¡Hola familia y amigos!
This week was a fantastic week. Last Saturday we did TRC (Teaching Resource Center) again, which was really fun. We taught a mother and daughter who live in Provo. The mom works at the MTC and grew up in Peru, and her daughter was born in the U.S. They both speak really good spanish and english but we just spoke spanish in our lesson. Afterwards they told us that they wanted to take pictures with us! They told us that they take pictures with every missionary that teaches them in TRC and keep it in a scrapbook to remember. We also taught 3 friends who had served spanish speaking missions and were attending BYU. Afterwards they told us that we were a very united companionship and taught well together. I was very happy to hear that because I think that's something every companionship wants to hear.
On Monday, my personal study was really spiritual. I was reading in Alma about the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. You are probably familiar with the story, but the Anti-Nephi-Lehies were a group of Lamanites that became converted to the Lord. After their conversion they made a covenant with 
God to obey his commandments and to kill no more. They repented of their sins and buried their swords as a witness before God that they would sin no more and keep their covenants. A group of Lamanites then came against the Anti-Nephi-Lehies to destroy them. Remembering their covenants they had made with the Lord to kill no more, they went out to the wicked group of Lamanites, fell to the ground, and began to pray to God. The Lamanites then came upon them and began to kill the defenseless Anti-Nephi-Lehies. I had read this story a hundred times but at this point the spirit hit me really strong. This group of people would rather lay down defenseless, and have someone literally chop them to bits with a sword than break the covenants they had made with God. Am I that dedicated to MY covenants? Would I rather die than break my covenants or a commandment? I would like to say yes...but I honestly don't know! I have always tried to keep my covenants with God, but in that moment I realized just how sacred I need to make them in my life. My baptismal covenants, covenants I made in the temple, and covenants I have made as a missionary, are all extremely sacred; and this time that I am blessed with to serve a mission is the Lord's time, not mine! Now, I'll probably never have to lay down and die in order to keep my covenants...but I think it's the least I could do to give my best! I obviously won't be perfect, but I dedicated myself on Monday to give all I have to the Lord these next 2 years. I want to have the mentality of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies...that I would rather die than break a commandment...I would rather die than disobey a mission rule or not give my best. This is mentality the Savior had...he gave His life for me and for all of us! The least I could do is sacrifice 2 years completely to him! So that's what I'm going to try my best to do :)
God to obey his commandments and to kill no more. They repented of their sins and buried their swords as a witness before God that they would sin no more and keep their covenants. A group of Lamanites then came against the Anti-Nephi-Lehies to destroy them. Remembering their covenants they had made with the Lord to kill no more, they went out to the wicked group of Lamanites, fell to the ground, and began to pray to God. The Lamanites then came upon them and began to kill the defenseless Anti-Nephi-Lehies. I had read this story a hundred times but at this point the spirit hit me really strong. This group of people would rather lay down defenseless, and have someone literally chop them to bits with a sword than break the covenants they had made with God. Am I that dedicated to MY covenants? Would I rather die than break my covenants or a commandment? I would like to say yes...but I honestly don't know! I have always tried to keep my covenants with God, but in that moment I realized just how sacred I need to make them in my life. My baptismal covenants, covenants I made in the temple, and covenants I have made as a missionary, are all extremely sacred; and this time that I am blessed with to serve a mission is the Lord's time, not mine! Now, I'll probably never have to lay down and die in order to keep my covenants...but I think it's the least I could do to give my best! I obviously won't be perfect, but I dedicated myself on Monday to give all I have to the Lord these next 2 years. I want to have the mentality of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies...that I would rather die than break a commandment...I would rather die than disobey a mission rule or not give my best. This is mentality the Savior had...he gave His life for me and for all of us! The least I could do is sacrifice 2 years completely to him! So that's what I'm going to try my best to do :) Tuesday was the MTC's 50th Anniversary. We were very privileged to have Russell M. Nelson and Jeffrey R. Holland there! Elder Holland 
spoke first but pretty much just shared his testimony because Elder Nelson was the main speaker. I wanted Elder Holland to speak longer because I absolutely love the guy. Elder Holland talked about our obligations as missionaries. He said that we are obligated to honor the history of mission work, obligated to honor the office to which we are called, obligated to keep our covenants, obligated to do and give all we can, even if we're not perfect, and that even though we can't control everything, we are obligated to control OUR efforts. He kept using the word OBLIGATED which I think is a powerful word!
spoke first but pretty much just shared his testimony because Elder Nelson was the main speaker. I wanted Elder Holland to speak longer because I absolutely love the guy. Elder Holland talked about our obligations as missionaries. He said that we are obligated to honor the history of mission work, obligated to honor the office to which we are called, obligated to keep our covenants, obligated to do and give all we can, even if we're not perfect, and that even though we can't control everything, we are obligated to control OUR efforts. He kept using the word OBLIGATED which I think is a powerful word! Elder Nelson spoke a lot about the Book of Mormon and how it is the most effective tool 
we have as missionaries when it is used with the Spirit. He also shared a quote that I love. He said, "each of us should stand tall on the shoulders of the giants who have proceeded us." He shared stories of the first missionaries of the church who did amazing things with the help of the Lord, and stories of other missionaries who have gone before us. The point he was trying to get across was that we have many incredible examples in front of us. Whether it's past missionaries, friends, family, or church leaders, we can all stand tall on the shoulders of those who have proceeded us as we use their example to motivate us to be better in our own lives. He also shared some fun facts about the MTC: There are now 15 MTCs around the world. In 2007 the 1 millionth missionary entered the MTC. About 600,000 more have trained here since.
we have as missionaries when it is used with the Spirit. He also shared a quote that I love. He said, "each of us should stand tall on the shoulders of the giants who have proceeded us." He shared stories of the first missionaries of the church who did amazing things with the help of the Lord, and stories of other missionaries who have gone before us. The point he was trying to get across was that we have many incredible examples in front of us. Whether it's past missionaries, friends, family, or church leaders, we can all stand tall on the shoulders of those who have proceeded us as we use their example to motivate us to be better in our own lives. He also shared some fun facts about the MTC: There are now 15 MTCs around the world. In 2007 the 1 millionth missionary entered the MTC. About 600,000 more have trained here since.The rest of this past week has just been filled with long days of studying, teaching, and speaking spanish!
I hope you all are doing well, I miss and love you all!
Love, Elder Parrish
