Lauren's Letter home 7/28/11

Krob krua!

Happy Pioneer Day on Sunday!

Things are dii maag (very good) here at the MTC. Just living the routine.

Today we went to the Temple for the first time since we've been here. All missionaries get to go to the temple once a week while in the MTC but we came in the week they closed the Provo Temple for some reason so today was our first chance. My second ever session was great. It was fun to have the video so the experience was completely different. I did just fine on my own. My khuu (comp) was going for her second time as well. It was actually only her second time ever, she'd never done baptisms for the dead! The temple food was also a nice break from the MTC cafeteria. I'm fine with the food but it's nothing spectacular so the giant waffle with strawberries and whipped cream was a delight this morning.

So last night was exciting. We woke up at 2:00 am to this obnoxious buzzing. Turns out it was the fire alarm. The alarm in our room did not work so we finally noticed the annoying but muted alarm through our sleep. We were definitely the last ones out of the building. Luckily, it wasn't for real. We still have no idea why it went off or if it was a drill but we are definitley all a little worn out today. Oh, and it was only the sisters hall. It was pretty funny to see all the girls congregated in their pajamas just talking and laughing as the sprinklers came on while we waited.

On Sunday Sister Roper and I sang in sacrament meeting. We sang a version of Savior Redeemer of My Soul that I sang at BYU before the mission. It went well and I think really brought the Spirit to the meeting. Jordan and I are working on a song to audition for the devotionals or firesides. Yep, I convinced him :)

I got sick this week. It was lame. Luckily it's pretty much gone. It only lasted like 3 days, just a little bit of sore throat and stuffed up sinuses. I sang through it just fine though.

Let's see, oh, Sister Wanwirapab, the teacher from Thailand, spoke to her sister the other day who has been out on her mission in Thailand for about a year. Most likely one of us will get her as a trainer. Just a little intimidating! It would be great to have a native trainer but super hard too. I don't know how I feel about that. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Our phii thais (the older district) leave on Monday morning :( They fly to LAX and then straight to Bangkok, crazy! We are going to miss them so much! Hunter Tolman is in that district. I can't remember if I told you. They are so much fun, it won't be the same with out those 8 Elders. Then, after a week by ourselves, we get our nong thais (younger district) and there are only 4 of them. Maybe a sister or two, we're not sure. Elder Gong left yesterday for Taiwan. I'll miss seeing him all the time as well. He'll be great. I gave him a nice big handshake, almost as good as a hug. That reminds me. We took a bunch of pictures with the phii thais and it's so goofy to take pictures with Elders. It doesn't look that bad when you're taking the picture but when you look at the picture the no touching thing just looks so awkward. You don't really realize it until you have to take pictures without touching someone haha. Oh well, we'll just have to take better ones in 2 years.

My camera is great by the way. We can't upload pictures to the computer in the MTC but we will be able to in the field. In the meantime, I just put in an order for some prints so I will be sending you some pictures soon.

Is Roy Smith the Smiths on our street or where did he live. I can't picture him right now. I'm sending you my thank you notes in a package so if you could get them out that'd be great.

Casey is so great, if you haven't already told him, tell him hi for me! So the departure date thing, I really don't know. It says we're scheduled for Sept 5 which means I will be here for 9 weeks and 6 days. Not sure how I feel about cutting the learning short :s Someone said they might be trying to totally do away with 12 week programs which would explain the shortened time but I'm not sure. I hope I get to see Ethan but I guess we'll see.

Grandpa wrote to me about Mason and scout camp. Sounds like quite the week. I think it was probably very good for him :)

Oh Harry Potter. It does seem like a huge part of life. Can't believe it started when I was in elementary! Maybe I can get a Thai version a reawaken the newness of it haha

I'm so excited for a temple in France! That is great! Versailles, yes? Does that mean there will be 2 soon? Don't they have land in Paris as well?

Anyway, time is running out but if you have more questions let me know. It's kind of hard to know what you want to hear since everyday is pretty much the same.

Rag,

Sister King

Patriarchal Blessings

Blessings are amazing things. I’ve recently been reading my own more often and am struck by the many insights into my life and the amount of things I learn every time I read it. In a way it seems crazy that this blessing is just for me and is as important as any of our other scriptures. What an amazing gift to be able to gain even a tiny understanding of what God has in store for each of us specifically. I hardly met the man who gave me the blessing one time and yet there are things in my blessing that only someone who knows me personally could have guessed at what to say. I have such a testimony of continuing revelation and the reality that God speaks to us directly and through those who have authority over us. I am so grateful for this knowledge in my life.

The Second Comforter

In John 14, as Christ tries to prepare his disciples for the things to come, He lets them know that even though he will be leaving them physically, they will not be left alone.  He gives them the promise of a Second Comforter if they will love him and obey his commandments.  John 14:15-16, “If ye love me keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”  He promises that he will not leave his disciples orphans and he won’t just leave them the Holy Ghost but will come back to them himself.  Through the Holy Ghost, whom we receive when baptized, we can have Christ as a Comforter and through him we can have the Father as a Comforter too.  I really like what he says in John 16:7-8, “...It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.”

I thought it was interesting when Dr. Holzapfel mentioned that the Second Comforter was a subject that Joseph Smith often spoke on.  I also like the idea that it’s such a sacred part of our gospel and that’s why it isn’t often mentioned anymore.  Joseph Smith once said, “After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God . . . then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints. . . . Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 150–51).  I don’t think I had ever heard that until we discussed it in class and if I had I did not understand it.  But what a cool concept.  Something we can always strive towards.

John's Gospel

It’s funny how overlooked John often is, as one of the four gospels.  I know I focused on the most popular three before this class.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke are always the first gospels people reference and it seems funny to me now because there is so much in John that isn’t in any of the other gospels.  Like we’ve discussed in class, maybe the reason John is taken for granted is the fact that the way it was written and the information it gives on Jesus’ life is the most unique.  The other three share the majority of their information and are more similarly written.  John on the other hand, has a huge amount of information that you can’t find in any other gospel and is written from kind of a different perspective.  While the three main gospels discuss Jesus as a man, John seems to focus more on the fact that he is divine.  Also, because John does have so much extra information that none of the others back up, it might be possible that some people look at it as a less accurate account of Christ’s life.  Yet so many things make that claim almost ridiculous.

One huge thing John has that the other’s don’t is an almost guaranteed eyewitness writing the account.  He talks of the beloved disciple and it is almost surely him.  In John, Jesus is divine from the beginning, he always knows.  John also does not have Jesus speaking any parables which is such a significant part of the other three gospels.

Art Exhibit

I thought it was really fun to have Rita Wright come and change up the class for a few days.  I am also a huge fan of art history so I always enjoy hearing and analyzing new pieces.  

The Types and Shadows: Intimation of Divinity exhibit was really interesting with a lot of really different pieces that happened to relate through subtle details.  I think it was a great idea to discuss some of the exhibit in class before going to see it because there just isn’t time to get through everything in the short fifty minutes of class.  Truly, every piece was interesting but I did have my favorites.

I loved Exchange No. 8.  The realism and striking color contrast caught my attention and the concept is just fascinating.  The chairs seem to signify the throne of Christ and as it said in the pamphlet, the mercy seat.  It’s also interesting that the white chair is stable and upright while the red covered chair is lying on it’s back.  The cloth, a theme throughout the exhibit, possibly a symbol of the shroud that covered Christ and of course the colors that are so obviously significant.  Red, the blood of Christ, passion, sin  while white is purity, sacred, clean.  I absolutely love the contrast between those colors, including their meanings.  The background of this piece is also really intriguing.  The different geometric patterns overlapping and in more neutral colors.  I don’t think I understand this one very well but for some reason I just like it.

I also really like the Devotion painting.  I actually thought it was a photograph at first because the front part is so realistic.  I really like the idea that the woman in the background is from a time devoid of the truth and that the modern vase full of water represents the truth and light of Christ that is available now.  I don’t know if that’s what the artist was getting at but for me that’s what makes sense to me.  Her clothing and manner express that for me.

My absolute favorite though, had to be Christopher Young’s Man of Sorrows.  I think this piece is so beautiful.  We discussed how it was so ideal that it didn’t seem real but I still see it as a perfect representation for me.  I don’t think this is meant to represent a true moment in time, such as his journey to the hill he would die on.  I see this as a representation of his knowledge of the great things he had to and would do for us.  His expression and the title speak to me of his great burden that is incomprehensible for us.  The cross and crown represent the physical suffering he was to go through but they are not in the process of hurting him.  There is no blood on his head and he is not nailed to the cross but I get the sense that this portrays his entire mission in one piece and I love that he is portrayed so ideally, so perfect, because that’s what he is and temptations and even physical scars could not change that.

I don’t know if that’s what I was supposed to write about but I really enjoyed the opportunity we had to see some of that art if only just because I got to see Man of Sorrows.  I loved it so much.

Early Christian Hymn

One of the early Christian hymns that we discussed in class was Psalm 118 which was probably sung by Christ and his disciples as they left the upper room right before Christ went to the garden.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.  Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?  The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.  They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:  This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Christ's Death in Matthew

 Compared to Mark’s account of Christ’s death, Matthew’s account is much more detailed.  Matthew includes many of the same events that Mark does but then adds on to  those.  One of the things he includes is the change of heart that comes over Judas soon after he betrays Christ and his desire to repent of his betrayal starting in 27:3,

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.  And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Something we really don’t get from Mark’s account.   Another addition is the specifics about the trials Jesus has to go through before he is officially condemned to death.  Starting in 27:11 it describes what happened when Christ met with Pilate.  There is also a larger emphasis on Barrabus, the man that the people chose to set free rather than Christ.  His is a valuable story because it adds to the irony and ridiculousness of Christ’s death.  Barrabus literally means “Son of God”, he was one of the many false Messiah’s.  It is interesting to realize that part of the reason for the civil wars in about 70 AD were people like Barrabus and Pilate released him.  Christ on the other hand brought peace and got rid of contention.  Barrabus was a rebel fighting the government.  Part of the reason Barrabus was seen as more of Messiah was because he was more of the warrior idea that most people had of the Messiah.  He would come in and vanquish the Romans through violence.  They believed a Messiah like that would bring them the justice they deserved.  

Another thing unique to Matthew is his telling of the resurrection of Christ.  Matthew focuses on Christ’s revealing himself to the disciples more than Mark who emphasizes the women’s sighting of him.