Building Upon the Foundation of Christ

New comp, Elder Thorpe

Hey hey hey!

How's it going?  How you all doing this fine day?  Things are going great here in Puli and have some sad and some good news.  Sad news is that Elder Shang, my first Taiwanese companion has moved away, but the good news is that I have a new white companion, Elder Thorpe.  He is from Draper and I love him already.  Things have started off great within the few hours we've been together.  So this past week was full of great learning and spiritual experiences, and today I'll share one of them with you.This past Thursday we were able to visit with a less active family, the Lin Family, and actually visited with the son last week.  So we began off by seeing how much the son remembered when he was in primary.  He didn't remember much at the start but we were able to bring some stories and primary songs to his remembrance.  One we shared with them was about the wise man building his house upon the rock.  One scripture I truly love is Helaman 5:12, where it teaches us that as we build upon the foundation of Christ, the temptations of the devil will have no effect over us.  The mother added a few insights and then brought up Lehi's dream, and stated  that she remembers this most.  We continued to share about these two topics, and as we finished off the lesson we sang together "Families Can Be Together Forever."  During the end of singing I noticed that the mother stopped singing and I watched her closely until we finished.  As she lifted up her head, tears were streaming down her face and her hands began to tremble as she tried to cover them.  She had felt something she hadn't felt in a long long time, and it was the Spirit that had touched her heart.  As we rode home I began pondering upon what had happened and the things I had learned from that experience.  Eternal families is the hope we all have, and that by "small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6).  As we do the those small and simple things in our life--read and pray daily as individuals/families, go to church, hold FHE, live and keep commandments, etc.--that we build upon the foundation of Christ and get a firmer grip on the iron rod.  It is absolutely crucial that we keep this eternal goal in mind, and do the necessary daily things to attain it.  I personally am grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the example he set for us all.  I know that He loves us all and it is because of this love that He was willing to atone for all mankind.  I know it is as we follow his footsteps, his example, that we can experience true joy and and happiness in our mortal journey.  I know that through the scriptures we can study eternal truths helping us build upon the rock of our Redeemer, and hold more firmly to the iron rod.  I know that as we continue to endure on this path, holding firmly to the rod, that we can obtain a fullness of joy with our loved ones in the presence of our Heavenly Father.  I love you all and hope you all can do those things necessary to enjoy this eternal joy.  Til next week!   

Turning 21!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hey everybody!

How's it going?  How's everyone doing?  Hope things are going alright in cold, cold, Utah.  Well, it's official, I'm now 21!  Doesn't feel like it, but that's ok.  I'm now one year older, and I hope a bit wiser than I was last year.  I had a great time celebrating my birthday, and even there wasn't any ice cream cake I did the best I could (see attached photo).  Thanks for all the birthday wishes and for all your support!  Well, enough of that, let's get on with this past week.  

The week started off pretty good!  Monday night my companion and I held a family home evening activity for our branch.  The outcome wasn't what we expected, but we still had a great time.  We were able to help those individuals, including a few investigators, see how this time together as a family can truly strengthen relationships.  One of our investigators, Brother Chen Huan Wen, mentioned with the entire group that when he gets married he is going to hold FHE because he felt and knew that the time spent as families is limited and as we spend this time together, families will learn, grow, and become more united.  Although it wasn't quite what we expected, the impact it had on those that attended was quite fascinating.  It brought back memories of all the family home evening's that my family and I held in the past.  At that time I sometimes felt that it was boring and that there were friends that I could be hanging out with, or other things that I could do that were better, but I'm grateful for the time my family set aside to hold FHE.  Looking back I have seen the blessings that holding FHE weekly has brought to my family and me, and how it has strengthened the bonds within our family.  Such a great blessing to share with all those who were in attendance at our activity.

One of my favorite things that happened this week was when we visited with a ward member, Brother Luo.  He and his wife have been sick lately and for that reason haven't been able to come to church, and so we went and visited them to strengthen them.  In return I learned quite a bit from his remarks.  He talked to us about hope and how maintaining that hope and never losing hold of it is important in each of our lives.  It reminded me of the tree in Lehi's dream.  Lehi beheld the tree and the fruit that was desirable to make one happy.  He then went forth and partook of it and was filled with great joy.  He then desired that his family could partake of it.  He had this hope and didn't lose sight of it.  It really made me think a lot on my own hopes as a servant of the Lord, and how I can help investigators have similar hopes.  The tricky part is the buildings and other influences in Lehi's dream that cause us to lose sight of that hope.   However, as we hold onto the iron rod, keeping our eye focused on that hope and not losing sight of it, we can and will obtain eternal blessings.  I was grateful for what he shared and we all were truly edified.     

Well, just wanted to thank you all for all the support you have given my family and I these past two years.  It truly is felt over here :)

Love you all!

Elder Nick Smith

司馬長老

The noblest aim in life is to strive to make other lives happy

Hello, 
Well, it feels like just the other day I emailed you all. How have things gone these past few days? Things are going well here in Puli and its getting better and better. With not much else let’s get on in with the rest of last week. Well . . . 
Thursday we were able to visit with a few less actives. In one of those lessons we particularly shared from 4 Nephi. The first time we visited with him about a month ago we didn't receive a very welcoming visit. However, this time it all changed. We talked about how all the Nephites and Lamanites were converted unto the Lord and about how "there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." We talked about his life as he began to learn from the missionaries and then after he joined the church. We talked about how through this process he was similar to the Nephites and Lamanites, walking after the things of God and receiving a joy from doing so. When we're happy, God's happy, and he has provided a way for us to obtain an everlasting joy and happiness, and that path is the gospel of Christ. He not only accepted our help in helping him, but he actually told us in what ways we can help him. It was interesting to compare the first visit with the second visit and I'm still wondering what changed his attitude between the two visits, but I know as he realized the joy and happiness the gospel brought to him in the past, he was willing to work towards it again. Just another testimony builder on how the gospel really does bring true happiness into our lives. 
Yesterday afternoon my companion and I had a strange experience. After we ate lunch we left our apartment and went down to where our bikes were. While there we heard some whimpering behind some weed-wacker machines and found this cute, little dog who was obviously a stray. I felt bad for this dog and wished I could help it in some way, and so the first thing I thought of was to whistle (the extremely recognizable way that dad always does at our sports games). It immediately sat up and ran over to me and just chilled by my leg. Right at that moment the 管理員(sorry I don't know how to say it in English) came over and told us to take it out because someone would kill it and eat it. Well, we did what he said and actually placed it in my companion’s basket on the front of his bike. He immediately got comfortable in the basket and feel asleep and we took him to a better place to live. It made me think a lot. We are all the sometimes like this cute, little, homeless dog. Through life we sometimes have wandered into some strange places, and feel alone to the point where we don't know what to do. However, we have a loving Heavenly Father who is there with outstretched hands. As we follow His "whistle", his teachings, his commandments, we will be guided to a better, happier place. I know that Heavenly Father lives and that He does love each and everyone of us. I know He is mindful of our needs and concerns and is willing to answer the cry for help. I know that because He loves us He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to set the example on how we can receive a fullness of joy in this life and in the life to come. 
 I love you all and hope that each of you can continue to experience the joy and love our Heavenly Father has for you. 
‘Til next time! Elder Nick Smith 司馬長老 


阿彌陀佛

Family and Friends,

Hey everybody!  How's it going lately?  So yes, it is Wednesday and feels weird having preparation day today.  Monday we had a Mission Tour where Elder Evans from the missionary department came and talked with us, and then today is temple day for my zone, but because we're too far in the mountains we couldn't go . . . So it's p-day.  One thing I forget to write in last weeks letter was HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPECER!  You're 18, and what does that mean?  I hope that filling those mission papers out soon goes smoothly for you.  This past week went pretty good, and this week has been off to a great start.

The most interesting thing that happened this past week was when we visited former investigators.  We went and visited a Wang family and they invited us in.  We sat down with the dad and his son and began sharing about the gospel.  Well, the dad's interest wasn't there, but his son just so happened to be attending a Christian school in the area and quite loved reading the Bible and praying, and so it was easier to focus the attention on the son.  Well, as things were wrapping up, the mother came down and decided to join the conversation and was just prepared to listen.  Ever since her son began attending this school, she herself opened her heart to Christianity and began to read the Bible occasionally and pray as well.  We will be visiting with them again this Friday, and even though we don't know the turnout of this lesson, it just goes to show that the Lord truly is preparing people to receive this message.  This family wasn't prepare five years ago when missionaries began visiting, but who knows, this may be the time they have been prepared for.  It was just a testimony builder to know that the Lord continues to prepare people to accept this gospel. It's almost like hide-and-seek.  We just gotta go out and look for them and not give up.

Last week we visited with Brother Xu and his son Jia Xiang, the one we are working with to get baptized.  Long story short, Jia Xiang changed our entire lesson plan, but it was for the better.  We had originally planned to finish teaching the Message of the Restoration with him and focus on giving him a spiritual experience and desire to actually want to be baptized.  Well, in previous appointments to be funny, him and his little brother would go through the hymn book to find the shortest hymns and would only want to sing those songs.  Well, this time he found one of the shortest verses in the scriptures which was Alma 18:27, where Ammon is teaching King Lamoni about God.  He helped change the topic on to where we needed to focus the lesson for him.  We were able to help him know more who God is and what relationship He has with him and everyone of us.  He really enjoyed the lesson and was able to share with us the things he learned about God.  Teaching Jia Xiang this time really made me think about Landon because they are about the same age.  Hey Landon, can you do something for me?  I want you to read Alma 18: 24-32 with either mom or dad, or both, and to talk about who God is and what relationship He has with us, especially with you.  And then in next week's letter you can write to me about what you learned, ok?

I began thinking about why it's important to know about God.  I then thought of the scripture John 17:3 that says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  Eternal life is to know God and His son, Jesus Christ.  As we come to know more about God, we come to know more about the plan of happiness he has for each and everyone of us.  Without going into a whole lot of detail, I was able to see how important it is for each of us to have a firm testimony of the plan God has for us.  Life is uncertain, and can come to an end when we least expect it, and for that reason we need to be prepared at all times, and in all places.  It is only the gospel of Jesus Christ that can unit families for eternity.  As our knowledge and testimony of this plan grows, so will our determination to serve Him to the end.  I'm know that Christ is our Savior, and His atoning sacrifice is the center of this plan.  I know that through faith, repentance, keeping and living our covenants, and enduring to the end, we can be stand blameless at the last day and be welcomed into our Father's kingdom.  This is the wonderful message I have to share each and every day and I'm grateful for it!  Thank you all for your prayers and support! 

Elder Nick Smith

司馬長老

Happy Chinese New Year

Sun Moon Lake

Hello Everyone!

Happy New Year!  This week was the start of the Chinese New Year, probably the biggest holiday that the Chinese celebrate.  It is a time where family from all over travel and unite together to celebrate the new year.  This year's Chinese New Year has taken on more meaning this year since I actually understand what everyone is talking about, especially my Taiwanese companion who has explained a lot for me.  So again, Happy New year!  This week was good, it still had it's ups and downs due to this holiday.

So, Thursday we were able to visit with two recent converts, Brother Xu and his son Yi Xiang.  What made our visit much more special was that Brother Xu brought his 12 year old son along as well to start learning the gospel.  At first his son was it kind of in a bad mood, but as we got things rolling along he warmed up to us and later on was super receptive to the message.  On Sunday, he even attended Sacrament meeting and enjoyed it a lot.  This family is almost complete.  Just one more and then they'll all be learning and growing together in the gospel.

Due to the Chinese New Year, families from all over are traveling back to their relatives homes, and are all inside gathered together, which makes tracting our main way of finding.  It has been interesting to see all these families united together, and the joy they are experiencing during this time.  To most, this joy will end when death is encountered.  Although those bits of joy can once again be experienced as we remember those who have already gone on, but it is because of the gospel that we know that the relationships we share in this life can extend beyond the grave.  I'm grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and the eternal happiness and joy it can bring to families.  I'm grateful for my family and I love them all!  I'm grateful for the experiences I am given each day to help an individual in need.  This is the Lord's work and I'm grateful to be a part of it.  Happy New Year!

With Tons of Love,

Elder Nick Smith

司馬長老

Oh, It's On!

Xu Yi Xiang's Baptism Day

HEY YOU GUYS!

What a wonderful day here in Puli it is!  Not to hot, and not to cold.  Just 剛剛好! How is everyone?  I hope you all is well and that the cold is treating you all alright. With this wonderful day brings some wonderful news, Xu Yi Xiang, the son of our recent convert Brother Xu got baptized yesterday!  What was even better was that Brother Xu was able to receive the priesthood the same day and baptized his son.  It was such a great experience to experience and it'll be a moment for them both of them to remember!  

We were able to find some new investigators this week to start progressing towards baptism, and one in particular was with a mom and her son, the Gao/Zhuang family.  They are both aborigines (I love aborigines so much) and with that usually brings a Christian background.  It was so great to share about the truths we have in common, and then to add more on to what they already have.  In a sense that is all that missionary work is.  It was awesome to see the desire in the mom as we shared about the Book of Mormon and how it contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Christ.  As with all, "he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them."  The process is the same for all, but the results received come in different ways and are given according to our desire.   

I know this is another short letter, sorry!  Although it's short, I hope there is something sweet you can find. 

With Tons of Love,

Elder Nick Smith

司馬長老