Everything's "Going South"...and Looking Up (2/6/2019)

Dear friends and family,

So transfers are tomorrow.

We've been making some progress with people, and I'm excited for their progress. Heather texted us with doctrinal concerns and says she feels like we're diverging from the Bible which says you are saved by grace. But thankfully though we haven't met with her in a while she is being fellowshipped by a couple ward members and hopefully things will continue from there. I think she'll be baptized, but it will take some learning on her part.

There are a few other people we are working with and several we are excited to start working with. I can't remember if I've mentioned Michelle before, but she's a very kind woman who's open to learning about the Church who we've been meeting with semi-actively for about a month. We had a great lesson with her in a member home on Saturday where we helped her to better understand the Restoration. She said something awesome in the lesson: "I have been feeling kind of purposeless, directionless lately...maybe this is what I need." She was fully intending to come to church for the first time but Sunday morning we got a text from her telling us that her husband was having a fit and threatened to divorce her if she joined the Church. "He says it's a cult," she told us.

Family opposition is a big problem oftentimes. We told her that we didn't want to come between her and her husband but that people say a lot of false things about the Savior's church. Thankfully she hasn't decided to completely abandon looking into the church, however, so there is still some hope. We have a meeting set up with her for Thursday evening, but sadly I won't be going to it. Neither will Elder Lewis.

Yesterday morning we got a call from the housing coordinator telling us he'd be delivering a bunk bed to our apartment. Hmmm... With transfers coming up we couldn't think of any other option besides Ashland becoming a trio area. We were wondering whether either of us would be in that trio. Turns out we're getting doubled out and tripled in by three elders. We are leaving Ashland in their hands!

It's been a long time since I've had a part in transfers. Elder Lewis is going to Marysville and I am going to Reynoldsburg, which is east of Columbus. I'm going WAY down south! I kinda had a feeling that might happen. I hear it's a good ward and a good area. My companion will be Elder Pay.

This week I want to testify of the fact that the Book of Mormon really does help us "overcome fear and doubt", as President Monson promised in his last general conference talk. Knowing of and remembering the goodness, mercy, and power of God is essential to achieving our goals, being confident, and finding happiness. I got a lot this morning out of reading Alma 37, 38, and 39. I recommend studying those; these are the words of a man who is literally on the verge of being translated...so, listen up!!

In addition to that I finished the Doctrine and Covenants this morning with Section 138 and Official Declarations 1 and 2. I got much more out of Section 138 than any other time I've read it. I believe it is the difference of studying by the Spirit as opposed to speed-reading it because President Ballard said to read it. (Heheh.) The Doctrine and Covenants was pretty awesome overall. Lots of informative-but-nevertheless-dry filler but also lots of ridiculously deep and spiritual, powerful stuff. Now I have read the Book of Mormon, New Testament, and Doctrine and Covenants. Next up: the Old Testament. If I read 4 pages a day, which is roughly an average of what I'm able to read in a personal study, according to the calculator I'll finish it in 296 days, so shortly before I leave. After that I'll finish the Pearl of Great Price (which I've read most of but didn't finish for some reason). I'm pretty preemptively proud of myself for being able to read and mark up the entire Standard Works while on my mission!

Also, according to Elder Pay I am apparently giving a talk this Sunday at the Reynoldsburg ward. Hah!

Love,

Elder Gallagher

THROWBACK PICS: Last picture taken with my Las Vegas West mission President, President Walker, and some MTC April 2018 photography