I Love To See The Temple

Hello everyone! This week has had its ups and downs but I am certainly grateful for all the experiences it has brought. The ups for the weeks were the awesome opportunity we had to meet so many new people and share this amazing message with them. One particular one that stood out to me was Melissa. She is a single mom with two kids, 9 and 5. They are so awesome. She wants to have her kids in a church to raise them right but she just doesn't know where to go. She has been going to this local church so she can learn the basics. We were so excited to explain to her how God has reached out in love and called a prophet on the earth today and through him he has restored his gospel to the earth. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ will be able to change her life and bless her family beyond what she can imagine. I know this because I have seen it bless my life and my family and we lived it. I am so excited for her and her family to enjoy the blessings that come from it. We will be meeting with her again on Thursday. 

So the sad part of the week was when we had to stop teaching Robert. He is someone who struggles with a lot of depression but was beginning to see the light as we were meeting with him. He talked about how as he read the Book of Mormon and as he met with us he felt more peace than he ever had before in his life. I know that was the Holy Ghost he was feeling. Unfortunately he wasn't able to make the commitment and start coming to our church. He said he was just to nervous to start going to a new church. We explained that we would be here to help him every step of the way but it wasn't enough to change his mind. We have definitely been praying a lot for him this week. 

So today we had the special opportunity to attend the Sacramento Temple. It was such a special experience. Temples are truly holy places. As you are there you can feel the spirit more strongly than at any other place in the world. I am so grateful for the ordinances that are performed in temples and the opportunity it gives me to live with my family forever. One of my favorite quotes by Jeffery R. Holland is "If I am not there with my family, that doesn't sound like heaven to me". How true that is. I love my family. 

Something that has been on my mind all week is the upcoming General Conference where we have the privilege to hear from a prophet of the Lord. How exciting is that? I think too often we take for granted just what it means to have a prophet on the earth today. God has literally called a prophet in our day and age. Some one just like Moses, or Noah, or Abraham is alive and on the earth today. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is lead by Jesus Christ because it is his church. I know that he leads his church through his mouthpiece the prophet. Just as he has done in ancient times. I am so grateful to be alive at a time when the true gospel is on the earth once again in all its fullness. I know God lives. I know he loves us. We can see his boundless love for us if we just look around. 

Elder Hallmark

*I also forgot to mention in my weekly email that me and Elder damon will be together for another transfer because I am training him. This transfer however I was called to serve as a district leader in the Fair Oaks District. I am so excited for this opportunity to serve my district. It is definitely going to be a great experience. 

Me and my companion Elder Damon at the Temple.

Me and my Zone leader Elder Pennington at the temple. He is from Aubrey, Texas.