[EDITOR'S NOTE: Adam took all his letter writing time this week to write a 4 page letter to his "Favorite Sister, Avery" for her to read at camp this week. We only got pics from the zoo from him. I'll post some excerpts that aren't too personal and his strong and abiding testimony that he bears so fervently and frequently. :-D]
My Favorite Sister Avery,
By the time you read this you are probably at camp, after going about your day in the forest, surviving with the bugs, the sun, and I'm sure maybe the good old smoky smells of campfire. At least that's what scout camp is like, I'm not too sure what girls camp is like, I've never been and probably will never go. But I'm sure like most camps we know they should be in the wild. So hope you're having fun! I'm in SugarHill Georgia right now, and things are going good. :) I'm missing you, but I'm proud of you and of the decisions you're taking and making now in life as you go into your final senior year of high school. I'm sure you're excited to read this, I would be too. But in this letter I want to address not only some witty remarks, strange stories, but hopefully elderly brother kindness and wisdom that will help you while camping and maybe even in life.
In a scriptural sense we may end up like Laman and Lemuel who murmured because of their condition in the wilderness, they were not prepared. They did not have good attitudes, good morals or integrity, and this as we read in The Book of Mormon only gets them in more trouble. While Laman and Lemuel were complaining against their God their brothers, Nephi and Sam, enjoyed their time keeping the commandments and following orders. Saying, "I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded for I know the Lord gives no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them." By this they knew God would support them and in turn Nephi and Sam were fully ready and fully happy.
One thing I've learned from camping is that what we do while we are camping, our attitude, sacrifice, perspective, actions can always change for the better. The influence of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are always there. Always. And they make us better people. God is always out in his Creations, in his forests, his seas, his deserts. I know I've had some of the strongest spiritual moments in his nature. Yet keep in mind as well that his influence is in the entire world, that's known as the Light of Christ. Always here for us, no matter where we go.
God is with you and he prepares us. You might leave the trail get lost. Please don't, cause then you might get lost in the forest and then probably eaten by a lion or a moose. Yikes! So we need good friends, if we don't have good friends to guide us, the greatest good friend is the gift of the Holy Ghost who will help us stay on the trails we need to take, so we don't end up as moose lunch.
I know in real life there are many times we need to be prepared. I now know that without a doubt.
As you repeat each week "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love him." Your Heavenly Father know you and loves you to the fullest. It's true! He will never stop loving you! It's a miracle in itself, and so as it says we love him. Because we love our Heavenly Father we not only want to be with him, but we want to also do as he asks to the best that we can do. For what father shall give good things to their children unless they be willing? So we must be prepared and we must stay prepared so that we can live and abide with him forever.
This is my testimony and knowledge. So stay prepared. Make habits now of living all the gospel standards. Stay true to the Lord, don't care what others think about you, but stay true to who you are and to God and what he wants you to become. His plan of Salvation is truly divine. And he knows the best for us. He loves us.
I love this gospel, and it is the anchor to my soul. The best bug spray there is.
Your favorite Brother,
Elder Adam Black