Adversity

April 21, 2018


Dear Family and Friends,

We close off another extremely busy week here in Curitiba as always. I feel as though each week seems to teach me and push me to my max in a new and educating way. There are always changes happening around us, many laws change every day, there are new routines that we must adjust too, difficulties that we may not expect, and many other situations that we just do not expect. As I said before, these trials stretch and strengthen us if we endure.

A central part of our Heavenly Fathers plan, life is always shifting and changing around us, sometimes not in the way as we expect it to. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache may be including in some of these unexpected changes and adversity, but with the help of the Lord, they can lead to spiritual growth, progress, and refinement. One truth that I have learned is that how an individual reacts to these unexpected changes both in this life and in the eternities.

Earlier on in my mission, I shared a story about a family I taught in the area of “Bom Pastor”. A family who had been through many difficulties in their life asked me quite plainly and abruptly about the essence of adversity and trials. They demonstrated many examples in the scriptures of how God allowed tribulation to afflict even the best of his people including Job and the apostles after the death of the Savior. They asked me quite profoundly about “Why Trials?” “Where do they come from?” and “Why does God allow them?”

As to how trials happen, much to as we now through the scriptures and throughout millenniums of prophetic warning, trials may be a result of different circumstances. For example, trials may come as a consequence of a person’s own pride and disobedience.  These trials are avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when people are living righteously. For example, people may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others’ poor choices and hurtful words and actions. Suffering may also come through a loving Heavenly Father as a tutoring experience.

                When we face adversity, we may complain and become bitter. We may ask questions like “Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this now? What have I done to deserve this?” But these questions have the power to dominate our thoughts. Such questions can overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the experiences the Lord wants us to receive. Rather than responding in this way, we should consider asking questions such as, “What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?”

                True to the Faith says “Different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, people who are stricken with illness may simply need to be patient and faithful. People who suffer because of others’ words or actions should work toward forgiving those who have offended them. Victims of abuse should seek help immediately. If a person’s trials come because of disobedience, he or she should correct the behavior and humbly seek forgiveness.” Although some of the responses to adversity will vary, one response should be constant: trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The prophet Alma taught, “Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (See Alma 36:3)

                My testimony and invite for all today is to continue faithful until the end, trusting in Christ and our Father in Heavens merciful plan, learning from each trial along the way, and always seeking out: “How may I grow from this?” I know that our savior loves us and will always be on our side as we are found on his.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-Elder Matthew Arscott

Photos:

Big Three

Starting Five

Elders Batista, Freitas, Arscott, Garlick, Joglar Alves

Spot Arscott

District meeting: “Lawyers” defending the Truth

A Note from Mom to Son

On Sat, Apr 14, 2018 at 6:50 PM, CaroLee Arscott <caroleecreates2@yahoo.com> wrote:

My heart is SO full of love for you. I know that you will be successful in life because that is who you are. I KNOW that the Gospel will always be important to you, as well as a family and career. I know that you will learn to balance all those things out. 

BUT, for now, I want you to serve your mission with Obedience and dedication to the Lord. These are the greatest months in your life so far. This is an education in life that you will not be able to get any where else. You are surrounded by other great Spirits that are like you, pre-ordained to do great things for the Lord. You are not where you are by chance.....you ARE there for a reason and a purpose. And some of that will not be discovered for years to come. Rubbing shoulders with these great people will always be a blessing to you and your life. 

I am forever grateful that you are where you are, doing what you are doing, and learning what you are learning. 

Of course, I do miss you every day. That's MY job, I'm the mom, those are things that I do. I will always worry about you until the day you put me in the ground. That's my job. I will always be there to listen to you and to help counsel you, that 's my job. I'm the mother. I will always be concerned about what you are doing, where you are and where you are going... That's my job. I'm the mother. 

And I will ALWAYS love you forever and ever because that is MY privilege, because I AM THE MOTHER and that is my blessed job. You will ALWAYS be a blessing to me and my life. 

Now I'm crying. You are a great young man. I look forward to your future. 

You will always be my first son. 

I love you dearly....

Mom
xoxox

Sacrifice Brings forth Blessings

April 14, 2018

Dear Family and friends,

Another week has flown by and I look forward to talking about some uplifting experiences that I had this past week. Here in Curitiba, we are continuing to approach winter and the temperatures are continuing to drop. Annually, this time of the year in the mission, we have the opportunity to have what we call “Mission Tour”. Mission tour happens when a General Authority visits the mission to give training, interview missionaries and staff, and to oversee the functioning is of the mission.  Our three-day mission tour this year, which happened for us this last week here in the mission, was presided over by Elder W. Mark Bassett of the Seventy, and first counselor in the Brazil Area Presidency. With his fast visit, he taught about the Doctrine of Christ, but as well left a Doctrine that had a major effect on how I think, work, and who I am. For my short message today I would like to share a little of what I learned from this Doctrine and how it might as well effect each of us in our lives spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and so forth.

The doctrine of SACRIFICE is an eternal truth established before the foundation of the world. It is a doctrine that we find throughout the history of the gospel spiritually and as well a doctrine that may be applied into our lives in many different aspects because of its nature.

Sacrifice in my opinion may be defined spiritually as giving up something valuable or precious, often with the intent of accomplishing a greater purpose or goal. I like to make the comparison of Practice and put it hand in hand with this principle. We sacrifice our valuable time and effort to be able to gain in return something of more value (the bettering of a skill, sport, or activity in which is referenced).

 Sacrifice in its many forms is always established upon the greatest sacrifice of all, which I have continued to touch upon over these former weeks. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most defining example of sacrifice that the world has been given throughout history. No other event will ever overtake the offering of the most valuable, precious, and innocent blood for the reward of eternal life of all men. No other article of history has ever given us any such great example as to the pure definition of Sacrifice. The life of Jesus Christ was indescribably precious, yet was sacrificed for something of unsurpassable purpose. The “Immortality and Eternal Life of Man”¹

Because of this, we may find the depths of the truths found in the doctrine of the “Worth of Souls is great in the sight of God”^2. With so much sacrificed for our own souls, we find a transcendent value within ourselves.

The sacrifice that our Heavenly Father asks of us today is that of a “Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit”³. To have a broken heart and a contrite spirit is to be humble and receptive to the will of God and to the counsel of those He has called to lead His Church. It also means to feel deep sorrow for sin and a sincere desire to repent. The prophet Lehi emphasized the importance of offering this sacrifice: “Behold, [Christ] offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered”⁴. Sometimes there are other specificities that our Father in Heaven asks us to sacrifice depending on our situations; For example, as missionaries, we are specifically asked to sacrifice all disobedience, fears, romantic passions, pride, negativity, sarcasm, and slothfulness, as well as two years of our lives and much time away from Family, friends, and other loved ones to be able to fully enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost and to focus more fully on serving others.⁵ Apostles and many other auxiliary leaders as well are asked to give up much of their time and lives when they are called to full time service, and each member of the church in any respective calling is asked to devote all of their efforts, living, and circumstances unto the Lord.

Those who show their willingness to sacrifice as the Lord has commanded will be accepted by Him. He taught: “All … who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me”⁶.

Overall, sacrifice is a principle of the Gospel that must be directed and motivated by Love.  In the Book of Mormon, we see the examples of Lehi’s sons. Nephi was diligent in all things with his eye “Single to the Glory of God”^7, while his brethren Laman and Lemuel “Did murmur in many things”⁸. The difference between sacrifice and obligation is⁹.  Nephi responded to the commands of the Lord because of his Love for him. Abraham faithfully was willing to sacrifice his only son out of Love to the commandments of God. The scriptures and history have come forth to show that those that are faithful and that demonstrate true sacrifice are those that do so out of Love, not out of obligation. That is the secret.

Therefore, the takeaway this past week from Elder Bassett was sacrifice. If we are not sacrificing our time and life for the things that are important now, we may start today in doing so. True sacrifice is demonstrated with Love, and through our good works and our positive attitude in all things, we may better develop this skill. The same skill that will eventually bring us to a knowledge of our Father in Heaven and in his son, Jesus Christ, and lift us into Eternal Life¹⁰. “For whosoever will save his life, must be willing to lose it for my sake; and whosoever will be willing to lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”¹¹

May we each then be willing to lose our lives for his sake, sacrificing with a loving, willing, and faithful heart, is my humble prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Until next week,

-Elder Matthew Arscott

References:

1.       Moses 1:39

2.       D&C 18:10

3.       D&C 59:8

4.       2 Nephi 2:7

5.       Reference to Tad R. Callister: “Becoming a Consecrated Missionary”

6.       D&C 97:8 and LDS Topics “Sacrifice”

7.       D&C 82:19, see also D&C 4:5

8.       1^st Nephi 2:11

9.       1^st Corinthians 13:3

10.   John 17:3

11.   Luke 9:24

Photos:

Running around during Mission Tour I found a second to take a picture with some visiting friends:

Last transfer office crew returns for a reunion

Elder Eddington and Elder Arscott

Elder Arscott and Elder Garlick

Elder Arscott and Elder Reid

Elder Arscott and Elder Nydegger

This is dinner even though Mom thought it was a dessert

 It is called Tábua. It is bacon, sausage, and beef mixed with olives, red peppers, barbeque, cheese, and fried potatoes to be like lays chips. We served it with Fresh mango juice which we made as well.

. Sorry mom, that is NOT chocolate and Ice cream

Bacon, Sausage, Veggies, Potatoes, BBQ etc. great dinner. 

Car show on P-day 

Car show on P-day

Car show p-day. 

A Historic Conference

Good morning family and friends,

It has not been very long since I sent out my last message and update as we roll back to our normal schedule here in the mission. One of the highlights of our busy week was this last weekend’s General Conference. I felt the spirit and was able to learn about many things that I’ve needed strengthening on. Moreover, with many new and wonderful changes, we are blessed to be able to better prepare for the second coming of the Savior like never before. For my brief spiritual message this week, I would like to share a couple of highlights from this conference that stood out to me. Here are just a few:

Larry Echo Hawk on forgiving ourselves:

“Please also remember that an essential element of forgiveness includes forgiving ourselves.

“He who has repented of his sins,” the Lord said, “the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”

Lynn G. Robins on our Spiritual progress over time:

Only with time-lapse photography or growth charts can we discern our physical growth. Likewise, our spiritual growth is usually imperceptible except through the rearview lens of time. It would be wise to regularly take an introspective look through that lens to recognize our progress and inspire us to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.”

President Boyd K. Packer on Good works without saving ordinances:

 “Good conduct without the ordinances of the gospel will neither redeem nor exalt mankind.”

Bishop Gérald Caussé on how many priesthood holders we need:

“I remember a conversation I had with a friend who is not a member of our faith. He was surprised to learn that any worthy man in our Church could receive the priesthood. He asked, “But how many priesthood holders do you have in your ward?”

I answered, “Between 30 and 40.”

Perplexed, he continued, “In my congregation, we have only one priest. Why do you need so many priests on Sunday morning?”

Intrigued by his question, I felt inspired to reply, “I agree with you. I don’t think we need that many priesthood holders at church on Sunday. But we do need a priesthood holder in every home. And when there is no priesthood holder in a home, other priesthood holders are called upon to watch over and minister to that family.”

President Russell M. Nelson on the Holy Ghost:

“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

I hope that all of you had the opportunity to watch, to learn, and to apply in your lives something from this last general conference. I know that we do have a living prophet and apostles today, with their purpose to give us their counsel and to help us receive their guiding words. It is my love and testimony that I leave with you all today that these men do receive divine revelation from God and that if we follow their counsels, becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ, we may find peace in this turbulent world, and that our sorrows will become nonexistent. I close with one final quote on the discipleship that every one of us should strive more to strengthen and to seek more diligently. From Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

“As you accept His sacrifice, become His disciple, and finally reach the end of your earthly journey, what will become of the sorrows you have endured in this life?..

…They will be gone.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-Elder Matthew Arscott

Pulled out a sweater, as it is becoming winter there. 

A new Brazil Soccer jacket

Move over Alberto's....he's learning to make his OWN breakfast Burrito's.