From Father to Son

¿como estas?

well i heard that you killed your talk this last Sunday, which is no surprise, i wish i was there to hear it. dad, i have an investigator right now who is struggling with the cigarettes. we have tried a lot of things and nothing has really worked. we decided to fast this past week, and as we were teaching him about principle of a fast i realized something that scared me. I don't really have a very good testimony of the fast. its always been something that has been difficult for me. i was wondering if you could send we some of your thoughts on fasting, your experiences, and your testimony of the fast. thanks for every thing, dad. i hope all is going well.

I love you dad

Elder Gardner

 

Tyler,

I always enjoy your emails. The principle of the Fast has caused in me one of the greatest desires for gospel research. I'll send a few articles from the Brethren that I think will help you in your search for knowledge and enlightenment -- The Law of the Fast by Elder Worthlin; Fasting with Power by Elder Bowen; The Blessing of a Proper Fast by Elder Pratt; and one by Bishop Brown. There are several others but these will get you started.

But perhaps the best source, and my favorite, is the 58th chapter of Isaiah, specifically verses 2 through 12. As you read these verses the doctrine of the fast will distill upon your soul. Elder Pratt does a good job of helping explain some of the key verses. But the Spirit will show you the full meaning of the verses as you study them over time.

Here are my thoughts.

You'll remember that the Savior fasted for 40 days in the wilderness when he wanted to draw close to Heavenly Father just before his temptations by Lucifer. Because he was half immortal he could do that without serious injury to his body. It gave him great spiritual focus. He later fasted as he went up on Mount transfiguration. We know this because when he can down with Peter, James, and John he met the other apostles who had not been able to cast out a particularly difficult spirit. Matthew 17:21 says, "This [kind] goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Fasting provides spiritual power to accomplish things that require a powerful spirit.

When I fast properly, I am drawn closer to the Spirit. I can always tell when I am having a good fast because I don't have much trouble with hunger. It makes me feel as though Heavenly Father is listening to me when I pray. It gives me greater strength and focus to do the right thing, whatever that may be. It is a chance for me to demonstrate to Heavenly Father that communicating with Him and doing His will is more important to me than meeting my physical needs. Isaiah says, "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am." (58:9.) I want Him to always be willing to answer me when I need Him, especially in my most earnest and difficult situations.

When Marc was 3 years old, just as you were born and right after we had moved to Albuquerque, I fasted for four days because I needed Heavenly Father's help to prepare me to give him a blessing. The Lord healed Marc from his seizures. Not because of my fast, but because it was His will and many people united their faith in Marc's behalf. But because of my fasting I felt that I could ask the Lord for this blessing for my poor suffering son, and He would hear me, and I could live with the result what ever it might be.

We don't need to fast for an extended time for the Lord to hear our cries. We can't hold Heavenly Father hostage by fasting for more than two meals. Two meals, 24 hours is really all we generally need.

The other side of Fasting is our giving an offering to the church for the benefit of the poor and needy. We should give the value of the food not eaten as a minimum. But we ought to be generous in our offerings if we can. I've heard the brethren say that if we want to increase our spirituality and devotion to God, we can increase our offerings. I know of some people who give more than 10 or 20 times or more the amount of food they did not eat during their fast. This principle of giving generously is also contained in Isaiah 58, in verse 7.

Read verse 6. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heaven burdens and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" This may have direct application to your investigator. And to everything that binds you and me down.

The fast is a way to draw closer to Heaven and gather the strength and clarity to do the right thing. I can't say that I have an effective fast every month. But when I put my heart into it, I am always blessed.

I'll send those articles over through Dear missionary in case you can't print them from the attachments.

All my love,

Dad

 

 

Dad,

I’m so blessed to have a dad who knows so much that he can give me the exact type of help when i need it.  thank you dad for living your life the way that god intended, you bless us as your family, more then you know. 

I want to study all this information first, then put it into practice.  i will write you a letter when i have found my testimony of the fast, and share my thoughts with you.

thanks again dad, i love you so much

your son,

Elder Gardner

May 30, 2011

O dang, that's crazy about the weather over there.  why don't you send some of that rain over here, because it is burning.  Well today is transfers and well nothing happened.  I'm going to stay here in satellite with my boy.  I was glad because this last transfer was really bad, and i did not want to leave this area the way it is right now.  elder Fulton and i talked a lot about what we going to do different this change.  its crazy to think that I'm walking up on a year, do you remember what we were doing a year from now.  i still remember that first day, when i said bye to you guys, it seems that that was just yesterday (maybe not yesterday but doesn't feel to long ago).  I've been thinking, am i at were i wanted to be at a year ago.  and the answer is an exhausted "no".  but the thing is i know exactly why.  I'm excited for this new change because this is going to be the moment when i look back and think that's when i finally got it.  I know what I've got to do, and i will do it.  new year, new change, new missionary. ill let you know how it goes.  I love you so much and hope that all is sailing along.  Keep pushing, keep praying, keep the faith.

 

Love you,

Elder Gardner 

May 23, 2011

Man, super disappointed that i missed McKenzie and Marc´s big day.  I'm expecting lots and lots of pictures.  i miss having all the family coming over and hanging out.  but still the work goes on here in Satélite.   We had an alright week as far as the numbers go, but the highlight was that we went to a mission conference over in Mexico and elder de hoyos from the 70 and Elder Cook from the 12 were there.  it was awesome to shake elder Cooks hand and be that close to him.  as soon as he entered the room, you could just feel the spirit hit you like a brick wall.  it was interesting to see the difference in conferences.  when i was in Vegas elder pierce from the 70 came and we laid down the hammer on us.  and the conference took all day because he was just laying it on thick.  i guess it was cause that mission needed it.  but this confereace3 that we just barely had was more like a your doing what your suppose to be doing kind of deal.   he asked us if we had questions, and talked for a little bit and then it was over.  it was only 2 hours, which felt like 15 mins.  i felt like it was god telling president Nancollas that he is doing a good job with the mission.  I'm going to miss president so much when he leaves in June.  i feel so blessed to be in a mission with a superb mission president, ill have to tell you stories later of pres. Nancollas. 

 

Elder Cook left us a blessing, and i felt like it was directed at our family directly.  i tried to write it down as best as i can remember.   He told us that he knows right now that there are a lot of things happening with our families back home.  He said I want to leave my blessing on you all, that you are in the exact spot that god wants you to be.  And that if you serve with everything you've got god will bless your family with every thing that they need.  you need not worry about them because they are receiving more blessing than you or they know.  you cant see it now, but there will be a time in your life where you will see the blessings your family has received from you services.   Mas or menos is what he said.  i don't tell you that to make you thank me, but because i want you to know that all is well.  I love you all and hope all is going well after the monumental weekend.  cognates McKenzie and Marc. 

 

Quidate mucho

Elder Gardner

May 9, 2011

I was super psyched to talk to you tambien.  It sounds like you all are doing well and that you are happy.  I feel super disappointed to be missing all the big things that are happening.  after i hung up, i thought to my self, where were the little girls?  tell the girls i love them for me, and that i cant wait for their letters to get here. i felt bad that i couldn't talk to every one, but man those 45 mins go fast.  it will be interesting to see if pres. call gives us more or less time.  pres. has a son on the mish and his president only lets them talk for 20 min.  i think I'm good with 45min.  I'm excited that Andrew is going up to BYU-I that will really fun.  

Mother Goose, i didn't really get the chance to give you a proper mothers day thanks.  I'm a very lucky boy to have been blessed with such a great Mother.  i honestly feel as though it is one of the greatest blessings i have received in this life.  I cant tell you how much i look forward to reading your letters each Monday, there are days on the mish when it gets tough, but i always get a boost after reading your letters. thanks for the love and devotion. I feel so happy that you have found something that you like to do and that you have the opportunity to follow it.  i wish you all the luck in the world with your studies and your new journey as a teacher.  you’ll do awesome, and the kids will love you and one the kids will look back and consider you a great blessing in there life's, as i have.  Mom i hope you know how much i love you and wish the best for you.  I grateful for all that you have given me, and hope that one day that i might be able to show you the same love that you have given me.  Happy mothers day to the greatest mom ever. 

Love your son

Tyler