Elder Taylor James Burke: A Missionary Life for Me!

August 5, 2014 (week 3- MTC)

Hola Mundo!

Hey, so we are having so much fun here in the MTC! We are teaching, studying, and learning every day! We have been teaching new people who are supposedly members but they don't act like it. Yesterday we were teaching a new guy named Levi. We came into the room got to know him for a bit and basically went over the entire restoration and all. We didn't do so well on getting to know him and such, so of course, we were having the hardest time ever with applying the gospel to his needs. We were so nervous and everything but when we said the "First Vision" in Spanish the spirit filled the room! It was just awesome! There is so much power that comes from a testimony when you bear it and when you rely completely on the spirit to help you teach a lesson.

So our new teacher, Hermano Pliler, is a returned Missionary from Argentina. I have never met such a goof man in all my life, but he has a heart of pure love. He is goofy when he teaches us, but makes it fun for us to learn and to grow. Stress is good, but so is relaxing for a bit. He is my favorite- mainly because he loves Jesus Christ and the Gospel we teach. You see it in his character and in his eyes as he shares his testimony. He is such an awesome teacher and he reminds me so much of Alex, my brother. He has a brother and they both teach here at the MTC and are so goofy together. Made me miss my brother as well, but also made me cherish even more the brothers I now have made! Elders Pace, Black, Mosteller, Nealson, Anderson, Foy, Ott, Seamons, Gowans, James, and Hanson. Please send Argentina pins for them mom!

So last week after I wrote you all about going to listen to Elder Groberg! I guess Michael got to meet him face to face and I was so jealous! As he talked to us, he told us the importance of bearing your testimony. It is truly one of the greatest things that you can do to inspire those around you and invite the spirit. You cannot teach, preach, or share the gospel unless you have a firm testimony about the gospel yourself first. The greatest person you could ever convert is yourself. Read, Pray, Serve, Love and you will feel the spirit in your lives. You will recognize God's hands in every little thing - to those you talk to and to those you help. We learned even more as he showed us clips from the movie and we sang 'Hurrah for Israel!" to him. It reminded me of the day I was leaving from Lake Powell and all my family did the same thing. I learned not just how to be a better missionary, but a better person. People wake up and realize that this Gospel, this Church is here to only make you better. If you ever have doubts on whether or not this is true you will know for sure that this is what you are all meant to do when you read the Book of Mormon. Read Moroni 10:3-5. Read the last two paragraphs of the introduction. In the words of Jeffery R. Holland "The Book of Mormon has been attacked and ridiculed since the dawn of it's creation... It cannot be disproved."

Brothers and sisters, family members and friends, I have never in my life felt so much love from the savior when I have been giving out as much love as I can. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. They know me, love me, and only want me to be Joyful in my life. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet. I know that the more I read the Book of Mormon and the Bible I come closer to My Celestial father and I only feel the greatest when I pray to him. And above all else I know that I love each and every one of you; everyone who reads this and whomever hasn't.

Never turn down a chance to make people happier by sharing the gospel.

I love you all!

Sincerely,

Elder Burke

Me and my companion- Elder Pace