Elder Garret West: Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everyone! It's been a good year and a good time to be a missionary!

As I contemplate this new year and what opportunities are in store for us, I think of the wonderful opportunity it is to look forward, make changes, to repent and become better. As we look back and reflect on what we have accomplished in 2017, we can now begin to look forward; we can seek to become better and to change ourselves. I think of Alma 11, and the story of Zeezrom, a lawyer from the city of Ammonihah. While he made grave mistakes, we must remember that no one can stoop lower than the atonement can cover, and that the holy spirit of promise is available and that His spirit will testify to us that we are good in the eyes of the Lord, if we forsake our faults and become true to our conversion.

Oro Valley, AZ has been good. Our members have been extremely loving and are taking good care of Elder Remus and myself. Despite what you might think of the desert, this area has some big hills to climb, and biking is tough at times, but I'm enjoying the good weather and enjoying being outside. It didn't feel like Christmas this year, due to the lack of snow, but I felt the love from everyone at home. I greatly appreciate all of your letters, cards, gifts, and support during this season.... that was a real treat!

We've been going through our pool of investigators and beginning to "weed" out the "searchers" of the Gospel from the people we "babysit" haha. As missionaries and servants of the Lord, we are called to both harvest and plant seeds. Most of the time, we don't reap the harvest we sow... but hopefully the people we are contacting, teaching, providing service, and introducing the true Gospel may accept it another time (if not now, we'll get them when they're dead). I'll send a picture of an interesting guy, Shane, whom we recently dropped from our regular teaching pool. He listens, but doesn't want to commit or change. We will keep in contact, but we can't spend all of our time with him if he's not willing to change or try to move forward. It's sad to see a person who could greatly benefit from the gospel, and then reject it. Oh well!

My favorite chapter right now in the Book of Mormon, is Mormon, Chapter 9. I think Mormon is speaking to these same unrepentant souls who refuse to change, and he describes clearly their faulty thinking but further gives them the admonition and invitation to revert back to God. If you haven't read it in a while, read it again.

I think all of us should think of what we can sacrifice this year in order to accept Christ's ultimate sacrifice more completely in 2018.

Love you all, and thanks again for everything you do for me!

Elder West