Golden Fire

This week starting with the Golden Retraining, which is basically for all the new guys to go and get more training with their trainers. There were some great things shared, but President Anderson said to us that "this is the chance of a lifetime for you to change your souls." I thought that that was beautiful and so true. My heart and soul will be changed absolutely. Also, the trainers all met together and my trainers told me that the other goldens were giving their companions troubles but not me! That made me feel good.

My friend Elder Moench. He went to Cottonwood HS. He's really funny and we get along great.
I don't know if I will see him again until after my mission. 

 We are wearing some neckties that my mom sent us from DI. We love ties

Wednesday was a great day. Natalie Van Geisen is the bishop's daughter and she came to talk to me with her mom after I played the piano in sacrament. Her mom asked me to tell her about my experience. She is 5, so I said "Natalie, I used to hate playing the piano, but if you work hard, it gets more fun." I didn't think much of it, but on this day, the bishop's wife called and said that Natalie was quiet and cooperative during her lesson and then she asked her mom to help her learn the hymns. She attributed this change in her daughter to my comment and said "maybe that's one reason why you were sent here first."

We taught a Catholic family that preached to us out of an anti-Mormon book. They were really trying to tear us down so we are going back just to talk about the Godhead. "We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings." - Elder Holland John 17:3

For lunch, I ate a little expired Mac&Cheese and then I felt really sick.

Anyway, Wednesdays are maybe my favorite because on Wednesdays, we wear pink. There are a lot of Mean Girls references thrown around. Occasionally, one of my comps will say "she doesn't even go here" or "you can't sit with us." It is so funny and I enjoy those days.

On Thursday, I asked a Roman Catholic about the trinity and I don't understand still because she was so confusing. She didn't want to listen to what I had to say. She didn't believe about the premortal life. Anyway, we did some tracting and in the end, we taught 6 lessons and found one new investigator (or gator). It was a super successful day. One lady didn't want to listen to us, but she told us to hold on. She struggled to get out of her chair and came back about 3 minutes later with $50 saying she wanted to help us out. Obviously we didn't take it, but we talked to her and found out that her husband was a captain of a ship that took soldiers in on D day. That's amazing. History.

Me walking with a member, Brother Wallace, after tracting.

One thing hits me every day: I'm on a mission. That is so weird. Like what. It's so great, but it is really still surreal to me.

On Saturday, we watched the priesthood restoration site dedication and that was great. Then we ate Arby's and it made my stomach sad. Then we spent about 2 hours trying to find this family a ride to stake conference. Finally we did, and then the family told us they couldn't go. Wow. That made us really downtrodden, BUT then we went to the Hays. The Hays have 11 children and they were all angels. The oldest daughter made dinner for everyone. Gluten free, diary free pizza from scratch. I was scared, but it was delicious. I asked for seconds.

Sunday was stake conference. There were 6 general authorities and 2 area seventies there. But the most important was President Nelson. That man is amazing. There were many things siad, but the legendary thing that he said when referring to the story of Sarah and Isaac was this: "How old was Sarah? She was past the menopause, I will tell you that." Oh man it was so funny to see that. My favorite thing said was by Sister Phillis Snow who posed the question, "Why would I want to live any other way?" With reference to the gospel. There is no greater happiness than this. And I'm in the heart of it right now.

There have been a couple fights between my trainers this past week because they are basically opposite people, but they are both really great. I have learned this because of it:
Charles W. Penrose wrote:

"School they feelings,

Oh my brother

train thy warm impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother

but let wisdom's voice control."

Be not hasty to anger. Proverbs 16:32 says, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." Anger only hurts a relationship. There is always a way to handle a problem with love and understanding other than anger and harsh words. A great talk that illustrates this is "Slow to Anger" by President Hinckley in October of 2007.

Well my people, I love you.

Don't forget to love each other. Just as Jesus did. He is our greates example, our Savior, and our brother. That is some beautiful knowledge.

Love, sincerely,

Elder Marshall Cluff Underwood

More stuff:

The fog is really intense here - I love it!

This sign was in the home of the Wadleys. They lived in Midvale and their son was great friends with Pete Heslop. The family was great friends with the Heslops. We talked about HHS and I knew that we had this same sign at my house.

This is me singing. I sing all the time. Probably drives my companions crazy.

Elder Underwood showing off his talent of swallowing his tongue.

This video shows his companions teaching Elder Underwood how to use their washer. He was getting shoe polish out of his white shirt - as he had mentioned a couple weeks ago.