Awake Unto God

Good Morning!

This has been a fantastic week! College is back in session, and thus the campus is alive again! Elder Koyle and I were questioning if the Institute was really as busy as it feels, but it's likely just the perspective shift from nobody being around to everyone being back in town. I still personally feel that it's never been this hard to find a parking spot at the Institute building, but maybe that's just me . . .

One of our friends, Zaylie, was baptized this Sunday! It was such a sacred, special experience. She's come a long way. We set her date before the break, then went 3 weeks without good contact with her. But when she came back, we resolved her concerns and helped her prepare for her baptism! I confirmed her (gave her the Holy Ghost), Zaylie has been wonderful to work with. Elder Koyle and I never knew for sure how it would turn out, but we're glad she's committed to live a covenant lifestyle. 

We also found a number of new people this week, all through tracting. The best part is, many already have very solid ties to the church! They could progress quickly, I'm excited to watch them do so. One fun fact; Elder Koyle and I were at the Visitors' Center, and had just finished a lesson early. Another lesson was going to be 20 minutes late, so we jokingly told the Sisters working there that we would find a new friend to teach in the next twenty minutes! 

Well, we did. We found Roland, he's cool, and has met with us again already. We shall see how he progresses. However, this was the sixth week of the transfer. Elder Koyle is by far my longest companion, but that reign has come to an end. He is staying in the YSA 1st Stake, and I am moving North, up to Beaver! 

There's the transfer news, but many great things still happened this week. For starters, we had the first mission-wide temple trip! We had to go in two groups, one on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday. I went on Wednesday with the St. George, Washington, and the Espanol South Zone. It was a wonderful opportunity for reflection and increased understanding. I felt the Spirit a lot at the temple and am very grateful for the opportunity to have gone! It helped increase my spiritual capacity and focus.

I want to share a few verses that stood out to me during one of our lessons. One thing I've learned is that the Holy Ghost can teach us while we are trying to teach others. This is a prophet, Alma, teaching the members of God's church about their fathers, and what God has done for them. 

Alma 5:
6 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell? 
7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them. 
8 And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not. 
9 And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved.

Later Alma turned these questions on those listening, but the phrase that stood out to me was "and they awoke unto God." I love how it highlights the change of heart one experiences as they turn from worldly things to the things of God. Another phrase I like is "why bear your own afflictions?" We already have a Savior who takes our afflictions upon Himself. So don't try and hold on to the mistakes you make. Let God guide you. 

One of our friends in the YSA said it best: Trials are necessary, agony is optional (Braden Butler). We don't have to suffer for what Christ has already taken care of. That's the beauty of the Atonement. 

I am excited for this transfer. It'll be a lot of unknowns, but as long as I don't freeze I know I'll be doing well! I'm here to move the work after all, not just tend it. It's the best work on the Earth, and by far my favorite. 

I'll write you next from Beaver! 

- Elder Williams

Pictures:
1. Zaylie's baptism
2. Zaylie
3. Another sunset
4. Matt Glover, from the High Council.
5. P-Day Pickleball Posse for the 3rd time! Elder Wilson is really good at singles, I lost 11-2. 
6. Brenen Lyman, one of the best fellowshippers ever!
7. Mission Temple Trip!








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