The way joy comes...

In our lives, situations arise.  As we go through life, there are experiences that come into our path, that often are those of which that help us to, and times, force us to grow.  We have things that bring us more joy than anything else we have ever imagined; we have trials beyond what we can bear alone; times and circumstance may bring such a profound sadness onto us, from such we may not know how to recover from.  The thing about life, however, is that it is not at all about how many times, nor how hard we may fall, but rather in that we get back up. First of all, God in no way put us here on the earth to suffer, but neither did He place us here for everything to be perfect.  I have grown up hearing the saying that there must be an opposition in all things; that to know the sweet, you also must experience the bitter.  As a child learns, they must come to understand what hot is, and pain that comes from it. Just as Nephi taught that, while speaking of Adam and Eve, "...having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good for they knew no sin."  And then a short verse shows the power of God when we look at life and these things; "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things."  This life has struggles, all here know that, and have many that personally are obstacles that are before our path of progression.  But with all of this, we are never alone.  Never does God allow us to be put before hardships that we cannot overcome; yet, one needs to remember that overcoming things, can't always be done by yourself; that to stand after we fall, it often is with those who lift us...

Sometimes, you have to wait and work...

I'm 20, and yes, I'm still excited for Christmas

Our Heavenly Father cares for us, and wants us to have joy, to have things in our lives that bring us happiness but sometimes, to receive that, you have to wait, and work for it.  One of the biggest parts of God's plan for us to come here to the earth, is to learn and grow, and to gain experiences and learn to persevere.
At times, the greatest of blessings that we can receive and things that we want more than anything else in life, are not simply handed to us; but requires us to work for them, and to wait.
 Now let me give you a few examples, to help illustrate that fact.  Imagine again being a small child, and seeing the Christmas Season unwrap around you, starting from about after Thanksgiving, building up for a month.  Seeing the lights go up, the tree decorated, the music and very essence of life shift; and as a small child, most importantly, the presents multiply underneath the tree.  Parents tell their children, if you want good gifts, you have to be good, or else Santa will only bring you coal (incentive to be good and charitable, in thought of reward in the end).  And to know simply that they cannot be....

Only in our day...

Standing with some Christmas lights

Have you ever taken a step back, and looked to the many blessings that we have been given in the world around us, with the technology and abilities that we have and are able to use. Like right now at this moment, you are (I'm guessing), not sitting right next to me or anything, and yet are able to read and look at this and read it at an instant with a click of your finger. Imagine living thousands of years ago, lets say, in the day of Moses.  If you didn't live right there with him, maybe if you lived only 100 miles away, think of the difficulty in getting to hear the prophet of God speak.  Or being able to listen when he teaches.  Now what is you lived on another continent during the days of Moses.  If you lived in the americas, you would most likely not even know the name of Moses, nor that he was a prophet of God or to hear what he was teaching from God. Now look at...

When the going gets rough...

When Jesus was on the earth, He did many things, in striving to help us to learn of our Father in Heaven, and the plan of which He has that can bring us happiness in our lives.  Christ was always showing people how we can gain more joy in our lives, through coming unto Him, and in following our Father in Heaven. These are some of the most comforting words that He has given;

At times, the odds may seem tough

Matthew 11:28-30
28-Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29-Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30-For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Now lets look at this....

What do you think the answer is?....

From my first week on the mish, only here in Provo haha

"The answer is in the doctrine, the answer is always in the doctrine."  This was one of the things that Elder David A. Bednar repeated over and over Tuesday evening as he was here speaking to missionaries. One of the greatest things that has been restored to the earth, within Christ's church, is revelation through His chosen prophets seers and revelators; the foundation of His church "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being himself the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2:20).  We have a prophet on the earth, and 12 apostles, whom are called by God and guide and lead His church. In being here on my mission, I have been able to see 11 of the 12 apostles, and many of them numerous times.  What was a bummer Tuesday,  arm in a sling, and I couldn't take notes =( But its okay, I got some notes from other elders and remembered a lot.  One of the things that he touched on while speaking, is the...

You don't realize until its gone...

Before the surgery =)

A few days ago now, I had to get a surgery on my shoulder.  If you are wondering, yes it hurt haha, but pain meds are a great thing God has blessed us with for the first couple of days, and now not hurting too much at all. I'll explain a little of why I needed it and what all was fiddled with and fixed.  My shoulder has always been really loose, and by simply moving my arm, my shoulder would sublux (meaning it would pop out the back of my shoulder).  It didn't hurt all the time, but was something I was just used to.  When I swam and played water polo a few years back during high school, it was sore often and I had to ice it after a lot of use.  And since I have been here on my mission, I have been playing quite a bit of volleyball (ya, I'm getting pretty good at it haha).  About 2 weeks ago now, while playing, I swung my arm super hard on a spike (yes, it was a great hit lol) and it made my arm way sore. So I went and saw a general card doc about it, and asked what he thought.  Upon seeing how loose and crazy my shoulder was, he referred me to an orthopedic surgeon.  I went and saw the doctor and he was saying it was pretty bad and I needed to get surgery, and asked how soon I could do it; my mission president told me that if I needed to, get the surgery, so I told the doc as soon as possible works with me.  The doctor stepped out and came back about 5 minutes later and asked "how about tomorrow?".....

Who's with me?!?...

Two thumbs WAY up!!!

Sundays have got to be pretty much the best day of the week, I'm going to say hands down for that one, and two thumbs WAY up! It's funny, because whenever I think of that saying, "two thumbs WAY up," it reminds me of when I was younger and watched Disney's Hercules and Hades says that and his thumbs have flames (thus why I have a picture of that on this post haha). Sundays are so great, because there are so many blessings that God has set aside for us on that day.  Look back to the Creation, God made the earth, then on the 7th day He rested; how great is it that we too get to have that rest on the Sabbath (although as a Missionary, I still get to teach the gospel and everything on Sunday, hooray!!)...

Learning anything new lately?....

If you have a voice of thunder,
why not be Superman as well =)

By golly, I have been actually haha. Since I have been here on my mission, I have had the chance to pick up some ASL (American Sign Language).  It is way awesome; my missionary companion and I, Elder Edmons, are continuing to learn more, and starting on Sunday, are going to serve in a couple of deaf wards to get to work with a lot more members that way. Being here in this mission brings so many opportunities that otherwise would never be possible, and this is just another great blessing of being called to serve here.  If I could, I would learn every language I could, to be able to teach even more people about the gospel.  But seeing my English grades from school, I figured I should keep working on it, but with ASL, it's a whole new way of communicating, and uses the language I already know. "Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth." (Alma 29:1-2).

This is how I know...

Read the scriptures, and pray; that is how you can know

So as you probably already know, my whole mission is different than any others.  The prominent way that I find people to teach about the gospel, is through the chats coming from Mormon.org.  Now not every person that I talk to asks when the can get baptized and all the questions that would be that "golden" investigator; rather I get hundreds even thousands of those who also want to argue and bash, or try to prove something to me. And then there are the questions along the lines of "prove to me that God exists....."; I know beyond any shadow of a doubt (no matter how cliché that may sound, it is true!)...

Do you realize who you are?...

"Jalike our own spirit tell us inside, God's Spirit tell us we God's kids.  Cuz us guys God's kids, dat mean, we goin, get all da good kine stuff God going give his kids, cus he our Fadda.  Jalike da Fadda give everything he get to Christ, his Boy, an dass how he goin make to us guys, same time we give um to Christ.  Ony one ting: Us guys gotta suffa jalike Christ wen suffa, so den bumbye, God make us come awesome jalike he wen make Christ come awesome." (Romans 8:16-17, *Da Jesus Book).  "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (verse 16, KJV) I want you to really grasp that, and think of right now, that you are a child of God!  There is a divine heritage within each and every one of us regardless of anything in our lives, we each are a son or daughter of our loving Father in Heaven.  Growing up in the church, that thought was something that was taught and instilled in me from a very young age, as before I could read or many other things, I knew the words to one of my favorite primary (children's group at church) songs entitled, 'I am a Child of God'.....

Of all the gifts of God.....

My family, about 4 years back. Me, Jerm and Russ are eagles

Next to the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, there is a blessing that God has given us that is central to bringing us happiness in this life, and in the life to come; that is of family.  Families are the most central structure that God has given and placed us in here in life.  Families are a place where love can be found, where I have come to see a closeness no matter what we may be in, and a bond that extends further than words could scribe or tell.  I am so grateful for my family; and I have come to see more and more, as I have grown, how much of a blessing they truly are to me. "The family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.".....

My Daily Choice...

Elder Sorensen and me, with "authorities"

There are choices that always arise in our lives, and so often, there are the choices that fall daily to our picking.  Being here as a missionary, gives unique options that I am able to have.  As missionaries, you will usually think of the epitome of Mormon missionaries, being in a suit, white shirt, and tie; and that is what consists of my basic daily wardrobe.  Although there is one part of the apparel that is how missionaries can choose more so in what they wear, in what tie you put on in the morning! It is funny, because for missionaries, ties are one of the pride and joys that you have, and in having your own style for it. Before my mission I didn't realize how many options there were, or so many different types of ties to choose from.  Its crazy, you have silk or polyester, thick or thin, bright or dark, length and knots used, and the good 'ol paisley ties.  And what else, I have never owned more ties than I have here.  I think the most I have been up to in owning is around 60, ya, I have a few haha. Some of the old school polyesters are really thick, and you can tell how much "authority" the tie has by holding it out (see the picture)...

The Mountain of the Lord...

A year ago in front of Provo Temple, way sunny out =)

   Looking through scriptures, you can see the many places where the prophets of God and disciples went up to the mountains, to commune with the Lord.  And as such in our day now, we can go to "the mountain of the Lord" to come closer to Him and feel the Holy Spirit.  I could see how getting up to a mountain could be hard to do in some places in the world, such as the great plains, but the great thing is that we have the opportunity without having a long hike to higher elevation; God has given us temples, the very mountain of the Lord, even the house of the Lord. I know that Christ's church has been restored to the earth.  With the restoration of the gospel, God has called prophets to help lead His children on the earth today, to give guidance through revelation.  The priesthood, which is the power and authority to act in God's name to bless His children, is again on the world to help all of His children to come closer to Him.  And the blessings of the gospel are here for us to receive as we follow Him, and through following His eternal plan...

The love for all...

Me and "Da Jesus Book" =)

 One of my favorite verses of scripture translated to Pidgin English haha; "God wen get so plenny love an aloha fo da peopo inside da world, dat he wen send me, his one an ony Boy, so dat everybody dat trus me no get cut off from God, but get da real kine life dat stay to da max foeva." (John 3:16). Let me know if there are any verses you want me to look up from the New Testament =)  Fundamental to all that I know, and the foundation of all that I do and believe, is of God, and knowing who He is.  I know that God really is our Creator.  But more than that is the personal relationship that we all share with Him.  God is more than simply some power up in the sky, and didn't just put us here on the earth for a whim to see what would happen.  He is there, and He wants to bless and to help us, He cares.  God is our Heavenly Father...

When it will happen...

About a year ago, up in the RC

    One thing that has been taught through all of the history of the world, is of a time when every nation, kindred, tongue and people will know of Christ, and of the love of our Heavenly Father.  In the words of our Savior captures this universal gospel when He told "every nation", "every land", "uttermost bounds of the world", "every tongue", "every people", "every soul", "all the world", and "many lands"; being just a few examples of what He taught in scripture and told to the apostles and disciples. I know that Christ's church has been restored to the earth. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, through which we can be made clean and have joy. That God is our Heavenly Father, and never has He ceased to love all of His children.  Just as anciently, God continues to lead and guide His children today, and has called prophets to the earth.  And what is amazing is...

Mormon 2.0: What it means to learn with a Missionary online -- A conversion story

Kenny flying an airplane!!! Awesome!

Well you have been reading the blog of a Mormon Missionary. It could be that you are a friend of the Elder whose blog you are reading, it could be that you are interested in learning more about Missionary work, or more about the LDS church.  As you have been reading this blog you may be asking yourself what it exactly means to learn with a Missionary.  This was a question that until recently I myself could not answer.  In early July I began the wonderful and life changing conversion experience that has lead me faithfully to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I want to share my story, and experience with Elder and Sister Missionaries so that others may know what a wonderful gift our Heavenly Father has given us by way of the missionaries.  My story starts 31 years ago...

P-day, what is that?

Me, hanging from a tree, over a stream

Who has ever heard of P-day?  Okay, now who knows what P-day is?  For those who don't know, it is an exciting day in missionary life haha.  As missionaries, as you know, it is a full-time thing, for 2 full years.  We get to go about teaching others about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, no pay checks, no vacations/brakes, R&R or anything, but completely devoting 2 years to serving the Lord. Yet with spending all of our time, talents, and energy to doing the Lord's work, how do we get anything else done?  And that is where P-day comes in =)  P-day, stands as to shorten preparation day, when we have set apart to do laundry, shopping, and all the good stuff that we need to get done for the upcoming week.  For me, p-day is on Wednesday, and we spend half of the day teaching, and then the rest in p-day activities.  And p-day yesterday was way fun, we actually went and hiked up into the Wasatch Mountains through Rock Canyon, and were there for most of the day, and hiked back a few miles.  It was way fun, it was beautiful up there, we climbed up random rocks, ran down mountains, climbed into caves, jumped streams, and just got...

The way it's been done, and then how we do it...

Missionaries on Bikes =) haha

You are probably familiar with Mormon missionaries at least to some degree.  You know, those 2 young men, clean cut, walking around or riding bicycles, then with the tags that set them apart.  In other countries are often mistaken for some kind of government employees.  They knock on doors and offer to share a message about Jesus Christ that could change your life.  Now don't get me wrong, I am here teaching about the restored gospel and about Jesus Christ, yet I don't walk around (too much), don't ride bikes, and don't knock on people's doors.  So then, if I don't fit under the epitome of Mormon missionaries, what do I do?...

I never would have thought....

Uncle Tommy & my Dad

As you know, I am here as a missionary, to get to teach others about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Growing up there were times that I saw people that were "labeled" as those that wouldn't ever be religious or had no interest in learning or nor following the gospel.  My dad is a convert to the church, and none of his family joined with him, and so as I grew up, I always thought that none of them would ever receive the gospel.  But how wrong that was.  This gospel is not just meant for some, its not just a good story; it is the...

Things that have helped me...

There have been a couple things that have helped me, through even the roughest of trials, and helped me to see from a different perspective. One, has been through writing in a journal everyday, and as I do to ask myself the question, "How have I seen the hand of the Lord in my life today?". President Eyring (of the 1st presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), said that he does this everyday, no matter how late it may be, and no matter how early you may have to get up the next day. Asking myself and pondering that deep question has shown forth many blessings in my life, no matter how small, that I often don't see at the time. And the second thing that has helped, is to learn how to take a step back, and look at my life. To look back to the past, of where I am now, and where it is that I am going towards. When we are in trials, that is often the hardest time to take this step back and see what we are to gain from it, and also to see the blessings we have, but take that step and view what God has given you. Following God and repentance isn't about changing your past, it is about changing from here on out. An amazing quote that I really like (actually from Kung Fu Panda) says, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present..." Know that God loves you, and know that His love transcends comprehension.

First post ever!

Me and Elder Spencer

So, decided to make a blog. I thought that it would be something that would be pretty cool, and for other people to be able to check out, especially as I am here on a mission, for those that I get to talk to and teach. I love being here as a missionary, it is truly a great blessing to be able to share the message of Christ's restored church on the earth. To help others to know of God's love and plan for us. I have about 11 1/2 months left on my mission now. I wouldn't be here as a missionary unless I knew if was true with all of my being. And as Elder Holland has said, I would not devote my life to a fairy tale.