He was able to call us from the Provo airport before his flight left. We got to talk to him for 34 minutes! He said that his favorite part of being in the MTC was that, as a zone leader, he was able to get to know and love and serve all the missionaries of the Korean zone. He absolutely loved serving them and making sure they felt loved. He said again that he loved every second in the MTC. It was wonderful to hear his voice and to feel of his excitement to finally get to Korea. He is so eager to share the gospel and serve the people of Korea.
We haven't heard from him since his arrival, but the mission office sent us these pictures and let us know he arrived safely.
Here he is meeting his mission president, Pres. Sonksen.
And here he is with all the new missionaries and Pres and Sister Sonksen.
We had fun watching his flight path as he flew from Provo, UT to Dallas, TX and then to Seoul, Korea.
We got our globe out and measured with yarn to see if it really is shorter to fly in an arc rather than straight across to Korea, and it is.
Wow, wow, WOW!!! That's all I can say to describe this last week, especially General Conference.
I have felt the presence of the Lord and I never want it to go away!
Because, it is my last week I have been pounding in 한국말 (Korean), and pouring myself in the Gospel. I want to finish my preparation period sprinting my hardest. I would rather shock myself as much as I can here in this wonderful, safe, and Spirit filled environment, to lessen the language and culture blow when I am in Korea.
One of my personal goals I have, for this last week, that I really want to do is; the first thing that ever comes out of my mouth first is 한국말 (Korean), and if necessary clarify in English after. I love a challenge! I need to dig deep & act in faith, and my work will be more compelling and I will see miracles.
By ratcheting up the work I will enter the Realm of Miracles. I need to tighten and crank up my faith, focus, and diligence with greater intensity. And, by doing this my state of mind will change, align my will and life with God's, and with Christ I can do anything and be the Lord's hands on earth. In this process I will be God's miracle to others!
Coming into conference I studied how to get the most of it for my investigators and by doing so I just got more pumped up to hear the words of the prophets.
When conference came it was the best conference ever. And, I know that everyone says that every time, but it really was. It wasn't because the speakers had better talks, etc; it was because I was prepared more spiritually to except the messages and be taught by the Holy Spirit. Our experience with hearing the teachings of our prophets reminds me a lot of a scripture.
29 And there was also written upon them a new writing [The Prophets Teachings] , which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.
30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given...
I have learn that faith and diligence (preparation) coming into conference and true intent (going to act on the directions given) make x 100,000 the difference.
I would share all my thoughts on conference, but there is too much. I actually loved each and everyone!! And, it was cool to hear from people who spoke at the MTC while I was here, including Bishop Waddell, Neil L Anderson, Quentin L Cook, Dallin H Oaks, and I barely missed David A Bednar by a day.
Here's a sum up of what I got from each talk (from Sat. Morning to Sunday Aft.)
Saturday Morning
The Path to our Heavenly Fathers Home (Pres. Uchtdorf introducing this conferences "theme")
Serving from our inner most relationship circles out and forgetting yourself in the process
Abstain from allowing your views to become skewed from the worlds (Seek and follow from the purest sources; Prophets and BOOK of Mormon)
He has prepared a Promised "land" (work, blessings, etc) for you, so accomplish and rely on him to accomplish
Remember you took on the name of Christ so Repent so you are worthy to receive the blessings promised to you at Baptism to aid you on the path to Become as He is ~ The Fully Selfless Character of Christ
Be not Halted by the task of Perfection. His Grace is incomprehensible so use it! You need not be discouraged when you are walking his way, one step at a time
Saturday Afternoon
God's light never ceases to Shine. (Period!)
In order to accomplish, and experience true happiness is through Repentance and through it you can become more than you ever could
When we don't take our life for granted and give recognition to the one only source and summit to His will, He open the Heavens on Earth. (It is funny people don't wont to submit to an All knowing God who's only will is our Eternal Life and Happiness)
When we devote ourselves to God we become God's divine "coincidences"/His hands on Earth and meets specific needs through man('s agency to align their will with God's)
Generously give everything you have
Learn what to take upon your life through your personal guide to become as God, known as, the Book of Mormon
Priesthood Session
The priesthood is the center of everything because of it is power to further the Gospel
Gain a firm Testimony of everything (look for where your testimony lacks and act)
The Lord could work through Nephi because of His trust and integrity he had
You are the LIGHT to Heal all spiritual sickness
We must lead in full faith that through Revelation Jesus leads this church. And act fearlessly on what we are told to do from those leaders and personal revelation because we know who is in charge
Sunday Morning
Everything we need help with, and desire to improve, ACCESS the Atonement through faith and following His path
You are surrounded by Miracles, and your faith is what accesses those Miracles
Divine Blessings and Eternal Vision are necessary on the Path to Becoming new, changing our nature, and to BECOME, through Ordinances and Covenants and bring them into our lives daily (having a continuous elevated vision, the eyes of God, seeing the path and destination)
Rely Holy on the Merits of him even when you aren't in the mist of your fiery Serpents (He said the trials, opposition, etc are only meant to turn us to what is necessary to become as God; Jesus Christ. If we didn't live on a world with adversities we would feel fine with were we are at and be comfortable when they could use the enabling power of the Atonement to become some one Unimaginable. So that's why we have trials to remind us that we need to rely on the Savoir to become more!)
For others and you alike let go and forget of weaknesses and faults, and come unto Christ so you can see past the physical and mortal veil of limitations and to see through the eyes of God by the power of the Holy Ghost
By reading and applying the Book of Mormon we can feel the fogs clear, be more optimistic, have fearless courage, and the pure love of Christ because the testimony we gain of the Savior in the Book of Mormon by the power of the Holy Spirit
Sunday Afternoon
{Nephi 13} The gospel today is pure, true, plain, and most precious. It is the Way!
The Book of Mormon is Supernal and you may know all things through it
Be united with everyone. We should be as God, The Son, and the Holy Ghost; one in purpose. So do everything you can do to treat people as who they are, a Child of a living God
There will always be evil and opposition, so use it for your advantage. It isn't what you experience, but what you choose to do through what you are given.
Find truths to in his doctrine and apply them by acting in faith
And sooooo much more, I could go on, but I am limited
Also, yesterday we had a Devotional with John Munoa, who is the Executive Director over the New Testament Project (All the modern videos of Jesus Chirst's Life). He show us how much work on the part of his team of people aid from the First Presidency it took. His testimony of Christ is amazing! He also studied Film Scoring and served a Mission in Pusan, SOUTH KOREA! He served with my branch's 2nd Counselor and President Gilbert of the MTC. He is soo inspiring and gets me all worked up about the Arts.
Also, that night we had an octet of Elders singing High on the Mountain Top, including my two companions. I would have absolutely loved to be a part of it, but while they practiced at night I was meeting with our Zone and I didn't realize they were doing it until it was too late. 하지만, 좋습니다! They did fantastically and I was proud of my Zone, as a proud father. I love the Spirit and talent we have in our zone!!
God does answer us and watch over each and everyone of us in unique ways!
Recently, I have felt that I was slacking in learning Korean, because the time I used to use for deep, extra study time at night, is now used to make sure my Zone is 다 좋습니다 (Good). I had been seeing some of my zone memorizing large amounts of vocab daily and I haven't been able to recently. (I have been memorizing more words each week though).
And, before conference I had some questions coming in to conference, but I also asked God to answer the question I didn't know I had, and there were some moments that were really eye opening and powerful during conference. But, what good it did, was unique and hit me just as powerfully, if not more so, than conference itself.
So, after the devotional we spoke a little bit with my presidency about the devotional and as my companions were still talking, Sister Bartholomew (My branch's 2nd Counselor's wife) slightly pulled me a side and said, "My husband has been telling me that your Korean is the best he has heard from a missionary in a long time."
It was short and it didn't really hit me until I was on my way out of the building and I could feel the Spirit telling me and reminding me, "Can't you see! Even though you didn't realize it, as you have been forgetting yourself and focusing on others' needs first, I have fulfilled my promise to take care of you and your needs/desires when you do the exact same on my behalf for those around you (Do what I ask of you as a missionary/zone leader)." So, so glad that I have been studying everything about the Spirit through the Book of Mormon, otherwise I wouldn't have received that special answer to a prayer.
The more I grow in the Gospel the more I can see from God's eyes. What a blessing!!!
사랑합니다!! Love you all! Elder Tim
Waiting to perform the Octet for the MTC Presidency
I love being a missionary because of what it has done to me in the process of loosing myself for helping only others. The more I am here the more I see God's hand in the lives of all man kind. He loves us SOOO much and only wants us to be happy!!! I can see how perfect God sets things up for us on Earth and how He loves us soo much.
The funny thing is, I can see His hand in parts of the Gospel where I would have never thought Him to be. One example is the Great Apostasy. I didn't ever think it was important to have a Testimony about this topic. I just knew all the facts about it and how after Christ and his followers were killed off the people didn't accept the doctrines and corrupted them and took little pieces of truths. What is there to have a testimony of?
After being here for about 46 days, I have learned more and more the importance of having a a deep personal testimony of everything you teach, and gaining that testimony through diligently seeking it and through pray. Once you are acting on your faith, your faith will be strengthen, and through your faith being strengthened you act more, and thus an endless ever growing cycle. And, the Spirit of God will not withhold anything from you. Through the Holy Ghost you can know the truthfulness of all things.
So how do you act on apostasy or apply your faith about it?
I have come to realize, through the Spirit, that there is so much to learn from each and every piece of the Gospel. And, when you gain that testimony, the more you come to realize how omnipotent and deeply loving our Heavenly Father truly is.
The Apostasy wasn't God withholding his love and the Gospel from the people. Because, God is always ALWAYS there! He never withholds from us. Anytime we feel He has left us, it is actually we who have left Him and turned away from Him. And, is exactly what happened during the Great Apostasy. There was a great amount of turning away from God.
There still were good people weren't there? Yes, and God helped them in every way possible, He doesn't take away the agency of people. If He did that would go against His plan to help us grow, experience, and learn to become as He is and have eternal life.
All bad things happen so that something greater can come to pass. It is the refiners fire. A simple way to put it is "no pain no gain."
God would have loved to have the gospel on the Earth during that dark period of time, but it was necessary for it to come where and when it did. And, even at the time it came, it was hard to keep it going.
And there is soooo much more that I learned! I love have having an understanding of God's immense love for us.
This is just a sample for you to taste. I can't hand you a testimony or spoon feed you. You to have to do as many people and prophets have done before. (Moroni 10: 4-5 & 1 Nephi 10:17-19).
I love you all and thanks for all the love and support you all have been giving!
사랑합니다!!사랑합니다!!사랑합니다!!
Elder Timothy Alger
Moroni 10: 4-5
4 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.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things
1 Nephi 10:17-19
17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.
Just walking, enjoying the cool, cool Utah air on my way to studying!!
South Korea!! Represent!!!
I always love the views for studying.
I spy Elder Ellis!! He just got here! New Missionaries can give us new energy!
The camera can't capture how AWESOME the mountains are!
Sister Takemura is such a great missionary! She makes her own pass along cards for her investigators.
She is so diligent!
They are all ready putting up Christmas lights in September!!! WOWOW
One the teachers for the fast track class, is now teaching at Oxford, so we get to practice our Korean with the Natives!! They are all so much fun!!
We are practicing quick proselyting for when we take the subways and buses in Korea.
It's raining! Time for some pics!
I love these Elders!!
That's my District!
We are ready to serve the Koreans!! 2 weeks!!!
A sister training leader in my District stole my camera!
This Sunday was freezing!!! It was snowing on the mountains and raining here!
The snowy mountains in Sep.
If you look closely you can see Mt. Timp. is covered in snow from yesterday.
The Temple ground are always peaceful and beautiful!
Korean Hearts @ the Temple
When your not given a nice car make it a nice one! It reminds me of home.
