Hello everyone!
So this last week I decided to try something new, I wrote in my planner certain things that were special, fun, and I think you'd all like.
Let us start off with-
MONDAY!
So on Monday we had a dinner with the Less-Active member who we are working with. It was her birthday, and it was at a cheap Mexican restaurant, but we had a cool waiter so it worked out. It was fun, and then we taught her a lesson- I forgot to write what on.
TUESDAY!
I didn't write anything down...
WEDNESDAY!
We met with the LA again . We taught her a sweet lesson on the Atonement and forgiveness. Brother Kibler bore powerful testimony of this, and shared his conversion story, and how it can bless her life and bring so much joy to her, because it has him. Very powerful. We also had a random 1st lesson with a lady, she was smoking on her door step and we said hi, and we invited her to be baptized! On her doorstep! That's not very common to do, but we did it, and she said if she came to find it was true, then she would be baptized! So that was freaking sweet!
THURSDAY!
So here's a random thing. One sunday we had a guy show up, and sing in the Ward Choir. He's what we refer to as a "Mormon Groupie". This guy LOVES the churches history, he is incredibly fascinated by it. You ask him any question about our history and he knows it! He even had a Triple, and Bible when we met him, and he needed new scriptures so he bought a brand new QUAD! WHO DOES THAT THAT ISN'T MORMON?! Michael Hansen does! And so we finally got meet with him this last thursday, and we helped him come to the conclusion that he needs to find out for himself if this Church is true. We had a kneeling prayer and invited him to be baptized and he said he'd do all he can to find if it is true. The only problem is he knows alot of Anti that pokes holes in our church, and so we're going to work with him on that to answer those questions. AWESOME! But it's definately not going to be easy. Oh and I found a random Donny Osmond CD that's way cheesy.
FRIDAY!
This day we drove to Peoria for a Zone Meeting- President Jergensen was there and everything. [No it wasn't a Zone Conference, that's this coming Friday.] I will talk about this sweet meeting in a bit. But on the way home we stopped at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries- it was awesome! There was a staff member who came out actually and started to talk to us, and he was so impressed with the fact we're so young and doing this thing, he gave us all free drinks. It was cool.
SATURDAY!
I didn't write anything down.
SUNDAY!
Stake Conference- it was a broadcast, and I'll talk about it in a bit. The LA came to conference, and we talked to her about it. She still has a testimony, she's just trying to fake not having one.
And that was my week!
Now for the two big highlights! Get ready, cause I brought my study journal for this!
ZONE MEETING
So I've mentioned that our mission has a goal to achieve 500 Baptisms by the end of this year. So far at the rate we are going we'll probably only get 300- we're way behind. President is very concerned about this, so he called this meeting with our Zone to see what we will do to help with this. He had the 3 District Leaders teach, then the Zone Leaders and him. It went pretty freaking stellar-
Elder Comrie, Galesburg District Leader-
Elder Comrie taught a sick lesson on Charity and how if we don't love the people, and love this work we are nothing. The people will not see us fit to be listened to, and kind of intimidated by us- and so we need Charity to achieve 500.
Elder Redder, Normal District Leader-
Elder Redder taught a lesson on being consecrated missionaries and how when we are consecrated we put off things of the world, and we worry less about what is going on back home, and what's going on in the mission. We should all do this, and need to remember always that consecration is a commandment.
We all made a commitment to him to be consecrated.
Elder Lewis, Peoria District Leader-
Elder Lewis started off by rebuking our zone- apparently there were some Elders who didn't have exactly the cleanest mouths. So he rebuked us for it, and threw out the scripture 1 Corinthians 13:11 which reads:
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
He bore solemn, and powerful testimony we needed to stop being teenagers, and be men. We represent the Lord, our Savior and the Church. I am grateful I have been living this mission with a clean mouth, but I began to think on how I can improve, and be better.
Elder Lewis then continued to speak on the importance of the Baptismal Commitment, and extending the invite. And we came to the conclusion, that every one of our investigators should have been invited at least once- because they aren't going to be baptized if we don't invite them! Killer lesson.
Elder Dahl and Elder Harrison, Peoria ZLs-
We talked about the culture of the mission, and our Zone and what we can do to change ourselves and refocus our work. Some examples are: Humility, don't be afraid to talk to people, hold each other accountable for disobedience and such, comp unity, be bold about sharing the gospel, rebuke eachother with love, attitude for the work, and of course our language.
President Jergensen, Mission Prez-
President Jergensen talked on the power of a kneeling prayer and having the investigator pray. He bore powerful testimony that if we get the investigators to pray, we will see them grow, and they will feel the spirit. Prayer is essential!
Over all it was a amazing meeting, and I learned alot from it, and the attitude the Elder Unsicker and I have had about the work has really changed. We've started to see our work push forward, and we're excited about it!
Now, for the best part!
STAKE CONFERENCE!
So Stake Conference was a broad cast to I think 4 stakes in the midwest. We had some sick speakers :)
1. Bishop H. David Burton, Presiding Bishop!-
So this was awesome! He talked about being prepared for natural disasters and setting an example to others in hard times.
something that stood out to me was when he mentioned that times will get harder for us. We live in a time of uneasiness, a time of worldliness- the adversary is very strong at these times! And we must hold strong, keep our testimonies nourished and strong!
One of the ways we can do this, he mentioned, is by keeping the Sabbath Day holy. He shared a story where he and his wife were shopping at a story they lived near and every Saturday they shopped they saw President Joseph Fielding Smith shopping as well. They wondered why he drove past so many other stores, across town to shop at this specific store. Bishop Burtons wife nudged him and said "You should ask him!" He didn't have the guts to do it. One time they found them behind President Smith in the check out line and she kept nudging him to do it so finally Bishop Burton stood tall and proud and said "Presient?!" President Smith turned around and replied "Yes, son?"
"My wife and I would like to know why you travel all the way across town to shop at this specific shop." President Smith looked him dead in the eye and said "Son, I shop at this store because they keep the Sabbath Day holy."
That story hit me very hard. I know that as we strive to keep the Sabbath Day holy we will be blessed a great deal!
2. Sister Mary N. Cook, 1st Councelor in General YW Presidency-
Sister Cook gave a really good talk, and usually I'm not that into talks given by the General Authority Sisters... maybe it's because they always start off with the story about a newborn baby?
But she talked about being HONEST and TRUE.
She talked about the Anti-Nephi Lehis and how they were the way they were because they were raised by very distinguised parents.
She introduced the triplets of dishonesty: Lying, Stealing and Cheating.
She advised that all three of these come with us thinking it's ok if you don't get caught. But remember who is always watching, the LORD!
I extend a commitment to you all that she extended to us- ponder your personal beliefs, and see if the way you are living is consistent with your actions. Do it!
3. Elder Quentin L. Cook, Quorom of the Twelve Apostles!-
This was a sweet talk, he talked about church history and how if we follow the examples of the pioneers we can come closer to our Father in Heaven, and we show our dedication.
something I love that he said was when we live clean lives, and have clean thought that are not centered on immoral things such as profanity, pornography, drugs, alcohol, etc. our lives are centered on Christ, and his Holy Temple.
We must choose good friends, and follow the example of our parents! Express gratitude for your parents, and how they raise you in righteousness, and peace. I am so grateful for my parents and all they have taught me. As Nephi, I too am born of goodly parents. And ask yourself that question, do I want my children to say they were born of goodly parents as well, or not?
4. President Henry B. Eyring, First Councilor in the First Presidency! :D :D :D-
This talk is probably one of my favorite talks I've ever heard... and you didn't get to hear it! HAHA!
President Eyring opened with the bold statement from the scripture in 3 Nephi 12:48
Therefore I would that te should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
This seems like a long shot, but by following the things he lists in this talk I know we can be as close as possible!
First we should all remember that the Lord does not give us a commandment unless He knows we can achieve it! So it is possible for us to be perfect, it's just really stinking hard.
Baptism is something we should always remember is the gateway to the path to perfection. If we want to start we must be baptized, and that is what we do when we help to bring people to a knowledge of the truth.
The temple offers us everything of Eternal Significance- think about that:)
One of my favorite things President Eyring did was liken the world like unto the great dead sea, a poisonous dead sea. He made a simple powerful statement- No fish can survive in a poisonous dead sea. Our lives without the Gospel or temple are like a barren desert, empty. This is so true, I have seen it in my life, and I can testify to all of you [whoever you are] that this Gospel makes people whole! I can't imagine what I'd do if I was out of this church! And when we go to the temple it brings us closer to the Living Waters that is Christ.
Daily scripture study, morning and nightly prayers bring the spirit into our lives, and closer to our Father in Heaven. It's so simple! Even a child can do it!
When we do wrong and we fall short of living the Gospel we should repent, and raise the bar. We can always do better, and we should aim to be better! President Hinckley said "Do the best you can!" So we should do that, strive to live the gospel at our best and when we feel we aren't doing so hot, we should raise the bar.
As we go to the temple we make new covenants, and we learn new things. The invitation to keep true and faithful to all our covenants comes from the Savior.
Everyone I am so grateful to have prophets and apostles on the earth today. It means so much to me that I had the opportunity to hear from those I did on Sunday, and I am super excited for General Conference! May the Lord bless you, and keep you safe in all you do.
I challenge you all to be the best you can be, and to review yourselves, ask yourselves-
How am I keeping my covenants?
and
How am I NOT keeping my covenants?
write it down, and keep it in your journal.
I love you all, God bless you all.
I hope to hear from you soon.
