Memorial Day trip to Stanley!

Sent: Tue, May 26, 2015 1:30 pm

Happy Memorial Day to everyone! I am so grateful for those that have put their li ves at risk and given their lives to secure the freedoms that we take for granted so often. I hope we all can respect our amazing country and our American Flag which is a symbol of our freedom. I get emotional every time I hear or sing our National Anthem because of the great respect I have for the founding fathers of this country and all those who live up to par with what America really stands for.

Kimberly has been great this last week! Yesterday for Pday (preparation day), The Bybee family from here in Kimberly invited us to go mountain biking and exploring in Sun Valley and Stanley!! We called our Mission President to ask if we could go and to my surprise he said yes! We left in the morning after our studies and cleaning. We arrived in Sun Valley around noon biking around town for an hour or two, then went to Stanley where I got to visit some amazing people that I met when I served there. Going back to Stanley was a little like going back home to be honest. I never thought I would be up there again so soon. I love it so much! My heart was warmed by the sight of the mountains and the association with the people up there. Sadly some of the stores weren't open for the season yet so we didn't get Papa Brunee's pizza, but we did however get to go to Red Fish Lake Resort, the most beautiful place on earth!! I got to see the Clegg family who I missed a bunch and they are as wonderful as ever, (Shout out and thanks to them for letting us be at Red Fish Lake as missionaries and providing us with so much!). I am super serious about wanting to work up there for the summer of 2016. It's like heaven on earth! Here are some pictures of Stanley!   

When we got back to Kimberly last night we played Ultimate Frisbee, my favorite game of all time, with one of our wards at a ward Memorial Day Party at the park. I love the people in Kimberly, they are all so down to earth and kind and loving. On our walk back home in the evening we walked past a non-denominational youth pastor's house which is right across the street from us. There were a couple of young guys our age who came up to talk to us. They were really great guys and they knew the Bible super well; I was impressed. We discussed seeking and finding truth, and what the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" really is. After awhile there was a whole group of young people around us discussing The Word! To say again, I was very impressed with the knowledge of all of these young men and women, age s sixteen to twenty-two, and how much truth they were speaking. The big point where we disagreed was the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Most of them were trying to prove with verses in the Bible that the Book of Mormon was false. I asked them "How many of you have actually read and prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true?" Only two of them said they had done it and they didn't mention if they got an answer. We invited and encouraged them to take the challenge of the Prophet Moroni when he said " And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." I know with all of my heart that if we sincerely ask God after we have read His word if it is true or not, that we will get an answer. I am amazed at how many people will simply not read The Book of Mormon just because of the rumors they have heard about it or because they fear that it is true. If you want to know what it is all about read it for yourself!!! I Testify that it does contain the true Gospel of Jesus Christ just as is in the Bible and that The Book of Mormon is True. I only know because I have read it and prayed about it, and I have received an answer.

 I am amazed by this picture of a church sign because of the truth it actually holds. Even those people know it!

~ Elder Howard