The rain helping the temps.... That is the funniest thing I heard. The rain makes it worst here. It just feels like you are in a bathroom with the shower on as hot as it can go...... Transfers is the 2nd... The dad of Zach is in Bangladesh selling a factory, a mansion, and a village.... So now is the perfect time to teach the family So this week was awesome!!! We were able to get haircuts last monday. It felt so much better in the heat. On Tuesday we were able to see a couple of less active referrals. WE GOT A TON OF THEM FROM THE MEMBERS!!!! One family came to church too!!!! We also saw Anthony. He still wont progress but it is always amazing to see him.

We were finally able to go to Abbevile on Wednesday. It is like New Orleans out in the middle of no where. We were locating people on the ward roster and we were able to see our Hispanics also. There was one part where we thought we were going to get jumped. We pulled over at this one address and this guy that looked like he was high on drugs went like into this crouch position then he went behind a bush so we were pretending to read a pamphlet while we were still looking at this guy then this kid came up to our car and asked us if we were cops and we said no then the guy came over and asked if we were cops and we said no. So I'm sure he was doing something illegal. There were a bunch of sketchy people down there. But it was a fun small town... It reminded me a lot of New Orleans. It was amazing though that we got to go down there and finally see people. We also did some tracting there but most people were too busy doing illegal stuff.....

On Thursday we saw some Less Actives and we also did some tracting... No success still. Oh Well.. Friday we also tried to locate some more people on the roster that we couldn't find. But that gave us the opportunity to talk to more people.

Saturday we saw the  cajun member that the Bishop asked us to visit often. He was still talking to us about is court stuff and how the government is trying to take away our guns..... It was really funny. We also saw other less actives.

Sunday we did a lot of Tracting. . Then we spent dinner with the Awbry family. They are amazing!!! Sister Awbry reminds me of you mom. And then that night we did call ins.

Today we went to Avery Island where Tabasco is made. I was really fun!!! I really enjoyed it. We got to try the different flavors they have. Chipolte Raspberry is really interesting. THEY ALSO HAD TABASCO SODA!!! IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD!!! The chili was also really good. The jungle Gardens were probably the best!!! We saw Alligators!!!! It was really cool. It was like being in a movie... It was very mystical. We had so much fun.

I love you so much mom!!!! Make good choices!!! We are working hard and doing our best here. Me and my companion are having a lot of fun! It is going awesome down here in the south!!! Have an awesome week mom!!!!

So this week was really good. We had pretty good week. We got to see Anthony and teach him a little bit about faith and repentance. That went awesome. We tried to get him to meet us at the church so we could do a tour of the church but he didn't want to commit to meeting us there... oh well.

We also helped some people moved out of the ward. That was fun in the heat.... We also tracted into someone and taught them the restoration lesson. It went really good.

We also got to see Zach and his mom, sister, and brother. We showed them Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration. Zach really enjoyed it and the restoration made a lot more sense to him on film. His mom had a lot of questions. She wants to read the book of mormon. We gave her a copy of the book of mormon. Zach's brother is also reading the book of mormon. I so hope that his family will accept the gospel. They are so wonderful to us and are very good people. We are going to have a plan of salvation lesson at the Awbrys home this week hopefully.

We also had another meeting in Baton Rouge.... AAAA So many meetings!!!! It was fairly good. I also went on exchanges with the zone leaders. That was interesting.... But i am glad I serve in Lafayette. Baton Rouge is really sketchy....

HEY EVERYBODY!!!!!

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Matthew 11: 28-30

 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Taking on the yoke of Christ is the easiest way we can bear our burdens. The more we live up to our covenants. The more easier life will be. It may be hard living the commandments such as the Word of Wisdom, loving others, paying tithing, being charitable, living the law of Chasity, attending church weekly, having a current temple recommend, etc but they provide us with peace. comfort, and protect us. May we do our best to live up to the covenants we have made to follow the savior at Baptism and in the temple of our God. I know this gospel is true. I know that obedience is hard but it brings us joy and happiness. I love yall so much!!! Thank you for your support and love!!!!

Elder Richardson

 I am so glad we are on the new month. The entire mission did so bad on miles and allotment. We had a ton of zone meetings so a lot of eating out and driving.... BUT IT is a new month!!!

So this week we had a good week. We helped a new family moved into the ward. Probably the most easiest move I have helped with on my mission. HAHA! We also helped a member put cinder blocks around her gardens so they would be protected during hurricanes. While doing that we were able to talk to her neighbor about the church.

We were able to see our investigator Anthony. Hopefully he will come to church!!! He says he wants to but he keeps backing out!!!!

We were able to see a bunch of less actives that we were unable to see with bikes, We are going to go through the roster to find all the Hispanic less actives. We couldn't go to far because when it was our turn to use the car it was already over on miles..... We will be able to some finding in those areas like Abbeville that are really far away. We did do a lot of tracting but no luck.... Everybody says they are Catholic!!!!!..... It is so much easier using the members.

We were able to see a Hispanic less active family named the Sosas. They were really nice. They fed us really good tostatas and tacos. I miss the Hispanic food. Speaking of food I made red beans and rice!!! And They were actually good!!!

For district meeting I instructed on Elder Joseph B Wirthlins talk titled come what may and love it. It is one of my favorite talks. Call ins were also really good. Not too much drama... but they were a little disappointed with interviews. One sister was crying over the phone because president said something that was a little offensive... That was interesting listening to that over the phone... He is nice but he is not very good with words though.... My interview was pretty good. Although it was kind of awkward because I had to bring up a situation where an elder in the district smells really bad and I mean really bad that the members have complained.....  The best part of interviews was getting to talk to Sister Hansen. She is amazing!!! All of the missionaries talked with her after.

Church was really good yesterday. I bore my testimony.... My companion's bishop was visiting his son who is actually in Lafayette so that was cool for my companion to see him. After church we did tracting.

Love Elder Richardson

Families Can Be Together Forever 7/27/2015

Well thats interesting you had a phone call from President!!! Ya we are ok. We actually drove in front of that theater two days before.

So transfers happened and I got a companion named Elder Quist. He is from Boise Idaho. He has been a really fun companion to have. We also were put into a car share!!!! Finally we are able to use the car!!!! It will be so much better than biking everyday!!! AND WE CAN FINALLY GO TO ABBEVILLE!!!

So last week we were able to see a couple of people eventhough it was busy with transfers. We saw a less active named Bobby Smith. He has been going through some hard times. He later took us out to eat which was really nice. We also saw an older widow named sister philips. We talked to her on her porch and she gave us po-boys.

We got back really late from transfers so we were not able to do much on that day. On thrusday we saw two less actives. Krista and sister dunbar. Then we went and saw out investigator Anthony after coordination. Hopefully he will come to the church. We fill the spirit so strong every time we visit with him.

Before district meeting on Friday we received a call from Brother Caviarros. I had never met him while here because he has been offshore in Africa but he picked us up that morning and we had breakfast with him and his wife. His wife isn't a member so hopefully we can teach her.

District meeting was fun. It wasn't too bad having to conduct it. Later that evening we helped the Wuertonberg family with a YSA activity.

Saturday was awesome. My companion in his last area had someone he taught that was going through the temple for the first time so we got permission and went to the temple. The Wuertonbergs were already planning on going to the temple so that was a miracle we had to go there. When we got there we arrived 2 hours early before the 11 o clock session. The sisters and the Wuertonbergs wanted to go take pictures around the temple. We decided to go put our stuff in the waiting area but just as we were walking in a temple worker ran up to us and asked us they needed some help with priesthood and they didn't have much because there was a big ward going through for baptism and a session was going on at the time. They had a couple that was getting sealed and they only had a grandpa with them and they needed witnesses. We hurried and got changed in our white clothing and they asked me to be a witness for the sealing!!!! I was really nervous I didn't know what to look for if it was like a baptism witness where you have to make sure they go under. I got to sit next to the sealer as he did the ceremony! IT WAS SO COOL!!! I had never witnessed a sealing in my life. It was so simple yet it was so powerful!!!! After, they brought their two little children to be sealed. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I had ever had. Then after I got to sign my name on their sealing certificate. It was really awesome!!! Then after we got to do the session. It was a really neat session. I also saw Sister Ortega and the Stancliffe family from the WestBank!!! That was so awesome!!!!! Brother Stancliffe came up to me in the Celestial Room. I was able to teach him how to do family history back in the west bank. He came up to me and told me that He is now the branch family history teacher and that people come every week to his house to learn family history. He also told me that he has found over 200 names!!!! I am not going to lie. It made me feel really good. :)

After the temple we got to see Barry. That was really cool because we told him we went to the temple earlier and the lesson turned into about the temple. He said he wanted to go through someday. We told him he could if he got active. He said he really wants to. After we went contacting. Not much success there.

At Church we had two investigators come. IT was awesome because they were hispanics. Brother Caviaros wife and a person from Abbeville. After we got to go to the Shermers then after I did Call ins.


Elder Richardson

July 13, 2015 Spiritual thought

HEY HEY HEY EVERYBODY!!!!
So my Spiritual thought today is based off of our lesson we gave in Elders Quorum yesterday on the Temple.

We were able to go to the temple to help the youth with Baptisms and it was so amazing to see so many youth bring their own family names to the temple.

In the Teaching Of The Presidents of the Church for Ezra Taft Benson he talked about the importance of the covenants that we make in the temples. I am so grateful for President's Hinckley's goal to have 100 temples  in the world. Without it we would not have the Baton Rouge Temple!!! I love the opportunity we have to worship the lord in his holy house.

I know that this church is true!!! I love the gospel of Jesus Christ!!! I love yall!!!! Keep going to the temple!!! Or live a life to be able to attend the temple!!!!

Here are videos more about the temple!!!!!
LOVE YALL!!!
Elder Richardson

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-1460-sacred-temple-clothing?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.au/article/mormon-temples--video-

O Ye Mountains High

So this week was still another slow week. A lot of people are out of town still. We did a lot of service. We were able to see our investigator Anthony twice. He complains about his church all the time and wants to come to ours and really likes what we teach him but just like with everyone in the south... They still don't keep commitments.

We were able to help an older lady in the ward with her garden. That was fun. After she bought us food from chipotles. We also had zone conference. Salt lake now wants us to do the restoration lesson in 4 minutes. I really liked how they do it. We also learned that we are the only missionaries in the entire zone of over 30 missionaries who dont have a car!!!! I will admit. When I learned that I was not happy because we have one of the biggest areas in the mission.....

We also helped out at a combined mutual missionary activity. We helped the youth come up with a list of less actives to help deactivate and Also a list of friends they can invite. It was really good but it was hard to keep them entertain. We also had to help the youth on Saturday with baptisms for the dead at the temple. Of a ward with four hundred people they were only able to have 2 priesthood holders come. None of the young mens leaders were there. So they had to have us 4 elders assigned here to assist with the youth because at the BR temple you have to provide priesthood and the young woman leaders have to do the laundry. I am glad that I got to go but it is sad to see the lack of leadership in this huge ward. Elder Passey and I were witnesses. The baptistry changing room only has two stalls!!! It is really really small.

That night we also helped out at a YSA barbecue. It was so hot at the grill outside in proselytes. It has been so hot!!! I am ready for cool weather haha!!! We were able to see a couple of less actives. Last week also.

Sunday morning the elders quorum president asked us to give the elders quorum lesson. It was on chapter 13 in the Ezra Taft Benson book about temples. We winged the lesson but I think we did awesome.... Hopefully...... :D

Today as a district we went to Olive Garden for soup and salad for my year mark!!! HERE I COME JUNE 23rd 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss you all!!
Elder Richardson

Spirtual thought June 30, 2015

HEY EVERYBODY!!!!
So I decided to do my spiritual thought this week on the hymn praise to the man with the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
W.W Phelps wrote many of the prominent hymns for the church. The Spirit of God, Now Let Us Rejoice, Redeemer Of Israel,

During the Missouri conflict W.W Phelps was angry with some of the counseling the prophet had given him including hate jealously and trials occurring during the Missouri conflict in Far West led him to betray the Prophet and wrote an affidavit of treason on the prophet. The prophet suffered 9 painful months in a cold damp jail in the middle of winter for false charges while many of the saints were driven out of the state or exterminated. Many saints lost their lives and many were beaten and driven from their homes. Later they would settle in Nauvoo and the prophet would be released from jail.

Two Years later W.W Phelps experienced a change of heart and suffered much heartache from his actions he wrote a letter to the prophet stating his desire for readmission into the church and forgiveness.

The prophet replied “It is true, that we have suffered much in consequence of your behavior—the cup of gall, already full enough for mortals to drink, was indeed filled to overflowing when you turned against us, However, the cup has been drunk, the will of our Father has been done, and we are yet alive, for which we thank the Lord And having been delivered from the hands of wicked men by the mercy of our God, we say it is your privilege to be delivered from the powers of the adversary, be brought into the liberty of God’s dear children, and again take your stand among the Saints of the Most High, and by diligence, humility, and love unfeigned, commend yourself to our God, and your God, and to the Church of Jesus Christ.
“Believing your confession to be real, and your repentance genuine, I shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship, and rejoice over the returning prodigal.

“Your letter was read to the Saints last Sunday, and an expression of their feeling was taken, when it was unanimously resolved, that W. W. Phelps should be received into fellowship. “‘Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, For friends at first, are friends again at last.’”

When W.W Phelps and Joseph Smith met again the prophet embraced him. While many of the saints suffered much and lost many loved ones due to the action of W.W Phelps, all offered the right arm of fellowship.

When the prophet was martyed W.W Phelps wrote a Eulogy for the prophet which is now known as the hymn Praise To The Man.

PRAISE TO THE MAN WHO COMMUNED WITH JEHOVAH! JESUS ANOINTED THAT PROPHET AND SEER! BLESSED TO OPEN THE LAST DISPENSATION KINGS SHALL EXTOL HIM AND NATIONS REVERE

HAIL! TO THE PROPHET ASCENDED TO HEAVEN TRAITORS AND TYRANTS! NOW FIGHT HIM IN VAIN MINGLING WITH GODS HE CAN PLAN FOR HIS BRETHREN DEATH CANNOT CONQUER THE HERO AGAIN!!!!!

“I knew Joseph Smith better than any other man, and I can testify that I have not known any man better than him! I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained"- Brigham Young

I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Someone asked me once. What would your life be without the prophet Joseph Smith? My life would be in a dark place and not as happy without the teachings, principles, and gospel that the Prophet Joseph Smith Restored. I know he was the prophet of the restoration!!!