So I leave for Texas tomorrow morning! Estoy demaciado animado! That is awesome about the regional conference and all. I love hearing from the prophets and apostles. In fact, last Tuesday for the 4th time, we got to hear from an apostle. Elder David A. Bednar gave an absolutely amazing talk, probably one of my favorites ever. He talked about how Doctrines are simple revealed truths that have to do with our salvation, and Principles are guidelines for exercising moral agency in line with those principles, and then Applications, which is what we do. Doctrine answers the question "why?”, Principles answer the question "What?", and Applications answer the questions of "How?'. He said too often in the church we try to fix problems with applications. Por ejemplo, if Home Teaching needs to be improved, some just address the problem with an application and just tell them what to do. He said in order to be most effective, address the doctrine behind home teaching and when they understand it in their Hearts, that’s when they become committed and improvement happens. "The study of doctrine will change behavior more than the study of behavior will". He said "The answer is always the doctrine"; one major doctrine is that God is our Loving Heavenly Father and we are his children.
Other than that we had a testimony meeting in our district on Saturday night with one of our teachers, Hna. Scaife, and it was basically amazing. We also had the opportunity this week to train the new zone leaders and they are gonna do great things. I am way excited to get out into the field and teach the gospel with the little Spanish that I can teach, but I have faith that as I work hard and trust in the Lord he will provide.
So I received a letter from my mission president about what will happen the next couple days. He'll be there to pick us up. We'll have some interviews, dinner, and a testimony meeting. Then since they have 6 kids, we'll be staying the night at some elders’ appartment nearby. Then Wednesday morning receive a little training and then meet our trainers. There are 8 of us total heading to Texas, not sure we'll all be in the same mission, but for sure Elder Simmons and Elder Dalley. I love this work and I am so humbled and priveleged to be a part of it. He sentido muy debil este semana pasado pero tengo fe en Jesucristo y en el poder del expiacion. Se que Dios vive, tuve la oportunidad ir al templo este manana y senti el amor de Dios para mi y para todo el mundo. Entonces, los amo muchisimo y tenga un buen dia!
Con gran amor, Elder Cooley
