Elder Tanner Bennett was a guest on a previous episode of LDS MissionCast. He agreed to share his mission letters with the readers of our blog. So each week we will bring a letter from his mission. We will interview him at the conclusion of his mission as well. So stay tuned and stay connected to Tanner’s story each week on the LDS MissionCast Blog!
Hello my dear friends and family!
I can not believe it is ALREADY WEEK 7! I have 3 weeks left from today and I honestly don’t know how to handle it. I have learned more in the last 6 weeks about Mandarin, the gospel, how to teach, and about our Savior, Jesus Christ, than I have over a lifetime of study. The gifts of the spirit are REAL and I have a testimony of this work and the means by which God qualifies whom He has called. I can’t express enough of my gratitude for the gift of tongues, for revelation, and for the gift of the spirit we are given at baptism. I beg you to seek after these gifts as in the way Peter described writing to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 14:12 “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” God has blessed us with these gifts and expects us to use them. Do not, as my mother would often tell me, “hide them under a bushel.” God gave us these “talents” for our use and our benefit.
Doctrine and Covenants 46: 11-26 give some excellent guidance and reminders of these gifts, and I hope you all will study out and ponder these scriptures this week.
Unfortunately enough, this week hasn’t had many “Lang-isms” or “Grammar Fails.” However, as they come, I will make sure to tell you about them, haha.
Monday was great, I love attending the temple and I love getting to enjoy the peace and comfort that exist there.
Tuesday. Tuesday was absolutely crazy. I had the opportunity to perform with an elder named Elder Jeansalme who is headed to the Eugine, Oregon mission. We found each other by an honest miracle and in 3 days performed in the Sunday devotional, for our Zones, and finally, for the President’s Dinner on Tuesday. The President’s dinner is where the MTC presidency gets to sit down and have dinner and conversation with the special speakers of the Tuesday night devotional. However, this week was EXTREMELY SPECIAL because we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Neil L Andersen. So of course, that meant I also got to meet, talk to, and play for this incredible apostle of the Lord. The spirit and mantle he carries are undeniable and impressive. The spirit accompanying him is just unreal. I got to perform an arrangement of “This is the Christ” that I (as my favorite director would put it) “Zhuzgghed up” a bit. It was the best performance I have ever given and Elder Jeansalme sang beautifully. The spirit that was invited by this music made many in the room cry as we received a deeper testimony that “Jesus is the Christ, the living Son of God.”
Wednesday through Friday compared to Tuesday were pretty uneventful, haha. I was however asked to play the organ for the devotional on the 20th which I am very excited for. Today, we begin our Skype TRCs and we begin having REAL investigators this next week! I’m so excited for that! Also, apparently one of the secretary’s sent a video of me playing organ to the Tabernacle, so that is also fun, apparently Richard Elliot liked it! SO COOL!
Saturday and Sunday were amazing! We had an awesome lesson with our TRC investigators and Sunday I gotta call home! OH MY GOODNESS I was so happy to hear my family’s voices. I’m glad to know everyone is alive and doing okay. (Also plugging for you uncle Rick, the missionaries are praying for ya!)
So that is my week! Thank you for all your love and support! I am so excited to serve the Lord and am so excited to serve the people of Taiwan!
加油！
爱你们!
莨长老
(Elder Bennett)