Tuesday, April 3, 2012

BIBLE VIDEOS!

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoy this bible video. The church puts them out ever so often - so ENJOY@ and they are also found on lds.org along with other ones!

Oh and Dad, on your mission you used slides; on my mission we use the internet and show all the videos of the Mormon messages and bible videos. Haha...just thought you should know. I know you've been asking about it in the past.

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-savior-suffers-in-gethsemane?lang=eng

Enjoy! You will feel the Spirit! Trust me and Jesus Christ! Choose Him...He's the man!



SPRING IS COMING!                     3 April 2012

Hey everyone! Things are going well here. Things are getting more exciting as we are planning to start integrating and magnifying people's callings. We're about to get on FIRE! Along with all that, things are going to be getting more stressful but it's a good thing. It's an opportunity for me to work and rely on the Lord more.

So I'm sending a new voice recording!!!!

Also, our apartment got way cleaner and much more tidy, which is nice. I'm going to be sending some things home because I need to save on space. Feel free to go through it and look at all of it. I'm hoping to get everything cleaned here pretty soon.

I'm trying lately to get my testimony much sharper of The Bible and with what The Book of Mormon says in terms of prophesies. I've also enjoyed studying in the Book of Mormon and comparing Lehi's dream with Nephi's - since they were both shown the same things! It's been pretty awesome to study!

So, thank you for the voice recordings Dad...the frogs were great! I miss them!

I'm glad to hear that things are improving!

I love you all!


Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Hey Family! Things here are going well. We're finding new investigators and gaining more trust in our ward. Apparently some time in the past some missionaries lost the trust of the ward; so it's been fun to see how we've been able to help grow the ward back up - since I've been in the area.....And with my new companion - it's nice to have a fresh set of eyes!

We're teaching a few new people in the city. They are really nice, love the gospel and are excited to learn more.

They're both reading The Book of Mormon and are excited for our future appointments! :-) Our Bishop also gave us a referral the other night of someone who wants to learn more about the gospel. So we're gaining the trust of the ward and we're working hard to be accountable with everything that we're given and the ward is responding! It's all good!

I've been studying more in the Ensign about hope, (Mom-I've written you a letter - I just need to send it out to you!) and it's been really great to see how much Jesus Christ can do and how many bases he's covered through the Plan of Redemption.

Alma has been good reading! I've been reading in Alma 12:9-10 which was great about how much the Lord will reveal the mysteries of God to people and how that all works! I've also been studying my blessing (Patriarchal) and using the dictionary with it! It was pretty much AWESOME!

Mom - I hope your getting better. At least it's not like Virginia, where all the pollen is coming out to say 'hello' and gets all over our bikes (and us!) Haha!

Dad - I LOVE getting the recordings from you. I can't listen to the one of the frogs because I don't have my headphones at the moment but I will; I  just forgot mine today and I will start sending you more voice recordings soon.

Amy - I hope to hear from you soon. How your doing and how things are going in life for you. The letters you send always keep me and my companion on the edge. :-).....but it's all good.....but really...I'd love to hear from you.

Laura-Cory & Owen - HEY! I really enjoyed the pics you sent me in the mail. You three look great! It's really nice to see Owen decked out in Osiris gear just like his dad! Haha! I hope all is going well. I love you three!

Amanda-David & Aidon - What's Up? YO! I love how much Aidon is growing up these days; it's been awesome to hear his voice from Dad's cell phone recordings. I hope you three are doing well; that you three are happy! I know I am!

Well, I'm heading off for now but I hope things get going well back home for everyone! Things here are great!....and hopefully getting better!

I love you all! :-)

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

NEW PICTURES!

Great District! Norfolk, Virginia - February 2012

Another tour of the Ship Yards!!





TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012

Hey Everyone! I sure  hope that couch is worth it! It better be Bro. Fine! haha! (Don did an audio recording for Nick!)

It was awesome to hear the Home Teacher's voices and how much (Bro. Bryson) Gilmore has grown - he sounds totally different!

That's awesome that Sis. Fine is coming  home right after me. That would be great to speak in the same sacrament meeting!

So this past week I had the rug swiped out from under me. I had BED BUGS! :-( I had bites all over my arms and neck. We figured out where they were living in my room and then took a steamer to my bed, backpacks, suits and bed frame. We put diatamatious (sp?) earth down around my bed on the baseboards and now I don't have them anymore. We got rid of the problem very quickly...other than that the Doctor has me on a z-pack of sorts for the bites....just to be sure.

We're just starting to get very busy here in Norfolk and getting everything back on track.

Nick's Greenie!

Transfers and a new Companion!

Lately, we have been reading in Joseph Smith's History where he is writing his experiences down and the validity of his history. It is easy to know that what he said is true but 'the praying and the doing part' is going to have to be the turning point for people. I believe once they get their answer...nothing will matter. The vision that God is trying to tell us is, he loves us and wants us to return back to him.

I also studied 'Agency' today and it's very fascinating to me that there has to and must be an opposition in all things......otherwise, there wouldn't be a purpose in doing good if there were no evil. How religion plays a big role in that. The scriptures are the source from where we can find and understand our purpose as to why we should be doing what we're doing. To me it's a deep thought..Haha!...but it's good....almost like dessert to my brain (something to munch on for a while!) :-)

I've also been reading up on how the Apostle Paul was trying to understand how to improve himself through God - and how much help that was to him. The psychology of that is awesome! How we are OCD with some things. Reading how Paul answers the question of 'How do I stop doing the bad things and instead to start doing the righteous things! It's awesome!

Anywaaaaaaaayyyyyyy, yeah things are going great!

I hope the girls are doing great! I hope to  hear from them soon. How are things going in the scriptures? Anything interesting that any of y'all have applied? The scriptures are super interesting and something I can't wait to study every day! HAHA! it's great! Confusing in some areas - but well worth the study.

So folks!...if one of you is getting a bike, get something that has Shimano equipment. The good brands are TREK, LIAHONA, SPECIALIZED, DIAMOND BACK, KONA, FUJI, RALEIGH. Those are some of the brands that are good. If you want a bike that's going to cost less in the long run that's going to be what you're looking for. The other bikes i.e. @ Walmart are ok but you'll want to get into the custom parts for those bikes later because they don't come with great parts. The above brands are great because missionaries use them all the time in the field and they can really take a beating.

I found a great scripture in the Book of Mormon:

"For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."    **2 Nephi 26:33  This scripture stood out to me because it really addresses the whole "rascist" aspect of things....Great that God is not a respecter of any one type of person.

Another one:

"And thus, in their properous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need."    ** Alma 1:30    This scripture is one that I really like how we should look at things. It's a guide to help us understand the love of God. The relationship we should all have with each other and the outlook of riches. It's the moments we have with each other that make up eternity and happiness - not money.

I can't wait to get home and do service and go to shelters and help those in need - just for the feeling of charity it gives me....and the change that takes place in me. I hope everyone learns that lesson. It's what changes the world. It helps us to see our true potential and how much God loves His children.  "In order to get answers to our prayers, we must be an answer to someone elses'."  **Pres. Uchtdorf

Well, I LOVE all of you. I hope things are going well and that life is getting better!

I love....family..forget not.:-)

Romans 8:16-17 & John 3:16

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter Day Saints

UpDate

Tuesday, March 13, 2012                         THANKS!

Mom & Dad,

Thank you both for your testimonies. It brought me to tears and I hope that you both have great opportunities to keep sharing the gospel to others. It really helps me hearing the witness that people have that bring them to tears and knowing that the Lord is very close to hearing and listening to everyone and knowing that He is aware of us all.

Thank you both for being my parents and for all that you both do. Your constant e-mails really help me have something to look forward to every week - you two are the only ones that write me! Thank you - I really appreciate it - it helps keep me moving forward. Thanks!

I love you both! ...very much and pray and think of y'all always!

Your son,
Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints