We had to go to Berlin on Friday and stay the night there in one of the apartments. They just closed down one of the programs there and so we stayed in that apartment. It was actually kind of funny because Elder Hall and his new companion stayed there as well. It was good to see him again. We had to wake up a little early for the meeting to be in our seats by 7:30 but it wasn't that big of a deal. First off, Elder Bednar is a very small man! haha is is pretty short. Not much taller than Sister Kosak. The meeting was really really cool. Elder Bednar sent us all some talks a few weeks ago that he wanted to study. He started by asking what we had learned from the talks. We got to raise our hands and tell him and then he would usually ask questions back to the person who had answered. Then he gave us literally like 2 hours to just ask him questions. He gave us two rules. First is if it was a question that we came to the meeting with we couldn't ask it and second was no "curiosity questions". He gave us an example. He said don't ask "Where is the Sword of Laban!?" his answer was he doesn't know and frankly doesn't care. It was fun but there were a lot of missionaries who still asked dumb questions. For example one missionary asked why there hasn't been an addition to the D&C for a long time. His answer was because God hasn't told us to add to it.There were also some really cool questions and answers. Some of his answers about the future of the Church blew my mind. He told us about the growth of the church and specifically in Africa. Last year in Africa there were about 20,000 convert baptisms- That is a huge number for the circumstances of the church there. He told us that in the coming years there will be some " traditions of our fathers" that will have to change. He didn't get super specific but he mentioned the number of wards in Africa and in some areas there are more than 20 branches or wards and not a single building. They meet outside under a tarp canopy. Do they have the money to acquire a building? No and they honestly never will. He talked about how most of them don't have the extravagant buildings and youth programs and all the programs that the Church has to offer in more developed areas and they probably never will. In the coming years the church is going to explode in numbers. Are we going to have the money, time or resources to keep up with the growth in some areas of the world? Nope. The Church is not defined by the buildings we attend or even the programs we have. We don't need the buildings we have or the programs we have to live the Gospel. Now he talked a lot about how the culture of the church needs to and will change but that doesn't mean that we are going to get rid of buildings that already exist but it just kind of made me excited to think about what the church is going to be like in 20-30 years. He even made the jab at how in places like Berlin where there is one stake center but in twenty years there could be 30-40 wards that would be within the boundaries of just that building. Would they continue to just build building after building? He made the answer seem like a no! There is not the land nor resources available in some areas like Europe where all the land is almost used up and it's just not practical. It is so crazy to think about.
He also spoke about the prophecy that the Gospel shall go unto every nation. He never gave us a distinct answer but he gave us so many hints as to whether or not this prophecy is already fulfilled! I think we often look at this too casually and say " oh there aren't missionaries in Iraq, so the Second Coming can't happen yet." Are the nations of the world determined by borders? There are thousands of people fleeing from the middle east right now because of wars and other reasons. Many if not most of these people are coming to Europe. The Gospel is not being preached in Iraq but these people are being driven to lands where they can hear the Gospel. National borders are coming down figuratively to the Gospel. We have many members of this church in China right now because they have become members in Europe or other areas and then gone back to China. Kind of interesting to think about.
I wish I had time to tell you all the stuff he told us. It was seriously one of the greatest things ever. But above all I was amazed by his testimony. At the very end of the meeting he, just like President Kosak, talked about how we shouldn't get trunky or dwell on it but that marriage should be in our thoughts because it is our next covenant with God. He then had Elder Dyches( a seventy) and his wife bear their testimonies together, side by side. Then President and Sister Kosak and then he and his wife did it as well. During all of these the spirit was so incredible strong. It was actually kind of strange the power that was there when a married couple bore testimony together. Then Elder Bednar bore his testimony. The words he used were so simple but I have never in my entire life felt the spirit surge through me more than at that moment. He bore simple testimony about the savior and that he lives. That the tomb is empty. They were all things I have heard before but it simply hit you like a wall of fire. It felt as if my very soul lit on fire and wanted to burst out of my body. My whole body felt contracted and I know that I was not alone in shedding tears ( bad genes-- thanks dad). It was seriously more than I have ever felt and the words I have used don't suffice. He finished an Apostolic blessing. He blessed us with that we may joyfully repent and that as we go forward repenting that our prayers or repentance will be heard. He also blessed us to better understand time, that we may come to better understand God's time. Not that we would become compulsive but that we might understand how god works and in his time frame. It was really cool:)
Well sorry but it seems that that is all I will really have time for;) haha sorry. Elder Casper is way cool and we get along really great. He likes to sew and cook so he is like my mom;) haha no but really he is great and I think we're going to have a great time together.
My pictures are just a cool lake we found in Bad Segeberg and the b-day cake you sent me.
I love you all and hope you have a great week! Stay classy.
smooches,
Elder Trevor "Longbow" Bone
Little Child of the West Winds
The Duke of Awesome
Sent from the tablet that I wish I had...
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