The New Me

Loved Ones,

Hello! Okay, so I'm going to be honest. I don't have a ton of time to compose this email, because I have a zone activity today, and for the activity we're watching "The Other Side of Heaven"! Wohoo! A real movie! It should be pretty great. I'm going to be honest again. If you guys were to hang out with me for a day right now, I would be quite strange, I'm sure. I would be bumping EFY music in the car and watching "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" in my spare time. I get pretty jazzed at the prospect of watching "The Best Two Years" or "The Other Side of Heaven" whereas just a few short months ago, I would have murmured considerably should someone have suggested watching one of those movies. And don't even get me started about how I would have reacted to someone playing EFY music. I hope you guys can still love me in my weirdness! I sure love all of you!

It sounds like everyone had another fantastic week! I'm happy! I'm so glad that the birthday throwdowns were successful, and I am a bit jealous that you guys were able to have a conference with Elder Christofferson! He is awesome, and he has perhaps the coolest name ever. The General Authorities are definitely more laid back when they aren't speaking in General Conference. The speeches they give at BYU are usually really good and very funny. Would you have guessed that President Packer is hilarious? I wouldn't have, but he definitely is. I definitely want to have the opportunity to participate in a meeting with a General Authority outside of conference, preferably one at which Elder Holland is present in all his General Awesomeness (that's the kind of awesomeness that only a General Authority can have). Perhaps the thing I enjoyed most about meeting President Monson was the opportunity to see his personality. That made me appreciate him and his prophetic mantle so much more. I love him.

This week was good, and very full. Things are sometimes a bit stressful as district leader, but the Lord is teaching me a lot, and I'm grateful for that. I'm also glad that I watched "Lost", because Jack taught me how to lead people. I'm considering making my district's motto "We're gonna have to learn how to live together, or we're gonna die alone." Hopefully I will be able to continue to make "Lost" references throughout my mission to continue what I started with my farewell talk. Of course, I say all this with a slightly joking attitude. Clearly, the one I should look to for leadership guidance is the Savior Jesus Christ. He taught the most important lesson of leadership: service. I'm grateful that I have more opportunities to serve and learn how to love people more fully. Thank you guys so much for all the support you give me that helps me to handle everything. I couldn't do it without you! Elder Hooper and I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach a few people recently, and there are even more opportunities coming up this week. I guess I never really gave you guys an update on Matt. He's doing really well. He has been in California helping his parents move, but he's coming back this week. At the end of March, we're planning on doing a temple trip with the branch youth and the 4 recent converts in the district. It should be a really special experience. Each companionship in the district will be there with the convert they taught. I look forward to reporting on that!

I've been thinking lately about how much I have grown to love the scriptures over the course of my mission. I don't think I really appreciated how great they are until recently. Getting lost in the scriptures is a wonderful way to spend time. The words of Christ truly will tell us "all things" (2 Nephi 32:3). When we seek wisdom from the scriptures, the Spirit will teach us what we need to know. Isn't it amazing that texts written thousands of years ago can speak to us today and help us to solve the complicated problems of the 21st century? I love it. I especially love the Book of Mormon. I absolutely know that book is the word of God. The Book of Mormon represents everything I love about the scriptures. The words are beautifully strung together from a literary standpoint: "And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God and wish to die. Nevertheless, they would struggle with the sword for their lives." (Mormon 2:14); doctrine is taught simply and powerfully: "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25); and often, both of these attributes are rolled into one package: "Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth. But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." (2 Nephi 1:14-15). I promise that anyone who sincerely reads the Book of Mormon will feel a renewed sense of peace and joy in their life. I know that you will draw closer to God by reading that book than by any other book. There have been incredible sacrifices made to bring the Book of Mormon and the scriptures in general to us today, and I am so grateful for those who gave all they had to provide us with easy access to God's word.

I love you all a ton, and I have so much I'd like to say, but I'm not sure how to say it. I cannot possibly express the depth of my love and gratitude. I miss you all very much, but I find great joy in all the happiness that you guys are having, and I know that I am doing the right thing in the right place. Thank you so much for your love and letters. I can feel the love when I read your words, and I can't possibly tell you how much that means to me. I hope that you all have a wonderful week. You're in my prayers.

Love,
Elder McDonald