This past week I had a really really hard time saying bye to my family In Campos, Rio de Janeiro, and made my way to Nanuque on a 12 hour bus tour (que giligan island theme song...(for you dad))
BUT all went well when I arrived in this beautiful city full of RAIN, hills, giant hills, members, and a white field ready to be harvested ;)
We got a ton of rain here. literally I didn't have to take a shower for a full week. truly a miracle. The streets turned into muddy water falls and your home boy got a cold. How does that happen? The rain never hurt anyone...but. Home grown Utah-snow-boy got a cold from some Brazilian Acid rain. What a testimony to me that truly, I am finally acustoming to the weather!!!
Something way cool that happened this past week was I was able to give my second talk, on the mission, in Church to a branch of 15 people. As I talked, I was able to just feel the love that God has for these people here in Nanuque burried in the middle of Brasil. Truly God loves his children equally. What an amazing opportunity it was to say the spirit is the same spirit here as it is inside of the Conference Center...if you desire it.
I am so blessed to be a missionary, it is TOUGH. but it´s so worthit. Thank you everyone for all the encouragement, and reminders of your love. Truly, I am a blessed little boy to be on the Lord´s errand.
ps. for the spiritual wrestle I had this week. I got the question about authority that I have never considered "where did John the Baptist get the authority to baptize Christ?" Well. I wanted to make up an answer like "he was born with the authority" But it didn´t feel right. After much study here is what I concluded...(ps. I am open to all interpretations of this answer)
1. John´s Dad was Zacharias. Zacharias has lineage to Aaron WHO is part of the tribe of Levi.
2. Why is that important? Because in the Law of Moses, (before Christ fulfilled the law which came 33 years after John the Baptist) it was required to be apart of the tribe of Levi to hold the priesthood...or have leadership in the church, etc. BUT it was essential to be a "son" of Aaron to be ordained to the office of Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood.
3. To baptized, need to be a Priest in the Aaronic Presithood.
4. BUUUTTTT. Just because he had the circumstances to have the authority of the Priesthood, he wasn´t yet ordained. (Ordination. an essential part of the church)
5. When John the Baptist was 8 days old, he was baptized and ordained to the Priesthood (D&C 84: 25-28)
6. New question up for grabs...John the Baptist was baptized at 8 days old. How does that work? (Morgan Ashton...in need of help. sos)
Much love!
Elder Gardanier
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