Letter to Elder B. Walker

A letter about Joshua Walker receiving his mission call to his older brother Elder Benjamin Walker who is currently serving in Columbia South Carolina. They haven't been able to see each other since October 2011 when Elder B. Walker left to serve. They won't be able to see each other until January 2015 when J. Walker returns.

Hi Elder Walker


It's Josh. I am going to tell you about my amazing week I had. So I opened my mission papers and I am going to… wait, before I tell you you have to know the background. So 2 weeks ago [Editor's Note: Friday, November 9th - it just seemed like two weeks to Josh], Mom told me that the bishop said that my papers are in the mail. This was a Friday; I was hoping that it was going to be really fast mail and come by that Saturday the next day. It did not. That Sunday, I learned from my bishop here that my mission papers are NOT in the mail. So now I have one bishop saying that my call is on the way and the other saying that it is not. Now I am sad. I do not know when it is coming if at all this week. I knew there was no chance it was coming on Monday because mail does not travel anywhere on holidays. I checked anyway. On Tuesday, I go help the bishop with his meeting and now he tells me it is on the way and will be here Wednesday or Thursday; I was hoping Wednesday. It did not come once again. Finally, after a week of waiting, I get it on Thursday. Yay! I called everyone or texted and told them that I was going to open it that night at 5:40 because Dad's home from work and my last class ends at 5:30. Ryan also got his call on the same day I did.

When we opened it we did it via skype like you did. There were a lot of people crammed into the schoolroom that I could see though skype. The Burnham’s, the Remington’s and others that I don’t remember. On my end there were my roommates and my FHE sisters and Alex and BJ. I opened it and It said___ (this is the part you are waiting for) I am going to ___ (O wait, I have to read the Whole Thing like you did. I actually did not do this, but I am going to type the first part Just so you have to read my whole letter before you just quit reading after you hear where I am going.)

November 13, 2012
Elder Joshua Elery Walker 

Dear Elder Walker  (this means me not you) 

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission.

I am going to enter on January 2, 2013 and will teach in the English language.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did not expect that at all. It was really fun to open it and I think that I will have a great time the most unexpected thing is that I will be leaving in a month and a half. School ends in a month so that means that I will only have two weeks at home before I leave. I am going to get a lot of the things I need when I go to Utah for Thanksgiving. And I am going to get my endowments at home in the Oakland Temple maybe with Ryan.

Other news, not as exciting because it doesn’t involve me. Just kidding

Ryan got his call to Oklahoma and he reports to the MTC on February 20th. He wished it was sooner and not so far away. He said, “It's just like Ben and Sean. Ben got to leave Sean all alone. And Sean got to wait several months before he gets to go.” Ryan has been waiting a while for his and has been kinda lonely at home.

Back to me.

When I tell people where I go I get this all the time, ”So I have a relative that lives there his/her name is ________ you should find him.” I don’t even remember the name 2 minutes later and they expect me to remember it for two years. Lol.

Also, I heard that Kevin Pilcher has the same mission as I do. That’s cool. I would really like it if I got him as a companion. [Editor's note: this has now been confirmed, but Kevin does not report to the MTC until February 13th].

Scriptural insight from my Premissionary class:

I just pasted my notes I took in class.

What does gospel mean? Good news. The second sentence in the bible dictionary under "Gospel." It is what the angel said to the shepherds when Christ was coming.

It is also what an amazing missionary (Alma) in Mosiah chapter 18 said to 400 + people and baptized them all. He is a good inspiration for missionaries

Moroni 7:13: "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God."

Every good thought comes from God so when you open a door for someone, the thought to do that came from God.

Alma 26:22: "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance."

If you do the first 4 things it tells you to do in the beginning of the verse then you will have things given to you that has never been revealed and you will be able to bring thousands to the gospel.

Good missionary scriptures.

P.S. If you cheated and skipped to the part were my mission call then you are in trouble. Also I wrote a lot again. I normally don’t do this, so don’t expect it.