MTC #5: Agency

My first request is for you to start enlisting more people to write me. I hardly get any letters any more. I got a whole bunch the first week, and then it's kind of plummeted into nonexistence. Thanks for the packages though, and letters, they are much appreciated.

Okay, so concerning Elder DeMenezes, I can't remember what all I told you last week, but here's a recap:
On Monday last week, Elder D had a Lumbar Puncture done to test for MS related causes for his face pain (part of which is due to a tumor in his ear from 3 years ago, smashing the three branches of nerves on the right side of his face). So yeah, he had the LP on Monday, and I didn't know that he was supposed to be IN BED for 24 hours. The paper he brought back said that 24 hours of bed rest was recommended. I won't make that kind of mistake again. He did rest for a while, but he came with me to do laundry and such, and go to the temple. The next few days, he had some really bad headaches. We took him to the clinic, and he went back for more tests. It looks like the hole from the LP didn't seal properly, meaning a leakage of brain fluid; less brain fluid, meaning less cushioning for the brain = really bad migraines. So, on Friday, I went with Elder D to the Imaging center place down in Provo by the Hospital. I think I passed Sister Brimhall by the front Desk, but I couldn't remember her name at first. They performed a patch on the LP site, which followed with 24 hours of bed rest. We did some exchanges to swap out staying with him so that no one would have to miss all of class.

I'll tell you though, while he was laying in bed, we had a really good Companion Study. We discussed agency quite a bit. Before coming here, I never really grasped how important exactly agency is. Here's your spiritual message from me for the week:

The church is true, that is certain. But we can't prove its truth using logic. Yes, there is proof, but we're going to get nowhere by trying to argue (I learned that with my little talk with Private Davis at Basic Training - as he tried to share some scripture proving that our church was false, and I - even though not bible bashingly - tried to counter. He wouldn't listen). People must use their agency to choose whether or not to accept the church. I remember mom talking to me forever ago, saying that the spirit works based on knowledge, and I didn't quite understand it, but then I found a scripture - I wrote it down, but can't remember it off of the top of my head. Basically, the spirit speaketh unto men by knowledge, according to their understanding. God can't just inspire men right off the bat saying that the church is true - if he did, that would take away their agency. That's why missionary work is so important. We have to take this message to everyone so they can have the chance to hear it, and the chance to choose whether or not to accept it. Once the knowledge is presented to them, the spirit can then act, and then they must choose.

The great battle before this earth was all about agency, as the adversary fought to take it away from us. That war continues today, as the agency of man is still fought for. I think just about every major conflict has its root in forcing someone to think a certain way. Agency is critical!!! That's part of my schpeel, I can't remember the rest.

I just got the package, thank you so much!!!

Music is good, especially since the other companionship doesn't really like church music/hymns, and their music is a little less (well, not bad, just not stuff from the music list - like Disney music - although the Brother Bear music actually does help me feel the spirit sometimes "Take a look through my eyes, everything changes, you'll be amazed what you'll find" Ooh, and "Tell everybody I'm on my way, and loving every step I take".

Love you! More to come later!