The Last California Letter

At the temple

This week we exceeded our goal for lessons taught. The goal for the mission is to have each companionship teach 20 lessons per week. This week we taught 23 lessons! It was a good week because a lot of those were with non-members. We're teaching four investigators in the YSA ward and a young couple in the family ward. It's a lot of fun to teach the restored gospel to people that really want to hear about it. One of our investigators in the YSA ward, Ken*, walks to the church building from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) to meet with us--we can't really meet him on DLI because we're not in the military and we don't have passes, or whatever you need to get on post. Ken is really searching to know for himself, not for his girlfriend or his friends, to know if the church is true. He really wants to have a backbone of his knowledge of the truth. We read 2 Nephi 31 with him which is all about the doctrine of Christ. He told us that is was a great chapter for him to read especially as he is deciding on whether to be baptized and when.

Yesterday I gave my talk in the YSA ward. I talked about one of the most significant things that I've learned being a missionary--the power of the Spirit in conversion. I shared an experience that Sister Mendivelso and I had with two people we showed around on Temple Square. One of them was a member, Brother Hamilton, and Zou Yan was a mother from Mainland China who had come to visit her friend in the US. I talked about how the Spirit spoke to Zou Yan and taught her the President Monson is a prophet of God and that Jesus Christ loves her. She didn't learn anything from Sister Mendivelso and I, but everything memorable happened because of the Spirit--it really changed her countenance (Alma 5:14). I was worried that my talk wasn't going to be long enough, but it turned out that I needed to cut things out of what I had prepared. Being a missionary really helps with preparing talks.

We met with John and Lindsey yesterday too. We wanted to make sure that they really understood the pattern of dispensations (when a prophet is on the earth) and apostasy (when there is no prophet on the earth). Without an understanding of that pattern and that the great apostasy occurred after the death of Christ's apostles, then you can't really understand the need for a restoration. We used a bunch of Bible references to help them see that the pattern was prophesied of by members of the early Christian church. I really think that they get the pattern now. It feels good to be able to explain something to someone and to have them really understand it. They don't have a baptism date yet, but they'll get there if they keep on the path that they're on.

Well, next time I write to you I'll be writing from Temple Square. I have a few more days left in California. One of the most important things that I've learned being here in a proselyting mission is the necessity of member missionary work. Missionary work wouldn't happen otherwise. When members of the church live the gospel and invite others to experience that same joy, that is when hearts are changed and people can really see the fruits of activity in the church.

*I changed their name

Oakland Temple Visitors' Center

What a GREAT week! We've just had referrals popping up all over the place! I can hardly believe how many potential investigators we have right now. As for investigators, that is going really well too. Remember those two new investigators that I told you about last week? Well, we went to the Oakland temple visitors' center with them this past Saturday. It's a two hour drive from Monterey to the Oakland temple (I don't think I've ever lived so far from a temple, what a blessing) so we had lots of quality time in the car with them. We also went with their member friend family that we also met last week--the Harrop's. The Harrops are such a great example of how the gospel can bless a family. Brother and Sister Harrop have solid testimonies of the gospel and I can tell that by the Spirit you feel when you're around them. They have four kids (probably under the age of 10) and they have incredible patience with them. It was great to be able to go to the temple visitors' center with them too. Probably the best part about going to the visitors' center was being able to show John* and Lindsey* the family presentation: God's Plan for His Family. It is a video presentation that they have at Temple Square and it really shows what the gospel looks like in action. Lindsey recognized how the family in the presentation was unified and the spirit of love that was between each other. John said that he liked the example of the father in the presentation who put off painting the house so that he could play baseball with his kids. John and Lindsey are pregnant with their first child so it was wonderful to be able to show them how the restored gospel of Jesus Christ really is relevant to them. 

 

After the visitors' center we walked around the roof of the Oakland Temple. It was really neat because we could look over the entire bay area--Oakland and San Francisco--with the Golden gate bridge in view. I love that you had such perspective from up there because that is exactly what you can get by going to the temple: perspective. When you're in the temple it is almost like you have a chance to look down on your life from a higher perspective and realize that everything really is going to be fine. Heavenly Father still has you in His hands and He'll guide you to the where you will be happiest, if you'll let Him. 

 

John and Lindsey came to church yesterday too! Since the Harrops are moving we wanted to integrate them into the ward that they actually live in (John and Lindsey had been attending the Harrop's ward before). It was incredible how the talks in Sacrament meeting and the lesson in gospel principles were incredibly relevant to their needs. Also, since being in the San Jose mission I've really realized just how important members are in helping people become not only active in the church, but also active in the gospel.

 

At church yesterday I was also asked to speak at the YSA sacrament meeting about Temple Square and missionary work. We'll see how that goes.

 

*I changed their names

Baptism!

Matthew got baptized! (I used the name Aaron in the last email, but since he is a member now I'll use his real name). Saturday was the day of his baptism and he was blessed with warm water in the font. Apparently for Sister Haycock and Sister Eller's last two baptisms the water was FREEZING. Matthew was stoked for his baptism and super prepared from the very beginning. The baptism service was wonderful. Matthew was introduced to the church by his friend Mitch at DLI. There are such wonderful member missionaries in the YSA ward and they have great opportunities to share the gospel with their friends. (The majority of the people in the wards here are in the military attending DLI). So as a result there were lots of people at Matthew's baptism. There were two talks (as usual), one about baptism and one about the gift of the Holy Ghost, both of them were very well thought out and sincere. The Spirit at the baptism was almost tangible and it testified that Matthew really was following the example of his Savior by being baptized by the priesthood authority of God. After his baptism Matthew bore his testimony about his relationship with his Heavenly Father and the reality of the restoration. It was a beautiful testimony.

 

At Sacrament meeting on Sunday morning (Easter), Matthew was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. After Sacrament meeting Matthew came up to us and told us that the moment priesthood-bearing hands were placed on his head he felt filled with the Spirit, it was more complete than he has ever felt it before. He had a wonderful spirit about him. He was also set apart as a priest in the Aaronic priesthood after church. What a great 24 hours for him!

 

Last night we were also introduced to two new investigators. They are a young couple and the husband is in the Army attending DLI studying Arabic. They were introduced to the church by some of their friends (also attending DLI). We talked with them about the Book of Mormon and how the Holy Ghost testifies of truth. We don't know them that well yet, but it is great to have people to teach about the restored gospel. The best part is that their member friends are such great examples of living the gospel. When we walked into their home you could feel the Spirit and see their testimonies in their countenances. I hope to have a home like that someday too. We're planning to meet with this young couple again next week.

 

We also went to the temple on Friday. It was great to be back in the temple and feel the peace associated with being in the house of the Lord. When I'm there it feels like my prayers have a shorter distance to travel. Sister Mattox was so kind to drive us up there, it's a 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive from Monterey. We had a great time. I'm so glad that I can attend the temple.

A New Area!

Hello from Monterey, California! Yup, that is where I got transferred to...poor me. I'm pretty sure this is the most beautiful area to serve in of every area in the entire California San Jose Mission. Our area is right on the ocean and I would send pictures today, but I forgot the cord to connect my camera to the computer, so you'll have to wait until next week. This week we had a dinner appointment at a member's home and they live off of 17-mile drive. It was a pretty incredible drive to their house (I'm not on a bike anymore). 

If you're wondering, Sister Kim was transferred to Pleasanton and she is in a trio with Sister Zorn (she came with me from Temple Square) and Sister Rawlinson. My companions are Sister Eller (from Utah) and Sister Haycock (from Colorado). I think they put Sister Zorn and I in trios because we're leaving part way through the transfer here. 

In Monterey we're serving in both a Family and a Singles ward so we have lots of people to work with. We have some really great investigators here too. This Saturday we have a BAPTISM for Aaron*!!! Aaron was introduced to the gospel by his friends from school. He attends the Defense Language Institute (DLI) which is the reason that lots of people in both wards are here. Aaron just soaks up the gospel like a sponge. Basically all that we do is share the lessons with him and he is just so ready that everything makes sense to him and he feels the Spirit when we teach eternal truths. Something that really touched him was the knowledge that in the pre-earth life he chose this plan, he already chose to follow Jesus Christ. He is super excited for his baptism and I know that his activity in the gospel is going to bless his future family beyond anything he can imagine right now.

We are also teaching Eric* and Emma*. Sister Eller and Sister Haycock found them while contacting people. They were kind of interested because they were looking for a church so they gave Sister Eller and Sister Haycock their address, but they weren't too committed until Eric's six-year-old son, "Bear", asked if they could go to church. That was the catalyst for their learning. Eric and Emma aren't married yet and they have two children from previous relationships but they are really looking to strengthen their families. Sister Eller and Sister Haycock taught them the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation before I came and they loved it. Yesterday was Eric's first day of quitting smoking to prepare for baptism. We watched the last session of General Conference at their home and it was great. It is so neat to see how the gospel of Jesus Christ is really going to strengthen their family.

Speaking of General Conference, it was wonderful! We watched the first three sessions in the church building and it was neat to be able to hear all of the talks. I wasn't out working at Temple Square but I got to hear everything instead, so there are trade-offs. I can't say that there was one in particular talk that stood out to me, but I just really loved President Monson's talk. He seems to speak on similar topics all the time: pay attention to the most important things in life because that is where true happiness comes from! I can't wait until the May Ensign comes out and we can read all of the talks. They were pretty great.

Thank you so much for your support! I'm a really lucky missionary.

*I changed their names