"Of all the titles of respect and honor" (A. Theodore Tuttle) - June 20, 2022

 Spiritual Thought

As the events of the Savior's final week began to unfold, He looked forward towards the events that were yet ahead of Him.  Amidst the triumphant shouts of "Hosanna" and the sublime experience of instituting a new ordinance among his apostles His mind surely must have become increasingly fixed on the event that would mark the culmination of this holy week, indeed, of all human history.  While He knew what this event would entail and understood perfectly that He was the only one who could accomplish the necessary feat, fear and anxiety must have slowly become more undeniable as the hour approached.  As weeks turned into days, then to hours, then as the moment finally arrived, one question must have lingered in His mind,  Is there no other way?  The anxiety for what lay  before Him is manifested in a heartbreaking cry given in the very hour of atonement "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14:36).  A moment in which the Redeemer of the World becomes this vulnerable demands our utmost respect.  We must never allow ourselves to forget this profound moment.  I express my undying gratitude to our Savior even as my heart breaks in knowing that the burden of my sins contributed to the agony which brought about this cry. 

However, for our purposes today, I wish to focus on whom it was that the Savior desperately sought to receive comfort from.  The being He and we have the privilege of calling "Father".  After all that our Heavenly Father has done for us and the titles He could claim as His own, He chooses to distinguish Himself as a Father.  In the words of Elder A. Theodore Tuttle:  "It should have great meaning that of all the titles of respect and honor and admiration that could be given him, that God himself, he who is the highest of all, chose to be addressed simply as “Father.”  As we celebrate the fathers in our lives may we have as our omnipresent thought our Heavenly Father.  He whom we as mortals attempt to replicate in some small way.  I express gratitude to all of the fathers in my life who have shown me a glimpse of what true masculinity entails.  I am deeply humbled and profoundly overwhelmed by the responsibility of one day showing my own children some small view of what the nature of our Heavenly Father must be.  As we celebrate fathers, I testify of the powerful force for good righteous men have the ability to be.  I testify of the ever present influence of the God in Heaven who chooses to distinguish Himself as the Father of our Spirits.  I testify of His Son who, at unfathomable cost, provided the means to enable us to return to such a paternal embrace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Weekly Update

Hello everyone,

This week has been totally and completely exhausting but I have loved every minute of it.  Elder Bringhurst and I have been up by five every day and haven't been in bed until 11:30.  At this point, between the two of us, we have managed to do exchanges with almost every companionship in Spanish.  It has been fun to see so many different areas.  

One of the best parts of this assignment is the freedom we have.  There have been multiple days when we have been at one end of the mission and gone to the opposite end without thinking twice.  I know to normal people it doesn't sound very impressive to drive from North Salt Lake to Roy but, believe me, as a missionary you feel as free as a bird.

On Thursday I did exchanges with Elder Preston and Elder Marchman.  They are teaching a sixteen year old named Axel.  When we began the exchange Elder Preston mentioned we would have a lesson with Axel and that he could be put on date for baptism any time.  We were able to meet with Axel and he accepted an invitation to be baptized on July 9th.  I'm excited to hear how everything plays out between now and then.

I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Payne

Saying goodbye to Alenny.

With Alan

It finally happened!  I'm companions with Elder Bringhurst on the transfer board!

I decided to take a picture of my district while I was looking at the transfer board.  

With Elder Bringhurst in our mini van.  Our minivan is awesome!

With Elder Driskill

With Elders Porter and Shuldberg

The former AP trying to pick the lock for a fire extinguisher in an apartment building.

Waiting in someone's apartment before 6:30 to see if they get up on time.

With Elder Preston and Elder Marchman.

For part of MLC President Johnson took all of us hiking in Adam's Canyon.

With Elder Bringhurst at the waterfall.

We ended up at the Wasatch Cowboy Church.  We talked to the pastor for a while and it was actually really inspiring!  If you're ever in Hooper, stop by!

A final picture with Elder Bringhurst before he left.

With Elders Matthews and Hammer.