A Disciple of Jesus Christ

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

Well they finally sent me out of Layton where I've been for six months.  Oddly enough, nearly every LDS person I know has been in my new area at some point: Capitol Hill.  Our area covers Temple Square, the Conference Center, and pretty much everything in the nearby area up to Ensign Peak.  If you're down that way keep an eye out.  My new address is:

215 E 10 Ave

Salt Lake City, UT 84103

And on that note I want to just remind everyone about one of our rules: Family and Friends are not allowed to visit.  No-one is exempt from that rule, especially all of you people at BYU.  If you decide to visit or go by our house then I will probably not receive you with open arms.  If I happen to see you on the streets by pure coincidence then I will be happy and excited to see you, but if you visit our house or try to catch us leaving our house it will be different.  

One of the odd parts of serving here is that no-one wants to talk with us, or they don't want to stop talking to us.  This part of Salt Lake has some of the most anti-mormon people in the world.  Just yesterday we talked for a few minutes with a guy who served a mission, was married to his wife and sealed to his family in the temple, and served in many a calling in the church for at least 25 years.  But when his wife and he were divorced he blamed it all on the Church and though he fully "supports" missionaries around the world by giving us pump-up talks, but refuses to change his ways.  

On the other hand, we have an entire congregation of senior missionaries (old people who are serving missions as family history specialists and the like) where all they want to do is talk with us.  

One of the things that has been on my mind recently is what it means to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ.  One of our mission "themes" is from the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 5:13 when the prophet Nephi says, 

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of him to declare his word amoung his people, that they might have everlasting life."

One of the greatest gifts my mission has given me is the conviction and knowledge that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Missionaries are judged by a lot of things: how many people they baptize, what leadership positions they held, and how many lessons they taught each week (to list a few).  Based off of those, I haven't been the best missionaries in the world by a long shot.  But I know without any doubt, they I have become a disciple of Jesus Christ.  He is my Savior and my Redeemer. I will forever be grateful for Him and His Atoning Sacrifice because it has allowed me and those I love to find true happiness.  

A few days ago during a moment of reflection, I finally found a answer I had been looking for.  My focus for these next 7 months of my life will be this:

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 15: 8,16 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples...ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.

Love ya'll,

-Elder Colton