Christmas Blues

First off, thanks for all those winter Hershey Kisses! I love them and all of you! This past week was a decently hard one...I just kept thinking of the Christmas all around me and how I'm away, and I get a little down, but then I think of all the amazing people around me and the Mission family I have up here and it brings me right back up to where I was. Other than that, I'm doing really well. Everyone in my zone loves me, President Fenn loves having me on this mission. I bring a real party to exercise and to my apartment, life is good. I wish I could take pictures of the super cool things we have on display in the Church History Library, but they are really old documents and they are being preserved and photo's aren't allowed. How's everyone back home? How's the reading coming and what are some spiritual thoughts you guys have? How was Fast and Testimony meeting? I hope that you are having a wonderful Christmas even though I'm gone. I feel really bad for Spencer, I wish I could help but all I can do is pray for him that he will feel comfort and feel God's love & know that I love him just as much and I hope his missing me gets better. Thankfully Elder Dunn didn't get anymore Protein powder, he already has like 70 pounds of it on our little table along with the Christmas tree on top of THE 22POUND BUCKET OF POWDER HIS DAD SENT HIM!!!! Jeez his dad is nuts, but hey I still love the guy and his dad. I'm glad that Lexi is doing well and I also send my best to Bradyn and am proud of him for learning that song. We went to the Christmas Devotional and the Music and the Spoken Word. All throughout December Music & The Spoken Word is in the Conference center and we have front row seats. I loved the Christmas Devotional and all the motivation and the wonderful Christmas messages all the wonderful church leaders have to say to us all, but I'm actually pretty sad that President Oaks nor President Eyring spoke but it was still a really good meeting and I loved it. I am super happy with my zone because we have a new assignment that started this week and we are listening to Conference talks from the 1940's!!!!! They aren't available to the public yet. That's what me and Elder Lane are working on. We are marking where the talks start and if the talk is in the session at all. It has to be completed before February, so when it is done they are going to snip the audio and make them available on the internet. Sorry mom, you can't listen to them yet. It's super cool, and I love that they are yelling over the pulpit as they get into the talk and feel passionate about their talk. One talk really stood out to me, It was the Presiding Bishop of the church, Bishop LeGrand Richards April 7, 1940 and this is what he said, I can't remember the exact quote but I remember most and the general Idea. "These bodies are the Tabernacles of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit WILL NOT dwell in unholy tabernacles. These bodies are not ours, but Christ has payed for them with a price, and he who defiles it, he should surely die." There were a few parts that I left out because I can't remember the whole thing but that part really hit me because we kind of overlook the Word of Wisdom. We think we know all of it. But those commandments that we think we know and kind of just brush off the shoulder are the most important ones. When we brush them off Satan can find a way to get a hold of you. We need to stay vigilant and stay on the covenant path and stay righteous. Also, Immorality is a Sin placed right next to the shedding of innocent blood in Gods eyes. I really think we sometimes need to look at ourselves and see what areas we are lacking in and see where we need to improve to be more on the covenant path. I tell you these things to tell the family and to tell the Priesthood Quorum. (Part of an email Message to Dad) I really miss you dad and I really miss the family. I hope you are doing well, and I will be sending you and mom a special book for each of you to have and I hope you will treasure it and find the promise and the spirit that dwells with it. I hope you are doing well and hope that you can continue to be that anchor for me and the family and I will try to do the same for you guys and everyone else back home. I Love you Dad! Merry Early Christmas! Special Dad? Lucky Young Missionary? Love you for all eternity, Your young missionary Elder Wyatt Gatlin (Part of an email Message to Mom) Well mother, my time is up. I love you to pieces, and I hope that the spirit will be with you to comfort you, and I hope you can see mighty miracles this next week and see the lords hand in your life. I am very special to have you as a mother. See you soon, and as always....Stay Beefy!