General Conference!

Oi! This week was definitely an interesting one. No more snow thankfully, but Elder Smith and I made sure to put on multiple layers when we need them. Since Elder Smith is a district leader, we get the opportunity to go on exchanges with the other Elders, where we swap companions for a day and go into another area. I've had to really focus on having continual excitement for my area and to do the work there, because every time this week when I was in another area we saw lots and lots of miracles. Everyone certainly has their agency to listen to us or not, but I still need to do everything I can to give them that opportunity to investigate the Book of Mormon and the gospel for themselves. 

One exchange I went on was super cool. I went with Elder Abbott into his area for the day, and we talked to some amazing people. The first person we talked to had us so excited, he seemed so prepared to hear the gospel after all he had been through. After talking with him for a while, he mentioned that he was baptized some 50 years ago when he was a kid, so that was a shock, but they're trying to get him back to church, so that's awesome. Elder Abbott and I didn't have a lot of time left, but we decided to talk to whoever we could, and ended up talking with 2 neighbors back to back and set up lessons with them both, which was a huge miracle. Then our lesson we had planned for that night fell through, so Elder Abbott and I decided to go see someone they had talked to in the past. It was so cold outside, but talking to Eric on his doorstep, the spirit filled us with such warmth, I didn't even realize how cold it was until after we left some 45 minutes later. We were able to teach an entire lesson right there and gave him a Book of Mormon of his own to read. 

 

Something that I've thought of this week is how so many people we talk to know nothing about what the Book of Mormon actually is, even if they say they do. Being able to testify of how I came to know the Book of Mormon is true and that it testifies of Christ and supports the Bible has been so amazing. Elder Smith and I have been able to talk about the Book of Mormon and give some to people who at first don't want to talk to us because they incorrectly think we aren't Christian, but after we explain it a bit, they have gotten so much more interested, even if it doesn't lead to us teaching them. 

Another thing, this weekend was General Conference! I wish it was more often, hearing the leaders of the church speak is always so amazing. Dale joined us at the church to watch the first broadcast session, but after that said he figured out how to watch it at home and he wanted his wife to watch it with him. He's already a great example of every member being a missionary. Being able to hear from the prophet, President Nelson, the 12 apostles, and the other leaders is always so uplifting. As a missionary it feels like it goes by too fast! I'll definitely continue studying their talks and their words. 

 

Missionary work definitely isn't always easy, but it's worth everything and then some. Elder Smith and I are still trying to find more people to teach that we actually end up teaching, which isn't easy, but hey, that's missionary work for you. Not everyone is like Dale, but I love all the people we're teaching, seeing their eyes brighten during a lesson or as we share a scripture and feeling the spirit in those moments are things I'll never forget. 

fletcher.madsen@missionary.org

https://fletchermadsen.blogspot.com/