Oh, Hello Father Lehi. Welcome To The Temple.

It was another amazing week here at the CCM but in this email I really want to focus on the Mexico City Temple!

I'll start off with a story about the dedication of the temple. This temple was a really big deal because it opened the gate for a lot of Latinos to receive their saving ordinances in Spanish. There were a lot of problems with the government in order to build one here though. But, with the great faith of the 12 apostles, in order to build a temple in Mexico City the government needed to own the temple. As a result, since 1983 the Mexico City temple has been owned by the Mexican government. Anyways, President Hinckley gave the dedicatory prayer and in the middle of it he stopped and with great enthusiasm declared,

"Oh, hello Father Lehi. Welcome to the Temple. This is a great day for you and your posterity."

In the Celestial Room on that sacred day in 1983, the ancient prophet Lehi from the Book of Mormon was at the temple. His posterity and him are experiencing the restored gospel he prophesied of during his ministry on the earth.

This made my temple experience much more sacred than anything I've ever experienced before. We got to participate in sealing kids to parents and also an endowment session. It was entirely in Spanish and even though I couldn't understand a majority of what was said, I felt the spirit so strongly and that temple now has a very special place in my heart. The peace, comfort, and joy that I feel in the temple is unmatched and I loved my experience there.

BUT I NEED ALL OF YOUR HELP!! We found out here that inside the campus of the CCM we are going to be able to build a temple here!!! We all got so hyped for that when we heard it. However, the church is having more problems with the government. So, I ask all of you to include in your prayers that we might be able to get a temple built here in the CCM and that the government hearts will be softened. I know that when we unite in prayer nothing is impossible.

Anyways, the CCM is as amazing as ever. The tacos al pastor and costco pizza are amazing as ever. There are the absolutely coolest birds here. There are literal green parakeets that fly around and build nests there are so awesome. The sunsets and beauty of Mexico continue to blow me away as well. Also, this week Elder "Beast Mode" Stevens arrived at the CCM to train his mission! It was so cool to see someone from home here. Also, this week we have been teaching the latinos lessons!! Basically we have zoom calls with different latinos and some are members and some are not!! It is kinda sketchy and at times I had no idea what they were saying but the Spirit really guided me on what to say and overall it was awesome.

Something that was really fun this week is that we had a Talent Tuesday this week with all the Elders in our casa. It was absolutely hype and so hilarious. I'll point out some highlights. One person played the ukulele and when they finished they turned off the lights and started playing a Navajo flute. It was amazing. Another did an insane magic trick. Someone did the most accurate Joker impression I've ever heard. An Elder in my district shaved "CTR" into his chest hair for his talent. Finally, and probably my favorite, one Elder started beatboxing and we legitimately started a MOSH PIT in our living room. It was crazy and it reminded me of my glory days in the mosh pits of IF.

I want to include a spiritual thought here as well. Our lives can get really crazy and it is often hard to find peace in our lives. Even here at the CCM it can be hard to feel peace sometimes with all of the distractions. However, John 14:26 has a nice reminder in it. It says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." At times in our lives it is hard to feel the peace that is available to us. However, if we want Peace in our lives, we MUST turn to Christ. There is no other way we can receive peace. I promise that if you do, your heart will not be troubled and you will have no need to fear. Because when there is no peace on Earth, there is peace in christ.

Anyways, I hope you are all doing good!! I love you all and thank you for all the support you have all shown me!!

Pictures!

The Sunsets

Temple Pics

Houses at Night

Vi una columnar de Luz

Rainy Day

La Luna

Sons of Mosiah

Joseph Smith

Birds

Our Casa