Monday, November 29, 2010
Choose the Right
From: Kevin M. Bulloch Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 8:20 AMTo: New York Utica MissionSubject: President's Weekly Message, November 29, 2010 November 29, 2010 Dear Elders and Sisters, I have been reflecting on our discussion in Zone Conference about the development of faith as it relates to the righteous use of agency. It reminded me of an old Calvin and Hobbs cartoon I am going to attempt to attach to this email. It illustrates something President James E. Faust taught very well. He said, we “need to understand… that private choices are not private; they all have public consequences. There is a popular notion that doing our own thing… is our own business and affects no one but us… But this is simply not true” (Ensign, May 1987, p. 80). Each day we are faced with choices. We exercise our agency in making those choices. Each choice invites a whole new set of circumstances that require more choices, not only by us individually, but also by others. For example, if a missionary chooses not to be obedient, his companion has to make some difficult choices in relation to how to respond to his companion’s disobedience. The Missionary Handbook states, “If you notice any inappropriate situation or behavior, discuss it with your companion. If the matter is not resolved, have the courage and love for your companion to ask your mission president for help… Your loyalty is first to the Lord, then to your mission president….” (p.31-32) It requires what can be a very difficult choice to follow that counsel. Yet, a missionary cannot be completely obedient and ignore the disobedience of their companion. We cannot live independent of each other. What we do affects those around us. We must remember that each circumstance we find ourselves in presents us with an opportunity to increase our faith through the righteous use of agency. We will all eventually come to know the truth of the oft repeated phrase, “If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead” (Maxwell, Ensign, May, 1984; October, 1999, p. 13). Our individual choices not only have an effect on those around us, but also on our ability to receive and respond to the influence and guidance of the Spirit. Choices that influence the degree to which we have the influence of the Holy Ghost in turn will affect our investigators, potential investigators, and many others. It is comforting to know that the righteous use of agency in making correct choices invites the influence of the Spirit and an endowment of increased faith. With increased faith, miracles can happen and lives are blessed. Thus we see, that it truly is by the seemingly small and simple choices we make that great things are brought to pass (Alma 37:6). May the Lord bless us to “Choose the right, when a choice is placed before [us]” (hymn 239). We congratulate the following on their baptism this week: Mikaila Berkgren in Ithaca, taught by Elders Neilson, Egbert and Bowles; Theresa Pessler in Watertown, taught by Sisters Ream, Cox and Goettsche; Gary Zayas in Utica, taught by Elders Cutler and Swain; and Melia Steed was baptized in Elders Johnson and West’s area of the Albany 1st Ward. I hope you have a wonderful week, President Bulloch
Friday, November 26, 2010
Cabin Fever Schenectady
Hey Mom!
How is it going?! Crazy week huh? How is the empty nest feeling? Do you have Nathan's box# yet?Oh yeah Pres Standage's first name is i think Ron or Rodney something like that... he knows Darrin and Devin Gray and Aunt Jennifer. Sis Standage is related to pres Driggs some how i think she said that's her uncle! SMALL WORLD! So, I got a knee brace now it hurt to wear it at first but now its helping i can walk a lot more. I think Sis. Bulloch called you on Tuesday right? if not I either bruised one of the bones in my knee probably the femar. OR I strained my meniscus... either way its feeling better. hope you have a good week!-EnRd
Monday, October 25, 2010
BYE T-Burg :(
Hey Mom,
Sad day... I usually get until Wednesday till I get transferred but this time I have to leave on a Monday... Pres Bulloch has a meeting in DC Wed morning so the transfer was moved to Tuesday and since I’m on the opposite end of the mission from Utica I have to leave this afternoon!
Anyways I’m going to Schenectady I think is how you spell it its a city north of Albany. I think this is the saddest day of my life! I love T-Burg! But, its not about me is it... Anyways I had to say goodbye to Sis Wilson last night that was hard... but any way I'll get through it.
I should be sending a package home letters stuff and ties for Nate that I don’t wear anymore well one I like but he'll need a lot of micro fiber or polyester ties in Florida!
Much Love
-ENRD
Sad day... I usually get until Wednesday till I get transferred but this time I have to leave on a Monday... Pres Bulloch has a meeting in DC Wed morning so the transfer was moved to Tuesday and since I’m on the opposite end of the mission from Utica I have to leave this afternoon!
Anyways I’m going to Schenectady I think is how you spell it its a city north of Albany. I think this is the saddest day of my life! I love T-Burg! But, its not about me is it... Anyways I had to say goodbye to Sis Wilson last night that was hard... but any way I'll get through it.
I should be sending a package home letters stuff and ties for Nate that I don’t wear anymore well one I like but he'll need a lot of micro fiber or polyester ties in Florida!
Much Love
-ENRD
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Half a thought
"Hey ya'll got some time thought I might share a half a thought! I say half because I don't have my scriptures with me and I don't have the verse memorized!
I do know you can find it in Luke 2:52. In this small verse Luke teaches us how Christ grew up. There are for main things there and again i don't remember exactly how it is worded but i remember that it says he grew in knowledge, physical health, spiritually and socially.
If you think about it they all kinda connect together in one way or another, but up until lately I've often wondered how I could be more Christ-like. And the answer simple states in this scripture that its not only our spirituality. It's also how we treat others in a social aspect how we treat our own selves (our bodies) and how we treat the brain and ability that God gave us to think and reason.
It is my prayer that not only myself be more Christ-like but also that I might help others find the blessings of living such lives. Thank you all for the examples you are to me in being a Christ-like person.
Much Love,
Elder Ray Dandridge"
I do know you can find it in Luke 2:52. In this small verse Luke teaches us how Christ grew up. There are for main things there and again i don't remember exactly how it is worded but i remember that it says he grew in knowledge, physical health, spiritually and socially.
If you think about it they all kinda connect together in one way or another, but up until lately I've often wondered how I could be more Christ-like. And the answer simple states in this scripture that its not only our spirituality. It's also how we treat others in a social aspect how we treat our own selves (our bodies) and how we treat the brain and ability that God gave us to think and reason.
It is my prayer that not only myself be more Christ-like but also that I might help others find the blessings of living such lives. Thank you all for the examples you are to me in being a Christ-like person.
Much Love,
Elder Ray Dandridge"
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
MM's Manner of Men ought ye to be?
"Hey Everyone!
How are you doing? I thought that today since I have a little time I'll share a little thought!
It's based on one of my most favorite scriptures... well at least I like the first half of the verse it teaches a very profound principle. It is in the 2nd book of Nephi 9:16 it states; 'And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still,...' (italics added.)
You see that is what this life is really all about. We are here to become something, and what what ever it is that become in this life is what we will be in the world to come. And like it says in that scripture if we become righteous then we will then be righteous, and filthy be filthy. The same thing applies to being lazy or being active, faithful or unfaithful, and obedient to God's commandments or not. The most comforting thing to me about this and what gives me hope is the knowledge that those who live this life the best they can trying their absolute hardest to be like our Savior. That person will still be a person who tries their hardest to be Christ like.
The Mediator of all of us will then gladly bear our burden and say unto us 'Well done thou good and faithful servant.'
My challenge to each of you is the same as Christ when He said 'What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily, I say unto you even as I am.' (3 Nephi 27:27)
I Love you all and look forward to hearing from you,
-Elder N. Ray Dandridge"
How are you doing? I thought that today since I have a little time I'll share a little thought!
It's based on one of my most favorite scriptures... well at least I like the first half of the verse it teaches a very profound principle. It is in the 2nd book of Nephi 9:16 it states; 'And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still,...' (italics added.)
You see that is what this life is really all about. We are here to become something, and what what ever it is that become in this life is what we will be in the world to come. And like it says in that scripture if we become righteous then we will then be righteous, and filthy be filthy. The same thing applies to being lazy or being active, faithful or unfaithful, and obedient to God's commandments or not. The most comforting thing to me about this and what gives me hope is the knowledge that those who live this life the best they can trying their absolute hardest to be like our Savior. That person will still be a person who tries their hardest to be Christ like.
The Mediator of all of us will then gladly bear our burden and say unto us 'Well done thou good and faithful servant.'
My challenge to each of you is the same as Christ when He said 'What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily, I say unto you even as I am.' (3 Nephi 27:27)
I Love you all and look forward to hearing from you,
-Elder N. Ray Dandridge"
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Great Week
"Hey Guys!
My week was really awesome! We had Zone Conference and It was on self control or conquering the flesh! I learned a lot. this picture is of Elder Warr (my trainer now an Assistant to Pres. Bulloch) and I after Zone Conference got to stay out late to hear the Utah Valley Childrens Choir they were awesome... almost as good as MHS Choir... haha! But, I had to snag one more picture with him because he is leaving in a couple weeks :( and the other picture of the baptism we had for Kevin Carpenter! He was just so happy he was just so radiant that he just seemed to light up the room it was a great experiance!
Love you all! have a great week!
-Elder Ray-Ray Dandridge"
My week was really awesome! We had Zone Conference and It was on self control or conquering the flesh! I learned a lot. this picture is of Elder Warr (my trainer now an Assistant to Pres. Bulloch) and I after Zone Conference got to stay out late to hear the Utah Valley Childrens Choir they were awesome... almost as good as MHS Choir... haha! But, I had to snag one more picture with him because he is leaving in a couple weeks :( and the other picture of the baptism we had for Kevin Carpenter! He was just so happy he was just so radiant that he just seemed to light up the room it was a great experiance!
Love you all! have a great week!
-Elder Ray-Ray Dandridge"
Monday, July 12, 2010
Happy 4th of July 2010
"For the 4th Elder Powers and I were asked to speak at a lake side service held for all the churches in Trumansburg. (Talk about giving a scary talk, this one was in front of 3-4 other ministers of other religions!) I spoke on the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith,repentance, bapt, Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End.) It went really well! one of the Branch members got a picture of me preaching with the lake behind me and a big tree behind me and a book of mormon in my hand it looks really cool! i need to get a copy of it :) Then we went to a members home and sat around her fire pit and ate wild black berries (they actually call them black caps because they are so small they look more like a cap then a berry i guess either way i was thrilled!) Then we went to go watch a movie at the church with some recent converts (Joseph Smith, prophet of the restoration. the one they show at the visitors center... yeah iv got the hook ups ;) and that was a pretty good day. I heard that Nate got heat stroke! Was he just not drinking enough water or what?
Which big fall Watkins Glen? or TaughannockFalls? Watkins Glen is cool I haven't hiked it yet and taughannock is where we had the lake side service :)
How is everything going? I bet it is hotter then all get out over there! it was 99 degrees yesterday! with a ton of humidity!
Love ya!
-enrd"
Which big fall Watkins Glen? or TaughannockFalls? Watkins Glen is cool I haven't hiked it yet and taughannock is where we had the lake side service :)
How is everything going? I bet it is hotter then all get out over there! it was 99 degrees yesterday! with a ton of humidity!
Love ya!
-enrd"
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Like a Lighthouse
"Hey there mom and dad!
I don't know if you guys knew what you were doing when you named me but I think it actually means something more then you guys originally thought! I was studying this morning and I was looking up gospel words in the dictionary so that I might be able to better explain the words. I can't recall what word I was searching for when my eyes came across the word 'newel' and I though 'woah! it actually means something!!!???!' so i had to read it!
'newel- In a winding staircase, the central upright pillar around which the steps turn; the post at the foot or turn of any stairway' (Websters Comprehensive Dictionary, 1954)
Well that was cool! well i know what ray means but lets look at the definition.
'ray- A line or pencil of light proceeding from appoint of light;... to shoot forth or shine forth' (Websters Comprehensive Dictionary, 1954).
Well there is only one thing that I can think of what has a winding staircase or newel and rays of light is a light house.
Well thanks a lot Mom and Dad I guess I'll just have to try hard to live up to that name, but that helped me feel a little better this morning knowing that I am in away living up to that right now. You see, sailors look for these light houses so that they may be able to safely get into port. I am very grateful for the time I have now to serve as that to our Heavenly Father's children. All of His children who are searching for a safe arrival back to Him. I am very glad that I get to share His 'light' or the gospel every single day for the rest of my mission, and hopefully the rest of my mission.
Thanks Mom and Dad I love you both,
-Elder 'Light House' Dandridge"
I don't know if you guys knew what you were doing when you named me but I think it actually means something more then you guys originally thought! I was studying this morning and I was looking up gospel words in the dictionary so that I might be able to better explain the words. I can't recall what word I was searching for when my eyes came across the word 'newel' and I though 'woah! it actually means something!!!???!' so i had to read it!
'newel- In a winding staircase, the central upright pillar around which the steps turn; the post at the foot or turn of any stairway' (Websters Comprehensive Dictionary, 1954)
Well that was cool! well i know what ray means but lets look at the definition.
'ray- A line or pencil of light proceeding from appoint of light;... to shoot forth or shine forth' (Websters Comprehensive Dictionary, 1954).
Well there is only one thing that I can think of what has a winding staircase or newel and rays of light is a light house.
Well thanks a lot Mom and Dad I guess I'll just have to try hard to live up to that name, but that helped me feel a little better this morning knowing that I am in away living up to that right now. You see, sailors look for these light houses so that they may be able to safely get into port. I am very grateful for the time I have now to serve as that to our Heavenly Father's children. All of His children who are searching for a safe arrival back to Him. I am very glad that I get to share His 'light' or the gospel every single day for the rest of my mission, and hopefully the rest of my mission.
Thanks Mom and Dad I love you both,
-Elder 'Light House' Dandridge"
Monday, May 24, 2010
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