GUIDElines is Working - Cont'd

The Helaman Sons Letters Vol I, No. 12 – September 12, 2000

GUIDElines IS WORKING! (cont’d)

The following is continued from an issue dated April 15, 1990:

Dearest Bro. Parker!

The GUIDElines that you sent was just too powerful.  I appreciate the first one you sent too.  About a month ago I was feeling real down, frustrated over the lack of interest in the Church up here in the north, and so I pulled out the letter you gave me before I left and of course my Patriarchal Blessing.  It really reminded me of who I am and what I’m doing.  Thanks!

David’s message about remembering was really good.  It reminded me of last General Conference when Elder Eyring of the Presiding Bishopric talked about the sin of “not remembering!”  It really is critical that we don’t fall into the trap of “not remembering” because as David so perfectly put it if we always remembered the Lord, and our dependence on Him, we will be humble and if not; fail.  Discouragement and frustration are signs of not remembering and so now I know to pray more fervently and remember the great blessings I have been given when I am feeling down.

Patriarchal Blessings are always a good remedy for depression too, because they point out what you’ve been given and what you can achieve, better than anything.

I’d just like to thank you again for thinking about me enough to send me a personalized copy of the “GUIDElines.”  I really can tell you love the Program a lot.  I can also tell you genuinely love the Guides & people in the program.

While reading David’s Farewell excerpt, I didn’t know whether to think “typical David” or “General Authority.”  He truly is one example I have looked up to, mainly because I have so far to go to gain what he’s got, and to top it off, he’s younger than me.  I do love him so.  I never even got to know him personally, but then who couldn’t love Dave, just from being around him.  I never met Craig.  I’ve heard so much about him.  Hopefully, I can meet him when I get home.

What really excited me were the articles & things you mentioned about the temple.  I’ve come to love & miss the temple, oh so much since I’ve come to Canada.  I’ve learned more about the endowment since I’ve been on my mission than when I was attending the temple!  I went through enough times to remember quite a bit & I’m piecing together parts & pieces.  I’m just beginning to understand it.

What a joy, learning these things.  One of the first things I’ve put on my list to do is attend the temple, when I get home.  I’m glad you mentioned the “once a week club” goal.  I was thinking about that before I left.  Consider me a member when I return.  I would very much like to do a session w/you when I return & get your opinion and insight on things that have been going through my mind lately.  I can’t wait till the day that the Church is strong enough here in the Canada Winnipeg Mission for us to have a temple.  Missions with temples are so blessed & have such an advantage.  When I left we were saying, in the Tour, that there were “42 temples being planned, used or under construction today.”  In nine months it has gone up to 49!  The Church is so true.

Well, I’m not eloquent in my writing or my speech.  So I hope you get through this novel.  Do know that I love the work, I love my mission, & I love news from Home.  TAKE CARE!

W/love always, David J.

Brother Parker!:  How are you doing?  I know you are doing well.  I am very grateful for the letter you sent me.  I laughed many times.  You are a very creative writer.  I also felt the Spirit very strong as you told me of the Youth Guides and their mission calls and farewells.  You are so privileged to be able to go to the temple often.  Thank you so much for the love you give me.  I too, do love you.

I have been out on my mission for 6 ½ months already.  It is hard to believe it.  It seems like almost yesterday that I was at the temple giving Garden Tours.  I remember Don challenging me to become in sync with the Spirit wherever I was—in the shower, etc.  Now the Holy Ghost is one of my best friends!

I believe one thing I was taught as a Youth Guide is to “work hard” and with much “FAITH.”  I am now in Enmouth Devon England.  When I first came here (3) months ago there was no teaching pool and only one call back.  Basically, the area needed to be worked on.  For a month and a half my companion and I worked very hard.  We did find success.  Our teaching pool began to grow.  Then my Mission President called me to be a Trainer of a new missionary.  Elder H. and I worked very hard as a unit.  We struggled with the Spirit.  We struggled in overcoming our own selfish desires.  I can testify that the scripture Ether 12:6 is true, “…Dispute not because ye see not; for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”  After this great trial we were blessed…blessed abundantly.  On March 4, 1990, Brian and Denise were baptized!  I can tell you that there is no greater Joy!  (D&C 18:15-16)  Truly my comp and my Joy was full.  I’m sure you have felt this feeling while doing work for the children of God in the temple.

Now the Lord has given us new trials -- They are very hard – I thank my Heavenly Father that I have such an excellent companion to help pull us through these great trials.  Missionaries do not go on missions to fail—But to SUCCEED!  We will be Victorious.  A man yesterday told us that if we keep working like we are, we will not succeed.  The Lord has sent us out to gather this children & I know we will be successful.

I know this Gospel is true.  I know the Book of Mormon is true.  Bro. Parker, I love you so much.  It is so great to hear from you.  Have a great day--& SMILE!  Love, Mike

Brother Parker – Hi, how are you doing?  I’m doing pretty good.  I sure have enjoyed getting your epistles.  As I have read them I got a bad case of the rememberies.  Do you send those to just the missionaries in the field?  I get kind of lost with all this new stuff, I can’t imagine what Elders out longer than I understand.  I know one thing, the Program was invaluable in preparing me for a mission.  I will always cherish the friendships I gained while being a Guide.  The gospel is so wonderful.  My vocabulary is not broad enough to come close to expressing my love for it.  My heart is full of sorrow for my unrighteousness.  The Lord has blessed me so much and even the slightest act of disobedience brings me into the depth of sorrow.  Alma the Younger sure must have had a hell of a time (excuse my bluntness).

I have a few things I would like to tell the Guides & other missionaries; things that I have come to realize through sad experience; attributes; qualities, etc. that I have learned through experience that are needed for success.  These are not new ideas, just basic eternal truths which sometimes can only be learned by experience.  “Experience is the hardest teacher, it gives the test before the lesson.”

First, attributes; I am not going to expound upon these, it is important that you study them yourselves and formulate testimony about each.  Humility, Integrity, Self-Reliance, Self-Mastery, Diligence, Faith, Godliness, Self-Motivation, Love—absolute & undaunted, and Gratitude.

A few habits that I have testified ever since I began testifying and that I will never stop testifying of are PRAYER—sincere, heartfelt, loving, open-communication; STUDY—not just reading but sincere, desirous study of the scriptures and Gospel, FASTING—can be a tremendous asset also.  One of the most important things we need to develop is consistency in habits and total obedience like unto the Stripling Warriors you are likened to so often.

These thoughts are incomplete as to Christ-like attributes and they may not help any of you but it sure has been a pleasure to write this epistle and it helped me more than anyone remember Christ and my nothingness.

To the fellas, DG for two!  I would like to thank you all, especially the Elders that I was close to for their examples which will never fade.  As a marvelous Prophet of old says, Adieu, until we rejoice again as the brethren did in Alma 17:2-3.

Brother Parker, thank you for all you do and have done for me, your love, example, patience, and sincere desires to buildup the Kingdom of our Father.  May the Lord bless you with all the blessings of Heaven.

Love, A humble and unworthy servant, Aaron

Well, brethren, here it is only April 7^th and the GUIDElines is already two whole pages!  Thanx! for the letters.  I have enjoyed each tremendously.  Some of you know that I have been out of work for six weeks now.  The things that help me get through the day are the letters you wrote me before you left (in some cases), the letters I got almost daily for awhile there, the fasting, and the prayers in my behalf.  I could have gone to work almost immediately in Phoenix on the afternoon shift, but that wouldn’t have allowed me any time for the Guides.  So…anyway, our word processing business is doing well since it is the end of the semester at ASU.  I’ve had some great interviews and expect to go to work in Mesa next week if all goes well.

I would appreciate your suggestions for improvements in the GUIDElines.  As you can tell, we got a new update to WordPerfect (5.1) and it will do a few more things that I have toyed with in this edition.

Paul has his call to Boise, Idaho; Jeff to Trelew, Argentina (same as Aaron), and Brent should have his today.  That’s Brian, Aaron, Shad, Jason (Fiji), Darren (Florida), David, Erik to Torreon, Mexico, and Brent.  There will be quite a group at the MTC again in June and July.  Of course, there are a lot you know around town that I don’t.

The latest Guide is Bryan.  He went through the Rock forever with Bro. Bowden last night and then they all went in to close and Bryan talked to me for a minute saying he was late for a date.  He was all sad about not passing.  Then Bro. Bowden came to the back door and pointed to the pocket on his shirt and said, “Now, you tell ol’ Sweetie Pie (he never could remember names and made up names for everyone!  This one was the sister who got the name tags made.) to get you a little thing, badge (as he traced the shape on his pocket) and get to work.”  Bryan’s eyes teared up and he grabbed Bro. Bowden in this huge bear hug and about squeezed him to death!  Can you remember when a Director passed you off and it was OFFICIAL!?!  Quite an emotional time now because we haven’t had anyone pass off in over a month.

I spent 2 ½ hours with Bro. Bowden yesterday discussing what we wanted to do for Easter and with the Ammonites.  There are 85 of them now.  Why were we ever worried that they would go away???  Anyway, we have generally decided to worry only about the ones who have passed off their Star Test.

I think I am going to have to expand this to more pages because I haven’t told you about Elder Hill coming down from the MTC or anything!  I may end up Xeroxing this smaller than it is.  Hope you can read it!  More on the next page …

Bro. P.

Next post will contain the Easter Bulletin!  It is a recap of the grrrr8! things that happened during Easter week.