Galesburg 5.26.15

Dear family and friends,

Ramona got baptized on Saturday! It was an awesome experience to see someone I taught, and someone who I have personally seen change their life, enter into the waters of baptism and be confirmed a member of the Church. I had the opportunity to speak at the baptism about the Holy Ghost. It wasn't very long, but the Spirit was super strong. I'm grateful to have been part in bringing a soul unto Christ (D&C 18:15). I am determined to press onward and work towards the next verse, verse 16, and bring "many souls" unto him.

I have been working on having a "mighty change of heart" (Alma 5:12). President Fenn sent out a letter to all of us missionaries about charity. He said we needed to pray for charity. I knew that 1 Corinthians 13 talked about charity, so I read that a few times and I have been praying for this gift. I am beginning to feel love for those around me. I realize that if I want to be like Christ I need to ACT like Christ. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and "charity never faileth" (Moroni 7:46; 1 Cor. 13:8). A quote from a favorite movie, The School of Rock, can be "likened" (1 Nephi 19:23) here; "you're not hardcore unless you live hardcore". I can't be a true disciple of Jesus Christ unless I live like a disciple of Jesus Christ.

In my latest study of the Book of Mormon I have been searching for promises and fulfilling of promises within the Book itself. Although I am not far into the book by number of pages, I am farther into than ever before. Here is what I have come up with so far:

Promises - Fulfilled

1 Nephi 1:20 - 2 Nephi 5:20

1 Nephi 2:22 - 2 Nephi 5:19

1 Nephi 2:24 - 2 Nephi 5:25

1 Nephi 17:14 - 2 Nephi 1:4

These are the most recent ones I can remember, I probably missed some.

It's safe to say that I have really been spending a lot of time in the scriptures. They contain so much that is beneficial for us all. I have found great comfort and they have given me hope (Romans 15:4).

Sunday was kind of a bummer because Jo took us aside and told us she didn't want us to come over anymore. She said there were a lot of things going on with her family and she felt like us coming over wasn't helping. I was really sad about that. But hopefully she will come around!

Thank you for all the love and prayers. I love you all! 

Elder G. Franklin Scherer

ICWM

Galesburg, Illinois

1319 Butterfield road suite 522

Downers Grove, Illinois

6 months

Yesterday was great getting to talk to the family. S/O to Auti for sending the snap to Alyssa for me to see. ya look good (; So now I'll tell you about this last week.

Tuesday night we had a lesson, I'm going to leave out name(s), but there was a question about what happens after death and what happens in the spirit world. This was only the second time that I have shed tears during a visit, the first was in the MTC. Strangely enough both times happened over the subject of the Plan of Salvation. In the MTC the investigator wanted to know what was going to happen to her grandmother who had just past away. I bore my testimony that I knew what was going to happen to her grandma because I knew what happened to my grandma, Grandma P. It's such a powerful and comforting thing to know what happens to us and our loved ones after we die. I want you all to know that I know that God has a plan for us and that He knows each one of our individual circumstances and needs. Don't ever let Satan, the Great Deceiver, convince you otherwise.

The baptism, unfortunately, fell through. Ramona decided to go to Peoria, IL for Mother's Day weekend and decided not to tell anyone. On Thursday we were supposed to have a lesson with her and then have her interviewed by our zone leader. We waited for about a half hour for her to show up when we finally got a call from sister Glass telling us the story. Sister Glass is the one who always picks her up and brings her to the church for her lessons. 

I felt really let down. Probably one of the lowest moments of my whole experience in the mission field. That night I couldn't even work up the will to lay under the bench press and  pump out the day's frustrations like I do every night. "Why had this happened to me? After six months of nothing I thought maybe, maybe God would grant some kind of a miracle." But no dice.

Those were my initial thoughts, but after much pondering and prayer, I have now realized that it was my fault, not God's. I didn't help her understand the importance of baptism. It didn't mean enough to her to make the effort, even after over a month of preparation and progression towards it. I didn't help her enough. I failed God in bringing one of his daughters unto him, God did not fail me. 

And I think there is another principle to learn from this as well, and that is I can't force or make anyone do anything they do not choose to do. My purpose is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end". Invite is an important word, one I think I have overlooked so far in my mission. I wanted to make people have faith, repent, and be baptized. But all I can do is "invite" and "help" them in these steps. It's going to take time, but I know there's a lot of improvement I need to make in order to be someone who can have the mindset of "inviting" rather than forcing.

President Fenn, in a zone training meeting on Friday, talked to us about how we can get through adversity, which was exactly what I needed to hear. He shared with us this:

"Life was not intended to be easy. In the pre-mortal life God said 'And we will prove them now herewith to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them' (Abraham 3:25) We are here to prove ourselves to God, and the way we prove ourselves is by passing through adversity so it can strengthen us. '...peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well. God shall exalt thee on high;...' (D&C 121:7-8) After tribulations come blessings (D&C 38:4; 101) and after trials come miracles (Ether 12:6-27)."

The most important principle, I think, of the gospel is "Endure to the End". In D&C 14:7 we are promised Eternal Life if we "endure it well" like it says in section 121 verse 8. To go along with that is something that Coach Holland taught me my senior year of lacrosse. "Balls to the wall, 4th quarter". He taught us to endure throughout the whole game. I'm trying to keep the same mindset for life.

We got our transfer calls and looks like I'm staying here in Galesburg with elder Riggins.  They are closing down the other area in the ward so it will just be me and him. Yep definitely will be needing prayers if it's just the two of us here. It will be a good opportunity to take over their area so we can have more people to visit. Hopefully some hidden treasures will be found there.

That's it for this week, and just in case you wanted to know I wear a size 9 in the new Kobe IX's.(:

Elder G. Franklin Scherer

Galesburg, Illinois

1319 Butterfield Road Suite 522

Downers Grove, IL 60515

Galesburg 5.4.15

Dear Family and Friends ,

This was probably one of the best weeks of my mission! I know it's not about numbers, but this week I finally had numbers to report! I actually felt like I was doing something and we've stayed busy.

So Ramona, the lady who is getting baptized on Saturday, got up yesterday in fast and testimony meeting and bore her testimony! She said she was so grateful that God showed her this church. She also said she was grateful for the "brother elders" who have been teaching her. It was so great (:

We had three investigators come to church yesterday. It was awesome. Our Sunday school lesson was chapter 16 in the gospel principles manual, about the primitive church in Christ's day and how it was the same as it is now. If you haven't read that chapter I would recommend looking at it, and chapter 17 as well. Anyways, Jo had a couple questions about the apostasy so we helped her understand a little but more about that. It's an important doctrine to learn and understand. If there wasn't an apostasy, there would be no need for a restoration. BUT there was an apostasy, God took his priesthood away from the iniquitous world and it has been RESTORED through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

I finished the book of mormon in a week. Last Sunday to yesterday. The Monmouth Elders that we share a ward with, Elder Heiner and Elder Harrison, had two baptisms this week. Both little kids who were 9 years old. The second one, Angelo, got baptized on Saturday and his dad was speaking just before the ordinance about baptism. My favorite line that I've ever heard in church, "You finna be dipped". I was trying so hard not to laugh. Raymond, Angelo's dad, is the funniest guy ever. I love black people!

In Ezekiel chapter 37:1-14 it totally talks about a zombie army! Check it out. There's some weird stuff in the Old Testament.

Til next week, Peace.

Elder Garrett F. Scherer 🏾

Galesburg, Illinois

Galesburg 4.27.15

Dear friends and family,

So I've been out for like 23 weeks now I think. Feels like 103.
Whoever said that mission go by fast was blasphemous. But it's going
pretty okay.
I don't know how, but I have failed to mention that we have a
baptism coming up on the 9th! Her name is Ramona Mack.
I can't ever really understand her when she gets going. She is so
excited to be baptized. She lives in a nursing home and somehow
randomly got the number of the church and called it. Sister Glass
picked it up and Ramona told her she wanted to come to church. She
thought it was just another church, but she said she really likes how
she feels when she comes. She is great!
I had a terrible dream the other night. So back home my stereo is to
the left of my bed. I was like half asleep and I heard some Eminem
playing and I wanted to turn it up. So I rolled over to turn it up on
my stereo, but I ended up punching the wall, and when I opened my eyes
instead of seeing my stereo all I saw was a grey wall of broken
dreams... I really miss good music.
Yesterday after church the bishop asked us to go see a member in the
hospital. We took her the sacrament and gave her a blessing. I sealed
the anointing and was voice. It was a really awesome experience. It
seems like everyone I talk to has a mission story of them going to the
hospital and giving someone a blessing, so now I have one of those I
guess.
We did more service at the Long's this week. We asked if it would be
okay if we shared a message next time we come and it seems to be okay.
So we will hopefully be able to teach them. They are the greatest
people. They are stocked full of Mountain Dew and root beer all the
time and we have free reign over the fridge. John told us that unless
our arms and legs are broken we can drink all we want. So I'm
definitely taking advantage of that!
Jo Godsil the recent convert that my comp baptized last transfer has
given us like 4 referrals. She is pretty much teaching the gospel to
everyone in her house. She has like 5 people, various relatives and
friends, living with her. She has brought several of them to church
the last couple weeks. She says she has a list of 25 people she wants
us to teach! She is a jackpot of people to teach. We meet with her
like twice a week for the new member lessons and she always gives us
drinks before and after the lessons. She is the greatest! We are
going to help her remodel her kitchen sometime this week.

That's all for now I guess. Love you all! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!(;

Elder Garrett F. Scherer
Galesburg, Illinois

1319 Butterfield Road Suite 522
Downers Grove, IL 60515

Galesburg 4.20.15

Dear Family and Friends,

Tuesday night we had one of the new member lessons with Jo Godsil. We taught her about some of the commandments. It was such a powerful lesson. The spirit was there so strong. She is such a great lady. She has suffered through a lot of things throughout her life, but she is just so grateful for the gospel in her life. The Holy Ghost was with me so strong during this lesson and I felt like I knew exactly what to say. I say this not to boast of myself (Alma 26:12), but I am so grateful for the opportunity I have as a missionary to represent the Lord and be an instrument in his hands. 

After the lesson she asked if we could give her a blessing. Elder Riggins did the anointing and I sealed it and gave her a blessing. Satan bruised my heel (Genesis 3:15). We went back out to the car to get the oil, and when we were coming back I shut my foot in the door. It was really hard to not freak out and not swear. It was awesome to be a part of that night and witness what God can do with "raw materials" as the prophet Joseph once analogized to Brigham Young.

So for some reason I have decided that if I ever have a girl I am going to name her Annie. So every time she is mad or upset I can play Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson to her. Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?

So we were out around our apartment knocking on some doors, and this one house we knocked, a big  guy answered and we told him we were talking about the Book of Mormon. He just looked at it and said, "I want one". I was a little taken aback because everyone tells us to buzz off. So we gave him one, and then he said, "Saturday morning, 8:30" Jim Murray was that guy's name. So I guess we have an appointment on Saturday!

It has been a good week. Thanks for all the prayers and love. Love you all!

I was asked to speak yesterday on the importance of the scriptures. Here is a basic outline of what I talked about. This is a lot better than my 2 1/2 minute farewell talk (;

The Importance of Scriptures

1. What are scriptures?

The standard works of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are the Bible- Old Testament, New Testament; Book of Mormon; Doctrine and Covenants; Pearl of Great Price

These are the canonized scriptures that we use and teach from.

The scriptures teach us doctrine, which are the essential truths that God wants us to know. Through different stories in the bible and Book of Mormon the prophets teach us these doctrines.

Scriptures are sacred writings of prophets, apostles, and other inspired people. God reveals his words and instructions through these prophets, seers, and revelators. These inspired people record their revelations from God.

Alma 13:20 "... Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction."

Alma 17:2 " ... they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God"

The holy scriptures are here to help us, guide us, and direct us. They can give us guidance, but only if we use them. 

-can't help us by sitting on a shelf.

--no osmosis learning from scriptures.

2. The Scriptures can help us find answers to questions.

-Elder Bednar has said that when he gets a new Book of Mormon he writes a question in the front then reads it through and looks for the answer to that question.

There are about 16 times in the New Testament when The Savior asks his disciples if they had not searched the scriptures when they had questions about things that had already been answered by what was written in the scriptures.

Joseph Smith solved his great question about what he should by reading in the scriptures.

3. The Book of Mormon

The most important book of scripture we have in this church is the Book of Mormon.

In introduction it says that it contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel.

The Book of Mormon also explains the plan of salvation, which is something unique to this church.

Most importantly, The Book of Mormon, along with all the other Standard Works of the Church, testify and teach of Jesus Christ.

233 of 239 chapters talk about Christ

Over 100 different names/titles

The Book of Mormon is the convincing evidence of the restoration. It is the tool that God has given us to know that Joseph Smith is a prophet.

Moroni's challenge (Moro 10:3-5)

-If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph is prophet.

-If Joseph is prophet, then priesthood restored. 

-If priesthood restored, then true church led by a prophet today.

-If prophet, then modern guidance from the lord.

Modern guidance is the most important scripture we have, uncanonized.

4. God has always revealed his truth through prophets.

1 Nephi 10:17-18 Nephi after hearing of his father's dream.

"... I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; ..."

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

Moroni 8:18 says:

"For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."

If God is unchangeable and the same yesterday, today and forever, then he would continue to reveal his "secrets" (Amos 3:7) to his chosen prophets.

Joseph Smith said:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded upon direct revelation, as the true Church of God has ever been, according to the Scriptures..."

Elder Garrett F. Scherer

Illinois Chicago West Mission

Galesburg, Illinois 61401 (309)

Galesburg 4.13.15

Not a lot happened this week. We did some service Friday for an older
couple that lives next to some members. They are redoing their entire
house. They have had missionaries coming to help them for like a year.
It's cool to do service.

I bought a super sick Lakers sweatshirt and a dope Bulls shirt for,
both for like $16! Gotta love sales. I saw a super sick Scion FRS just
a little bit ago. So we were walking into Aldi, a grocery store, there
was an old guy that was walking out and said we looked like big shots
all dressed up. He told us that when he was a boy whenever they saw
people dressed up they would call them bigshots. We told him we were
missionaries. After we told him we were LDS he was just like "Oh
you're not big shots, you're Mormons!" and walked away. That was super
funny.

On Wednesday there was a super big lightning storm at like 3 am.
I swear it was like right over top of us. I couldn't sleep. I honestly
felt my bed shake a couple times from the thunder! Then on Saturday we
got a text from president Fenn about a tornado warning. It was super
windy all day. We never saw any tornadoes :( but we did hear from
the zone leaders that there were 2 or 3 throughout the mission.

Love you all!

Elder Garrett F. Scherer
Illinois Chicago West Mission
Galesburg, Illinois 61401 (309)
1319 Butterfield Rd. Suite 522 Downers Grove, IL 60515

Galesburg 4.7.15

Dear everyone,
So I am now in Galesburg, Illinois. They call it dirty Burg. I'm not
quite sure what that means, could be inappropriate, but that's what
they call it. My new companion is pretty cool, his name is Elder Riggins. 
We have 3 people on date to be baptized, one on the 25th, and two on
the 2nd. I am really praying that they will work out. There are some
pretty cool members here. One of the recent converts that my comp
baptized last transfer gave us an Easter basket yesterday. It had a
ton of candy and like over $50 of gift cards. Galesburg is super small
town, but it is still pretty nice. There is a ward here, but it is
super small.

We had a mission conference yesterday so that is why I didn't get to
email. So I am very sorry all of you had to suffer by not hearing from
me. So I haven't really done a lot the last four days with it being
conference and the mission conference and now p day. I haven't shaved
 because I keep forgetting. Not gonna lie it looks pretty
good. If anyone gets mad at me for not shaving I am just going to
tell them that Jesus had a beard, and that the first 7 prophets of
this dispensation had them too. I don't foresee that going over very
well, but I think it's a valid argument. Just kidding.
We went to the mall today and I went into a sports store. First time
in however long I have been out to actually go shopping. I honestly
started getting anxiety. It was like all Nike and Jordan stuff. I
almost bought a pair of Kobe shoes, a couple pairs of Jordan shorts,
and some other stuff. I did walk out with a Kevin Durant shirt and an
Adidas one that says Chicago Basketball, kinda like my Lakers one. I
really had to control myself because I love to buy stuff. But I had to
tell myself that I didn't need a 27th pair of shoes.
Not really a lot has happened this last week because of the move and
all the meetings. I have finished the Pearl of Great Price and the
Book of Mormon twice, I am halfway through the New Testament. I love
the scriptures! I am short on time to write today because of all the
stuff we have going on today. I am well and trying to have a good
time. Love you all!

Elder Garrett F. Scherer
Illinois Chicago West Mission
Galesburg, Illinois 61401 (309)