First week in October

Hello world! Is there really more people out there? My whole world is very small here for the moment and it's probably going to be so for a long time! But that's good and how it should be. 

This week was bizarre. The first half of the week we had almost  no appointments and ended up biking more than 20 miles every day. Yeah, it was SUPER tiring. My legs felt like jelly afterward. Good exercise though. The second half we had tons and tons of meetings, trainings, and General Conference, where we listen to the Prophet and the Apostles as they tell us the things the Lord would have us know at this time. So we had very minimal proselyting between Friday and Sunday. Yet the work still continues to go forward. 

In answer to the question of why I named my email what I did, I'll relate this experience. My companion and I decided to go find a less-active member of the church. We went to the address according to the records and approached it. As we did, we noticed that on the street and up the driveway was a large chalk drawing. This drawing started on the street as a potted plant, with the stems and vines going up on the driveway. On the pot was the word "JUDGE." This plant was huge and extended all around the driveway and up it. It looked as though it had been done by a child, yet on different spots on the leaves and branches was the word yet again: "JUDGE," JUDGE," "JUDGE." It was honestly kind of creepy. It would have been sinister if it had been nighttime and drawn in something else besides pink chalk. At the top was the words: "Judge Forever, Dog by choice."

Yeah, I have no idea either. That will remain a mystery for forever. If you have any insights, please share! Another mystery I'd like to pose for you is this: Are pineapples and palm trees related? they have to be. They're so similar! Someone find out for me! 

The Lord works by small and simple means. It's the every day decisions that affect eternity. By making small choices, we learn how to make larger ones. I have been trying to choose to see every day as bright and full of hope. It has helped my spiritual strength so much. We are the masters of our lives. We can use the wonderful gift of agency that God has given us as a tool to better our lives. I've seen so many people enslaved by addictions here to all sorts of things, including gambling. Addiction destroys agency. But when we follow the commandments of God, we're enabled, put into a state to act, and have the Holy Ghost with us. Make the small decisions to draw closer to God. Decide to be optimistic and it will greatly better your life. Thank you for your prayers and support. I love you all and keep you in my prayers as well. May the work of the Lord move forward!

Love, 

Elder Norton