"1 New Message"

We know that we have been missionaries for quite some time now, but we both remember the feeling of excitement you get when you receive an unexpected text message. When you feel that vibrate or hear that chime that lets you know that someone actually cares enough about you to send you an electronic letter. We all know the feeling. It's amazing to see the effect a small message of "good news" can have on someone to brighten their day. We as human beings are in constant interaction with one another. Facebooking, Tweeting, texting, Instagramming, Pinning, and we're sure the list probably goes on (forgive us we don't know all the hip trends right now haha) But we are always in a position to make someone's day, or possibly, someone's life. How much of an impact could you make on someone today? As members of the church, in these latter days, we are so blessed to live in a time where sharing the Gospel has been made so easy. With the mere movement of our thumbs on a small glass box we can share an inspiring message with our dearest friends and family. That is what is most important. Sharing a message with those you love in a way that conveys the love their Heavenly Father feels for them. The Gospel changes lives and it can happen in the blink of an eye. So what will the 1 New Message the people in your life see? Watch this video and pray for further inspiration on how you can share the glad message that is spreading throughout this world at a faster pace than ever before! "1 New Message"

The Sweetest Treat of All

Happy Halloween! Just in case anyone was wondering, Mormons do celebrate Halloween! Of course, that doesn't mean that missionaries are looking for candy every time they knock on a door. We're generally just looking to share the treat of the gospel! The Sweetest Treat of All!

And just on a personal note, Elder Potter and I love Halloween! Some great family memories come from this Holiday. As you celebrate this holiday, please do remember to celebrate wholesomely (: 

Maybe Thinking a Little More Inside The Box...

So... our original idea, a flash-mob in front of the Book of Mormon the musical play ended up not quite working out. Fortunately, like any good missionary does, we had back-up plans! So that's what we ended up going with.

Plan B-
Interestingly enough, it turns out that we weren't the only religious group going to Times Square on Saturday! BUT, we were the first! We went to Times Square with our Zone of 20 missionaries and some friends from our local congregation, and we sang a bunch of hymns! As we did so, we had several of us go out and invite any who were interested in learning more about the gospel to do so!

The whole event was made even more amazing as a group of Mennonites appeared, going to share the gospel with others as well. A non-denominational group, God In The City, had a walk for God scheduled for a little later in the day, and they were going to be following the same path we took to get from our meeting place to Times Square! It was awesome, and hopefully helped open some eyes to the fact that there are many good people around us, looking for a strong connection with God.

We had quite a bit of fun singing some of our favorite hymns in one of our favorite places. Don't worry, pictures will soon follow.

We know that music is a wonderful way to feel the spirit, and invite all who read this to try to see what music can do to help bring them nearer to God. (See D&C 25:12 http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/25.12)

Thinking Outside the Box

In continuing the pattern of sharing the Gospel by every honorable means, we've come up with another activity of sharing the gospel. We won't be sharing it just yet, so you'll have to check in later to find out what it will be. Its something that every missionary/member has thought of and wanted to do... but to our knowledge hasn't. But do enjoy the other posts, videos, and photos until then. We were told to think outside the box... so we are going to do just that!

Come Together!

“Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him”
- Thomas S. Monson

To the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:

This activity that we did was only made possible because of the wonderful members of the church who worked with us! Any of you who are members of the church, please, reach out to your local missionaries to assist them in the work of Salvation! Talk with your Bishops and Ward mission leaders to see how you might best be able to help them! Come find the joy that comes through sharing the gospel!


To everyone:

"If you seek truth, meaning, and a way to transform faith into action; if you are looking for a place of belonging: Come, join with us!

If you have left the faith you once embraced: Come back again. Join with us!

If you are tempted to give up: Stay yet a little longer. There is room for you here.

I plead with all who hear or read these words: Come, join with us. Come heed the call of the gentle Christ. Take up your cross and follow Him.

Come, join with us! For here you will find what is precious beyond price."
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

These are quotes from Prophets and Apostles of God, which are necessary "til we all come in the unity of the faith." (See Ephesians 4:11-14) Come hear and heed a Prophet's voice!

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

The Atonement can be studied for decades and still be a difficult concept to grasp. Understanding will come over time as you sincerely study and seek to apply the Atonement in your life. This can be done through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which can be found in the scriptures. For now, the Atonement is most simply shared in the words of the primary hymn "He Sent His Son". 

1. How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
   He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
   How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
   He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
   How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
   He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
   What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
   Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
   What does he ask? Live like his Son.

Where Did You Come From?

What would it mean to you if you knew that you once lived in the presence of God?

Knowing that God is my Father in Heaven (See Romans 8:16), and that I lived with Him before I came to Earth opens my eyes to help me see what God sees in me. It helps me understand how God knows us all individually, as we all lived with Him for a very long time prior to our existence on earth.

Think of that. God knows you, better than you might know yourself. (See Jeremiah 1:5)

More than that, He loves you, and wants to help you  become the best person you can become. That is precisely why he has given us commandments, to lead us in the right way that will help us be happiest.

Knowledge of the pre-mortal existence has helped me grasp what kind of God our Father in Heaven is. He has a physical body, and when we lived with Him, we only had spiritual bodies. Since He is benevolent and loving, He has provided us with this mortal experience to enable us to ennoble ourselves through the application of the atonement of His son Jesus Christ. He did this so that we could gain a body of our own, and learn to choose good over evil.

Now, it is our opportunity to choose the good and come closer to our Father in Heaven with each choice that we make. As His children, let us do what we can so that we might be children He would be proud of. Then, we may truly be "Joint heirs with Christ," (Romans 8:17) and be able to return to live with God again.

Eternal Families

We believe that a major part of God's plan for our Happiness lies in the eternity of Families.

Since God is our Father in Heaven, we are all brothers and sisters. That is why you will often hear people at our church refer to each other as brother or sister. All of us here on the earth are children in the family of God!

We also have our earthly families, which we believe will not end at death. We may have our families sealed together for time and all eternity! For us, it is not "until death do us part" because we believe marriages last forever! We know that through obedience to God's laws, we can have the blessings that He wants to give us, one of which is eternal family ties.

It has been said that the family that prays together stays together. This is very true. Will you make it a point to pray with your family daily if possible? This will help you and your family feel more of God's spirit in your lives and help you see how families can be forever!

This doctrine of our church has influenced our lives deeply, and we know it can do the same for yours.
Please share a comment on how your family has influenced your life.

Hot Off The Press!

Deseret News just picked up the story!

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865589068/The-story-behind-New-York-Mormon-missionaries-viral-chalk-art-video.html

It explains a bit of the back-story of how this happened. It also has some quotes that make us sound smarter than we really are! Hope you enjoy!

While we are here, it is up to us to do all we can to prepare to meet God, and we hope that this Blog will help you as you continue to do that.

More Pictures!

 We just wanted to add some more pictures of the awesome missionaries in our Zone!

Add More to the Truth You Treasure!

"For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations...
who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—"
D&C 123:12

We are doing what we can to make the truth a little easier to find! 

It's easier than you think. Just ask of God! That's how we've found God's truth for ourselves, and it's why we're sharing it. We know this can bring you as much happiness as it has brought us! 

A Social Experiment- Experience 1

So, we have had a few interactions with people, giving them the uplifting cards made by the people of New York for our social experiment, but this was the first experience of its kind.

In the subway, as my companion and I were getting on the crowded train, we noticed that the girl in front of us was crying. As everyone pushed to get on the train, we were placed perfectly next to her, and could see her sadness very plainly. We looked to each other, and saw that neither of us could think of anything to say to begin talking to her. Then, remembering of the cards we had, I reached into my bag and grabbed one at random and handed it to her. She took it, surprised at first, and then read it. As she read, she stopped sobbing, and looked up and thanked us. We don't know which card we gave her, but it made her stop and think. The man next to her asked if she was OK, and we learned that she had just received news that her father had just passed away. We then were able to comfort her by sharing with her our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. She had several questions:
Will we remember this life after we die?
Will our families be together after we die?
How can we know?
It felt so good to be able to share with her the things that had comforted me personally when I had lost family members of my own, and the answers we gave her helped calm her, and gave her hope. She thanked us for sharing, and we invited her to pray and ask God for his help as she went on her way.

Thanks again to those who wrote the cards, you comforted someone in need!

Doesn't it feel good to be an instrument in the hands of God? It felt that way for us. Pray for opportunities like this, and they will come (:

Just in case you wonder what it is we believe...

Here is a video that explains our Church in a nutshell.

It's a great way to learn about the church, and an even better way to share more about it!

Interested In Learning More?

We know just the people who would love to talk with you all about it. It's US! Or other missionaries, near you (:
http://mormon.org/missionaries

What Is The Plan of Salvation?

God's plan of Salvation is His plan for our eternal happiness.

God loves us, and He is our Father. We lived with Him before we came here and will return to Him after this life. He has given us His way to find true peace and happiness through His Gospel. He sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to live as an example for us to follow. When we follow the example of Jesus Christ, we can have all of the blessings that God wants to give us. This includes the opportunity to return to live with God after we die and are resurrected.

Most Importantly- God is our Father, and He loves us (: Ask Him yourself, and find out for sure!

There is so much more that can be said about this wonderful plan, and this is just the very basis of it. Here is a link to a 4 minute movie that can give a little bit more depth!
http://www.mormonchannel.org/our-heavenly-fathers-plan?v=1838710831001

Union Square Plan of Salvation- The Video!

Thank you everyone for viewing our blog and enjoying the pictures! We thought we would step it up by posting our video also! Shout out to our friend, Lara, for putting it all together!

Hope you enjoy it and share it with a friend!

The Plan of Salvation Hits the Streets!

Usually, when you are teaching the plan of Salvation, it's good to have a diagram of what it looks like. 

Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words...

How many words is this worth?

You see a lot of graffiti in New York... but not quite like this!

This shares an uplifting message that hits home for all of us...

 Many people came with questions...

 We came with answers (:

Here in New York, many people feel as if they are alone...

But, we are all brothers and sisters...

 And we want everyone to know it!

We invite all to share it, and we invite all to learn about our Heavenly Father's wonderful plan for us!

If you have any questions, please visit mormon.org or contact us (: We would love to hear from you!

PREVIEW!!!

Tomorrow... we're going to do something pretty cool (: We're just excited enough that we wanted to post something about it today! Check in tomorrow to see what it's all about. It will be quite colorful (:

An Instrument In the Hands of the Lord

There are many ways to be an instrument in the hands of God!

Alma 26:3
Alma 26:15
Alma 26:30
Mosiah 23:10
Mosiah 26:36
Mosiah 27:36-37
Alma 17:9-11

This is an awesome concept, because we blatantly feel like that every day (: But we also know that everyone else is an instrument of God in their own way as well. There are many sorts of instruments, from scalpels to saxophones. We're saying that metaphorically of course, because God usually works through people, not just lifeless objects. It's when we align our will with God's will that we become an instrument in His hands. What sort of instrument are you?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counsellor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- Pride and the Priesthood, Oct 2010 General Conference

"I once owned a pen that I loved to use during my career as an airline captain. By simply turning the shaft, I could choose one of four colors. The pen did not complain when I wanted to use red ink instead of blue. It did not say to me, “I would rather not write after 10:00 p.m., in heavy fog, or at high altitudes.” The pen did not say, “Use me only for important documents, not for the daily mundane tasks.” With greatest reliability it performed every task I needed, no matter how important or insignificant. It was always ready to serve. In a similar way we are tools in the hands of God. When our heart is in the right place, we do not complain that our assigned task is unworthy of our abilities. We gladly serve wherever we are asked. When we do this, the Lord can use us in ways beyond our understanding to accomplish His work."

We hope that we are all like President Uchtdorf's pen :D 

Day 2

We're figuring out how to make this better now bit by bit. That made us think of a great little scripture chain! (Wow, we really are Mormon missionaries, aren't we?)

Isaiah 28:10 & (2 Ne. 28:30)
D&C 98:12
D&C 50:24
Luke 2:52

These all connect well in this awesome talk!
The Soil and Roots of Testimony, by John K. Carmack (of the Seventy)
see-http://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/11/the-soil-and-roots-of-testimony


We want to add our testimony that gradual growth is part of the plan of our Father in Heaven. We know that this life is part of our eternal progression and so the idea of building line upon line is so important and applicable to our everyday lives. We can focus our attention on being a little better today than we were yesterday. It is through relying on our Savior Jesus Christ and exercising the gift of the Atonement that we can continually progress each day. We hope that this "scripture chain" and talk will give you some inspiring insight of how we can also build our testimonies each day and continually strengthen our reliance on our Savior Jesus Christ.
Please comment with any insights from this scripture study suggestion!

A Social Experiment!

So, while serving here in New York, we have noticed that many people look sad or frustrated or lonely as they walk around this beautiful city... It seems that New York is the loneliest populous city there is.

We decided to try to fix that!

Today, we got together with 6 other of our missionary friends and went out to invite others to write an encouraging note that they might give to a friend, so that we could give them to someone who looked like they were having a rough day! Tons of people in Union Square helped us out, and now we have some awesome encouraging notes that we can give to anyone in need! The things that these people wrote were truly inspiring, and we could see that those who thought about it could feel the spirit of service (: It was awesome!

Day 1

Well, it looks like there's a ton of stuff to learn about making a blog (:
First off!
After showing this to our friend Alex, he suggested that we mention the fact that we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! Thanks Alex! We are missionaries!

We're figuring out more about how to make this a useful site, and if you have any comments on that or questions about the gospel, LET US KNOW!
email me at bradley.witbeck@myldsmail.net or
Elder Potter at aaron.potter@myldsmail.net

We look forward to building this up and making it great, and we'll need your help to do it (:

WELCOME!

Welcome to Reach My Gospel!

This blog is designed to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel :) 

(gospel= God's instructions on how to live happily) 

That's a great task isn't it? We can always do better in coming unto Christ, because honestly? None of us are with Him now (see John 17:3)... at least none of us who are reading this blog! So, on this blog we want to share and hear ideas for how we can all come closer to Christ through improving our prayer, scripture study, and church attendance! We also want to be able to help our friends "reach" the gospel, so we'll share posts about great ways to share the gospel as well (:

Please feel free to share all comments, questions, stories, and any good ideas that you have pertaining to the gospel! (: We would love to hear them! 

Or... IF you've already skipped the long paragraph...

What is it we want to do? 

1- Improve our personal relationship with God! (Through ideas for improving our prayers, scripture study, and time spent at church.) 

2- Help others to do the same! (By sharing what inspires us from this page!)

3- Find answers to questions that we might have!

We hope you enjoy this thoroughly, because we know we will (: AND we encourage you to send anyone that could use the gospel in their lives to this blog.

Remember, the gospel is true, and God loves you!