Joy.

This week was another incredible week full of learning, teaching, and pure joy. 

Our investigator Jandira was baptized on Saturday and it was such a special baptismal service. Her whole family came and the spirit was so strong the entire time. She left the water with the biggest smile I think I've ever seen. That kind of happiness is called joy. Joy is so different from anything else in this world and we are so lucky that we have access to its source, the spirit and the truth.  The only way that we'll ever find true joy is through the gospel and through obedience to the commandments. It's sad that not many people have access to that indescribable feeling of joy. It talks about it quite a bit in the scriptures and it's usually associated with missionary work and repentance. Alma talks about joy a few times, once after being converted and having a mighty change of heart and again upon meeting the sons of Mosiah after serving their missions. But I think one of my favorites is in D&C 18 “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” Joy, joy, joy. We were sent here to have joy!!! I am so grateful for my upbringing and for the fact that I was born into this incredible gospel.

I had an incredible birthday! The elders did a good job about making sure it was a special day. Good stuff!

I hope you all have an incredible week! I love and appreciate you all!

 

Love,

 

Elder Hyde

Living the good life

Ya know, there is no place on the planet I would rather be right now than here in Huambo, Angola. Our area is progressing great and we're having testimony building experiences. We've seen the Book of Mormon hard at work this week as we've seen some of our key investigators gain testimonies of it. The spiritual progression of anyone in the church, be it investigator or member, is substantialy reliant upon the reading of The Book of Mormon. 

Yesterday was a great Sunday. It was the fifth Sunday so I got to give the lesson for priesthood and relief society. We watched President McConkie´s talk about teaching with power and authority and then discussed it. It was great, I personally learned a ton about the necessity of personal worthiness. If we want the spirit to be with us, especially while we teach, it takes a lot more than just  saying our nightly prayers and going to church on Sunday. We´ve got to practice what we preach. I also gave a talk on faith during sacrament meeting. I talked about the importance of trials in our life and about how God uses them to try us and to see if we're truly converted unto Him. Mosiah 23:21 and Ether 12:6 were kind of the base of it and then I used Abraham as an example. It was great. I learned a lot. 

Once again, I love you all and am so grateful for all of your prayers and support! Have the greatest week of your lives!

Love, 

Elder Hyde