MTC 2015

Hey mom,  I sent dad an email with some goals for you.  It is about 2:30 here and we are doing some clothes.  You might be home here soon from your work out.  Tell Blair I love her for me.  It is going great!  I don't have many pictures yet, I'll send some when I get to the field.  I love you all.

Hey Dad,

I'm  having an amazing time.  We went to the temple today and it was energizing, I feel so amazing right now.  I miss you guys back home and my puppy.  In the temple today I was thinking about her when she crawled up on me and laid between my legs and fell asleep that night we stayed up and watched Bruce Almighty, I miss the dumb things she would do, but I will get to see her in no time.  This time will fly I'm sure.

I want all of you after dinner to study the Book of Mormon, read the last 2 paragraphs in the intro, even though, you are members your testimony can and will be strengthened.  Then read from First Nephi and read till you reach Mormon, read at least 3 columns a night.  You will be done with in a year, then pray to know if it's true. We go through life as members thinking we  don't  need to read, just wait till church; but our faith will not grow and eventually we can fall away.  Elder Bednar said, a great percent of missionaries will fall away afterwords and it's because they are just going off a testimony and that's  not enough.  So I want you, mom, and Kayla, when she is there, to read; build your faith; step outside your comfort zone and be a missionary.  You as members are just as much a missionary as I am.  We are surrounded by His children and the worth of souls is great to Heavenly Father, as President Monson said, "Dare to stand alone, dare to make it known."

Love,

Elder Crawford

 The Book of Mormon introduction last two paragraphs:

 We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

 Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the
Messiah.
Book of Mormon link here