Far Far Away.. The Misty Mountains Call. For Frodo.. And For Narnia.

Mom there is no more salad dressing.
Ohhh I find that hard to believe.

Today for P day we went out to the misty mountains of Trento did a hike... we all did not bring jackets.. there was no sun while we were hiking and there was lots of wind high up in the mountains.. When we started to come back down.. the sun came out. It is really nice and pretty up here.. I might as well be in Middle Earth. The bus got canceled and did not come.. so we are stuck up in a cool restaurant that is kind of like a ranch restaurant place.

Our investigator who was supposed to be baptized last weekend is not going to be baptized in this moment. He lost his phone making it hard to meet with him.. and when we fix an appointment with him.. he is not reliable at coming to the appointment. He still wants to be baptized.. but he is whiffing out at this point a bit.. So hopefully that happens sometime soon.

Anziano Gailees family came to Trento with him and Anziano Gailee.. We went out to lunch and got some gelato.. it was pretty dang nice and good.. Anziano Gailee burned a coin into Anziano Binghams skin, for 20 seconds, for a 35 euro cord. He has a huge part of the flesh of his arm gone. He is definitely going to have a scar.. especially because he wont treat it properly because he does not want to spend money on the things he would need to get to take care of it... irony.... Anziano Gailees mom saw his arm and Anziano Gailee told her what happened.. and she started freaking out.
Little brothers.. do not be instigating or instigated on your missions...

In the gospel there are quite a few opposite paradoxes... For example.. Man is nothing.. yet God spends all his time bringing about the eternal life of man.. hence man is worth something... Funny things and ideas like that. I think sometimes people find one of these.. and without investigating it properly.. they come to their own conclusion.. and use that as an excuse to forget about a lot of other ideas and principles etc. When we don't see things as the full picture.. and we take something and warp it and try to make it look bad.. it may end up looking weird. I promise you the gospel makes sense and that it all adds up and works.. if you are claiming something is not right.. maybe one of these.. I would invite you to check it out again.. ignorance is not really an excuse..
Ignorance is expensive; in fact, it is the most expensive commodity we know anything about.

Certainly we make many mistakes through ignorance. If it is a violation of a commandment of God which we have never received and thus do not know, then the Lord does not hold us guilty of the sin. “… to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17.) And in Paul’s words, “… where no law is, there is no transgression.” (Rom. 4:15.) But even though we may not be guilty of the sin because of our ignorance, neither can we receive the blessing, which is predicated on obedience, without rendering obedience to that law. Therefore, we are denied the blessing through our ignorance. If it is a traffic law we have violated through ignorance, the penalty assessed us is exactly the same as if we had known. Also, if we stick a finger in an electric light socket, we will receive the same shock, irrespective of our knowledge of electricity. I repeat, ignorance is expensive. Particularly is this true since the Lord has decreed, “It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.” (D&C 131:6.) For surely no man is truly enlightened unless he knows the Lord.


Kevin I am going to give you about five seconds to take your junk off my scrabble board.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.

With Love,
Anziano Gridley

Catch Me If You Can

Must have fallen right off your neck.

Emanuel should be getting baptized for the other Anziani this weekend.. Kelly lost his phone on Saturday.. So we had to move back his baptism until next Friday.. 

We have two new legit investigators.. Both have bap dates for July.. 

• Thomas is an African that lives in a nearby city.. He is getting his documents done.. He is about 25 and basically is a missionary like us.. But freelance... A really spiritual guy that we have big hope for.

• Effie is an African also about 25.. He wants to be baptized.. He is really honest and a good guy.. He prays before he goes to a new church.. He has short African dread hair.. Pretty legit.

There is a new convert here that told Anziano Santiago and me how he did a seven day dry fast.. Seven days without food or water.. Two days before the fast he ate and drank a lot.. Then the day before started his fast.. Hence a dry fast (more of an 8 day fast).. He told us this as friends.. Not as boasting.. Later he was teaching Steven with us and brought up how most Christians are not exactly true Christians.. He then asked redundantly how many Christians can fast seven days.. He then kept on talking.. Not pointing out that he himself had done this. Anziano Santiago brought up the idea of us fasting from using our emails since we can't fast like that.. Which sounds funny.. But in theory it makes sense.. So if I don't email anyone for several months you now know why.. I am either killed by the mafia or I am doing an email fast.

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

5 ¶And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

I would invite you to change something in your life.. Or do a kind act for others.. But don't boast about it.. Do it for the right reasons.

Trento has been extremely hot.. I am told it is one of the three hottest cities in Italy... The mountains trap the heat. We brought home from the church an air conditioner and a fan.. These with the fan Anziano Santiago bought have worked miracles for our well being here in Italy.. Today we went to Verona to visit Anziano Santiagos trainer who is holidaying in Italy with his family.. They took us out to lunch.. Went and saw some sights with us,, and gave us some American food.. It was really nice.. As they say.. It is all about who you know.. And Anziano Santiago has got the connections.. We might start going to a gym for our exercise time/free time.. Could you try to send me pictures of my physical papers when you can so we can go.. Thank ya.

We must pay a price for everything we get, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature, and we generally get about what we pay for. If, for instance, I should purchase a suit of clothes, in order to get the best material, the best style, and the proper fit, I must pay a higher price than if I am satisfied with a suit made of shoddy material and poor workmanship. Likewise if I desire to purchase a home, an automobile, or whatever it may be. If I seek intellectual values, I must pay the price by study, research, by devoted effort and ofttimes sacrifice.

Two little mice fell into a bucket of creme.. One mouse gave up quickly and drowned.. The other mouse kicked and fought in that bucket of creme.. Until that creme turned into butter and it crawled its way out..Gentlemen as of this moment.. I am that second mouse.

With love, 

Anziano Gridley 

Help me leave behind some reason to be missed.. Leave out all the rest.

Dear family and friends,

Are you here to kill me?

 If I were trying to kill you.. You would already be dead. 

If I were trying to kill you, you would be dead. 

Well obviously neither of us are dead, so neither of us is trying to kill each other.

Yes that does make sense.

Today we went to Gardaland. The biggest amusement park in Italy... It was a lot of fun.. The park has a kind of weird theme etc.. But as missionaries it was a blast for us. 

We have an investigator named Kelly one of the ones who lived in rovereto. He has still been progressing and should be getting baptized next Saturday. Kind of exciting for the Anziani here in Trento. Also the other Anziani are helping a man named Emanuel be ready on the thirteenth as well... Hopefully a really happy good day. 

We ate fufu at Stanley's house the other day... Fufu is African food which is a bread type thing.. That you dip in African soup.. That has meats and veggies etc.. When you eat the bread though.. You swallow.. You don't chew. Which is different and kind of strange.. But fufu is a really nice good food.

We are still teaching Steven.. But we might have to stop... We have had great lessons... But we could prove spiritually and logically something and no matter what it is... Or how clear we present it.. He won't let himself change to accept it.. And if you won't do that as an investigator.. Nothing God or us missionaries can do, in this moment can really do to force you to change... Speriamo bene. 

Anziano Thomas has arrived... He is from Layton Utah and went to Layton high... He is a nice chill Utah guy. 

I feel that quite often a lot of problems come to people because they do not understand who they are, why they are on the earth etc.. Which comes to the plan of salvation... That we are children of God. He loves us.. We are here on earth to gain a body, gain experience / learn and grow, and to be tested. After we die things also don't just end in oblivion... If we truly understand this plan, and try to act like we do, we are much more able to reach our potential.

In 3 Nephi 12:30 

For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye should be cast into hell.

Now Jesus does not say.. You have to carry your cross this well or be this good at carrying your cross... He just says to take up your cross... And if we take up our crosses with perspective and with us playing our table tennis A-Game.. We will become better people and find the true happiness in life.

Persevere in the way of well-doing and you may hope for success. If I was discouraged and did not believe I could do a thing, I never could. Therefore when you think anything is too hard for you, do not undertake it. - asael smith

You have already undertaken life.. Which hopefully means you and God thought you could handle it... In reality it does mean that and if it didn't you should probably try to change it to the affirmative.. You have your agency to choose.. So go crazy cowboy. This agency gives you a lot of power to do good or bad for yourself or others.. As Emperor Palpatine says.. OMNIPOTENT POWER!

Because it had a familiar sound, he accepted it with his family as gospel truth. After becoming members of the Church, he and his family left to join the rest of the Church at Nauvoo. Before he arrived there, however, Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, so the family then turned west to join the Church on the prairies at Winter Quarters. His beloved wife, Hannah Shipley Burton, suffered from the hardships of the journey and died on the plains on the banks of the Missouri River. This grief-stricken man undoubtedly complained loudly as has many another man who has suffered hardships and trials while being proved by the Lord. If we understood completely the designs of the Lord, we would be more patient in our suffering and would not complain as much as we so often do when hardships come and we are asked to sacrifice.

I know the the things I am out here teaching others about are true... I have studied it out spiritually and intelligently and from what I know, understand, have experienced, it is true. I praise God for all the blessings he gives us. 

The missionary work is good here.. We are loving it even more than McDonald's.

Yes considering I was not always in the best of shape.

With love,

Anziano Gridley

Oh... you think youre funny

Dear Family and Friends,

Look what you did you little jerk. (I can still see Sam laughing his
head off at this movie).

This week is transfer week dun dun dun. No joke though.. it was pretty
intense friday evening and saturday morning.. as all of the Anziani
were waiting for the call of what would be happening to us.... and..
All of us were staying, but now Anziano Young is going back to
Berghimo. I am glad I am staying in Trento.. I like it here and this
next transfer should be good in the fact we will be able to see some
of the fruit of our labors. Anziano Santiago and I are getting along
quite a bit better now. As I have said he is quite the joker..
yesterday a new speaker came in to the Chinese store.. which I would
get because I had gotten a speaker that was slightly broken about 6
weeks ago and was getting a new one.. He told me we would wait till
Saturday till we would get this speaker. I would have been ok with
this.. but he kept bringing it up.. so I kind of wanted to go get it..
but we didn't.. we went home.. and the other Anziani had went and
gotten it and had put it on my bed.. He thinks he is extremely funny.
Good thing I got a sense of humor.

A few weeks ago an American couple that are older and are scientists
came to Trento for a lecture they were giving. They are members and
took us out to dinner... we then went to a Pakistan store to get some
food for the week... and then got gelato.. they were really really
nice.. I don't know if that type of a thing happens in other missions a
lot.. but it was a really nice special thing here.

Monday was a holiday in Bolzano... only in Bolzano.. so the ward in
Bolzano had a festa in the mountains by a lake that the Trento Anziani
were invited to. We played some soccer.. a bit of volleyball (we had
church clothes on.. so that was funny... it is extremely hard to jump
without proper clothing).. and ate a bit and got to spend time with
the Bolzano members. Playing soccer with Italians is kind of intense..
I love it. Anziano Evans and I stayed a bit longer so we could keep
playing soccer.. while Anziano Gailee went with Anziano Santiago to
teach Steven.. We met up with the other Anziani later.. we had
district meeting at a semi American restaurant called Roadhouse.. and
talked had district meeting.. It was a pretty good day. This has been
a very good transfer.

Africans really hate rain.. it is probably in general their number one
fear.. it has been raining a fair bit here in Trento this last week..
so we have not had as many lessons as we could have.. The work here is
really good though.. it may feel a bit slow at times.. not super
slow.. just a bit.. but everything is going good this next transfer
should be incredible.

A topic that I really like that is a bit interesting to me is the
quality of being grateful.. Being grateful all the time that is.. If
we are grateful all the time.. that means that generally no matter the
outside circumstances.. we should be grateful.. That outside
influences should not super influence how we in general act or treat
others.. That allowing someone else to get me worked up enough to do
something I normally would not do is a flawed not good thing and
should not be done if it can be helped.. For me at times I struggle
with getting worked up in the moment and doing this thing.. Hence,
sometimes I try to leave the situation and so I can tackle whatever
the problem is with a level head. God has asked us to be grateful.. I
don't believe it is for his benefit.. I believe it is for ours.. I have
a testimony that when we are grateful even when things are difficult
and we don't complain.. things will work out. I challenge you to be
grateful.. and as Mrs. Sowby would say.. suck it up Buttercup.

Keep the change you filthy animal.

With Love,
Anziano Gridley

Star crossed lovers in Verona

Dear Family and Friends,

I am sped.. is he gone and have nothing.. aye aye a scratch.. marry tis enough.

This week went really well. We had a zone training in Verona
where we got our iPads. For those of you who don't understand the
significance of Verona.. it is the city where Romeo and Juliet takes
place. It is a pretty big city.. it has lots of shops. I will try to
send a few pics when I can.

We had a lot of investigators at the beginning of this transfer.. we
have quite a few still but some are different. A lot of our
investigators lose interest for whatever reason.. completely
disappear.. etc. As President Monson says... Beginners are many..
Finishers are few. It is good to be willing to stick out something
even if it is a little bit hard or different.

The castle was really cool.. there was a lot of art things inside..
making it not just a sweet castle.. but an arty sweet castle..
priceless. Good King Wenceslas may have gone to the castle I went to
here in Trento.. so that is kind of cool. They really like the Madonna
here in Italy there were lots of art of her and Jesus... In Luke 11:27-28 
there is a scripture that Jesus says that shoots down the worship
of his mother... Anyways.

I am super excited to be able to use the Ipads.. The main reason I am
excited is because I can now read as many General Conference talks as
I want.. They have a special spirit about them that is hard to find in
the scriptures at times... I have a testimony of the scriptures.. but
I also have a testimony of the General Authorities because of these
talks.

Anziano Santiago has skills.. you know like.. moter cycle skills...
preaching the gospel... computer hacking skills... Girls only want boy
friends who have great skills. He is a really great guy. He also likes
things to be clean and not to smell.. which is understandable. He just
really likes it.

I read Alma 13.20 today.. and I really liked it.. Basically it says
that some people have read the scriptures and have gone far astray.
I believe it is not really the scriptures fault.. But if we read the
scriptures and maybe there is something we dont understand.. or maybe
there is a slight fault about a fact of something that is written..
someone may freak out.. This also may be the case about the gospel. I
dare to say.. you can not tear everything else down because of a tiny
mistake by men etc. You got to look at the big picture.. and not wrest
the scriptures or the gospel to your destruction... Do not excuse your
self in the least bit.. Also a of the time.. We as missionaries etc
have the answer to the questions people ask.. some of the time.. it is
something that we do not know etc.. but if we have a foundation of
simple truths etc.. We can build a strong testimony of the truth.
I know this gospel is true.. that Jesus Christ is the Savior and that
he lives. I know the Book of Mormon is true.. I know that there is God
and that he loves us.. and just because maybe the modern day indians
dont have Jewish DNA.. (Which Elder Bednar explained to us makes sense
if you know anything about DNA) does not change the other things that
I know are true.

The scriptures.. the gospel etc.. teach us not to be selfish.
Missionary work should not be selfish.. The world is not all about you
and when you reach out and help others as Jesus did.. we become a
little bit better. The idea of not being selfish is very intriguing to
me.. coming from someone that has been very selfish in the past.. and
still isnt perfect.. It is such an odd challenge.. and I still don't
understand it completely.. but I believe sometimes if we have faith
and we follow the rabbit hole down.. We will eventually find
Wonderland.. I have been satisfied with what I have found since I
starting going down this path.. I have a testimony of what has
happened since I started on this path and now.. and I have faith and
hope for the future. I invite you to change your path to what will
bring you more happiness long term. Things will change if you change
things.

Then I defy you stars.

With Love,
Anziano Gridley

Blitzkrieg to Bollzano and Back

Dear Family and Friends,

Life is too short not to feel comfortable with the ones you love.

Bolzano - Bozen (german)

As I talked about last letter we have been teaching a man named Steven who is pretty stubborn about what he believes. We have made big progress with him since we started to meet with him.. hopefully he will start to read the Book of Mormon and what not. We might have to drop him in a few lessons.. but I am grateful that we have been able to teach him. It kind of woke me up to how much I really like missionary work.. and talking about spiritual things. Kind of helped me have a wake up call.

We ate at a members house last night.. Scott and Kelly who are two red heads from the United States.. they are really nice and a good addition to the ward.

I went to Bolzano yesterday for a scambio with Anziano Evans. We taught four lessons while I was there which was really good. He is from Canada and is a really solid guy. He treated me to Gelato... I got dark chocolate and pear (flavors) it was really good. He is a really good example to me.. He should be finishing his mission in about four months. Bolzano is kind of like Trento.. but a lot more Germans live there.. The mountains are really pretty. It is kind of the one half German city for missionaries that is in the mission.. so that is kind of good.. Unfortunately I was not able to practice all of the German I have learned from WW2 movies and video games.

We played a little bit of ping pong in Bolzano. It is a good thing I retired a few years ago.

It was fun to talk to y'all. Thank you for the letters this last week. We should be getting Ipads.. 

I finally gave my talk last Sunday.. It went really well.. I got lots of compliments on it.. I sort of free styled it.. which was pretty impressive since I gave it in Italian. I used the scriptures a lot.. and just went off on different topics as I felt I should.

We are going to a Castle here in Trento later today. 

James 2

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

I really like this scripture about faith.. it helps us see how faith is good and how it can be useless.. I hope that you can see my testimony more from my works than from what I say. I invite you to utilize your faith in a new endeavor that would be good.. Start a new work with your faith. Have a great week.

Welcome to Sam.. I am Utah.

With Love,

Anziano Gridley

So You Think You Can Dance

Dear Family and Friends,

Before we continue.. I feel there is something that I must tell you.... I'm a Democrat.

This week was really good we had lots of lessons with many people. I really like Trento.. it is a beautiful place and is really nice as a missionary. We went to lago riva garda today. It is this beautiful lake that is a little bit aways from Trento.

There is a store (euro spar (desktop)) twenty seconds from our house that is really nice.. they have a bakery and a butchery thing there.. Which is really nice.

We take buses a lot here in Trento.. we take a bus everywhere... Which is pretty different than Alessandria.. if you wanted to get anywhere in Alessandria you had to walk or take the bikes.. A little nicer here where let the busses do all the work.

Anziano Santiago is a really great guy.. if I were to try to describe him.. I would have you compare Jaden Abbot... who is a really cool great guy. He has a pretty good sense of humor.. he will often troll me with funny things that if I didnt have a sense of humor I could get kind of bugged at him for.. It is good to be kept on my toes haha.

We go to a city just a little bit away from here to visit three investigators often.. Kelly, Christopher, and Godstime. They should be getting baptized in the next while.. they are all Africans from Nigeria.. 

The English class here has a lot of people.. they have at least ten people come to two classes every week.. which compared to Alessandria of one class with four people once a week... is a huge improvement. 

(Spiritual thought) There is an investigator we met on a bench on a park.. we have met him twice.. his name is Steven.. he is this really intelligent deep thinker African Christian who has thought a lot about the gospel and what not.. every time we have met with him we end up talking about deep church concepts that are a bit complex and don't super super matter. Everytime we answer a topic correctly (because he does have a few interesting and a little skewed ideas) he wont really accept the new information that is truth as truth and will just move on to another complex useless topic and we begin the process again. What I kind of learned from this is... In the gospel and in life you need to stick to basics. Dont freak out and dig too deep into things. For instance.. If the Book of Mormon is true.. Joseph Smith is a prophet and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth.. very simple and easy to get.. You need to have a base of a building before it can get very high.. It is not meet for you to run.. before you can walk. 

I would invite you to find a basic thing this week and to strengthen the base to your building.. Whether it is spiritually or as a person.. 

He is a football player... not Martha silly Stewart.

With Love,

Anziano Gridley