22 March 2014

22 March 2014
Hey Mom!
Thats great that the missionaries got to go to the Columbus Ohio Temple! I cant wait. Keep working with (others). (They) need your help and support more than you know. You can literally be an angel and a blessing in (their) life and influence (them) for eternity. This is a grand opportunity! Take advantage of it!

......

It would be great to see General Conference one day in Utah and go to the temples there. In 2 or 3 days you can go to maybe 8 temples that are all really close. I really wanna take a small trip to Chicago to visit there and while there, go to the temple. Thats a personal goal/plan that I will accomplish.

......

Élder Maciel and myself stayed here and this morning we had a wonderful baptism for a family (mom and dad). I've got pics that I'll show you in a couple of weeks. It was incredible. The Bishop (in my Ward) did his bachelors, masters and doctorate in classical singing and we did a duet at the baptism today. We sang, "Abide with me tis eventide" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAhAVBtGhy8 ) and it was really beautiful. This family was found and taught for a long time by one of the assistants before me. His name is Elder Youd and he finished his mission this week but his parents came to get him so he stayed this week to baptize them today and then we went out to eat with him and his parents. They are wonderful people! They got married this week but they're gonna have a wedding reception at church this next saturday. Its gonna be awesome! I'm really excited.

...I love you so much and I cant wait to here from you again next week!

Élder Jared Knotts

15 March 2014

15 March 2014
Hey Mom!
I remember Elder Peterson. Thats great that he came back and visited. Unfortunately I didnt get to know him as well as some other missionaries that served in our wards like Grant Doxey. I do remember several missionaries that served in the YSA branch though (Eric Tucker, Jordan Magelby, Trent Nelson, Elder Bronk, Aaron Olsen, and John Moore) I love missionaries and remember fondly of these great missionaries that served in my branch.

........I've come to value and appreciate what is actually important and to think very little on things that dont matter. ...... Yes, we need to be wise and not live beyond our means, but also the Lord wants us to be happy and live comfortably. .........

This next week will be the transfer but I'm 99% sure that I will stay here until the end of my mission. I dont know if my companion will stay or not though. We will know what happens in an hour or 2 but I wont be able to let you know until next Saturday. This week I started my personal preparation for General Conference that will be here in a couple of weeks. I have started studying and praying and pondering on topics and spiritual lessons and questions that I want that the Lord answers through His chosen servants in GC. I started writing down key words (such as: desire, sacrifice, discipline, service, courage and many others) and when I study the scriptures and old GC talks, I look for these words and teachings that are associated with these topics. My list grows every day and I think and rethink and focus my list over and over again, looking for things that I truly need and counsels that I want from the Lord. I feel inspired by the Holy Ghost as He shows me through other peoples words the precious teachings that I need so much. I have started writing down scriptures also that talk about these topics and hymns that inspire me. I know that through this personal preparation, Heavenly Father will hear my prayers and the desires of my heart and He will answer these questions and teach me through the church leaders. I know that President Monson is a prophet of God and I feel very strongly that the Spirit teaches me through him and many many others. Countless times I have read GC talks and felt the Spirit instruct me and show me things that I must do and how I must live my life. Lay down your problems, worries, desires, fears and questions before the Lord. Tell Him in prayer the things you want to learn and study and prepare yourself starting today so that when GC comes, you will be prepared to be taught. I promise you that you will be able to take advantage of this spiritual experience and God will talk to you. Read Deuteronomy 5 ( https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/deut/5?lang=eng )and think how the jews felt when they spoke in verse 27. Read the verse one more time and then stop reading this email and say these things to Heavenly Father that the jews said to Moses. I know that when you give your heart to God, He will talk to you. This is the message that we share when we talk about the first vision. God speaks to men in our days and He can talk to you! I love you Mom. I'm thankful for your wonderful example and unmovable faith. Trust in God and do what you feel is right. I know that He will continue to guide and protect you! I cant wait to hear from you next week!

Élder Jared Knotts

8 March 2014

8 March 2014
Hey Mom!
That is such a great hymn! ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQjlF1fyUZs ) I have sung it several times here in Brasil. They dont have 100% of the hymns we have in english and they even have some that we dont have but this one is the same. 
...... I didnt gain weight here in the mission. I've actually lost maybe 10 or 15 pounds since I left 2 years ago but I need to get back into shape at the BSU gym and I've become way more conscious of the things I eat and how I really need to take care of my body. ..... I'm trying to learn how to be more self sufficient and have what I need and wait for things that can wait like clothes. I bought new tennis shoes and a new light jacket here that I will take home. Its been great to learn so many things here in the mission. Most of them have been spiritual but I've also learned so much about the importance of taking care of my body, my house, my appearance, my money, my belongings, and how I represent myself. It'll be easier to share these new ideas with you in person. We should take as many people as we can to the temple (when we go on Saturday, May 10th)! Everyone needs to go as often as possible. We should take advantage of the trip and do at least 2 sessions. I've been gone for so long that I need to remember well these promises that I've made with the Lord. Today we have 2 baptisms for a mom and one of her daughters. The other members of the family dont feel ready yet but the mom is really excited! We taught them yesterday and today I will baptize her and my companion will baptize the daughter. I'll be sure to take several photos. We're getting excited for General Conference! Be sure to invite your friends and family to go to General Conference also. Bear your testimony and give a personal experience of something that you learned in a General Conference and how, if they seek sincerely, they can also receive answers to their prayers and guidance for their problems and difficulties. I love General Conference! I read 2 talks this morning by Pres Monson. One was from the Priesthood session from last April but its applicable for everyone. I talks about a formula for success! Study the scriptures diligently, plan your life with purpose, teach the truth with testimony and serve the Lord with love. (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/come-all-ye-sons-of-god?lang=eng ) I have read this talk many many times and am constantly led back to read and learn again with these inspired words. I love each topic that he explains but especially the need to serve the Lord with Love. This leads me to the other talk from this last October that Pres Monson spoke about how the Lord will not leave us, nor forsake us. (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/i-will-not-fail-thee-nor-forsake-thee?lang=eng )What a wonderful promise! I am reminded of how much God loves us and how He is "rooting" for our sucess. He wants us to return to Him. As we recognize that God is real and knows us personally, we grow in our desire to serve Him and to be as He is. This is a life of sucess and true happiness. Serve the Lord with love. Dont do it for any other selfish reason. Dont do it for obligation or because you have to. But serve the Lord with love because He has loved us first. He wont leave us. How can we leave Him? We should respond to the Lords promise by showing Him and telling Him, "Lord, I wont leave thee, nor forsake thee. I need thee every hour. I love thee." Search for ways to serve the Lord with love on a daily basis. Serve others. Dont judge or look down on others. Be willing to sacrifce and give of yourself in the benefit of others. This is the least we can do to show our gratefullness. I love Jesus Christ. I love you Mom and am thankful for your help and your support and prayers. I cant wait to hear from you next week!
Elder Jared Knotts

1 March 2014

Mom!
First off, I'm excited that the first week at home is stake conference. That'll be a great experience and will give me the opportunity to see so many people at one time. The 10th, I would like to go to the Temple. Let me know if that works out for you and your schedule. Also, the 11th sounds good to be home and visit the Connersville Ward. ..... It'll be a great Mother's Day for sure!!

I was very touched as you shared your thoughts, feelings and the spiritual truths that the Spirit taught you. This builds my testimony. Everyone has something to give. Sacrifices are essential for a spiritual progress. This concept of a "refiners fire" is an interesting idea for me. I think of how the Savior purifies us. How He invites us to come unto Him and deny ourselves of all ungodliness. In Moroni's last testimony he says that through the grace of Christ we can be sanctified. As I think of this sanctification or the process of becoming holy without spot, I think of the Temple. The Temple is dedicated and given to the Lord as a sacrifice and an offering to Him. May we ponder and reverence these sacred words, "Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord!" May we be reverent to holy things and the whisperings of the Spirit. May we treasure up in our hearts the words of life. Give thanks unto God with full purpose of heart! This is His house and His work and His plan and we are His children. I'm slowly but surely coming to understand and feel the truth of this scripture. Matthew 10:39. We must lose our lives for the Lord. That is how we can find purpose and meaning and value and understanding. Giving our lives in unselfish service to the Lord and His children is the key to happiness and will free us from our sins. I know this is true and am dedicated to give more than 2 years of my life but to use these 2 years of "training" to give my whole life to the Lord. Give Him all that I have and all that I am.

This week, a family that we are teaching got married and next Saturday they will get baptized! Its a mom, dad and two daughters. I'm so excited. Today is exactly 2 months until I get home. Its scary but I'm so excited to end my mission well and endure to the end and then get home and continue giving my life to the Lord for the rest of my life. Its possible. Some think that you serve a mission for 2 years and then you go home and you focus on other things and that you cant be a missionary anymore. Some people think that you're a fanatic if you think you're still a missionary and that you need to get a clue and stop living a dream or a reality that only exists when you use a name tag everyday. This is depressing to think and to hear. But, I know that its not the truth if you don't want it to be the truth. I'm not implying that I have to use social clothing everyday and only think about church stuff and that I have to be extreme and over the top with missionary work. What I am implying is that 2 years of faithful missionary service has caused a mighty change in my heart that I never want to be exactly who I was before or do all of the same things that I did before and, especially, think and feel the same that I thought and felt before. God is real. He exists. He is our loving Heavenly Father. He sent is only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to come to earth and to give His life for all of God's children. I know this is true and this burns within me and never can this fire be extinguished. Just as the apostles couldn't return to their nets after Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, I cant return to "my nets" after the Lord has touched my heart and shown me that this is true. I know that the family can be together forever. I know that the family is essential in God's eternal plan of happiness. I know that the priesthood is given to men to carry out God's work and that through ordinances and promises and covenants, God will draw us close to Him and if we choose to obey and endure, He will never let us go. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. They live and this is Their Church. I love you mom and am anxious to hear about all of the great things that are going on with you. All of the things youre learning and sharing with the wonderful sisters in our ward. I love you and hope to hear from you soon.
Élder Jared Knotts

22 Feb 2014

signed up for my German Program for this summer. ...I get home May 1st and May 12th (I think) starts summer classes at BSU. They have an intensive summer program for German that I can study from 8 until 11:30 and then from 1 to 2 monday till friday for about 12 weeks. I'm really excited ...
This week was really great! We had Zone Conferences and I got to go to these Conferences and give trainings with Elder Maciel and President Lima. It was a great experience and I learned a lot. One of the many many things that were spoken in the conferences that I liked was about how our choices today will influence our future and who we are here in the mission is who we will be for the rest of our lives. I am certain that this is true. Once we have experimented a mighty change of heart, you cant return to who you were before. I thought of several examples such as Enos who once he prayed and was forgiven of his sins, he changed his life and spent the rest of his days bringing others unto Christ. Also with Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah. They completely changed and they never went back to who they were before. Joseph Smith was never the same person after he had the first vision. I can not and will not be the same person that I was before the mission. I refuse to let this mighty change of heart be only 2 years and then its over. I love the Lord and His plan of redemption is a plan of happiness. Sorry this is so short but I will talk to you more next week. I love you Mom!

15 Feb 2014

Hey Mom!
This week went well and I'm doing good. Tonight and tomorrow is our Stake Conference. Last PDay we went and played ultimate frisbee with some other missionaries and that was great. We went to an island this week called the Ilha do Governador where we had an activity and open house with the missionaries in that stake. It was great! We did the same thing in a stake that I've already served in, Madureira. This week I'm going to Macaé which is about 4 hours from where I'm at now, to give a training for the missionaries in the stake there. On wednesday we will go to Jacarepaguá and give a training for 2 stakes worth of missionaries and on Thursday will be a big meeting with 4 stakes worth of missionaries. The week after should have another 2 of these Zone Conferences. I'm really excited! We've got a lot to plan for but thats nothing new. Next Saturday we are gonna have a baptism so in my next letter I'll give you more details about that. This is basically whats going on with me right now. I went to Copacabana last night to visit a couple of families and we found a new family to reactivate that is awesome! I studied a lot this morning about how important it is to remember. If you look in the topical guide about "remember" there is a lot to read. Many people that have fallen away from the church is just because they forget. They forget how it is to feel the Spirit and they stop reading the scriptures and praying and going to church and they "forget the Lord" so to speak. The word remember is used frequently in the Book of Mormon. Many times we read, for example Helaman 5 the word remember is used 15 times in the first 14 verses. Remember remember! We can never forget the Lord. Sin, pride, hate, anger, laziness, and many other things cause us to forget the Lord. We must, as King Benjamin says, "remember and perish not." When we partake of the sacrament, we promise to "always remember Him". When we talk to people that have fallen away from the church, we must remind them! Help them to feel the Spirit again and they will "remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men" (Moroni 10:3). Read the scriptures, pray, sing hymns, go to church, go to the temple and bear your testimony! Dont forget the Lord. He will never forget us. We must avoid the temptation to have other priorities that become "false idols" and become more important than God is. King Benjamin warns us again in chapter 5:13, "For how knoweth the man a master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" How can we remember the Lord? We must serve Him. He must be close to our hearts. You will come to know Jesus Christ on a personal level as you serve Him and serve God's children. This will help you to "always remember Him". I know that this will bring happiness and an abundance of the Spirit. There is a talk that I have read many times and is very important to me and has encouraged me to always remember the Lord. I hope you feel the Spirit as much as I do when I read it. 
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng
Its called, "O Remember, Remember" by Pres Eyring. I hope you really enjoy it and I hope it causes a change in your heart and gives you a greater desire to serve the Lord with love and always remember Him. I love you so much and hope to hear from you soon.
Élder Jared Knotts