Temple Trip 30 JAN 2008

We went to the Temple in Billings today! It was wonderful... we had a great time doing Endowment service... I love it so much! Will write soon. Elder Greenhalgh

President Gordon B. Hinckley Has Died.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, Prophet and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints died at 7:00 pm, Sunday, 27 JAN 2008. He was 97 years old. President Hinckley, the consummate missionary, will be remembered for his love and concern for all persons world wide and his love for his Heavenly Father. His examples of commitment, labor, love and humor will long be emulated by the Latter Day Saints and others who had the opportuity to partake of his wise counsel. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the Hinckley family.

There Are Missionaries in Cody !

The Downtown Cody WebCam takes pictures every few seconds 24 hours a day. Patience Pays! Click to enlarge and use your imagination:-)

Greetings From Cody Wyoming 23JAN08

This week has been pretty.... SLOW! My companion, Elder Nielson has been sick, so we were in for two days... LUCKILY! those two days were the coldest so far this year! They both hit -15 and below! BURRRNeedless to say, he picked the PERFECT days to be sick!We are having alot of fun out here teaching the gospel! All of the people that we are teaching are progressing pretty slow so we are going to have to double time the work to try and help them understand more! I like learning about all kinds of new people... its pretty eye-opening to learn how people feel, especially about their relationships with Christ.

My parents sent me my yearbook from last year. It was kind of fun to see people from home in the book... but at the same time I couldn't help but think how happy I am to be away from it. Like, not to be stuck up about it, but I feel like I have such a better purpose than just knowing "who's hot and who's not, and who's dating whom..." it has all just lost its luster, and a new clearer perspective has surfaced. I'm so much happier in the service of God, having a more important role than "teenager".

Life is good.

Elder Greenhalgh

Alma 13:12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.

How Many Wards Make a Stake?

I have noted a trend in Elder Greenhalgh's emails; he is changing. The subjects he chooses to discuss are not new but the conviction with which he express himself is at times profound. I was pondering today which Ward will return to us. Will it be the young man who always found humor in most everything, the witty, creative Ward? Will it be the impatient Ward who professes that rules are necessary for order and fairplay; the one who would police the planet? Will it be the Ward who became a student of his religion; a compassionate disciple ? Perhaps it will be the bright, sensative young man so appreciative of family and friends.; the one who can tear up at the mention of a name or the first bars of a musical piece.

The more I think about this, the more I am sure that all of these special young men will return, none lost, none neglected. All will be there just under the surface waitng for the first opportunity to assure us that the son and brother, friend and companion has been enriched, that he has grown and matured, that he has gained a deeper understanding of loving his Father and his Father's children.

I miss all of these guys and can't wait to experience them all.

The photo above was an experiment Ward and I made a couple of years ago with soda mugs, a new digital camera and his expertise with his brother's software. See, there really are several Wards.

NOTE:In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a ward is the larger of two types of local congregations (the smaller being a branch). A ward is presided over by a bishop, the equivalent of a pastor in other religions. As with all local church leadership, the bishop is considered lay clergy and as such is not paid. Two counselors serve with the bishop to help with the duties of the ward and also preside in the absence of the bishop. A branch is presided over by a branch president.

A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations, wards or branches. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations. The name "stake" derives from the verse “enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitation: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes" (Isaiah 54:2). A stake is sometimes referred to as a stake of Zion.

IT IS COLD OUT HERE!

Well, other than the FREEZING WIND, Cody is great!

We had an awesome Zone Conference the other day and my interview with President Fisher qualified for one of the turning points in my mission. He helped me understand my potential as a missionary, and that I CAN be the Elder that I have always wanted to be, that I CAN be as obedient as I wish I could be, and that I can get the work done to the full extent possible. It gave me a new outlook on how I am to live my life in this mission, and also when I return home. I love how much I grow as I forget the things of the world and gain self-control and discipline over the desires that I have. I love to think that I can work every minute of everyday! I love it. It feels great to know that I am striving each day to reach the full potential that my Father, my God, has prepared for me. He knows my potential, and He helps me understand it when I ask for guidance. He knows all of our potential, and He will give it to us if we ask Him in faith. Let the Lord lead our paths in all situations. Let us all learn to grow and prosper in the knowledge of our Savior.Alma 37: 38-46

38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the business of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

Allow Christ to lead you everydayLove,Elder Greenhalgh

Another Fullmer Connection

Robert Almon Fullmer and Evah Cecil Mattinson spent most of their married life in Payson Utah. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. Rob and Cecil both had a testimony of missionary work and family tradition relates that Rob gave up his own mission opportunities to work and help finance the missions of his younger brothers. Yet none of his own children nor any of his numerous grandchildren served a LDS mission. The Fullmers would undoubtedly be pleased to know that many of their great-grandchildren have accepted the call and have served admirably. Currently, two great-grandsons are serving in the Montana Billings Mission. Elder Blake Walton who was raised in Utah and Elder Ward Greenhalgh from Ohio, recently met, for the first time they recall, at the Mission Home in Billings Montana and had a few hours to become acquainted before they each departed for Wyoming, one to Cody the other to Worland. Elder Greenhalgh reports, “Elder Walton is a great guy, I’m proud to call him cousin.” No doubt, Rob and Cecil are proud to call them both grandson...

A Challenge to Re-read the Book of Mormon

Hey everyone! Learning more and more everyday! We are reading the Book of Mormon in 6 weeks out here, and my companion Elder Nielson and I are almost half done! It is great to read it over and over again, and feel the truth of it! I love that book!
We taught a lady about it the other day, she had some concerns about it, which is definately good!(Without questioning something, you can never find out if it is true or false!) She started to understand that there was a need for the Book of Mormon, especially when we taught her about the Law of Witnesses. We also taught about principles in 2nd Nephi 29, oh well... I know no one thinks the gospel is as cool as I do, but it is:)
The mission is turning me into a nerd! Holy cow! Cameron and I are planning some awesome schemes! I'm gonna get famous, and he is going to be my private jet pilot:) We are going to have two huge mansions next to each other and they are both going to dwarf LeBron's house.... haha. Yuk, I would never want a big house like that!
Oh well! The work is good. We are having a great time, and I love meeting a new Ward and a new city... its great!
God Bless, Elder Greenhalgh

If you'd like to join me in my reading and don't have a Book of Mormon ask my Dad for one...no strings attached :-)