The Greatest Gift

Good Morning! 

I won't dwell too much on this week. The transfer is almost gone and I feel like I've done everything and nothing at the same time. I guess that's how it's going to be! We'll make sure to end the transfer with a bang. 

For starters, we found 8 new friends to teach! In one week, we almost doubled our teaching pool. That was a super exciting moment, and they're all very interesting in personality and background. Arlene is a previous preacher for an outreach Christian group in Southern California. Jeremy and Phineas respectively come from different home lives, but have an interest in learning more about the gospel, and historical context for the scriptures. Larry and Joshua think they aren't interested but shared with us in our last lesson about the feeling of peace that remained in their heart. 

Sage and Natalie are two young single adults. They grew up around the faith, but with a different Christian upbringing. We are answering their questions and they attended a church service with us yesterday! Their friends in the area are straight miracles. Finally, Taylor is another young single adult. She is out of town this weekend, but we should be meeting next week. I share their names more for my memory than anything else. These people mean a lot to me, despite their varying levels of interest, progression, and background. The Lord is teaching me a lot here in Cedar, and I'm still trying to figure out what that is supposed to be. 

We had exchanges, and I went to Cross Hollow for a day. It's my first exchange with Elder Brown. As usual, I left with a greater respect and trust for his life and conversion process. If we all saw each other as the Savior saw us, we'd probably be a lot kinder to each other. That's something I'm working on; being kinder. I can be quick to react and assume others didn't accomplish a task, or I request their aid as a demand more than a request. However, I am striving to do better and be better. Elder Cammack has taught me a lot, he's easily one of my top 10 companions . . . the hard part is I've only had 10 companions and I love all of them. 

We also held District Council. I'm probably a bit harsh on myself, the council likely could have run better. However, I learned what I needed to from the experience and I pray the other missionaries did as well. Elder Shipley and Elder Stringer attended, and then a 4 foot pizza showed up out of nowhere. That was an interesting addition to the morning!

Elder Renlund (an Apostle) left the mission with an invitation earlier this year in his mission tour. He invited us to seek for and receive the revelation that we are called here at this time for specific purposes and for specific people, and that every area we are in is the right one at that time. I don't know why it took me 6 months to finally legitimately desire this understanding, but I'm seeking it now. There's already a few reasons I've identified. 

The experience I've gained and the relationships I've built as a missionary have changed me and how I treat others. They've improved my view of the world and taught me infinitely more about God and how He works. I've made some lifelong friends here. There's a lot of friends I've taught, missionaries I've served around, and local ward, stake, and mission leaders who I absolutely love and admire. I am not the same person I was when I started my missionary experiences. Nor am I the same as I was on May 10th, 2022. That's probably the greatest, and my favorite blessing. Each day that passes and each transfer that vanishes (like this one) has drawn me closer to my Savior. 

Do I know every, or even many, of the reasons I've been assigned to the Utah, St. George Mission? No, probably not. But I know it's made me a better man. Because of the Savior and my experiences with Him, I do not have to be what I have been. And that's probably the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. 

- Elder Williams

Mailing Address:
881 South River Road
St. George, Utah, 84790

Pictures:
1. Some visiting missionaries from St. George! They visited after a temple trip of theirs. Elder Nabors (2nd from right) was trained by Elder Jorgensen and he is doing awesome. Elder Stucki (left center) is another previous companion of mine headed home. 
2. District Council with the Pizza.
3. The middle of nowhere West of Kanarraville.
4. Sunsets in Kolob Canyon.
5. What happens with 4 Elders in a Harry Potter style closet? Who knows.
6. I felt like I wasn't taking pictures, so I made a Sunday night adjustment. This is Elder Cammack in his natural habitat. Maybe.
7. The first hints of Autumn!
8. Cedar from up high.
9. The Cedar overlook.
10. This is a flag. On a rock.
11. A clock tower on a local (really old) church building.













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