Date
April 4, 2016
Area
Parker Colorado
Companion
Elder Layton
I don't even know where to begin. Of course conference was simply amazing! The last few years I have really started to enjoy conference more and more but serving a mission and getting to watch conference has just been amazing. Every single talk hit home with me. Normally, I always have times where I am struggling to stay awake but this time my eyes were glued to the screen. I couldn't take in enough.
I started conference by asking a few questions. I got answers to many of those questions, but I also found the Lord had answers to questions that I had not yet asked. So many things in my life seemed to clear themselves up. I am so grateful for the ways that the Lord teaches us. I will share just a few of the things I learned.
During Kent F. Richards talk, it hit me very suddenly. This is what I wrote down; "I have two years to choose everyday that I want to be here. MAKE THAT CHOICE EVERYDAY!!"
During this talk, I thought back to the words of our prophet Thomas S. Monson, when he told us Sunday morning that we have our agency, and the choices that we make with that agency will either bring us back to God, or it will take us away from God. Sometimes I forget that it really is that simple. I want to make sure that I am using my agency to do everything I can to get back to Heavenly Father, but not only that, to bring as many people as I can with me, as was also mentioned many times at conference.
The other thing that was so evident to me, is the reality of the help that comes from the other side. Sometimes I find that the veil allows me to forget how real the gospel is, how real it is that death is not the end. During President Nelson and Quentin L. Cook’s talks, that hit me so strong. I know that the experiences these men talked about are not simply fantasies but a reality of the way our Heavenly Father’s plan works. How great it is to have such a knowledge!!
I'll try to explain briefly some of the experiences that I had this week. I don't remember what day, but we did a district blitz, which means all of the missionaries in our district spent an hour and a half in the same area contacting people. We did a mini exchange with the zone leaders, so I went with Elder Dubbs. I really like all of the missionaries in our Zone, so I like doing little exchanges. It was nice to go around with him, and we were able to have some great conversations with people. I think he expected me to be nervous and shy because the second door that we knocked I took the lead and bore my testimony of our Savior and what He has done for us and shared a video with the lady. Elder Dubbs asked if I was sure that I had only been out here a month. We had a few people that we told we would stop back, so it was a pretty successful day. Right before we were supposed to be done, I had to go to the bathroom, so we stopped by a member’s house. I think I have mentioned him before but his name is Andy and he is INTERESTING. I won’t go into detail, but after I used his bathroom we shared a quick spiritual thought. We want to always leave the members uplifted when we visit them, so I shared some learnings from my studies and left with a prayer. Right after the prayer, he asked me to give him a blessing. He said he hadn't had a priesthood blessing in quite awhile and during the prayer the spirit hit him like a ton of bricks to ask for one. It was a really cool experience, and I was grateful for that opportunity.
Then we had an awesome lesson with one of our investigators named Todd. We shared a brief video because his younger kids were there and we couldn’t get too in depth. I think I have mentioned him, but he was the one who we knocked his door and he opened up to me right away about what he was going through with his wife. We had a good lesson and then stopped by again yesterday after conference. It worked out perfect that his kids went outside to play, and we were able to have an awesome conversation with him. Earlier in the week, we had decided to show him this video "Hope you know we had a hard time." It was exactly what he needed. He started crying and broke down in front of us which was tough for him but helped strengthen our bond. He told us how he always feels better talking to us and we were able to testify that it was the Spirit that he felt. We asked him if he would take all of the discussions and he said of course. He shared with us that he had seen missionaries before and he didn't know why he opened up to us the way he did. I testified to him that we are representatives of Jesus Christ, and that it was no coincidence that we had come when he did. He said he agreed and felt like God sent us. We are looking forward to two more lessons with him this week and hopeful he can attend church with us next Sunday. As we walked away, I had this overwhelming feeling that regardless of whether he accepts the gospel or not, we have fulfilled our purpose as missionaries. That he still has his agency, but we are inviting him to come to his Savior and we have been here to strengthen him in a time of need. It is an amazing feeling!
I had the opportunity to give a few other blessings to members this week, which has been amazing! It helps to feel even closer to the members! I am falling in love with the people here. It scares me to realize that I will eventually need to say goodbye, but I take courage in knowing that God does not do coincidences. There is a reason for everything.
Words can’t describe the Love I feel for my Savior. To see His hand in my life, as well as the lives of the people around me, is something for which I am so grateful!
We have several follow up appointments this week! We are excited for them. Next Saturday we are going to teach the first discussion to a Muslim man. He is one of the nicest men I have ever met!
As always, I love you all and pray for you! I am grateful to have you in my life.
Elder Richards
I started conference by asking a few questions. I got answers to many of those questions, but I also found the Lord had answers to questions that I had not yet asked. So many things in my life seemed to clear themselves up. I am so grateful for the ways that the Lord teaches us. I will share just a few of the things I learned.
During Kent F. Richards talk, it hit me very suddenly. This is what I wrote down; "I have two years to choose everyday that I want to be here. MAKE THAT CHOICE EVERYDAY!!"
During this talk, I thought back to the words of our prophet Thomas S. Monson, when he told us Sunday morning that we have our agency, and the choices that we make with that agency will either bring us back to God, or it will take us away from God. Sometimes I forget that it really is that simple. I want to make sure that I am using my agency to do everything I can to get back to Heavenly Father, but not only that, to bring as many people as I can with me, as was also mentioned many times at conference.
The other thing that was so evident to me, is the reality of the help that comes from the other side. Sometimes I find that the veil allows me to forget how real the gospel is, how real it is that death is not the end. During President Nelson and Quentin L. Cook’s talks, that hit me so strong. I know that the experiences these men talked about are not simply fantasies but a reality of the way our Heavenly Father’s plan works. How great it is to have such a knowledge!!
I'll try to explain briefly some of the experiences that I had this week. I don't remember what day, but we did a district blitz, which means all of the missionaries in our district spent an hour and a half in the same area contacting people. We did a mini exchange with the zone leaders, so I went with Elder Dubbs. I really like all of the missionaries in our Zone, so I like doing little exchanges. It was nice to go around with him, and we were able to have some great conversations with people. I think he expected me to be nervous and shy because the second door that we knocked I took the lead and bore my testimony of our Savior and what He has done for us and shared a video with the lady. Elder Dubbs asked if I was sure that I had only been out here a month. We had a few people that we told we would stop back, so it was a pretty successful day. Right before we were supposed to be done, I had to go to the bathroom, so we stopped by a member’s house. I think I have mentioned him before but his name is Andy and he is INTERESTING. I won’t go into detail, but after I used his bathroom we shared a quick spiritual thought. We want to always leave the members uplifted when we visit them, so I shared some learnings from my studies and left with a prayer. Right after the prayer, he asked me to give him a blessing. He said he hadn't had a priesthood blessing in quite awhile and during the prayer the spirit hit him like a ton of bricks to ask for one. It was a really cool experience, and I was grateful for that opportunity.
Then we had an awesome lesson with one of our investigators named Todd. We shared a brief video because his younger kids were there and we couldn’t get too in depth. I think I have mentioned him, but he was the one who we knocked his door and he opened up to me right away about what he was going through with his wife. We had a good lesson and then stopped by again yesterday after conference. It worked out perfect that his kids went outside to play, and we were able to have an awesome conversation with him. Earlier in the week, we had decided to show him this video "Hope you know we had a hard time." It was exactly what he needed. He started crying and broke down in front of us which was tough for him but helped strengthen our bond. He told us how he always feels better talking to us and we were able to testify that it was the Spirit that he felt. We asked him if he would take all of the discussions and he said of course. He shared with us that he had seen missionaries before and he didn't know why he opened up to us the way he did. I testified to him that we are representatives of Jesus Christ, and that it was no coincidence that we had come when he did. He said he agreed and felt like God sent us. We are looking forward to two more lessons with him this week and hopeful he can attend church with us next Sunday. As we walked away, I had this overwhelming feeling that regardless of whether he accepts the gospel or not, we have fulfilled our purpose as missionaries. That he still has his agency, but we are inviting him to come to his Savior and we have been here to strengthen him in a time of need. It is an amazing feeling!
I had the opportunity to give a few other blessings to members this week, which has been amazing! It helps to feel even closer to the members! I am falling in love with the people here. It scares me to realize that I will eventually need to say goodbye, but I take courage in knowing that God does not do coincidences. There is a reason for everything.
Words can’t describe the Love I feel for my Savior. To see His hand in my life, as well as the lives of the people around me, is something for which I am so grateful!
We have several follow up appointments this week! We are excited for them. Next Saturday we are going to teach the first discussion to a Muslim man. He is one of the nicest men I have ever met!
As always, I love you all and pray for you! I am grateful to have you in my life.
Elder Richards
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