First Email 5/6/09

Got our first email from Devon.


Hello everyone out there. I am so happy to be here. The MTC is a great place and i have learned so much just in my little stay here. There is so much to talk about but I do not have long to type so I will make it as breif as possible. The MTC is a great place. My testimony and faith has grown at least 20 times as much as it was. I am so excited to be here doing the Lord's work. So I can cover as much as possible I am not going to tell of my feelings about these things but just know that I love them all and I am so excited and touched by all of them.
First, my compannion is Elder Jones. He is a great man. He is 22 he was inactive for a while but has been active the past year. He is a fun, cool, and leader like man. I am so blessed to have him as my companion. My district has all great people this consists of Elders Jones, Peterson, Brower, Curtis, Deitrech, Tanner, and Brower. We are all very different. we have a love for eachother and can get eachother laughing quite a bit. My companion was called as district leader with me as senior companion. We a day or so later were called to be zone leaders which will start this sunday. i am very excited for this assignment. There have been a large amount of deeply spiritual experiences. I have learned so much through the power of the Holy Ghost. Last night we got to here from M. Russell Ballard.
It was amazing! He told us that we need to have a great desire and everthing will be fine for us. He also said quote; "You need to be the greatest missionaries ever sent out."From reading this I thought back to 1 Nephi when it says God giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. So if we follow the rules, show obedience, faith, and desire then we will be the greatest missionaries to walk this earth. He also gave an Apostalical Blessing. It said something like this; By his power we can have desire to find teach and baptize. Bless with Health, strength, wisdom, discernment increased, Holy ghost as constant companion and that if we kindle the power of God that we will know the true thing that other's hearts need to feel and hear.
Every day I have prophets and apostles of old who sacrificed everything to get the book of mormon into my hands to deliver its message to others pray for me. I am the fulfillment of the covenent that God gave to Enos. There is far too much to talk about. I do not have nearly enough time to tell you everything. I have written at least 40 minutes every night in my journal. This and my study journal is were I am going to keep most of the things I experience and learn. i will share them with you when I return but for now you will just have to get what I send and what I type.
I want to leave you all and tell you that I love you all. This church is 100% true. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that if we but love Christ and Heavenly Father and show them our desire to want to be with them then we will be more happy than ever before. I know sometimes it is tough. This mission is the hardest thing I have ever had to do but it is by far the most rewarding thing to ever happen to me. I know that working hard all of the time will bring you more happiness than anything esle. Heavenly father loves you and want you to be with him. I am sorry if I didn't say enough.

Love, Elder Marr