Week of LOVE

FEB 12 2017

These guys got to go and play in a Jazz Band Gig for Mr Hendricks because it conflicted with the High School Valentines dance. Lexie says thanks for letting her borrow your tie and vest.... They had tons of fun though. Don't know if Mr Hendricks would invite them all back or not, ha ha. It's been awhile for Zac and Megan. And Lexie is brand new. But they had tons of fun.

How are you? Is it crazy being in a trio or have you adjusted? Probably weird going from being a trainer to not, huh? Do you have any idea how long you will be in a trio? Probably until next transfers? I somehow lost track of when the next transfers are. i think for some reason I got off count. 

We had a Ma and Pa training today. It went really well. We had lots show up and we had 3 rotations. So we had to do our little devotional 3 times. Dad always does such a great job. I just love him so much. I love his stories and object lessons. It's awesome serving with him. I fall more and more in love with him everyday. Speaking of which, Happy Valentines Day this week. I hope you feel so much love in your heart. You are so loved. We miss you tons. 

Hey, guess who is working on putting her mission papers in? Grandma Wood!!!! She is putting in her papers to serve in the Nauvoo Temple where her cousins are Mission Presidents. She is so way excited. She will leave probably around Christmas time. Kinda crazy when you are a senior you can kinda say where you want to go, although it does help to have her cousins be a daughter to the President of Quorum of the 12 Apostles. So I guess that would help her get where she wants to go. She is leaving On march 7th for 21 days on a trip to Jerusalem. I'm so jealous! She will be touring around there and then get to do a cruise up the Nile for 10 days. I can't believe she will be gone for 21 days. That would be amazing. 

So I never heard from you if you ever gave my testimony to Richard and Renanta or maybe it was too late. Sounds like they are doing good, hopefully you are still in contact with them. I'm sure things have changed since now you have a bigger area to cover. 

Things are good here. I'm so grateful that the Lord is in charge and that all things work out. We've had lots going on but we are so grateful for so many blessings. 

I love you so much and Pray you have an amazing week. Hopefully your valentine gets to you on time, but if not, be patient, it will come. 

Love you so much!!!!

Love, Mom

ELDER SNELL:
Hi, Mom :)

Looks like they were excited to go play with the jazz band :) you
should tell Zac that I honk he should shave his face ;) hahaha

I am doing very well! The trio is super fun and a lot of work, but I
am loving it! It didn't really take too much adjusting for it,
thought. So that's good! I will be in this trio until transfers on
March 7th. I have been in Plainview since August, so I think I might
be leaving... however, if I am transferred out, that means they would
be blinding in two Elders into my teaching pool, so there is a
possibility that President won't do that. I guess we will see haha :)

Wow! That sounds like you had tons of people there! How many MA's and
Pa's do you have going on trek this year? Do you know how many kids
are going to go yet?

Grandma told us that she is working on her papers! That is so exciting
:) how long will she be at the temple? I am so jealous that she gets
to go to Jerusalem! President and Sister Reynolds went there a couple
years ago,  it they said that it was weird because there were people
standing around with massive guns everywhere. Also, that the food
there is terrible hahaha I am still super excited for Grandma to go,
though :)

So, about Richard and Renanta. We taught them the Word of Wisdom two
weeks ago and the Law of Chastity last week. I haven't given them your
letter yet, because I wanted to teach them the law of tithing first :)
I LOVE your letter! I forgot to ask if I could do this, but I did it
anyway haha I used a little bit of your letter in a talk I wrote about
Obedience :) I can send you the talk if you want :)

Happy Valentines Day tomorrow! :) I love you!

Elder Snell

MOM: Hi buddy!!!

I would love you to send me your talk!!!! 

That's no fun sounding about all the guns and food but I guess you get an experience. Right?  

I'm driving to work. I'll check email when I get there. ❤

ELDER SNELL: Here is my talk :) The audience it is intended for is missionaries, but you might be able to benefit from it :) haha I love you!

The Christlike Attribute of Obedience

Hello, Elders and Sisters! I am so happy today to be given this chance to give a talk about the Christlike attribute of obedience. I would like to start off my talk with a story from my parent's newly wed lives. This is what my Mom wrote in a letter to one of our investigators the other week about obedience to the law of tithing.

"Even though it's hard to think of WHY we should obey... However, just for the pure reason of being OBEDIENT we are truly blessed...

"When Steve and I were very first married, bills were hard and money was stretched really thin. We weren't really good at paying our tithing and and we struggled with bills. We decided to put tithing to the test. We knew we had many bills that needed to be paid, but we took out our tithing first and then started paying the bills. We were getting down to the paying the last bills and we were short the amount of money we had paid in tithing. We didn't know what we were going to do and so we prayed that we would be blessed for being obedient. That week we received a check in the mail for an over payment of. A bill that ended up being almost the exact amount we needed."

I testify that being obedient to the laws of heaven will BLESS your life!!!

My Mom goes on to say, "Another example is that we were getting tight on money again and we had a car break down. We had no idea how on earth we would pay for this, but somehow I had a coworker bring to my attention that he thought my vacation time had been cut short and that I should look at my pay stubs. We in fact found that I could be paid out some vacation money that would have been lost if he hadn't been prompted to ask me. I KNOW Heavenly Father is in the details of my life!!!

"I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my testimony of these laws that have been given to us for our safety and for our good. Obedience to these [and other] laws help us to grow as a person faster than [any other thing]...Your life will be forever changed as you put the Lord to the test and follow these laws."

Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21 states:

"20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated--

21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

When we obtain ANY blessing from God, we receive that blessing solely because we were obedient to the law upon which it is predicated. As we are obedient to the commandments--to the mission rules--we are PROMISED that we will receive the blessing associated with those rules and commandments. 

At the beginning of my mission, I took the time to go through my Missionary Handbook with a highlighter and I marked all the blessings we are promised as missionaries. There are so many, but I will just name a few:

• As you keep commandments, live mission rules, devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, the Lord will bless you and you will become an effective advocate and messenger of the truth (pg 4).
• As you obey with a willing heart, you will show the Lord your love for Him, earn the trust and confidence of members and nonmembers, and qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost (pg 4).
• Refined, dignified language will clearly identify you as a servant of the Lord (pg 8).
• Appropriate dress and grooming will help you earn respect and trust (pg 10).
• When properly worn, [the temple garment] provides protection against temptation and evil (pg 23).
• Avoiding all forms of worldly entertainment will help you keep your eye single to the glory of the Lord and His work (pg 24).
• Maintaining your health will help you serve with all your heart, might, mind, and strength (pg 50).
• These standards will help you magnify your calling and protect you physically and spiritually (pg 1).

I testify that there is a reason for the commandments and there is a reason for the many rules a missionary must follow "that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world..."

Obedience really does bring forth the blessings of Heaven! I would like to leave you with my testimony that I know that our Father in Heaven and our Savior live and they lead and guide this mission. I know that the message we share with God's children will change their lives as it has changed mine. As we are obedient, we will allow ourselves to truly become more effective messengers of truth. I love you all and I testify of these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen. :)

MOM: our talk is great Caden! You have a gift to share your testimony. I am so grateful for your example and the trust that you have in your father in heaven.

We have about 40 Ma's and Pa's, but don't know how many kids are going to sign up. We have 144 so far.