Nia's Baptism, October 17, 2022

Hello everyone, wow this week was amazing!

Had a couple exchanges. One with Elder Davis and one with my old comp Elder Hurst! The exchange with Elder Davis was great. 

We taught one lesson with a couple people who were asking lots about grace and works. It was interesting to teach about. A couple quotes about grace and works I like are: "We are learning heaven not earning heaven" And "I am saved by grace but also changed by grace" I can't remember who quoted them.. Brad R. Wilcox maybe. 

The exchange with Elder Hurst was so good haha. We talked and caught up a lot. We had a cool miracle. We were out tracting and we knocked a door a lady opened up visibly upset. She had been having a really bad day. She recognized where we were from and said hey I got a Book of Mormon back here! We went in and taught her and her family a lesson. She had been taught by sisters in the past but they lost contact with her because she moved. We found her new house. It was awesome. 

Nia's baptism was amazing! Many people came and offered their support. Nia bore a powerful testimony and was just so happy the whole time. Her parents even drove 5 hours to come to it! 

Sunday was a special day as I was privileged to confirm her a member of the church. It was a sacred experience, one I will surely never forget. She is gonna go far in life! 

The word of God has become sacred to me as well as I have studied each and every morning. The Book of Mormon is powerful and along with the Spirit is how we will become converted. 

I know God is real, I know His gospel changes lives. 

Elder Spencer 

 

Testimony Meeting and Canadian Thanksgiving, October 10, 2022

Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends in the Great White North hope you enjoy lots of great food. 

This week was hard work, but in doing that hard work there was joy found. 

Nia is so ready for baptism. She actually ended up joining us in on a lesson we were teaching to another friend! (Unfortunately I was on exchanges so wasn't there for the actual lesson but Elder Morgan filled me in on it) 

Fast and testimony meeting was also pretty special yesterday. Nia got up and bore her testimony. She talked about how she is so grateful we ran into her and brought her to the knowledge of the Restored Gospel. She said these past 2 months have felt like 3 years. She is nervous for her baptism but ultimately was grateful because she is no longer wandering around from place to place. She has found where she feels at home. Many Branch members came up to her afterwards and thanked her and offered support. The Spirit was so powerful! That was honestly the highlight of the week. Seeing her progress these past couple months has been amazing. 

I am amazed and honored that Heavenly Father would let someone as imperfect as myself to be His Hands in helping one of His children come back to Him. It fills my heart with joy just thinking about it! 

There is a scripture that stood out to me from my personal studies I'd like to share along with a question someone commented in Elders Quorum yesterday. 

The Scripture is D and C 121: 34-35

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson

The question posed was "Am I building my kingdom or Am I building God's Kingdom?" It got me thinking and I hope you can ponder on this question and reflect on your own efforts to follow God. 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Also if you are looking for something good to read. Elder Bednar's most recent Conference talk will not disappoint!  Elder Spencer 

                                                    

Conference, Council, and Confusion, October 3, 2022

Alright everyone this week a lot happened!! 

We will start with the confusion. Elder Morgan and I were driving in our car when all of a sudden a sensor goes off and the car auto brakes and we have to pull over to the side of the road. Apparently the engine has sensors and detected that something was wrong. We got it to the shop and everything ended up being ok. But man it was a wild experience haha. 

We had lots of Conferences this week. We had a Zone Conference and General Conference. We also had a Mission Leadership Council in St.Louis. Needless to say there were lots of notes taken and thoughts had. 

General Conference is always amazing. However there is always so much to take out it can be overwhelming! One main takeaway I had was the importance of the Holy Ghost. The role it can play in our life is life changing. It shows us truth and helps us understand what is right and wrong. Many speakers testified and taught how we can keep the Holy Ghost with us or how to cultivate personal revelation. One speaker said: "The companionship of the Holy Ghost is priceless." Another speaker said we need to "safeguard the Holy Ghost". Keeping the commandments invites the Spirit into our life which will then light our souls! 

It motivated me to strive to have the presence of the Holy Ghost with me at all times. I encourage those of you who have this gift to think about its effect in your life up to this point and think of how you can increase his influence in your life. 

Nia watched all 5 sessions of Conference. She really enjoyed it which was awesome. It has been amazing to see her growth the past month and a half. The Spirit is truly what does the converting not us. 

I want to finish with a scripture I read this week. It is in Alma 41:8. It says: "Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved."

I know the way I need to go to find God and to find truth. God provides a way! We choose to follow. 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Elder Spencer

 The sky picture is a picture of Jupiter I got!