Agents or Objects?

Autumn has hit Stockholm

 cool pictures I got in Gamla Stan

Stockholm early in the morning

Me outside the old church building

Stockholm in the Autumn

  Hey everyone,

Elder Mott and I are continuing to tear it up here in Stockholm.  The city seems to be emptying out quite a bit from summer tourism.  Now you really just hear Swedish and English spoken on the street and it's surprising how many Swedes you hear using English.  Its very important to know both.  

   This last week we had Elder Bednar come and visit Sweden.  He came to have a conference with all YSA's but made time to meet with all of the missionaries.  I know that we all greatly appreciated it.  He spoke a lot about being agents.  How god created mankind to be agents not to be objects.  Agents act and objects are acted upon.  Objects will not act or move until some force comes and moves it.  Agents need no such prompting.  He reminded us in teaching situations we need to allow people to think for themselves, to learn themselves.  If we just sit there and spew information out we turn them into objects.    Part of God's plan is that we as agents have our free agency.  We are all free to choose.  We also need to ask ourselves that when we pray, are we objects or agents.  Do we pray and then wait as an object does for some force to push us?  Or do we seek it ourselves as agents.  God is more likely to bless us when we fulfill our potential as an agent.  

    Bednar talked about a lot of other things and had a really good question and answer section.  Almost the entire time we were there he had us speak and he would just expound off of what was said.  It's amazing, someone would ask a question and you would think, oh, this doesn't pertain to me then all of a sudden he would say something you needed to hear.  It's amazing seeing how inspired he is and he got us all excited for general conference coming up.  

 Love,

     Äldste Jonathan Moe

The work is moving forward!

Me and my companions in Gamla Stan (the old city of Stockholm)

Our early morning workout.  The weather is turning colder and it's getting darker earlier.  Winter isn't here yet but we can feel that it's coming.

Enjoying a little ice cream.

This week has been very busy.  We are working closely with the YSA centers .  It's been great to be able to meet so many young people at the pivotal point in their lives that are looking for the something different and willing to listen to our message.  This week Elder Bednar is coming and all the YSA's from all over Sweden are coming to meet with him and we're excited to hear what he has to say and to be trained by an apostle.

I continue to be amazed and uplifted by the promptings of the Holy Ghost in our discussions.  I've had amazing spiritual experiences when I trust in the promptings and in myself to follow those promptings.

Thank you so much for the continual support and prayers.  I appreciate the letters, emails, and love all my family and friends have shown me.

love,

   Äldste Jonathan moe

Only 6 weeks left in Sweden. I still have a lot I want to accomplish!

Missionaries in my area

I had to say goodbye to so many of my friends! Some of them went home.

 Another week here in Stockholm, and the close of this week leads me into my last transfer cycle (six week period).  There is a transfer this next week and a new group of missionaries coming in.  Our district is now going to be 17 missionaries (12 younger full time missionaries and 5 senior missionaries).  Our new district is Elders Mott, Keele, Taggart, Miles, Olson, and myself, sisters Klingler, Spencer, Vaarola, Hills, than couples, Coombs, and Kohlers.  So a super cool district, Ill get a picture next week.  

  This week I found a scripture in 1 Corinthians 4:5.  "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."  Basically never judge anyone because it'

s impossible to know anyone's situation.  Many speak of judgement as being this horrifying thing but here it says that all men will have praise of God.  There is so much good that happens throughout the world that goes unseen but will be rewarded.

  Right now one of our most progressing Investigators invited her 16 year old friend to also listen to the message, they both have plans to be baptized.  Every time I meet someone who is young and self inspired to investigate spiritual things it makes me feel really good, and it shows me that younger people are becoming spiritually active.  

   Today is officially the first day of fall, which means everyone is pulling out the layers and the weather is getting colder and darker.  Its gonna be cool to see Stockholm in this season, even though it'll be a short autumn.  I'm very aware that I don't have much time left but this can be the most productive time on my mission.  I'm going to work until the very last minute I have here.  I love my mission.  I love Sweden and I love the people I've been blessed to meet and work with here.

love,

   Äldste Jonathan Moe