2014

holy host

Bonjour family and friends!!!!!
You guessed it! I'm being transferred! Wowzers! 7 months in a single area.
It sure has been a great blessing serving here in Pittsburgh 3rd ward. Next time you hear from me I'll be in a new area! Hopefully it's somewhere warm! The weather here makes no sense. Anyways, My companion is training! I totally called it too. Last week, we went and saw Sis Knight, she was reactivated last November. She is such a wonderful woman. Her home is a little chaotic and crazy, and she has never really felt true peace there. This has been her concern for quite a while. Anywho, when we went there, she really wanted to show us her attic. We went up, and it was a really neat room. It had everything you could need. Light flooded into the room perfectly. It felt very very peaceful, we all felt the Spirit there. Sis knight was very surprised that there was such a difference. But she truly has found her sanctuary and escape from the world. It was so peaceful there, and really felt like the holiest place in her home. This week I've learned the importance of the HOME. The Lord has counseled us with this, "Organize yourself, prepare every needful thing, establish a House, a House of Prayer, and House of Fasting, a House of Learning, a House of Order, a House of Glory and a house of God." As we study out the Scriptures, Pray, and dedicate our lives to the Gospel, our home will become like a temple, always prepared and ready to House the Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Ghost can only dwell with a Holy HOST! Clever I know. My invitation to us all, is to strive to allow our homes to become like the Temple. Where only peace, love, and future divine relationship can be forged! There truly is a noticable difference of those that Keep the Commandments of God. While on my mission I can feel such a difference comparing the home of an investigator we teach, to the Home of faithful members of the Lord's restored Church, who honor their relationship with Christ. Big difference my friends!!! ;) I love you all! Thank you for all that you do! Much Love,
Elder Johnson
REALLY  REALLY expensive pizza

Downtown Pittsburgh

Andrew's district


Monday, February 17, 2014

7 months

Helllo my family and friends!
Wow, pitt 3rd ward sure is the best place I could ever be. I really do love serving here. It's the best! And as of today (mon) i've been out for 7 months!!!!! Can you believe it?!?!?!?! It feels like I went to the MTC yesterday. Crazy how fast time flies in the work of the Lord. Anywho, the Lord has been teaching me so much, I've found so many answers to prayers, in the Book of Mormon, in church. and In my own personal prayers to our Heavenly Father. The words of Christ truly do guide us straight to the Father. I compare this to what it would feel like to be driving a car in the middle of a desert, not knowing which way is which. The Bible, is like a thick line drawn across the desert, guiding us to eternal life. A sense of direction comes from it's route. And the Book of Mormon, is like another line drawn parallel to the first. Both constituting the straight and narrow path by which we find eternal life. Abiding by the word of God, will always guide us to the Father :) Simple as that! I've learned reading the scriptures will not only open the window to Revelation, it will not only answer our questions, but it will keep us safe, and protected. Christ's invitation is to "Feast, upon the words of Christ". As found in 2 Nephi 31:20, if we press forward with a "Perfect Brightness of Hope" and "Endure to the end" We may once more dwell in the presence of our Loving Heavenly Father. Thanks be to God! I love this Gospel, I know it is true. I know Jesus is the Christ. He lives.
Thank you for being a part of my life. :) with much love,
ELder Johnson


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

tithing

Making his companion do all the work

Helllooo my friends and Family!!!!
I sure hope life is treating yinz well. The Lord sure has been blessing me! it's been an ammmazing week. Full of great lessons, and awesome people who want to come back to church! The weather hasn't really been agreeing though. It snows a lot now. And hills and snow aren't exactly best friends. The landscape here is suuuper hill-y. It's like when the rug in your hallway gets all bunched up and shoved into the corner. It's like that! But everywhere! haha.
I have a good chance of being transferred on the 24th. We had our interviews with the mission President and he pretty much told me I'm leaving. But can you believe it! I've been in one area for 6 and a half months!!!!!
Anywho. I had a neat experience last week. We had plans to teach an investigator who has some trouble with the word of wisdom. But I felt prompted to teach about tithing instead. I kept thinking, "what does tithing have to deal with anything about living the word of wisdom???" But I didn't ignore that feeling, and we started to teach her. She agreed to live the law of tithing, and immediately concerns about trying to quit smoking came up. and before we knew it she committed to be baptized in 3 weeks. It was crazy! The spirit was so powerful there I could pass out. It was such an amazing experience. From this experience I learned a valuable lesson that Heavenly Father truly does answer all of our prayers. Maybe not the route we'd expect. But if we follow His plan, we should EXPECT blessings and miracles. I also learned Heavenly Father really knows how to reach all of His Children. Anywho, I just wanted to share that, and to testify that Heavenly Father Lives, and Loves us. I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And I know that the Book of Mormon IS true. and the stories within it are of real people. My invitation to yinz, is to prayerfully read at least a page from the Book of Mormon everyday. And I promise you all the righteous desires of your heart will come to you. I love you guys! Thanks for everything. Much love!
-Elder Johnson :)



Exchanges!