Well its finally P-Day! I have been at the MTC for pretty much a week now! I am loving it here. My companion is named Elder Fletcher and he is super nice. All the elders in my district are examples to me and the language is coming! The food is pretty decent it just depends on what it is. The spirit of God is so strong here. Once I got here, I could tell that I became a different person. I never knew that I could learn a language enough to teach an actual lesson after studying for just three days! The gift of tongues is real. I am so glad to be a missionary for the Lord. His gospel has blessed my life SO much. I am so grateful for all the letters I have received this week. It is really motivating to know that I have people at home who love me and support me. I love you all. And I want you all to know that God loves you too. We had a devotional this past sunday and an area seventy named Elder Alen spoke. He said that we need to realize that as disciples of Christ, we are at war with Satan. He is doing everything he can to destroy you. I love this church. I know with all my heart that it is true. I can promise you that if you read the Book of Mormon and pray to Heavenly Father with real intent to know that it is true, he WILL answer you, because he loves you. You will feel a great joy and peace in your heart and all of your troubles will be gone. I know that this will be the Holy Ghost speaking to you testifying of this truth. As a representative of Jesus Christ, I can testify that I know for MYSELF that this the Book of Mormon is true. And because I know it is true, I know that the prophet Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he did truly see God and Jesus Christ. All of this you can know to be true for yourself if you pray, truly wanting to know, after reading the Book of Mormon, if it is true. He will be there for you. Thank you for all your love for my family and myself while I am gone. Talk to you next week! I couldn't figure out how to upload photos so you will hopefully get some next week.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Arriving at the MTC
Everything went smoothly and Elder Haroldsen will be in the MTC for the next six weeks. Make sure you send him emails and letters, he would really love that! You can also visit DearElder.com to send him free letters. (if you send the letter before 12 pm MST, he'll get it the same day.)
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Elder Haroldsen's Farewell Talk
Brothers and Sisters, I am very excited to be in front of you on this wonderful day! I am grateful for all of you that have traveled long distances and taken the time to come as I share my testimony before embarking on my mission this week. As many of you know, this Wednesday July 22nd I will report to the Provo missionary training center to begin my two year journey in Lisbon, Portugal. I am so happy that I have the opportunity to serve as a missionary. This has been one of my major life goals and I have been preparing to serve this mission ever since I was born in this gospel.
Through all this preparation to serve, I have learned many things that I didn't really realize until now. I have realized how much my family really loves me. And how much they support me and want the best for me. I remember when I first got my mission call in the mail everybody was so excited for me. We all gathered around as I opened the call and you could feel the spirit of God so strong! I knew that this was a confirmation to me that I had been called to serve through Divine revelation by a prophet of the lord Jesus Christ. He needs me in Portugal during this time of my life.
For my missionary scripture, I have picked Jeremiah 16:16, which states, “ ¶Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. This scripture strictly talks about missionary work. As many of you know, I love to both hunt and fish and I really like this scripture because i feel like it relates to me perfectly. I am able to relate my mission to my social life with this scripture and this is why I chose it.
During my preparation to serve I have also realized who my true friends are because of the way they honor my beliefs and standards and for the love they also have for me.
This past week has been hard because I got to do a lot of the things I love with people I love and all of this will be put on hold for the next two years. But I know that God has a plan for me, my family, and each and every one of us. During this time I have pondered on a quote by the prophet Joseph smith saying "A man who is full of God is not content with blessing his family only, but thinks about all of the people in the world, anxious to bless the whole human race."
When I was first turning in my missionary application, many people would ask me: two years.. Are you crazy?? Don't you know how long two years is and what you can do in that time? Two years is a long time. But I realize all the blessings I have that were given to me from God and I realize that two years of my life is the least I could give! I am so blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I know that through Jesus Christ, lives can be changed for the better! I will be sharing the biggest joy and blessing in my life with others so that they may experience this same happiness I feel. I know that many times while I am gone I will feel homesick and miss everybody back home a lot and that the work will be hard, but I will serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I am putting all of my trust in my Heavenly Father to take care of me and my family at home.
I found a poem that I would like to share that has inspired me to work my hardest in serving a mission: "In heaven we were the best of friends.
We did everything together.
One day, a grand council was called in heaven.
We knew it was an important event.
Everyone was there – Moses, Noah and Jesus Christ.
Father presented a plan,
And we voted for Christ to be our Savior.
After the council, we ran to get in line to receive our life package.
In the bustle, we were separated.
I received my package and ran to find you.
You were sitting under a tree.
We opened our packages,
Mine said I would be born at a time when the gospel was
Restored to the earth.
It said that I would have good parents,
And the fullness of the gospel in my home.
I jumped for joy and we hugged each other.
You were so happy for me.
Then you read yours.
I saw the tears in your eyes and I asked what was wrong?
You said that you would also be born when the gospel was restored,
But you would be born in a different place,
And the gospel would not be in your home.
You looked me straight in the eye and said:
FRIEND FIND ME!
No matter what it takes or the trials you have to endure,
FIND ME, and bring me the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Brothers and sisters, I know that there are people out there that are searching for the truth. People out there are waiting for an answer to many of life's problems and concerns. I am confident that just as I stated from that poem, I have promised some of my best friends before coming to earth that I would come find them, and bring them the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
During my preparation to serve I have also realized how real the atonement of Christ is. Jesus Christ, the one perfect man on the earth, suffered for every pain, sorrow, sickness, and infirmity of every single person that has lived, is living, and will live on the earth. His atonement is infinite, meaning that no matter who you are, or what you have done, you can be forgiven of your sins with proper repentance.
I would like to share a famous talk the apostle Jeffrey R Holland shared with missionaries. He says,"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?
You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.
Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price.
For that reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul.
If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,” then little wonder that salvation is not aneasy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.
The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
I have pondered on the atonement and after reading in the book of Luke about Christ's suffering for our sins, I have realized that Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, had to ask for help from his father while he suffered. He begged Heavenly Father and asked if there was any other way. He didn't want to be whipped, or spit upon, or nailed to a cross, but he knew that there was no other way. He loved us so much that he endured so much pain and suffering even when he could have stopped it himself. This is a grand act of valor. For somebody to lay down his life for his brothers is pure love, the pure love of Christ. I am so grateful for this love Christ has for me. Through his grace and mercy we can be saved and lifted up. Through Christ, sin can be washed away; guilt can become peace; sorrow can become joy; and ultimately we can rejoice at the fact that we will live again one day.
I am so grateful for this important time of my life. It is time for me to put on the armor of God and be my best. I am blessed to have such awesome people who support me with all their love. I am so lucky to have parents who are examples to me by living virtuous lives, especially my dad. I am going to miss all of you with all of my heart, but I will be well taken care of. I love my family so much. I know that this church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and Joseph smith was a prophet and he restored this church back onto the earth. And I can testify that there is a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. He is a man of God and receives inspiration for this church. Christ lives and loves you. Never let his light go. Thank you all for the love you have shown me and my family. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Through all this preparation to serve, I have learned many things that I didn't really realize until now. I have realized how much my family really loves me. And how much they support me and want the best for me. I remember when I first got my mission call in the mail everybody was so excited for me. We all gathered around as I opened the call and you could feel the spirit of God so strong! I knew that this was a confirmation to me that I had been called to serve through Divine revelation by a prophet of the lord Jesus Christ. He needs me in Portugal during this time of my life.
For my missionary scripture, I have picked Jeremiah 16:16, which states, “ ¶Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. This scripture strictly talks about missionary work. As many of you know, I love to both hunt and fish and I really like this scripture because i feel like it relates to me perfectly. I am able to relate my mission to my social life with this scripture and this is why I chose it.
During my preparation to serve I have also realized who my true friends are because of the way they honor my beliefs and standards and for the love they also have for me.
This past week has been hard because I got to do a lot of the things I love with people I love and all of this will be put on hold for the next two years. But I know that God has a plan for me, my family, and each and every one of us. During this time I have pondered on a quote by the prophet Joseph smith saying "A man who is full of God is not content with blessing his family only, but thinks about all of the people in the world, anxious to bless the whole human race."
When I was first turning in my missionary application, many people would ask me: two years.. Are you crazy?? Don't you know how long two years is and what you can do in that time? Two years is a long time. But I realize all the blessings I have that were given to me from God and I realize that two years of my life is the least I could give! I am so blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I know that through Jesus Christ, lives can be changed for the better! I will be sharing the biggest joy and blessing in my life with others so that they may experience this same happiness I feel. I know that many times while I am gone I will feel homesick and miss everybody back home a lot and that the work will be hard, but I will serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I am putting all of my trust in my Heavenly Father to take care of me and my family at home.
I found a poem that I would like to share that has inspired me to work my hardest in serving a mission: "In heaven we were the best of friends.
We did everything together.
One day, a grand council was called in heaven.
We knew it was an important event.
Everyone was there – Moses, Noah and Jesus Christ.
Father presented a plan,
And we voted for Christ to be our Savior.
After the council, we ran to get in line to receive our life package.
In the bustle, we were separated.
I received my package and ran to find you.
You were sitting under a tree.
We opened our packages,
Mine said I would be born at a time when the gospel was
Restored to the earth.
It said that I would have good parents,
And the fullness of the gospel in my home.
I jumped for joy and we hugged each other.
You were so happy for me.
Then you read yours.
I saw the tears in your eyes and I asked what was wrong?
You said that you would also be born when the gospel was restored,
But you would be born in a different place,
And the gospel would not be in your home.
You looked me straight in the eye and said:
FRIEND FIND ME!
No matter what it takes or the trials you have to endure,
FIND ME, and bring me the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Brothers and sisters, I know that there are people out there that are searching for the truth. People out there are waiting for an answer to many of life's problems and concerns. I am confident that just as I stated from that poem, I have promised some of my best friends before coming to earth that I would come find them, and bring them the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
During my preparation to serve I have also realized how real the atonement of Christ is. Jesus Christ, the one perfect man on the earth, suffered for every pain, sorrow, sickness, and infirmity of every single person that has lived, is living, and will live on the earth. His atonement is infinite, meaning that no matter who you are, or what you have done, you can be forgiven of your sins with proper repentance.
I would like to share a famous talk the apostle Jeffrey R Holland shared with missionaries. He says,"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?
You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.
Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price.
For that reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul.
If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,” then little wonder that salvation is not aneasy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.
The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
I have pondered on the atonement and after reading in the book of Luke about Christ's suffering for our sins, I have realized that Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, had to ask for help from his father while he suffered. He begged Heavenly Father and asked if there was any other way. He didn't want to be whipped, or spit upon, or nailed to a cross, but he knew that there was no other way. He loved us so much that he endured so much pain and suffering even when he could have stopped it himself. This is a grand act of valor. For somebody to lay down his life for his brothers is pure love, the pure love of Christ. I am so grateful for this love Christ has for me. Through his grace and mercy we can be saved and lifted up. Through Christ, sin can be washed away; guilt can become peace; sorrow can become joy; and ultimately we can rejoice at the fact that we will live again one day.
I am so grateful for this important time of my life. It is time for me to put on the armor of God and be my best. I am blessed to have such awesome people who support me with all their love. I am so lucky to have parents who are examples to me by living virtuous lives, especially my dad. I am going to miss all of you with all of my heart, but I will be well taken care of. I love my family so much. I know that this church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and Joseph smith was a prophet and he restored this church back onto the earth. And I can testify that there is a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. He is a man of God and receives inspiration for this church. Christ lives and loves you. Never let his light go. Thank you all for the love you have shown me and my family. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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