Dear Family & Friends:
This week was pretty ok. The definite highlight was the confirmation of the Adams family in church yesterday. Now they are officially members! Last Wednesday was my companion's "sister mark" (18 months out because sister missionaries only serve 18 months), and so to celebrate he decided to burn a pair of his pants. We ended up doing it right on the side of the apartment complex near the train tracks because we thought there wouldn't be as many people to drive by, but it turns out that lots of people drive by late at night.
Saturday morning the branch had a missionary for a day activity, and for an hour we took a bunch of youth around with us. The Adams family showed up and participated too! It was awesome to see their two sons, Joseph and Jonathan, in white shirts and ties! The best part about it was they had only been baptized six days before. They said they really liked it and the whole family had a bunch of questions about what it takes to be a missionary. After the activity, we all went back to the chapel so the youth could share any experiences that they had. One kid was saying how they were talking to this one guy and he asked if they were the same church as the polygamist sect in northern texas and they misunderstood the question, so they said Yes! We all laughed pretty hard about that one. In my area we don't really get any questions about that stuff. I'm not even sure what exactly happened up there anyways, but in the more English speaking areas they do get some questions so they can clear up that we aren't affiiated with that group at all. After the activity was over, we went over to the Adam's for a lesson and to make sure everything was okay for their confirmation. When we had the closing prayer, the husband prayed that someday his sons could be like my companion and me. It was a really humbling experience. That was pretty much my week, can't wait to talk to you guys on Sunday (Mother's Day). If it's possible, I would love to be able to speak to the J-boys too!
Love, Ryan
P.S. Mom, I was wondering if you could send me the book "True to the Faith" in Spanish. I can talk to you about it more when I call.
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.