President Nelson and Retired Bike Tubes

 I am a firm believer that President Nelson is the Prophet alive today!

In one of his talks his mentions priorities, a topic that I have found to have taught me very much here in the mission.

I am a firm believer of literally everything that the Prophets teach, especially their love for their wives.  I testify that we can learn a lot from the relationship Russel M. Nelson has with Sister Nelson.

"My background in medicine may be relevant, even though most of you will not become doctors of medicine. Eternal principles that govern happiness apply equally to all. I doubt that the Lord cares much which honorable vocation you choose. But He does care if you love one another and serve one another (see Mosiah 4:15). And He cares that you have the obedience and self-discipline needed to maintain your identity and honor your highest priorities.

When we were the age of most of you, Sister Nelson and I were married. Through thick and thin, we have merged our identity and fixed our focus on our highest priority, our eternal marriage. Through the prolonged period of education and later medical practice, she could have complained about my schedule, but she never did. Our children did not feel they were deprived of their father’s time, simply because Sister Nelson never murmured. Their attitudes were shaped by her attitude. Every moment we were together she seized as an opportunity to provide a little bit of heaven on earth for me and our children.

Now our children are adults with little ones of their own. We enjoy extended family home evenings once a month with all available members of our family. At that time we also celebrate family birthdays. Many names are written on each birthday cake. After those gala gatherings are over—when peace and quiet have again been restored—Sister Nelson and I lovingly embrace each other, grateful that we never allowed anything to take higher priority than our love—husband for wife, and wife for husband.

I pay tribute to Sister Nelson, this magnificent wife and mother who has always been supportive. When people have asked her how she managed with ten children with so little time available from her husband, she has responded with a twinkle in her eye, saying, “When I married him, I didn’t expect much, so I was never disappointed.”" - Russel M. Nelson

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/russell-m-nelson_identity-priority-blessings/ 

The love President Nelson has for his wife is inspiring to me.  But I know that His wife has a lot to do with where he is now.  The woman was truly incredible.

I am currently reading Talmage´s Jesus the Christ.  It is a fantastic book, filled with a walk through of the story of Jesus´ life.  I have learned so much in my reading of it, and this great man Jesus Christ has taught the world so much.

It is a magnificent book, even for those who do not believe in Him, they can believe in His teachings of love.

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This week we had the wonderful opportunity to teach a lesson filled with the spirit of a man we just happened to pass by and talk to.  He told us to pass by the next day and we did, teaching the story of the Restoration.  He was brought to tears and after the lesson he mentioned that he never cries.  

This gospel is powerful stuff.

LOVE YOU ALL,

ELDER AMANN

We went on lots of splits this week! 

We had to retire a bike tire and they built a wall up in front of our fishing pond :(

I WILL NOT STUDY WAR, NO MORE

Today is Martin Luther King Day.  

Martin Luther King is one of my personal heroes.  I believe he changed the world, and he did it using his self described "soul force."

Everyone knows his "I Have a Dream" speech, but I would like to share with you another of his speeches that professes his profound faith in Christ.

Martin Luther King was a faithful believer of Jesus Christ.  His words were driven by the spirit of God, and I am confident that God used him in His work.  I believe this Faith in Jesus is something seriously missing in government in 2018, and it is the reason there is no Martin Luther King, Jr. in 2018.

"This is a calling that takes me beyond national allegiances. But even if it were not present, I would yet have to live with the meaning of my commitment to the ministry of Jesus Christ. To me, the relationship of this ministry to the making of peace is so obvious that I sometimes marvel at those who ask me why I am speaking against the war. Could it be that they do not know that the Good News was meant for all men, for communists and capitalists, for their children and ours, for black and white, for revolutionary and conservative.

"Have they forgotten that my ministry is in obedience to the One who loved His enemies so fully that he died for them? What, then, can I say to the Vietcong, or to Castro, or to Mao, as a faithful minister to Jesus Christ? Can I threaten them with death, or must I not share with them my life? Finally, I must be true to my conviction that I share with all men the calling to be the son of the Living God. Beyond the calling of race or nation or creed is this vocation of sonship and brotherhood. And because I believe that the Father is deeply concerned, especially for His suffering and helpless and outcast children, I come today to speak for them." - Dr. King´s Lecture on "Why I am Opposed to War in Vietnam"

He speaks very passionately about war and peace.  War is something wicked.  I publish peace.  Martin Luther King stood to me as a fighter, one of the greatest.  But he did not study war. 

"With this faith, we'll sing it as we're getting ready to sing it now. Men will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. And nations will not rise up against nations, neither shall they study war anymore."

And I don´t know about you, but I will not study war, no more.

We must share with them our lives.

LOVE YOU ALL,

ELDER AMANN

PS. One of my other heroes, Hannah, has a birthday this Friday. Happy birthday Hannah!

Syster Sophie Beck and her sister, Hannah.  Happy Birthday Hannah!

My NEW favorite DISNEY PRINCESS

 This week went by SUPER fast.

We had to take another super long bus ride to Mendoza for a Leadership Conference.  In it, our Mission President gave us a new rule based off inspiration.

He told us that he wants the  ENTIRE mission dedicating 8 to 8:30 to prayer alone EVERY DAY.

So the next day, I woke up, wrote a little and at 8, I started to start my personal prayer.  It was super spiritual and I am so excited to do it more.

After I finished, I was filled with the spirit, and shortly after we got a phone call informing us that the Prophet had passed away.

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This week I listened to a talk I absolutely loved from a Professor at BYU who studies children.  She did a few studies on Disney Princesses and what they were doing to little girls.  What she found is wonderful and I love how she learned a few gospel truths in her study.

read about it here:

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/sarah-m-coyne_fantasy-reality-royal-identity/

She mentions in a tiny part something very important

In our princess study we asked preschool girls who their favorite princess was and why. The vast majority chose Rapunzel, likely because the movie Tangled had just come out. The number one reason why they liked Rapunzel was because of the way she looked, with the two most common answers being because she was pretty or because she was blonde. There was only one girl in the entire study who chose Mulan as her favorite princess. When asked why, she answered boldly, “Because she saves China.”

 So I guess my new favorite princess is Mulan. Not because of looks at all. Because she saves China.  That´s hardcore.

I care very little about what people look like any more.  I think the world would change if you all cared less about your appearance or about others.

I LOVE YOU ALL

ELDER AMANN

My ALTA SKI MAP UGH I MISS SNOW AND NORMAL TEMPERATURES:

Leaders and future game changers at Consejo de Lideres:

President Thomas S. Monson 1927-2018

My dear prophet died yesterday. January 2, 2018.

http://www.lds.org.ar/20180103-presidente-monson?lang=eng

I testify that President Monson was a prophet of God.

He talked of love and who we need to be.

Last year, he gave two talks.  One was on the Book of Mormon, the other was on Kindness, Charity, and Love.

Here´s the last words.

Brethren, let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior's example by being kind, loving, and charitable. And as we do so, we will be in a better position to call down the powers of heaven for ourselves, for our families, and for our fellow travelers in this sometimes difficult journey back to our heavenly home. I so pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, amen.

We need to surround ourselves with those who teach the best things.  

President Monson taught the best things.  He will always stand to me as a living testament of the love and happiness that comes from this church.  It is undeniable to me.

We´ll be strong out here, we are praying for you all and we love you all.

Please celebrate this wonderful hero´s life.  His wife, Frances, and him are surely so at peace.  ♥

Love always,

Elder Amann