Lasting Testimonies

Well a good Howdy-do to all y'all out there! Just so you know, I have never heard anyone here in Texas say that, but that's what you get! :) This was a great week for the "Baybrook Biking Babes"! Haha, yes I said it, Biking Babes. With some of these bike rides that we do, we are facing headwinds that are at least 15 miles/hour, and my legs are feeling it! I fear lest I should burst a seam.

We had 4 Thanksgiving meals I tell you! 4!!! What a glorious holiday to be eating food! I love it so much. I think it is my favorite holiday as a missionary. I had 3 of the families that we ate dinner with send a photo home to our parents, so if you want to see those photos, ask them. Haha. The fourth, I forgot to ask, but 3/4 isn't bad at all! 

We ended our week with one of the best Sundays that I have been a part of in the mission. Which is saying something since I don't have very many left... But during sacrament, there was a talk given that really struck home for me, and helped me know an answer to another question that I had, "How can I have a continued and lasting testimony throughout my life?" Well, how would you answer it? I am guessing you would answer with the simple Primary answers... (Go to church. Say your prayers. Read the Scriptures.) Well, guess what? You aren't wrong at all!!

One of the speakers for our sacrament meeting told a story of how when he was a kid, his faith was wavering a little bit. So at about that time, his mom invited him to attend Stake Conference. (And where would we be without moms, am I right? Or am I right?) And at this Stake Conference, one of the Counselors in the Stake Presindency promised the audience that if they would do these simple 4 things throughout their life, they would NEVER lose their testimony. 

1. Pray day and night.

2. Study the scriptures daily.

3. Attend Church weekly.

4. Pay your tithing.

Now, I want you to re-read this list. Have you read it? Good! Now do it again! Do you see how simple this promise is? This reminds me a lot about the story of Moses and the Serpent of Brass. In the Old Testament book of Numbers, Chapter 21, we learn of this story. The background is that the children of Isreal are basically being beaten up by another group of people. So, they pray for relief and deliverance. The Lord then grants unto them what they prayed for, but as they are journeying through the desert, they start to murmur against the Lord, and Moses. So what happens? The Lord sends "fiery serpents" and those serpents bite and kill a lot of the chidren of Isreal. As they are experiencing this tourment, they recognize their sins of complaining, and come to Moses seeking forgiveness.

This is the part that I want to focus on... Moses then goes to the Lord and asks what is to be done. The Lord responds with, "Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live." So, Moses makes a Serpent of Brass and puts it on a pole. He then tells the children of Isreal, that if anyone looks upon the Serpent, they would live. And because of the simpleness and easiness of the way, they wouldn't do it. And a lot of them died.

Okay, okay, okay. I know that this is kinda dark for a missionary letter home, but like it says... The simpleness and easiness of the way causes us to look upon it as if it is impossible for us to have such a great blessing if we "only" do these simple things. But, I can promise in the name of Jesus Christ that if you follow this SIMPLE promise of praying daily, studying the scriptures daily, attending church weekly, and paying your tithing, your testimony will not die. It can not! As long as you have faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then ACT on that faith, it is impossible to lose our testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all, and thank you for reading through this whole email! I really hope that you also noticed the number 5 bullet point as well! If not, email me seperately and I will tell you! :)

-Elder J.T.Yates

 "Y" for Yates!!

The newest addition to my classic missionary photos! :)

One of the laziest and fattest cats I've ever seen...

Elder Bell got REKT with the mud. Haha

Eternally Minded

I cannot believe that it is already the 19th of November! It feels like it was just yesterday when I was saying, "Well I am glad that summer is over, and now I get to look forward to Halloween!" Guess what? Halloween has passed and gone! Just like my time here on the mission, it feels like we are going faster than ever before, and that kind of scares me. But, I have many different things that help me to stay focused and on task.

This past weekend we had Stake Conference. On Saturday, we went to the adult session. I am still trying to decide if it was good for me to go or not. We were blessed to hear from our Stake Presidency and Stake Patriarch. All of their talks were about marriage and families. I will be honest with all y'all... It made me a little "trunky" for going home and dating. But, it also helped me increase my vision. 

In the movie The Lion King, Rafiki tells Simba to, "Look beyond what you see." This simple phrase matches perfectly what I thought and felt on Saturday. As the Stake Patriarch was talking, he said that there are 3 types of marriages. 

1. Term

2. Whole Life

3. Eternal

I don't want to focus really at all on 1 & 2. But, just know that those were man-made. They have never, or will ever existed in God's kingdom. But, I want to focus on Eternal. Thinking with an "Eternal" perspective helps us to, "Look beyond what (we) see." This is what I will use throughout my life to stay close to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The mission is the greatest experience that anyone can ever have. No one should ever say, "Well, the mission just isn't for me..." Because the mission is for EVERYONE! We shouldn't look at these experiences that we have in life as something that is time bound. All these things that we do, help us to achieve our bigger or ETERNAL goals of living with God again, and becoming as He is. 

My perspective of the mission has changed from seeing it as a separate experience of 2 painfully long years, to now seeing it as what it really is. This is 2 of the greatest years, and only years to show God that I truly desire to live with him again. My mission is to help me develop righteous habits that keep me on the covenant path.

Brothers and Sisters, these are the last days. The Lord is asking a lot of us. We can not "settle" for small things. We need to "...press forward feasting on the words of Christ..." I know how hard life is, trust me. But please also trust me when I tell you that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, needs to do better. No one is exempt of this hard work. I love this Gospel! I know it's true! As we all strive to have that Eternal perspective, I know that we can and will work towards our goal of living with God again.

-Elder J.T.Yates

An oil plant that we drove past on exchanges during the sunset.

That same oil plant, that looks like it is on fire. 

The sun behind the smoke stacks made it look SUPER cool!

My 1 pound Joe's Burger.

 The Yates posterity all in one photo! From left to right: Elder Fleming (2nd son), Elder Bell (3rd son), Elder Yates (me), Elder Robinson (Grandson - Elder Smith trained him), Elder Smith (1st son).

Some biking babes in the rain!

Forge The Flame of Faith

Well hello there! Long time no talk! :) Again, I feel as if I have been teleported through another week. All those returned missionaries who told me that the last part of the mission flys by... Were... So... Right!! 

This week was good in terms of those "afflictions", they have subdued for the time being, and I don't worry about them as much. They are still there, but It isn't something that I concern myself with too much because I know WHO I am doing this for. Jesus Christ Himself that's who! :) 

We learn in the scriptures that when the Lord returns again, those who will stand before him will be those who have gone through the "Refiner's Fire". As we go through life, we are all faced with challenges. No one can escape them, but everyone can overcome them!

With going through our lives being purified and refined, we become that priceless work of art formed by the Master's hand. The one that we have so desired throughout our lives. I know that this is possible!

As of late, these "afflictions" have been mostly my legs not being able to keep the same pace throughout the week. Being in an all-bike area, your legs become stronger, but they also take a while to get there. Right now, I am in the stage of becoming stronger and slowly but surely I will get there!

I love these verses! I love being able to understand that all these wonderful afflictions will "but surely come to pass". As my dear friend Domingo Noriega once said to me. 

I can testify, that no matter what you are going through, you can get through it! YOU CAN DO IT!! The Lord loves you! I love you! There are spirits in the Spirit World cheering you on! Keep on it, and don't give up. Know that you can do all things! 

I know that as you continue to study the scriptures, pray fervently to our Loving Heavenly Father, and always make and keep covenants with God, you WILL be refined! You WILL be made better! You WILL be made whole! I love you all!!

-Elder J.T.Yates

Elder Bell and I were blessed to participate in the Baybrook Cupcake Wars! 

We were able to judge(eat) the cupcakes!

One of the biggest movie collections I have ever seen!

 Also, they are all alphabetized.

Some of the best Rib-eye & Baked potato that I have ever had in my life! 

My Testimony

"I have a Testimony,

that is sacred, and dear to me.

One that lies within my soul.

One that you cannot see."

-Alvin Schow

Brothers and Sisters! Today, I want to share my testimony with all y'all! 

First, let me start by saying how blessed this week was! At the beginning of the week, I somewhat looked at our week ahead and thought, "Oh boy... This is going to be a long week." But as it turns out, the week flew by and a lot got done!

As all of you should know, and if you dont I would reccommend to learn, but this week was Halloween! And that means that Missionary Work didn't actually get done. President Guthrie asked us to be inside by 7:30 that night, which was a little strange. But, we were productive! So, all is well.

One of the best parts of this week for me, was that we got to finish setting up those Halloween decorations for that one lady I was telling y'all about last week. And, it definitely doesn't look as good as it did last year from the pictures that we saw, but I was proud of our work!

On Friday, we were able to go to the Mission Office for the "Atonement Training" presented to us by President Guthrie. I am so super grateful for him, his leadership, his example, and his worthiness to hold the Spirit and the Priesthood.

Bretheren and Sisteren, my testimony is simple. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that He leads this church, which is the only true and living church on the Earth today. I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet in these the last days. I know that what I am doing is hard, but it is worth it!

I promise to all of you reading this... This is worth it! This is the Lord Jesus Christ's church restored on the Earth today! Why anyone would leave it, is such a silly notion. But, I promise and testify in the name of Jesus Christ that as you continue to have faith in Him, and then exercise that faith by repenting, making and keeping covenants, being lead and purified by the Holy Ghost, and continue throughout your life to live these basic truths, YOU WILL BE HAPPIER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN!!!

Brothers and Sisters, this is not a 200 year joke that we have been playing on the world. This is the Lord's Church, Gospel, and teachings. I love this work, and I know it to be true.

-Elder J.T.Yates

Elder Whetzel and I got to see each other again on Friday!

Elder Bell in the middle of a super nasty rain storm. Haha

A massive branch that got knocked down because of the storm.

Me in front of the super schweeet Halloween decorations we put up!

One of my new best friends, who is also a decoration. Haha