Dear Family and Friends:
This week was pretty good. People around here really love Christmas. They go all out with decorating their lawns and houses and all sorts of stuff. We figured because it doesn't get cold here that people have to find other ways of getting in the holiday spirit. Apparently, it is supposed to get super super cold (maybe even the 30s) on Tuesday. It snowed on Christmas in 2004, and was a big deal, a children's' book was even written about it. Everyone says that was a one time fluke, however, and the temperature in South Texas is usually in the 70s or higher in December.
This week we had our interviews with Mission President Miller. I love interviews because I always get good counsel from him and learn a lot.
Every Friday we sing at this retirement home for an hour, and last Friday when we went and sang, there was this lady who had just had her birthday, so she had a balloon in her lap while we were singing. She started to flick the balloon with her nail and every time she did, it made this really loud popping noise. There was this older man sitting near her who was obviously bothered by the noise while we were singing, so he snuck up behind her and tried to steal the balloon from her, but it was wrapped around her finger. So they were both tugging at the balloon and the staff had to come and break it all up. It was pretty hilarious!
The First Presidency (out of Salt Lake) Christmas Devotional last night was awesome, and we even had some investigators come and watch it too!
Hopefully the memory card from the camera will turn up soon, in the mean time I'll try to get another one at Wal-Mart today (P-Day).
Right now Elder Waite is my Zone Leader, and tomorrow I'll will be going on exchanges with him. small world, right?
Mom, I don't know if you remember, but you sent me with three journal notebooks to write in. I am about to finish my second one and will start the third one soon, so if you could send me one more that should last me for the rest of my mission. So far I have written a journal entry for every single day of my mission! Tell everyone I love their cards and letters.
Ryan
For more information about the LDS Church, see
Elder Ryan Evan Carreon
Texas McAllen Mission
200 W. La Vista Ave.
McAllen, TX 78501-2131
(or email torrimc@hotmail.com if you have a question)
Texas McAllen Mission
200 W. La Vista Ave.
McAllen, TX 78501-2131
(or email torrimc@hotmail.com if you have a question)
Elder Carreon
Seattle, Washington
The Articles of Faith
The Articles of Faith outline 13 basic points of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor, in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed. They were subsequently published in Church periodicals. They are now regarded as scripture and included in the Pearl of Great Price.
THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541
1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
-Joseph Smith
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS
If you would like an email sent to you whenever a new blog is posted, please email torrimc@hotmail.com
Write to Elder Carreon at the address at the top of this blog, or, he can also receive an e-mail letter if you write one using Dearelder.com. The service will charge you the price of a stamp and will print and mail the letter for you.
A third way to contact him is to send an e-mail to: eldercarreon@myldsmail.net
He can receive e-mail but can't reply back (he has very limited computer time only one day a week) but he can write to you via snail-mail, so be sure to send a home address in your e-mail or letter so he can send you a reply.
Ryan's grandparents, Sandra and Ron Bean, just recently returned from an Humanitarian Mission in Uganda, Africa (November, 2008). Read about their experiences on their blog and view some amazing pictures, at
Beanmission.blogspot.com or click directly on the link at the end of Elder Carreon's blog.
THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541
1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
-Joseph Smith
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS
If you would like an email sent to you whenever a new blog is posted, please email torrimc@hotmail.com
Write to Elder Carreon at the address at the top of this blog, or, he can also receive an e-mail letter if you write one using Dearelder.com. The service will charge you the price of a stamp and will print and mail the letter for you.
A third way to contact him is to send an e-mail to: eldercarreon@myldsmail.net
He can receive e-mail but can't reply back (he has very limited computer time only one day a week) but he can write to you via snail-mail, so be sure to send a home address in your e-mail or letter so he can send you a reply.
Ryan's grandparents, Sandra and Ron Bean, just recently returned from an Humanitarian Mission in Uganda, Africa (November, 2008). Read about their experiences on their blog and view some amazing pictures, at
Beanmission.blogspot.com or click directly on the link at the end of Elder Carreon's blog.