My dear friends,

for ye ought to be called my friends, how it doth lift mine heart, hearing as it were your voices, speaking from the dust. It doth behoof me, thine letters to receive. It does me sorrow, that I cannot express with words the emotions I feel.

I've been contemplating a lot recently about detaching ourselves from the world. Imagine a bird, clinging to the branch of a tree. The wind blows, and the bird flaps, trying to fly, but cannot, having its talons firmly wrapt around the thin branch. If we are to learn to fly, we must let go of the world. Though the bird needs to let go of the tree, this doesn't make the tree evil. (similarly, the scriptures say the love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself)

I spoke with a two missionaries about it at different times, and both had a similar conclusion: The young man being asked to give his all and follow Christ was not asked to bury his money, but rather, to give it to the poor. They, after much thought, came to the conclusion we are not to mortify our talents, but rather turn them to the use of salvation.

But what of our worldly tethers which do not lead to salvation? If they are not leading us towards salvation, they damn us. But surely, not all the world is evil? No. But it is if it damns our progression. Too often in the world, we tend to rationalize and ignore the promptings of the spirit, and continue in activities which God would us halt.

sigh.... I've just been thinking recently about how I want to live when I return home - there are a lot of habits which, though not malicious, certainly do withhold me from reaching my full potential, e.g.: lazing about on the internet, being distracted by facebook, listening to loud music while studying. So I'm making some resolves about how to bridle my passions, kill my vices, and become who I really want to be.

This week had some good highs and lows. Though we didn't find many new people, we were blessed to have some at church! I loved the all-Ireland conference, in which I was able to see so many of my beloved brethren. :) It was hailing here on and off a couple of days, which was sad. XP But to be fair, we've had a better winter than we could have hoped here, and it's been pretty mild compared to last year. :)

Thanks for your letters and love! Cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black