Letter from September 16

Hey family,

        Now this week has been good. We are no longer on bike week. Monday we played some volleyball and hung out with the other elders. On Tuesday we went and saw almost everyone that the sisters before us had been meeting. We didn't really teach anything, we just introduced ourselves and set up return appointments. On Thursday we went around and saw some part member families. Then that evening we went over to the Hill's. The Hill's are a part member family. Chris is a member and his wife Beckie is not. She has been taught everything and acts just like a member. If you came to church and didn't know she wasn't a member you wouldn't know. Well, we had dinner over there and then had a get to know each other session. She is really cool and is waiting on Chris to baptize her. On Friday we went over to the Bacon family. They are investigators. The wife, Lori, seems excited to learn but the husband, Jeff, doesn't seem too excited. When we first got there they went off about how they are going though a hard time and they wanted to know if we could help. We talked about how the Gospel blesses families and how it would bring them closer together. On Sunday we went to church and we only went to the first ward. We have been trying to focus on the first ward since there are sisters in the second ward. We were told that come October there are going to be more sisters in Bartlett. So come October, there will be a set of elders and two sets of sisters in Bartlett. We will be over both wards, helping with splits and Home Teaching. Both of the wards are really nice. I don't know the 2nd ward too well but they seem just as cool as the 1st ward. We have been getting fed dinner every night here. There is someone in the ward whose calling is to fill out the missionary calender and make sure we get meals. Although I am in the super rich part of town so the members have the means to feed us. 
              Today we went to the temple!! It was so awesome! There was a special temple session for all missionaries in the surrounding area. After the session we helped with the laundry of the temple. We got to have a tour of the temple by the temple president. It was awesome and lots of fun. The Memphis Temple is one of "the small temples". It was super small and impossible to get lost in because if you walked too far it was either a wall or the waiting room. It was cool but really small.

       

             That is about it for my week. I am writing so late because I just went to the temple. My district has made a challenge to read the BOM in 30 days. The challenge ends the day before general conference. As you know I am a slow reader but I am determined to complete the challenge. As I have read so far it has been a great thing. I found this scripture the other day in 2nd Nephi 3:14-15. It prophecies Joseph Smith and how he will restore the Gospel. I am not going to put it in my email so you will have to look it up and read it. It is super cool. Well I have run out of things to say. I hope y'all have a great week and a fun time at school and work. I want y'all to know I love you and pray for y'all.

                                                                                                        Elder Talbert