Thoughts About my Missionary

As my days as a Missionary mama come to a close, I just want to say how blessed I have been and how blessed as a family we have been.  While Jared has been gone, 2 babies were born and Kylee had her back surgery.  I know with every fiber of my being, that having 2 of my boys serve a mission at the same time, has brought tremendous blessings.

   As I have watched Jared over the course of 3 years, I have seen how much he has changed.  He has used the atonement and I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus are so very proud of him.  Jesus did this for us, so that we could use it to progress in our mortal existence.

    I have watched Jared struggle all of his life with learning disabilities.  This young man has proven 10 fold that you can overcome obstacles.  His letters have been so inspiring and spiritual, he has a beautiful testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Although he still has struggles and is far from perfect, (as we all are) He has shown me that our trials are just stepping stones and to welcome each and every trial and know that they are for our good.
   
    Heavenly Father doesn't give us the trial, but he allows them to happen so that we can grow and become closer to him.

  I love each and everyone of you for all that you have done to help Jared accomplish his mission.  It is a group effort and you will be blessed beyond comprehension.

    Having him return home is a bitter sweet.  We have loved the blessings we have received from him serving, but also know that we and he will be continually blessed as we learn and grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

   Thank you all for all that you have done.  May God Bless and keep you.


Love,

DelMarie (Jared's mommy)

My Final Letter

Dear Friends and Family, 

I cannot put into words my feelings at this time, my heart is full. I feel much like Ammon "my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God." (Alma 26:11) There are many wonderful blessings that come from serving a mission. But one of the most rewarding blessings I have ever experienced is outline perfectly in the Book of Mormon  "And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon [me]"...being an "instrument in the hands of God to bring about this great work" (Alma 26:3) I apologize ahead of time for the length of this letter. 

I have witnessed the Atonement of Jesus Christ change the hearts and countenances of those I have been able to teach. It is a 4th hand experience. I am the instrument, the Holy Ghost the teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ the refiner, and the broken heart and contrite spirit being the recipient of a cleansed soul. I asked one of my dearest friends how he felt about the things we were teaching him. He replied in a rather profound way. "Elder, It is like you are taking a sponge and wiping the dirt away from my dirty and sin stained soul. Jesus Christ and His atonement being the cleaning solution, the Holy Ghost being the hot water" I have visualized that beautiful image in many other lives, including my own.  

These last 2 years have been the hardest thing I have ever loved. The Lord through His tender mercies has stretched me beyond my imagination. Things that I never thought I would be able to do, have been accomplished through His power. As I have learned to come unto the Lord, as i have  humbled my self before Him, as I have exercised faith on His name, I have witnessed Him truly make "weak things become strong unto" me. "Hath redeemed my soul" in ways that I don't even know how to describe. 

Like never before I can truly tell you that I know where i'm supposed to be. Like the disciples of old I say "to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." There is no other place on earth that I would rather be than in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Many will say that we do not need to attend church in order to be saved. But I testify that the Restored church of Jesus Christ has the fullness of the everlasting gospel.  As Dale G. Renlund noted "The church is the Atonement delivery system." We cannot access the redeeming power of the Atonement of Christ without obeying His commandments, attending His Church, and following His ordained prophets. Those prophets will point us to Christ.  Good Christian living will not do it, being "spiritual" will not do it. Only through the Restored church of Jesus Christ can we receive the ordinances necessary for salvation. Only this church has that priesthood authority. "For the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-14) 

I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in that sacred grove. It happened exactly the way Joseph said it happened. Upon praying about the first vision, I received a witness from the Holy Ghost that it was true, and because I know it's true, I cannot deny what the prophets have said henceforth. They are all prophets of God, and I have come to know every one of them! I had the wonderful opportunity to meet 3 of them out here. Elder Renlund, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Anderson. As I looked into their eyes, I could tell that they were special witnesses of Christ. I could see it in their countenance. I know that they were sent forth to teach this gospel to all the world. Because I witnessed these men stand and bare testimony of the Savior, I know of a surety that the Priesthood of God is on the earth today. Thomas S. Monson holding those sacred keys. 

The Book of Mormon was indeed written for our day. It is a "record of a fallen people" (D&C 20:9) The Nephite nation fell because of their pride. It "hath proven their destruction" (Moroni 8:27) What is the plague of today? It is indeed the sin of pride. The substance of all enmity toward God and our fellowman is the great sin of pride. It is the substance of all evil. So if pride is the plague of our day, and the Book of Mormon is a "record of a fallen people" and "written for our day".  

Then what must we do to humble ourselves? We must begin "feasting upon the words of Christ" and "liken" those words to our lives. Those words are contained in the Book of Mormon For Nephi testifies of that in this manner "...hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good" (2 Nephi 33:10)

In order to destroy enmity between God and our fellow man we must apply the doctrine contained in the Book of Mormon. For Joseph Smith testified "that a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book"  Enmity between God and man can be swallowed up by the precepts taught in the Book of Mormon.  It can be swallowed up between our fellow man as we "are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in the service of our God" (Mosiah 2:17)

Thus the Book of Mormon teaches us of the fallen Nephite nation, so that we can know that a broken heart and a contrite spirit is required in order to gain salvation in the kingdom of God. By relying wholly upon the merits, mercy and grace of the holy Messiah. This testimony of Christ will refine the wicked. It will tug on our very heart strings. It will make "weak things become strong" unto all those who seek humility and faith on His name. 

The Book of Mormon is true. It is the most correct of any book on the earth. I have personally benefited from abiding by its precepts, and I continually get nearer to God each day I drink from its waters. It is the most Christ soaked book on the earth, every page is covered in the doctrine of Christ. My prayer is that I will always apply this doctrine into my life, and thereby continue to seek humility from its teachings. 

Finally, I would like to make one thing very clear. My work is not finished. I am not departing from my mission to a destination of "RM status". Rather, I am commencing to another field of the same work. "I have desires to serve God" and there for the Lord will continue "to call me to His work." When I signed my call letter, I signed it for eternity. "seek ye first the Kingdom of God" has been burned into the fleshy tables of my heart, along with the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. My progression does not stop when I get off the plane. Indeed it continues, even further than it did here. 

This great work will continue to roll forth until every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. His influence has penetrated my heart. It has brought me to my knees. It has caused me to ponder who I really am, and who I must become. May Heavenly Father shower you with His richest blessings. 

I'm coming home! 

Elder Jared M. Greenburg 

Missouri Independence Mission 

Mound City Kansas Area

It's Kinda Cold

Hello! 

It's freezing out here, just so you know. It snowed, and church got cancelled. I haven't missed church a day in my mission until now...I feel weird about that. 

I'm trying really hard to endure to the end out here. It gets harder and harder every day. But, i know that the Lord must know what that's like. "Let this cup pass from me" he can "succor" me on this. 

We have found ourselves doing a lot of service lately. It seems to be the only thing we have calling on us lately. I don't mind. I love doing service, it brings about a special spirit. 

I've learned a great deal about the scriptures this week. In a lot of ways our testimonies are formed based on the application of the scriptures in our lives. We look back from time to time on the personal experiences we have with them, and sometimes our hearts will swell, and tears will wet our cheeks as we ponder "that moment was a tough time in my life, but this scripture pierced my heart". Those moments and patterns create an anchor to bind the doctrine of Christ to the fleshy tables of our hearts. 

I recall many instances when I have recognized when God has shown forth His tender mercies through the scriptures. Without the recall of those experiences and patterns, we can hardly see the hand of God in our lives. 

Elder Jared M. Greenburg 

Missouri Independence Mission 

Mound City Kansas Area

#Webelieveinmiracles!

Hello! 

This week was an event. We went and visited an excommunicated person. She was apprehensive about meeting with us, but then we got on in! It was amazing what happened. She's been away from the church for 13 years and has been wanting to return. Her set backs are that she feels too guilty, and thinks that Christ has given up on her. We bore witness of the Atonement of Christ and His grace. She started to recognize that guilt is no excuse to not come to church, in fact is every excuse TO come to church. She said she felt amazing, (the spirit). The cool thing about that moment was that her non member family joined in on the lesson. 

As we approached this holiday season, I reflect on the birth of our Savior. What kind of symbol can we reflect on from the Book of Mormon? When Nephi wished to know the meaning of the  tree that his father saw in his dream (1  Nephi  11:9–24), the angel showed him a vision of the  birth of Christ. The angel then said to Nephi, "Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of  

the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?"  (1  Nephi  11:21). To this Nephi responded, "It  is the  love of God"  (1  Nephi  11:22). Jesus is the "love of  God"  (John  3:16) and the "tree  of  life." 

In order for us to partake of the tree of life-the love of God-the Atonement of Jesus Christ we must hold firmly to the iron rod. We must first keep the commandments. As we keep the commandments we are blessed with protection from evils around us. With the birth of our savior, we know by what means we can enter into the kingdom of God. 

Have a good week! 

Elder Jared M. Greenburg 

Missouri Independence Mission 

Mound City Kansas Area

"Things to act"

Good afternoon! 

Today has already been eventful! We needed to make some contact with one of our investigators. We were worried something had happened. We prayed and asked the Father to lead us to her, or lead her to us. Went to the store, and sure enough there she was! She lost her phone and was meaning to contact us, but didn't know how! Miracles happen even on P-Day? 

It has been pressing upon my mind and heart lately concerning things to act, and things being acted upon.  As children of God we are blessed to know these things. They are en-grafted into our eternal nature. Even from the beginning when we lived with the Father as spirits we had such a choice. 

The Father presented a plan, that plan was not pressed upon us, but presented. The presentation limited us to 2 choices. Follow Lucifer and be acted upon, or follow Christ and act for ourselves. The purpose of Lucifers plan was to have glory to himself, the purpose of the Fathers was to give us opportunity for exaltation. We chose to follow Christ (the Fathers plan) ,and now we are here. If you have flesh and bones, and an ability to choose, you followed the Fathers plan.  We may have had the faith to come here, but we now need to develop the faith to be successful.  

That is why we are gifted the opportunity to act while in the flesh and not be acted upon. Sometimes we falsely believe that we cannot choose. That we cannot escape hard things, or that our circumstances cannot change. We are lead to believe that "if god wanted to save me, he would pull me out of this mess and I can start new". Sometimes we find our agency working against us. We quickly learn that we were not educated in our desires, and therefor walked down a path that seems hard to get out of. 

I want to testify that circumstances, though hard, can be changed. You may not be able to change someone, but you can choose to respond in a constructive loving way. The trials of life may be upon you, and you may feel weak. But you can choose to respond, and call upon the father to strength your feeble knees. 

The opposition in life can act upon you, and it will destroy you if you choose to let it. But I know that as you act in response to that opposition in a positive way, you will find new strength. If you just go, the Lord will help you do. If you choose not to go, you will succumb to whatever comes your way. 

I have a testimony of this great plan. The plan of salvation. It was provided for you and for me to grow. I love experiencing the joy that comes from knowing who I am, why I'm here, where I'm going, and who is at the helm of all of it. 

Hello From Mound City KS!

This week has been the best week of my mission so far. I love change that causes me to improve and become a better disciple of Christ. 

I've been transferred to the Mound City Branch. I've never served in a branch before. We have 60 members, and 35 are active (that's including kids) we cover 13 small towns stretched over a huge geographical area! 

I'm also starting this program called "my plan" its interesting...it's like taking a recap of your mission, putting it on paper, and then setting it as a foundation for a plan for when you return home. Opening and closing the "trunk" of trunkyness. 

We have a potential family of 7 we are working with. That family is prepared and solid! They are my priority for the next 6 weeks. The Lord knows where to call me, and what I am to do in the area I've been placed in. I love that aspect. I've seen in throughout my entire time here. 

Well, that about caps my week. 

Love ya,

Elder Jared M. Greenburg 

Missouri Independence Mission 

Mound City Kansas Area

Just a regular ole Missionary

The baptism of fire!

This week we worked hard. I feel like it's hard to keep going, yet I feel an overwhelming desire to do so. Stay obedient, and no matter what, you get out and serve and you will be happy. That's about the sum total of this week. 

"To gain salvation every accountable person must receive two baptism. They are the baptism of water and of the spirit (John 3: 3-5) The baptism of the spirit is called the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt 3:11; Luke 3:16; 2 Neph 31:13-14) By the power of the Holy Ghost-who is the sanctifier (3 Nephi 27:19-21)-dross, iniquity, carnality, sensuality, and every evil thing is burned out of the REPENTANT soul as if by fire; the cleansed person becomes literally a new creature of the Holy Ghost. (Mosiah 27:24-26) He is born again." Bruce R. McConkie 

The baptism of fire is not something in addition to the receipt of the Holy Ghost; rather, it is actual ENJOYMENT of the gift which is offered by the laying on of hands at the time of baptism. "Remission of sins" the Lord says, comes "by baptism and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost". Those who receive the baptism of fire are "filled as if with fire." Everything that we do in this life. Everything we do in life depends on getting and keeping the Holy Ghost. EVERYTHING depends on that. When we get the Holy Ghost we enjoy it's companionship. When we enjoy its companionship we are baptized by fire. 

You see, it's not about having the Holy Ghost that sanctifies you. It's about being comfortable with it being there, and enjoying its presence rather than cringing at the guilt you feel with its presence. It's the same feeling that those will have at final judgment. Those who have lived a life of sin will not want to be in the presence of the Father and the Son, it will be uncomfortable for them. But those who are clean will enjoy it. Those who are not clean, will feel the weight from it until they repent and become clean. 

Elder Jared M. Greenburg 

Missouri Independence Mission 

Warrensburg Missouri Area