Hey there everyone!

It has been yet another great week at the MTC! We got a new district in our zone last week, and they are some great elders! In fact, there's one elder in particular who straight up reminds me of Kristian. It is so funny! We have had our teaching week this week. Our district goal is 100 from Monday morning until this Sunday night. So far I think we are at 76 or so. So we're ahead of the game abit. Elder Clark and I have been teaching 5 or 6 lessons a day. It is great. It is so easy when you just let the Spirit guide your lessons. No doubt. If you just go into the lesson with the intent of helping the investigator to really come unto Christ, it is incredible. Spanish is coming along great! I know that as I focus on teaching the investigator, and not the lesson in Spanish, then the investigator can really be taught by the Spirit.

I have really come to LOVE the scriptures this week! In particular, the Book of Mormon. Although I was reading in Luke yesterday and just got so caught up in reading about the Atonement that Elder Clark and I almost missed a teaching appointment. Haha there is so much truth and great knowledge in the scriptures. Whenever I am reading the scriptures, the Holy Ghost testifies to me the truthfulness of the words I am reading. I know that the scriptures are true. The prophets in the Book of Mormon were really prophets of God. Their writings are meant to help US. They didn't have the compilation of the Book of Mormon in their time, the book was buried in the ground for hundreds of years! I know that our Heavenly Father brought forth the Book of Mormon for us in these Latter Days. For these really are the latter days. I know that through reading the criptures, we can all become so much closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we can return to live with our Father in Heaven again. I will share with you some of my favorite scriptures this week and my thoughts on them as well. Please, study these words, pray to know they are true, and act on the knowledge that you receive concerning them.

2 Nephi 32:3-5

3  Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, ^bfeast upon the ^cwords of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will ^dtell you all things what ye should do.

4  Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ^aask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

5  For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will ^ashow unto you all things what ye should do.

**When it says ask, it means study and pray. When it says knock, it means obey. We must study and pray to gain help and guidance in this life. We cannot get by on prayer alone, I'm sorry. But you must demonstrate your desire to know these things by searching for them. And its really easy, because I can tell you that the place you can find the answer to every one of your questions is in the scriptures. Particularly the Book of Mormon. And then after reading, pray to know that the things are true. And after receiving the confirmation of the truth of these things, you must ACT on them! Again. you must demonstrate your desire to follow God. Demonstrate your love for Him through your obedience to His commandments. It is so easy. He will prepare a way for us to do anything as long as we keep His commandments and remain obedient and faithful. One thing I remember from Institute is, "God will prepare a way for His saints to do ANYTHING without breaking a single commandment. It is not necessary for us to break His commandments to fulfill His work. That is foolishness." Study the scriptures. Ponder in your heart the things that you read. Pray to know they are true. And obey, act on the answer that you receive.

Next is from the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 131

6  It is impossible for a man to be ^asaved in ^bignorance.

**I knew this was true the second my eyes were drawn to it on the page. Ignorance is NOT bliss. I know this. I know it with all my heart! Ignorance is an excuse. How great will it be when we meet with God after this life, and He expresses His happiness and joy for us. His joy from us doing our best, trying to find more ways to serve Him. The more we do right, the more blessing He will send down on us. If we want to demonstrate our true faith in Him, and our love for Him, we will be obedient. Even more so, He will bless us for our obedience. We should be finding more ways to be obedient. I find alot of missionaries do not read the missionary handbook enough, and they break rules without even knowing it. Sure, they are naive, they do not know that what they are doing is wrong. But at the same time, they are missing out on SOO many blessing our Heavenly Father has for us when we are obedient. Be the very best you can be. No. Strive to be even better than you expect yourself to be. You will receive countless blessing, I promise. I promise.

One more thing. It it so important that we love one another. Christ has love for all of us. An infinite love in fact. Who are we to deny this love? Why don't we show it to others more often? Who are we to act as if we have never felt it before? It is selfish to be so loved, and love others. I know that as we love others more, search for things that we love in people instead of dwelling on their mistakes. Look for ways to display the love of Christ towards others. As you love others more, and let them know it. You will feel His love more and more every day. I promise this.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. He loves every one of you. As we keep the commandments he blesses us so much.  Love one another! Jesus is the Christ! Serve others without expecting anything back! I love you all so much! Never forget it. Until next week!

Elder Trevor Knight

My Family!

My family!

       Another week has gone by, and I can confidently say I still love the MTC! =) Teaching is definitely one of my favorite things! I mean, everyone who I have taught so far is already a member. But when they hear the gospel as an investigator, I can see the spark in their eyes. I can feel their genuine interest to learn more about the gospel. And I have the wonderful pleasure of being the one to teach them about it, this beautiful gospel of our brother, Jesus Christ. How much better can life get?

       I am so blessed to have such a great district. I know that Heavenly Father knows all of us, and put us here together for a reason. They are all such great examples to me in so many ways. I mean, none of us are perfect, but we are all truly striving to do the very best we can. Elder Bahr and Elder Martin are still here! Not so great for Elder Bahr, Elder Martin is fine with it though. And great for me! I love them so much, like brothers already. Nobody likes teaching Elder Bahr in practice discussions because he always tries to be a tough investigator. But I was teaching him about how we can strengthen families yesterday and reading through scriptures with him, and it felt like I broke right through the character he was trying to be. And I know that it was because of the Spirit that was there in our discussion. It is usually pretty hard for me to role-play with our zone because I know they're all my friends, and its weird for me when they're acting like they don't know much. But when I tried to be serious last night and teach Elder Bahr with the Spirit, the Lord worked through me to help him understand what we were reading in the scriptures. He later told me that he, obviously, doesn't even have a family of his own yet, but he felt like he learned so much about how he needs to treat them when he does. It was a great experience.

       Elder Clark and I are going to try and teach in the TRC more often from now on. It is such a great place to practice teaching investigators discussions. I feel the Spirit more than ever while I'm teaching the gospel. And I know it's because I'm doing what our Heavenly Father wants me to do. To help others to come unto Jesus Christ. To help them find their way to return back to Him after this life. I know that the most effective way to get to an investigator is through loving them. I know this with all my heart. Whenever you teach in the TRC, you are given feedback from the 'investigator' after the lesson. And everytime Elder Clark and I teach in the TRC, they always tell us how much they felt our true love for them. And how because they felt that love, they desired to feel it, and they knew that the love they felt was that of Jesus Christ, who loves all of us. I know that love is a powerful tool in the conversion of a soul to come unto Christ. And when I say love, I mean the pure love of Christ. Pure. Whole. Neverending. I feel I have been so blessed in this life to witness this true love of Christ, not only for myself, but in the love Christ has for others. I have seen the love Christ has for all of us, and how great it is. You can just be looking at somebody for a minute or so, and thinking about what life is like for them. Who knows what they're going through? Who knows what problems they have? Whether you know or not, you need to be kind to them. Show them that love that our Savior showed you, by sacrificing himself for our salvation.As you do this, for me it was just a split second, you will see that great love that Christ has for them. And why not love them also? Don't even try to answer that question. We should love everyone. Show them that you love them, no matter who they are or what they do.  do this because it is the right thing to do. It is a commandment. It is a great service. It is what Jesus Christ would do.

       I hope all of you are doing great! I love your letters. I'd like to write everyone, so send me your addresses please! I'm praying for all of you each and every one of you every day. Please know that God loves you SO much. And He wants us all to come back to Him. ALL of us. So why not share this beautiful gospel with al you come in contact with? Share that great light you have inside of you. Do not be selfish. Give of yourself and the knowledge you have of our Savior. He will bless you, and those that you share it with, for eternity. I love you all, don't you ever forget. My favorite hymn of the week, again: "Be still my soul"

Elder Trevor Knight

March 11th- longest letter yet!

My beloved family!

That includes all of you, my friends. I cannot even describe how much love I have for all of you! Thank you for the letters this week, it is so great to hear about your experiences at home. It makes me so happy to know that you are doing so well, and learning just as much as I am here! And thank you for keeping me updated!

Congratulations Reagan on your Dallas Competition! That is so great, but should I be surprised? You work so hard with CA, you practically live there. Now that I think about it, its probably like my BatteriesPlus. You spend so much time there, make sure you enjoy it. Go in with a smile everyday, and help others to recognize that great spirit you have. Your attitude will encourage others to recognize your sweet spirit. As they do, they will desire to feel that same way, and that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Which I know you have a testimony of, which brings joy to all those willing to receive it.

As for Caitlynn, you'll be receiving a letter from me this week for sure. I promise. Haley, I'm going to check the mail later today before p-day ends to see if there's anything I can write back before next week. Chelsea and Danny, you'd better be excited to go back to California! I love all of you so much, and I think of you often. I pray for you by name every day and I know we are blessed through our willingness to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

Well this week has been great! To answer everyone, yes, I still love my companion (haha). Elder Clark is such a great influence. As you know, I am usually a pretty independent guy. I've always thought I was patient, but now I have a newfound understanding of patience. Elder Clark is always SO patient with me, especially since I take my time with just about everything. In fact, he has helped me to recognize that and, it's hard, but our companion study is always beneficial. In what we learn, and in the characteristics and patience I am acquiring.

I think that all of us can know how to attain the Christlike attribute of patience through the Christlike attribute of love and charity. Once you really understand and see every person you come in contact with as a child of God, it is so easy. Our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone one of his children. If you love our Heavenly Father, then why shouldn't you love those who he cares so much about? And why shouldn't you take the time, that He has given you, to help those in need. In my case, to be patient, and to help them learn. To put others before myself. I wanted to come into the MTC and learn as much as I possibly can. One could achieve that through endless, diligent study.

I've also found another way: By helping to teach others, to be patient with them and make sure they understand. As I care about their needs, what they need to know, I have found that I in the process receive all answers to my own questions as well. That my personal study becomes so much more productive and meaningful. That I feel the Spirit so much stronger in both my personal and companion study. It's amazing how all Christlike attributes blend so well together. As you strengthen one, the others will become more natural. Love everyone, simply because our Father in Heaven loves them. Through that love, I promise you that you will become closer to our brother, Jesus Christ.

Also, I wanted to apologize for my last letter home. As today, I am always rushed within 30 minutes of email time. And I was having trouble typing last week. But I used TALL, the computer learning software for an hour yesterday in preperation for emailing now (haha).

Anyways I realized I just mentioned how I stood up for the Sisters, but didn't get to explain anything else. I felt a bit self-righteous.  So, I'd like to tell you that through that experience, I have come to attain a much deeper respect for our Sisters. Every sister I have met has such a sweet testimony, I love talking with them and feeling that Spirit. While studying with Elder Clark in the hallway the other day, we heard two sisters making funny noises. They were trying to speak Cantonese. I can't imagine having to learn that language, I know that I am in the right place. And that I have been blessed to be speaking Spanish on my mission, because I know I would have trouble with anything else.

Good news, Elder Bahr and Elder Martin are still here!  We heard their names called over the intercom and Elder Bahr went nuts! He was so excited. It was a semi-sweet experience for me. But then he came back with only a phone pass to call his family to tell them his visa hadn't gone through yet. ..Yay for me! Elder Bahr is an amazing example to me, he is the oldest in our district at 22. He is always doing what is right, even if that means not getting involved in a conversation about a TV show. I love him and Elder Martin so much.  Elder Martin is so great at recognizing the Spirit, it amazes me.

Elder Clark and I taught at the TRC again yesterday. We teach every Thursday there. This week we taught a young women, Holly, about the Plan of Salvation and the importance of baptism. We got about halfway through the lesson when Elder Clark felt impressed to invite her to baptism. She accepted, and Elder Clark and I ended up bearing our testimonies of how happy our Father in Heaven is for her, and how much joy she will feel through following Jesus Christ's example. It was amazing, I felt as if she were a real investigator. I loved her so much, because I knew she was making the right decisions on her life.

Hermano Catt was walking through the hallway and said he could feel love literally being emitted from the room into the hallway.  The Spirit was so strong in that room, I could truly feel Heavenly Father's love for her and His desire for all to come unto Christ.  Elder Clark and I walked out of that lesson feeling so strong, so filled with the Spirit, we just wanted to go to Mexico and start teaching right then! Haha but we still need to get the language down, and prepare ourselves a bit more, so we won't get too far ahead of ourselves. Hermano Catt went into the classroom to interview her as the investigator after our lesson. And Holly confided in him that she had never felt the spirit so strong in the TRC before. I knew it was because of the love in the room. And because Elder Clark and I had recognized the love our Heavenly Father has for her, she felt it too.

I cannot express how powerful love is. I won't even try. It has been such a great blessing having Hermanos Catt y Loaiza as my teachers in the MTC. Just last night, Hermano Loaiza was helping us to ask better questions to help our investigators, which is something I've been struggling with. He gave me such great advice. Don't go into a lesson saying, "Okay, we're going to teach THIS doctrine, and use THESE scriptures." Instead, we go into a lesson, following promptings from the Spirit as to what we should teach. We still prepare, but we don't prepare to every little detail. We are literally tools in God's hands, and we need to make sure we follow His commands, and teach what He knows the investigator needs. We instead ask ourselves when preparing a lesson: "What does this investigator need to know to come closer to Christ?" Such a great question. Feel free to ask yourself that question for you friends sake, or for your own sake. Pray and listen to the Spirit.

So many things have made this week great for me! Thank you Dad for all of the ties! I can't remember if I told you already, but I gave one to Brother Shorter in our branch presidency and he wore it to church on Sunday! And I let the other Elders in my residence hall pick one too.

It's funny seeing everyone in our district wearing your ties (haha), I love it! And many thanks to Brittany for her package including a mini basketball hoop! Everyone in our district plays on it, its hilarious.

One of the Elder's in our zone, Elder Johnson, is really funny. We were all getting ready for class after gym and nobody was in our room.  I walked by our door just as I caught Elder Johnson running towards the hoop taped to our wall and slam dunking the tennisball-size basketball into the tiny hoop and tearing it off our wall! I just started laughing and he turned around to see me and tried putting it back on the wall but it wouldn't stick back on. It was fun while it lasted! =P Thank you! Unfortunately, but fortunately, we had one of the districts leave this week. They were such a great group of Elders who really taught Elder Clark and I alot about dedicated missionary work. I'm going to miss them, but we got a new district in on Wednesday too. We haven't really met them much because they're on a different schedule their first week, I'm sure they're all great though.

Elder Riley Stevenson left yesterday too ='( It was so sad. I saw him about 5 times yesterday thinking every time would be the last. I am really going to miss Elder Stevenson, but I know he is going to serve the people of Mexico, and we will see each other again soon.

Anyways, sorry for rambling. I am so excited for the next 6 weeks (even though it sounds like forever!). I cannot wait to go to Mexico soon and help all of my brothers and sisters down there come unto Christ. Knowing that my brother, Jesus Christ, loves me has been such a great motivation while here in the MTC. I know that this is where I need to be. I know that what I am doing is the work of God. I know that I am His servant, a representative of His son here on the earth to help others to find him. I know that through the Atonement, we can all be saved. That through the Atonement, Christ suffered for all of our sins, transgressions, pains, and sorrows. He is my Savior and He loves all, and welcomes all to come unto Him.

I know that my Redeemer lives. I can feel His spirit and the companionship of the Holy Ghost every day as I strive to become more like Him. I know that true conversion through the Holy Ghost can only come through obedience, and I will be diligently obedient for these next two years. Do not be afraid to share the gospel with others. You will regret it when you realize what you have deprived them of. Trust me, I do every day.So many things have made this week great for me!

I love you all so much! I hope you didn't fall asleep reading this!

Feel free to write me, I love letters! I love seeing anything in our mailbox with my name on it haha!

LOVE YOU!

Sincerely, Elder Knight

3/4/2011 Letter

Hello everyone!

The MTC is still great! Although I'm already anticipating leaving for Mexico! One of our teachers, Hermano Loaiza, was talking to us about Villahermosa again and I got sooo excited! But who knows when that day will come, we've been hearing a lot of rumors about visas taking longer than expected. But it could be different for me, who knows, right?! Two of the Elders in my district, Elders Martin and Bahr, are serving in Lima, Peru. They are only scheduled to stay here for 3 weeks and then leave for the Peru MTC. They even got their travel plans last week, but they're waiting on their visas. If they don't get their visas by Monday, they're going to be staying for a bit longer. Elder Bahr was telling us to pray for him that his visa comes. But I've secretly been praying for it not to haha. Elder Martin and Elder Bahr are such great Elders. I would hate to see them leave! It's going to be sad when they do, they're like my brothers now already.

This week has been so crazy! There really is no free time! It's great and a tad frustrating at the same time. Elder Clark and I are trying to read through the Book of Mormon while we're here in the MTC, and el Libro de Mormon if we have the time. But it's not looking so good ha. It seems that the most time we can find each day is only an hour or so. Every other minute of the day is planned for class, companion study, group meetings, devotionals, firesides, gym, sleep. It's crazy, but I'm still enjoying every second of it. Elder Clark and I had a companion inventory last night where we settle any differences or problems between us. It took like 3 minutes, and then we had 22 minutes left to read our scriptures haha. I am so blessed to have a companion who we work so perfectly together. He pointed out that he doesn't really care about details, where I am sort of particular, and how we balance each other out very well. We even taught another lesson in the TRC this week. It was so funny! The guy we taught was an older man who we came to find out had served 4 missions already! While we were teaching him the first lesson, he broke our of character, an investigator, so many times to try and correct us. It was a different experience than what we were used to, because we didn't know what was going on. He would be an investigator but then he'd start talking about the gospel in ways that no investigator could proabably know. So we were confused as to whether he was still an investigator, or if he broke out of character. Hermano Catt interviewed him afterwards to get feedback on how we can teach the investigator better. He was looking to see how the man felt as the investigator, how the Spirit felt. But he kept on giving doctrinal feedback to our Hermano Catt. Hermano Catt later told us to forget about the experience because he broke out of character too much, it was funny. He got really frustrated trying to get feedback from the older man I suppose. But he is an outstanding teacher, I love him so much.

I also saw Johnny today! We were walking to the temple, about to cross the street and a scooter came right up to us. Took me a second to see who it was, but then I stepped off to give him a hug. I love Johnny. It is so great to see a familiar face! The other day I was really tired and feeling a bit down while walking from class to the main building. I saw Riley and nearly knocked him down to say hi to him! I instantly turned myself around and decided to feel better. The MTC is such a great place to be.

Brother Gubler is the first counselor in our Branch Presidency, and he is a gospel knowledge STUD. He is by far the smartest man I know when it comes to the scriptures. Straight up genius. Anyways, he spoke in our Priesthood on Sunday about the PreMortal life. It was incredible. He had us all read our patriarchal blessings before the meeting to get it fresh in our minds. He explained to us how we are the noble and great ones spoken of in the book of Abraham. How we were soldiers in that great fight for righteousness in that war in Heaven. How not everyone up there knew exactly whether they wanted to follow our Father or Satan. There were some in the middle of the fight, in what Bro Gubler described as the No Man's Land between the two. And we were the ones running out to those souls, trying our hardest to remind those of our Father's plan and Christ's love for us. How great of a plan He has created for us to return back to Him after our Earthly life. Not that I didn't love priesthood meetings at home, but it was spectacular.

Also the other day, our district decided to be in the MTC Choir during the Tuesday devotional. I can't really remember what the talk was about, because I was so caught up in other thoughts, but it was mostly about fighting our way through the turbulance of your missions. Anyways, I was sitting talking with Elder Clark before theChoir practice, and I could hear some other elders talking behind us. I could hardly focus on what Elder Clark was saying, bless him. But as the Sister missionaries were all walking down the bleachers to take their seats, these Elders seemed to be rating some of them. This caught me in fumes. I ignored it for awhile but it just kept hitting me. And then instantly I had a feeling like as if one of those Sister missionaries was Haley or Caitlynn or Chelsea or Reagan. That's where it hit me. I fought up the courage to turn around and see who these Elders were. As soon as I turned around I saw 4 of them looking at me puzzled, a bit prideful in their eyes. I said to them that they are not to be speaking of the sister missionaries like that. That if they are looking at them in any other way other than one of their own sisters, than they were looking wrong. One of them simply said, "Sorry we're working on it" to get me to stop. I turned back around and my heart was pounding. Elder Clark said Dang, you really told those Elders haha.

After the fireside one of those Elders grabbed me by the shoulder and gave me a card. It simply said "Thank you" signed with his name. He then apologized and told me how much he appreciated what I had done. It was such a great experience. I see him all the time now and we say hi.

Anyways, 20 seconds left on the clock. I love you all! Thank you for the letters!

Love, 

Elder Trevor Knight