O Canada

Wed, Jul 1, 2015

How now brown cow,

I want to wish you a happy Canada day this week! It's such a great opportunity that we have as Americans to celebrate the freedom of such a vibrant and commendable country like Canada the first week of every July.

President and Sister Morgan have officially been released and are now in Utah. Sad day. On the same note President and Sister Smith have arrived with their family from Keller, Texas. Yesterday we had a meeting with them where we got to meet them. They have 3 kids, 2 daughters who are 15 and 13, and a son who is 11. It's a little weird now that there will be kids living in the mission home but it's exciting as well. 

The Smith’s are the cats pajamas! President Smith does Iron Mans and stuff. He is Yuuuuge. Seriously tho. After they had introduced themselves and President Smith was talking I had a feeling of love for this family. They have sacrificed so much to be here and although it must have been hard, they are ecstatic for this opportunity to serve. I have never had such a feeling of instant love like I did with the Smith’s. Never have I come to love somebody so quickly.

It has been hot and rainy lately. When you hear of "hot rain" you're all, "Oooh hot rain. Sounds exotic like you're journeying through the beautiful Brazilian rain forests." But nah. In the Bronx everything gets wet and sticky and smells even funkier. #DownsidesToServingInNy

I'm stoked for this Friday because the mission is going to go to the Yankees baseball game. The Mormon Tabernacle choir is singing the national anthem and apparently there will be general authorities in attendance whatever that means. #PerksToServingInNY

This week Elder Wallace and I were in an appointment with some of my favorite investigators. They are 4 brothers. I mentioned them last week. The 7 yr old named Junior made one of the best apologies of the priesthood I've ever heard. We were talking about the Restoration and the need for priesthood authority. These guys have the best questions ever! They had the question, "If you aren't living righteously does someone take away your priesthood?" That led us to D&C 121.

Within D&C 121 it states," the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."

Basically the priesthood allows us to tap into the powers of heaven. When we live unworthy of it, it's not like some dood comes and takes away our priesthood but it is as if the heavens close themselves off from us. We aren't able to tap into the powers of heaven. 

After hearing that explanation Junior was like,"Ohhhh so what you're saying is that the priesthood is like Thor? His hammer is there but if you aren't Thor you can't pick it up. Not just any guy can walk up and use the power of the hammer. If you're the right person though you can be very powerful." And then I was like,"Dood that analogy was on point." The way these young kids we have the blessing of teaching can apply the gospel to real life is Radink to the Hinkulious.

Have a great Canada Day this week everybody!

Elder Tyler Johanson