Because of Him

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This week Anziano Te Maari and I had and will continue to have a great Fourth of July week. Starting on Monday, we were invited to eat over at the house of a half-American half-Italian family (the husband, Peter, is American and the wife, Fausta, is Italian). They made all kinds of American food that I hadn't had in forever; everything from guacamole to ribs. My companion is from New Zealand, but since they eat similar foods as we usually do in the states he was equally excited to celebrate our Independence Day. Today we had a zone grill out to which a bunch of missionaries in our zone came (it was a lot of fun). And on Saturday we will have a ward grill out. So basically the only thing I'm missing about the Fourth of July this year is the unending fireworks. All this American style food has been/will continue to be amazing. You would be surprised about how rare some foods are in Italy that are typical for us back home, like peanut butter, bacon, and barbecue sauce. I'm always very appreciative whenever I get to eat these things, because after a while, you begin

to miss them haha.

We also got to meet our new mission president and his wife, the Allens! They are extremely loving people and from just the two hours that we were there together with them I could tell that they are truly

seeking to follow the example of Christ. I'm excited to work alongside them in this wonderful country!

Anziano Te Maari and I found ourselves using a particular video a lot in our lessons this week and watching it so much has given me a broader perspective on it. The video is called "Because of Him" and is

all about what is possible for us because of what Jesus Christ did. Repeatedly I have been touched by the power behind the words in that video. Among other things, it talks about how because of Him, "we can start again." Because of Him, we have "clean slates" and "new beginnings." Because of Him, "Guild becomes peace, regret becomes relief, [and] despair becomes hope." I am unbelievably grateful for the gift that Christ gave to us. He gave us His own life so that we might live. He took upon Him the spiritual pains of sin so that if we looked to Him, "he might blot out [our] transgressions." And He took upon Him the physical pains of mortality so that He might "be filled with mercy" and be able to "succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:12-13).

Jesus Christ is our Savior. He lived a sinless life, taught His gospel, and led His followers. He took upon Him our sins and

infirmities in the Garden of Gethsemane and then was betrayed and sentenced to death by His own people. He died on the cross. Three days later, He rose from the dead. He lives today. How grateful I am that we have a savior. Because of Him we have second chances and "there is no such thing as the end." Let us go forward rejoicing in this simple truth!

Go watch this video that I've been talking about. It's truly fantastic! The name is "Because of Him" and you can find it at this website: http://www.mormon.org/becauseofhim . It's only two and a half minutes long and I promise it is well worth your time! Have great week and spend some time thinking about what is possible for you personally "because of Him."

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

American-Italian Family 4th of July Barbecue Zone grill out

President Allen and Sorella Allen

The Truth About Miracles

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This week was the last week in the mission for President and Sister Dibb; their spots have now been taken by President and Sister Allen. While we're sad to see the Dibbs go, I can't help but be excited for what's the fresh new mission president and his wife will be like and how their strengths will continue to enhance this mission even more than ever before. I am hoping that their fresh enthusiasm will inspire us to greater commitment levels and greater success! We will get to meet them on Tuesday and I'm sure I'm not the only one excited to meet them!

This week I stumbled across a poem that really struck me. It's called "Student" by Jessie Eastman Holt and it talks about the speaker's hunt for knowledge. It's goes like this:

I set a snare for knowledge

On every epic page;

Pursued the word of wisdom

Up and down an age;

Poet, saint, and wise man

Stealthily I stalked;

Listening, I followed

The very ways they walked.

But soon I stood astounded,

For every path they trod

In the end curved widely,

Swiftly back to God.

I like that it starts out sharing the story of the speaker's educational journey and then wraps it all back in at the end to share with us his most important discovery, the one he never really expected to find, that each school of thought he explored lead him to the same realization that God was the mastermind behind all of it. I love this concept because one of the truths that a I hold most dear is that all truth can be grouped together as one great whole. There is no truth that does not complement and support other truths. Whether we're talking about science, philosophy, or religion, what's true will always supports other truths, while what is not true will never consistently support untruths. This doctrine brings a lot of peace to my mind because even though it's slightly obvious because it shows to me that our Heavenly Father is not a father of confusion, but rather a Deity of harmony and logic. He never works beyond the realms of what is true, or, in other words, He is not a God of magic. Even the most unexplainable miracles are subject to this truth, from turning water to wine, to raising Lazarus from the dead, to the miracle of the atonement. None of these miracles were done by magic, but by quite logical and true means that we simply don't have the knowledge and understanding to explain yet. Understanding miracles and the influence of God like this does not diminish their grandeur, but instead helps us to realize and appreciate the incomprehensible wisdom of our Heavenly Father and His supreme influence over the elements. Many things that we can accomplish today would have been considered miracles decades ago. For instance, with a few taps we can use a smartphone to instantly video call our friend in China from anywhere in the world to wish him a happy birthday. Is this not miraculous? Let us not forget that the heavenly gift of greater enlightenment was never intended to make us think less of God, but instead cause us to marvel even more greatly at the beauty and wonder that is so prevalent in the universe He has created for us. When we take a step back and see this life for what it really is, we realize that truly everything around us is a miracle, from friends and family to a nice comfortable home to the stability and safety of an organized government. Quite easily we could say that all of the instances of the hand of the Lord in our lives are, in their own ways, miracles.

I'm so grateful for the many miracles in my life that inspire me to greater gratitude and greater desires to do good. I'm so grateful that truth is truth no matter where you find it and for the inspiration that it gives me to never stop learning. This week, ponder the miracles in your life; look for the blessings, even the small ones. Then, ponder on how you can invite the hand of God into your life even more. The words of the Book of Mormon prophet Moroni might be of assistance. He says, "it is by faith that miracles are wrought." Increase your faith, see miraculous things. As you look for miracles in your life I am certain you will find them and as you nurture your faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, I can promise that you will see even more.

Enjoy your week and all the miraculous blessings it will bring!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Week of Miracles

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This week has been full of amazing experiences with teaching and fellowshipping investigators with the help of members. As any missionary can attest, missionary work is far more effective when done with the assistance and support of faithful active members of the church. One of our investigators, for instance, Stanley, has been making amazing progress lately, every day comprehending more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making steps closer to making covenants with our Heavenly Father. We have been enlisting the help of many of the members in the Verona Second Ward to help him in this process and as we have done so his progress has accelerated. An unbelievable number of members have stepped up to help provide rides to allow him to get to church on time as well as to get home afterward. On top of this, we have had some amazing support from several families who have opened their homes to help us teach him there. Many of our members have expressed great desires to assist in the work in any way they can.

As we have taught alongside the members of the church here in Verona we have seen not only our investigators grow, but also those who have helped us. It's amazing to see the Lord work through these faithful members in bringing to pass His great work of salvation. Even when their assistance is no more than the offering of a warm home and an additional testimony, the difference is tangible. The Lord works through all those who are willing to be tools in His hands and He magnifies our efforts as we put ourselves in the position to help.

It's hard sometimes to help those we teach to make the transition from learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ to making it an active part of their lives. Members of the church help with this immensely. As full-time missionaries we live different lives than the average person, dedicating our full time and attention to the work of our Father in Heaven to preach the gospel to "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people," so we do not represent great examples of how one can apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ into an everyday life. However, with the help of faithful (and quite frankly, normal) people that are truly trying to live the gospel everyday, that transition becomes a lot easier. Their friendship and support reassure new hearers of the gospel that the path that they are beginning to go down is both rewarding and possible.

I'm very grateful for the support that the members give to missionaries here in Verona and I can't wait to bring more new people into their homes to teach them about the word of God. Their faithful assistance makes a huge difference! Have a great week enjoy the first week of summer!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Verona!

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Here to Stay,

So transfers have come and it turns out that I get to stay in Verona for another transfer! I'm excited to stay in this amazing city! And still with the added bonus of Mantova for part of the week! Anziano Te Maari is still my companion too, which is really good because he is the one that knows Mantova and I'm still learning it.

We have a new mission president coming in at the end of this month who name is President Allen and as such, President Dibb has asked us to make June a month of "consecration". In essence, he has asked us to work as hard as ever and with even greater focus on and concern for the people we teach and encounter. The difference has been seen as Anziano Te Maari and I have tried to invite the Holy Ghost more than ever into our teaching appointments and daily routines. We're making efforts to be more prepared for the lessons we teach and to look for more opportunities to uplift and serve. Although this week we spent a great portion of our time with transfers, adjusting our apartment to accommodate two again rather than four, traveling and waiting in lines for visa documentation for Anziano Te Maari, and planning for the month's upcoming events, we can tell that great things will soon come from our increased efforts to bless the lives of others.

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude recently. I'm extremely grateful for the blessings that richly define my life. I have a loving family back home, loving friends both in the mission and at home, and the amazing chance to be in the position to uplift and edify others as a full-time missionary. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be happy. He knows what is meaningful to us. He knows what will make us the most happy. He has a plan for us all and it exists for the only to help us realize our fullest potentials as divine sons and daughters of God. He sent His only begotten Son to set an example of righteousness for us and ultimately pay the price for our sins so that if we would rely on Him, we wouldn't have to. We have a God watching over us 24/7 making sure to keep His promises to bless us when we do right and teach us when we don't. I'm so great full for the knowledge that we will never be alone as long as we keep close to God.

There are blessing all around us to be grateful for! Take a moment to count your blessings this week. You will find many. each of us has been richly blessed with our own strengths and weaknesses, loved ones, and tender mercies. Look for them and you will find them!

Have a fantastic week!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Picture update

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Walk by the Light of the Spirit

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Verona is a really active city it would seem. Every other week they're doing some huge event at the exposition center here in town or hosting some important collection of art in the art galleries. A few months back was Vinitaly, which is a huge wine festival (the biggest in the world) where I guess people dress up fancy and taste wine haha. Since then there has been car shows, model replica shows, some of Van Gogh's work on display, and plenty of other stuff. Plus in the Arena in the middle of town (it's basically an ancient colosseum) they host concerts and plays every once in a while. I feel like there is so much fun stuff always happening here and I think it would be a really nice place to live (except as a missionary, when you don't really have time to go to all these things haha). I might get transferred out though soon; I've been here for four months now and transfer calls will be this Saturday. I really don't want to leave, but I'm afraid I might have to.

This week we had many amazing experiences with the amazing people in Mantova. Issac and his family are continuing to grow in understanding of the gospel and faith in the savior. They have begun to read the Book of Mormon and are full of questions about it, which is wonderful! Asking questions is truly one of the best ways to learn.

Meanwhile, in Verona, we are teaching a man named Stanley. He is a refugee from Nigeria who has fled to Italy in search of more fertile economic soil in order to secure for himself a brighter future. Teaching him is always a relief because he speaks and understands English better than Italian, which means that for an hour or so we don't have to stress about speaking Italian! He is soaking up the concepts that we teach him and is keeping commitments and walking the path that leads to greater happiness! He has truly been prepared for the message that we bring. As well as many other people here in these wonderful cities!

Many of our experiences as missionaries are guided by the spirit. This week we got to see the impact of that guidance quite evidently as we followed its promptings. Every week I learn more about the Holy Ghost and it's role in our lives. It truly is a powerful ally to have against the confusion and uncertainty that we are faced with today. Many times the right choice or simply the best one is very hard for us to discern by ourselves, but with the assistance of the spirit, we have an expanded view of which choices are the right ones in each fleeting moment. The spirit speaks to us quietly and personally and always in effort to urge us toward righteous action. When we listen, the natural result is growth, reinforced faith, and happiness. It's our Heavenly Father's intention for us to listen to the Spirit in this life and walk by it's light, rather than the sight of our arguably limited personal intuition and learning. He knows the best way to happiness and we find it along the path He outlines for us, the path of discipleship.

I'm so great full for the gift of the Holy Ghost and for the blessing that it is to be near to it! Truly life goes better when we let our Heavenly Father take the lead and show us where to place our steps! Let the Lord guide you more than ever this week and watch as the blessings pour in more than you've ever seen! I promise they will!

Have a nice week!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Bergamo and America and Issac

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This week was a pretty fun one for me and my companion. We got to do an exchange in Bergamo this week and see all the amazing sights that city has to offer! I got to visit the famous Città Alta and explore the ancient streets there (while doing finding, of course!). I also got to taste the original Stracciatella gelato! I think it may be the best gelato I've ever had in my life! (Basically the best description I can give it is chocolate chip ice cream. It's super good though and one of the most popular flavors of gelato in Italy!)

This preparation day a bunch of the Anziani in the area got together here in Verona and had a grill out. We played football and four square, two uniquely American games that we hadn't gotten  the chance to play in a while! On top of that we had some fantastic burgers and enjoyed ourselves quite a bit. It's not everyday we get to wear shorts and play games like this! Haha

On top of that, we got to do some usual work in the beautiful city of Mantova. On one of the days this week we spent in Mantova we had a really special experience! Despite so many lessons falling though that day, there was at one that did go though, the one we expected most of all to fall though. It was with a man named Issac and his family. Usually it is really had to fix solid appointments with him, but this time we were able to meet up with him and his family to share the message of the restoration. Issac and his family absolutely loved it! When we taught him about the Book of Mormon and about modern day prophets, he became visibly ecstatic and expressed a great desire to read it and discover the truth of it for himself. It was a really special experience and I hope he and his family continue to investigate the church with as much excitement as he expressed in that first lesson.

The Lord truly does prepare people to receive the gospel in every location and it's amazing to find and teach those who have been particularly prepared! The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the way back to heaven and it is offered freely to all of us!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

"Be Thou an Example of the Believers"

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Anziano Green and I had a very successful week, full of miracles and also trials of patience. One of the miracles we saw was an encounter with a less active man who had lost contact with the church. He saw us and engaged a conversation, expressing a desire to come back to church. We met with him later on and brought him a Book of Mormon and had a great lesson with him about its importance. But on top of all this, in a great expression of concern and care for this man, the ward members worked diligently to find him a ride to church this Sunday because he lives too far to get himself there alone. Truly an amazing experience and a testimony builder of the love that God has for all of his children, even the wayward ones, and a great expression of the faith and charity of the members here. Their examples are truly inspiring.

I've been thinking a lot about examples this week and the impacts that they have. If there are two things that all of Christianity can agree on, it's that Christ was the perfect example and also the best teacher. I don't think these two qualities can be examined separately; teaching and examples are almost inseparable, especially when the subject matter is not a school of thought, but a way of life. Often times, the best way to teach a new concept (or even an old one) is by example.

When we live our lives focused around the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are examples of the joy and happiness that naturally comes from a Christ-centered life. That joy and happiness is visible and contagious. When we live good lives, we teach others about the joys of such a lifestyle. Our examples as Christians and as humans in general are extremely important; so many people see us when we don't know they are looking and our choices often influence them for better or for worse. We should be ever mindful of our examples everyday, for we truly do have the chance to teach and uplift by our good choices in every moment!

I invite you all this week to take a moment and examine what kind of example you are to others then find way to improve it! So many blessings come when we carry with us the light that Christ carried with Him and when we have it then others will want it too! There is no greater happiness than living a Christ-centered life and being a Christlike example. If our goal is happiness, then Christ is our best role model.

May you all have a fantastic week and be even more fantastic examples! Keep choosing the right!

-Anziano Wilkinson

Salvation is Free!

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Anziano Green and I have been seeing some amazing things happen in Verona recently. With our ever-growing pool of people interested in our message and the kindness that our members here show us all the time, I couldn't be more content where I am! It is truly amazing to see so many people every day who have sincere desires to come closer to Christ.

               This week Anziano Green and I discovered an amazing way to find new people to teach. On P-days when we write emails on our iPads and on other occasions when we need to get wifi, we always go to a little park right in the middle of town which has free wifi. There is always a ton of people there, and us missionaries being so recognizable with our tags and white shirts and ties will often have people stop and talk to us and ask us about what we do. We call it reverse finding. Basically we sit on a bench and get wifi and have people find us! And the best part is that the people that find us are always the ones most interested in the message of the restoration! Now, obviously we don't just sit around in parks all day and call it work, but clearly we could if we wanted too haha.

               This past week I was reading in the Book of Mormon when I came across a scripture that I really love. It's 2 Nephi 26:24-25, in which Nephi says, speaking about Christ, "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price." These verses speak the absolute truth! Christ never denies us the opportunity to come to him for help or healing or forgiveness. He denies salvation to no one, not even the vilest of sinners, for "he hath given it free[ly] for all men."

               No matter our circumstances, we have the capacity to repent. Christ has the capacity to clean away sins and is standing ready to help us. All we have to do to be forgiven is believe on him, repent, and be baptized by proper authority. Forgiveness of sins is the reward for our faithfulness to him, and peace and happiness are the natural results of being clean from sin. So have faith, repent, and follow the example of Jesus Christ. Happiness awaits those who pursue this course and I know that it is true, because I experience it everyday. It is so worth it!

               Have a fantastic week everyone and don't forget to follow the example of Jesus Christ!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Happy Easter!

(Anziano Wilkinson)
This past week was pretty crazy for us, but full of really cool experiences! Most amazing of all, we got the chance to have an apostle of the Lord, Elder D Todd Christofferson come and talk to us and teach us many wonderful things about the gospel and about life. He basically gave us the unique opportunity to have our own AMA event (ask me anything) one on one with him. Many wonderful questions were asked and many even more wonderful answers were given and I'm sure many prayers were answered in the process. It was very cool to see Elder Christofferson and the other present general authorities and their spouses respond to these questions live. One could tell from the inspired answers that these men and women were giving that they were speaking the answers that were coming to their hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost.

The whole event left me very uplifted and encouraged to press forward and serve the Lord with more with more diligence in the work that we are called to do here in Italy. But the overarching impression that I received as I listened to these questions and answers is that answers to our spiritual questions are not exclusive to these leaders, whose spiritual strength is arguably very high. We too (and that means all of us) have the right to receive our own personalized answers to our important spiritual questions! The Holy Ghost is the means by which we "may know the truth of all things" and is not exclusive to anyone! Whether our questions are big, like knowing where we come from or where we are going after this life, or small, like knowing how to best help someone in need of a little bit of encouragement, we have access to the Holy Ghost to help us find our answers.

I invite everyone to ponder an important question that you have and then bring it to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I know that if you "ask in faith, nothing wavering" you will find your answer. Our Heavenly Father is dying to give you an answer! All you have to do is ask in sincerity and he will show you your answer through the Holy Ghost. Our father in heaven answers prayers; he loves us. So don't let your questions go to waste! Ask them!

Have a great week and remember that the answers to your questions are only as far away as your next prayer. Happy Easter!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

P.S. go check out this website at FollowHim.mormon.org! It's a beautifully made website to help us remember the savior this Easter season. Also, there are some beautifully made videos there that you all should watch!

Green Transfers

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This past week we had transfers. Elder Skinner went off to Como (apparently that is where George Clooney lives) and my new companion Elder Green came to Verona to be with me from Pesaro. Elder green and I get along very well and have been finding a great deal of success together. Everyone we talk to seems to be interested to learn more about the restoration of the gospel! Elder Green is from New  York and is a pretty nerdy guy like myself, so naturally our conversations tend to center around nerdy things haha. I'm really looking forward to this transfer with him and I am excited to see what we can accomplish together!

This P-day we stumbled across an American carnival, and a pretty cool one too. Let's just say that we enjoyed ourselves quite a bit with the bumper cars. No worries though mom, the doctors said the whiplash should go away in a few days ;). It was kind of interesting to see a carnival in Italy; it's not a very common sight. For me though it was almost like I was back in America again! Sometimes it's nice to have a taste of home, whether in the form of peanut butter or a carnival haha.

This week I was reading in Ephesians chapter 6, which talks about putting on the armor of God. It's a classic scripture but really one that brings a lot of thought. Are we preparing ourselves each day as much as we could? Do we take the time to dress ourselves with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and the spirit, among many other important things? I think we can all do better about this. The promise is clear and well worth the effort. Paul explains that when we out on the full armor of God, we are "able to withstand... the evil" that we encounter everyday. I invite everyone to tie the time to put on the full armor of God each day, starting today!

It starts with the he simple things, like prayer and scripture study. But it also requires us to take a proactive role, helping and serving where we can. If we do this we will find ourselves far more prepared to face the trials that are thrown at us each day and that we will have the capacity to withstand evil. Have great week everyone and remember to put on the armor of God!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Snow!

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This week we got to venture up into the mountains of Trento with a friend of ours here in Verona and enjoy the fresh mountain air, snow, and most of all, the sheer silence! You never know how much you're missing something like a little bit of quiet when you're surrounded by loud and cramped Italian cities. It was so amazing to just listen to the birds sing and take a second to reflect among the trees and fresh air. It was a great reminder of the sheer beauty of this earth and the many amazing things that inhabit it! Venturing out into nature and taking a second to soak it all in is a great way to bring everything in this life better into perspective.

As I mentioned, we got to see snow! I had figured that I wasn't going to get to see any this year, which made me sad because I love the snow, but to my surprise, as we drove up higher and higher into the mountains, we began to see little deposits here and there that hadn't quite gotten around to melting yet. Then, as we climbed higher, it kept getting more and more prevalent. At places there was easily three feet of snow built up from a snow fall that apparently had happened a few days ago. We were very excited about this and absolutely had to take the occasion to have a snowball fight and built a snowman! Have a snowball fight on top of a mountain in Italy: Check!

This week as I was reading in 2 Corinthians chapter six, I was struck by verses 14 through 18. They say, "what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." I really like the logic of this verse, for if we profess ourselves to be followers of God and seekers of "anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy", then we can't harbor a "communion... with darkness". We must be on one side or the other; darkness and light cannot exist together, for one casts out the other. We should be separate from the worldly things of this life, after all, the reward is more than worth it: "touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters." I invite each of you to look for ways in your lives where you can replace a little darkness with a little more light! Stay away from "the unclean thing[s]" and seek for those things that naturally make us happy, like family time and service, and shed some light in the lives of those around you while you're at it!

Have a great week and remember to shed some more light while you're at it!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Verona

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This Wednesday my companion and I had a fantastic time touring around Verona! The city is very old and full of layers of history, so naturally we toured around all of these cool sites. One of which was Castelvecchio, which translates basically to "old castle". It's a castle that was build hundreds of years ago and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was not very busy when we went so basically my companion and I got to explore the towers and along the on tops of the walls of this castle and feel like we were living in the medieval times. There was also a really cool weapons room that contained all the preserved swords and armor that they could gather up from excavations. Unfortunately they didn't let us touch a my of them though.

We also got to explore the arena that is right smack dab in the center of the city. It's a huge ancient arena where they preformed mostly operas and plays. Even today they still have plays there, but unfortunately they don't hold any in the winter haha. So basically the whole day was a blast from the past, dating all the way back to the ancient Romans at times. There really is some pretty cool stuff in Italy!

This week I've been thinking a lot about prayer and more in particularly the concept of receiving answers through prayer. It's really an amazing concept that we have the means to learn by simply asking our Heavenly Father. There is a great scripture in the Bible, James 1:5, which speaks quite candidly about the subject, it says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." So basically, according to this verse, if we pray and ask God a question, then He will give us the answer without upbraiding (or in other words without finding fault or scorning). I can say from experience that I know that this is a real means of receiving answers. I've had lots of important questions before like what decisions to make or whether the Book of Mormon is true or not and as many times as I ask in faith I receive the answer that I'm looking for. Our Heavenly Father anxiously awaits us to ask Him our important questions so that He can give us or lead us to the answer. One of His end goals for us is to "know the truth of all things" and He does not hesitate to help us get there, even if it is only one step at a time. If any of you have an important question, particularly regarding the truth of something, I invite you to pray and ask our Heavenly Father to help you find the answer. I know that He will help you find it!

Have a fantastic week everyone and don't forget to ask questions!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

Here are some pictures of the arena and the castle!

Verona city center from the top of its ancient arena!

Add caption

There is a wall of locks representing relationships near Juliet's balcony that is absolutely full.

The Most Beautiful City in Italy

(Anziano Wilkinson)

So after only a week of being here in Verona I have already fallen in love with the city! I heard from everyone before I came here that the city was beautiful, but I had no idea just how right they were. Verona is a picturesque city, the kind you'd expect to see in a movie, and it's full of amazing people! The members here are very nice and super helpful for the missionaries; we have had no shortage of their assistance while I have been here.

This P-day I went to go visit the famous tourist trap, Juliet's balcony, where allegedly the original Juliet talked to the original Romeo (however, sadly, the story of Romeo and Juliet was completely made up by Shakespeare). The site is nonetheless pretty cool and total worth seeing as it is free of charge (aka a missionary's dream)!

My new companion, Anziano Skinner, is a really good kid and he and I are getting along well. He is from Utah and he loves motocross racing, country music, and the outdoors. I'm excited to serve with him and learn from him and make this transfer a great one. This week he and I made a big effort to seek for service opportunities and now we have found some potential organizations that we are trying to sign up for. We're hoping to be able to find new people to teach more effectively through these opportunities rather than conventional methods of stopping people on the streets. The idea is that we will be able to build the trust of these people before we invite them to learn about what we believe. And at the very minimum we will help many people out though our volunteering, even if no one takes interest in what we want to share with them!

Well, have a great week y'all and look for opportunities to serve in your lives!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

On to Verona

(Anziano Wilkinson)

So only a few short days ago we got our transfer calls, which is when I found out I was leaving Pisa to go to Verona. Well, now I'm there and already enjoying serving with my new companion, Anziano Skinner. Verona, like Pisa, is another really popular city for tourists because is known to be one of the prettiest cities in Italy! Also, it is where Juliet's balcony is; aka, the balcony of the real Juliet that inspired the play. Appear antsy there is some pretty cool stuff around that too, which I'll definitely need to check out the next chance I get! (Don't worry, I'll send pictures!)

It's kind of strange to be out of Pisa and out of Tuscany in general. The weather is colder (I'm no longer so close to the Mediterranean and Verona is higher north). The city is much bigger and the dialect is slightly different too. And from what I hear the food is supposed to be pretty good as well! I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for me here and I'm excited to meet all the wonderful people that live in this great city! I'll give more insight next week when I have a better feel for the city, but so far I'm liking it.

As I was reading in the book of Romans this week, I was struck by many of the words of Paul as he taught the saints in Ancient Rome. In the parts of his discourse that I read, he talked a lot about how it is important to have the spirit of God with us always and that we should always yield up our carnal desires to make room in our hearts to follow the direction of His spirit. He mentions that "to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." The death being spoken of here is spiritual death, or in other words, alienation from God, and, by contrast, the life spoken of in this verse refers to just the opposite, closeness with God. Paul teaches that when we let our carnal minds lead our lives, we will naturally distance ourselves from God, but when we let the spirit lead our lives, we naturally grow closer to Him.

One of the great purposes of this life is to grow closer to God and His Son, Jesus Christ, for in so doing we become happier. And as Paul teaches, the way to receive that happiness is quite simply to be spiritually minded, or in other words, to consistently listen to and follow the suggestions of the spirit! This is such an amazing concept! Follow the spirit and you will be happy! And even more amazingly, the opportunity to enjoy the constant companionship of His spirit is the gift he joyfully and freely offers to all who will accept and live His gospel, which is faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then continuing forever onward with a faithful and repentant heart!

Our loving Heavenly Father has prepared a way for us that we might be led through this life without having to blindly guess our way through it. He has given us the opportunity to be fully and completely "spiritually minded". Let us all take full advantage of this wonderful gift! Seek the guidance of the spirit in your life and then enjoy the happiness that naturally comes from following that guidance! God will never lead us to unhappiness, even if at times the path to get there passes through tribulation and struggle. I promise that no matter the situation, when we follow the promptings of the spirit, we find that happiness and peace are always near.

For any of you not of our church, I invite you to come and feel the spirit that is inherently present in our Sunday meetings and to enjoy the happiness that comes with it. There is none like it! And for everyone, again I invite you to seek and follow the spirit more in your lives, and to become more "spiritually minded" that you might receive the promised "life and peace". There are no substitutes to these: Peace in this life and happiness in the next.

Have a great week everyone and happy February!

-Anziano Wilkinson