Pictures-- October 9

Cabugao -October 9, 2016

Magandang araw!

Hello everybody! What a fantastic week this has been!

I'll start off with my new area/companion.  My new area is Cabugao, and it's been going well here.  We spent this week teaching our investigators but focusing mainly and finding the member's homes in our area.  My new companion is Elder Anuat, a Filipino from Bacolod, and he's way awesome! He's actually our district leader, and he is super hard working!  I'm so grateful to be his companion! I know we're going to have a lot of success together!

This week I was also able to watch conference!  Due to the time difference of the Philippines and America, conference is watched a week later here.  I'm so grateful to have living prophets on the Earth today to lead and guide us!  I finished the book "Our Heritage" this week, and it gave me a new gratitude for living prophets.  I never fully understood how truly blessed we are to live in this dispensation where we get to here from living prophets on a regular basis!  I can't wait for the next general conference!

I'll give some of my thoughts from each of the talks, starting with Priesthood Session (Here, priesthood session is first)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Home teaching is the first source of help for members of the Church, and it should be treated in high regard, a blessing and a privilege to serve other members of this Church.  Be God's emissaries to His children!

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr.

As we read the Book of Mormon regularly, the Spirit will be felt more strongly in our lives.  We will be able to better resist temptation, shake off contention, and abound in the love of the Lord.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

It's alright to admit that you need help.  To be successful, you need to find your "Amuleks," those whom the Lord has prepared to help you and His work. Be the call of action!

President Henry B. Eyring

Give Aaronic Priesthood holders the faith they need by helping them understand they can draw upon the power of God.  As a Melchezidek Priesthood holder, lead by example to the young priesthood brethren of the Church.

President Thomas S. Monson

The blessings of the Word of Wisdom are real, and can come at unexpected, but critical times

Saturday Morning Session

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

We must realize just how much we have in our lives, we have been given so many sacred and sublime gifts in our lives and sometimes we are so past feeling that we don't realize just how lucky we are to have this restored gospel in our lives.

Elder Robert D. Hales

No manual is more helpful than the Scriptures and the guidance of the Spirit.  That's all we really need in our lives to help make important, eternal decisions.

Sister Carol F. McConkie

All three members of the Godhead are engaged in prayer, making it a very powerful, personal tool for us to strengthen our relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Elder Craig C. Christensen

It's ok for us to have questions about the gospel, but we cannot let those questions paralyze our faith.  Rather we must seek after answers through sincere study and prayer.  If we do these things, we will receive an answer.

Elder Juan A. Uceda

Promptings from the Spirit should not be ignored. God knows more than we do, so why should we ignore His voice?

Elder J. Devn Cornish

The Lord always believes in us, even if we don't believe in ourselves.

Elder Neil L. Andersen

Even with our strong desire to share the gospel, we may be discouraged based on our past, unfruitful efforts.  However, we should strive to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places, regardless of the reception of that witness.  Be thou an example of the believers.

Saturday Afternoon Session

Elder Quinten L. Cook

We've all been given a space for repentance in this life, but we have to USE it!

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

We can all witness a miracle in our lives, and that is receiving a testimony of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Ghost

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

God's love is everlasting, perfect, and great; but, it is not unconditional.  We must respond to His love appropriately by keeping the commandments and receive the grace of Christ by having faith in Him and follow the principles of the gospel.

Elder W. Mark Bassett

The mysteries of God can be unfolded unto us through sincere prayer, humility, trusting in the prophets, and diligent study but often takes time

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

Sometimes, we don't know why we are where we are, but we must know that there is a purpose in our actions that God knows

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Our efforts to share the gospel should not be limited to our comfortable circle of friends

Sunday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson

Our gospel contains the plan of salvation for all men, and without the atonement of Jesus Christ, all would be lost.

Elder Russell M. Nelson

We are supposed to have joy in this life, it's the purpose of life to have joy! Seek after the joy of the world!

Elder Peter F. Meurs

Prepare for the Sacrament throughout the week, and contemplate our spiritual progress. Each sacrament meeting should show progress in our spirituality and with it a commitment to continue to progress.

Sister Linda S. Reeves

Repentance is difficult, possibly the most difficult thing we have to do, but its reward is well worth the temporary heartache and pain.

Bishop Dean M. Davies

We cannot let our worship turn into routine. Each Sunday service should be central to our lives, something we yearn for and seek out.

Elder Lynn G. Robbins

We must resist the temptation of the natural man to condemn others

Elder M. Russell Ballard

The Savior is always able to rebuke any storm that comes upon our life

President Henry B. Eyring

As we feel gratitude for what the Savior sacrificed for us, we feel a deeper love for Him and the Sacrament gains a deeper meaning for us.

Sunday Afternoon Session

Elder David A. Bednar

Serving Him requires all our heart, might, mind, and strength. As we serve others with all our heart, might, mind, and strength we turn away the selfish tendencies of the natural man and come to know the Lord personally.

Brother Brian K. Ashton

Learning of the doctrine of Christ and living its principles and performing its ordinances allows us to receive all of the blessings that come from the Plan of Salvation, and the doctrine of Christ is the only way we can do so.

Elder Carl B. Cook

We have greater power as we unify and serve together in the Lord's work

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

No mistake we make will revoke God's love, but we must continue to follow the commandments and strive to do our best to become like Christ

Elder Evan A. Schmutz

Without faith, the trials and sorrows of life can obscure or eclipse the eternal, joyful rewards of the gospel

Elder K. Brett Nattress

Parents can have a profound effect on their children's spiritually through example and starting to teach their children while they are still young. This will help them want to learn more about the gospel and understand their purpose in this life.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Real repentance requires faith, and when applied correctly, transforms repentance from a miserable behavior correction into a joyful change of self.

I know that was a lot, but I felt I had to share those with you.  Hopefully one of those thoughts helps you in your life.  I know that God loves each of us because He gave us prophets to let us know what we should do in our lives.

I love you all

Elder Anderson

We're Now in October -October 2, 2016

Hello Everyone!!!!!!

Man, this has been a crazy crazy week, many things have happened.  First off, I just want to say that I've almost gotten comfortable being away from America, so I think I'm finally beginning to adjust to this beautiful, very different country :)

First off, I went on exchanges with Elder Paulo and Elder Fees this week (District Leader and Zone Leader respectively) and we had a great time working and teaching.  With Elder Paulo, I was able to teach an investigating family and answer questions they had about the Resurrection and what is going to happen to us at the Second Coming of Christ.  We answered her questions using scriptures from the New Testament and The Book of Mormon, but she wasn't quite understanding.  Then, I felt prompted to share my testimony of the resurrection and the atonement of Jesus Christ.  It was amazing.  I've never felt the Spirit speak through me so powerfully and clearly, and I was able to speak Tagalog that I didn't even know I knew.  After I shared my testimony, she paused and said she finally understood.  It was fantastic!

With Elder Fees, we taught an investigator named Stephen, a retired police officer.  This was my second time teaching him, and amazing things happened.  The first time I went to teach him, we did a follow-up on his reading of the Panunumbalik ng Ebanghelyo Ni Jesucristo pamphlet (Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and he said he wasn't able to read from it, which was saddening, but we read over the first couple of principles with him.  However, this time we went back and he said he had read his assigned reading and we taught him about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  We explained what the Book of Mormon is and how it helps us come unto Christ.  We read from the Introduction and afterwards committed him to read the first Chapter of 1 Nephi.  He accepted, and we extended a baptismal date for November 12 which he also accepted.  He was extremely excited to read the Book of Mormon, he was literally jumping up and down in his seat.  It was so fantastic to see the excitement the Spirit gave him!

Also (wait for it) (wait for it)...... I'm being transferred!  I'm not going very far, just to Cabugao, the area just north of San Juan, but I actually have a meetinghouse in my area!!!!!!!  I'm so excited!!! My new companion is Elder Anuat, who I won't meet until tomorrow.  I'm so excited!  I get to continue to teach Stephen and other investigators that I've taught when going on exchanges/splits with Elder Fees.  I seriously can't wait!!!!!

That's all I've got for today, thank you all for your emails, support, and prayers.

Mahal Ko Kayo!

-Elder Anderson

One More Birthday To Go:) -September 25, 2016

Hello everyone!

I'M NINETEEN NOW!!!!!!!!

Now that that's out of the way, I'm going to start my email :)  I'm doing find, this week went pretty well.  We were finally able to get the mission standard for new investigators this week, it was great!  The crazy thing is that it happened all in an afternoon, within four hours we had 16 new investigators in my area!  It was so great!  

My companion and I are doing ok, just doing the work of the Lord :)

This week I had exchanges with my zone leader, Elder Fees, and we stumbled upon one of my investigators houses (which I didn't recognize because we normally only visit him at night) and we taught a lesson about Joseph Smith, Principles 4-6 of Lesson 1.  It was awesome because I knew my Zone Leader was prompted by the Spirit on what to teach.  He had never met this investigator before and didn't know any of his previous concerns, but taught a lesson that addressed his concerns completely.  It was so great to feel the Spirit so strongly and to testify to this man!  

For my birthday, members invited us over for both lunch and dinner, which was really fun.  We had a cake and they sang happy birthday, and I got two new T-shirts from some very generous members.  I wasn't expecting any gifts, which made me even more grateful for what they gave me. It was a pretty good day all around :)

That's all I've got for this week, thanks for listening and tune in next week for another exciting (kind of) update on Elder Anderson's experience in the Philippines!

Mahal ko kayo!

​​-Elder Anderson