Remember. 3/18/13

Dear Friends and Family, Not much to write about this week, we are still working hard. Today we played capture the flag against another zone. We won. I am sunburnt. Story of my life. More important than this, I was asked to give a spiritual thought in our weekly zone meeting Thursday, and I feel that you all should hear or read it as well. At times we can be overwhelmed with the amount of struggles and trials that we have in this life. One of the most overwhelming is the devious strategy of the enemy to take sacred things and paint them in a way that is no longer sacred. Here in the mission I have seen a lot of this. People do not understand the importance and eternal nature of the family. They interpret the word of God in whichever way is most convenient. Pastors get up on rooftops during my personal scripture study and scream the sacred name of my Savior into a microphone with vicious repetition. Sometimes Satan´s attacks are more subtle. Sometimes we have so much to focus on that we simply forget other things, such as temple covenants, scripture study, etc. Sometimes, in the midst of all of our trials and forgetfulness, the thought comes to our mind that we ourselves are forgotten. Forgotten to family and friends, overlooked and unrecognized professionally, and whatever else. My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify that this is not true. The Lord Himself has said: "But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not." "For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel." "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." The Lord remembers us every time he looks at His hands. Likewise He invites us to do the same. "Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen." One of the most important, inspiring words is simply ¨remember¨. We are commanded to remember Him by praying, reading, and attending church. We promise to remember Him when we partake of the sacred emblems of the Sacrament. So it is this invitation that submit to all of you whom I love so much. Remember Him. Remember that you have promised to follow Him and be like Him. Remember those sacred covenants made in the waters of baptism and holy temples. Remember that you are children of a Heavenly Father that loves you. Remember that the Savior comes quickly, and the enemy will be bound. Remember this divine hope and promise that He gives us. Elder Nichols

Transfer Update. 3/4/13

Dear Friends and Family, Sorry about the lack of news. I have been having some much needed family discussion via email with my step mother Andrea. She is such a blessing for me and I am so grateful that the mission has brought us so close. It reminds me of the following scripture, which is now one of my favorites. Doctrine and Covenants 31:5 "Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live." So anyway, 3 weeks ago my companion and I got transferred together to a new area back in the capital. It was hard to leave the members, my recent converts, and progressing investigators, but I have trust that Heavenly Father loves that part of His vineyard even more than I do, and would do nothing to harm it. Now we live with the zone leaders in Sabana Perdida, which is a lot of fun, and we took over the northern half of their area. To our great surprise they told us that they have no investigators that live in our area. So we are basically opening the area, even though there are a few members that live here. We have been working hard, having shorter lessons, and being diligent and fearless. In the last three weeks we have done over 300 contacts and have about 70 investigators. It´s been a lot of fun, and I have been doing my best to keep learning from my companion, assuming that´s why the Lord brought us together from Higuey. I have been thinking a lot about the importance of my mission, as well as my responsibilities. I think a lot of the time I am just too hard on myself. Heavenly Father sent me here, knowing full well that I wouldn´t baptize every contact. He also knew I would make lots of mistakes and learn in the process. I don´t think he holds me responsible for their salvation. In fact, he didn´t send me here to save them. He sent His Son Jesus Christ for that. He sent me here to teach them, and to invite them to follow Christ. Furthermore, He sent me here to learn, grow, and embark on the Disciple´s Path. I recognize the changes in my priorities, desires, and attributes. How interesting it is that the more we serve and love others, the more we ourselves grow. I want you to know that the all knowing, all powerful creator of this universe, yea, even God, is also our loving Heavenly Father. We are precious to Him. He is kind and merciful, even when we ourselves don´t think we deserve it. He sees our potential, desires, and actions, rewarding us accordingly. He knows us by name. He loves us. He expected us to make mistakes in this life and thus provided a Savior to rescue us. We do not have to be perfect in this life, for that would negate our need for the Redeemer. We are expected to take advantage of the free atoning sacrifice laid before us. To have faith on the Lord Jesus Christ and repent, aligning our will with the Father´s. Doing so, we have claim to the mercy of the Father, and are snatched from the requirements of Justice. I can think of no greater blessing. I can imagine no greater source of hope. That hope is described by some as an anchor, and by others a foundation, that leads us to look forward to a better day. It is that which inclines our hearts to doing good works. There is no greater message that we can share with out friends and family. It is my testimony that Jesus Christ lives and loves us. That He still speaks today, just as He did in ancient times, through Prophets and Apostles. Draw near unto Him, and He will draw near unto you. Seek and ye shall find, Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. I leave this humble testimony of mine in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Elder Nichols

Baptism Photos. 2/4/13

I also got to confirm Junior Andres a member and give him a blessing, so we wore our suits to church.

It Worked! 2/4/13

Baptism. 2/4/13

Well the baptism was a huge success. We had prelude music, a movie, and we even brought ice cream. I was going to send photos, but this computer hates me. Better luck next week I hope. Love you all, take care. Elder Nichols

Exito en Higuey. 1/28/13

Dear Family and Friends, Today I have good news. Yesterday we had 3 investigators pass the baptismal interview!!!!!! It has been a rough 4 transfers without a baptism, but our efforts are finally paying off. I have been privileged to find some very valiant people, as well as a few kids. One of which we are going to wait to baptize until his family is attending church more, so that he can have more support from them and not fall away afterwards. Wellington is an old investigator that we had dropped because of a few failed appointments, and because he wasn´t able to attend church. A little while later we got a call from his friend who told us that wellington wanted to be baptized and that we should visit him again. He changed his schedule at work so that he could come Sunday morning to church. Unfortunately he has to work the night shift Sunday and the morning shift on Monday, which means he gets about 4 hours of sleep. He says it’s a huge sacrifice but that it’s worth it. We are still trying to help him meet other members so he doesn´t feel so alone. Junior is a really smart 19 year old kid who has been coming to church for awhile. We got off to a slow start trying to teach him, but after he accepted the baptismal invitation we have been making the sacrifice to walk out there and teach him a few times a week. Julio Angel is the nephew of a member, and he is 9 years old. I especially have a soft spot in my heart for kids, because I was just 9 years old when I was baptized. I still remember the missionary that taught me. Elder Slusser. I have had the privilege now of befriending and teaching 6 different kids and it is always a pleasure. I hope that I can have the same impact on them that Elder Slusser had on me, even though he probably doesn´t even know it. This next part of my email still blows my mind. We have found a golden investigator. After contacting literally over a thousand people in Higüey, we have found someone. The other 3 guys I have written about so far were all references. This should show the power and importance of members in missionary work. However, we have finally been led to an amazing, valiant woman named Nikauri. Here is the story. First Visit Christmas Day. We knock on the door to do Christmas caroling, which she accepts. We are using caroling as a method to see who would be good candidates to receive one of the 15 Books Of Mormon that we have marked, written testimonies, and wrapped with gift paper. We feel prompted to give her one of these gifts after singing another hymn. She is very nice, and we feel like we should come back. 3 weeks later. President Hernandez tells us that he wants to make every effort possible to find the people that received Books Of Mormon. Second Visit We find Nikauri. She read the scriptures we marked, recited them back from memory, and tells us that she loved it. She has a few questions about the origin of the book which we answer, and we present her with a restoration pamphlet. We leave a little intrigued wondering about the future. As we are leaving she says ¨I have the feeling i am going to join your church¨ to which I stupidly reply ¨oh... uhhh... cool¨ Smooth right? Third visit She had read the entire pamphlet. We ask if she thinks it’s true and she says “Of course I think it´s true. Otherwise I wouldn´t have allowed you guys to come back and continue teaching me.” So we invite her to be baptized and she says yes. She tells us how she feels drawn to our church, like God is calling her there, and we testify that the feeling is the Holy Ghost, which helps us to follow Christ. She also tells us that she wants to have us meet her family and friends to teach them as well. We leave 2 Nephi 31, which talks about baptism. We say a prayer. Elder Ford and I do a mid air chest bump after leaving. Fourth Visit She had read the entire chapter and explained it back to us. We decide to teach her about the gospel of Jesus Christ, beginning with Faith and Repentance. She interrupts us to ask “What do I have to do to be baptized?” I am shocked and start crying. She asks “Did I say something wrong?” and I manage to squeak out “no... that was a perfect question.” So we do a recap of the baptismal interview and the commandments, where we find out that she is already married, has Sundays off, has no addictions, and wants to pay tithing. Yes I said wants. She says that we are like 2 angels that God has sent to her. Then she gave us chips and dip. More mid air chest bumps ensue. Fifth Visit We bring the relief society president with us, Diana, who served a mission in Mexico. Nikauri once again was prepared for the lesson by reading the plan of salvation pamphlet. She says she has a doubt, and I think “ah man here it comes....” and she says “I still don´t know where the church is. I was looking and looking but couldn´t find it.” We tell her where it is and she says she will come. Diana tells us after that she was completely shocked at how prepared and awesome Nikauri is. (update...she wasn´t able to come to church because her daughter was vomiting that morning. We´ll try again next week.) Sixth Visit We attempt to finish the plan of salvation lesson, but she teaches it to us before we get the chance. You see, we had left Alma ch.40, but she decided to read 40 through 42, and then SHE testifies to US of how important the Book of Mormon is. Then she told us how her friend invited her back to her old church, but she is going to tell her no because she wants to go to our church and feels like God wants her to be there too. Well that´s it for now. It was an amazing week. God has our back. We worked hard and now we are seeing an exponential amount of blessings. Elder Nichols

Dia de Reyes. 1/7/13

Dear Family and Friends, Happy Day of Kings! Well, yesterday anyways. Here the kids don´t get presents until January 6th. They literally don´t do anything on the 25th of december, just hang out with the family. I think they all get new clothes, but I´m not sure. They eat a ton on the 24th with the family, get really drunk on New Years Eve, then give gifts on day of kings to the kids. This week we worked hard despite the holiday season. I did the math, and in the last 6 weeks we have contacted at least 600 people. We have planted a lot of gospel seeds, and I am ok with that. Apart from that we have been doing a lot to visit, love and encourage the members. I think that is why Heavenly Father put me in this area. He knows I love people, and that I have a natural enthusiasm and charisma. That is just what this area needs. What would be the purpose in baptizing people in a ward that can´t retain them or support them? It has been a humbling, rough, 3 transfers. But now that I am used to the circumstances and know what to expect, I´m okay with being here for another transfer. My spiritual thought for the week comes from the Book of Mormon, in Alma 34: 27-29: Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your aheartsbe bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for yourcwelfare, and also for the welfare of dthose who are around you. And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if yeaturn away the bneedy, and the cnaked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and dimpart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your eprayer is fvain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as ghypocrites who do deny the faith. Therefore, if ye do not remember to be acharitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men. With Love, Elder Nichols

Happy New Year. 1/2/13

Dear Family and Friends, Happy New Year! My black year of the mission is over hahaha. 7 more months to go. In other news, I invite you my friends to make a resolution that will have eternal consequences. I invite you to follow the Savior Jesus Christ, to develop his attributes, to convert yourselves through exercising your faith. The difference with this resolution is that if we honestly desire to change and show our intent, we qualify ourselves for divine intervention, and the grace of Christ enables us to do the things that would be impossible on our own. A few years ago my parents bought me a brand new Quad for Christmas. For some odd reason I brought it with me on the mission, even though I had my other scriptures that I got at my baptism and carried with me through primary and seminary. Well recently those scriptures have started falling apart and smelling terrible, probably because of the humidity. So I have been making it a point to mark up my new fancy quad, so I can leave the others behind. I am using a new system that I developed in the mission, and I am using Preach My Gospel as a guide, as if I was starting the mission over again. My friends, I have learned a ton. It is a testimony to me that PMG is inspired of God, the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price are His Word, and that if are humble and teachable, the Lord will open up great mysteries and treasures of knowledge unto us. Here is my basic color system for anyone that wants to know, the markings are a lot harder to describe without showing. Light Blue Nature of God, Prophets and Apostles, The Primitive Church, Apostasy and Restoration, Personal Revelation Orange Preexistence, Creation, Fall of Adam, Atonement, Attributes of Christ, The Spirit World, Resurrection, Judgment, Millennium, Kingdoms of Glory Green Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Endure to the End, Vicarious Work for the Dead Purple Commandments Black Strategies and Characteristics of Satan Red Favorites that pertain to Other Doctrine Dark Blue Favorites that are Inspirational Have a Happy New Year! Elder Nichols

Humility. 12/26/12

Dear Family and Friends, It’s been a great few days here in the DR. Christmas eve we had to be home at six, but 2 members brought us food, as well as the lady that lives below us. Christmas Day we had to give out 15 Books of Mormon that we had previously marked, signed, and wrapped in gift paper. However, apart from the Christmas party, zone activity, food, presents, and service, my favorite day was last Sunday. My companion and I had to speak in sacrament. I had a whole talk figured out based on why we should spread the gospel. To be perfectly honest it was kind of abrasive, and many times I felt as if it might offend more than help. My companion spoke first and set the tone with a talk on charity. After that there was no way I could give such a talk. I abandoned my original thoughts completely and spoke from my heart. I spoke the thoughts that the spirit gave me. I spoke on how we can be humble and loving in our approach in sharing the gospel. We don’t have to say I am right and you are wrong and you have to convert or you will be sorry. Also, even though it is a good start, we should not only spread the gospel out of obligation or duty alone. It is our duty as Disciples of Christ and children of our heavenly father, however, there is a stronger, more effective approach. Something close to the following and as the spirit directs. “My dearest friend, I care deeply about your happiness, your success, and your family. I have something in my possession that is the secret to everything good in my life, and I would never be able to live it down if i did not share it with you. It is sacred and special to me, and i hope that it can bless you as well. It is my relationship with the living Jesus Christ and His church. Once again he is personally guiding us through newly called and ordained Apostles and Prophets. He lives, He loves us, and he has not forgotten us. He has given us promised blessings and special authority to serve others in His name. Through this special priesthood authority we can seal families together even beyond the grave. Fathers can give heaven inspired blessings of council, comfort, and health to their loved ones. We have received more of the precious words of Christ in a sacred new book of scripture. My friend, I only wish for you to enjoy the same peace, hope, love, and quality of life that I do so enjoy. Please, open your heart and mind to more, and be a partaker in eternal bliss.” Sincerely, Elder Jared C. Nichols

Nothin much. 12/18/12

Dear Family and Friends, I hope you all are doing well in this Christmas season. I love you all very much and it was great to receive a few letters at the Christmas party yesterday. This Sunday I get to speak in sacrament and I am pretty excited. I´ve been studying the apostasy and restoration like crazy this week and I have a few ideas. Next week I will be writing on Wednesday instead of Monday. We are all having special transfers to avoid traveling on New Year’s Day. Everything is going well over here. My companion and I get along great. He is a very humble guy and teaches me not to worry so much or let dumb people get to me. Companionships are definitely inspired by the lord. These last few weeks we have been trying to make sure that we make contact with a member every day. We are trying to help improve relations between the members and missionaries. We are also talking to a lot of new people which is fun. Hope you are all doing well. Elder Nichols