More Hiking, Mission Conference and HAIRCUTS!!!

Hello all of you Fabtabulous people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I hope all is well during this time of quarantine...even though it's hard. Things have been improving though and that's good. The work still continues going forward and I'm still working on cataloging old surnames from the United Kingdom. That's been pretty interesting, but it's hard especially when things tend to get monotonous. 

On Monday something special happened.......WE GOT HAIRCUTS!!!!!!

Our mission nurse called in some professionals and they came in and they came in and gave us some free haircuts which was very much needed and very appreciated. A lot of the missionaries had previously gotten a haircut from a very popular local barber that recently opened up about a week and a half ago. But there were still about 14 of us that got one. Thanks to them so very much!

Mission conference: On Wednesday we had a very spiritual virtual mission conference. We had the counselors from LDS Family Services speak to us about: Enduring to the End: How this is the time to dig deep, give it all we have, and hang in there because things will improve and things will get better. We shouldn't give up on the progress that we could make just because of the fact that we've been quarantined for so long and everything seems monotonous. Stay in tune with the Spirit: The Spirit can be one of our tools that we can continue to use in times like these, and how that we can truly develop a sincerely strong relationship with the Spirit. We can allow him to guide and direct our lives and allow us to be able to become the best disciples that we possibly can be in these times. Finding Heroes from the Book of Mormon: We can find some of our own personal heroes from the Book of Mormon and the wonderful things that they were able to do because they trusted in the Lord, took the time to come unto Him, Hear what he wanted them to hear, do what He wanted them to do, and because of such; they became his disciples and an example that we can all draw from. Those were the main messages that I got from the mission conference.

Spiritual thought: So this week I'm going to be coming from D&C 88:119-120

119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

120 That your incoming may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.

Now, this scripture is very powerful when you think about it. Now it can be trying to reference the temple, but here's what I think it's trying to say. We need to make sure that we can take the spirit where ever we're going. We should be able to make our hearts a house of the Spirit of the Lord. We should make sure that our hearts have room for the Spirit to dwell. That is our sacred connection to the Godhead, is the Holy Spirit. As we continue to allow the Spirit to be with us, we can then take the necessary steps that we need to take to receive personal revelation. Having the Spirit is a powerful tool and a sacred blessing that all of us can take advantage of. I know that we can all have the Holy Spirit with us and He Will, continue to bless our lives and help us through questions, trials, whatever it may be. He will help you, but you have to be willing and ready to listen to what the Spirit would have you do in order to receive personal revelation. I know these things to be true, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope that all of you will have a Fabtabulous Day! All of you guys are great!

Keep hanging in there, Press forward, Endure through this Trial of Faith.

Love you all so much!

Stay Fabtabulous!

Elder Wyatt Gatlin

Another week of excitement and hiking

Hello, all of you Fabtabulous people!

This past week has been really fun! My companion and I have gone hiking up this one trail about every single day, mainly for the benefit of getting fresh air. Since we work sitting down all day, we need to get outside because... it's boring working in the dark and so forth so we're like. "Hey...it gets us out of the apartment and we can use the muscles that don't really get used anymore. 

I know these emails are really short and I wish that I had more to report on but, quarantine kind of knocked out all of the activities that were planned. (SORRY)

We also had a really spiritual conversation about a Bruce R. McConkie speech that he gave at BYU "Households of Faith" https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie/households-faith/?M=A (I recommend this talk to everyone! It's a real good one) and we were talking for about an Hour 15 it was super great! He says a lot about things that we today can do to become better disciples and I've been taking some of those to heart. Which turns me to my Spiritual Thought for the week.

Spiritual Thought: So...Bruce R. McConkie said something along the lines of this, this is how I interpreted this statement. "We must crucify in us the Old man of Sin, and be resurrected and become born again in Christ." I really thought that was very profound because All of us need to take that step in life. We all can do better about taking and purging the natural man in us and getting rid of him and truly becoming a saint through Christ. We all have our different weaknesses and things that are given to us "For our Experience" They give us experience

so that we can learn, grow, and become better from them. At the moment, they may seem like they do nothing but keep us from doing certain things, but they truly are given to us for a reason. The Lord will reveal unto us the purpose of all things if we are willing to make the sacrifice to become fully committed to God, nothing wavering and nothing doubting. In times like these, it can be difficult to remember our God and to fall back and get very relaxed with our relationship with God. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN! That's Satan trying to get you to do those things. I know that as we deepen our commitment to serving God, we will truly be blessed for our Righteous Efforts. I know that we can truly continue to press forward and do better! I know that we can continue to press forward on the covenant path and partake of the Fruit of the Tree of Life. I know these things to be true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope all of you have an amazing week!

You all are super Fabtabulous!

I love all of you so very much!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!!!!!

MOTHERS ARE GREAT!!!!!!!

Stay Fabtabulous!

Elder Wyatt Gatlin

Continuing to press forward

Another week has come and gone and I am still surviving. It hasn't been too bad. I'm just glad that we followed the rules as well as we did because President Fenn has allowed us to now gather in groups of four again! It has made everything a little more bearable and much more enjoyable. We've been putting forth our best efforts to continue to be the best missionaries that we possibly can be. It's been hard at times but we've been making due. 

Transfers happened on Monday and then people moved on Tuesday just like last time and I love my new companion. Elder Rawlins is my new companion and we've enjoyed our companionship so far. We started moving him into my apartment at around 4:30ish, and we got finished getting everything of his into my apartment about 5:10. Both of us were very shocked at how fast that we got everything moved. We then had the rest of the evening to do whatever we pleased. It made for a very relaxing evening and very stress-free.

Other than that life's been going forward and continuing to press forward.

Spiritual Thought: This week we're gonna come from Alma 9:25

28 Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil.  

I personally read this scripture this morning and to me it really made me think about what our works actually lead towards. As we keep our heads held high, continually making sure that our efforts are within the bounds of Righteousness, we shall be saved at the last day. We must continually ask ourselves, "Would the Lord be pleased with this?" Personally, it's really helped me gain a greater sensitivity to the spirit and it's allowed me to continually grow stronger and stronger in the spirit. I know that as we have the spirit with us we will be able to better measure our efforts and making sure that we do all that is necessary to keep that spirit with us always. I know these things to be true. I know that all of us can gain a better connection with the spirit as we continually "Watch ourselves" and our efforts, actions, thoughts, and words. We will continually be blessed for our efforts. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well, I hope that all of you continue to have a Fabtabulous week! Y'all are great!

Keep pressing forward!

Love you guys so much!

Stay Awesome!

Elder Wyatt Gatlin

Week 5 as a Corona Virus Survivor

HEYO!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that everyone is at least doing their best to hang in there! I'm doing my very best, even though it's hard. I mean...the the most exciting thing that I've probably done this week was walking down to go get Panda Express for dinner. Other than that we have to make our own fun and keep each other's spirit's up. No, it's not always easy, but you gotta do your best to keep doing what is right and stay on the covenant path. 

Ether 12:6 is probably one of the best scriptures to actually describe what's happening in our world now. We really don't know when this whole thing is gonna end. All that we know is that it eventually will. All we can do is, Trust in God, Have Faith and Hold our heads high. Because there is nothing that we can do to make this go away right now. 

James E. Faust said this: "Following the Saviors example during hardships helps us endure our personal "bitter cups." Having drunk the bitter cup, however, there comes a time when one must accept the situation as it is & reach upward & outward." 

When I read over that...I got spiritually slapped in the face! It's so true! We have to accept what is going on around us. Accept that the only thing that we can do is follow the rules that have been put in place, and look for ways, despite the quarantine, to serve others and look outside ourselves. We've been taught so many times that serving others is one way that one can find Joy and obtain Joy in their lives. I know that we can find Joy in our current circumstances and we can all be joyful in our works and through each and every single day. I know that despite all that's going on, as we turn to God and look unto him and ask for Joy and Happiness, we shall receive what we are seeking. I know these things to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope that all of you have a Fabtabulous Week!

Y'all are Amazing and Great! Hold Strong! Keep the Faith

Love Y'all!

Stay Fabtabulous!

Elder Wyatt Gatlin

Another week has come and gone

Hello, all of you Fabtabulous People!!!

It's been a very slow going week. Same old same old every single day. Still working in the FHL doing our various different projects. We try to cause at least a little bit of trouble to keep people somewhat entertained... Maybe, but not sure quite yet. We're trying to help each other out through this major trial that we're all going through at this moment in time. The extra time during the evening has been a beautiful asset to me for more spiritual things. I'm just hoping that I can continue to be happy in my current position and circumstance. 

It's getting harder and harder to make these emails long because nothing much changes and nothing is really exciting so I'm really sorry

Spiritual Thought: Today I'm going to be coming from Alma 22:14 

14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.  

Now, I brought up this specific one especially since we just celebrated Easter. I personally feel like we need to take more time throughout the year to focus more on the savior. Especially the wonderful Gift of receiving a remission of our sins. That is one of the greatest gifts that we can never fully appreciate. We have the wonderful opportunity every single night to ask to be made clean and to have his spirit with us for guidance, direction, and protection. We would do well to remember that the Lord is always going to be with those who are seeking to do better and seeking to change who they are and trying to become more. We need to take advantage of that and we need to use it. He gave it to us to use, and we should do all that we can so that we can be worthy of His spirit. I know that we can always retain a remission of our sins. I know that anything is possible through the Lord. I know these things to be true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well, I hope that you have a Fabtabulous week!

I love all of y'all so very much! Y'all are amazing!

Stay Fabtabulous!

Elder Wyatt Gatlin

Dying of boredom. . . . . but still pressing forward the best I can

Hello everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully...everyone's still alive up here and none of us are crazy quite yet. But we're doing our best to keep ourselves busy, and our minds occupied so we don't have to think about the fact that 1. We're practically stuck at our apartments for quite a bit of the time 2. We have one route to and from zone that kind of gets old. But other than that we're doing our best to stay occupied. 

Since we haven't been able to congregate as a group or really hang out with other people, it's given me the opportunity and the blessing of being able to study my scriptures a little bit more. I've been reading through the Doctrine & Covenants, and it's amazing. It's been a major blessing and I've felt the spirit bear witness to what I've been reading is true. I know this could be a time for us to get discouraged and a time for us to murmur and complain to Heavenly Father about the whole Virus thing. But actually, this is a time for us to receive amazing blessings from the Lord! This is a time where we can take and make the time to diligently read the scriptures and come closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We are all at home, and we can take the council of Elder L. Whitney Clayton and make our homes "The Finest Homes" To make our homes an even stronger Spiritual Sanctuary from the stuff from the world.

With that....Spiritual Thought!

We will be reading from D&C 88:124-126

124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.

126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

Now....since we are at home it can be easy to get lackadaisical in our relationship with God since we aren't able to go to church and everything that goes along with that. That would mean that our relationship could be at a standstill. Bruce R. McConkie has taught that there is only moving forward or backward in our relationship with God. It's never stagnant. We have to continually make efforts to increase our relationship and continue to press forward and continue on that covenant path, repenting every day, and being better and doing everything that we can to continually be the Disciple of Christ that He knows that we can become. I know that we can continually improve and strengthen our relationship with God and continually Spiritually Strengthen ourselves and continue to #Hear_Him. I know these things to be true, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Y'all are Great and Fabtabulous! Continue pressing forward!

Love Y'all!

Stay Fabtabulous! #Hear Him

Elder Wyatt Gatlin

Continuing Forward. . . . .away from Corona

HELLO all of you Fabtabulous People! I hope all of you are holding up well despite everything that is going on in the world around us. I've been doing pretty good out here. It's been kinda weird up here with still everything going on. We still have our projects that we're doing, I'm still researching Zimbabwe and I'm finding some really cool stuff. I actually really enjoy this project a lot and I consider this a blessing. 

I am thankful for this wonderful opportunity. Even though the world is freaking out around us we can find comfort from the Lord if we ask for it and if we do what we can to continue forward knowing that everything is gonna be ok and that everything is gonna end up being ok.

Nothing major left for me to say here....sorry...

Spiritual Thought:

This week I'm gonna come from D&C 63:66

66 These things remain to overcome through patience, that such may receive a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, otherwise, a greater condemnation. Amen.  

This scripture really gave me a ton of comfort. This allowed me to know of a surety that...this will pass and that as long as I am faithful and as long as we all do everything that we can to stay on the covenant path despite everything that's going on. If we stay faithful...we will receive our reward. I know that all of us can do this, I know that we can continue forward without fear. I know these things to be true. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

I hope that all of you will have a Fabtabulous week!

You are all amazing and I love all of you!

Stay Amazing!

Elder Wyatt Gatlin