Tuesday, December 29, 2015

New Beginnings

Dear Family and Friends,

I have had such a great Christmas! I hope all of you have as well! We had the storm of the decade for this area and as a result our church meetings were all cancelled :( That was kind of weird but we were able to be productive in the mean time. 

Earlier this year I asked some of you to send your testimony of the Book of Mormon to add in the copies that we give to people. I want to thank each of you that did that. This morning I was really studying the Book of Mormon and thinking about how I really feel about it. I learned so much in such a short time. Mostly I learned how much my testimony has strengthened this past year. I want to just write a part of what I wrote in my journal this morning: 
I would like to add my testimony to 12 others that you can read in the front of the Book, that the Book of Mormon is the voice of God to his children in all the earth. His voice through many of his Prophets has come forth to witness to the World that the Kingdom of God is again on the earth in it's fullness. The Book of Mormon is also a witness of God's love for his children which is manifest perfectly by the Savior Jesus Christ, his Only Begotten Son, of whom this book so boldly testifies. I know that this Book is true by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that it is true in the same manner that Peter knew as exhibited in Matthew 15:16-18 that Jesus is "The Christ the son of the living God." This is the Spirit of God which reveals all things to the earnest seeker of truth. I also know that the Book of Mormon is true because it has changed every aspect of my life for the better. This is not my testimony alone, but it is echoed by millions across the world today and many more ancient and modern disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and sons and daughters of the Most High God. 
It's not word for word, but I just felt like I needed to share that today, especially at the start of this new year. The opportunities to learn and change and become better are before us all, we have but to choose to reach out and take advantage of them. As we follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ our efforts are not only magnified, but they are intensified by a great urgency to become who we have been created to be. Simply put, to return and be in God's presence, as his sons and daughters with eternal life before us. There is still the warning to change what we are now, into what Christ himself taught us to become. To change is to repent, and turn ourselves back to the course on which we started out in this life, which is more than just getting by day to day. Life in the eternal perspective is beautiful, with all of the challenges and trials along the way. 

I hope that each of you have a great beginning to the new year. As Thomas S. Monson says, "The future is as bright as your faith." I also add my testimony to that. With the world we live in today, that is a pillar of truth that encourages us to look upward and onward undaunted and with confidence.

Elder McGarry 

 All Elders in our Zone on Christmas Morning with our "New to you" Ties :)


A view of ​the mountains called The Organs. My camera lens has such a wide angle it's hard to tell, but they look like organ pipes, and they are amazing!

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Merry Christmas!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I am now serving in Las Cruces New Mexico, I have  a new companion who has been out for 5 weeks (Short transfer for Christmas) and we are serving in the Dona Ana & the Picacho wards of the Las Cruces stake. I am so excited to be here, ans we have already seen so many miracles just this week! There are two investigators planning to be baptized in January, and another young couple just moved into the ward of which the Husband stood and said "I'm not a member yet but I want to be Baptized." During Priesthood. Good things just seem to happen when you're doing what the Lord wants you to do, right? Not to say that all is rainbows and butterflies because it's not. I am often running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Yet everything seems to be so in order. The spirit guides and directs as we are in tune and willing to comply with it's promptings. 

Ok, My new address is 3240 Venus St. Apt 14 Las Cruces NM, 88012. I am actually living right next to the chapel again so that's nice! My companion is Elder Schmitt originally from Colorado (Near Denver) and more recently from Bransen Missouri. He is a great Elder, just out of the MTC. He came pre-trained in a lot of ways though. He is a great teacher and a great people person. I am excited to get to know him better and serve our hearts out here in this great area. The people here are pretty friendly for the most part. The first person I really talked to on my first day was a guy fixing his car. He said "I don't believe in anything", and that caught me off guard because I'm new to the whole OYMing thing again. But we left him with at least a bit of encouragement and a Christmas card. 

I'm excited to be in a new area again, but not excited that 14 months of my mission have flown by. I'll be enjoying every minute of these next ten months. I hope that all of you have a merry Christmas and I'll talk to a lot of you very soon!
 
Elder McGarry
 
 All four of us served on the Res! Alamo or Laguna​
 My New Companion Elder Schmitt

Monday, December 14, 2015

Vortex (Transfers again)

Dear Family and Friends,
 
Transfer news first: I received a call to a new area with another Brand New companion from the MTC! This is such a bittersweet moment. With so much going through my mind and happening in my life right now, I can only understand that the Lord is in control and he will put me where he needs me to be. I will send updated address and contact info as soon as I am settled in next week. All of your prayers and letters are greatly appreciated, I'm "feelin' the Love" I guess you could say. :)
 
It is an exhilarating time of year and there is never a moment to spare. If you think about how many things are competing for your attention right now, it could bring reasonable doubt for any hope of believing there can be peace and stillness in our lives. Yet with an understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ there is a perfect stillness and purity that rises above all else. Eternal Life is what we all came here to achieve, and yet there are so many things that when we get focused in on them our vision becomes blurred and we forget the simplicity of pure truth. What voice are we really listening to? The voice of the spirit will clearly lead us in the path to this greatest gift of God, Eternal Life.
 
We had a mission conference this week, it was very powerful. For me I have to examine myself through yet another view of the refining process. To start where we are is the only reasonable request any servant of God can make. God doesn't expect perfection over night, then how or why could we ever expect it right now from others and then simply excuse each of our shortcomings and often similar mistakes to those we see in others. A view of indicators of conversion can help us to quickly identify where to improve. Elder Bennett who addressed us in the conference outlined four characteristics of God's Elect right now. First they must hear the voice of Lord (D&C 1:38 "...whether by mine own voice, or the voice of my servants it is the same.") Second they must Harden NOT their hearts. Third we must be Willing to believe that which we hear. Lastly, we must harken unto the council. Would it not be sin if we knew something could be true and we did not try to apply it? This is God's pattern. He will never coerce or deceive anyone into following him. Instead, we by our own will and desires are lead to "strange roads" through life because of our own hard heartedness or doubt or willful ignorance of and against pure simple truth. Again I add, we start from where we are now, and TRY our best to follow the Lord, and he will powerfully and perfectly testify to us in a very personal and individual way that what we are doing is pleasing unto him. With this witness we are strengthened in our Faith and we have built upon the Rock of Revelation which is the fountain of all truth and knowledge, and wisdom. This is how we are more lead to a deeper and more meaningful conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This I have seen countless times as I have served among the wonderful people here in Alamo. I have learned much from the people here, and I will ever be grateful. I feel like I am leaving a little piece of my heart behind. My Mom once taught me that she was scared to have her second child because she didn't feel like she could "divide" the love she had for her first child. After giving birth she realized that she did not have to divide her love, instead it would be multiplied and magnified in this new venture. That is how I feel right now.
 
I am excited for a new adventure, and who knows what awaits! May each of you be blessed and truly find peace this Christmas season not because of the season, but because of the reason. As my favorite Scriptures says (No time to write it all) 1 Peter 3: 15-18. Needless to say, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect and it brings me such peace, no matter what vortex of the world swirls around.
 
Ayoo' Iniinishni
 
Elder McGarry 

 Us and the senior missionaries assigned from the Stake. Elder and Sister Kinsley.
Me and Elder Summers (From Tremonton UT!) up the canyon on P-Day​

Monday, December 7, 2015

Revelation

Dear Family and Friends,
 
I want to start off by saying that this week I am e-amiling early because of a mission conference tomorrow. Also, next week is transfer week (One week early) because of Christmas the week after that.. ALREADY!!! Where has time gone? Can I please just stay here forever? My heart is breaking a little thinking about how short the time is. But I know I will be where the Lord wants me to be when he wants me to be there because I trust that through his revelations comes all knowledge and wisdom, worlds without end. Sorry, that's just a piece of my soul out there, but I couldn't stop it. So what you need to know is two Monday P-days in a row, this week and next week. I don't know if I'll be transferred or not yet but time will tell, and I'm not going to worry about it.
 
This week has been pretty emotional for me. So many things going on that are just little tests from the Lord and through each of these experiences I have felt his love and mindfulness of ME more than any other time can think of. You know those times when you just feel like it can't get much better than this, well I'd say that but I know God would just laugh because this doesn't even begin to compare with eternal life.
 
So what happened? Well we have had a couple of days that were really bad because of so many events going on that people from the Res just disappeared. In those moments if you don't have revelation you might as well be a rock in the middle of the road because that is how I felt a couple of times. And just in one such moment as that we felt that we should go to a less active that we can never catch at home. So with the member driving we headed that way (to Egypt as we call it because it opens up into a big flat plain). At the top of a hill there was a truck that ran out of gas right in the middle of the road. We go tout and helped push them to the side and then they switched gas tanks (Don't know why they didn't think of that sooner) jumped their truck and they went on their way. After that we got to the member's house and they were not home. Well at that moment was when the Lord reminded us of a former investigator family who lived close by. As we got there we were invited in for the first time in who knows how long. We taught one of the most powerful lessons on the restoration I have ever been in. We gave a blessing to each of their children and by that time the I just felt like commanding a mountain to move because I knew I could. Well, wait a minute! slow down there my friend, I didn't actually do that because I know it was not really me doing any of this. But I do know, by this and countless other experiences, that God speaks to his children! If we are willing to listen and act on the promptings that we receive then we can know that with a perfect knowledge. My companion said something that applies to this. It was something along the lines of "A testimony that we keep to ourselves is not a testimony at all. If we share it we not only keep it, we strengthen it. If we do not share it, we lose it." It is as simple as that. I hope that each of you are seeing the revelations of God in your life, if not (Mosiah 4:10-12) there needs to be a change because you are living FAR below your privileges! That being said, there is no depth, nor breadth, nor height that can escape the understanding and Love of God. I love you all so very much, and I hope that this week is fantastic for each of you. Though life is not always like a warm summer day, peaceful and calm, our hearts and souls can be with a knowledge of our Father in heaven and his Son Jesus Christ who made it possible by his atoning sacrifice.  
 
Ayoo' Aniinishni​​ 
 
Elder McGarry
 
 A little blurry but this is of Exchanges with Elder Walch (and Elder Dunn creepin' in the background.)​
The view from the front porch of our trailer this morning as the sun rose.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

December

Dear Family and Friends,
 
I know you already know it's December but I was reminded this morning by a chilling zero degree temperature outside! I did not expect that at all, but it's not entirely surprising. God kind of does things his way and that's all that needs to be said about it.
 
For Thanksgiving I was privileged to take part I a sheep slaughter yet again :) That is going to be a memory that I never forget! The rest of the day we spent with several different families in the Branch and had an overabundance of food, true to typical holiday experiences. Not to take away from that by any means my favorite part of the week was on Sunday because there were some talks that really gave me the uplifting that I needed. One quote that I remember specifically is from a conference talk we listened to in our combined third hour by President Uchtdorf "Gratitude is the catalyst of all other Christ-like attributes." I realized how true that is. Another thing that I liked from this talk was the recognition that if we cannot find something to be grateful for in every circumstance then we have great need to repent. There is always something to be grateful for.
 
I am not going to endeavor to recount all of the things I am grateful for, but I do want to tell each of you that read this, you are reason enough to be grateful for a lifetime. All of you are such a strength to me and I wouldn't be who I am today if not for you. 
 
The work on Alamo is progressing. We are finding a lot of success with members that are truly turning to missionary work with full force. One Our branch Presidency is so very supportive and they sacrifice so much for the well being of the members and investigators here. It is humbling to see that week after week month after month, year after year their service has been dedicated and patient and loving. We also have a couple of members that are on fire. To quote one that goes out with us twice a week nearly every week "If you really give your whole heart and your whole soul to God, he will help you." I love that. My mom always taught me that the Lord really doesn't require much, just your heart. I know that this is true and I am glad to be able to say that I represent Christ in some small way. Not because I am perfect, in fact I am far from it, but because as it says in Psalm 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." I sure try to overcomplicate things but the Lord reminds me daily that the simplicity of his Gospel is perfect wisdom. This month is a time to reflect on the birth of our savior, and I would add your birth and every day up until now. Everything about Heavenly Father's plan is perfect and so right now for each of us is a perfect opportunity to follow His plan and be committed to live our lives in Glory to his name. I love you each very much! Have a great week! 
 
Ayoo Aniinishni 

Elder McGarry

The Sheep of choice for the day. (It jumped over me when I bent down to stop it's charge the first time​!)
I'll refrain from sending the others. I'll take some more and send them next week!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Attitude of Grattitude

Dear Family and Friends,

Last night we conducted a family night activity of writing down five things we are grateful for. I know that my list is in reality much longer than five things but I was able to narrow it down for the purpose.  I had a thought (yes yes, proceed jokes of "wow you actually had a thought"). I enjoy writing letters, though I don't always know how they are received. My invitation in this regard is to let me know what things you want to hear more about and I'll try to include them in my e-mails as time goes on. Fair Enough? Deal :)

This week has flown by! I'll be brief because I'm out of time. Things are going well here in Alamo. I'm excited for Thanksgiving as it will be a great opportunity to meet a few new people through family events. Things like that are always great in an area where there is no active proselyting allowed. The biggest update for this week is that I am super excited about the member involvement in the missionary work. We have a couple of members that are now actively participating in going out to teach lessons multiple times each week. That makes such a great transition for people coming into the church. We had some great opportunities this past week and while there is a lot of anguish from investigators that don't want to progress, we are also seeing many miracles of finding people who are prepared to receive the Gospel. One in particular is the mother of a girl that the missionaries use to teach. As we met with her it seemed almost like she had listened to conference talks and was trying to teach her children how to live as was taught. I can't say that she did but that just gives an idea of her preparation to learn the Gospel. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 
 
Ayoo' Aniinishni​​
 
Elder McGarry 

 This tree is about to get washed away in the Arroyo

Exchanges with the Zone Leaders who serve in my last area (Sage) and cover the Spanish ward (Rio Grande South). Plus awkward shadows on our faces... Haha.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Hurricane Force Winds

Dear Family and Friends,
 
This week has been spent all over the place. We have been to Los Lunas 3 times in one week, that is a 2 hour drive one way. That's almost 12 hours on the road!! But is was all for a good cause, stake conference, the last P-day of the transfer, and then Zone Training on Friday. This whole week has been bitter cold with constant winds from the west. I am just glad our trailer hasn't blown away yet!! Haha, ok maybe it's not that bad but I've had to bundle up a Lot. We even got a few inches of snow, which hasn't stuck all over yet, but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here! We had a slow week for teaching because of all the traveling and training we had going on, but these next few weeks should be good solid weeks to get some missionary work done.
 
Despite the frequent comings and goings of last week we were able to get everything together for a wonderful Baptismal service for Angela, Marvin and Mylaria. It was a great moment for them and I am so proud of the decision that they have made to follow Jesus Christ and his restored gospel. I have already seen such a light come into their lives and an excitement and vigor that the Gospel has been adding in great abundance. It is great to see how much peace the gospel can bring even in a world where the main news story is about the murder down the street, or the mass bombing in major cities around the world. Where is my Solace? Where can I turn for peace? These words have been churning through my mind all week and I am so grateful for the gospel in my life because that is it. Jesus Christ is the one that changes literally everything. We had a miracle this last week of a member of the Branch who has been inactive for a long time and their mother passed away a few months ago. This person came to church 45 minutes early and talked to me and asked for help. We went to give a blessing to them and a family member who is not a baptized member of the church. So we found a new investigator and had a spiritual lesson that was definitely a highlight of the week. There is so much more than that with  So far we are planning on 2 baptisms on Dec. 5th and another potentially near after that. Updates as things go along.
 
I have personally been aware of the Lord's  mindfulness of each of our needs. He may not jump in a give us solutions and fixes to our problems as we would often hope, but He does know. To me I have to think of the Savior pleading in the Garden "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me..." But that is what needed to happen. That was the only way to make it possible for each one of us to overcome our own trials and suffering and pain. Just as he had to go through it to make it possible for us, we have to go through it in order to understand and learn from these experiences. The only way to truly learn something is to experience it. So let us not get discouraged. Among a week of a month full of bad things, or a year or a million years of the same "there is one which is of more importance than they all." (Alma 7.) I know it and I don't just understand it, I feel it and it is made known unto me by the spirit of revelation. No power of earth or hell can take that from me. (Helaman 5:12) Build upon the Rock of Christ and none else. Here is the beginning (ok second day, but for the purposes at hand) of another great week! I wish you all the best and send my love and prayers.
 
Ayoo Aniinishni

Elder McGarry

 Baptism!

​A glimpse of winter in Alamo.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Los Lunas Stake

Dear Family and Friends,

I am, true to tale, e-mailing on Monday this week because transfers are tomorrow. I will be staying in Alamo yet again and I am so glad. I have been a long term member of the Los Lunas Stake of New Mexico and it has really grown on me. I love my family away from home. It is not entirely common to spend so much time in one stake on a mission I don't think, but I am not complaining! I think it is great :) I've seen it trough three stake conferences now, along with a new stake presidency and changing bishoprics to boot. Everyone else in our District is also staying the same, so we have another 6 weeks for the four of us in the middle of nowhere to really work hard and see the fruits of the Gospel spreading through the vineyard. 

Stake conference was amazing yesterday. I can't even begin to express how much I learned and felt the spirit. The first speaker was Lynn G. Robbins who spoke about how never before in the history of the world have there been so many distractions and opportunities for paths to diverge and conflict. Not even necessarily with bad or outright rebellious things, but with things that are not of true worth. The message was to Simplify. The Christlike attribute of simplicity is one that is being drown out by the overwhelming surge of commercialism and consumerism. To wrap that thought up I would say no more that a quote of whom I know not the source. It is this "Simplicity is the true form of sophistication." One of my favorite examples that was given was Joseph Smith's concise and doctrinal profound exhibition of the entirety of the restored gospel in the short and simple 13 Articles of Faith. Another great talk was given by Elder Corbridge of the 70. He emphasized that there have been and there will always be questions that will make you question your testimony. The list of these could continue on forever and if we seek to prove truth by trial and error we will be in an uphill battle with an avalanche of doubts and uncertainty. The questions that really matter are the primary questions and any other secondary questions will not hinder us if we know these simple truths. They are: 1. Is there a God in heaven and is he our father? 2. Is his Son Jesus Christ the savior of the world? 3. Is Joseph Smith a prophet of God? 4. Is the kingdom of God once again restored to the earth along with the Lord's Church? These four questions will be answered as clearly as night and day when we truly seek and ask with real intent. Then we may understand not only by our conscious reasoning, nor by the obvious witness of the facts that are abundantly before us, but by the all important and unparalleled significance of gaining a witness of the truth of these things by the spirit of revelation which is the spirit of God and of all truth. 

I also want to briefly mention that the Baptism has been moved to next week, it would be easier to have the confirmation the following day rather than a week later. I got to participate in the Ordination of Martin Segura to the office of an Elder after the conference was over. He and his wife were some of the people that were taught and baptized while I served in the Sage ward. That was a tender mercy of God. It was good to see so many wonderful people that I know again. The only thing I could even wish for now would be snow, I could go for some good snow about now :)

Until next week I hope you all have a great time, learning and growing and becoming the best you can be :) 
 
Ayoo Aniinishini
Elder McGarry

 Famous Companion vehicle picture :)​


Last P-day, some exploring ​at the Old Kelly NM mine and a good district hike.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Endurance

Dear Family and Friends,
 
Next week is our transfer meeting in the mission, and as a result we will be e-mailing on Monday instead of Tuesday. Just a quick heads up :) I am super excited about this weekend! We have a Baptism for three on Saturday and it's great to see a family embrace the gospel as well as Angela and Marvin have. I am inspired by their excitement and joy in the gospel.
 
This week I am changing my perspective that endurance is not something that has to be grueling or exhausting. in fact it can be something that we enjoy. I have enjoyed every part of my mission to this point and I still have much to look forward to. I think that sometimes we can get a perspective that endurance is a long, arduous process that can only be achieved by "putting our shoulder to the wheel." I'm not going to go into that any more, I just thought it was an important thing for me to mention.
 
This last week we had a very adamant request as to why we always tell people they have to be baptized in our church. I was taken aback by the abruptness and forcefulness of the request, though happily that we had discussed beforehand in our companionship the 27th chapter of 3 Nephi. It plainly illustrates that Christ's church must be called in his name and built upon His doctrine. His blueprint is so clear in the scriptures and it is duplicated perfectly in our day by his true church. I am glad that we were able to testify boldly of the truth of the Restored Gospel, yet it pains me so much when people see the truth and do not accept it. On another note, we also had a great moment where a recent convert who came to church really opened up about an experience that required forgiveness that most of us would feign draw nigh to even understanding. She has been struggling with her faith recently and it was a great pivotal moment for her in her testimony to build her faith on the principles of the gospel. I can't emphasize enough how much the time we spend at church can change our lives if we go for the right reasons, and ready to hear the whisperings of the spirit.
 
In pondering Proverbs 15:4 I have found that each worked we say is a representation of more than just the direction of our though patterns, it is a representation of who we are creating for our future. How can we ever expect better results if we never change anything that we are. I am grateful that our Lord cares enough about us to make mention, he notices even a hair of our heads fallen to the ground. How much more then does he notice the words that we say and the things that we are consciously aware of in our lives. He cares and will hold us accountable for all that we do, as a result we should take courage that even the smallest effort on our part brings him great joy and he will pour our his spirit as a result. I look forward to hearing from you all, and I am glad to have such great family and friends.
​Ponderizing: Luke 4:40-41​
 
​Ayoo' Aniinishni​​
 
Elder McGarry 


Cutest Halloween Costume I saw :) My comp is in there too, but it's the baby cowgirl with the stroller just to clarify.
 

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Temples and Grace

Dear Family and Friends,
 
One thing that I think I have really, really taken for granted many times over is being so near to a Temple of God. Yesterday we had our missionary Monday where all the missionaries in our mission meet in groups and go through the Temple. That was a great experience. Something that the Temple always reminds me of is that we are only preparing for what is yet to come and that there is still so much more even after the Temple. Yet we all start out at the same place, first birth obviously but then at age 8 we become accountable by natural capability of having the knowledge of good and evil and the understanding that we must choose on or the other. Through faith and repentance we are acceptable in the Lord's eyes to be washed clean whenever we make a mistake through a solemn promise to God to keep his commandments, remember his son, and take the name of Christ upon ourselves, to do the things he has done. Then it is his promise to us to have his spirit with us to teach us the truth of all things. It is always a wonderful day when someone gets baptized, yet God has planned for us so much more than that! The service of others opens our eyes to see just how wonderful and merciful the Lord has been, and is to each of us. The question I would then ponder is why do we feel like we are not good enough? Or on the other hand, why do we place so much value in the small petty things of money, clothes, beauty, land, careers or whatever it is, and try to measure up to the world's standard of what "success" is or "can be"? From dust we came and to dust we will return, and then at the appointed time be brought to stand before God without any of our earthly substance. At that day we will have only the virtue of our minds, the knowledge we have attained to and either a garb of righteousness because of our faithfulness, or as the scriptures put it, having nothing by way of the knowledge and understanding of God's kingdom, remember "our nakedness" before him. Will our thoughts be a garb of virtue, or a fleeting jumble of worthless worries pertaining to our own self-gratifying and self-indulgent "Natural Man (or Woman)?"
 
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple. The truth can be known as purely as we understand the distinction of noon-day to the dark night. So simple that a child can understand it. The greatest blessing we have is the atonement of Jesus Christ. In essence That makes me think of the quote in a Rocky movie along the lines of "It don't matter how many times you get knocked down, the trick is that you stand back up." The Atonement is what allows us to stand back up no matter what our weakness or sins may be. That is only through our Lord's wonderful Grace and Mercy.
 
The Alamo reservation is treating me well. We have a family baptism scheduled for Nov. 7th and we will be talking about setting another date with two families this week. I really appreciate all the prayers from each of you, I know that they are all answered and that the Lord is mindful of each and every one of us! In pondering my scripture this week (3 Nephi 3:16), the plainness of the Lachoneus articles is evident. Why did his people listen? Because they knew exactly what he was saying and exactly what the consequences of each choice were. I invite any reader of this message to think about what is the next step for you in God's plan, not all of the steps just one, and work on it. I know that the Lord will help you and guide you if you ask. Sometimes we forget that prayer is a two-way communication to the God of all creation. That is another blessing that All of us take for granted in at least some degree. I hope that we can all look at the picture of life and have the courage to step forward boldly, and steadfastly into the challenges that stand between us and where God wants us to be. I know that each of you are good enough, and strong enough because I have seen it in you. Thanks for your letters and support as well! I greatly appreciate it.
 
 
Ponderizing: Proverbs 15:4
 
Ayoo' Aniinishni​​
 

at the Temple we saw ​two other elders who served in Alamo as I first got on my mission :)


Another rainy autumn day on the Res :)
 
 
 

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Fear and Godliness

Dear Family and Friends,
 
Progress is scanty and often illusive but ever worth all the sacrifice required. We are seeing many good things happen here in Alamo, and I feel great joy in the work of service. We are still working with a few people for baptism in the beginning of November. We have also found a couple of wonderful potential investigators from a part member family that recently moved back into Alamo. I'll keep you up to date on that good stuff :)
In pondering the scripture Helaman 3:35 this past week I have been inspired further to be consecrated and dedicated to the Lord's work. Sanctification is a powerful word with such intrepid implications. I see something that is sanctified as unquestionable and perfect. The significance is hard to put into words, yet we hear that word every single week (or we should at least). Being steadfast and immovable is not just something that we can be by thinking about it. Just like reading a recipe will not automatically produce a cake. We must get to action and do it, by yielding our hearts unto God. That is done by consistent and meaningful prayer and pleading to our father in heaven. I have been reminded recently of Nephi's Psalm in 2 Nephi 4 and again chastened for the lack of intent in some of my prayers.
This week I have noticed a lot of evidence of the contrary indications from the scripture I have been pondering. We live in a life of perilous times, as many are aware. I don't hear or see the news, but when I hear little tidbits I am glad that I don't have constant exposure to that. Not because I want to be ignorant of the happenings in the world, but because I know in whom I trust and for me the only significant impact I can make is the one right here where I am now. I want to share that I know that God is mindful of ALL of his children, and the affairs of the World. If people would keep the commandments, we would not see any of the problems we now face, but instead of yielding to God the common theme is that everyone and everything should stop and yield to us, as coming from the general view of people and their views. A question that frequently wafts through my mind is from last April Conference. Simply put, "In the pursuit of me and mine, have I forgotten thee and thine?" Too often we forget that it is not about how fast we complete the course but how well we travel this road we call life in the eyes of the master. Even the simplest form of life has it's ornate beauty and eternal significance in the grand plan. To wrap up this thought, I would ask do we more often act out of the fear of man, or the fear of God?
In regards to that I'll be pondering 3 Nephi 3:16 in the chapter I have begun to call the Lachoneus articles. Many of you may be familiar with this, but I found it interesting that it took so long to get this result in the verse I'll be pondering. The people of the Nephites and the Lamanties are afraid for their lives and their lands as a result of a threat from the Gadianton Robbers. Lachoneus labors to move them to action and is successful to some degree, but overall the people remain unchanged. The people were described to have "[decreased] as to their faith and righteousness, because of the wickedness of the rising generation." (3 Nephi 1:30) I hope that we can recognize the reality of the circumstances that we are in now and rather than decrease as to our faith because of the things going on, we can ACT to increase our faith and desire to follow God and overcome whatever is going on in the world around us. That is being in the world but not of the world after all. In the words of Christ, "...doubt not, fear not." I hope you all have a great week!
 
​Ayoo' Aniinishni​​
Elder McGarry 





Leaves changing on the grounds! This is the meetinghouse for the Alamo Branch :)
 
 
 Louie is a member that accompanies us for lessons two days a week and he is a very good rock artist!​

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Moving Forward

Dear Family and Friends,
 
This last week has been pretty good! Poring over the conference talks has been very renewing and invigorating. We also had a Zone Conference this last Friday. We are heavily effected by the Zone conferences when it comes to proselyting time, since we are so far a way from the meeting site. I am always glad that we get to go and participate though. It's good to be together with other missionaries and leaders who are here to support us. I feel that we have been instructed well. Our main focus in the conference was on planning and how to be more effective. This is something that I feel that I can definitely improve, as can we all. This week marks the third week of this transfer already which is crazy to me, but we all know ho time flies.
 
The thing that has stuck out to me this week the most is the resisting of evil. My verse of scripture that I ponderizing this week was Alma 61:14. It speaks of resisting evil and whatever evil we cannot resist with our words, let us resist with the sword. Through this we will be able to uphold our freedom to glory in our God and the Redemption of our Lord. This is given as Pahoran writes back to Moroni's chastening letter, and he so humbly offers this encouragement instead of taking offence to the bold and declarative letter. We have choice in this life to receive chastening from the Lord with patience and in the same spirit of love that it is given. Even if it is not given in a compassionate and loving manner, we are still able to choose to resist evil (Anything that is not exemplary of the fruits of the spirit illustrated in Galatians 5) by taking it and doing our best to apply it. Moving forward is a big part of that. The absence of progress is stagnancy, and in reality there is rarely ever any perfect stagnancy which means more commonly we regress. But moving forward is something that I have to remember to do. I am glad to have the chance to take the sacrament again after a two week lapse due to general conference. That is something that is taken for granted far too often. We talked about that at Zone conference too.
 
Overall the area is progressing. We had a big festival last weekend called Indian days. The biggest focus was that Columbus didn't find America, the Native people found Columbus. I could only wish to add one thing to that, which would be the Book of Mormon is the record of how the Native people came to America! We told several people that as they passed by our booth we had set up, but it all fell mostly on unwilling ears, and unseeing eyes. How blinded can we often be to what is staring us in the face. We have such little things that we need to just understand but we choose to keep looking for answers everywhere But where we need to look. President Uchtdorf hit so plainly on that in conference too. My verse of ponderization this week will be Helaman 3:35. I hope you all have a great week! I love you and wish you the best!
 
Ayoo' Aniinishni​
Elder McGarry 


Us and Elder Ahloy who was the last and only other Elder to​ be trained in Alamo
Bribing the Judges (Me and My companion with three others) Is totally ok at the Alamo Indian Day Parade ;) (Don't worry our judgments were not swayed by candy)

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Chastening

Dear Family and Friends,
 
I first want to mention that Conference was so uplifting and edifying. I learned so much and I look forward to pouring over the messages again and again as these next six months fly by. I also have to add that Ponderizing is and ahs been one of my favorite things to do. Normally I try to memorize word for word, so as not to distort the meaning in any small way. I am glad to have a name and a specific goal to attach it to and I hope that each of you have found something that you can improve upon as a result of conference. My verse of ponderization is Alma 61:14 this week. If any of you are also doing this challenge I would invite you to send your verses to me :) I'd love to hear them.
 
My object in writing today is to show how the Lord has been so careful in putting us in the place that we are and in the circumstances that we are in life. I read a verse of scripture today that hit me, it talked about the Nephites and how the were lifted up in pride unto rebellion against their Brethren. The wording thereafter is such an important indicator and warning for us. It is this (Helaman 3:36) "...and IT did grow upon them from Day to Day." (Emphasis added) We have so many of these things that grow upon us from day to day. Just like Amalakiah caused that Lehonti should be poisoned "by degrees." We in our natural course of life may not seek earnestly to be prideful. We may not seek to hurt someone's feelings. But, by and by we are lead to do things that we would not normally do, and even by our choice. In such is the truth of Galations chapter 5 illustrated so plainly, that the Flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. As we yield to the spirit we are made to cause course corrections, and some more drastic than others. We are to put it directly, chastened by the Lord into a better course of action. Though many take chastening to be hard. Many think that their actions are not in direct rebellion against God but only a different view of the same things. This is a falsehood that the adversary exploits every second of every day. If you are not for him you are against him. There is no in-between, imaginary land where we can watch the battle being waged on those around us. The Lord's path is simple. Exact obedience with his commandments as our first priority. I have been chastened many times. It is a humbling experience. But I know that if we take these things to heart and Change our heart to God's will then we will feel an immense sense of unexplainable peace and comfort in this world of confusion and turmoil. Whom the Lord Loves He Chastens.
 
One more bit of exciting news. Elder Dunn was able to perform his first Baptism Last Friday! Kymelia was so happy and it was a great day!
 
I love you all and I hope that you have a great week!
 
Ayoo' Aniinishni​
 
Elder McGarry 

Kymelia's Baptism
Another one next week :)

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Changes

Dear Family and Friends, 

First off, I am writing early this week because transfers are tomorrow and I will be... Staying in Alamo with Elder Dunn :)    (Sorry for the lack of notice, things were crazy last week.)
I have been thinking a lot this week about general conference. I have thought a time or two, why can't we have general conference once a month? That would be great. But I'm glad it's only semi-annually. I don't know about all of you, but it takes me a little time to adjust and change my nature, so I can only take so many things to work on at a time. Things are going well here in Alamo. We have a Baptism scheduled for this Friday so that should be a great time! 
Fall is in full swing, and we are gearing up for a cold winter it seems. When someone asks me what my favorite season is I usually have to say all of them, because I like them each for what they are, but I think the changing from one to the next is my favorite. Maybe the best answer for that question to me would be The Next One. So for right now, I can't wait to see some snow again! Last year the Alamo elders got snowed in, so hopefully we won't get too bad but what happens happens. Last night we had an awesome view of the Lunar eclipse, Elder Dunn let me take a panorama with his camera at sunset. Enjoy! 
Changes are a great part of life. I have been feeling a lot of anticipation this week, and I wasn't sure why. But now I know! There have been some changes in my life in many ways and I am glad that we have the ability to adapt to changes. Our mission is expanding, opening up 8 new areas this transfer, and I still have the best area in the mission! (I know it might be biased but I'm totally liable to my own opinion.) Changes give us an opportunity to refresh our view and to make new decisions based off an entirely new set of criteria. Some changes in life are good, and some may not be very pleasing in our limited foresight, but they are, believe it or not, also good. God has a plan for each one of his children and though we may not even comprehend or know what it is right now, we do have a set of criteria and a perfect opportunity to choose to be the best we can. Often we have to make changes in our lives to be alignment with God's plan. Praying is really a chance for us to humble ourselves and ask for help to better understand His plan for us. We too often bring up
our desires and make pleas and bargains and favors, when he already knows what we need before we even ask him. The Plan of Salvation was the topic of our priesthood class this week, and it was said that it is simply this easy. The Plan of Salvation is families. We work so hard to seal families together for time and all eternity. That is what God wants. A change is simply and invitation from the natural course of life to trust in God. Trust that He is, Trust that He cares, Trust that He knows what is best for You. I hope that you all have a great week! I haven't heard from some of you in a while! Let me know how you're doing :) I love you and wish you the best!
Ayoo' Aniinishni​

Elder McGarry



Sunset and Eclipse

A bunch of People are getting ready for Halloween! I get the best "costume" ever though :)

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Self-Mastery (vs. Nehor)

Dear Family and Friends,
 
The first part of my letter just got moved to the last part. It's just a thought process that really influenced the way that I look at things and I felt I should share it. First and foremost though, I though I'd say I'm doing Great! I have had some pretty interesting experiences this week. One in particular, we were talking to a member of out Branch as we filled up our cooler with fresh water when a modern day "Nehor" came and engaged us in conversation (or condescension more like). He introduced himself as a preacher and a missionary. He then proceeded to take every single point of doctrine that he could think of and began to contradict it so as to inflict doubt and fear in us and the member (whom he obviously was not aware that she was a member.) Admittedly, I was taken aback, hoping initially to have a reasonable and uplifting conversation about Christ. Instead we were barraged with an onslaught of accusations and implications that we had been "deceived" and that God is a spirit and so many other things. At a moment that seemed as though he would let up, the member we were with voiced her bold declaration that she was a "Mormon" and she didn't appreciate his telling any of us how to believe and anything else that he had said. My thoughts were "YES! WHAT A CHAMP!" and my words were simply that we would love to continue to discus the topic but in a civilized manner. This was a very eye opening experience and I was so proud of that member who proudly stood up and said that she knew what she believed was true. What a testimony builder for her and her sister. This experience illustrated a principle that our mission president had endeavored to instill by inviting us to study a talk by Lynn G Robins on "Tasting the Light of Christ" The idea is that as we compare light and truth with it's opposite we can gain a greater illumination of what we know to be true. How true that is. My God is an eternal being of Flesh and Blood and Jesus Christ is his Son. Jesus Christ the first born in spirit making him my eldest brother in the family of God and the Only Begotten of the father in the flesh, from whence his divine son ship is complete and his power is endless and encompassing.  The spirit of God is the third member of that perfectly unified Godhead and they in unity are the very eternal head of this gospel and universe.
 
In other news we have a few baptisms to mention. On Oct. 2 we will have a baptism for Kymelia who is so excited! She is 8 and her love for the Book of Mormon is so refreshing! Angela and Marvin are still progressing well. Overall the work is progressing and I am loving my time here in the Alamo :) One note of humor, my companion is being trained In Alamo, and the only other elder in the mission that was trained here called himself the last air-bender. He is an AP and he'll be going home before too long which means, I will be the Trainer and mission father of the last air-bender!! Ok ok I know that's kind of nerdy but it's kind of cool too :) This next one is my thought for the week, but it's kind of long so enter at your own accord. Otherwise, I love you all and hope you have a great week!
 
Endeavoring to establish a more perfect union, my learning and growth this week has been focused on self-mastery. There are so many times that people will say, "That is what the Gospel is all about." Well I think that there are many things that could be tagged with that statement, probably Love as being the most common. I think that Love is the most frequent result of living the Gospel. It is also the motivating force Behind a true commitment to follow the teaching of the gospel "...press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of All men..." (2 Nephi 31:20) For me I have become aware of SO many things that I could do to be better, and SO many habits that I would like to develop, and so many traits that I would like to have as a person. But I just get lost trying to keep track of them let alone even trying to apply them in my life. This is why The one and ONLY way is to Believe in Christ and to follow his teachings. Within that realm there are only a very few specific things that we are able given strict command to do or not to do. For most things though we are allowed to Choose, agency, and we are just left to our own devices with the guidance of the spirit to become the best that we can be. I have realized that the two choices in all that we do, good or bad, are really better interpreted as spiritually beneficial or temporally beneficial. Our natural senses are constantly striving to be satisfied, and appeased. Our senses feel pleasure and the consequence is a good feeling right now. Before I get all theoretical and stuff I'll wrap this up. I guess the biggest thing that I realized is that every choice we make is are we doing this as an appeasement of our natural senses, or is this truly going to guide me to be my very best self? Self-mastery is the opposite of carnal mindedness, sensuality, and ultimately the Natural man. Seeking for self mastery is a life long pursuit and the Gospel is the way that we are able to be totally freed from guilt and suffering. Jesus was the perfect and willing sacrifice that gave his life for us. He is also the Son of God. As we sacrifice the things in this life that are not in alignment with God's eternal plan for us then we will feel of the truth and power of his love. That is repentance and the path to self-mastery.
 
That's my thought, hopefully it made sense! Take... Luck  :) 
Ayoo'Aniinishni

Elder McGarry


It's hard to climb in Dress shoes... This is Box Canyon :)
Another view, with a cave :)

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Forgiveness

Dear Family and Friends,

This may be a little bit of a shorter note. This week we have been impressed to talk about forgiveness a LOT. I can't help but think how we could all learn more fully and completely how to forgive either things that have long since passed and have been left undone, and even more in each and every moment. 

The good things we are looking forward to: General Conference! The baptism of Angela and Marvin, (Still a little ways off till Nov. 7th but it is great to visit with them often and teach to a true conversion.) Some other Baptisms that should be coming up soon. We are also teaching a 17 year old young man named Anthony. He is a trooper. He always tells us to come back the next day! We have introduced the idea of going on a mission to him. We hope that he takes that seriously and gives it the consideration that is necessary. I am so grateful for my mission. I have been able to grow so much and the Lord has truly changed my character and nature to be more like my Him. I wish that all people would truly consider the blessings of the Gospel and truly understand it is through obedience to God's commandments that we can find lasting happiness and peace.

As for General Conference, that is coming up very soon, and I am so glad that we have that opportunity to hear such wonderful counsel. I look forward to it with anticipation and excitement. 

The Parable in Matthew 18 about the debtor that could not forgive his servant is so real. God is merciful to each of us to the point that he will forgive us All of our sins upon conditions of repentance. It is only through the merits and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that this is possible. When we hold onto a grudge or offence from another person, no matter how badly or deeply it effects us it is very minuscule compared to the debt that we owe our Lord. When we do forgive we are then given mercy in the same manner. Moroni 7:18 I think it is not insignificant that in the Lord's prayer it says, "forgive us our debts, AS we forgive our debtors." I hope that we can all better learn to forgive and in turn receive the benefits of peace and sweet joy.
 
Ayoo' Aniinishni
 
Elder McGarry
 
Rainbows are a thing here ALL the time. I guess that's why it's called the "Land of Enchantment"​      
 
I haven't taken it yet! We are going to "The BOX" (a slot canyon, you guessed it! It's also world renowned for rock climbing) today so I'll get more next week :)