February 18,2013 letter

Hello all! Today I spent a lot of my email time writing people back

individually, so my larger email will be pretty short. But that磗 ok,

not too much happened this week. In fact, we only worked in our sector

two days because we had mission conferences and intercambios several

days this week. It was chill, but our numbers are aching and my

scriptures are sore to have some new investigators to teach!

Mum, thanks for the update on Cameron! I miss that guy! Cameron, if

you磖e reading this, shoot me an email or write me a letter please!

Also, I want to apologize for being such a loser of a roommate at BYU.

I磛e been reminded that I磎 definitely not too easy to live with, so

thanks so much for putting up with me! You磀 be proud of me that I

even didn磘 make my bed twice this week...hahaha. I sure love you,

Cameron. In a completely straight bromance kind of way.... haha ;)

Miss you bro.

Mum, I also have another question for you! During our mission

conference last week, we had a visitor--an RM that served here about a

year ago. He and I chatted, and it turns out that his mum also served

at the same time as you in B骻ota and was one of the sister

missionaries that helped open the Barranquilla mission in Colombia.

Maybe you knew her?? Her name is Gloria Guevara. Just curious!

Fun fact of the week: People belive me when I tell them that I磎

training my companion Elder Pond. He磗 not too happy about it

though--he磗 been in the mission for 19 months...haha :P

This week I had a very sweet experience as I practiced a hymn with

some other missionaries to sing during our conference. It was a

beautiful arrangement of 创I Know that my Redeemer Lives.创 As I sang,

the Spirit touched me so strongly that I had no more air to sing with.

I was singing my testimony. I truly know that my Redeemer lives. I can

never deny it. I also had an intense longing to be next to my dad

singing in our ward choir together. Honestly, we didn磘 get to do it

too often because I was away at school, but when we did, I absolutely

loved it. What a simple way to praise our Lord through song. Not to

mention I got to spend quality time with my wonderful dad. I actually

felt a bit trunky because I missed him so much while we sang. It made

me think:

I loved my dad immensely, but I still chose to leave for a time

because I knew it was what I needed to do and what he wanted me to do.

I miss him dearly and so long to be with him, and my love and

appreciation for him as grown immeasurably. I so look forward to the

day when I磍l be able to come home and embrace him with a giant hug

and rejoice in the accomplishments I couldn磘 have done without his

help. Even though during this time away from home I can磘 be with him

physically, I can feel his love for me and I know that he磗 doing

everything in his power to help me learn, grow, and be successful. I

look forward to being with him again after this short time away from

home, and I磎 going to do everything in my power to return with honor

and make my father proud of me.

Now re-read that paragraph, but apply it not only to my earthly dad,

Larry, but to my Heavenly Father. I had that sweet revelation while

singing a simple, yet powerful hymn. I know that He lives. I know that

He磗 watching over me. And I磎 going to do everything I can to return

to live with Him again.

Have a wonderful week! Love you!

Elder Long :)

Pday water fight fun

Tanner gets sick this week.

Hey family and friends!

This week has been quite the week and unfortunately I磎 ridiculously pressed for time! Today we had a fun double-zone activity where we played soccer, had a bbq, had a huge water fight, etc. I even got to play catch with my zone leader who brought two gloves and a baseball. Both our arms were pretty dang stiff haha but I was pleasantly surprised that I could still throw pretty accurately. Woo! 

Mkay. Announcements: Mum, I still haven磘 gotten the Schwann card. Might want to call them and see what磗 up. Big thanks to Julianne for sending me European chocolate! It was delicious! Oh how I磛e missed good chocolate! Also, happy valentines day! ......-__- hahaha

Well this week was a very slow week because I got food poisoning (at least that磗 what I think it was) and spent a really long night Tuesday throwing up until 4am. I spent the next day in bed, and then was more or less better by Thursday. But then my awesome companion decided he was too sick to work, so he went and slept and mosied around for the next three days--despite any symptoms of being sick other than 创uh, well my stomach feels funny. I should sleep.创 ........so ya. It was a long week. But anyways, I磎 doing much better and have indeed regained all the weight I lost! 

Quick request: Could you please send me Dad磗 talk about choosing to be of good cheer and how Joy would 创hearken to the voice of her master创? It was suuuuccchhhh a fantastic talk, but it must have gotten thrown out with my loose papers when I left from the MTC. I would be deeply grateful if you could send me another copy! Thanks!

This week I just want to share a scripture from the Book of Mormon. 
创And all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words,创 (2 Nephi 33:10-11). 
In other words, even if you don磘 believe that the Book of Mormon is true scripture from God, just put your faith in Christ. And honestly, if you believe in Christ, you磍l believe that the Book of Mormon comes from Him, because the ENTIRE book is devoted to testifying that He is the Saviour and that we should live His teachings. It磗 a rather simple purpose that the book has. I invite anyone and everyone to read it, whether you be a member of the LDS church or not. If you believe in Christ, why would you not want to read a book that so wonderfully teaches and testifies of Him? It really is a wonderful complement to the Bible. 

I know without any doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. It磗 not just a belief or hope--I know it. The Holy Ghost has testified to my heart so powerfully that I cannot deny that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It truly is sacred scripture translated by a modern-day prophet called of God to restore Christ磗 eternal gospel in its fulness. Or simply put: the Book of Mormon is true. I so testify in Christ磗 name.

Have a wonderful week! Love you!

Elder Long :)

Tanner's letter on Dad's birthday 2/5/13

First off, happy birthday dad! I sure love you! Thanks for always

being such an amazing example. So often I have discussions with other

missionaries about what I want my children to learn most, or what kind

of father I want to be like, etc., and I always end up just describing

you. Seriously. I´ve always been grateful to have you for a father,

but each day I realize more and more how incredibly blessed I´ve been

to have you and mum for my parents. You two have done so much more for

me than I´ll probably ever realize, and I thank you so much. I love

and miss you immensely.

Last Monday I got to chat with Trina a little bit because we were both

online at the same time. I told her that I still hadn´t gotten her

package but that I´m sure she made someone else very happy with my

package...haha. Of course, I ended up getting her package the very

next day. Also a package from Lorinda! And letters from Grandma Lenna,

Corey, the Tyndall family, and Krysta. Woo! Thanks sooooo much for the

packages and letters! I loved them! And of course so did my roommates

haha. The Nutter Butters that Lorinda sent are amaazzziinnnggg :)

Mum, thanks so much for sending me my line of authority! Love you!

Honestly there´s nothing else to report this week without badmouthing

my companion. So instead, I´m going to quote an awesome scripture I

found this week:

Words of Mormon 1:7

``And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whipereth me,

according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me.

And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things

which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his

will.``

This scripture from the Book of Mormon helped me remember that despite

my own circumstances, my own desires, and my own lack of knowledge or

wisdom, I can rely on the Lord to guide me. As long as we live worthy

to receive the blessed guidance from the Holy Ghost, we don´t have to

worry about the fact that we don´t know what the future looks

like--nor do we have to stress about present dificulties. Mum, thanks

so much for sharing your experience about how the Lord prompted you to

prepare the legal paperwork for your car. Although you didnt know why,

you did it anyways. The Lord was able to work through you a wise

purpose to save you from stress and a hefty fine. Even moreso, I´m

just so grateful that he protected you from harm. This week I also get

several emails from family telling me about the changes happening with

BSA and women in the military. As long as we obey the promptings of

the Spirit, the Lord will work His wise purpose through us. I know

it´s true.

Mum and Dad, thank you so much for living righteously to be worthy of

the help of the Lord. What wonderful examples you are for me and so

many others. Have a wonderful week. Remember not to stress. It´s not

worth it. Neither is punching walls or yelling at your struggling

companion...ha.

Love you!

Elder Long :)