1/16 Broham

Elder Nelson,

     This is Porter, checking up on his broham. This week was full of a lot of parties and socializing... your favorite! On Wednesday, we went over to the 'other' Nelson's and rode around on their new snowmobiles! Mom brought a lot of hot chocolate and we had cookies, which was awesome after a long day of sledding! Once we got home, Tad and Brigham convinced our mothers separately that we needed a movie night, so we went over and watched the Hobbit while the younger kids watched the Minions. On New Year's Eve, we stayed up till midnight at the Fullmer's party, which was fun. We got to meet Jacob Fullmer's Fiancee, Laura Jemmett. Yep, that was a shock for us too. On New Year's Day, we had the annual Nelson volleyball tournament, which was really fun, especially because we brought the Ping Pong table, which sucked away all the little kids! Dad is still walking, which was a big surprise. haha! Mom however hurt her neck somehow... we're not quite sure what happened, but she was confined to the couch all of yesterday, ensuring that she couldn't escape Davis, which consequently resulted in him spending the rest of the day outside as punishment. (he was sent to exile at 12:00) Last night, we celebrated Pace's birthday, which he now decided was in January... sounds suspicious. ;) Anyway, we played Volleyball at the church with all of his friends. We also got to meet Savannah Floyd there! 

Porter is off with dad and the other boys to help Brenda Stoddard dig a broken water line out......so this is Mom now.

I think I told you before, but Matt Jensen is home until ...... March, waiting for his shoulder to heal. I haven't talk to him, but I can imagine how hard it would be to not be on a mission, not working, not back into life, but not gone either. 

  

Today Tyrel and Evelyn are coming to dinner today.  It is Pace's unobserved birthday dinner. Tyrel posted this yesterday on the Nelson Family Facebook page "

I just want to thank you all for being wonderful examples of light. I've struggled, and still am, but I appreciate your kindness and faithfulness. I love you all." Then he deleted his facebook page, so I txtd him and he asked if he could call back. He talked to me for a bout 20 min. He is headed back into rehab on Monday in Boise. They didn't come to the Nelson party but wanted to come eat dinner and play games tonight.  This week for family scripture study we read John 9 about Christ healing the blind man.  It struck me that the blind man never saw Christ until a while after the miracle. I wonder if he was praying for a lifetime to be healed or if he had given up. In the church bible video it looks like he is in his 50s. When Christ asked him to wash in the pool, he had enough faith to try it.  He was asked to wash in the pool and probably saw his own reflection first. It was like he was a new man with new confidence. He bore a very powerful response to the Pharisees in John 9. https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-heals-a-man-born-blind?lang=eng In Sunday School we studied about the three witnesses/8 witnesses and someone brought up those who weren't witnesses, like Brigham Young, John Taylor and others who didn't see the plates still had unshakable testimonies. Seeing doesn't always lead to knowing. Reading, acting on faith, asking questions and receiving personal revelation leads to unshakable testimony. These two quotes about the Book of Mormon also stuck out to me. President Ezra Taft Benson: “The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, 94–95; or Ensign, May 1975, 64). “There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. … When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 6; orEnsign, Nov. 1986, 7). I think these quotes support you request that all of us read our scriptures. Tad reported that one way he improved this past year was to read his scriptures.  Do you have more motivation to help us improve personal or family scripture study? If you have time tell us... Have you seen any wildlife yet? Do you always e-mail from an internet cafe?  What else do you do on p-day? How is laundry? How many missionaries are in your zone? How large of an area do you cover? companionship/district/zone I have had a couple of African people request friendship on facebook. The first was while you were in the MTC so I declined.  The second is Eve Laplante. Do you know her? Let me know if there is someone I should friend...because I wouldn't feel inclined unless you knew them fairly well.  We love you, Mom (and Porter) p.s. Sorry we don't have any fun pictures this week.  Here is your sock from Christmas though. It will be here in two years. We will just keep adding to it.

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