Questions for Brother, Elder B. Walker

[Elder J. Walker's questions and response to his brother's Elder B. Walker's email home.]

Eddie

I also gave a talk yesterday, but I had time to prepare. I can't believe that you only are 155 pounds Ben. I am bigger then you now. It will be strange when we stand next to each other after my mission. I don't think I have gained any weight lately. I am still about 170. I think that is because I am now on a bike a lot more often. Me and my companion race sometimes. The max speed I got to on level ground is about 35 MPH. That is fun when you are going the same speed as the cars next to you.

We had 2 baptisms this week, Eddie Woodson and Mike Pearson. Mike read the whole Book of Mormon in 3 weeks. That was before he was baptized. He was the most prepared investigator I have ever taught. I love those people where they are like unto little children because they are so willing to learn and accept new ideas.

Mike

Ask any of the elders in your area Ben if they are from Sandy, West Jordan, Riverton, South Jordan, Draper, Kearns, or Hairmen. Those are the only cities in my mission.

Also Ben, we have a ward and a branch in our area that I have never gone to their Sacrament Meeting because we have had no work there and we have had to be at other sacrament meetings instead due to investigators. So I know very few people from that area.

Most of the kids in Utah have already started school. It is strange to think that I don't have to worry about school for a long time.

Mike's Friends

We have a lot of work in this area. When I first came into it we have 1 person on date and 2 lessons with a member present a week. I remember struggling because we were working so hard to get those people and nothing was coming. Then about 3 weeks later we would get calls from people and tell us that they have a friend that wants to learn about the gospel. This happened quite a lot. Eddie was a media referral and Mike's girlfriend's Dad called us and told us that he has someone that wanted to receive the lessons. We now have 10 lessons with a member present a week and 4 people on date to be baptized even when we already baptized 2 people on Saturday. This is a valuable lesson to me because it shows me that I can't do it by myself. We have to rely on the Lord to help us as we do His work. (This was the topic of my talk yesterday). It says in Preach My Gospel page 97 that "No man can preach the Gospel without the Holy Ghost." It also says to not rely on yourself, but on the Spirit. How much can we do by ourselves? Basically nothing. We would not be here if we only relied on ourself.

Mosiah 2:21-24

 21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

(side note if we serve him with our whole soul we would still not profit God anything. We are so small compared to God, but we have the potential to become like him)

 22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.
 23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.
 24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

We do have the potential to become like him. D&C 76:58: "Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—"

Russian New Member

That is my lesson for the day.

Also I have 2 questions that I have been thinking of this past week I want someone to help me answer them:

1)  D&C 76:74: "Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it."

This is the people that will go to the terrestrial kingdom, but why if they except it in the spirit world do they not get to receive the celestial glory only because they did not receive it in the flesh? So does that mean when I teach someone and they don't receive it that I have condemned them because I taught them and they were not willing to progress?

2) What is an intelligences? Abraham 3:22: "Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;"

Is it like the dust of the Earth? like our physical bodies were created? Did we think for ourselves while we were intelligences?

Just some questions that I don't know and was wondering if you could find the answers for me.

Weather and Day-to-Day

I also would like to swap weather here in Utah for Modesto weather. It changes every 5 min. I think it is kind annoying. You don't know whether to go out in rain, snow, or really hot sun.

I got pictures of BJ parent's house [Elder J. Walker's brother-in-law's parents]. We were driving about 3 minutes away from it and I decided to get a picture of it. I thought that was kind cool. We have an elder who lives with his aunt. He is a Tongan elder.

We have 5 people on date. 2 of them are going to be baptized this week. Yay. I love it when people come closer to the waters of baptism. I took lots of pictures this week. (I always think of you when I take a picture Mom).

A lot happened this week I just cant think of it right now. As you can tell we are writing later then normal. We did some service for a really cool investigator that we picked up. He came to church yesterday. I was so excited. 

Well I will try to write more next week. 

Elder Joshua Walker

Warm Rain

So I laughed at the first part of [Elder B. Walker's] letter because I am sitting here right now drenched in rain. It is still hot even when it is raining. I don't like warm rain. You can't put on a jacket because it is too hot, but if you don't you will be drenched! Oh well. We had an 8 year old baptism the other day. It was a less active family that we have been trying to help and their son got baptised the other day. Yay! I love being a missionary even with the hard times there is one good moment that makes us for a million bad ones and I have not had a million bad one 

Well I started way late today so I don't have any time.

Love you all

Utah Experiences

My companion and a Member

Here in Utah it is very hot. About the same as it is in California I am sure, but in California I was not outside all the time. Ben, I am drenched sometimes at people doors too, but not from a storm but from sweating so much. There was a record high about 4 days ago for June. It was 105. We had a car this week, but the problem is that we don't ever drive very far. We drive at the most 5 min and at that time the car is just starting to get the same temp as outside. The car is about 130 inside when we start, and about 95 when we get out. 

Interesting story. We were going through the unbaptized kids list and the very first door we knocked on was an anti-Mormon guy. He came out with a paper and a pen and asked for the people that sent us there. We told him that no one sent us to his door, but God and that we were representatives of Jesus Christ. He then got really mad and told us to tell who ever sent us that they don't want any thing to do with him. So basically he said he doesn't want anything to do with God. He then started to swear at us and told us that he was going to go to church and find out who our leader is and yell at him in the middle of sacrament. So then we told him when church starts and that he is welcome to come. (We were not trying to be mean). He then got really really mad and got into his car. Almost ran over our bikes and drove off and told us that we were going to be sorry. (By the way, this is not super unusual. It does not happen much but every once in awhile we will knock on a door and something like that will happen.) The strange thing is that he actually did something. The next day we had correlation meeting and the Stake President showed up and told us that he [the anti-Mormon man] went to the temple (it is like 10 min from his house). He [anti-Mormon] tried to go in and the Temple President talked to him. (I don't know exactly what happened there, except that he was really mad and told the temple president that he does not want any one coming by his house again). He told us earlier that he was going to call the police. He did call them, but he probably got a hold of a Mormon there because they told him that the missionaries did nothing wrong and that they are allowed to do that.

This experience went into my journal.

I was debating whether to tell you or to wait until I get home. I don't want you to think I am harmed from any of it because I am not, but I want you to be aware that even though we are on the Lord's mission (all of us not just missionaries) we still face trials.

Baptism 

We baptized Brandon on Saturday. The water heater did not work so we heated some water in the kitchen. My companion did the actual baptism and he said that the water was freezing. It reminded me of Ben's baptism where the water was really cold. I did the confirmation the next day. We were doing it at 9 and we also were going to give talks at 9 in a different ward. So we did the confirmation and then hurried over to the other ward and walked in about 15 min late and gave our talks then we gave 2 more presentations for primary. It was really busy yesterday. Sundays are crazy for missionaries and I thought that we were commanded to rest on the Sabbath Day.

Also give my thanks to the Chapmans. I am really good at getting along with kids because of them. We are teaching two 9 year olds and one came in the other day and said "McKenzie has a crush on you," then turns to McKenzie and said "I told him your secret." lol I thought that was really funny. My companion thought it was hysterical. I really do get along with kids really well. I know how to play with them while still being a missionary. I think that is due to babysitting the Chapman kids.

Elder Joshua Walker

Notes from "Hastening the Work of Salvation" Broadcast

Yesterday, there was a worldwide church broadcast about missionary work and some changes. It can be found here. Elder J. Walker received bullet point notes from his mission president, President Miller. Elder J. Walker included his own notes in italics and parentheses.

Last time I will see President Miller

Message from the President:

Worldwide Leadership Training- Work of Salvation

23rd June 2013

Jeffrey R. Holland

• Women need to be heard in ward councils (Very important they have a different view about things then we do as men.)
• There are 405 mission presidents
• Area 70’s in charge of transmitting information through coordinating councils.  This meeting used to carry the title Member Missionary Coordinating Council.  This indicates what the major purpose of this meeting is about.
• Christ will direct you in your efforts far beyond your capacity. (Always rely on the Lord. Interesting thing I learned. The reason we are only allowed to call home is not because we will get homesick, but because we need to learn to rely on the Lord and not our family like we have our whole life.) 

Elder L. Tom Perry

• We need to teach every kindred tongue and people.   The need has never been greater. (That is why they are letting Missionaries go out earlier not the other way around. They need the gospel spread now) 
• Never a more exciting time. (Yay this is the best time to do missionary work)
• Baptize repentant, qualified individuals. (Don't baptize for a number)
• The key to missionary work is with the bishops and the ward mission leaders. (Us as missionaries can't do it alone tracking does not work very well. there are better ways.)
• Keys of stake presidents and mission presidents must be joined together for the common cause. (They need to put all the keys together for it to work the best way)
• New tools coming to missionaries: internet, Face book, Tablets There will need to be close monitoring of the missionaries using these tools. (I don't know when this is coming, but when it does it will make the work become a lot more efficient and force missionaries to fill out their paper work.)
• Missionaries will be at meeting houses to give tours. (I have never done this don't know how it will work.)
• Adapting to the times, the way we share the gospel is evolving; the mandate given by the Savior to preach the Gospel has not changed.  The old ways of door to door contacting are no longer workable. (Again tracting is bad does not work very well. There are better ways)
• We have 70,274 missionaries now serving in 405 missions throughout the world. (One of those numbers is me)
• Kids soccer analogy- Same goal but disorganized.  In the beginning all the players hover over the ball until they are taught a more effective way of playing various positions.  Knowing our role brings greater success. We must coordinate our efforts with the members and the missionaries. Ward councils are the key to this effort. (This reminded me of Robert. When he was younger He had great skill but he did not know how to use it the best way. this is like missionaries we might be good at teaching but we all can do better)
• Ward mission leaders are to assure that missionaries’ planners are filled with productive activities  and the missionaries are engaged all day long. (I feel this is one of the hardest part of missionary work. If this actualy happened I would be so happy.)
• Small % of converts receives the new member discussions. (We have been doing a really good job at this. I hope they are doing this in my last area)
• Anxiously engaged.  Don’t wait to be asked or assigned.  Act vs acted upon- not just doing a checklist or following a handbook.
• Internalize the covenant of baptism- that is when you will go and do. Act, not wait to be asked.
• We must stand as a witness of Jesus Christ at all times and in all places.

VIDEO ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MISSIONARY SERVICE WAS SHOWN  Care must be taken to keep from having action to avoid action.  We must carefully plan service with a purpose.  (Side note from mission president: too much service can be bad because we will not be teaching and teaching is central to what missionary's do (this is in Preach My Gospel))

Jeffrey R. Holland:  Some are afraid to extend the invitation but if done in love there is no reason to fear.  All must be baptized to enjoy eternal life. (Never be afraid to invite to be baptize if you don't you are following the Devil he is the one who scares us and tells us that they will not be our friends if we ask them. I have invited people to be baptized that I have seen on the streets that I did not know I this that way cool especially when I am not afraid to do it.)

Elder Neil L. Anderson

• Work begins on our knees. (Always pray)
• When we feel spiritual impressions – go with them.  Christ will not let us fail when we do our part. (One of my favorite scriptures is Moses 6:31-32 read that then read Moses 7:13)
• Stake and ward councils are to look after the members, active and inactive alike.
• We are entitled to the Lord’s help.   It’s his work.  He won’t let us fail if we do our part. act
• Help investigators feel needed, the church needs him/her. (Some people leave the church because they feel they are not needed don't let that happen tell they how much you love when they come to church or an activity)
• Miracles don’t always come the way we expect; the Lord blesses us with miracles his own way, if we act. (Another scripture Mormon 9:19-20)
• We can’t just wait and expect things to happen; we must act for the Lord to bless us (Ward councils make visits)- Pres. Monson quote.  “Wishing will not make it so, action is needed.” 

Elder Russell M. Nelson

• There must be unity between members and missionaries, no divisions between different facets of the work.
• Act out of love rather than being acted upon
• The bishop and the ward mission leader are the two key players. The Bishop holds the keys. (Bishops need to not delegate the missionary work to another person it needs to be them, but as missionaries we do not have the right to tell them that. that would just cause problems. we can't tell our leaders what to do.)
• It’s the WML’s job to fill the missionaries’ planners, to the point that the missionaries don’t have to knock doors.  He should be the best friend of the missionaries.  The WML makes the connection between the missionaries and the members. The goal of each ward should be that the missionaries teach 20 lessons per week. 
• Handbook explains the what, not the ‘how’. (Handbook is way cool I want one. the way for everything is basically told in that handbook.)
• Members and missionaries need to get to know one another.  Missionaries should be a part of the ward. (This is really hard for us because I have to go to 7 wards and a branch I need to work on this.) 

President Boyd K. Packer

Teaching is the key

• Revelation doesn’t come until after you act (open your mouth).  We must depend more on the Lord. 
• Trust the spirit.
• Repent=Repeat, go back to where you went wrong and fix it, you can’t move on until this is done.
• The atonement is the mighty healer. (I have seen the atonement work in people and heal people)
• When I leave this earthly realm I will begin a new realm and a new school.
• I know the Lord lives.  I know the Lord. (This is big. He Knows the Lord. He has seen the lord in gentile speech) (this is according to our mission president)

President Thomas S. Monson

• There is NOTHING more explicit than the Savior’s mandate to preach the gospel and baptize.
• When we act the Lord blesses us with success.
• Door to door contacting is not the way to proclaim the gospel.  Members must become involved.  This is the better way. (Always a better way then door to door contacting)

Someone who was baptized in my last stake. I was able to go back to see his baptism. I taught him for a long time,

By the way I stayed in the south mission if you did not know. 

I spent too long going thought the notes so I dont have any time so good bye.

Elder Walker. 

P.S. If you did not guess, there are lots of spiders where I live.

Another spider.

A spider

A spider that was in an apartment

Helicopter with a gun on the front of it.

Father's Day Weekend

First Mom, you can do some missionary work for me. You can email A. I told her that you would. You can just ask questions like "How is my son doing? Did he teach you well? What was the most memorable thing that he taught you? What will you always remember about him?" (This one will be, 'He cried a lot during the lessons'). She was the only one that I did it in almost every lesson. lol

She will be looking for it. So I am kinda forcing you to write her. Sorry. I will always remember A.

I will copy the letter she has sent me here so that you can read them to. 

I love my mission. There are so many great things that happen as a missionary.

We are teaching someone that has had the worst life that I have ever heard of due to his own actions. He is wanting to change. He has read the Book of Mormon already when he was in jail and believes that it is scripture. He will be baptized on the 29 of June if everything goes to plan. He is a really cool guy. I just never want to get on the wrong side of him. He is kinda scary when he is telling us what he did in his past life, but he knows that he needs to change and we are here to help him change. 

Happy Fathers Day. I don't know why we get to call home on Mother's day and not Father's day. I love you Dad and can't wait to share with you all of the things I have learned on my mission. There is only so much that I can write on the computer. 

Transfers are this week again. I have a serious dislike for transfers. I have had a new companion every time. I get really good friends with them and then they move. It stinks. Also, this transfer was only 4 weeks long. Way too short. I can't learn a new area in 4 weeks so I hope that Elder Kolpakov does not leave. 

We got to hear from Elder Cook this week. It was so cool. Here is a little what he said to us:

Elder Quentin L. Cook

An Apostle’s Counsel to the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission

We were all lifted and inspired as Elder and Sister Cook spoke with us in our mission conference last Friday.  I remember sitting on the stand in amazement as Elder and Sister Cook touched on different topics and gave particular counsel to our mission that was exactly what we needed.  If I had sat down with the Cooks for two hours I could not have asked him to give a more germane discourse.

As I reviewed Sister Miller’s and my notes we came up with the following principles that we must ponder and use to become true Preach My Gospel missionaries.
1.     “Lift up your heart and rejoice for the hour of your mission has come.”
2.      There are two things that most converts and less active remember about the lessons they received.
        A.     The First Vision
                (1). If set up and told correctly the Holy Ghost will bear witness
                (2)  It teaches a multitude of correct doctrines:
                (3)  God continues to reveal himself to man.
                (4)  The cannon of scriptures are not closed.
                (5)  God and Jesus Christ are separate individuals.
                (6)  God knows us by name.
                (7)  The gospel of Jesus Christ was to be restored by Joseph Smith.
        B.  The Plan of Salvation:
                (1)  It answers four great concerns of man:  Where he came from.  The purpose of life.  Where he is going and what man can become.
                (2)  It teaches us that God has a plan for us and we have a purpose.
3.  He spoke of agency and opposition. Missionaries will face adversity and many individuals will not receive the gospel because they have their agency. The elect will.  D&C 29:7.
4.  President Hinckley taught that if you have more faith you will have more success.  Later Elder Cook said that there was nothing more important than teaching faith in Jesus Christ.  If you want investigators to have more faith you must commit them to action.
5.  Elder Cook referred to President Tanner’s advice to live and teach by the spirit.  To do so missionaries must put away foolishness.
6.  When investigators put up walls of resistance such as citing anti-Mormon ideas, we must first be sensitive to the spirit and discern what the real problem is.  There will be times when you would ask the investigator if they know what you have taught is true.  If so, do you really even need to deal with these negative things?
7.  When investigators commit to invitations we must follow with promise blessings.

Elder Cook also gave us an apostolic blessing. Among those things he blessed us with were:
1.  Blessing of unity in the mission.  Loving our companions tops the list of importance.
2.  Blessed us to  be able to feel how we can bless our companion.
3.  He blessed our home situations. That things at home would improve according to our service.
4.  Blessed us that our service would bring blessings to those near and dear to us.
5.  Blessed us not to be discouraged.
6.  Blessed us to realize how important it was for us to feed the Lord’s sheep.
7.  Blessed us to know that the atonement would balance all the unfairness of the world.

I would conclude by testifying that you all heard the mind and the will of the Lord when you listened to Elder Cook. He was the mouth piece of the Lord speaking to each of you specifically and teaching you what you must know and do to be happy and at peace in your mission. I so testify in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  

Love, President Miller

I think that Ben would enjoy these notes that have been taken there is really good advice.

Elder Joshua Walker

Talk and Investigator

Elder Wade, an elder from my district, lives in St. George. He told me where that was. 

A FHE group that I have taught lots of lessons to

So this week was fun, I gave a talk yesterday. I am getting a lot better at talks. I prepared one and I did not even use it at all. That is cool when that happens. It is the Holy Ghost that guides you. You may do all you can and then when the time comes up the spirit will tell you what needs to happen and what needs to be said. That is actually one of the biggest differences between Preach My Gospel and memorized lessons. We can prepare for the lessons, but when the time comes don't be afraid to listen the the investigator and to the spirit and be willing to change the lessons that you have prepared.

Elder Kuli

So, we had an amazing blessing last Monday. We got a call from one of our bishops saying that someone wanted to meet with us. We went over then and talked to this guy named Philip. He has been in jail 3 times just had a DUI was sent to jail for many things, but now he wants to change. He has a daughter that is LDS but does not want anything to do with him because of his lifestyle. We now have him on date for baptism for June 29 and he is really excited. He came to church yesterday and really enjoyed all the people talking to him. He is going to change his life for the better because of this gospel that I have to bring him. He is going to stop all of the drugs and the smoking and is already making good progress towards that goal of his. I love all the things that will change due to the atonement. I love my mission. I now think I know why people love it so much. It is because we get to share the gospel with others and watch them change their lives. I love that. And because we are doing this, God blesses us. I think it is funny that God blesses us for blessing ourselves. Does that make sense? I hope it does.

Well I hope you all have a good week 

Wish Jessica good luck for me. [She leaves on her mission to Olorado Denver South mission and reports the the MTC June 19.]

Elder Walker

Some Yaks that are in the middle of town. It is so strange I had to take a picture.

A picture of the kitchen we have to ourselves. It is so much nicer when you can have your own kitchen rather then sharing it with your landlord. I can make food now. I did not do that at all in my last area besides top ramen :)