Evil = Bondage

I've been doing some thinking lately and since I talk to a lot of people, I've started to believe that there aren't too many bad people in the world.  Everyone generally wants the same things, happiness and peace.  And I know that's true all the way around the world, throughout cultures and countries. 

And so I've been wondering what Evil really means?  Because in our world, characters from movies, such as Voldemort, don't really exist.  Lucifer was our brother up in heaven! He comes from the same good source.  So what happened? And the answer that I've come up with is that maybe Evil really means Bondage, or lack of ability to make choices.  And what I'm trying to help people come to know is that by choosing the gospel, they can have more choices! But sin will burden us down and make us in bondage, or let us make less choices.  And this is what Satan wants.

Anyway, it's been a slow rainy week... Love you all,

Elder Amann

RENOUNCE WAR. PROCLAIM PEACE.

My New Area is called "La Favorita," and this is because it is best area in Mendoza mission.  

I have a new comp, Elder Mendonça, from Brazil.  

What a name to be in Mendoza, huh? He's super great, and we´ve already had some great laughs.

My new area has a few houses that are made of tarps and wire and I want to stress this week what it feels like to be a minority.  I am the first white missionary to be in La Favorita in the past little bit; we must remember that although the things others do might feel foreign, that every single person is a sibling to us.  And once you allow yourself to see them as you see yourself, you realize that we are all alike.

We are all alike all over. 

D&C 98:16

 16 Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace

War is a stress right now, and it is so important to proclaim peace.  It is our duty as believers in peace to not only promote it.  Promoting it alone will not work.  We must proclaim peace.  But it starts with us.  Forgive and smile. 

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. Peace begins with a smile." - Mother Teresa

As for Easter, I hope you all had a wonderful day.  Christ is our savior.  He will heal your scars.  I know because he´s healed mine.  Passover is not just about tradition.  It's about now.

I'm translating here, but in 1 Corinthians 5:7, in Spanish, it says Our Passover, which is Christ, is about truth and sincerity.  This means that our Passover is our sincerity of heart.  Be sincere. Love.

LOVE YOU ALL,

Elder Amann

Huge shout out to the Sisters who share our Church. They had a baptism for a man named Andres!  He is the father of 2 kids and a great husband!

We live close to UNCUYO, the University of Mendoza

Bye Rivadavia :(

So I leave Rivadavia, where Ive spent the past 3 months making friends and developing deep roots here.  And we got a phone call late last night that said I have to leave.. but due to my Companion going home, I had to do it in less than 12 hours.  They are "washing the area". I dont know much about my new area, or my new companion.  When I went to take a last photo of a family I really love here, my camera fell and broke.  :(

Anyway, we only have like 5 or 6 areas in the entire mission, and because of this change, Im already moving onto my 3rd early.

Though its tough, and im being stretched, I know its for my good.  Anyway, lots of changes coming up.  

Love you all,

Elder Amann

Re: CHURCH REVOLUTION

Thats a picture of the English "Gringo" Room and also Levar Burton, host of Reading Rainbow, vouching for Family History, so get to work! 

On Mon, Apr 3, 2017 at 10:48 AM, Grant Amann <grant.amann@myldsmail.net> wrote:

So Sophie sent me a wonderful talk last week that talked about a revolution coming within the church culture. A revolution that welcomes people of all pasts into our church on sundays, and that loves all.  Not a revolution of doctrine, because its always been the same, but a revolution that is less judgemental.  And Ive seen it.

http://www.gregtrimble.com/the-coming-revolution-inside-of-mormonism/

Anyway the article ends like this: 

I hope this revolution happens fast… because this world is in need of love… and that love will need to go out from Zion.

I know this world is in need of love, and after watching General Conference, where every talk mention how we can be better, more loving, I know.  I KNOW that the love will need to go out from Zion.

The thing is that the gospel has always been the same, its been a gospel of love.   But as this world has undergone changes, we have had to learn how to love again.  

The church YouTube Channel is absolutely wonderful and it has 2 wonderful series which I love!  The first is called Gospel Solutions for Families, and there are a LOT of great things on there about how to talk to your kids and raise a family, but theres stuff even kids should hear too!!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYgY8SPtEWHwNjb5iySPtDYclCdGaqbS

And the second is a series called Hope Works and it features Mormons who have something to say.  Sophie says its basically Mormon Ted Talks and I agree... Its basically Ted Talks that mention Prayer and Church like theyre normal.  And theyre fantastic!  

I really loved this one, and if you felt like conference was too short like I do, please watch this, its a piece of the growing change in the church.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXw_5r5ZHpM

We are spiritual children of a perfect God, and he wants us to become like him.  I know this gospel is the way to a world that loves one another.   He leaves us with scars for the same exact reason He still has the scars on his palms: for us to remember Him.

If you missed any of conference, its all online now, and it was a great one.  

My favorite phrase from conference was "Those who are hardest to love, need love the most" and I know any place that talks about love like that is a place I want to be.  I am so lucky to have this church and I will continue to try my best to love ALL.  And I know my fellow Saints are trying as well.  Be patient with them.  We're trying to be like Jesus.

LOVE ALL,

Elder Amann

Heres a picture of the crazy flood that happened this week (just one night, but the water was up to our knees),

 the church we watched conference in, 

and the giant Grape field directly infront of it, 

and some conference notes!