Book of Mormon Video Challenge!

This challenge is to find your favorite scriptures about Christ in the Book of Mormon and then "toss" it to the next person to do that same... 

For those unfamiliar about The Book of Mormon... read below the video..

The Book of Mormon

Click above to read the Book of Mormon online. 

THIS will take you to an introduction and info. 

The following is the Introduction to the Book of Mormon - which I think explains it better than I can!

The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel.

The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C. and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.

The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after His resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.

After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the Hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language.

In due course the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith, who translated them by the gift and power of God. The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto Him and obey the laws and ordinances of His gospel may be saved.

Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

In addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon. Their written testimonies are included herewith as “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” and “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses.”

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.

Let me know if you have any questions!

~Sue

Last week of the Transfer!

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Last week of the Transfer!
Date:	Mon, 29 May 2017 17:40:38 -0500
From:	Brett Hogg

This week has been pretty crazy! I went on like, 3 exchanges. First I went to Casa Linda (a spanish área in Garland, TX) with Elder Peterson for about 2 days. I really miss spanish work/food. Hispanics are more willing to talk to you and are inherently more religious. But that also makes it harder because they'll listen to your message, and let you come back (or say they will), even if they have no intention of really considering any other religion other than Catholicism. Catholicism is a weird family tradition with hispanics, even if they haven't been to church in 20+ years or know any Catholic doctrine, they'll commit to dying Catholic. I remember once in Grand Prarie, we were teaching this lady and she knew the Book of Mormon and everything else was true but she didn't want to not be Catholic, I remember she even said once "I don't want to think about if my church is true". 

Anyway, then we ate dinner at a members house, she made us Molé! I haven't had molé for years! It's a Mexican peanut sauce they usually put over chicken. It's pretty darn good. Also it was a bike area, it was like 90° out and a bunch of humidity, so I wasn't bananas about that, but the exchange was fun. 

Then I spent a day, with Elder Grimes. Steve said he sent you a picture. He was cool, he really likes Runescape so we talked about that a lot lol. It was a good day.

It was also Elder Watkins' and Elder Cox's last week so that was pretty sad. Elder Watkins is going to teach me to surf when I go to BYU-HAWAII. They've been pretty stressed too, Elder Cox (who already is known for contacting every single person he sees), has been like hyper-contacting, and Elder Watkins is kind of in denial lol. They leave technically on Wednesday, but really their last day in the area was yesterday because they have to do AP stuff (pick up new missionaries, their trainings, transfers, etc.) Also Elder Callister was on the transfer list too! So unless he's just getting moved over to the English side with me, I'll be getting 3 new roommates! And the worst part is Elder Cox and Elder Watkins knew the transfers this whole time, but refused to tell us! I'll miss them.

Anyway, I'll keep you guys posted!

Love,

Elder Hogg

QUICK EMAIL LATER IN THE DAY: I'm staying!! As of right now, the transfer list came out and I'm not on a but it is always subject to change, everyone else is on it though! The Oak Cliff areas (spanish and english) are basically going at be all new).

TEXT FROM STEVE (I'll do a whole post about Steve): "Hi Sister Hogg FYI Elder Hogg's new companion is Elder Flores. I don't know anything about him but I will meet him tomorrow evening also they will also handle the Spanish branch"

PICTURES!

The cat keeps coming back and looking through the window, and coming in lol, it's a little creepy when you turn around and he's there staring at you lol.

Found some one in Elder Grimes' area book with the last name Hogg! Pretty sure they're black, so we could be related (Brett keeps thinking he is part black). 

There's this really good 'Mexican burger' place down the street a member takes us too sometimes called Burguesa, it's super good and has a ton of stuff on it, even beans lol.

And lastly, we were following Preach My Gospel and talking to everyone!

Oak Cliffn' it

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Oak Cliffn' it
Date:	Mon, 22 May 2017 17:54:14 -0500
From:	Brett Hogg

Hows it going!

This week was pretty good. We launched a video challenge thing (think ice bucket challenge). I haven't uploaded mine yet but I probably will today. I challenged you guys and Dante, so you better get on to making one! 

Today we went to the Pie Emporium in the hipster part of Oak Cliff (it's called Bishop Arts). It was expensive but super good, some of the best pie I've ever had I'd say (besides Grandma Debbie's of course). They even put it in a little basket thing. 

I also got to see the lady in our ward who owns the house Lee Harvey Oswald was renting a room in when he shot JFK. It was her grandmother's house, and she remembers meeting him when she was younger! She said he was really nice, and shes pretty sure he didn't act alone. She believes it was LBJ, the CIA, and the Mob.

Otherwise just normal missionary stuff. 

Love,

Elder Hogg

Just some cool Oak Cliff street art.

A Tarantula?

We're not numbering the weeks in the Titles anymore since Brett isn't using them either... I think I"m losing track anyway! haha!!

This email (p-day) was the day after our Mother's Day phone call - so it wasn't a traditional weekly email - but him answering questions that I had forgotten to ask!

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Re: You are awesome... but you knew that..
Date:	Mon, 15 May 2017 14:04:26 -0500
From:	Brett Hogg

On May 15, 2017 12:47 PM, "Susan J. Hogg" <shogg@wi.rr.com> wrote:

Howdy Elder Hogg!!
Okay - I can admit now I had a little anxiety the last couple of days.  Our first Mother's Day call a couple years ago was rough on me... you were SO sick... and emotional... and homesick... Of course you had Stage 3 cancer.  I was anxious.. because I didn't want to see you sad this time.  And you looked SO good! And you sounded great!  And you are strong spiritually and everything!
Anyway - that's why I was emotional... because I was so happy... and wouldn't want you anywhere else in the world right now! 

Yea, a little healthier now haah

I'll send you the BOM Ensign!

I posted your video of your testimony!!  ReBecca Lewis is from down there.  She's in the Mom FB group (she wants to drop off breakfast burritos if she hasn't already).  She posted:

Then Jeyson Senelli posted (he's from the Dominican Republic):

Idk if I'd be able to speak to him to much though, I don't have much skull with islander spanish yet haha

Aww!  And the amount of my non-member friends who have watched and gave it a ♥ love was cool, too!!
So - we are going to read the BOM and mark the Lord references! We are thinking of who to refer to the missionaries!  

Awesome!! Any reference to Jesus Christ, some people are keeping track of all the different names for him too.

Anyway - I know we just talked yesterday... and wishing we could talk about once every 3 months instead of just twice a year!
Tell your companions I said HI!!
Anything else you need besides ties??

Not that I can think of, I did just buy like 5 ties from Goodwill today, so they're not crazy urgent.

Do you have any new pictures???

Us trying to contact a duck thing lol. There's a park near here that has a ton of ducks and (mean) geese, that we like to study at. Also, I forgot I tell you we caught a big giant tarantula! It was just walking across the street. We kept it in a box for a while but decided to set it free instead of keeping it. It was pretty cool.

Love youuu!!!!
Mom (& Dad & Scott... Scott was pretty excited and wanted to soak up every minute - did you notice that?  He's turning into quite a kid!!!!)

Scott's the best. 

Love you guys!!

Elder Hogg

P.s. sorry I still have to gotten mother's day cards out like last time!!

May 14th - Mother's Day Skype!

May 14, 2017

Twice a year - we get to Skype with our missionary.  Here are some photos and I recorded his testimony in Espanol:

From Mom: I was anxious about this call.  2 years ago when we talked to Brett on Mother's Day - he was very sick, and homesick and emotional.  I hung up feeling sad.  One week later he was in the hospital - and a week after that he was home and started treatments for cancer.  

This time - he was happy - healthy - and though he misses us - he's not homesick.  He sounded great and loves what he does!  The best Mother's Day call ever!!

This is us talking to Brett...

Week 15: Another week in the field

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Another week in the field!
Date:	Mon, 8 May 2017 14:17:58 -0500
From:	Brett Hogg

This week was pretty uneventful. Elder Watkins was throwing up on Friday. He felt good enough to take a Bible to a lady that requested one online, she was really nice, and then he felt good enough later on in the night to do another one, and we met another really nice older lady, she was angel. 

Otherwise, the week has been pretty normal, teach some people, canceled lessons.

Today is the day everything happens, it's Elder Callister's birthday today and we're going to the JFK museum! I'll report back later. (see below for pictures!)

We did find this cat with a bunch of kittens outside this one apartment

 and Elder Watkins  ripped the sleeves on 2 shirts this week lol

The Museum was super cool! They didn't let us take pictures but I did take a picture by the X. I felt kind of bad after taking that one picture because now I feel like people saw me and are going to be like "I saw a Mormon Missionary making fun of an assassination"

Also I have a ton of Chigger bites, they're really out in force right now, everyone's got em. We have this stuff that we thought was for bug bites but it's really just generic IcyHot. It's literally called "Bee Venom and Snake Oil" lol

Week 14: Oak Cliff week 2

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Oak Cliff week 2
Date:	Mon, 1 May 2017 14:24:12 -0500
From:	Brett Hogg

How's it going!

Not a whole lot this week, we had this super awesome new investigator, she had found a bunch of Mormon Messages on YouTube and requested a Book of Mormon. We started teaching her and everything, and then all the sudden her mom put the kibosh on the whole deal (she's 18, but is dependant on her parents right now). There's still hope, but it was a total bummer.

This last Thursday Elder Callister and I drove down to Corsicana to help senior couple missionaries with a booth they had there about family history/familysearch.org, for some fair thing (Derrick Days if you wanna look it up). It was alright, we wound up spending like 4 hours handing out flyers. I wasn't really a fan of spending a Saturday (the best proselytizing day) handing out flyers, it was kind of fun though.

Other than that, not much new. Oh! This past sunday was pretty awesome. There was a Bishop change in the ward here, the other guy was Bishop/branch president for like 7 years, and in the branch presidency/bishopric for like 14. It was also Bring Your Friends to Church day across the mission, we had like 10 non members in sacrament meeting. Then a bunch of people brought desserts for 2nd hour, for a mix-and-mingle. Then after we had a baptism for a 12 year old. He's best friends with a kid in the ward and his nonmember parents came and heard him bear his testimony where he said he wants it be an example to his family, it was super good. 

Other than that not, much else a lot of the same ol' same ol'. A couple fun things in the apartment: we turned the coffee table into a bench press and we got a king size mattress from someone we helped move here in our apartments, and stuffed it into the bunk beds, its called megabed, or bedageddon. The apartment  has been pretty messy, passalong cards, bibles, miscellaneous papers, clothes, haft drunken water bottles everywhere, so we spent part of P-day cleaning up, it looks way better. While we were cleaning though a wild cat (there's a lot of wild cats in the poorer parts of Dallas) came in our house!

Anyway, love you guys!

Elder Hogg

A cool picture of Elder Holland at an airport

megabed

baptism

Elder Cox mixing boiled eggs, hot sauce, and sardines in the car ride here...

the whole car smells now

Dallas

the cat

making kool-aid pickles (apparently that's a thing down here??? I'll report back how they taste)

The making of megabed

(for reference, my bed is the top left one, with the cheetah print blanket)

a Rooster?? (People just have chicken in their yard here)