Grateful for Friends

 

"Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands" - Doctrine and Covenants 121:9

As of late, I am feeling an increased love and gratitude for the friends, new and old, that have changed my life so profoundly

To me, they are the blinders that keep me focused on God and His goodness. They keep me pointed on the path to paradise. They provide so much value and substance, that I could never dream of paying them back, even a 100th part...

It wasn't always this way, I deeply struggled to make and keep friends growing up. It was a difficult time. There was a sinkhole of loneliness and despair in my life, that was rapidly caving in the remaining surface.

But, I had my rescue

"The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul" - 1 Samuel 18:1

I have been immensely blessed with amazing friends who truly "knit their souls" to others. Friends that lift up hands that hang hopelessly down. Friends that are straightway compelled to love and guide, and move like the Master. In so doing, they truly lifted me out of that great pit, and settled me in the ways of the Lord

This is how we must love others, deeply and consciously, to the point where we think of them before ourselves. Something I am far from achieving, but striving to become.

My best friend, the one who has loved me unconditionally since the mountains were raised and the oceans filled, magnifies this quality:

"He is utterly incomparable in what He is, what He knows, what He has accomplished, and what He has experienced. Yet, movingly, He calls us His friends. (John 15:15.)" - Neal A Maxwell

I am eternally grateful for His forward friendship. In every moment of my life He has been present with help, and love that is deeper than the earth. Words cannot express, and actions come short, to what He is and His impact in both mime and your life.

Let others know how grateful you are for them, show them love like the Savior. And remember the great things the Lord has done for you; That familiar Friend who is there in every moment of our lives, who's heart is knit to ours, forever.

TRANSFERS😳

 

What is up yall! KWAzY week out here in Montana. You will be   G L U E D   to the screen!

We start off with a dope Pday! We went and hiked Sphinx Mountain out in Ennis. It was a pretty tough hike! Super beautiful and super green. It is Grizzly country (there was an attack there on the trail a week before) and all 3 of us own bear spray, but we all forget it in Three Forks! Luckily we made a lot of noise and we didnt see a thing! We did see a HUGE bull moose on our way into town tho

Then we kept grinding it out in Ennis, a bunch of non-member service. We saw a momma and baby moose at one of the services. We then did some more demolition stuff in Three Forks. Then met with a couple more people that we are going to start teaching this next week!

Did a super fun service out in the mountains for a non member family! They needed some help with their cabin so we hauled a door and a bunch of other things up the trail for them! We were out in the middle of no where and we ate some Elk Burritos! Good times all around!

And lastly, TRANSFERS

Ya boi, Elder Barlow, will be leaving Three Forks and heading to Missoula!!! I will be covering 2 wards up there and training a new Ad missionary! His name is Elder Ott and he was Elder Bradshaws MTC comp! I guess it's time for me to pass the reigns and finish out

That's pretty much it! Time to finish out these last 2 transfers strongEnjoy the pics!!!

So uhhhhh..... Montana is pretty nice...

 

What is up!

We start off this week with our last P-day with Elder Lough We partied it up in Virginia City (this town in DEAD) And just vibed. We gained his companion Elder Johnston (city boy) and now we cover Ennis as well! Blessings on Blessings!

We had a really fantastic week honesty. It was basically an episode of Home Improvement. We did some real redneck stuff demolishing a couple of houses and floors, twas good times. We also met with 7-8 part member families this week! I love my job

Bunch of Rando things: Had a lit zone council this week, got bashed at a gas station, went to a potato festival, bought finger puppets, worked at a hoedown, had comp study on the river, almost fell in the river, just good times!!!

Well this is it, last week of the transfer! Happy to be covering Ennis and Three forks, it's so beautiful. It's just a branch, but the Madison Valley is my happy place

Hope ya'll have a splendid week :) Enjoy da photos!

Weirdest Week of the Mish😳

 

Yeahhhhh..... this is a good read......

So we start off with Monday, good ole Pday. Elder Bradshaw and I decide to go on a lil hike outside Pony, in the Tobacco root mountains. We started at about 3. And got back in time for our 6:30 dinner. It was a 10 mile hike! We full sent it. It was soooooooo gorgeous at the top! At our dinner after the members gave us 2 cans of bear spray (which ain't cheap btw) for our next hike

We then had a couple of great lessons. This area ain't so dead after all. We even got around 20-30 names from our ward on sunday, litty!!!

Had a great presentation to the NAC. Flexed our mission hard. As I was presenting our missions advertising I got walking on TWICE by a member with a vacuum so that was quirky

Then on Saturday, we did it Elder Bradshaw and I butchered 65 chickens! From 10 to 4 we were out there WORKING. It was pretty sad not going to lie. But also fun catching the poor little guys. Definitly ruined a shirt. And I am rethinking ever owning chickens. But we definitly gained the wards upmost respect and it is just one of those mission stories

And I spoke in church on Sunday

Overall. It was a great times out here. This next week is full of some visits and service. We finna start covering Ennis here now! Simply put, Elder Barlow is thriving per usual

Consistency is Key

At Headwaters State Park the Gallatin, Jefferson, and Madison rivers combine and form the iconic Missouri River.

It is quite the sight to behold. Millions of tons of water flow through these rivers every year!

I can't help but think, If the Jefferson River suddenly stopped flowing, and ran dry. The Missouri River would consequently be lower and less powerful. If all 3 headwaters ceased their currents, then, the Missouri would cease to be critical.

Think of all of the vegetation, animals, and communities that depend on this river.

All changed drastically because of a lack of consistency...

Our testimonies of the Savior are the same. A lack of consistency will lead to spiritual stoppage. We can't take a day off. 3 streams must continually flow in our lives in order to have strong sacred flow. Prayer, Scripture study, and Church must be a priority in our lives to keep our spiritual spring from "running dry"

Without activity and anxiously supplying these streams with the course of Christ, we loose our strength, we lose our power, we lose our value.

Let's not forget to remember:

What is downstream that depends on the living water

How crucial those 3 simple standards are

And that consistency is key

"O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!" - 1 Nephi 2:9

The Pasture™

 

OK fam, this week was pretty aight

We had quite a bit of service this week, we helped remodel a really old basement(def exposed to some quirky chemicals with that project) Helped someone literally lift their roof (also a very old home. My lungs are full of dust now) worked on some irrigation, and helped out at a drive in movie theater! I now make snow cones!

Did a lot of social media stuff this week. Made a couple of more ads. Started up Instagram in the mission, fixed literally everything, it was a good ole time. I have to present our missions social media structure to the North America Central area this week so wish me luck

Had Pday out in Bozeman, which is always a blast. It has been RAINING the past week. I guess that's what happens when everyone fasts for it 

Just good ole times out here in the promised land! Got some lessons lined up this week as well, things are definitely coming together! Who would've thought the mission would've been like this!

I hope you all have a splendid week! Love and miss you all!

The Butlers