Never to be Forgotten

Good Morning!

This week I will update you on a number of the people we are teaching, mostly for my own recollection of the events. I will also share personal experiences that have taught me to never cease trusting in God. As Oliver Cowdery has said; "These were days never to be forgotten!"

Zone Conference was this previous Wednesday. It was an amazing conference, and probably one of my favorites of late. We focused on repentance and teaching that powerfully. The Spirit was very helpful at identifying what I could do to personally improve. One thing I noticed was that I was largely withdrawn for the beginning of the conference. I was withholding myself from an event I usually enjoyed and choosing to be solitary. Here the Spirit prompted me of two things: first, that I would witness an evidence of God's hand in the work after the conference, and second that I needed to stop being withdrawn and choose to interact with those around me.

To be honest, I didn't really believe the first prompting. But I was willing to act on the second. Elder Nicholas Stucki, a previous companion of mine, is quoted below.

"God doesn't respond to a curious heart. He responds to a willing one."

- Elder Stucki

I was willing to interact with the missionaries around me and find greater peace and confidence. I was seeking that spiritual high that Zone Conference brings. And because I was willing to act on that prompting the Lord bolstered my Spirits and lifted me higher. I stepped out more and interacted with many of my favorite missionaries. I love this Zone Conference very much because of the experience it gave me in heeding the Spirit. This also placed me in a position to have a marvelous experience at the St. George Temple Open House touring much of the building. The Temple truly is the House of the Lord.

Remember that prompting I didn't trust? I have since learned my lesson. After driving home we immediately began an exchange with the other Elders in the Cedar YSA. I took Elder Macfarlane to my area. We had 5 successful door contacts before our first lesson of the evening. The first door contact went very well, except we didn't set a return appointment to begin teaching the girl. She is still in God's hands, though Elder Cammack and I will be back.

I remember thinking "that won't happen again tonight". I was wrong. The next 4 successful contacts involved us picking up 5 new friends to teach in an hour! I looked at my watch at the end and we were almost late to our lesson. I need to remember to heed the Spirit. I will keep you updated on how these friends progress moving forward. Also on this exchange we found two new friends for the other YSA Elders, which was a blessing to their area and momentum.

Other memorable experiences with specific individuals:

I shared my testimony with Juna, a struggling 14 y/o boy in an active members home. He wasn't ready to listen to his parents, but he was willing to listen to me.

We had a fantastic restoration lesson with Ale, a friend of ours from Italy. She left that room glowing, and with a greater faith in Christ.

We met Breanna at the door on Tuesday. We visited her home again on Saturday, woke her up, and sat down and taught the restoration with her member friend Lily. She's timid, but very sincere.

Eli has come to Utah in search of the gospel. He is now meeting with us, though his mother highly disapproves. He finds strength through the scriptures, the sacrament, and his close friends at college.

I did a baptismal interview for two kids who were baptized on Saturday. One of the first things the oldest, 'Beamer', told me, was that he didn't believe Jesus lived a perfect life.

Fifteen minutes and three verses of scripture later we were good to continue with the interview. That's probably my favorite, funny interview experience, not far behind Serenityrhane's up in Manti last year.

Violet lives in our Stake but is being taught by the Cedar West Sisters because of some preferences she and the parental figure have. However I will be doing her interview soon as she is preparing for baptism. Maybe Elder Cammack and I will get to go to a convert baptism in our Stake . . ? Still praying on that one.

Eldean came to church for the third time! She's getting baptized!! (Next week, sorry.)

I went on exchanges with Elder Shipley in the Enoch West area. He came out with me. He's going home in 3 weeks. How the time flies and the tables turn.

Sunday we taught Austin at a members home. He's been through a lot, especially some persecution from members 'up North', but he is sincere in learning. We will see him again on Wednesday. His fellowshippers invited us over to meet him at the dinner table. Best dinner ever.

We went to teach Joseph, a guy we're working with in the Indian Hills ward. He had his friend, Michael, there with him. Michael was prepared for the gospel. After a very powerful restoration lesson and a blessing of comfort, we left their home. Our Ward Mission Leader then told us he had an open room in an apartment somewhere for Michael. God is truly a miracle worker.

Open House dates were dropped for the Red Cliffs Temple in Washington, Utah! It will be dedicated on March 24th of next year. I will be a missionary for two Temple dedications in the Utah St. George Mission! That's super exciting. For the record, I will be released as a missionary on April 24th. There's enough of that.

This has been my week! I'm still going strong and praying for miracles. Emails like this help me recognize how God is supporting and lifting his work in Cedar City. Please pray for all the missionaries in the Utah St. George Mission, we are working hard to achieve our goals and bring souls hope to their Father in Heaven! If you have questions please let me know.

This work is true. I pray I never forget the miracles I experience on the daily. Until next week!

- Elder Williams

P.S. I turn 21 on October 18th!

Mailing Address:

881 South River Road

St. George, Utah, 84790

Pictures:

1. Snapshot right before Ale's lesson.

2. Elder Collier! I'll see him again one day.

3. Posterity photo!

4. Sister Icke (left) & Sister Massera (right).

5. Sister Cameron!