A couple weeks ago we tracked into a kid who is still in high school and loves to dance and sing. We taught him the first lesson a couple days ago and the Light of Christ was burning inside him. He could not let go of the Book of Mormon, he held it like it was his life line. He texted us yesterday and said his mom wanted to read it before he could get baptized but he really wants to get baptized. You can imagine the smile that was on our faces when he said his mom wanted to read it first, fair enough :) We are so happy for him and just want the best for him. We already love him and I know that love for him is a gift from God.
Love is the most powerful thing you can use when teaching someone the gospel of Jesus Christ. Commenting on the words of Christ: "Without me, ye can do nothing," I know that that is a promise, but with Him you can do anything. It is by and through that love that investigators receive the Spirit of Confirmation that this is God's truth and Christ's gospel. I testify, that through the Atonement of Christ you can feel that love that God so willing and graciously will give to you. It is through that love that you can share the gospel with others and it is through that love that they will feel it is true.
Christ lives. He walks with us every day we obey His laws. Our Heavenly Father answers our prayers and He loves each and every one of us. I love you with all my heart and pray for you daily. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Monday, November 11, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Less Active Church Members
This week I feel impressed to talk about working with less actives (church members who aren’t attending church regularly or not at all).
Upon approval from my mission president, I have been reading “The Power of Everyday Missionaries” by Clayton Christensen. A book I highly recommend every member to buy and read. Read it again and then read it again. Study this book and understand the principles within it, and I promise you will become a more effective and happier member of Christ's church. He talks about how we can help less actives become not just active in the church, but happier in the church, as well. So how can you start today, to help less actives? Befriend them. Talk with them, not to them. Get to them and what they like. Tell them they are wanted and needed in the church and then help them in the area they are needed. Serve them like none other.
Did Christ give up on those that wavered or fell behind? No. He held their hand and walked with them, and if necessary, put them on His shoulders and lead. See them as your brothers and sisters, children of our Heavenly Father. Pick them up and guide them. They know the church is true. They know what the "peace of God which passeth all understanding" feels like and sometimes they just need a little reminder from your sincere love and hospitality towards them. So how can you help less actives? Well instead of telling yourself how to do it, show yourself how to do it by going out there and doing something. I promise that if you do, you will feel the Spirit of God just as you did when you were baptized, serving a mission, or being sealed.
God is real. Christ lives and is the Savior of this world. I know He loves each and every one of us. I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I love you so much and I can't wait to see you on Christmas! Take care and remember, "Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words" -St. Francis of Assisi
-Elder Trotman
Upon approval from my mission president, I have been reading “The Power of Everyday Missionaries” by Clayton Christensen. A book I highly recommend every member to buy and read. Read it again and then read it again. Study this book and understand the principles within it, and I promise you will become a more effective and happier member of Christ's church. He talks about how we can help less actives become not just active in the church, but happier in the church, as well. So how can you start today, to help less actives? Befriend them. Talk with them, not to them. Get to them and what they like. Tell them they are wanted and needed in the church and then help them in the area they are needed. Serve them like none other.
Did Christ give up on those that wavered or fell behind? No. He held their hand and walked with them, and if necessary, put them on His shoulders and lead. See them as your brothers and sisters, children of our Heavenly Father. Pick them up and guide them. They know the church is true. They know what the "peace of God which passeth all understanding" feels like and sometimes they just need a little reminder from your sincere love and hospitality towards them. So how can you help less actives? Well instead of telling yourself how to do it, show yourself how to do it by going out there and doing something. I promise that if you do, you will feel the Spirit of God just as you did when you were baptized, serving a mission, or being sealed.
God is real. Christ lives and is the Savior of this world. I know He loves each and every one of us. I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I love you so much and I can't wait to see you on Christmas! Take care and remember, "Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words" -St. Francis of Assisi
-Elder Trotman
Monday, October 28, 2013
Happy Serving
Yello,
Looks like yinz (PA English for "you all") are having a blast there! I'm glad everyone is happy and enjoying themselves.
Well I should probably tell you a little about my new companion. His name is Elder J and he's from Utah. He's 19, been on his mission for six months and he was Elder V's MTC companion. He's really cool and reminds me of a couple kids from back home! He's a very bold missionary, too. There are definitely a lot of good things I will learn from him. He already invited our new investigator to be baptized in the first lesson. We tracked into this guy (by knocking on doors). So we went back yesterday and taught him about the Restoration with our Elders Quorum President. It was an awesome lesson and I shared my testimony with him. He said he would read the Book of Mormon and pray about it because that's what God wants him to do and then if he sees it's true, he'll get baptized. Does it get any better than that?!
I'm so happy right now and I can feel The Lord's outstretched hand in my life every waking moment as I diligently work in His vineyard. I love being a missionary. I do, I really do. I love helping people and just loving my brothers and sisters. This is by far the best thing I can be doing with my life right now. Thank you for supporting me and loving me. I love you so much and I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us this week.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Looks like yinz (PA English for "you all") are having a blast there! I'm glad everyone is happy and enjoying themselves.
Well I should probably tell you a little about my new companion. His name is Elder J and he's from Utah. He's 19, been on his mission for six months and he was Elder V's MTC companion. He's really cool and reminds me of a couple kids from back home! He's a very bold missionary, too. There are definitely a lot of good things I will learn from him. He already invited our new investigator to be baptized in the first lesson. We tracked into this guy (by knocking on doors). So we went back yesterday and taught him about the Restoration with our Elders Quorum President. It was an awesome lesson and I shared my testimony with him. He said he would read the Book of Mormon and pray about it because that's what God wants him to do and then if he sees it's true, he'll get baptized. Does it get any better than that?!
I'm so happy right now and I can feel The Lord's outstretched hand in my life every waking moment as I diligently work in His vineyard. I love being a missionary. I do, I really do. I love helping people and just loving my brothers and sisters. This is by far the best thing I can be doing with my life right now. Thank you for supporting me and loving me. I love you so much and I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us this week.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Twelve Weeks Later
Well, as you can see, according to my title, it's been twelve weeks (3 months) since I left Highlands Ranch and became a fully involved and devoted servant of The Lord. CRAZY!!! I've really enjoyed having Elder V. as my companion but he gets transferred tomorrow... Sadly, my 25-year-old companion is leaving me. I am driving to Pittsburgh at 6:30am tomorrow to spend most of my day there and pick up my new companion. It will be exciting! I've learned a lot from Elder V. The following is my testimony that has been strengthened and altered from the training with him. First, below is a quote from the most recent General Conference:
"While I was a boy working in the fields with my mother, she taught me one of the most important lessons in life. It was late in the morning, the sun was up, and we had been hoeing for what I thought to be a very long time. I stopped to look back at what we had accomplished and said to my mother, “Look at all we have done!” Mother did not respond. Thinking that she had not heard me, I repeated what I had said a little louder. She still did not reply. Raising my voice a little higher, I repeated again. Finally, she turned to me and said, “Edward, never look back. Look ahead at what we still have to do.'" (Edward Dube, “Look Ahead and Believe,” October 2013 General Conference) (If you want to read the entire talk, please go to: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/look-ahead-and-believe?lang=eng&query= )
What Edward Dube said this last General Conference has been circling my mind for days. Finally, one night it hit me. I connected what he said and what Elder V. has taught together. The reason it was in my head so much wasn't because I had succeeded so much in my past and was calling to my supreme guardian asking Him to acknowledge my success. I was calling to Him to acknowledge my failures when there was no need to. He acknowledged them long before I took up this mortal tabernacle. In fact, He forgave me as soon as I asked. I wasn't even calling to Him, but rather, calling to myself. I thought about it for a while. Why am I telling myself to live in the past, when Christ has already perfected my imperfections of the past? Why was I trying to acknowledge my mistakes when I should be acknowledging the successes I could achieve tomorrow? The answer: because I was being selfish and not acknowledging the greatest gift in my life, the Atonement. Through the example and lessons that Elder V. has shared with me, I have come to a new realization of the reality of the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement. Christ has already paid the price and if we can forgive ourselves and humble ourselves before God to receive His forgiveness, then there is absolutely no need for us to dwell on the past. The past is the past. It's gone. So what are we to do with these blemishes? Learn from them and move on. Look ahead! There is so much to this life and it is way too short to live in the past!
I leave you with my testimony that I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. He knows each and every one of us on a very deep personal level. He can change us if we allow Him to. We can become perfected through His redemptive name. He is the Holy One of Israel, who came to take upon Him the sin of every man and woman of this world. He is the Prince of Peace, the Only Begotten Son of our Father. He is very much alive and real. I proclaim these things in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Fall in PA
"While I was a boy working in the fields with my mother, she taught me one of the most important lessons in life. It was late in the morning, the sun was up, and we had been hoeing for what I thought to be a very long time. I stopped to look back at what we had accomplished and said to my mother, “Look at all we have done!” Mother did not respond. Thinking that she had not heard me, I repeated what I had said a little louder. She still did not reply. Raising my voice a little higher, I repeated again. Finally, she turned to me and said, “Edward, never look back. Look ahead at what we still have to do.'" (Edward Dube, “Look Ahead and Believe,” October 2013 General Conference) (If you want to read the entire talk, please go to: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/look-ahead-and-believe?lang=eng&query= )
What Edward Dube said this last General Conference has been circling my mind for days. Finally, one night it hit me. I connected what he said and what Elder V. has taught together. The reason it was in my head so much wasn't because I had succeeded so much in my past and was calling to my supreme guardian asking Him to acknowledge my success. I was calling to Him to acknowledge my failures when there was no need to. He acknowledged them long before I took up this mortal tabernacle. In fact, He forgave me as soon as I asked. I wasn't even calling to Him, but rather, calling to myself. I thought about it for a while. Why am I telling myself to live in the past, when Christ has already perfected my imperfections of the past? Why was I trying to acknowledge my mistakes when I should be acknowledging the successes I could achieve tomorrow? The answer: because I was being selfish and not acknowledging the greatest gift in my life, the Atonement. Through the example and lessons that Elder V. has shared with me, I have come to a new realization of the reality of the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement. Christ has already paid the price and if we can forgive ourselves and humble ourselves before God to receive His forgiveness, then there is absolutely no need for us to dwell on the past. The past is the past. It's gone. So what are we to do with these blemishes? Learn from them and move on. Look ahead! There is so much to this life and it is way too short to live in the past!
I leave you with my testimony that I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. He knows each and every one of us on a very deep personal level. He can change us if we allow Him to. We can become perfected through His redemptive name. He is the Holy One of Israel, who came to take upon Him the sin of every man and woman of this world. He is the Prince of Peace, the Only Begotten Son of our Father. He is very much alive and real. I proclaim these things in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Fall in PA
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Progress
How's everyone doing back home? Anything cool happen lately? I've heard, from the YSA Branch, that iOS7 is pretty cool! Not gonna lie, I miss my iPhone, take care of it Shay!
Football is THE TALK her in State College! If they don't talk about football they talk about something else Penn State related... Cael (Olympic wrestler) and his brother are in my ward. They're pretty cool! The assisted living resident, is scheduled to be baptized on November 9th. One of our neighbors, is set to be baptized on November 2nd. We have a Chinese family we're teaching with our Ward Mission Leader who served in Taiwan. We are teaching someone from Rwanda, who is a single parent. We have a few other investigators and have been very successful in finding more people, most of whom are taught by the sisters because they are single college students. State College has been an adventure thus far and will continue to be! My companion will probably be transferred next week and I will most likely end up training a new missionary here! I'm excited!
I just want to leave you with a commitment. As a missionary, I invite a lot of people to make commitments with God. I would invite you to come up with a family missionary plan: that is to have the goal of having someone in your home by Christmas with the missionaries. Pray about it. Ponder it. Ask your Father in Heaven, as a family, where to cast your net. He has prepared someone you know and associate with to hear the gospel, I promise. All you have to do is ask God who it is. Ask in sincerity and ask with a plan having faith to act on your answer. I promise that if you do so, He will answer you. He will guide you and He will provide.
I love you all so much and pray for you every day! If there is anything I can do for you or any of our friends, please just ask.
I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven that has divinely placed an angel charge concerning each and every one of us. I know that Jesus is the Christ and Savior of this world. I know He loves us and has felt every emotion that so twitches in our body. Heavenly Father hears your prayers and looks forward to hearing them every moment of our life. He loves you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Football is THE TALK her in State College! If they don't talk about football they talk about something else Penn State related... Cael (Olympic wrestler) and his brother are in my ward. They're pretty cool! The assisted living resident, is scheduled to be baptized on November 9th. One of our neighbors, is set to be baptized on November 2nd. We have a Chinese family we're teaching with our Ward Mission Leader who served in Taiwan. We are teaching someone from Rwanda, who is a single parent. We have a few other investigators and have been very successful in finding more people, most of whom are taught by the sisters because they are single college students. State College has been an adventure thus far and will continue to be! My companion will probably be transferred next week and I will most likely end up training a new missionary here! I'm excited!
I just want to leave you with a commitment. As a missionary, I invite a lot of people to make commitments with God. I would invite you to come up with a family missionary plan: that is to have the goal of having someone in your home by Christmas with the missionaries. Pray about it. Ponder it. Ask your Father in Heaven, as a family, where to cast your net. He has prepared someone you know and associate with to hear the gospel, I promise. All you have to do is ask God who it is. Ask in sincerity and ask with a plan having faith to act on your answer. I promise that if you do so, He will answer you. He will guide you and He will provide.
I love you all so much and pray for you every day! If there is anything I can do for you or any of our friends, please just ask.
I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven that has divinely placed an angel charge concerning each and every one of us. I know that Jesus is the Christ and Savior of this world. I know He loves us and has felt every emotion that so twitches in our body. Heavenly Father hears your prayers and looks forward to hearing them every moment of our life. He loves you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Monday, October 7, 2013
General Conference
May I start by saying thank you for your prayers. I hope you know that they have been heard by our Father and felt by my heart. I do pray daily for your well-being as well and, even more so, for opportunities for you to share this wonderful gospel.
We have been blessed to again hear the powerful words of The Lord's Apostles and Prophet. I pray that you take heed to their words as they are the Lord's, for "whether by mine voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."(Doctrine & Covenants 1:38)
Elder Holland said something quite harsh but true, "God's love is there for you whether or not you deserve it." I personally know this to be God's truth. We are all imperfect beings in an imperfect world. We chose to follow our eldest brother (Jesus Christ) and come to this Earth. We have already accepted the challenges we are to face here and we knew it would be hard. The Lord gave us a promise when He told John, "for without me ye can do nothing."(John 15:5) I testify unto you that is true. However, He gave us another promise, as President Eyring stated, "There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning us." Unto John He also said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."(John 14:27,18) As President Uchtdorf expressed, though carnal man may fall, The Lord will always stretch forth His redemptive hand to save us, even a stranger. However, it is solely up to us to feel the joy of forgiveness. We may not entirely understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, but through it we can feel the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. Remember the promise given to Isaiah, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18) Take Edward Dube's advice given from his mother and "never look back, the past is to be lead from, not lived in." If you doubt the eternal redemptive power of the Atonement, then "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" as President Uchtdorf stated. It is through the Atonement that you can walk in faith, which faith can make you whole. Christ is everything to us and we are to abide in Him permanently, unyielding, steadfastly, forever.
Elder Richard G. Scott told us something very important when he said, "Repentance is not a punishment." It is a God given gift that we are to use. It is only through repentance that we are able to come closer unto Christ. If we want the blessings of the gospel to blossom within our lives, we need to be firmly attached to Him. We are to "run with patience the race that is set before us" and run with faith, as Richard J. Maynes stated. President Monson said, "Patience is a Heavenly virtue." I second the testimony of our dear prophet with my own personal testimony, "From the bed of pain and pillow of tears, we are lifted heavenward in the peace of our Savior, which peace is a special rest amid unrest." If you feel burdened by grief or pain, He can heal you. Remember, "don't forget to look up" as Adrian Ochoa expressed. Let The Lord drape His eternally loving arms of comfort and forgiveness upon your heavy laden shoulders. Terence M. Vinson stated it perfectly, "You haven't used all your strength until your Heavenly Father has helped you." Humble yourself and let Him make weak things become strong unto you.
Pray fervently, daily. As you draw nearer unto The Lord, He will draw nearer unto thee. I leave you this - that our Redeemer lives. Jesus is the Christ and Only Begotten of the Father. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I love you all and I look forward to hearing from you.
-Elder Trotman
We have been blessed to again hear the powerful words of The Lord's Apostles and Prophet. I pray that you take heed to their words as they are the Lord's, for "whether by mine voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."(Doctrine & Covenants 1:38)
Elder Holland said something quite harsh but true, "God's love is there for you whether or not you deserve it." I personally know this to be God's truth. We are all imperfect beings in an imperfect world. We chose to follow our eldest brother (Jesus Christ) and come to this Earth. We have already accepted the challenges we are to face here and we knew it would be hard. The Lord gave us a promise when He told John, "for without me ye can do nothing."(John 15:5) I testify unto you that is true. However, He gave us another promise, as President Eyring stated, "There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning us." Unto John He also said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."(John 14:27,18) As President Uchtdorf expressed, though carnal man may fall, The Lord will always stretch forth His redemptive hand to save us, even a stranger. However, it is solely up to us to feel the joy of forgiveness. We may not entirely understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, but through it we can feel the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. Remember the promise given to Isaiah, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18) Take Edward Dube's advice given from his mother and "never look back, the past is to be lead from, not lived in." If you doubt the eternal redemptive power of the Atonement, then "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" as President Uchtdorf stated. It is through the Atonement that you can walk in faith, which faith can make you whole. Christ is everything to us and we are to abide in Him permanently, unyielding, steadfastly, forever.
Elder Richard G. Scott told us something very important when he said, "Repentance is not a punishment." It is a God given gift that we are to use. It is only through repentance that we are able to come closer unto Christ. If we want the blessings of the gospel to blossom within our lives, we need to be firmly attached to Him. We are to "run with patience the race that is set before us" and run with faith, as Richard J. Maynes stated. President Monson said, "Patience is a Heavenly virtue." I second the testimony of our dear prophet with my own personal testimony, "From the bed of pain and pillow of tears, we are lifted heavenward in the peace of our Savior, which peace is a special rest amid unrest." If you feel burdened by grief or pain, He can heal you. Remember, "don't forget to look up" as Adrian Ochoa expressed. Let The Lord drape His eternally loving arms of comfort and forgiveness upon your heavy laden shoulders. Terence M. Vinson stated it perfectly, "You haven't used all your strength until your Heavenly Father has helped you." Humble yourself and let Him make weak things become strong unto you.
Pray fervently, daily. As you draw nearer unto The Lord, He will draw nearer unto thee. I leave you this - that our Redeemer lives. Jesus is the Christ and Only Begotten of the Father. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I love you all and I look forward to hearing from you.
-Elder Trotman
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