Baptisms in Thon Buri

We got a great letter this week from Elder Todd. He lives in Thon Buri. His companion is Elder Inthavong from Laos. They live in a small apartment on the 13th floor in the most congested part of Bangkok. Bud says the food is great, the people are great and the work is moving forward!

Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 11:54:03

Hey everybody!

So first off, about Dan Gardner getting his mission call to Thailand. Thats so awesome! I'm so happy for him!! This place is so great! And I know he will love it!

This week ended off great. We had two investigators baptized and confirmed. It's always really nice and rewarding to get people through the gate, and onto the path that leads to eternal life. But there is never time for us to relax. After a baptism, we just take a deep breath, and go back to work. It's how we try to follow the example of the Savior. When He completed a task he didn't take a break. When He accomplished the atonement, what did He do? He went to the Spirit World to go teach the people there. He had EVERY reason to rest. He did the hardest thing that could ever, and has ever been done. But He pressed on. His, is an example to me of the service that we all must give to our Great Creator.

One scripture that I found this week that I really liked is in the Bible. It's 1 Kings 8:61 "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." This life is a difficult time. We all have trials, and we all have tests that the Lord God of Israel has given us. But if our hearts are perfect, or whole, or complete in our God, we can overcome them all.

Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy said "Burdens provide opportunities to practive virtues that contribute to eventual perfection." None of us is perfect, nor will be while in this mortal probation. But through trusting in God, and having fatih in the Savior, Jesus the Christ, we can all be perfected one day. In the meantime, we will have to face trials. I love this quote because it gives us knowledge of how we need to look at our trials.No matter how dark the night or day, we can press forward knowing that a loving Father in heaven has prepared this trial for us! That this mortal experience is tailor-made to help us become the beings that he sees us capable of becoming.

Also this week the Zone Leaders, Elder Gudmundsen and Elder Siriphan, came and taught it. Their lesson was on the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon has been on my mind a lot lately. Preach My Gospel tells us, "The Book of Mormon, combined with the spirit, is your most powerful tool in conversion."
I would go so far as to say it's the most powerful tool in retention and continued faithfulness in the church. It's just what Elder Holland called it, "Saftey for the Soul."

No one, can come to know that this church is true if they do not read the Book of Mormon. Likewise, no one who has read the book of Mormon, from title page to the final words of Moroni can deny the divinity of this book, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every single person who reads the Book of Mormon, with real intent, truly wanting to know if this is the way to find "peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come," will know by the power of the Spirit of God that "this is the way, and there is not other way nor name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved."

I love the Book of Mormon so much. It is written so beautifully, and plainly, that even little children can understand key concepts in it. I testify that it truly is the word of God. It's His guidebook for us in this life. It is full of words of counsel for each one of us, no matter what our life situation is. I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. I promise that it will bring a peace and direction into your life that will help us in these last days. Just like Paul told Timothy "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come (2 Timothy 3:1)." The Book of Mormon will help us in these perilous times. Please please please read it every single day. "For the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand (Alma 10:20)."

Well, I love you all. Be safe and choose the right. Look unto Christ in every thought. Doubt not. Fear not.

Love always,
Elder Todd

Faithful and True.