The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Gospel

"Hyeah!"

It's the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God! Get it?

-Link

    "Are you going to let me do one of those guest posts on your blog someday?"
    "Sure. What are you going to do it on?"
    "I could do it on Zelda."
    "That works. Just remember, it has to have some kind of gospel link-"
    "Ha!"
    Get it?

    Hello, readers, it's Elder Wilde, here to grace your presence with my attempt at being cool like Elder Lopez. "Cool like me? Oh look, I'm the reader! So this is what this feels like... How y'all doin'?" Quiet, Elder Lopez, it's my turn! "Ok..."

    While perusing Elder Lopez's blog, I was astounded by his neglect toward The Legend of Zelda. "Hey, I was getting there..." Are you done? Anyway, I thought that more than 25 years of Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf, there had to be something there that applied to the gospel. "Why is everyone so sassy to me..?"

   So just in case you didn't know me, my favorite Zelda game of all time is Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo (closely followed by Ocarina of Time on the N64 and Link's Awakening for the Gameboy tied for second). Link to the Past was a masterpiece with flawless gameplay, epic music, and a classic struggle of good vs. evil. Now, Link to the Past takes the cake merely because of sentimental value. To compare it with Ocarina of Time on the basis of gameplay would be a folly, because the two are incommensurable. Now where was I going with this?... "You lost me at Super Nintendo."

Know the difference. It could save your (eternal) life!

    Oh yeah! So, if any of y'all have a background in the restored gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when I say the word Temple, you'll probably think of things like eternal families and saving ordinances for our kindred dead. But for those Zelda fans out there, you're probably thinking about solving puzzles, getting cool things like boomerangs and hookshots, and fighting boss battles. So, how are these related?

   Just like Link had to fight his way through many dungeons to collect everything from medallions to crystals with princesses trapped in them, we have to face our own trials and opposition here on earth. God put us here on earth knowing that we were going to have a hard time. He cast Lucifer and his followers from Heaven, knowing that they would tempt us and try us in every possible way. Why would a loving Heavenly Father do that to us? We find the answer in D&C 122:7:

    "... Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

    "Our trials are for our good?" That's right, Elder Lopez. Think about it: Link would have never saved Hyrule if he decided that it was too hard and he was going to take the easy way out. In the thirteenth Article of Faith, it says that "we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things." Our trials have a refining effect on us. In Malachi 3:2-3, it says:

    "... For he is like a refiner's fire... and he shall purify the sons of Levi... that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."

    Well, I'll save you the sob story, but about a year ago on my mission, I was going through a bit of a rough patch. I wasn't homesick, per se, but long story short, I asked myself for the very first time, "What am I doing out here?" Well, I was a little bitter at God and others for the difficulties of mission life, and instead of sucking it up and moving on, I just had a terrible attitude. Something would happen to me, and the second I thought that my trials were over and l I thought I could handle life, a new trial, immensely larger than the last, would be looming over me. It was as if the Refiner decided to turn up the temperature on the fire every so often. Well, one day, I got a package from my dear mommy. I can't remember too much of what was in there, but I do remember there being a magnet with a quote on it that I put on the refrigerator door and read every time I pulled the milk out of the fridge to eat a bowl of delicious Wheaties. The quote was from Jeffery R. Holland, and it said:

    "If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived."

    Later that week, as I rode my bike, I had a thought cross my mind: my mission was like a video game! The only reason things were getting harder was because I had gotten to the next level, so to speak. The only reason things were getting harder was because I was getting stronger and getting closer to conquering evil!

I don't know what this has to do with anything, it's just cool.

    Don't you think for a minute that God is going to sit there and let you suffer. He'll help you every step of the way! I don't think I suffered more in any Zelda game than in Majora's Mask. That one was hard, ok? "I still have problems putting the cartridge in the right way..." Sit on your hands, Elder Lopez! "But-" Do it! "Awwww..." Anyway, Majora's Mask was hard. The only reason I ever beat that one was because of my little sister. My little sister only liked to watch me play, so I'd sit there and play and she'd tell me what to do. In most cases, I had already played the game through while my sister spectated, but Majora's Mask was so hard I didn't play it unless she forced me to sit down and play it. Well, many a time, I would be at my wit's end, and I was ready to give up, but my sister would always say, "You can do it! Did you try doing it like this?" I would respond, "No, that won't work. I've already tried everything..." Well, I'd go ahead and do it her way, and more often than not, things would work out, I'd solve the puzzle, and we'd continue on our merry way.

    What does this teach us? Well, God has given us the Gift of the Holy Ghost for all those who make the covenant and receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. Once the Gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon us, we are entitled to His guidance. When we are at our wit's end, God can tell us through the Holy Ghost what we need to do next. And guess what? He's always right! How neat is that? "That's pretty good, I guess." 

    Well, I'm running out of time, but I'll catch y'all later!
"Well... I guess I'll just sit here and make some breakfast till the next guest blogger decides to show up and insult me..."

Lizzie Holmes, recording at Sammy's

hey guys! Just posted some live recordings of me playing my originals at Sammy's. Thanks Chase! 

A Long Week

This past week has been so long I don't know why my weeks usually feel like they just fly by but this past week took longer than usual. I think it's because I was looking forward to conference so much! Andy an investigator thats been coming to church for a while now was so excited for General COnference! it was so wonderful and very uplifting me to see and feel his excitement!!! he usually watches it at home but on Satuday he came to join us at the chapel. He loved it of course and mentioned that he especailly loved the talks about the Atonement. It was so great to hear that from him because he's usually just focused on the how the message is delivered and not so much the message itself. Andy is such a great person.Kate and Richard were also able to come watch conference with us it was wonderful to have them at the chapel because the spirit was so powerful and we all felt it; Howeveron Sunday Richard was getting restless so they had to go home early. Kate is doing so good. The other day we visited her and she said that after her baptism she prayed to Heavenly Father to help her not be lazy anymore ( she asked us earlier: "sister's did you know that I am lazy?" we said no we didn't then she said well after I was baptized I prayed that Heavenly Father would help me change and so she went out and started cleaning and buying flowers for her house and all. ( and by the way she is not even like super lazy at all) but it was just wonderful for both Sister JOhnson and I to see how she feels about her Baptism and the changes she wants to make in her life. We are super duper excited for her confirmation this Sunday:)

 

This past week Sister Johnson and I were asked to do training on setting and achieving goals for our Zone (Which consists of about 18 missionaries) and I was really excited and at the same time a tiny bit scared because this is the first time we'll be giving a training. My companion was super nervous too! So what brought me alot of comfort was knowing that Heavenly Father always knows what he's doing and that truly it is his spirit that was the real teacher. We were merely his instruments and we just needed to have Faith that he would help us for he still had alot more to learn about Goal Setting and Achieving. As we prepared together we learnt so much! and I am so grateful that we were given that opportunity to learn and to grow in Faith as well. The training was delivered well and I truly did feel the spirit guiding my words and as we talked. I loved it!!! Sister Johnson has been going through alot this week. She told me a couple of nights ago that she still feels like she's not doing enough and not where she wants to be. As I was listening to her I was really praying in my heart that I might know what Heavenly Father would want me to share with her to help her come closer to Chirst and to him. I learnt in a very real way that not only are we helping others who are not members of the church come closer to Christ but we're also helping ourselves, our companions and even our friends in the Gospel come even more Closer to the Savior. I am grateful for all that I am learning. I really have come to love my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ more. I am coming to learn how real they are and how they truly do want us to be happy and return and live with them regardless of where we are on that path home.

 

Last week we had dinner with a member of our ward Sister Hart. We loved the sweet spirit we felt in her home as she shared all that she has gone through. She was always a member growing up but when she was in her 30's she decided the church wasn't for her so she asked to have her name removed. She went the total oppsoite way and then later in her life because of her family she came back to church. Sister Hart is a wonderful Sister she has children that have become less active and a son that's excommunicated, that evening with her I realized that Heavenly Father needs missionaries not only for non members to receive the Gospel but also for members to stregthen their testimonies in Jesus Christ and in his Gospel. I am grateful for Sister Hart and again I know that truly we are called where we are needed. No wonder our leaders counselled us a couple of years ago to "Ask the Missionaries" they'll know. So yes! make the most use of the Missioanaries you have there if they are worthy the spirit will help them to help you.

 

This last week we also were able to find a new investigator his name is Fernando and he is 14 years old. We found him while trying to contact another person; and we were able to meet with him and help him know more about Jesus Christ. Fernando is such a humble person. It's such a privillege for me to be teaching him. We will meet with him again this week and we are really hoping his family will be willing to listen as well. We are going to the Temple this Wednesday so I am really excited!!!

 

I wish you all a Fabulous Week!!!

I Love YOu LOads

Sister Koroitamana

Hello everyone!

Hello everyone!

this week has been good. We finally got to meet a few members at the chapel this sunday, after conference. We have been finding more and more less actives to work with, there is so many!!! we need to help them. and we are excited but athte same time we feel overwhelemed. we have a huge area to cover and looking for new investigators should be a priority but we feel that reactivaiton is more important, so that we wont be a burden to the branch in adding new members."When converts are baptized and confirmed, they make sacred promises to obey and serve God and others for the rest of their lives. They become candidates for salvation in the celestial kingdom. To receive the promised blessings, they must endure to the end with faith in Jesus Christ. Church members are essential in helping new converts remain active and faithful.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “There is absolutely no point in doing missionary work unless we hold on to the fruits of that effort. The two must be inseparable. … Every convert is a great and serious responsibility”  I know that there was once a missionary that cared dearly about these people who accepted the gospel,and worked really ard to get them get to that step and they have pleaded with the Lord that they will never fall away, and they still do. I know that as i care about these people, that i will be an answer to another missionaries prayers and that the ones i have helped make it to the waters of baptism will be taken care of.
My companion is awesome, can't complain, We are really looking forward to the Easter Pageant!!
WE enjoyed conference, although i have to admit the last one was my favorite. I did really love Elder Bednars talk, and President Monsons, about love. I learned t hat i need to rely more on my saviors help to progress. Okay cool expirience, we met a returened missionary sister and she is so cool! She invited her friend to join her for conference, she even took her to seee the dedication of the Gilbert temple, and she felt the spirit so strong there! more in hte instruciton room, she said she cried.she loved the conferencea and her friend was telling her all about the Book of Mormon and her friend ( the investigator) made a pact with her that if she read the book of mormon in spanish she will read it in Japanese. I though it was a great idea. Too bad hat she is english so we cant teach her. :( But she is so ready and so humble i am so excited for her bright future in the gospel.
Hmm, what else happened this week.,m well it is going by sort of slow, besided we do study for four hours then have an hour for lunch and so we are in the house for five. Its ok though.
i love oyu alll and i hope i maybe see some of you at hte Easter pagent!!

Hermana Salas