Elder Larsen's Homecoming Info

It's that time and Elder Larsen's full-time missionary service is drawing to a close.  We want to share our deep appreciation for all of the prayers, letters, and support on his behalf over the last 2 years.  We look forward to visiting with our Elder in person and know that many of you do as well.  With this in mind, we are hosting an open house for anyone who would like to stop by and say hi.

When: Saturday, February 28 from 4-6 pm
Where: Jared's house (1970 N. 190 E. Orem)

Also, for your information, Elder Larsen will be speaking in his home ward on Sunday, March 15th at 1pm.  The address of the church is 1660 N. 200 W. Orem.

Week 104-Gone for the day to the Trolley Wood...

"Please tell me, will we ever find it again?"

Today just feels like a dream- I'm just not even sure how to feel haha.  I went for my exit interview with President this morning, then over to LDS Employment Resources to work on my résumé and look at job postings in my area, said goodbye to one of my favourite members from Airdrie who owns the LDS bookstore in our stake... And here we are! One of the weirdest weeks of my life ahead of me... I haven't eaten today, but somehow I've got butterflies in my stomach!

This past week's been all right- Cindy got sick, so she wasn't able to meet with us or come to church.  She did give us a referral for her son that lives in Pincher Creek (Yeah buddy!), so I got to call those missionaries up and talk about the area. :)  Did I tell you Nick Chan got baptized two transfers back?  He's the first investigator Elder Heuer and I picked up together. :)

Honestly, the week's been a blur, and I don't remember much about it...  I've been handing out copies of the Book of Mormon like there's no tomorrow, and I've met more people willing to accept a copy in the past week than I ever have before.  I guess that's one lesson I've learned. :P  We had a member take us out to lunch at Gaucho's: A Brazilian barbecue similar to Tucano's.  ...So stellar. :)  Unfortunately, the meat overload in conjunction with all of the cleaning supplies I've been breathing was a shock to my immune system, so I spent most of this last week sick, and not really able to sleep due to anxiety...

Because of that last part, Elder Cuadra Guerra and I ended up on a C-Train at 5:45 in the morning on the way to the temple for my final session as a missionary.  We barely missed the 7:00 session, so we did Initiatories on the way to the 8:30 session.  ...The temple is just so amazing... It's truly a bit of heaven God's let us have here. I never want to be denied entrance to such an edifice, and I've seen it bless so many people's lives!!  Gah... *Insert Elder Larsen bursting into tears in the middle of a public library because it's finally hitting him that he's going home*

...The word "mission" means so much more than it ever did before.  I never understood why Dad loved the Tremblay's in the special way he does, why Taylor was so excited to use his Portugese with that man who visited our ward, and, frankly, why Christ's Atonement is just so important... But I finally have a taste of all of that.  Remember in President Packer's conference talk last April when he said, "Much of what I have come to know falls into the category of things which cannot be taught but can be learned?"  ...That's exactly how I feel.  I know so fully that "the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved" (Alma 41:9).  There is only one way, one path.  It doesn't matter how many people want to shake their clenched fists at the air, how many people vote to change God's laws, or how many people Satan leads into "forbidden paths" (1 Ne 8:28).  The way is prepared: The suffering is over, the cross has decayed, the tomb is empty.  The only question is, will we walk therein and be saved?  Every step I take along the road is filled with the warmth, comfort, and assurance of the Spirit washing over me.  If I move the wrong way, there's only sadness, and if I remain where I am, the warmth in the soil diminishes.  Forward.  Onward.  Stronger.  Better.  And that means my mission will never be over.  If I remember correctly, when I was set apart President Shaw mentioned that no disease or earthly harm could end my mission: only my agency.  I choose to be a missionary forever.  I will fight the good fight, I will finish my course, I will keep the faith.

...Well, now that the tears have subsided, I guess I can tell you what the schedule looks like for the week.  Elder Cuadra Guerra and I got the "purge" call on Sunday, so he's getting transferred away: So much cleaning, so much packing, and so many notes to leave behind... It's actually what I requested in my email last week, so I guess it was meant to be that way. Tomorrow's District Meeting, Transfers are at 9:00 on Thursday, I weigh my luggage during lunch, attend the second transfer meeting in the afternoon, go to supper with President, Sister Nicholas, and the other 19 missionaries leaving on Friday.  Then, we have the Farewell Fireside...  I still need to invite some people to that. :P I stay in a hotel that night (they stopped housing missionaries in the mission home a few transfers after mine- just not enough space.  Sister Lewis told me that when we arrived in the field, they dropped us Elders off at the mission home, got all of the Sisters in the van, started driving.... Then President Nicholas asked the AP's and President Palmer, "So... Where are we taking them?"  After some worried looks from the Sisters and careful consideration, President Palmer volunteered his home. :P), fly home the next day............  And whatever y'all have planned after that! Haha.  As long as I can go tunnel singing Sunday night, I'm good. :)

Well, I know I promised pictures, and I have my camera right here, but it won't let me use my cable- I usually just borrow everyone else's card readers, but my exit interview this morning messed with our emailing time... So I guess I'll show some pictures to you in a few days. :) :/ O_o D: (°_°) (°o°) \(^-^)/

I love you so much.... See you soon. :)

-Elder Jared D. Larsen, full-time representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

I had many things to write, ... but I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee." -1 Tim 3:14, 2 Cor 2:3, 2 John 1:12, and 3 John 1:13-14 

Week 103-...I'm really coming home, aren't I?

Well... This week just flew right by, and I can't even pretend it didn't feel like it.  I was standing on a hill today, looking at the Calgary skyline, just thinking, "Man... I'm gunna miss this."  I'd imagine those aren't feelings that'll go away. :P

...Before I start, I have something to confess: I haven't seen my camera in three days. O_o I know I had it on Friday, and probably again on Saturday... But not since. :/ I'll search around the apartment and do some deep cleaning! It's just unfortunate because I actually had some great pictures from last P-day...

...We went crawling around in the secret tunnels under the Stake Centre. :) The Mandarin Elders took me for an adventure through the hidden crawlspaces under the fridge in the kitchen and elsewhere, spelunking. It was so sick!!! :D  If I find my camera, I'll send them... Next week... I guess that's the last time I can pull that card haha. *Shudder*

The day following was a Zone Training Meeting, and a good deal of it was focused on how to proselyte on Facebook... It's been a hugely hot topic in the mission for the past two transfers, and I haven't mentioned much about it since it won't really affect me.  President came around last month to talk about it in Zone Conferences, so we all got really excited- But about 45 minutes into his training, someone asked a question, and he responded, "We'll have to think about how to fix that- After all, we won't be rolling this out for another month or so." ...Aaand instantly 6 of us in the room deflated and stopped paying attention. :P  Anyhow, the training on Tuesday was still pretty good: We went to meet with the Stake President and Family History Centre Director to talk about all of it. I've already offered to be an online member-present if the missionaries here need someone. ;)

Wednesday was pretty cool: Elder Jacobs and Elder Thomas picked us up, then we went to Mount Royal University to see how many copies of the Book of Mormon we could hand out in 25 minutes.  We prayed that we'd be able to hand out 25, then went to work.  Elder Thomas and I handed out 18, and Elder Jacobs and Cuad gave out 8 for a total of 26.  Miracle!!! :D We definitely said a prayer of thanks for that!!  Then we met a member and the Mandarin Elders at a restaurant for supper, and he'd brought a Chinese friend with him.  That was pretty cool.  She came to our ward on Sunday. :)

Thursday was a specialized training from President and the AP's to train District Leaders on how to be... Well, District Leaders haha.  Honestly, the format and content were neither overtly helpful nor informative, and, in a lot of ways, they kept contradicting themselves.  Supposedly the training intended to address and fix the negative stigmas that surround leadership in the mission, but, in reality, it ended up enforcing the negative stigmas. ...I'm so done with mission politics.

Luckily, we also got to teach Cindy and Debbie that night! :D Elder Gibbs and I taught portions of Lesson 4, and Cindy's super-solid: Never any concerns with doctrine.  Debbie's very much the same, but... Apparently, when she came to church for the first time Super Bowl Sunday, the member sitting next to them on the pew didn't let her and Cindy take the Sacrament, and she felt discriminated against and denied the opportunity to come closer to Christ. :/ We spent a lot of time addressing this concern, and it seemed to help... But Cindy came by herself on Sunday.  We were extremely glad to see her, but she said she couldn't convince Debbie to come... Please pray that she'll be able to overcome that concern. 

Friday... I think it was pretty uneventful. Except for the phone call we had with Sister Paul that night during planning.  She's a less-active member married to a non-member, and they both just moved into the ward. We asked if we could visit her the following day, and she responded with a rather lengthy explanation about how she was comfortable with missionaries coming, getting to know them, and sharing a message, but that, in the past, that always turned into the "discussions:" And, having been a member of the Church forever, she knows quite a bit about the Church, and her husband's not interested.  So if we were to come knowing that background, she wouldn't mind one bit.

So we went for Breakfast the next day. :)  It was really good- they accepted our invitations to the ward party, to have visiting and home teachers, and we got to share a message about how Captain Moroni fought for families and how the best way to fight for our own is to be sealed in the temple.  I asked Sister Paul afterward if we met her criteria accurately, and she said we had and were definitely welcome to come back. :) Stellar!

This day was pretty rough for me, as I'm sure it was for my family... The other Elders were really kind to me, though, and Sister Buchanan had been a living angel in delivering a care package to me the day prior, so it wasn't all so bad.  As I knelt to pray that night, many tears were shed for many reasons, but I made it through, so thanks for all of the prayers on your end. :)

Sunday brought Cindy, Angel, and Brother Wilson to church.  That morning at about 9 AM, Brother Lawlor, a counselor in the Bishopric, had phoned us, informing us that this Sunday was usually High Councilman Sunday, but he'd forgotten we wouldn't have one this month to the ward conference next week.  So he'd neglected to arrange for speakers. Guess who got to give talks? :P  Haha. It was a very sentimental experience to stand at a pulpit on the same Sunday I had two years ago when I gave my Farewell.  I talked about family, Cuad talked about being shepherds, and Brother Lawlor spoke on the sacredness of Hymns.  All in all, it wasn't bad!  Our supper calendar really filled up afterward. ;)

That brings us to yesterday: One of the biggest disappointments a P-day could bring.  I'd been planning for three weeks to take President and Sister Nicholas out to a fancy restaurant, but the other people coming with us backed out at the last minute, and we had to cancel.  We'd also planned to go to the temple for Family Day, but, due to the indecision of the people involved in the first section of this paragraph, we missed the sessions... And there were no emails due to it being Family Day. :/ Huge let-down.  Luckily, the Spanish Elders took us to the mall with them and I found a Canadian version of Cinnabon, so it wasn't all bad. Target was going out of business, so I went and looked at all of the games I'll get to play with y'all. :P

Aaand today brought District Meetings and International Pancake Day. ...That's pretty much been my life... I hope my emails aren't becoming insanely boring. :P  My email time has been immensely spiced up by watching Annie's wisdom teeth video at least 6 times!! Haha, I love her. :) 

As far as the phone goes... I think I'd prefer a black iPhone 6?  But do I need a new phone? I'm pretty sure that after two years of Samsung Rugby II's my iPhone 4 is going to be a pretty welcome sight haha.  I have seen some of both the 6 and Plus around, and I feel the 6 is more up my alley.

The missionaries going home with me... Well, there are 23 of us. And only 12 coming out to replace us.  I don't know which of those 23 Sister Almeida would be going to see, though- I'll have to check my list again. :P

As far as the 28th, I haven't heard anything from the people I asked, so I'm going to say go ahead and plan what you'd like? #hesitant #ihatethespotlight

Well, I still need to email President... I love you. :)  Have a great week- I'll do what I can to do the same!

-Elder Jared D. Larsen

Week 102-Two Weeks Notice

...Well, it's officially becoming difficult to want to email haha.  I never understood why Elder Short was always done emailing in 15 minutes. :P

This week's been... Interesting?  Most of our lessons cancelled, and, after the stellar Sunday last week, things were much slower this go around.

Seeing as I became aware of some very pertinent deadlines for school (AKA I was supposed to have my Ecclesiastical Endorsement in before the 1st of February and my scholarship applications in before March...), I spent a lot of time with Elders Jacobs and Fleshman, helping each other get through the entire ordeal.  The frustration becomes a lot easier to handle when two other people are feeling the same way you do: "Uh, what's the password for my email again?" "...Social Security Number?" "My mom did all of this last time... I think it just sent all of the info to her email address..."  It reminded me what worldly stress is like haha.  Barring the portions of my FAFSA I couldn't complete, I think it's practically finished- Now I just have to wait and see if I get re-accepted. :P

In other news, we had a lesson with the Kheang family on Saturday. They're so sick!! :D I don't think I could even explain everything that makes me love them.  Sister Kheang if a refugee of sorts: Her mom was Chinese, but Sister Kheang was born in Cambodia.  Then the Khmer Rouge began the Cambodian Genocide, ripped her father from the home, and killed the mother, leaving only Sister Kheang and her handicapped sister.  She was adopted by another family who treated her very poorly: Her only source of food was the leftover grains of rice the family had thrown out, scattered in the dirt.  Then, the American Red Cross came to the border between Cambodia and Thailand and rescued all of the injured and handicapped, so Sister Kheang was separated from her Sister.  A few days later, she snuck across the border and happened upon a humanitarian man from Australia who helped her eventually find her way into a decent home in Southern Alberta.

...Crazy, eh?  And then, three years ago, she was baptized.  In Gospel Principles on Sunday she shared that, ever since, she's found the fight with Satan easier to manage.  This was her second week in a row at church, and she's bringing the whole family next week. :) 

I'm so happy to hear about Ellie!!!! :D :D :D  Man, life only gets better!!  Taylor, the competition for "favourite uncle" is real. ;)

It's been weird to think about coming home... Honestly, I'm glad that my homecoming, Jori's wedding, and Ellie's baby blessing are all happening around the same time: Sharing the spotlight will be greatly appreciated.  In talking with one of my good mission friends, we've decided that being home will be great: The process of coming home... Not so much haha. :P  I would love to go to Grandma and Grandpa's that day! I miss them. :)  As for the next day, no news yet- I'll let you know ASAP, though.

Well, I'm going to sign off and send a picture or two. :)  I love you, and I'll talk to you next week!
-Elder Larsen

These are two of Sister Khaeng's kids: Paris and Lesle.  After our first visit, they wanted to play some board games with me, so they bought me a version of Monopoly!  :D They're so sweet!

I got to go to the mission office to finish some of the application process, and I found something fun on our fleet coordinator's desk. :P

Week 101-Soo many emails!! I feel the love. :)

Phew!!  Is it already Monday again? It's amazing how swiftly time flies, yet how stagnant the hands on the clock seem to be. Let's see if I can update on the most important things/people:

1. Cindy and Debbie.
Right on schedule, Debbie was actually able to attend our lesson this week!! :D  It was a mild gong show... Four missionaries and two fellowshippers probably felt like quite the swarm haha.  We retaught the lesson we'd had the week prior with Cindy, but altered it to fit more of Debbie's concerns.  I think Cindy really liked it: We didn't use any of the same scriptures or personal stories (even though the topics were the same), and she seemed impressed that she was still able to learn from a lesson she'd been taught only seven days earlier!  It set a really good pattern for why enduring to the end is so important and how to accomplish it.  Debbie definitely felt a little like she was in the "hot seat," but she was a good sport about it.

I guess something must've worked- both of them were at church on Sunday!! :D Debbie left after Sacrament to go watch the Super Bowl... buuut I guess we'll just keep taking those baby steps haha.  Also, all of the members of the ward that I'd introduced Cindy to sat in the pews directly around and next to Cindy and Debbie!! Things are looking up! :D

2. Natalie.
Natalie's the non-member of a part-member family that moved into the ward about two weeks ago. Elder Perfili taught her with me in order to pass her off to us.  The interesting thing was... Well, supposedly she's been taught all of the lessons multiple times, but we taught her lesson 2 (the Plan of Salvation) and she had some very fundamental questions that didn't appear to have ever been addressed.  We answered a ton of them, gave her a Gospel Principles manual, and invited her to class on Sunday.  And she came!! :D  At least for Sacrament... We were busy shepherding people around since the ward still hasn't yet mastered this whole "fellowshipping" business, so we think she left after the first hour.

3. The Kheang's. :)
Okay, this family is stellar! They have a lot of issues... But we love them. :)  Sister Kheang (from Cambodia) and her oldest son, Jacey (17), were baptized in 17th Ave chapel about 3 years ago, but have kind of floated around to different Christian churches ever since.  She has two other kids (Lesle [8] and Paris [9]) from her first marriage and a 4 month-old baby, Christopher, from her current non-member partner, Akbar (he's from Iran).

Anyway, long story short, there've been some domestic disputes and various other circumstances that have awakened Sister Kheang's desire to be active again!  So on Sunday, she, Akbar, Lesle, Paris, and Christopher all came to church for the first time, and the parents met with the Bishop.  We got to shepherd all of them around during second hour as we took care of our supper calendar when we were supposed to be starting the Gospel Principles class (hence how Natalie slipped through the cracks), and all of them had a wonderful time! We got to be in the Primary for 3rd hour for Sharing Time, and Lesle really seemed to enjoy it.  He has a present for me for the next time we come by. And Jacey says he'll be there next week. :)

4.  Our Sunday experience wasn't over yet!! Brother Wilson (baptized at 15, went less-active for 49 years) came to church for the third week in a row- second week in our Gospel Principles class.  We got to put the bug in his ear about Patriarchal Blessings- one of his main reasons for coming back to church was that he felt a lack of purpose and direction in life, and he really seemed to grab on to the idea! He's a good man, and I definitely think he's never leaving again. :)

Soo Sunday was "game day" for more than one reason haha. It was ultra-stressful, but definitely a great problem to have!!  I've kind of hand-picked the missionary-minded members in the ward to help us out, and they seem to be taking the load fairly well- we just need to get the Ward Mission Leader on board haha.

In other news, Elder Cuadra Guerra is doing... Okay.  He's still struggling...which always puts tension on our relationship, but he's a great guy.  He asked me to start teaching him how to sing better, so we've been working on that- due to my lack of qualifications, it really seems to do more for our relationship than it does for his voice haha. 

I wanted to give a shout-out to Grandpa Larsen.  If there's anything I know, it's that Grandpa has a testimony!!  He sends me emails of encouragement in response to my mass emails, and they always include spiritual messages of love and support, as well as bold invitations for improvement. I love you, Grandpa!  I definitely see where my Dad got his personality from. ;)

As far as the pictures go... I dunno- I'm having a hard time gaining the motivation to take them. :/ One month's worth of pictures can't possibly encapsulate 24 months of experience. There's nothing wrong with the camera- I mean, it doesn't take the clearest pictures, but that might just be all of the years of being around Dad talking. :P I have two pictures I'll try and send anyway.

Well, I've got a few emails to write yet. I love you, and I hope your week goes well! :D
-Elder Jared D. Larsen  

Oh man!! I knew there was something important I needed to respond to!!  that homecoming event for the day after I get back- I might need you to check something for me...There's a wedding goingon that day for my "mission mom-" The oldest, first Sister I served around.  She's getting married in the Ogden temple, but I don't have all of the info- I'll email her and find out: Hopefully quick!

This is what 1st ward wrote on my District Leader board next to Chris and Kristina haha.

This one's a note the Spanish Elders left on our mirror after a slew of some pretty harsh evaluations.  I love them!! 

These were taken on Elder Rodriguez' camera.  This was our district last transfer.

The homies. :)

Chris and Kristina.  :)

In the whites: Elder Gibbs in my pants, Elder Rodriguez wearing my tie. :)

Week 100-Baptism

Hey hey hey! It's Skinny-Larsen! :D (Everybody in the mission thinks I'm a twig... I guess they're right; I've gained a little weight though. :P)

This week is one of those weeks where I'm wrestling between what I need to send in my email to President and what I need to send home, and I feel like they're different enough that I can't just copy and paste things from either letter like I've done in the past... We'll see how this works out.

So. This week's definitely had its ups and downs.   Please pray for my companion.

Our story begins last Monday: P-day. :) We had plans to go with the 4th Ward Elders to the museum in the COP: Canada Olympic Park.  ...Unfortunately, it's closed on Mondays. :/ Instead, I went on exchanges with Elder Jacobs, and he, Elder Perfili, Elder Peci, and I went on a hike through the grounds of the COP. :) It was so cool!! Because the weather doesn't know what it's supposed to be doing here (Last week it shifted from -20 to +20 [I don't know what that is in Fahrenheit anymore...]), it was pretty much like going on a fall hike through Provo Canyon- Aspen forests and all. I'll get the photos from the others next week. :P  That night we went to supper with the Stoddard's with Elders Jacobs, Thomas, Gibbs, and Rodriguez.  That family's so cool!! :D We ate pizza, had a Nerf war in their house, and watched a few episodes of Studio C.  Such a party.

Now let's fast-forward to Wednesday. Why?  ...Most of my days are really... Uneventful?  I mean, I guess contacting not-interested less-actives and angry people is sort of eventful... but not at all abnormal. :P  Anyway, we had to move Chris and Kristina's baptismal interview up so they could prep for their family to come into town.  So I got to be one-on-one with each of them as they essentially taught me what they'd learned to be true. The interview typically goes as follows:
1. Greet the individuals, get to know them, help them feel comfortable.
2. Read D&C 20:37 with them.
3. Opening Prayer.
4. Ask the questions!*
5. Fill out the Baptism and Confirmation Record.
6. Closing prayer (Usually by the investigator).
7. Go talk to the other missionaries.
8. Investigator pretends he/she failed.
9. Missionaries are devastated.
10. Everybody laughs. :)

All in all, I think Baptismal Interviews are my favourite part of being a missionary. I just love listening as they bear pure testimony of each question:

*1. Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world?
2. Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [Thomas S. Monson] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?

3. What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?

4. Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? A homosexual relationship?

5. You have been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What do you understand of the following standards? Are you willing to obey them?
           The law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.
             The law of tithing.

               The Word of Wisdom.

                 The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.6. When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?

...That last one's my favourite.  I usually follow it up with "Why?", and the answers I get... they never disappoint.  This time around, Kristina told me, "Now that we know what we know, we're- I'm never going back.  And because I'm never going back, Chris isn't going anywhere, and as long as Hunter's my son, he's coming with us."

... :')

Now you see why these interviews are my favourite haha.

Anyway, both of them passed the interview with flying colours and, apart from Chris not remembering his wife's middle name (tee hee), the paperwork played out smoothly.

The next day, Elders Gibbs and Rodriguez took us to the library so I could design and print the programs for the baptism- I'll attach it at the end. :P

That night these Elders also came with us to teach Cindy. ...Okay, I just love Cindy!! After church last week, she'd been studying the Gospel Doctrine lesson (our ward doesn't do Gospel Principles... that's a different story), coming up with questions as she read the Book of Mormon, and texting us to tell us, "I am so looking forward to Thursday: We have had such good meetings. You truly inspire me!"  ...She's awesome. :)  We taught lesson 3 and it went off without a hitch.  As far as the baptismal date goes... We're working on that. :/ Her son really wants her to wait until Spring, but she wants to be baptized sooner.  Debbie was sick for this lesson and then didn't come to church on Sunday, so we've got some work to do with her.

Skip to Saturday The baptism. :)  The Spirit was so strong!!  And I haven't been so nervous to give a talk... Ever. I found myself feeling like Jacob: "Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my anxiety over you" (Jacob 4:18).  Nonetheless, I got to stand and teach about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, comparing it to a trip we'd taken as a family to Timpanogos Cave when I was quite young.  I told them about how the tour guide had, at one point, turned out all of the lights, leaving us in complete darkness.  Then, after scaring a few of the tourists, he retrieved an oil lantern from a hook on the nearby wall.  He lit the lantern, showing us the quantity of light the first surveyors used to explore the cave.

I related this experience in the darkness to our lives: We can wander wherever we like, but we don't know where to go.  Occasionally, the Holy Ghost gives us direction to help us out, but as long as we're in the darkness, He can only do so much.  However, through the baptism by fire, each of us is granted a symbolic oil lantern: The Gift of the Holy Ghost. This lantern can be our guide through life, but only so long as we maintain it.  There are many factors that can influence the brightness, intensity and stability of the flame: Humidity, oil level, wick length, etc.  The influence of the Holy Ghost varies in direct proportion to the amount of care we take to maintain ourselves spiritually: Prayer, scripture study, church attendance, etc.  I included a quote from President Eyring, but... I don't have it with me. :/ To conclude, I gave them a hurricane lamp I'd purchased for them as a constant reminder of the gift they'd received. :)

Watching them come out of the water... Marvelous.  So pure, so happy, so... Christ-like. :) I love them.  I baked them some cookies and delivered them at the confirmation the next day.

Also, Cindy was at church again!! :D  ...The ward really sucks at noticing when we bring someone. :/ I mean, we're sitting next to someone they don't recognize after we've told everyone "Cindy's going to be there this week!", and nobody says hello.  Unless we do the awkward thing and go ask members to go talk to her. :/ Oh well. She's an all-star: She'll come whether or not people talk to her. :P

That's pretty much the highlights of the week... Elder Thomas got Salmonella on Friday, so we spent a lot of time working out exchanges with them haha.  Also, we taught the first ever Gospel Principles class on Sunday!! It went really well, but... I'm extremely disappointed with our ward mission leader.  I don't think he understands what his responsibilities are... I've only been able to meet with him twice. And when we report in Ward Council about how things are going, he's just as surprised as everyone else. :/ He's supposed to teach that class... But oh well.  I'm just glad we finally have somewhere to bring "our" people haha.

Well, that's pretty much what I've got to say... Thanks for all of the emails- they make me smile every week. :)  I only have 8 minutes to write President, so I'll sign off! Love ya!

-Elder Jared D. Larsen

Week 99-Blargelshnaw

Good morning, good morning, good morning!  Elder Larsen here, signing on to tell y'all about the week. :)

...Honestly, transfer week is always pretty low-key: whether you're being transferred or not. :P I could tell you about inter-missionary romances, or leadership befuddlements, or drama some of the Elders are having with their wards, buuut I don't think those are usually the kinds of things y'all want to hear about haha.

Instead, I'll just say we have one investigator on-date, a different investigator came to church, and both want to be baptized before I leave. :)  I've told you a lot about Cindy and Debbie, so I'll just tell you how the latest lesson went.

Things were all set for Elder Gibbs to come teach with me... Until they were running 15 minutes late.  By that time, Elder Cuadra Guerra and I were already inside with Cindy, Debbie, and Sister Spackman: the wife of the area 70 here. Also, the granddaughter of President Ezra Taft Benson and teacher in Relief Society... But that's largely irrelevant.  :P  Long story short, we ended up having four missionaries and one member, as Cindy puts it, "swarm" our investigators that night!

The lesson still went pretty well all in all. Cindy had already decided to be baptized in the Spring, so when we extended the invitation to Debbie we informed her that she could be baptized as soon as 2 1/2 weeks. At this remark, Cindy got a little huffy and said, "But don't you have to teach her all of the things she has to do first?!" I responded, "Yeah, but that only has to take two weeks..."

...Since Cindy's been investigating since last January, that threw her off quite a bit! When Debbie accepted to be baptized on February 7th, Cindy muttered under her breath, "Well, maybe I should just get my act together and get it done sooner..."

...I cried. :)  Cindy then came to church yesterday for the first time in... Six months? :D  Basically, things are going well on that front! Elder Gibbs and I have another lesson with them on Thursday. :)

In other news, I made, like, 200 cookies that we've been distributing to investigators, LARC's and members, and people really seem to like them!  I had to make a second batch because the other missionaries ate them all. >:(

Chris and Kristina's baptism is on Saturday, and they've asked me to give the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost!!  :D I love them.  I'll get to do their baptismal interview on Friday, so I definitely get a lot of chances to follow-up haha.

I did get the notes from the Ward!! Honestly, mail has been a wonderful thing lately- I thought it would be slowing down, but for some reason people are so nice!  Thanks to everyone who's been helping on that front. :)

I'm quite perturbed to hear about Ellie, though. :(  Hopefully this specialist can work some magic.

Well, I should get going- I have to prepare for a special musical number next week at zone conference. :) Love ya!