Love love love.- May 5, 2014

Hello family! Thanks for your emails! Cole, you were the only one not to write (Brandon and Tommy are excused, for good reasons). But that's okay, we'll talk in a couple days.

So! Rimouski, Rimouski. I love Rimouski. Our week was great. We got to have 7 lessons with less active slash almost active members, which was great. Two of them were with Soeur Bujold, who has been struggling ever since her brother ridiculed her for wanting to go to the temple to do baptisms for family members. Silly Gaston. But it was actually a great experience teaching her the Restoration again, being the base of our testimonies of Christ and His work. The first lesson on Saturday was actually with Sister Fourtina and the Fourtina's son Daniel who just got back from Finland. After our lessons on Saturday and Sunday night, she is doing much better, and accepted her calling as Family History Director hah. Good timing, eh?

We taught her sister, Souer Lafortune, twice, and she is doing very well. They both are working to receive their patriarchal blessings soon, and hope to get it before I leave. They're both wonderful examples of trying to live the Gospel, while being the only members in their families. I think the mold is setting, they're getting stronger as they keep choosing the right.

Our friends who are preparing for the Melchizedek Priesthood, are moving, very slowly. Steeve was supposed to meet President Saturday, then cancelled, and then Sunday, and then didn't show up. That was sad. And Brother Leblond doesn't really seem to want to meet with us anymore, even though he'll come to church. But we'll see! We are now Steeve's home teachers with Brother Warner (Miracle!) so we'll be able to teach him AND have a member who can support him and be his friend. 

So the Dupont's daughter and her husband (the Warner family) just moved last week to Rimouski with their 2 year old daughter. Ah wow, what a wonderful family. He's a returned missionary (who served in Quebec) and is from Alaska slash Utah, and she is a rock star. They're probably now the two strongest members in the branch (maybe 3, with the toddler. She's a little older, but Dane, I think you two would make a great couple). I've met them already 5 or so other times, and it's going to be great to work with them, because they came ready to serve!

We ALMOST has two other great miracles yesterday. Both Brother D'Amours, and Brother Philippe Bourgoin (Steeve's uncle) had promised to come to church, and even spoke with President Fourtina saying that they would come, and then didn't show up. Bah. But Philippe's building is really against him coming, its the second time he's committed to come, and then Sunday morning as he's going to leave, a maintenance problem breaks out and he has to fix it. This time an apartment flooded. But, as you said Mom and Dad, patience. I love President Monson's quote, that says we often forget that the heavenly virtue patience is required, as we expect blessings. So true. Oh how much I wish things would just change with the *snap* of my fingers, but how could I learn patience that way?

So, I love Rimouski. A lot of other things happened this week, but I can't share it all. It'll have to wait. But God is mindful of us. I can feel it. As President Thomas S. Monson said, our Heavenly Father's love never changes, it is simply always there. Sometimes I believe our connection is weakened on the receiving end. But He is there, and He will guide us. Thanks for all your love and support. Keep up the great work!

And let me just say how much I love Mom (We'll talk on Sunday, but here you go) : I love my Mom. She is amazing. She's an amazing woman, mother, and example. I learned in my first area that Mom has never been wrong in teaching me, and oh how that would have helped if I realized that before, but in any case, I realized it now. I'm infinitely grateful for her example and love, in no matter what sort of circumstance we are found in. To me, my Mom's an angel, and I'm not afraid to say it. Love you mom! Happy mothers day!

Elder Austin Murphy

Love!- April 28, 2014

Cole, new Deacon's quorum president! What a great opportunity. You should now go and study the hastening the work of salvation website - it applies even more to you now!

Glad to hear that everyone is back home and happy. I'm sure your anchor was great Bethany. Dad, sorry about your pinky hah. And I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but great job on your missionary fun!

So, we had a great week! A couple of downs, but we're looking up. It was a very sad day on Wednesday, when we went and stopped by Jean-Guy and Christiane's house, and they told us not to come back anymore. I don't know what happened, but Jean-Guy just had a change of heart. My one hope is that if we can help Philippe Bourgoin, Steeve's uncle, come back to church, then he can help Jean-Guy because they used to be really good friends. So we'll see. 

We met together with the men in the branch a couple of times to help them prepare for the priesthood, and progression is slow, but it's coming. And then during Priesthood quorum yesterday we had a discussion on our duties as elders, and how we should act in order to fulfill them, and so on. It was great to see Frère Lévesque get involved in helping them. Everyone needs to feel like they're useful. 

We walked a lot again this week, and ran some hah as we tried to get home on time. It's helped us contact more people, even though there are not very many people on the streets. But the Rimouskois are very friendly people. 

So, this week, in order to work to achieve our goals, we are working a lot with the priesthood, we helped Chantale (a recent convert of a year and a few months) learn how to study the scriptures with references and everything, and got to understand Soeur Bujold better. She opened up to us this week and shared some questions and concerns she has, with certain principles of the Gospel. I think it was really important to express that, and we will go back and strengthen her testimony of the Book of Mormon, and of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. I love how Preach My Gospel explains how simply that everything falls upon those two points, and the Book of Mormon is the proof of the other. What a blessing it is to have the Book of Mormon!

I will take more pictures mom, thanks for the reminder. 

The Fourtinas couldn't make it this week, and we were 11 at church. Also, Elder Smith made a make-shift bread yesterday since we ran out, and it tasted a lot like pupusas, so that's what I'm going to make today. Hah it'll just be Quebec style (sorry Dallin, Dad). 

Oh, I love you all. Thanks for your support, for your prayers for us and for the branch. They are amazing people, and it's an honor to be able to serve and teach them, as well as meet people every day to tell them about the joy I've received through Jesus Christ!

Have a great week! Hope to send some great miracles home next week in my email. 

Love

Elder Murphy, celui à Rimouski.

Easter Weekend- April 21, 2014

Brandonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!! My friend, it was your BIRTHDAY THIS LAST WEEK HOLYY COWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! Man, Monday afternoon last week, we got home and I looked at my calender... ah shoot it's Brandon,s birthday on Saturday. Brandon you're a stud. I love Brandon because he is the coolest. I don't know what inticed such a nice man to join our family, but hey, we'll take him! Thanks for being such a great example. Keep up the hard work you big 26 year old!

Oh, and happy anniversary to mom and dad!

Hey, Dallin, what do you REALLY think about missions? I don't think your letter home was clear enough (EDITOR'S NOTE:  DALLIN'S ENTIRE LETTER LAST WEEK WAS HIS DISAPPOINTMENT IN JABARI PARKER NOT SERVING A MISSION).  

So. We had a great week! As you can imagine. We had a zone meeting in Quebec on Tuesday, which was awesome, and also got to have interviews with President Patrick. What a great man. We talked about the goals for the branch, and what we can do. The Zone meeting was great, where we talked about how to use members in lessons, dress standards (hah) and our commitment to the Lord. 

Coming back to Rimouski, we stopped in Riviere-du-Loup and visited a less active brother, Frère Breton. The first time we visited him about 3 months ago, it was the first time in 10+ years, and wow he was just sunk deep in questions and doubts and these false ideas he's created to make it feel better. And it was great to see that this time was better, but he was still pretty deep down. So, I got to share with him my feelings about all those ideas, and then talk about the Book of Mormon. I don't know how to describe that lesson... But it was great to see that he's open enough to at least realize what's true is true and makes sense, and when other things don't. He said he wants to come some day to Rimouski to see us at church, which was a shock! So we'll pray that he does. 

We visited our friends this week, Sister Lafortune, Sister Bujold, Frère D'Amours, Steeve Bourgoin, Philippe Bourgoin. We tried to reach concerns that they have, ranging from being offended by another member, being depressed about health problems, not really understanding what it means to prepare for the priesthood, and a long history of bad feelings towards the church due to a mean ex-wife. Whew! But I look back over the week, and no one is DRASTICALLY or magically changed, but that's okay. We tried our best to teach true doctrine, and when that doesn't work, just show true love. And it's very rare that that doesn't have an effect on people, even if small. It must be a lesson I am to learn here, which is great. 

Due to the Easter weekend, a lot of active members were absent at church! So we were 8 total yesterday. The Fourtinas couldn't come up, and neither did the Levesques, the Duponts, the Leblonds, Chantale Plourde, and some others. But church was absolutely wonderful. Even if Elder Smith and I gave the talks and then I taught a combined priesthood and relief society lesson since the sisters didn't have any one to teach them hah. What valiant saints they are, coming to church and learning and growing together, even with only 6 'members' and 2 of them had to go after the 2nd hour. Miracle - Sister Bujold drove one hour out of her way to go pick up Sister Woods (who is slowly loosing her battle with cancer) to bring her to church. What a wonderful act of love for a fellow sister in the branch!

Easter was great, with church, a couple hours of walking to contact and pass by friends (Elder Murphy - Dominican Republic style), and then a dinner at Sister Bujold's home, with Sister Lafortune and her husband Roland, and Frère Hébert. What great friends. 

Love to you all! I'm grateful for what Christ did those many years ago, which gives us the faith, hope, and love for everyone. Have a great week!

Love

Elder Murphy

Spiritual Independence- April 14, 2014

Man! Tommy's a doctor! What a guy.

I'm glad everyone's having fun! Especially all of you in North Carolina. Sounds like a blast! (Sounds great in Idaho, too, but... you know... Danieboy is the center of everyone's world right now)

So! We had a great week, thank you. I'm a little bit short for words, but I'll try to right enough to make mommy happy. 

We had a branch activity on Saturday with the Fourtinas, which was absolutely fourtina. We were pretty bummed that we invited a lot of less actives and non members to come, and only one came for 5 minutes before the meal had begun. But, I'm sure we'll be blessed in another way. Sister Lafortune's non member husband, Roland, came which was great! He even accepted to offer to teach the branch on some topic (that we weren't there to hear about) during another fireside! Thats a big deal!

Church was great yesterday, we were 16 in total. I gave a talk on unity, which I felt was a great topic that President Fourtina gave. I wish I could share it all with you, but I didn't really have it written down. But I started out the talk by sharing two stories actually: Dallin's falling out of a tree at the Utah family reunion and healing by Dad's blessing, and then our adventure on the Nicaraguan volano. I related how Dad had to be united with God to know how to respond and give the blessing. And also, that the fact that we were all united to reach the top (with a little bit of encouragement hah), helped us all reach it, and also for Dad to be there to catch Dallin from falling near the top. I didn't purposefully choose 2 stories about Dad saving Dallin, but rather to show how unity and love is essential in our progress towards the eternities. The center of the talk was on John 17:11, and 20-21. I love those verses! Unity is REALLYY a big principle that needs to be understand and practiced here for real growth to happen, so I was glad to try my best to teach that. 

We taught Brother D'Amours and Brother LeBlond in preparation for the Melchizedek Priesthood, and saw small but actual progress. Yay! If we can involve more members in their progression, we'll be able to see some good changes. And turns out that Brother D'Amours received the Melchizedek Priesthood in 1988, but after chemotherapy and years of inactivity and being 73 years old he had forgotten. But I hope he'll still want to come back hah. 

President Fourtina reminded us again that we want to work on helping the members become independent. He says that we 3 will all leave some day and the branch needs to be able to support itself in our absense. I love that vision. Two ideas we've had since: A recent convert of last year, Chantale, we are working with her to receive her patrairchal blessing, which is great. But some hints that we've gotten show that she had a big difficulty in reading and understanding the scriptures. So that's going to be a skill that we're going to be working on with her to help her truly become spiritually independent. Sister Bujold we taught yesterday, during one of my favorite lessons that I've had in a very long time. She opened up and said that she would like to have help with the idea of one true doctrine, and hence if not, why would we do temple work? I wish I could explain everything in the lesson, but oh wow it was fun. In studying corresponding scriptures with her, we could see her understanding grow. We read John 3:5, 1 Peter 3:18-20, 1 Corinthians 15:29, and Joseph Smith History about the First Vision, among others. It was great. She still has some way to go in some principles (like this doctrine) but she's willing to learn which is so great. And through this she can become more independent, and then help the other members. 

I love the Gospel. Thanks for your love. 

Love to all!

Elder Murphy

Conference, conference, conference!- April 7, 2014

MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey, wow. What a great missionary. I'm sure the rest of you are equally awesome, but no one bothered to share anything. So mom wins for today!

Wow Conference was amazing. I felt like it was a buffet with 100 of your favorite dishes all at once. I'm just amazed at the teachings that we can receive, that fill us with faith, love, and a desire to do better. I want to bring this angry man that we met this week and let him watch any one of those sessions, so he can really learn about what we teach here. Hah we'll see if we meet him again. 

Dad, you're right, that we can work together to help the potential Melchizedek Priesthood holders prepare, as well as getting attendance up at church. I like the idea of fireside, I'll see what we can do. All of these goals have the same grand goal, but it's still a little mind boggling trying to juggle everything. But, we've got help from on high.

  Steeve Bourgoin the recent convert, is committed to work to receive it. His girlfriend Julie (the one who introduced him to the church) is great, but sometimes I don't know if she's helping or hurting his progression. 

  Brother D'Amours is excited to come back, and committed to come this coming Sunday. We saw something online that actually said he might have already received the Melchizedek Priesthood, but its very possible that he did and forgot. Many chemotherapy and radiation treatments may have hurt his memory, as well as many years of inactivity, so we'll double check and then bring him back either way. 

  Brother Leblond, is very mildly committed. But a miracle of the week was that he listened to the Priesthood session, and remembered something! President Uchtdorf speaking of addictions and bad habits struck him, so we discussed that with him, with repentance. It seemed to change his character. So we'll be praying for miracles. 

An experience I had this week, I'd love to share. We were leaving our less active friend Brother D'Amours apartment building in Sayabec, where we saw a woman lifting a cabinet into her car, and needed help. I asked if we could help, and she said yes. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So we helped, and she as very grateful. We then started to talk, and she told us that her brother in law is a member of the church, and she had many questions for us. Wow!  She was open. But the quote that got me - according to my memory, she said, ''Why doesn't he (her brother in law) talk to anyone about this? He acts as though its a secret... but everyone knows that he goes there. Why hasn't he talked to me about this before?''

Wow. Let's not miss opportunities to open our mouths and share what brings us joy. 

I love you all. 

Elder Austin Murphy

Big goals- March 31, 2014

Cole! Wow I'm very impressed by those paintings!!!! Especially the basketball player and the elephant! Wow!

Hello family! Wow I'm sorry. Ill be quick.

This week was incredible. I don't remember if I told you last week, but President Fourtina told us very recently that his goal is to have 40 active members at sacrament meeting by summer. Gulp. Hah when I read that on his email to me, hah my heart jumped. But we've been praying and working for it like mad ever since. We had 25 at church this week, thanks to President and Sister Fourtina and a lot of visiters, but it gave us a little taste of what is possible. 

One thing I realize, more and more as I try to work how I'm instructed through the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and my leaders, is that by ourselves we can't do everything. I thought I could, but I can't hah. But working through the members, working hand in hand with them, we can bring these struggling members back to the blessings of the gospel. We're starting to see it happen too. Just wait till next week, then the next. We're going to see great things here. 

Président Fourtina also has asked us to prepare 3 men to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, Brother Leblond, Steeve Bourgoin the recent convert, and Brother D'amours. He says that we need active priesthood holders if we want this work to progress here in Rimouski, so we say, Yes boss, and get to work. And he wants it to be done, if possible, by the next stake conference in 7 weeks. Hah. 

And we're helping 5 members or so now on their genealogy. And sharing the hastening of the work with some members so we can work together to bring souls unto Christ! (By the way, you didn't tell me if you watched those videos or not, ill assume that you didn't. Please do it!)

We have huge plans, and are praying to be guided and magnified. It's truly exciting. I'm so grateful for the last weekend we had, where I got to go to the temple and hear from Elder Andersen. Faith in Christ is what is driving us, and will help others in our journey through this life. 

I wish I could explain more, but I don't have any more time. I'm very very very very very happy to be staying, and to be able to work here with these AMAZING latter-day saints. Yes, I'm writing in my journal mom. 

Love you

Elder Austin Murphy

Happy spring!

Dear family,- March 24, 2014

As you will read, Austin's mission got to have a very special experience this week, as they had Elder Neal L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve visit their mission, along with Bishop Causse of the presiding bishopric and Elder Hallstrom of the First Quorum of the Seventy.  Quite unusual and amazing all at the same time.   ______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello Family! Im glad that the funeral went well. Please send Lanny and Barbara my love. They are such amazing examples of disciples of Christ. Thank you for your faith Uncle Lanny and Aunt Barbara. Also, tell Natalie hi! Im so glad to hear that she is doing well.

Oh family. Where do I begin. It's difficult to express how this week was, especially in light of the experiences you're having at home, with Lanny and Barbara and the Bollard's news. But maybe it can shed some additional light to that which you already have!

We had a slow, but actually powerful week up until Thursday, with visits and testifying to members. Then Thursday night we drove down to Quebec city, and then drove down to Montreal early Friday morning, to get to the temple. We got to attend a session at 12, with some friends. And I can't say enough about that trip. I had prayers answered in the House of the Lord that I have been praying for, some for a couple years now. The temple is amazing! The Spirit of God resides there, and it testified to me that the promises we make there are true. The promises made of eternal marriage and sealing are true, and extend after this life. Truly, as Julie said, families are forever, through the power of the Priesthood. 

  We then spent the night at the YSA branch's institute in Montreal (I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but I'm glad I've never served in a young single adults ward hah). I did get to see some friends that I met and taught in LaSalle and Laval, which was great. Even some former missionaries, like Sister Houde who lives and served here in our mission. What great people. (If I was just a little bit smater, I would have taken pictures.) Sorry mom. 

We stayed the night at the Patrick's home (the mission home), with our district. Thomas Patrick actually received his birthday on Friday, (AND it was Sister Patrick's birthday), and opened it while we were there. He's going to Tahiti! Haha wow. President Patrick's face was priceless. 

We then got a ride Saturday morning to the chapel with President Patrick, and he said we're going early so we might get some personal time with the General Authorities. But as we pulled up and walked in the chapel, we saw 150 other missionaries who had the exact same thought. 

  It was great to see Elder Hardy, Elder Lanning, Elder Pehrson, and Elder Kimzey, my remaining former companions, along with all the other 200 missionaries that were packed into the chapel. And then we had an amazing meeting. The problem is just where do I begin. I was convinced that they wouldn't let us shake their hands because of how many of us were there, but then they did. So we got to shake all of their hands, Elder Andersen, President Patrick, Elder Hallstrom, Bishop Caussé, and Elder Homes. Wow. 

  We were then instructed by Bishop Caussé, Elder Hallstrom, and Elder Andersen, along with their wives. I felt as those disciples 2000 years ago, who said 'Did not our heart burn within us...' as they spoke, and opened the scriptures? Wow. 

Levesque Caussé spoke about the why of service, and how the Atonement should be at the center of our lives and teaching. He said, if anyone asks me what missionaries do, I have a response that I like - 2 Nephi 25:26. It was fun having him teach us in his quick Parisian French. 

Elder Hallstrom taught from Doctrine and Covenants 43:8-9, how in the Church of Jesus Christ, we are to teach and to be edified through the meetings, and how its equally our responibility to do that. As well, we can have this be a turning point in our lives, if we 'bind ourselves' to live in holiness. Wow I loved that. 

Then Elder Andersen taught us for a good 30 minutes. I wish I could express to you all of the things that I learned, and that he taught me. The most important things I took from him were:

 - the Spirit that testified as he taught, that there are Apostles and prophets again on the earth! WOW!!!!!!!!!!! The Lord truly has called men to be His witnesses in our time, to testify of Him. 

 - Elder Andersen spoke to increase our Faith in Christ. He encouraged us to study the passages in the Book of Mormon that teach of the Atonement, and to study the New Testament, for the events and teachings of the Life of Christ. This needs to 'seek deep into your bones'. We need to understand Christ's grace, mercy, and merits. We need to testify of His Resurrection.

 - He mentioned briefly the culture here, which was comforting. He recognized that the Church grows differently here than in Brazil where he lived for years. But he said something that I am taking with me, 'There is not one person that you meet that you can't strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ'. 

  There truly are Apostles on the earth again. I can testify of that. I know that it's true. 

  We were then instructed during Stake Conference on Sunday by Elder Andersen again. Guess what! President Fourtina is NOT the new stake president!! PHEW!!!!! And the stake still has the same boundaries. Good thing. Thats the most important stuff. 

  Elder Andersen taught from Alma 32:41-43, in French. Great to see that he's kept his French all these years. He taught of the importance of Faith in Jesus Christ, diligence, and patience in our own personal progression. It was amazing. 

I feel bad. I want to be able to share everything with you, but my time's running up! This email doesn't really do this week justice. But I know that God lives. I know that Jesus Christ is His Son and that He prepared the way for us to return back to live with our Heavenly Father, as families, if we believe in Him enough to live like Him. Jesus Christ has restored all the tools necessary to help us do that through a prophet of God, and has called men, as He did 2000 years ago, to be apostles, to be witnesses of His life, mission and resurrection. I met one of them this week, and heard him speak, and I know that this is true. The Spirit teaches us truth, and He taught me that this week. 

I'll share with you the rest in a couple months. 

I love you all! Have faith in Jesus Christ, because He is the Son of God. 

Love

Elder Murphy

At the conference with Elder Pehrson... it was dumping snow.