Week 3 in the MTC for Anziano Ruiz

July 28, 2016 

Dear all,

 Woah already another Pday! This week went by pretty dang fast. Everything is pretty much the same here at the MTC from week to week so there's not a lot to talk about.. the only thing that changes are the personal experiences you have.

 We had a pretty cool devotional last Sunday for pioneer day we had the Nashville tribute band come and play for us. They are an all LDS band that plays religion rock and religion County. That was definitely a different experience here but it was actually really cool! The last song they played was called " the hardest thing I ever loved to do" it talked about just that haha it was about the guy leaving on his mission then some of his mission experiences then when he came home and how it was all the hardest thing he loved to do. The last line was "for the blessing of the man I've become to be as I walk up and kiss my mama's cheek" after that all the guys were crying cause we all miss our beautiful mama's... :'( anyway that was super cool!

  Every Sunday after our devotionals they have videos playing that are about an hour long. We get to choose what one we want to watch. So last Sunday we watched Joseph Smith and the legacy of Kirtland, it was a quick overview of just about everything Joseph Smith did for the restoration of the church. It's so crazy to think of how much faith it would take to be one of the first members of the church. It was super good and definitely strengthened my testimony of the book of Mormon. So when we got back to the residence everyone was on a awesome spiritual high and we were just talking and sharing our testimonies with each other in our rooms. We had a couple of Elders in my room and one of them was talking about how he never had a huge experience about the book of Mormon where he just knew it was true. That made me pretty sad when I heard it so I decided to bear my testimony to him. So earlier that week in class we watched the Mormon message "Earthly Father Heavenly Father" and watching that strengthened my own testimony about how God loves us just like our parents do but that his love is perfect. So I was talking to the Elder and I asked him "what in this life makes you the happiest?" He said his family did and we talk a little about the love we have for our family's and that they have for us and just that brought us to tears. So I started explaining to him how God has the same love for us but it's a perfect love and we can't even comprehend how great it is. And that it is God's plan that the the book of Mormon was restored through Joseph Smith and that he restored the fullness of his Gospel for us in the ladder days. The spirit in the room was so strong in the room and the Elder said with tears running down his face "guys I think you guys just witnessed me knowing for myself". This was by far the most spiritual moment I've had at the MTC. I know that this gospel is so true, that God loves us so much and that he wants this gospel for everybody. That's why he sends young men like me on missions to spread the word and share his love around the world. I've never been so  anxious to serve the Lord. I can't wait to help the people of Italy come unto Christ.
  Thank you to everyone who supports me and thank you for all the prayers and all the love. I'm doing my best here for all of you.

Love Anziano Ruiz

Scenes from the MTC

The Hardest Thing I Ever Loved to do

"The hardest thing I've ever loved to do
Was pack my bags and leave all I ever knew
19 years had come and gone and flew right by
As I turned and gave the fam a wave good bye

The firmest hand I've ever loved to shake,
Was my trainer's with that big grin on his face
He grabbed my bag and put his arm 'round me and whispered
I'm gonna work those Mr. Macs right off your feet

The hardest words ive ever anguished for
Came just before some lady slammed the door
My trainer left me hangin out to dry
As a minute of painful silk rolled right by

But the hardest tears I've ever loved to cry
Fell as I opened up my mouth and testified
Between the tin walls of a strangers living room
The spirit told their hearts my words were true

The most wonderful sound I've ever heard
Is the sound of water running in the church
As someone I'd come to love got dressed in white
My eyes saw their first glimpse of Heaven's light

The hardest thing I've ever come to see
Is a man down on his knees in agony
A drop of blood falls down on Olive leaves
And for a moment He suffers there for me

The hardest thing I've ever loved to do
Was getting on the plane and coming home to you
In a million ways completely torn apart
As a land so far away still owns my heart

In the mist sincere prayer I've ever prayed
I thank my God for each and every day
For the blessing of the man I've come to be
As I walk up and kiss my mama's cheek

Earthy Father, Heavenly Father

Joseph Smith

roman.ruiz@myldsmail.net

Elder Roman Javier Ruiz

AUG16 ITA-ROM

2005 N 900 E Unit 69

Provo UT 84602

dearelder.com