Winner! Red Rock!

I found out what I wanted for Christmas. I want a electronic whoopee cushion and the "bop it" game. haha.

Whats this balderdash about me getting transferred on the 15th? Transfers aren't until the 28th. Anyway my address now is 9424 Quail Ridge Dr. Las Vegas NV 89134.

I will include Aunt Joyce in my fast.

And since Keith isn't coming home for Christmas, I will need his number so I can call him. And yes, I can do that.

This week was both good and bad. We were even more sick all week. I got my companion sick too, hehe. It was not on purpose but it's only fair. Companions need to be unified right? He was very grumpy though. hehe.

Thanksgiving was really cool. Really cool. Cold that is. We had the mission turkey bowl again. I was still recovering from being sick and I hurt my knee pretty good during practice so I only played a little bit. The field was wet because some one had the sprinklers running when we pulled up. It iced over so I was trippin all over myself. It was a lot of fun though. The Red Rock zone won the turkey bowl. yay.

I've learned to love this zone now. I'm grateful for this zone. The spirit of Thanksgiving taught me that. I won't lie, I was VERY upset when I heard I was getting transferred. I felt like I didn't belong in Red Rock right now. I felt like I did when i was transferred from Reno to Sparks. It just didn't feel right. But now I know that this is where the Lord needs me. I'm in the right place and I know that whatever happens to me, whether I finish here or I get transferred somewhere else... it's what the Lord wants for me. I'm very grateful for that knowledge. It's comforting to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of me and are guiding me with the Holy Ghost. They know me by name and love me. and you.

I wanted to share something else that i came across in my studies. I
looked up prayer in the Bible Dictionary and it said that "many prayers remain unanswered because they are not of the mind of Christ. Some prayers spring from the selfishness of man's heart." It made me think and ponder " what would Christ pray for?" He would pray for all of us. We read in 3 nephi when Christ appears to the Nephite people and is about to leave them, the people are very sad. They didn't want Him to leave. He felt their love and he sets aside his divine agenda to tarry with them and bless their children. He prays with them and for them. It says that they could not write the words which he spake but that the multitude bore witness of it. The perfect prayer. whoa. That's legit. I'm striving for that perfection in all that I do. I'm doing my best and I'm coming along very, very slowly but I know that through Christ that I can achieve it someday.

I truly do love you all. Truly. I hope you all had a spectacular Thanksgiving. booyah.

love,
Elder Richards

This is the Christ!

OK so first thing. Don't send me any shirts or pants. A member here noticed my tight pants and shirts and went and bought me some new ones. The members here are really too nice.

My first week here has been kinda rough. I've been sick all week. I'm still recovering right now. It's been really cold out and my jacket doesn't fit me anymore. I have a sweater but I'm going to get a jacket
today.

I finished the Book of Mormon again and guess what... it's still true.
I followed the counsel of Moroni and asked God the Eternal Father in the Name of Christ if this book is true. And by the power of the Holy Ghost I received my answer. It is true. It truly is another Testament of Jesus Christ. And because the Book of Mormon is true, I know that Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith is a prophet, and the work I'm doing here in Las Vegas is the work of the Lord. How great is my calling!

The area is doing quite well. We have a couple of baptisms coming up in the next couple of weeks. I'm lovin the area. I'm lovin my companion. and I'm lovin the bike haha. I'm pretty much livin the dream. He is risen!

Elder Richards

PS My companion's name is Elder Wiscombe by the way.

Not again

I'm getting transferred back on bike to the Red Rock Stake. I was really bummed at first when I found out. I thought for sure I was staying because Elder Johnson doesn't know the area quite well enough. But I'm sure he will do fine. I guess the Lord has other plans for me. I still could not fight back the tears. I feel like I'm leaving home.

This week I was reading in the new Ensign Conference issue. I read over my favorite talk by President Utchdorf on Pride. The whole time I was reading it I was imagining him speaking at the pulpit. He said that everyone deals with pride. Very few overcome it. Then I imagined President Utchdorf raising his hands in the double chop position like he usually does during his talks. He was talking straight to me in that German accent of his saying with a big smile of course "Elder Richards, you are prideful" .....aw crap, not again.

So I continued reading the talk and in Doctrine & Covenants 12:8 it says that "no one can assist in this great work except he be full of love." President Utchdorf said that if we are full of Charity we cannot have pride. That's when I started focusing my studies on Charity. I learned a great deal about charity. I remember that was the first thing I learned on the mission. The first thing my trainer taught me was to Love the people. That has stuck with me my whole mission. Love the people. I learned that without love we are nothing. If we don't truly love the people we teach then why should they want to change and come closer to Christ? We need to pray with full energy of heart for Charity. And something else that is important is to express it. That's a goal that I have made, to express Love for everyone. That doesn't mean I'm going to go up to complete strangers and give them hugs and tell them I love them. That works for some people I guess ;) but that's not my style. Being kind, extending service, just a warm smile can go a long way.

We are representatives of Jesus Christ. Christ loves everyone and so should we. Have I done any good in the world today? I'm out of time. Love the people and live the dream. I love you all.

Elder Richards

Now Let Us Rejoice, It's P Day

This week seemed really long. Its seems like months ago that Elder Kraft left. I'm doing well though. I really like my new companion Elder Johnson. Apparently i'ts only temporary so I'm kinda bummed about that.

First I want to thank you all for your prayers and support. They really helped me out a alot this week. This week I've been studying a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and applying it to my life. There's a great story that I would like to share with you called "The Room."


The Room

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room.
There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with
small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list
titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which
stretched from floor to ceiling and right to left as far as the eye could
see, had very different headings.

As I walked up to the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read, "People I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then, without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my
entire life. The actions of my every moment, big and small, were written in
a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, mixed
with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and
exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories, others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed". The titles ranged from common, everyday things to the not-so-common-"Books I Have Read", "Lies I Have Told", "Comfort I Have Given", "Jokes I Have
Laughed At". Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I Have
Yelled At My Brothers and Sisters." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I
Have Done in Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents". I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes less than I had hoped.

The sheer volume of the life I had lived overwhelmed me. Could it be
possible that I had time in my 17 years to write each of these thousands or
millions of cards? But each card confirmed the truth. Each card was written
in my own handwriting. Each card was signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To", I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented. When I came to the file marked "Lustful
Thoughts"; I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think such a moment had been recorded.

A feeling of humiliation and anger ran through my body. One thought
dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see
this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy, I yanked the file
out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But
as I took the file at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could
not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only
to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly
helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the
wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

That was when I saw it. The file bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel
With". The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than 3 inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my
stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of
shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves
swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I
must lock it up and hide the key.

Then as I looked up through my tears, I saw Him enter the room. No, please
not Him. Not here. Anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to
open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response.
The few times I looked at His face I saw such sadness that it tore at my
heart. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did he have to
read every one?

Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me
with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped
my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked
over and put his arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He
didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of
the room, He took out a file, and, one by one began to sign His name over
mine on each card. "No!" I shouted, rushing to Him. All I could find to say
was "No, no", as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these
cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written in blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the
cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the
next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my
side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood
up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on the door. There were still cards to be written.

As I have done my best to fill up that file titled " People I have shared the Gospel with" I have felt my Savior's love. I know that through His Atonement I can overcome anything and everything. The Atonement is for everyone. Everyone needs it and it is our responsibility to share it. Because I have been given much I too must give. He is Risen!

Love,
Elder Richards

Love

This past week has been particularly hard on me. My companion Elder Kraft is going home. I don't know all of the details. All I know is that there have been some problems at home. That really isn't any of my business though. I love Elder Kraft so much. This was really unexpected. I want you all to know that Elder Kraft is a great man. He is probably one of the most spiritual people I have ever met. He has a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will be returning back to the mission in 6 months and that is proof of his faithful testimony. He just needs to clear some things up back home so that he can serve the Lord with all of his heart, might, mind and strength. He will make a great missionary. he already is a great missionary. He has taught me so much. I am so grateful that I had a chance to serve with him, to be his trainer. But more importantly, to be his friend. I will miss him dearly.

Don't worry about me though. I will be fine. This is probably one of the hardest experiences that I will have to go through on my mission but I can depend on my Savior. I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He Lives!

Elder Richards