2 Nephi9:39: To be carnally minded is death, and to be spiritually minded is life eternal."

Our mind is full of power. how we choose to look at the world around us will determine our spiritual destiny. our mind and thoughts reflect the desires of our hearts. it your want to change your desire- change your thoughts. an interesting insight i found while studying this week was in comparing the former scripture with the following scripture found in Alma explaining spiritual death which means to "die as to things pertaining to righteousness" (alma 16:16)So as we think and veiw the world carnally of temprally we experance a death of righteousness within us. The opposite then is also true. as we see and think spiritaully we will recongize and become more righteous. we can be good and do good, but to be sancfifed required giving god more. it is something i am not quite at yet, and it is a life time pursuit. but i know that as we dweel on the savior and gods great plan of redemption before us our minds will be open to understanding the mysteries of god.

"The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation"- bible dictionary under revelation.

living by the spirit is essential. Not just in missionary work but everyday life. As we do we will be blessed. I will account one tale this week for you. and it is about a man maned ray. the spirit was essential to us finding him and him feeling the truthfulness of this message.

We knocked on rays door because a neighbor pointed their house out to us. He answered and was on a call saying he was busy. we gave him a restoration pamphlet and said that we know that the gospel of Jesus christ has been restored to the earth and that we'd come back and talk to him about it another day.

So on that other day we went back after 6pm like he asked and his wife was outside, "oh you are those missionaries, you know, we're not interested..." and she kept talking, we asked some questions and got to know her, she let us into her garage where she was doing laundry. it is a writers studio with painted chairs and wall and floor. very cool. ray was busy so we talked with her he did come out and say he had a question for us if we could come back. before we left we decided to say a prayer with Juliette and i asked what we could pray for She said we could pray for her son Brendan who is having drug and emotional problems. its amazing how much you can learn about a person and their desires by asking them what we can pray for. So this was about 2 weeks ago. finally on Monday we went over and ray was there, he had his pamphlet in hand and wanted to talk. we taught him the restoration and he gladly expected a book of mormon. the thing that caught his attention was the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood. we were able to explain how god had given man the authority to act in his name for the salvation of his children and how that power in on the earth today. The conversation definitely was guided and god filled my mind with thoughts and mouth with words to say. i have been reading the old testament and i was able to use that knowledge of the priesthood and make comparison for him to understand.

I was so grateful that we gave him the pamphlet that day and not a mormon.org card like usual. im so glad we prayed with his wife which softened her heart.

we told him the bishop lived around the corner. he stopped by to visit ray the next day or two and they had a great discussion. Friday we had a lesson with both of them and ray had read ALL of the first book of nephi! he invited us over for dinner the next day and it was a feast! he went to culinary school though now is a business man. we got to meet Brendan and gave him a book of mormon. He said we would come to church.

we waited outside to meet him. he didnt come. we went into the meeting a little late. my head kept turning to the door to see if he would come in and we could motion to the seat saved beside us. The first talk was on the priesthood and i knew god answered our prayers to have the talks be directed to him. but he was not there. there came a moment where i KNEW there was nothing i could do about it. I had done my best. (we called many members to let them know he was coming and to say hi) . I essentially gave in and accepted the lords will.I was filled with joy and

found it a little odd i was so ok with him not coming.

i was able to enjoy the next talk which was powerful. I took many notes and learned a lot. After the meeting ended we saw ray get up and he had been sitting by the ward mission leader. we somehow didnt see him come in! he was there!I didnt know it, but i was able to trust in god so I could learn what he wanted me to. Whether i had fretted or not Ray would have been there at church just the same. but MY agency and the things I had control of is what really blessed me sunday.

there are many things we cannot change. We shouldn't wait for our circumstances to change for us to change our attitudes. god always send a solution before he sends a "problem". teaching others to trust in their savior constantly reminds me i must do that same. I fill edified and filled with his love as i read the scriptures. i need his love.

In the end we will obtain what we are willing to receive. When we come to Christ, he will give us what is best for us. regarding those who will not go to the celestial kingdom doctrine and covenants reads, "they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received." -dc88:32

"THEREFORE, SANCTIFY YOURSELVES THAT YOUR MINDS BECOME SINGLE TO GOD, AND THE DAYS SHALL COME THAT YOU SHALL SEE HIM; FOR HE WILL UNVEIL HIS FACE UNTO YOU, AND IT SHALL BE IN HIS OWN TIME, AND IN HIS OWN WAY, AND ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL" D&C 88:68

love you all!-sister snow