New car!

                     Worn out in the service of the Lord

Good afternoon!

As I sat down my mind totally went blank. A lot happened this past week, but...it feels like so long ago that those things happened ... Things are picking up here. No crazy stories this week--I am sure Mom is happy to hear that. But I am busy, busy, busy.

Sounds like it has been pretty emotional back home. I continue to pray for you all. I love you and pray the best for you.

I went on a few exchanges this week so I have not spent all of my time in my area. I went all over the city of Winnipeg. I enjoy feeding off of other's excitement and testimonies! Mine was definitely strengthened as I participated in Elder Perkin's District Meeting on Wed (my trainee is a District Leader! Nothing to do with me, he is just amazing) which focused on using the Book of Mormon as the Keystone of our religion. I thought really deeply about my experiences. My mind frequently tries to get me to doubt and as I experience those feelings I am filled with confusion and fear, which are evidences that those feelings are NOT from God because He is not the author of confusion. Instead, my heart filled with warmth and assurance as I contemplated my spiritual experiences which have shaped my testimony. For me, those experiences are only part of my testimony. Another part of my testimony are the evidences of living the gospel vs. not living it. WOW there is a difference. Going on one of the exchanges, in particular, really reminded me of how blessed I am and have always been. Now, I used to dislike the word "blessed" because I thought it was so vague and something of a cover-up-word for people while sharing testimonies. However, like I believe I have expressed before, I have come to a complete knowledge that a blessing can simply be the absence of something evil, or bad. Isn't that a blessing? Isn't decent health a blessing? Isn't being able to go on a morning jog a blessing? Isn't a clean home in a safe neighborhood a blessing? I can't emphasize enough of how lucky I have always been and that I was BLESSED in my upbringing.

I know you hear me harping on "being thankful" all the time, but....oh well. I suppose I especially direct my thoughts to any who read this that think they are so-called "unfortunate" or think that God has given them a "tough hand", because there were times where I thought I had it "tough". If nothing else, just writing this helps reaffirm to me that I am blessed. (If you want MORE specifics I will be happy to give them to you, but not until after the mission....there are LOTS...you may want to start writing all things things down to follow up with me, ha) I remember Pres. Monson's talk "The Attitude of Gratitude" and strive to develop that mentality. It is healthy, upbeat and encouraging. It brings us closer to God. I am still a work in progress. I KNOW that the Commandments we have today are from God and truly free us. I will now step down from this soapbox I put myself on...

Can you not tell that I am passionate about this? I will be the best Home Teacher this church has ever seen. Give me those LAs....Lately I am becoming more bold with those I am in contact with. I have been bold on my mission before---really bold--but I feel that I am now doing it with the most pure intentions...never to belittle them, but to share my testimony. ----Pause----I feel great right now. I think I am going to start printing these emails off and putting them into my journal. What an entry right? Mom, you were right in your part of the email when you put: "I think that as you spend more and more time getting to know people at work, talking with people at their front doors, with your neighbors, etc., in life, you begin to realize how unhappy some people are or how difficult some people’s lives are.  Some unhappiness or challenges in life are brought on by poor choices and some just are just difficult circumstances out of their control." To that list I would add that many good people are just confused too, or do not where to search. I know that principle is true more than anything. Truly the gospel brings happiness. I know it does. Christ can eliminate guilt, sin and can succor us but only if we let Him. Also as part of His Atonement He can lift, inspire and help us to reach higher, but only if we let Him. We must always be humble.

You asked about Zone Conference a couple weeks ago. It was received really well. We built a tower out of Mega Bloks. Fun eh? Elder Skinner and I showed 2 volunteers and the audience a picture of a complicated structure we made, but only showed it to them all for about 20 seconds. Then we took it away and had the volunteers try to build the structure. They couldn't. Then we gave them written instructions that had them think, but led them to build it correctly. They had an idea of what they wanted at first, but needed instructions to get them to the final product. Such it is with missionaries. Missionaries come out with a basic idea of who they want to be and what they want to achieve. When they get into the field that is suddenly lost in the frenzy of everything going on. So much to do! But, with Preach My Gospel as the Lord's instruction manual for missionary work we can be the type of missionary the Lord wants us to be. Make sense? It was received pretty well and many missionaries are studying more intensely in PMG, myself included. I am going through and writing summaries of all the scriptures given in the blue scripture study boxes. I am receiving personal revelation as I do it and am feeling uplifted. I know the gospel is true. The Book of Mormon is true and so is the Bible (as long as it is translated correctly).

You mention a few chiasms in the Book of Mormon. I will have to look at those. Alma 36 has a huge chiasm about his experience that is similar to Paul's in the Bible--a total change, and his soul being "harrowed up". I learned what that was and I love the words used!

Weather? The other day is was +18C and I about died. I was roasting. Today looks to be a scorcher too. I laughed when you said 60F was cold. Perfect, is what it is. No snow...for now.

This week is full of "Transfer Planning", where President Paulson, Elder Skinner and I will study and search the best places to put missionaries. I pray for the Holy Ghost to enlighten our minds. This is a 3 day event, by the way...no small undertaking. 

I love you all, always seek to have living testimonies.

Elder Galbraith

    A new Subie!  (as in Subaru)

It rides better than the Cruze but is not as fun to drive. Yup, I said it. We got it THAT DAY. Speaking of cars, I had to give up my Minnesota Driver's license and got my Manitoba one. Sad day.

Busy week

Sure seems like there is opposition in all things eh? I hope you are all doing well. There is a lot going on back home. I pray for you daily. I had an interesting experience with opposition this past week. I went on exchange in a small city near Winnipeg with missionaries and while on a doorstep a man and after asking if there was anything I could do to help him he pulled a baseball bat on me. He threatened me and yelled expletives, and I just reminded him that I asked if I could help him and he stormed back into the house. I had never had anything like that happen before. I knew I would be safe because I was doing what I was supposed to and being obedient. Talk about opposition. Ha, and an hour or 2 before then I was an eye-witness to a police chase on foot. It was an interesting experience in that town. Despite the opposition, I feel like I am closer to God than I have been before. I feel like I am confidently recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost and I wait for those promptings. I cannot claim to recognize every one, but I am trying to rely on the Spirit more and trying to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ even more in my life. It is apparent to me that living the gospel brings freedom and happiness. Anyone who denies that either needs to try living the gospel or has not yet recognized the blessings from living it. That is where a good part of my testimony came from: the realizing that those around me that were not living the gospel had a bunch of things that they were dealing with. Now I am generalizing a bit and we all know that everyone has their share of "life", but pause and take a moment and evaluate how much the gospel has blessed your life and where you would be without it....wow. I would not be in Winnipeg. I cannot begin to describe how much happier I am because of the teachings of Jesus Christ and his gospel. I thank my parents for my upbringing. I know that God lives because of simple assurances of peace, comfort and clarity. These feelings are not simple coincidences, but I know them as divine--for any who read this and are seeking to know truths, it begins with SINCERE study, and the 3 things Moroni mentions in Moroni 10:3-5: sincerity, real intent (really intending to act on the answer you receive) and faith in Christ. I can see where I may have been if not a member of God's restored Church, and am full of thanks to not be there.

I better answer some questions and refer to the last email. Way to go on your citizenship! I am so excited for you. Sounds like you "aced" your test--I would expect nothing less. Happy birthday to Tayson! I'm excited to spend time with my nieces and nephews (when the time comes), I just hope they are as excited as I am. I will spend May 7th in Winnipeg, hopefully on a golf course for my p-day...we'll see. Those travel arrangements look fine. I don't like talking about this either, but I suppose I must, right? Would I get released when I arrived in Boise? (Again, not looking forward to it, just logistics...) What is reporting to the High Council entail? Let me know some of those dates when they are solidified because I may have a few people from the mission make it to the Boise talk---(Elder) Jimmy Butterfield, and a few others possibly. Do you remember Elder Butterfield? He made a huge impact on me early on. I was a ball of energy that needed to be channeled in the right direction and he helped. Do you remember any or all of my companions? As for your question last week regarding why there are so few missionaries in the mission right now compared to before, is that we didn't need that many missionaries. Remember how I was 1 of 3 companionships in the same ward? Now there are only 1 set per most wards (my current ward is an exception with the Assistants and a "normal" companionship here). There are a few outlying areas, but most missionaries are in the cities of our mission now. In August there will be 56 missionaries again, now there are 48. 56 is the most we will have, and will serve us really well.

I appreciate you including those segments from Elder McDowell's email. I gleaned a few good ideas. He mentioned boldness. I can still occasionally be shy while out proselyting, but I have become pretty bold in proclaiming our purpose--to invite all to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Faith is the power, Obedience is the price, Love is the Motive, the Spirit is the Key, Christ is the Reason. Everything revolves around the gospel of Jesus Christ. Callens was right when he once said "if you boil everything down, it all comes down to the Atonement of Jesus Christ". It all does, so I am trying to involve the gospel and the Atonement in my life more.

A few odds and ends...I met with your cousin Pres. Randy Oler and ate at his place yesterday. Oh, good food, let me tell you. He had a few heirlooms: my 3rd-great grandpa's handcrafted nursing chair (Richard Hall? he thinks) and a rose tapestry piece that won honorable-mention in the 1900 Chicago World Fair, made by Auntie Let Hall. He thought you would love to hear those things. The Blue Bombers offensive coordinator is in my ward...Pres. Paulson must love that. Also, apparently the Area Seventy who serves my mission, Elder Terrance C. Smith, knows Mike. Elder Smith lives in Raymond and is a physician...I guess that makes sense. Dad, as for cars, I have been in Chevy's for all my mission, I have to look for the good in life, yet still know that there is better out there, for sure. No, the feelings for Toyota are still the same--no changes there--I am still me, after all, haha.

That is about it for now. I sure love you all and will send up a few more prayers this week in all of your behalf's, or as Canadian's would say, "in all of yous behalf's". Ugh, everyone says "yous" up here. Hey yous guys, sort of thing. 

I love you all,

Elder Galbraith

Road trip

My family and friends!

I am doing great! Our trip to Saskatchewan was a quality trip and Zone Conference went really well. Now I am back in Winnipeg for another eventful week and Zone Conference for the Manitoba Zone (Ontario district is in Manitoba zone). More interviews, more things to do. The list continues, but that is the best part. I like being busy.

I will give you a little rundown of my trip. On Monday we headed out and drove to Saskatoon (~8hrs) on the 1 to Regina, then to S'toon. Elder Skinner and I practiced our Zone Conference portion and then exchanged with the elders in the Wanuskewin ward (Elder Bodily and his companion). I went with Elder Bodily's companion, Elder Weeks. It is rewarding to try to help others the same way I was helped. I find that I enjoy giving people sincere compliments. Why shouldn't I if they are deserved? Compliments can build people up and can make all the difference. For example, my siblings are my role-models. My sister for her faithfulness in times of trial and for her ability to recognize the Spirit. My brother for his cheery, Christlike life that I emulate to follow. My Dad is a true family-man and I believe one of the deepest desires of his heart is to make his family happy. My Mom for being the most loving person I have ever met. I struggle to comprehend the love she has for me. Why withhold those true facts when they can continue to build others? Those are all completely true, by the way. I love my family. Back to the week---Tuesday was spent in Saskatoon, splitting time with 2 companionships on exchanges, striving to help build them up and work more efficiently towards our mission’s goals. Tuesday night we drove to Regina and spent the night. Then had mini-interviews with missionaries while President held the "real" interviews at the chapel. That took most of the day and then we drove to Moose Jaw where I was impressed by a new elder's drive and his abilities to be a great missionary. Back to Regina on Thursday morning to exchange with another companionship, then interviews, then bed. Phew...Zone Conference went well (more later) and took most of Friday. Saturday was spent traveling to Brandon, MB and exchanging there and then back to Winnipeg. Phew...

Before I forget...I remember Uncle Bill saying that he spent time in Regina on his mission. I found an old meetinghouse in Regina that was sold to another church--but it’s the original chapel in Regina! I kept going past it when I was there, thinking it sure looks a lot like one of our churches...Anyway, I thought he would enjoy that. It is off of Broad and Broadway if I remember right.

No need for birthday presents...I am already struggling for room in my suitcases. They are extremely heavy and bulging. I might need to get a few new clothes when I get home though.

My favorite part of Zone Conference was President Paulson basically telling us his conversion story. Powerful. It was his last Zone Conference and he shared a wonderful testimony. Pres. Paulson is a real person, and I appreciated his comments, which he said were confidential, so I will keep them that way. I will miss him a lot. Our portion went really well--everyone participated well and were really involved in the activity. We built a tower out of Mega Bloks and showed 2 elders a picture of it for 15 seconds, took it away and then told them to build it perfectly. They did well, but not perfectly. We then gave them instructions on how to build it and after some effort got it completed. We illustrated the point that we need to spend more time in PMG because it is the Lord's missionary instructions. We need to do missionary work the Lord's way, we need to rely on Him more. It went well.

I have been trying to rely on God more. I have gained a lot strength from the mission motto lately. I shared it a couple of weeks ago and had a typo. I will share it again: Faith is the Power, Obedience is the Price, Love is the Motive, the Spirit is the Key and Christ is the Reason. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored on the earth and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's church once again on the earth. I have met a lot of resistance on my mission--A LOT---but when guidance has been prayerfully sought, answers have come...but not always instantaneously. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and is divine. The past week or so I have been more bold in my declaration. If anyone has questions, visit mormon.org and go to the source first. I don't know where I would be without many of the role models in my life that have always helped me. I remember people like Bro. Gaskill who I admired as a teacher, Bro. Crandall, Bro. Callens, Bro. Litchfield, and my family of course. Many more too. Truly I have been blessed greatly in my life. Isn't it time I give back? If I have learned one thing these past months, it is gratitude. Truly, I thank God. This is God's work, and I know that I need to do it His way.

A little more lighthearted...a member gave us a ride in a brand-new VW Golf R. It purrs. Also, we still drive the truck, a new 2012 Colorado Z71. I drove a new Cruze to church yesterday to give it its first 50k's and test it out. I was really impressed---very smooth engine, clean inside. Oh...

I love my family. I pray for you all, and am especially mindful of Kim. I love you Kim. I know that God loves you too. You are an outstanding example.

Love,

Elder Galbraith

On the road again

           Regina temple

           with Sis. Harder at the temple

(written late Sunday evening)

Heading off to Saskatoon tomorrow for a busy week ahead. We will be going on the Trans-Canada to Saskatoon, dropping off mail to missionaries in Portage La Prairie and in Brandon, MB. Elder Skinner and I will be on exchanges in Saskatoon on Monday night and Tuesday, then down to Regina to be present for interviews with President Paulson on Wednesday and Thursday, with time spent in Moose Jaw, SK after interviews. We are present at those interviews to assist in a few basic duties to help everything run smoothly, and to do car inspections (!). Zone Conference is on Friday, and then we head to Brandon, MB for an exchange with them on Saturday and will return here late Saturday night. Church on Sunday. Busy week, eh? I guess I should tell you all what I do on these exchanges. I will split off with one of the elders in the area I am in and will be his companion for a few hours and will provide encouragement and insights on the work. I like to ask them questions geared towards their perspective of how the work is going, their area and their investigators and help where I can. I found them helpful as a younger missionary and it provides a way to see the way someone else goes about various situations. They are a tremendous benefit.

Mom I hope you are doing better!

Brief pause---I am working on doing the CWM indicators and they are being faxed in from the 2 zones (which are in different times zones) and take a little while to come in and then to put in the computers and get ready to go. If my thoughts are sporadic, you know why. Again, I am trying to get most of this typed up tonight so I can get out of Winnipeg about 8am tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed. I will see Elder Bodily tomorrow, as he was just moved up to Saskatoon and is helping to train a new missionary, and we will be following up with how that is going with him. I love that man.

This past week was a busy one for me. I did lots of office work for the first part of the week and then had lots of finding time towards the end of the week with lots of office things to do in preparation for this trip to Saskatchewan. A highlight of the week was having supper at Uncle Brent and Auntie Susan's with the boys. Elder Skinner and I went over on Thursday and we chatted at the table, shared a brief message on Easter, and then played a couple minutes of ping pong downstairs. It was very nice and it is convenient to have family so close, let alone within the same ward boundaries that I am currently serving in. Go figure. For mom: Pres. Oler (your cousin, who is in the stake presidency here) is also in the Waverly ward and he got my phone number so it looks like we will be catching up soon. Family in Winnipeg---all in my area...go figure. It's a little taste of home.

I had some personal revelation during church today as the sacrament was being passed to the congregation. Though the sacrament is passed each week, it had a special meaning today for me. Yes, it was Easter and the talks were about that glorious event which has eternal importance, but I think that a large portion of my insight had to do with the fact that I consciously prepared to take the sacrament during the week. I wrote myself a note on my "To Do" list for Saturday that I needed to prepare myself mentally and spiritually to take the sacrament. I know we are always supposed to do that, but with trying to help investigators attend church, planning what would help them best progress, teaching, etc., I seem to have largely left that preparation for Sunday morning. I wanted to change that. So I did, and it made a difference. From the moment it was blessed, I felt a definite increase of the Holy Ghost, even moreso than I typically do. I had an insight as to why we use both the emblems that are used in the sacrament. It came very quickly and crystal clear, and was a thought that just came to me. I have thought about some things involving the sacrament for a while now, and my answers came very clearly. Frankly, I was a little surprised the way my answers came, but I had the reassurance of the Holy Spirit that this piece of revelation came from God. So, my preparing for the sacrament made a huge impact on my experience today. Looks like I will be doing that again!

Oh, a little more about my trip this week: Elder Skinner and I will be doing instructive portions in Zone Conference. We plan on using an object lesson to help missionaries use the missionary manual Preach My Gospel as the instruction manual it truly is--but don't tell anyone because none of the missionaries know we will be doing that, and you will have to see what the object lesson is. That's about it for Sunday night.  I will see what you have for me tomorrow morning. Love ya!

Elder Galbraith

(E-mail and pictures arrived about midnight his time.)

9 April, 2012

Well you won't get a double-hitter of emails like this again--lucky you! I'm always up that late now. I've gone to bed once before 12:30 since being in the office, but am nearly always up until then with phone calls in Saskatchewan (an hour behind and we call until 10:30 their time) and odds and ends to do, and always wake up at 6:30. Ya, its tiring. I will come home exhausted, but that is best right?

So glad that Mom is doing better. You are a stud to "stick it out" at work...

To answer a few of your questions, we will be traveling to Regina then to Saskatoon, not on the 16 (the Yellowhead, it’s called). The CWM has 48 missionaries right now--compare that with the 92 there were when I came out. Wow. We should be at 56 but due to interesting circumstances we are now at 48. In 5 weeks we will be at 46, then in June 13 missionaries are coming in, and 9 in August! I call each of the new missionaries weekly to follow up, so that will be hectic to say the least! With missionaries coming in and those going out, at the time I leave in August there will be 56 missionaries in the CWM. 

I wanted to add just a little to what I said last night, then I have got to get ready to go. The Canada Winnipeg Mission motto is "Faith is the Power, Obedience is the Price, Love is the Motive, Christ is the Reason, the Spirit is the Key". I have been thinking about that quite a bit the past few days. It is so true. I bounce back and forth about which one is my favorite of the 5. I am working at loving people more as I immediately meet them. I have to recognize that much of the time when people don't listen its because they really don't know our message. It can be like Christ said "bless them that curse you". That can be hard! It is easy to want to say a little something as I walk off the doorstep, like "well that was rude", but I find its better not to, but to just move on, or try to see the situation from their point of view. Again, its difficult, but I find that as I do I obviously find myself being more charitable towards all people. Now that is a good feeling. Surely, love is the motive. I am trying to live the higher law as taught by Jesus Christ. It's not easy all the time, and I am sure not perfect, but it's coming. We are all works in progress. Another thing I am working at is having a prayer in my heart all the time. I am especially trying to be appealing to God as I am talking to people. Doing that seems to help me with my charity too. I know that these things seem very basic, because they are, but as I do these things I feel better and feel I am growing closer to God. It has taken me a while to get to the point to sincerely want to have a "prayer in my heart" all the time. I used to think things like that were so cliche and so "preachy", and so "fake", but that was me just coming along. I feel like I am doing these things out of complete sincerity, which is the most important part.

But that is all I have for you now. I love you all,

Elder Galbraith

off to Saskatchewan!

 Tom (recent convert), Elder Galbraith, Damon

 Spring migration

Conference time

Yes, it sure has been a very hectic week.  It feels like I have been here for a while now.  I think I totally forgot to tell you my companion's name.  Elder Skinner is from Rigby, ID.  Another Idahoan, right?  He doesn't like potatoes.  He is very diligent, obedient, and hilarious to be around.  We are pretty similar as far as personalities go too.  Oh, I am excited for it all.  The past week was BUSY!  I didn't go to bed before 12:30!  We still wake up at 6:30 though, and Elder Skinner wakes up at 6 everyday to exercise a little longer.  I don't know how he does it.  We picked up the incoming elder, and then 2 days later sent off the departing ones.  We woke up at 5.  Phew...We made calendars for the upcoming transfer and did some other bookkeeping things for the rest of the days.  We went out and proselyted on 2 nights.  I should be able to do much more in the upcoming weeks.  I'll answer a few questions first, and then move on to General Conference.

Yes, we live in the Mission Office, on Shaftesbury.  The past week we spent almost all day every day doing various kinds of housekeeping things--from tracking Kilometer allotments for each mission owned vehicle, to a planning meeting with President Paulson.  Because it was transfer week and General Conference we did not do very much proselyting, but in the upcoming weeks we should have a good part of each day to go out and find, teach, baptize--I hope we have time, anyway.  We will do many exchanges with missionaries all throughout the transfer, and those exchanges and Zone Conferences will be the primary times we do training/teaching elders.  We will make 1 trip to Saskatchewan this transfer in exactly a week, and for a week for exchanges, and Zone Conference, and then back to Manitoba for MB's Zone Conference.  Then to Brandon, MB for an exchange and a few more the next week, and the transfer planning the next week and then transfer week and it will all start over again.  Lots to do, people to see, sort of thing.  I am still feeling inadequate, but I feel like I am adapting to many parts of it.  I still struggle with certain aspects of evaluations.  Like evaluating what needs to be worked on in the mission and how to best go about it.  Working as a team and using each others ideas together is a challenge--not because of my companion, just the concept in general.  Sometimes we have the same concept, sometimes not, but it all works out and things get done.  To answer your question, there are only 2 Assistants.

General Conference.  General Conference is like Christmas to a missionary out in the field.  I make it to all the sessions, of course.  I nearly forgot to approach it with questions, but I came with 2, and I feel like there were a few underlying themes that helped to give me some good direction with my questions.  I need to be better at planning questions well ahead of time, kind of like preparing for the sacrament before Sunday morning, or even at church.  I picked up what I thought were a few themes from Conference: Our beliefs in Christ and many uses of His parables, reactivity, love and charity, and marriage and family.  I noticed that these subjects came up a number of times.  I enjoyed many talks but will have to look them up again and review them.  Possibly my 2 favorite talks were from Elder Holland and from Elder Nelson.  Elder Holland's comments seemed to scream "Ontario" in my mind and I listened intently, hoping some members were listening.  More specifics after the mission, of course.  Elder Nelson's examples and description of the body being crafted and created by God were thought-provoking.  Then he discussed the Big Bang Theory...just as plausible as an explosion in a print shop creating a beautiful mural (actually, a dictionary, not a mural). Incredibly unlikely, but even if so, could the ripped pages heal themselves?  or the stained paper become clean by itself?  Yet our bodies heal themselves of cuts, bruises, illnesses.  I really liked that.  If only people would stop and ponder about creation!  No matter which way you look at it, God's hand is there.  Simple.  Science tells us that something cannot be created out of nothing.  However it happened does not necessarily matter, but that we recognize God as our Father in Heaven and that he and Jesus Christ created the worlds.  Similarly, during a talk I thought about the necessity of pondering.  We all need to ponder about life, the scriptures, everything.  Pondering is something I am terrible at, I will admit.  I like going now, now, now.  Even with the scriptures, I underline and highlight, but I like to read and read and keep going--it's that good!  So...stop and ponder.  Oh, and Pres. Uchtdorf's "Stop it" talk.  Are we doing ______?  Stop it.  Easy enough.  I really enjoyed the talk that described the difference between church and the gospel.  Bro. Callens told us something about that in Young Mens once.  I still remember the difference, but hearing it from Conference reaffirmed a few things to me. The Church is set up with God's authority to act in order to carry out the necessary ordinances of the gospel.  The first principles and ordinances are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by someone who holds God's authority, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end and keeping God's commandments.  The gospel is simple, as they said.  It is.  Five steps.  The Church is designed to help us to achieve those necessary steps, and also allow us to renew our baptismal covenants each Sunday by taking the bread and water, which we call the sacrament.  I really enjoyed that talk.  Wow, I did not think that I would write even half this much when I started, but look at that.  General Conference is important.  For any who would like to see or hear the messages given, go to lds.org and you can find them there.

I think that is about it. Mom, I hope you feel better! Poor Mom. Love you all,

Elder Galbraith

Well, no pictures this week.  Not that I have not taken any, but the computers in the office sure are being difficult.  They do not want to recognize my camera or my memory card, even if put into Elder Skinner's camera.  Sorry about that.  Better luck next week, right?