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  • From a letter dated December 2, 2005:
    "Who can know the heartache you are feeling inside? Who can know the burdens you have carried all your life? Darkness fills the daylight, and the road is much too long. Where are heaven's answers and the strength to carry on? . . .

    "When the tears have fallen and the questions fill your heart, think of how He loves you, how he longs to bring you home. Reach out for His guidance. He has walked your path alone.

    "Let Him heal your heart. Remember every promise He has made. Reach into your soul, forsake a life of Sin, and He will shine that light inside again. Let Him help you start to live again and feel His endless love. Let Him hold and teach you, love and reach you. Let Him heal your heart . . ."

    from a letter dated December 19, 2005:
    Merry Christmas!
    I pray this Christmas Season finds you warm and happy. Surprisingly it hasn't been as warm as I would have thought- it's been in the 50's here in Tajunga.

    I hope that you will remember the true meaning of Christmas. It has an interesting history. The holiday has it's roots in the pagan religion with the birth of the god Mithra, Sol Invictus. Now we have given it the story of the birth of God, even Jesus Christ. Let's not bring it back to it's pagan roots with commercialism, rather let us celebrate our Lord through acts of service, compassion, and love. I recommend reading this month's Ensign- in it there is an article from President Hunter that talks about the history and meaning of Christmas. Please read it! (I believe you can read it at www.lds.org)

    I would also like to remind you of Joseph Smith's 200th Birthday Commemoration this Friday. Please go to a Stake Center near you to watch it or tune in via www.lds.org. This is going to be HUGE!

    I miss you all terribly and am sure so many of you will be in my thoughts this Christmas. Take care,

    Elder Embree

  • "[Joseph Smith's] greatest contribution I think is defining the nature of deity. He saw the Father and the Son. He spoke with them. They were beings of substance. They were in form like a man. And they could express themselves and he could speak with them. Such an interpersonal relationship. And such a warm and reassuring thing to know the nature of God" (Gordon B. Hinkley, Newsweek October 17, 2005 page 58).




    I can't describe how much it made my day when I opened up the Ensign and descovered on its cover the beautiful first vision painting by Walter Rane I described last winter. I remember seeing the two paintings Rane did of Joseph Smith and the way they effected me. I was delighted to see one of them on the cover of January's issue, and so to see it now on December's issue made the year come full circle. Walter Rane's painting of Christ in America was also the subject of last month's cover. In fact, the December issue is full of paintings by Walter Rane, including the most beautiful painting of Mary and the angel Gabriel I have ever seen. It is called "Blesses Art Thou Among Women."


    How fitting that this month we celebrate the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ and His prophet Joseph Smith. In so many ways I have gained such a greater witness that Joseph Smith is prophet these past few weeks. I am so excited for the commemoration of his birth on December 23. I encourage all to attend - details on www.lds.org. This is just a remarkable thing: Joseph Smith, while yet 14 years old, saw and talked with God. I know it happened.


     It happened before. As a youth, Samuel was called by the voiced of God to be a prophet. Stephen has a vision much like Joseph's where he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ on His right hand. (Acts 7). Paul likewise saw a pillar of light. Each of these prophets were persecuted for what they saw, and yet I know that these visions happened because in His own way God has revealed it to me.


    I would like to quote Joseph Smith in closing, with an invitation for you all to visit josephsmith.net where you can see his actual words in his actual handwriting as well as pictures like those Walter Rane has done.


    document.write(drawVerse(23,168627));  "23 It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure aboy•, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily blabor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter cpersecution• and dreviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.

    document.write(drawVerse(24,168628)); 24 However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a avision•. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was bmad•; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the cpersecution• under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.

    document.write(drawVerse(25,168629)); 25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two aPersonages•, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was bhated and cpersecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me dfalsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not edeny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." (Joseph Smith History 1:23-25).

  • From an e-mail dated 11/28/05:
    Dear Family, Friends, and Fellow Xangans,

    Please think of your missionaries out in the field and their empty mailboxes this holiday season.

    I have now ended my second transfer. I am no longer serving in Glendale. *tear* It is strange, but I don't feel responsible any more for the people in that area. I have a whole new area of responsibility. It is Sunland/Tujunga. I am working with Elder Wittier, who is from Cedar City, Utah. He's a cool kid. Like all of my other companions, he is the District Leader here.

    I can't express my relief at not being in that threesome. It feels so great. This area is very different from Glendale/Los Angeles, though it is in the same zone. The population here isn't as dense. We live in the guest house of a nice family. They own four-wheelers, horses, chickens, etc. We're way up in the foothills. This is like a foreign country to me. I'll be able to tell you all more next week.

    Elder Embree

  • from an e-mail dated 11/21/05:



    Dear Friends and Family,

    This transfer (6 week period) has been getting stranger and stranger.  I'm ready for the end of it next weekend.  Here are just some brief stories that kind of explain how the week has gone:

    Thursday.  A man interupts our District Meeting at the Church.  He claims he is living out of his car, dying of aids, and is in desperate need of money.  Now, I am not opposed to helping people, but this man was ridiculous.  He was causing all kinds of trouble- yelling at us and such.  The whole thing turned into a complex nightmare.  Why can't people just be honest.

    Thursday Afternoon.  Our car needs to go to the shop because the steering was acting up.  (so glad I'm not driver any more).  This put us on Bikes.  1st 10 mins. and I'm riding down the hill to a referral.  I see the house, so I stop quickly with my new disc brakes.  Elder Lord was too close behind me.  He tries to brake quickly.  His back brakes are not connected.  Elder Lord's front tire stops quickly.  Elder Lord does a sommersault in the air.  Elder Lord is on his back staring up at the sky.  We walked over to the Hawley's and they nursed us up.  My bike didn't get hit luckily.  Elder Lord is ok.

    Saturday.  Still on Bike.  Appointments are far away in Silverlake.  We hop on the paved bike trail.  Riding Riding Riding.  Of course we didn't see the thorn patch.  5 out of 6 tires flat.  15 thorns in one tire.  We walked our bikes to the Mayer's to park.  While we're at the door, a dog uses our bikes like fire hydrants (yes, it really happened).  We hitched a ride to Silverlake from Attwater.  We walk around being missionaries.  Then we have to walk back from Silverlake BLVD to Los Feliz.  Those roads are not close to each other.  It was a 1 3/4 hour walk.  Fun times let me tell you.

    Anyway that's summed up my week.  There are more stories, but not more time.  Basically luck has not been with us.  I am optamistic about next week.

    Happy Thanksgiving.  Be grateful.  Read the scriptures.  I miss you all.  I love you all.  Goodbye,

    Elder Embree

  • From a letter dated November 7, 2005:






    I've come to realize that of all the Christian churches I've come across, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints puts the most positive perspective on what it means to be a human being.  It's teachings on the nature of man include a divine origin, a present sense of ability, and a divine potential for all.  These teachings affirm the stance that people are essentially good.

     

    I must qualify this stance by statements in the Book of Mormon, which is included in Latter-day Saint scripture.  The Book of Mormon uses statements like "all are fallen and are lost" (Alma 34:9) and "the natural man is an enemy to God" (Mosiah 3:19) to convey man's utter dependance on the Savior Jesus Christ and the lowness of the untamed carnal body.  These statements are not used, however, to belittle people or the goodness and divinity of individuals.

     

    The Church teaches that all people are composed of two parts: spirit and body.  When used together, a spirit and body working in harmony, that person is reaching perfection, or completion.  It is the body that works against its spirit and the spirit that has no body that are considered incomplete and even inferior.  This is why Latter-day Saints put so much emphasis on self-control and living good lives.  They teach that our spirits are good, and have been good since the beginning according to LDS theology.

     

    Mormons teach that all people existed before they were born.  In the beginning we all lived with God as spirits.  He was literally our Father, but we were different because He had a tangible body and we did not.  He provided a way for us to leave His presense, receive a body in His image, and return to Him.  That way included personal experiences and above all the Redeemer to help us overcome the obstacles that would stand in our way.  We chose before we were born to be a part of that plan.  The purpose of our existance was therefore established before even our mortal births.

     

    This teaching introduces two basic principles that assert the upmost worth of individuals.  One.  We are all of divine origin as literal spirit sons and daughters of God.  Two.  Birth makes us more like God, not less like God.  Our bodies are qualities that make us closer to and more like our loving Father in Heaven.  The Bible's clear declaration that "God created man in his own image" (Genesis 1:27) becomes in the Latter-day Saint perspective a literal, beautiful declaration of the divine worth of mankind.

     

    In addition to a greatness that stems from our pre-birth identities, the Latter-day Saints ascribe a power to the present self of all people.  It is called "free agency," and it is one of the most significant gifts of God.  This quality is described through instructions God gave LDS prophet Joseph Smith, "For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things . . . Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will . . . For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. . ." (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-28).  Latter-day Saints view our individual free wills as evidence of the power, significance, and worth of all mankind.

     

    Therefore, when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit in the garden, they were excercising their own will and free agency.  Because of that, they alone are responsible for their actions.  As Joseph Smith said, "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" (Article of Faith 2).  The Church rejects the notion of "original sin" completely.  The Church teaches that children are born innocent rather than guilty of Adam's fall.  This departure from the traditional Christian world is further evidence that of all the Christian churches, it is this LDS church that views mankind as having more inherant goodness than any other.

     

    Through Earthly life, we do tarnish our innocence by our own individual actions, but our inherant goodness is not spoiled.  We are not left in that lost and fallen state.  Because God provided the Savior Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son in the flesh, we are able to overcome both death and sin (separation from God).  Granted, we are utterly dependant on the Redeemer Jesus Christ and the Father who sent Him, but through His atoning blood we can overcome our weaknesses and return to God as glorified and perfected beings.  He has given us enabling powers of divine potential, (repentance for example).

     

    Latter-day Saints take the promises the Lord gave in both the Bible and Latter-day Revelation very literally.  When the Bible says, "we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ . . ." (Romans 8:16-17) we marvel at that inheritance and trust that the faithful will become like God.  No other church has been willing to make such statements about the potential of mankind.  Though to some it may seem blasphemous, the Latter-day Saints boldly declare that man can progress until he has inherited the divine qualities of his Heavenly Father.  It is God's hope and joy to watch us, His children, become like He is.

     

    Such a marvelous potential inherant in all of us is fulfilled as we overcome our weaknesses through the "merits, mercy, and grace" of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:8).  It is fulfilled by the forgiveness that follows repentance.  It is fulfilled through self-control as we become more complete beings.

     

    These doctrines are not meant to glorify man in the same way we glorify and worship God.  They are meant to help all people realize their potential and divine worth.  Though all churches value people and encourage all men to improve, only the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints views mankind with so many inherant qualities of goodness and divinity.  Realizing this makes me so much more grateful to be a member of this church.  I am privaleged for a time to be a missionary.  Sharing with others the divine worth of souls I have come to experience in this Church brings me more joy than I ever dreamed it could.

     

    What do you think?  Does this appeal to you?  Cause I'm curious.  Write to me and tell me what you think.

     

    Elder Daniel Embree

    California Arcadia Mission

    170 W. Duarte Rd.

    Arcadia CA 91007

  • From an e-mail dated October 31, 2005: Shoot, I just deleted this e-mail accidentally.  I will rewrite- but it will be shorter.


    Dear Family, Friends, and Fellow Xangans,
     
    I'm still in Glendale, though there have been some major changes today.  An Elder in Pasadena was sent home sick, so Elder Peterson left our ward/area to fill his place.  This leaves Elder Parry and I with Elder Lord as a threesome.  We are not thrilled for 2 reasons.  One, Elder Peterson was a great missionary, and an amazing person.  I have more respect for him than any other missionary in the mission right now.  Two, three people.  Ugh.  We will have fun together- but I worry it will be overwhelming at dinners, appointments, and doorsteps.  How would you like three strangers in neckties showing up on your door?  I think the work will be harder because of that.
     
    Happy Halloween, by the way.  We missionaries are still cool enough to dress up.  We switched nametags.  lol.  Actually, Elder Parry and I bought stick-on horns.  You know, cause everybody knows Mormons have horns.  (I thought it was cute at least.)
     
    Anyway.  Trunk-or-Treat on Sunday was great.  Made me homesick.  I love being a missionary though.  It is the most rewarding thing I've ever done.  The lessons I've learned about myself and others are priceless.  I want you to know that I know Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.  He has sustained through His eternal empathy, mercy, and power.  His work is to bring about our Eternal Life and Immortality- and I would add our joy.  I believe I am a part of that work now as I help people receive His restored Gospel.
     
    Take care,
    Elder Embree

  • From an e-mail dated Oct. 24:
    "I'm trying to be like Jesus, I'm following in His ways.  I'm trying to love as He did in all that I do and say.  At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, but I try to listen as the still small voices whispers, . . ."

    Dear Family, Friends, and Fellow Xangans,
     
    I'm doing well.  I'm still in the Glendale 2nd ward, though I have moved apartments and have a new companion.  His name is Elder Parry- he's from Idaho.  There is also a second set of Elders in this ward- Elders Lord and Peterson.
     
    I have grown to love the people who live here so much.  In Glendale almost everyone is Armenian.  Recently I've been learning how deep and beautiful their culture is.  The other day we met a woman walking her beautiful baby.  Her name was Anoush.  (Anoush and Armen are the most common names here) Talking with her was like talking with an old friend I've known for eternity.  I felt an instant connection with her as we talked about the missionaries in Armenia, American history and scenery, the Church, Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, Michalangelo's Pieta, and Thorvaldsen's Christus in Santa Monica.
     
    The next day we visited Armen and his mom.  They are members of the Church.  While we were there they had so much family and friends there.  They all wanted to talk with us.  They showed us the video of an Armenian wedding and them all dancing.  We talked about the importance of marriage and its eternal nature.  We also, of course talked about Armenians being the first Christians.  Every Armenian we meet tells us their history about being the first Christians.  It is funny.  These are great people.  (Though some are a little rough on the edges.  Not all of them are very happy to see you ).
     
    One thing that's cool about Armenians is that they all sit around tables on their porch every evening.  They all live with their families and they all spend time with their families.  It is very cool.  Anyway, just thought I'd share that.
     
    Stay in touch.  (All of my contact info is on the left.),
    Elder Embree
    ". . . 'Love one another as Jesus loves you.  Try to show kindness in all that you do.  Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are the things Jesus taught.'"

  • From an e-mail dated Oct. 11, 2005:


    "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Hear's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above" (Come Thou Fount).





    Greetings from LA, Last night we met with one of our investigators, Darnell, who is going to be baptized on Oct. 23. I realized all of a sudden as he was talking how much I cared for him. I had never cared about a person that much before. It was unsettling. He was not family. He was only a new friend. And yet I felt a bond to him and his wife too immense to describe. I cared so deeply that his wife overcome her sickness and suffering. Gah- I just can't describe it.


    On a lighter note- I want you all to know that I have become liberal. Being around all these other missionaries from rural parts of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, even Alberta Canada- all (except Canada) which represent Red America, I have come to the conclusion that I am liberal. Now, in terms of political economic policy I am still very Republican, but socially I feel left wing. This is because I am put next to these . . . people. Lets just say that by the way they talk about immigration, welfare, homosexuality, guns, child-rearing, etc. Man. You may think me conservatively moderate, but next to some other missionaries you would call me a leftist. Who'd have thought?


    Suggested reading for the week: Alma 32 in the Book of Mormon. And read it to the end of the chapter. That last part hit me hard this past week. Take Care, Elder Embree





    "Master with anguish of spirit, I bow in my grief today. The depths of my sad heart are troubled, Oh waken and save, I pray! Torrents of sin and of anguish sweep over my sinking soul. And I perish, I perish! Dear Master, oh hasten and take control." (Hymn #105, Master the Tempest is Raging).

  • Based off an e-mail dated October 3, 2005:

    Dear Fellow Xangans, Family, and Friends,

    This past weekend was General Conference, when the Prophets and Apostles of modern day speak to the Church. For me this one was completely different than any other Conference. As a missionary, I found that I craved these speeches. I needed instructions. I was desperate for consel from the prophets. I needed to be uplifted, and I was. I was very edified. Specifically on Saturday night, President Thomas S. Monson spoke directly to me. I wondered if I was hearing the same words as everybody else because the message was exactly what I needed to hear. I encourage everybody to look up the conference talks on www.lds.org and read them if you didn't get a chance to hear them live. This is the chance to hear from living prophets.

    You know, one thing that has had me baffled lately is the way so many Christians respond to the Book of Mormon. If you believe in Jesus Christ- If you love reading the Biblical accounts of Him- If you want to come to know Him as intimately as you can, then why not read another testament of Him. I would eat up eagerly more words of Christ if they were suddenly made available to me. I love the words I have, but I would love to know more.

    John the beloved said, after giving an account of the gospel, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." Here we are saying that some of those other things that Jesus did were written down, and we have a Book that contains an account of those things. It is the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Come read for yourself the things that it contains, and discover on your own that they are true. That is our invitation.

    Well, I don't think I have too many cool stories to tell this week. Not here at least. There were some crazy forest fires near by, but we as missionaries have not been sent to help out yet. And that's it. So with that, take care.

    Until next p-day,
    Elder Embree

    P.S. I have pictures. (I hope they work) They will be up next Monday (cross your fingers)

  • I guess now would be a good time to tell you about the powers we learned/developed in the MTC.  Here are some pictures.

     

    We were taught how to defy gravity:



    And then we learned combat moves (somewhat matrix style):


    This has come in handy in the Mission Field.  Below you can see both Elder Wilson and I got pushed off a cliff.  We survived solely because of the skills learned in the MTC.


    Computer equipment is crucial to superheros and missionaries alike.  Here you see me in the Referal Center:



    There are other cool things I learned, but that's classified information.  So here are some other pictures:

    (images to come later)