Well, life has been moving on so fast lately, it seems as though there is not time to keep up with it all! Where did April go? Where did the last year of my life go? It has been incredible to see the change in peoples lives the gospel can bring. I hope to be able to see it through out my life. Things are going well out here, Elder Westover and I have about another 2 weeks together so that will be fun, unless we stay together. Life is going so well, wish there was more time to write! Hope you are all doing well! I love you all!
Love,
Dakota
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Returning to Spotsylvania...March 25, 2012
I had the opportunity to return to Spotsylvania and to do the baptism of Junior. I was so excited! Getting to know the White family has been such a blessing in my life. This family has come so far. Bert had been in-active and his wife was not a member of the Church. Now through the blessing of the gospel this family is on the road to becoming an eternal family. Bert is now active and sharing the gospel with others. His wife Elaine has now been baptized and now Junior has been baptized as well. What a great opportunity we have to see the Lord bless the lives of his children. I love being a missionary and for the chance that I have to meet such great people. The work of the gospel will go forth until all have recieved it and the Lord, Jesus Christ says, "The work is done."
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Time To Move On! Transfer Day
Thursday March 1, 2012
It is Transfer Day and I an being transferred to the Mount Vernon Area. It is about 50 miles north of Spotsylvania. I have come to love the people in Spotsylvania and will miss them, but I know that the Lord has a work for me to do and I will go where I am called. With being transferred I have been made a Zone leader, have a new companion, Elder White.
Mount Vernon is a beautiful area. I look forward to being the gospel to the people here in this area!
Have a great week! I love you all!
Love always,
Elder Dakota Thomas Anderson
It is Transfer Day and I an being transferred to the Mount Vernon Area. It is about 50 miles north of Spotsylvania. I have come to love the people in Spotsylvania and will miss them, but I know that the Lord has a work for me to do and I will go where I am called. With being transferred I have been made a Zone leader, have a new companion, Elder White.
Mount Vernon is a beautiful area. I look forward to being the gospel to the people here in this area!
Have a great week! I love you all!
Love always,
Elder Dakota Thomas Anderson
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Power of Prayer
February 19, 2012
You never realize how important prayer is until you have come to a point where you can't do anything by yourself and that all you want to do is help someone else. Read Alma 7, where it talks about Christ suffering every for us. I know that through the gospel all things can be healed.
Happy Birthday Dad!!! Can't wait to try out your new present!
PS. Cassie and Dallin are having a baby around the same time as Jordon and Sunshine. I am going to be an Uncle Twice!!!!!!!!
Love you all. Have a great week!
Love,
The Dakota Thomas Anderson
You never realize how important prayer is until you have come to a point where you can't do anything by yourself and that all you want to do is help someone else. Read Alma 7, where it talks about Christ suffering every for us. I know that through the gospel all things can be healed.
Happy Birthday Dad!!! Can't wait to try out your new present!
PS. Cassie and Dallin are having a baby around the same time as Jordon and Sunshine. I am going to be an Uncle Twice!!!!!!!!
Love you all. Have a great week!
Love,
The Dakota Thomas Anderson
Blessings of the Priesthood
February 13, 2012
We are working with Bert (His wife is being baptized on the 18th) so that he will be able to receive the Priesthood so that he can baptize his son Junior. It truly is an incredible blessing how men in this Church are able to hold the Priesthood and perform such special ordinances with their families such as baptizing their children. I have been looking at my Priesthood Line of authority a lot lately. It is incredible how I can trace my Priesthood through Dad, all the way back to Jesus Christ. No other church on the face on the earth can do that. Dad I am grateful to you for all that you have taught me and your example of always honoring your priesthood.
Thought for the Day...
Always remember that Christ suffered all pains and afflictions for us no matter how great or small so that we would never have to suffer them if we would only put our faith in him.
Love you all,
Dakota Thomas Anderson
We are working with Bert (His wife is being baptized on the 18th) so that he will be able to receive the Priesthood so that he can baptize his son Junior. It truly is an incredible blessing how men in this Church are able to hold the Priesthood and perform such special ordinances with their families such as baptizing their children. I have been looking at my Priesthood Line of authority a lot lately. It is incredible how I can trace my Priesthood through Dad, all the way back to Jesus Christ. No other church on the face on the earth can do that. Dad I am grateful to you for all that you have taught me and your example of always honoring your priesthood.
Thought for the Day...
Always remember that Christ suffered all pains and afflictions for us no matter how great or small so that we would never have to suffer them if we would only put our faith in him.
Love you all,
Dakota Thomas Anderson
2 in a Row
February 6, 2012
Bert has now come to church 3 times and 2 times in a row with his wife Elaine. She has accepted our invitation to be baptized on the 18th! We are also teaching their son, Junior, who is wanting to be baptized as well. Bert and Elaine went to the Bishop and talk to him about going to the Temple to be sealed!!! I might be able to go to their sealing about this time next year. That would be the best way to end my mission in my mind.
Just an update on the lessons that Elder Watson and I have taught. 59 lessons in the past 2 weeks.
We are on FIRE!!!!
I miss you all. Love you all so much!
Have a great week and just remember!
Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim in the gospel. :)
Love always,
Elder Dakota Thomas Anderson
Bert has now come to church 3 times and 2 times in a row with his wife Elaine. She has accepted our invitation to be baptized on the 18th! We are also teaching their son, Junior, who is wanting to be baptized as well. Bert and Elaine went to the Bishop and talk to him about going to the Temple to be sealed!!! I might be able to go to their sealing about this time next year. That would be the best way to end my mission in my mind.
Just an update on the lessons that Elder Watson and I have taught. 59 lessons in the past 2 weeks.
We are on FIRE!!!!
I miss you all. Love you all so much!
Have a great week and just remember!
Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim in the gospel. :)
Love always,
Elder Dakota Thomas Anderson
The Lord Prepares the Way
January 30, 2012
This last week week we had one of our less active members and his investigator family attend Church. The whole meeting I sat there being a little frustrated thinking that nothing the speakers or what is being taught in the lessons apply to the investigators that came to church. But Church got over and I ask the family what they thought. The wife just turned to me and said, "I loved it!" "Everything that was said was so applicable to me and I couldn't believe how everyone is so involved, not just one Preacher. I still marvel at the way the Lord works. That has become so apparent to me in the last few weeks. Whether it be extreme spiritual experiences, church experiences or even with relationships with friends back home. I have grown so much from the experience that I have had while serving the Lord. Whether it was Ricky's (named changed) "journey through hell" to open my eyes to the gospel, or how the Lord had just the right talks and lessons planned for Bert and Elaine on Sunday. I am humbled and in awe of his hand in all things. I love this gospel so much and know of it's truthfulness as it is manifests itself to me in so many ways!
A side note: Elder Watson and I (Sherlock Holmes) :) have taught 30 lessons this week and we received a referral from Sister Doyle. There is a family that is wanting to hear the discussions and to be baptized! The Lord prepares people in the most perfect way for them to receive the gospel.
Love you all, have an incredible day
Love, Kody
This last week week we had one of our less active members and his investigator family attend Church. The whole meeting I sat there being a little frustrated thinking that nothing the speakers or what is being taught in the lessons apply to the investigators that came to church. But Church got over and I ask the family what they thought. The wife just turned to me and said, "I loved it!" "Everything that was said was so applicable to me and I couldn't believe how everyone is so involved, not just one Preacher. I still marvel at the way the Lord works. That has become so apparent to me in the last few weeks. Whether it be extreme spiritual experiences, church experiences or even with relationships with friends back home. I have grown so much from the experience that I have had while serving the Lord. Whether it was Ricky's (named changed) "journey through hell" to open my eyes to the gospel, or how the Lord had just the right talks and lessons planned for Bert and Elaine on Sunday. I am humbled and in awe of his hand in all things. I love this gospel so much and know of it's truthfulness as it is manifests itself to me in so many ways!
A side note: Elder Watson and I (Sherlock Holmes) :) have taught 30 lessons this week and we received a referral from Sister Doyle. There is a family that is wanting to hear the discussions and to be baptized! The Lord prepares people in the most perfect way for them to receive the gospel.
Love you all, have an incredible day
Love, Kody
Still in Spotsy with a new Greenie
January 24, 2012
I am still a District leader and am a trainer again. My new companion is Elder Watson. He is from Utah and Las Vegas. He is a good kid and he means well, we just need to harness his energy!!! Elder Pyne my last companion and his new companion Elder Lewis are taking over the other area that Elder Pyne and I had. It is a little tough for them right now because they have no car, no phone yet and no place to live! Right now they will be crashing with Elder Watson and I. It is not the best situation but I love Lewis and Pyne so it will be okay.
Just an up-date on Ricky (name changed) He is now in Chicago preparing to go to Puerto Rico before he goes into the Army. He calls about every other day asking questions about the gospel. He truly will be one of my favorite converts. I love the work. There are some amazing days out here!
I love you all so much!
Love always,
Dakota Thomas Anderson
Missionary Moment: Is God's Signature in the Book of Mormon
January 17, 2012
A letter from Elder Whaley: This last week we were reading The Book of Mormon with a ten year old girl. We started from the very beginning. We read the introduction and the testimony of the eleven witnesses that saw and held the plates that The Book of Mormon was translated from. After reading the testimonies and seeing the different signatures, she stopped and asked us: Why isn't God's signature there? I paused. She then asked: "Isn't God a witness of all truth?" I thought for a few seconds. Keep in mind that I had to recover from shock. This is a ten-year-old girl asking these questions and as simple as it seems I suddenly realized how important it was. I directed her back to the introduction page. In the second to the last paragraph the invitation is given to read The Book of Mormon, then to ponder in our hearts the message it contains and then to ask God the Eternal Father in the name of Christ if the book is true. And then it is promised that those who seek sincerely will receive a testimony of it's truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost. That's God's signature I told her. That's Him telling you whether something is right or not. That's a signature God places on your heart instead of on a page and that's a signature no man can erase, tear up. forge or burn. I then invited her to keep reading and praying about."
Great questions deserve inspired answers!
A letter from Elder Whaley: This last week we were reading The Book of Mormon with a ten year old girl. We started from the very beginning. We read the introduction and the testimony of the eleven witnesses that saw and held the plates that The Book of Mormon was translated from. After reading the testimonies and seeing the different signatures, she stopped and asked us: Why isn't God's signature there? I paused. She then asked: "Isn't God a witness of all truth?" I thought for a few seconds. Keep in mind that I had to recover from shock. This is a ten-year-old girl asking these questions and as simple as it seems I suddenly realized how important it was. I directed her back to the introduction page. In the second to the last paragraph the invitation is given to read The Book of Mormon, then to ponder in our hearts the message it contains and then to ask God the Eternal Father in the name of Christ if the book is true. And then it is promised that those who seek sincerely will receive a testimony of it's truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost. That's God's signature I told her. That's Him telling you whether something is right or not. That's a signature God places on your heart instead of on a page and that's a signature no man can erase, tear up. forge or burn. I then invited her to keep reading and praying about."
Great questions deserve inspired answers!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE TIME
January 8, 2012
Though I have had a cold the work in the Mission field will not stop! Especially when we get a referral from a recent convert to teach her cousin Ricky (name changed) who is only here for a month, and now he is getting baptized next Sunday! We went in to teach Ricky, he is an awesome kid and is joining the army. He went to church last week just to please his cousin, we taught him later that day. Then we came back to 2 days later, we sat down with him and the families home we were meeting in. After prayer we ask Ricky "hows your reading and praying going?" He stops us and starts acting nervous and just says to everyone, "I need to talk to the missionaries alone". My first thought is that we are getting dropped again! But Ricky told us that he felt so good about what is was learning!
As Sunday came around again Ricky shared the experience to the day with us he said, " I got up today so excited to go to church but on the way to church I got the worst pain in my side, there was something telling me to not go in! But I fought through the pain. There was something in Sacrament meeting telling me to get up and get out of there, leave you don't want to be there...but I stayed there and again pushed through it, and at the end of Sacrament, I felt so great!!!! I and Elder Pyne had the opportunity of teaching him how the spirit feels. (Galatians) and then we taught him the Plan of Salvation, and showed him the importance of Christ's example on being baptized and the major importance of Christ's atonement and ask him if he'd follow Christ's example?...."Absolutely!" Was his reply. We told him that we had prayed about a date for him...and that the15th of January we would be hold a baptismal service for him. "Guys that would be perfect!" We asked Ricky to give the closing prayer, I think that it was one of the best prayers I have ever heard....mainly for the fact that in his prayer he said that, "I know Heavenly Father that you sent Elder Anderson and Elder Pyne to me for this purpose, to introduce the Book of Mormon to me...and I know the the 15th...I know that I will be ready for that day."
In our experience with teaching Ricky it is one that I will never forget! Let's just say that Ricky went through a literal hell to come to Christ. And it is because of this experience that my testimony now is unshakable. I know without a doubt that through the priesthood all things are possible. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we all can be forgiven and lifted up. I have never felt the spirit more strongly in my life. It is an amazing feeling...It will be a sad day when I am no longer missionary, and that day grows closer and closer everyday. I have never understood why people were sad to go home...but I have come to know why over the past few weeks. This great calling we have as missionaries is only for a short time. We only have a short time to bring families together for time and all eternity. What a blessing it truly is. It took me 20 years to realize the importance of the Book of Mormon and to truly see the happiness it can bring. I know without a doubt that this Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the only true church on the face of this earth. I hope that I will be able to help my brothers and sisters here in Virginia know that, and hopefully when I go home I will continue to share the gospel with others. I will be an example!
I got a letter from one of the the stake high councilmen here and in it he talked about the lyrics to a song."teach me all that I must" KNOW" being changed to,"teach me all that I must, "DO", he went on to talk about how the song should probably be changed again to," teach me all that I must "BE" in which the quote from Aristotle applies..."We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit."
Love you all,
Forever your son, Dakota Thomas Anderson
Though I have had a cold the work in the Mission field will not stop! Especially when we get a referral from a recent convert to teach her cousin Ricky (name changed) who is only here for a month, and now he is getting baptized next Sunday! We went in to teach Ricky, he is an awesome kid and is joining the army. He went to church last week just to please his cousin, we taught him later that day. Then we came back to 2 days later, we sat down with him and the families home we were meeting in. After prayer we ask Ricky "hows your reading and praying going?" He stops us and starts acting nervous and just says to everyone, "I need to talk to the missionaries alone". My first thought is that we are getting dropped again! But Ricky told us that he felt so good about what is was learning!
As Sunday came around again Ricky shared the experience to the day with us he said, " I got up today so excited to go to church but on the way to church I got the worst pain in my side, there was something telling me to not go in! But I fought through the pain. There was something in Sacrament meeting telling me to get up and get out of there, leave you don't want to be there...but I stayed there and again pushed through it, and at the end of Sacrament, I felt so great!!!! I and Elder Pyne had the opportunity of teaching him how the spirit feels. (Galatians) and then we taught him the Plan of Salvation, and showed him the importance of Christ's example on being baptized and the major importance of Christ's atonement and ask him if he'd follow Christ's example?...."Absolutely!" Was his reply. We told him that we had prayed about a date for him...and that the15th of January we would be hold a baptismal service for him. "Guys that would be perfect!" We asked Ricky to give the closing prayer, I think that it was one of the best prayers I have ever heard....mainly for the fact that in his prayer he said that, "I know Heavenly Father that you sent Elder Anderson and Elder Pyne to me for this purpose, to introduce the Book of Mormon to me...and I know the the 15th...I know that I will be ready for that day."
In our experience with teaching Ricky it is one that I will never forget! Let's just say that Ricky went through a literal hell to come to Christ. And it is because of this experience that my testimony now is unshakable. I know without a doubt that through the priesthood all things are possible. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we all can be forgiven and lifted up. I have never felt the spirit more strongly in my life. It is an amazing feeling...It will be a sad day when I am no longer missionary, and that day grows closer and closer everyday. I have never understood why people were sad to go home...but I have come to know why over the past few weeks. This great calling we have as missionaries is only for a short time. We only have a short time to bring families together for time and all eternity. What a blessing it truly is. It took me 20 years to realize the importance of the Book of Mormon and to truly see the happiness it can bring. I know without a doubt that this Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the only true church on the face of this earth. I hope that I will be able to help my brothers and sisters here in Virginia know that, and hopefully when I go home I will continue to share the gospel with others. I will be an example!
I got a letter from one of the the stake high councilmen here and in it he talked about the lyrics to a song."teach me all that I must" KNOW" being changed to,"teach me all that I must, "DO", he went on to talk about how the song should probably be changed again to," teach me all that I must "BE" in which the quote from Aristotle applies..."We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit."
Love you all,
Forever your son, Dakota Thomas Anderson
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