Letter #3

Dear Jessie,
Thanks for your last letter. It's good to know that everything I said to you in my last, goes the same for me from you. I agree with you about our friendship is going to grow while I am on my mission and we write letters back and forth to each other. I did get your letter that you had put in my journal the day I was set apart. Thanks for that letter too. The MTC is amazing. I don't think that I have felt the Spirit so strongly in one place, except the temple. There are good days and hard days, just like there are in the real mission field. The only thing that I am still trying to get used to here is not having my phone and not being able to talk to you whenever I want. I really only have one class, but I have two teachers. My teachers' names are Brother Davis and Sister Wuahn, they are both return missionaries and know what it is like to be a missionary. There are two other things we can do in the MTC. One is called TE, that is when we go teach teachers who are role playing as investigators and then the TRC. In the TRC we teach volunteers from Provo, and other cities around the MTC, and we teach them as progressing investigators. My companion's name is Elder Bindrup, he is from Logan and has a really funny laugh. It is hard to describe, but when he laughs so does everyone else in our district. In my district there are 3 other sets of Elders, all but one of the sets of Elders are also going to San Bernardino, and the other elders are going to Houston, Texas. There are also 4 Sisters, 2 of them are going to San Bernardino and the other 2 are going to Houston. The food here isn't that bad but it's not as good as a real home-cooked meal, and that is also another thing that I miss about home. I am doing good. I seem to have more hard times than everyone else, but I know that it is all just me thinking. I got my travel plans the other day and I am flying out of SLC at 8:42am on Feb. 1 which means that I am going to have to wake up at the MTC and leave at 5:00 in the morning. I am excited to get into the mission field and teach people about this gospel that has helped both me and you so much. How are you doing? How is school? Oh and before I forget thank you and your sisters for the pictures. I really like them. Thanks Jess, again. If it wasn't for you I dought (I can't spell today sorry) that I would be experiencing this mission right now. You are my greatest friend and always will be. I had better go, I have a lot of letters to write.

Your Best Friend,

Elder Gull

Letter #2

1-21-2011

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks for the letters that you have sent me. I think other then Jessie and Karrie, I have received the most from you.

I haven’t answered this for you yet : My companions name is Elder Bindrup, from Logan, Utah. There are six Elders in my District, four of which are going to San Bernardino also. The other two Elders are going to Dallas, Texas. My companion is going to the same mission as me. There are also four Sisters in my District. Two of them are going to San Bernardino and the other two are going to Dallas, Texas. It is fun here and I am learning a lot about the Gospel. Most days my brain hurts. Yesterday me and my district got our travel itinerary. We leave the MTC the 1^st of February at 5:00 a.m. Our flight leaves Salt Lake City at 8:42 a.m. and lands in Ontario, California at 9:33 a.m. We are flying on Delta Air Lines. It’s crazy to think that soon I will be in the actual mission field. It seems like yesterday that I entered the MTC, even though I know that it has been more then one week.

Tell everyone that I say Hi and that I love them. I wish I could write them all letters, but I am not supposed to be writing a letter right now, because it is MDT time.

The food here isn’t as bad as Tommy said. It isn’t as good as your cooking, but it is still pretty good.

Well I should go so that I can study. So I will talk to you later.

Love you,

Elder Gull  

Letter from Elder Gull's MTC Companion

20 Jan 2011

Dear Gull Family!

                You should be so proud of your son he is such a good man. He has strengthened my testimony so much this past week.

                He truly knows his Father in Heaven loves him and wants to be the sharpest tool in the shed for the Lord to use. I am happy to serve beside your son.  We are working as hard as we can ALL DAY even. So that we may invite others to Christ by helping them receive the message of the restored gospel.

                He is working hard to keep me on the right path towards fulfilling an honorable mission this past week. I have truly learned to love your son.

Your son’s  loving companion,

Elder Jordan J. Bindrup

PS: Thank you so much for the Wonka Licorice thing they are truly the BOMB.com!

PPS: Alma 32:28-43! This is my favorite passage of scripture right now.

Letter #1

Hey karrie,

 

I am doing good at the mtc, i am very busy and dont have a lot of time to do anything but learn the gospel. but that is ok with me. my companions name is elder bindrup from logan utah. And most of the time we get along but not always but nodoby is perfect. thanks for the letters you have sent me.

Tuesday is my p day as you could proably guess. and at 3 me and the rest of my district are going up to the temple for 3 40 session.

There are 6 elders and 4 sisters in my district 4 of the 6 elders are going to the same mission as me and  the other 2 are going to huston texas, same with the sisters 2 are going to california and 2 are going to texas. 

i miss you guys and hope that my mission goes bye fast so that i can see you guys soon. but i dont want to miss out on the experiance either. well i got to go so ill write you again soon.

 

Love You Sis.

 

Elder Gull

Entering the MTC

Yesterday we took Elder T. Gull to the MTC, here are some of the pictures we took as we all said our goodbyes.

Elder Gull With Isaac, his nephew.

With Grannie and Grampy

With Del and Don...It will be nearly 4 years till the see each other again.

Mom and Dad with Elder Gull in front of the Provo Temple. 

It was nice to have a little extra time to walk around the temple/grounds and be together.  

All the kids together.  It's crazy how fast everyone grows up.  

Mom saying goodbye.

Me saying goodbye.  

Taylor in front of the MTC. 

 Elder Gull as he walked away.  We love you Elder Gull, we will see you in two years!  

Hurrah for Israel! 

Taylor's Farewell Talk

Good Afternoon, Brother Mineer asked me to speak on obedience, and since missionaries are expected to be obedient to be successful. I will be as obedient as I can.  I enter the MTC this Wednesday.  My mission president wants us as missionaries to memorize, some things that will help us as missionaries.  The 1st thing he wanted me to memorize was your purpose in preach my gospel.  It reads:

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. 

In order to help others receive the gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement I must first have faith.  Like Joseph Smith  and that leads me to the 2nd thing my mission president wanted us to memorize as missionaries, The First Vision.  In Joseph Smith History it reads:

I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me…When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!                             

I have a hard time memorizing things, but I know that through the spirit I will be able to better serve those that I come in contact with while on my mission.  It reminds me of Nephi in the Book of Mormon and what he says to his father:  On Nephi 3:7 it reads:

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Many prophets have said that all able young men should serve missions.  At first I didn't think I wanted to serve a mission, I had other things I wanted to do.  But Heavenly Father knew better, and he prepared a way for me by sending me a good family and good friends.  It wasn't an easy decision to make, but once I decided I knew it is what I needed to do, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those that love me.  Like Nephi I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded.  

I know that as I strive to be continually obedient I will receive blessings.  Near the end of my mission call there is a paragraph that promises blessings for being obedient.  It says:

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life.  Greater blessings and more happiness that you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.  We place in you our confidence and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary. 

Many people feel that the commandments are burdensome and that they limit freedom and personal growth.  But the savior taught that true freedom comes only from following him.  "If ye continue in my words, then are ye my disciples in deed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,"  God gives commandments for our benefit.  They are loving instructions for out happiness and for our physical and spiritual well-being.  The Lord loves us and he wants us to be happy, and we can only be truly happy through obedience.  I know that being a missionary will not always be easy, but I know that it is something I can and need to do.  

Bear Testimony.

Amen. 

Temple Day!

This was the day that Taylor went through the Temple, it was such a special day.  He is going to make such a wonderful missionary.  

Taylor (almost Elder Gull) outside the St. George temple. 

With Dad and Mom

Karrie, Taylor, Daniel

All together