Hey Everyone, so the MTC is good. i got letters coming out soon too. on the quick note. it would be easy for me to reply through dear elder, because i can only come on this once a week and then i only have 30 mintues on it. sorry for the bad typing but im trying to rush to get in everything i want to say. thanks again for all the letters i really appreciate them and i love hearing how everything is going. dad i got a tape recorder so if you want to hear from me i can send it just let me know k? So first things first, grandpa we were told to write a message of our testimonies in spanish to someone who is a non member, i didn't know who to write to, but then i thought of grandpa, i don't even know why but, i felt like it was good when i wrote it and im praying that the Lord will touch grandpas heart and open it up to my testimony but it's in spanish so you will have to translate it for him. one thing about the MTC that im learning a lot about is that these things, spiritual things like The Lord and the spirit aren't some made up ficitional beings or feelings we get. they are real and really close to us. check out acts 17:27-29 or something like that. it says that he be not far from us - its true. the spirit can be a part of our lives and i know it is in ours right now. we just dont look for it, but we need to because it is such a blessing.
Quick thing thats been on my mind alot..is you mom, dad, cait and everyone. and i'm so thankful because i know the lord answers prayers because i love you guys a lot and i want our family to be close, not that we aren't, but sometimes there are times when we could be better. who doesn't have those times? but hearing from your past letter. you know the Lord loves us, he really does and i know that families are importanat. you taught me all that i know and that's why i am who i am today. but yeah. Quick story about my testimony this week. i'm reading the book of mormon again and i'm in 2 nephi Isaiah this week. it's awesome. i testify that the book of mormon is the word of God, no man made these things up, joseph smith restored this gospel. the book of mormon has the gospel of Jesus christ in its covers and that is what leads us to know what to do in this life and how to find true happiness. we need to read it daily daily daily daily daily daily daily. no matter how little as long as its with an open heart. i promise, there are so much blessings from it and the lord wants us to have it. another thing, i want to testify about joseph smith because i feel like he is the man that i'm striving to be like everyday, he reminds me of the savior and i want to be just like my savior because i represent him now which is kind of scary to think. but yeah i been watching the jospeh movie every sunday almost they always show a film and i see like the bravery and the humility he had and thats what i'm taking steps to be like. something that describes my testimony at the moment is the hymn how firm a foundation. 3 and 7 verses look it up it is powerful. oh another thing i learned was at carthage Joseph Smith was held by the guards and before he died he testified of the truth of the Book of mormon, and seems to me that through his whole life he was tried and all he had to do was say it was true and i mean he went through some really really harsh trials. but he never gave in never, and i look at that and think, why, why would he do that. but i know why and i'm really understanding that this stuff is true and full of power and joy and i'm not afraid of it anymore. so i just want you to know that. it's true and i want you to know that. oh quick explanation on the TRC it's a place were we go and teach on full lessons and so people come to volunteer as real investigators trying to help us get the real experience, i'll explain more in my letter. please send this email out to who ever wants to read it too, thanks family!
love, Elder Thomas
Hey Everyone, 
85: How Firm a Foundation,” Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 85
ReplyDeleteWith dignity
1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.
3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
6. E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still,
Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.
7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
Text: Attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
Music: Attr. to J. Ellis, ca. 1889
Isaiah 41:10; 43:2–5
Helaman 5:12