tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70033296170589273882024-02-07T22:14:34.292-08:00Hal-le-lujah, Brother!Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-90850943862252054972014-07-22T07:19:00.001-07:002014-07-22T07:19:07.304-07:00The HomecomingElder Fisher will be returning home to us, tomorrow, July 23rd, after serving a beautiful and wonderful mission. We are so proud of him and his love and dedication over the last two years. We have been blessed as a family by his example of faith and charity and have grown from the pure testimony that he has shared with us weekly through his emails. Thank you to all of you who have supported him through prayers, letters, emails, packages, fasting, and so many other ways. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Elder Fisher will be released from his missionary service tomorrow night. Daniel will be speaking during the sacrament meeting service of the Oak Hills Ward in the Bountiful Utah Central Stake this upcoming Sunday, July 27th, 2014. The service starts at 10:50 and the address of the chapel is 455 South 1200 East, Bountiful UT 84010 for all those who would like to join us in listening to his sermon. Afterwards, there will be a small open house at Daniel's home. Please contact the family for details.</div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-74199774026111119492014-07-22T07:09:00.002-07:002014-07-22T07:09:48.215-07:007/21/14 "Always"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of
the world." - Matthew 28:20<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This Sunday we saw the baptism of Alan. It was a very
special experience for me. He was the first person on my mission that I found
purely from finding, taught, and whose baptism I was present for. He asked me
to baptize him, and afterwards bore his testimony. He talked about how he was
so glad that Elder Dedrick and I had stopped to talk to him that
rainy night back in April when he was stacking wood. It was amazing for me to
see how people can change, and by what small means a person's entire life can
change.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not only did we see a baptism this week, we also met or
exceeded the Standards of Excellence in every single key indicator. What a
great way to finish things off!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were teaching a woman the Restoration on Saturday.
After I shared the First Vision with her, I asked her what she thought. She
responded, "That's way better than Google."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...A curious response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At my very first transfer meeting back when I was assigned
to be with my trainer ElderMolina, a departing elder performed a
song that he had composed that had become a sort of unofficial theme song. The
words of the chorus meant greatly to me then and mean much more to me now:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm just a fisherman;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Left all I know behind<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To serve my Heavenly Father<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With my whole heart and mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can't save the world;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just some souls along the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my chance to sacrifice;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are my days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a few days the name tag will go off, but the mission is
not over. The things I have learned are today, tomorrow, and forever
principles. I will always be a missionary. These are my days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've thought long about what I wanted to share in this final
email, and many grand and glorious thoughts came to me. However, I feel like I
do not want to burden you with any of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that God is our Heavenly Father. The ultimate
beginning of every story can be traced back to a sentence somewhere along these
lines: "Once upon a time there was a Being who wanted there to be other
things like Him." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is the start of it all. And also the end purpose
of it all. It provides the answer for why the Savior had to die, and then live
again. The answer is eternal families. That is the reason for the earth we
live on and everything that has transpired upon it. God wants us to be like
Him, and with Him. He wants us to have a fullness of joy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I am grateful that he
had the courage to ask God for truth. I know that God will answer our prayers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that
President Monson is a prophet. I know that temple ordinances allow families to
be sealed for time and all eternity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And as for the Savior. When I was set apart to be a
missionary, the promise was made that the Savior would be the third member of
my companionship. This has been fulfilled, completely and beautifully. When I
felt down, He was there. When I didn't think all that much of myself, He was
there. There has never been a moment when He has not been by my side, and He
always will.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After all, that was what He promised the apostles; His very
last words to them. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of
the world."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher</div>
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<o:p></o:p>Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-38157291332105087402014-07-22T07:07:00.001-07:002014-07-22T07:07:19.884-07:007/14/14 "Again unto Thee"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of
them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that
we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee." - Alma 31:35<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While on exchange with Elder Jorgensen this past
Friday I witnessed my fifth car accident since coming to Newton. A
car ran right into the back of a van on the road and got totaled, so we rode up
to the scene to see how we could help. I was still in the "offer to
provide assistance" mode when Elder Jorgensen, who had more
presence of mind than I did, quickly jumped in the road and started directing
traffic around the crash. Turns out no one is going to question what a man in a
shirt and tie is telling them to do. I went and helped him at the other end and
that was what we did for over a half hour while the 911 people cleared up the
wreckage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday we stopped to talk to two young women walking along
the side of the road. We asked if there was a time that we could come by and teach
them. The taller of the two, Kena, said, "I don't want to lie to you. I
don't want to say a time and then not be there."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Then just say a time and be there!" I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She paused for a moment, then slowly stuck out her fist so
that I could give it a pound with my own.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that's missionary work for you. You talk to strange
people and see weird churches that are called, I kid you not, "Rose of
Sharon Church of the Firstborn in Christ's Name." Thankfully we got five
different people from five different households to church this Sunday,
including Allen, who is recovered from his kidney stones and on date for the
20th.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To preface an experience that I had recently, I would like
to share a story.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My father once had a dream. In this dream, he was in a great
white room that he understood to be where people waited before they entered the
Celestial Kingdom. An attendant in white gave him a piece of paper and asked
him to write on it why he felt that he should be allowed to go in. Hastily my
father began to write down everything he could think of that might justify his
worthiness: sealed in the temple to a wonderful woman, father of five children,
return missionary, bishop, stake president, all sorts of things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point my grandfather came into the room. As he sat
down my father began to explain to him what he needed to do. "Here, Dad,
you have to write on this paper why you think you should be allowed to enter,
you can use both sides--" and so on. My grandpa quietly thanked him, and
then on his paper wrote down a single sentence and handed it to the waiting
attendant. The attendant looked at what he had written, and said with a smile,
"That is enough. You may go in." And then my grandfather entered into
the other door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My father told me that he never saw what it was that my
grandpa had written down. But he did realize that what our Father in heaven is
looking for from our mortal existence is not necessarily what he had thought He
would be. What He was seeking was apparently something that could be expressed
in a single sentence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little while ago in my Book of Mormon reading I came
across my mission plaque scripture, Alma 31:35. It stopped me dead in my
tracks. I had gone into my mission with the thought in mind that I would bring
souls again unto Him. The horrible thought entered into my head: have I
done this?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A host of negative and depressing thoughts flooded into my
head. I took out a pen and paper and for 40 minutes wrote them down. I felt
that I had not used my time the way I could have. I felt that I had done a poor
job in serving the Lord. I finished the page and started on another that was
blank, and there I stopped. Instead of continuing to write more negative
thoughts, I wrote, "And therefore, Daniel, what?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stopped and considered the question, and then I quietly
left my companions and went to the bedroom. Closing the door behind me, I knelt
down in prayer and asked the Lord if my offering had been acceptable to Him. I
needed the reassurance that the time I had spent in His service was something
He was pleased with. I prayed and prayed, but after several minutes no answer
had come. I got my patriarchal blessing and read through it and prayed again,
but there was still no response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took my little alarm clock CD player and turned off the
lights and shut myself into the closet and listened to This is the Christ, hoping
that somehow it would help me. I heard the words of the song, "With saints
of old, in joyful cry, I too can testify: this is the Christ!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A question came into my head, unmistakably clear, like I've
never experienced before in my life: "Can you at least say this?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My response was an immediate "Yes!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then came the reply, "Then your mission has been
acceptable."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instantly the negative feelings and self-doubt were driven
away and I felt complete peace fill my soul. In tears I thanked my Heavenly
Father for all He had done for me as I sat in that tiny closet, and I came out
feeling overwhelming joy and gratitude. I crumpled up the paper of negative
thoughts and rejoined my companions in the other room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someday, when we are called before the Master to give an
accounting of how we have used our time and He asks us why we think our
offering should be considered acceptable to Him, what will we say? I don't
think He will be much concerned about the number of lessons we had taught, or
in what positions we had served, or the places we had gone. The answer He is
looking for, I imagine, is something that you will be able to give in a single
sentence. It is the reason why missionaries are sent out on missions. It is
central to why we have been sent here to this earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am thankful, so thankful, to my Father in Heaven that He
has allowed me to come out and offer myself in His service. What could I ever
do to repay Him? What could I ever do to adequately show my thanks? I am
grateful for the testimony I have come to have that the Work is true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you all. Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-37414500566633168592014-07-22T07:05:00.002-07:002014-07-22T07:05:20.427-07:007/7/14 "The windows of heaven"<div class="MsoNormal">
"I will...open you the windows of heaven, and pour you
out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." -
Malachi 3:10<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was one of the least productive weeks of my whole
mission for various reasons:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Elder Mastin came down with a stomach virus and
was laid out for a day<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Elder Arnold came down with the same stomach
virus the next day and was similarly laid out<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) With my superior constitution I never came down with the
stomach virus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) On the subject of Constitutions, the 4th of July was an
ineffective proselyting day<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5) We had two all-day missionary meetings this past week<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6) Our baptismal date was smitten with kidney stones and had
to have his baptism pushed back<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though a benefit of one of the all-day meetings was getting
to see President Craven's dad, emeritus Seventy Elder Rulon Craven,
speak about our potential as children of God. I can definitely see where
President got his character from.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While out proselyting on Thursday we got a call from a
member asking if we could please open up the church for them at 5. We thus
began the long bike-ride back home from Newton to Conover. While pedaling, I
saw an enormous mass of grey clouds advancing towards us and we raced it
towards the church. Before we could reach our destination, however, the Lord
had opened up the windows of heaven and poured us out a blessing that there was
not room enough to receive it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once we had dried off from the Lord's abundant blessings,
from the safety of the church building we got to enjoy watching 40 minutes of
the most pounding rain and lightning I have ever seen since that tropical storm Elder Molina
and I had been in way back in August 2012. It was quite the light show.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And life is good.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have had such abundant witness that the Gospel is true.
This time has been of so much worth to me. I am excited for Elder Mastin,
for he's in for the time of his life these next two years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really truly do love all of you. Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-67929605490684465772014-07-22T07:04:00.000-07:002014-07-22T07:04:16.440-07:006/29/14 "Days never to be forgotten"<div class="MsoNormal">
"These were days never to be forgotten." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Oliver Cowdery, JSH.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every Saturday in our mission is a "car fast."
This is when everyone in the whole mission (except for the Assistants, who are
too important) foregoes using their car for the entire day. The reasoning
behind this was as follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Missionary work is much more effective when we involve
members.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Members, among other things, give missionaries rides to
appointments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Missionaries often don't need rides to appointments when
they have a car to use.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Missionaries don't work that hard to call members to help
them when they have a car.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Missionaries hate biking and will go to great lengths to
avoid doing it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Therefore, if missionaries were deprived of their vehicles
on Saturday, which is the day when many members do not have to work, then they
would have a greater incentive to get their help.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...So we were out biking on Saturday, having utterly failed
to get any members whatsoever to help us, and went to go see our investigator
Jeremy for our appointment. He had been enlisted to be chef for a neighborhood
birthday party and sadly couldn't meet with us, but he encouraged us to go to
the party and ask for something to drink due to the heat. So we went, and one
of the guys there kindly offered us some nice cold beer to cool us off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Sorry," we said. "We don't need a BUI today.
We don't like biking under the influence."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One advantage of having a tripanionship is that, if you get
the members out to help you, you can cover three different appointments at
once. This makes us in high demand, now. On Sunday we taught Gospel Principles
second hour because the teacher was sick, and then I taught sharing time in
senior primary, afterwards being the pianist, while ElderArnold and Mastin
taught the Young Men.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a crazy Sunday anyway. One of the speakers had been
asked to speak on both the life of Christ and Independence Day. Instead of
somehow meshing the two topics together like a lot of people would have done,
this brother gave a talk on the Savior, closed "In the name of Jesus
Christ, amen" and then started into his second talk on July 4th.
Interesting technique.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just the night before we had committed Allen, the man who I
met in the rain many months ago, to come to church, and when sacrament meeting
had rolled around he had not shown up. He had missed the week before, granted
for a very justifiable reason, but if he didn't come to church this Sunday he
would not make his baptism date for July 6th and we probably would have to drop
him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I sat there with my eyes closed in sacrament meeting,
very unhappy, playing in my head the "drop talk" we would undoubtedly
have with him in the near future and honestly not focusing all that much on the
Savior. I was quite sad, because I loved Allen and I was disappointed that he
had failed to come. I then felt a hand on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and
looked up and there was Allen, a big crooked smile on his scruffy face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Mastin, from where he was sitting up at the
sacrament table helping the priests, noticed my expression when I looked up and
saw Allen there. He told me later that it was quite hilarious. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It turns out that poor Allen had run out of gas, so he got
the gasoline out of his lawnmower and used that so he could come to church. What
a guy! We are hoping to see his baptism this Sunday, on the 6th.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will never forget the joy I felt seeing Allen standing
there on that Sunday. These truly are days never to be forgotten. Blessings
unmeasured, a fullness of joy. This work most certainly is true. Hurrah for
Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA2YQnv6qKa1MISWcSdpI8ZysnAoOWLmTGea1zy61ukzZhUebfbjb0PKjxsOxJqMowMdZX5Pmv5DBQxC-XiPazJW22e1-wIa4VYqCdFOS-Q2jgOFUbnOIYdQFhni6rY9kI8l5UfTuB5P2/s1600/Sister+Sifford+baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA2YQnv6qKa1MISWcSdpI8ZysnAoOWLmTGea1zy61ukzZhUebfbjb0PKjxsOxJqMowMdZX5Pmv5DBQxC-XiPazJW22e1-wIa4VYqCdFOS-Q2jgOFUbnOIYdQFhni6rY9kI8l5UfTuB5P2/s1600/Sister+Sifford+baptism.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-33223642100781186862014-07-22T07:02:00.000-07:002014-07-22T07:02:15.244-07:006/23/14 "There is a god"<div class="MsoNormal">
"All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth,
and all things that are upon the face of it...and also all the planets which
move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. -
Alma 30:44<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were all driving in the car this last Thursday when the
area got hit by a MASSIVE storm. Lightning struck the ground not 30 feet from
us, and the vibrations from the impact shook the car. Scared the living
daylights out of us. I was surprised to see that the thunderbolt was strangely orange,
not the white-yellow we see in movies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also this week I did the baptismal interview of one Sister
Sifford. Later on she asked me to actually perform her baptism this
past Sunday, so I had the great pleasure of performing that ordinance for
her. It was an unexpected blessing that I was dearly grateful for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a lesson with a few college students this past week.
We were talking to them about the Book of Mormon and they were having trouble
accepting it. "Jesus appearing to people in the Americas?" they said.
"That's ridiculous! That's impossible!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Do you believe the Bible?" I asked them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They responded that yes, they did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"In that case, you believe that 1) man was literally
made from dust, that 2) the entire earth was literally covered with water at
one point, and that 3) there was a man who could not only walk on water but
actually rose from the dead, something that no one else in the history of the
world has ever done before or since. Is it that hard to believe, then, that God
could speak to people in America?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They couldn't really argue with that one. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I followed up with another question: "How do you know
if God is real?" My purpose in asking them that question was to see how
they'd gotten a testimony in the past and thus compare that to how they'd get a
testimony of the Book of Mormon. Their response was a halfhearted "Oh,
well, just look at the earth around us. Obviously a God had to have made it."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"See, you look at the earth and you see that it is
evidence there is a God. But an atheist looks at the very same earth and says
that it's evidence that there is no God. With every piece of evidence that we
see, there is always a faithful explanation for it and a doubtful explanation.
It's the same with the Book of Mormon."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They still did not seem to get it, so we left them with
that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later on, Elder Arnold asked E. Mastin and I the
same question in companion study. "How do you know if the Church is true?
How do you know if God is real?" It was interesting to see the different
answers we gave. Mine was more based on logic, while E. Mastin's was more based
on feelings and E. Arnold's was based on evidences he has seen for it to be
true. I'll include a little bit of the main points of my testimony
for you to consider:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. The life of Jesus Christ. While I may indeed cry
watching Sam carry Frodo up the mountain in Return of the King, the power
of that story does not have the life-changing power of the story of Christ.
There is something else there that motivates men to believe and to
change. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. The story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Would
a liar have put up with so much persecution? Could any person have written the
Book of Mormon on his own?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. The story of the Church. Would something that was a fraud
have survived under such conditions and flourished for so long as the Church
has done?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. The improbability of it all being false. Could all the
modern-day prophets from Joseph to President Monson have been false? They
testified of Jesus Christ; was He false, or just made up? He
testified of Old Testament prophets; were they just made up? The
improbability of so many good men being liars seems ridiculous to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. My birth. Why am I the person I am? Why was I born Daniel Fisher in
'93, and not in 493 or 1301 or 1967? There is no other explanation besides the
Gospel as to why I am who I am: a loving Heavenly Father sent me at this time
to my family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those are just main parts of my testimony that God is real
and that the Church is true. I love you all. Hurrah of Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-80097065246490831622014-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:002014-07-22T07:00:04.310-07:006/16/14 "Day of miracles"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Has the day of miracles ceased?" - Moroni 7:35<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Arnold and I's new trainee is Elder Mastin,
a 24-year old cook from Pleasant Grove, Utah. We are quite happy to have him!
He is very prepared, very mature, and very teachable. The three of us will have
a fun transfer together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fireflies have come back again, coming out at sunset
every day and staying for only a few short minutes. The days themselves are hot
but the work is good. For example, this past Sunday I got to
participate in the confirmations of Faith and Madison, whose father performed
the blessing. Another powerful, wonderful experience for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to talk today about miracles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About two months ago Elder Dedrick and I had had a
long day. It was rainy, a lot of appointments had cancelled and at 8:45 at
night one of our investigators had dropped us and didn't want to meet anymore.
Tired, discouraged, wet and in the rain, we easily could have turned to go
home. But instead, we prayed. I took off my helmet and held it in my hands
during the prayer, feeling every raindrop plunking down on it as fervently we
asked the Lord to please, please lead us to someone that we could
talk to that night. I put my wet helmet back on and we sat on our bikes and
started pedaling through the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within ten seconds we saw a man stacking wood on his porch
and we went to talk to him. His name was Allen, and he let us talk to him. Now
he's come to church, has a baptismal date, has been living the Word of Wisdom,
and wants to baptize his wife. It was a marvel to me that the Lord answered the
prayer of two wet missionaries standing in the dark at 9:45 on a
rainy night. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three months ago we met a man named David and gave him a
Book of Mormon. When we came back we asked if he had read, and David responded
that he and a friend had gotten in a conversation about the Church. His friend
has asked for the Book of Mormon and Dave gave it to him. Like good
missionaries, my companion and I invited him to ask his friend to sit in on our
next meeting. We ended up losing contact with Dave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Friday while finding I saw a man watching his kids play
in his yard. I went to go up and talk to him. His name was Jeremy, and he knew
that we were Mormons. He said that a friend had given him a Book of Mormon a
long time ago and he had read a bit from Alma. I asked who the friend was and
it turned out that it had been Dave! I was blown away that months later that
plotline had showed up again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day we brought Brother Arndt with us for the second
appointment with Jeremy. Jeremy said, "Hey, I went to school with some
Arndts way back in 2000. Do you know So-and-So?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Hmm, I think I do," Brother Arndt said.
"They're my kids!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was a bit frightened at this point. Literally the only
member in the world who could have had that connection with Jeremy was the one
who had come with us. Two miracles had played off with this man.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would like to close by sharing two scriptures that I have
come to chain together. The first of these is the scripture that first gave me
my testimony that the Book of Mormon is true:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that
these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you,
with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are
true has the day of miracles ceased?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of
men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so
long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one
man upon the face thereof to be saved?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Behold I say unto you, Nay;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"For my work is not yet finished; neither shall it
be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Moroni 7:35-37 and 2 Nephi 29:9)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day of miracles has not ceased, for as long as there is
just one man left upon the earth who can be saved, God's work is not yet
finished. Miracles are everywhere, if only we will have eyes to see them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the Lord's work, and it is true. I love you all.
Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-42356145175290919332014-07-22T06:58:00.002-07:002014-07-22T06:58:54.294-07:006/9/14 "The Gate"<div class="MsoNormal">
"And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which
leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate." - 2 Nephi
31:18<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week I witnessed my fourth car crash in this area. A
car backed into a street pole. Something is seriously wrong with these people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has again entered that time of year when the birds go
crazy and start fighting each other. The mockingbirds are out, though, and I
enjoy listening to them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The South is indeed very religious, but one thing I have
noticed is that there are no youth going to the churches here -- only
middle-aged and up. By and large the youth of the South are either agnostic,
spiritual but nonreligious, or else attend the rock-concert churches such as
Elevation, the Cove, etc. Not too many go to the traditional meetings anymore.
You know, the ones that require devotion and standards and such.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the greatest weapons of the Church's missionaries is
our character. People may not know much about us and regard us with suspicion,
but they generally trust us to be honest, dependable, and kind. That is a great
advantage. They may not know anything about our doctrine but they still regard
us as upright individuals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday was the baptism of Faith and Madison. This was the
first time in my whole mission, 23 months in, where I was able to report at the
end of the week that our area had seen a baptism. It was truly a wonderful,
ecstatic feeling. When their father was performing the baptism for his younger
daughter Madison he got choked up, which got everyone in the room teary. I have
never felt the Spirit so strong at a baptismal service.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Arnold and I got a call this past Saturday from
President Craven asking us if we would train a new missionary! This is
extremely exciting. It'll be the fifth time Elder Arnold has been a
trainer and the fourth time for me. I take this as a sign from the Lord to
ensure that I continue to work hard during my last transfer. I am excited to meet
him tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There's no time to write more, unfortunately. I love you
all! Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-72299990503708095052014-07-22T06:58:00.000-07:002014-07-22T06:58:05.364-07:006/2/14 "The gift of God"<div class="MsoNormal">
"But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with
money." - Acts 8:20<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Few things can impress an investigator more quickly than a
solid fast and testimony meeting at church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Few things can turn off an investigator more quickly than a
bad fast and testimony meeting at church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all want our fast and testimony meetings to be solid, of
course, but being a missionary and having an investigator there sort of puts
you into double jeopardy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully, this past Sunday went just fine. The
Newton-Conover ward excels at having short, powerful testimonies so that 20+
people can participate. Though we did have a sweet older brother go off on
evolution this past Sunday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Atheists say that horses evolved from grasshoppers!"
this defender of the faith boldly proclaimed from the pulpit. "That can't possibly be
true! For one thing, their knees bend the opposite way!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week Elder Arnold and I both ate a Hmong
pepper at a member home. This gallant feat of daring led us to be rewarded with
a Hmong name by the family. Elder Arnold's Hmong name is "Vaj
Vwj," which translates to "Elder King Leader." I, on the
other hand, was given the name "Choj Vwj," which translates to "Elder Bridge." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm not sure quite what to think about all this. Apparently,
when Hmong people are asked to determine what name would best define Elder Arnold,
they see "King Leader." When they see me, they think "bridge."
I guess I just radiate a lot of bridge-like qualities, I suppose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a man we are teaching who missed an appointment
last week. When we asked why, he responded that he is an ordained minister and
was off performing a marriage. This was highly surprising, since as he is an
auto mechanic he didn't seem like the type of man who would have gone through a
seminary to become a pastor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It turns out that our friend had been on the Internet one
day and had seen an ad that said "Become an ordained minister!"
Following the link, he saw a button that said "Ordain me now!" and
one credit card number and eight bucks later, he's an ordained minister, able
to legally perform marriages and baptisms. Our investigator friend's line of
authority is probably the only one in the world that boasts an
"https://" in front of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some people may balk at this modern method of ordination but
it is clearly in perfect harmony with scriptural accounts of biblical
priesthood practices, and anyone who says otherwise is clearly an
ignorant and close-minded simpleton.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Poor Simon Magus. If only you'd waited 2,000 more years, my
friend, your money would've been worth something.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back a few weeks ago, when Elder Dedrick and I
talked to the preacher, he asked us what we, as Mormons, believed about grace.
He shared an analogy to explain his view of it, and I shared President David O.
McKay's analogy to explain our view of it, and since both of them are similar,
I'll share both of them to you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor: Grace is like a drowning man. Jesus is the
lifeguard. He swims out to you in the water and rescues you. You just have to
go limp in His arms and let Him get you to shore safely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President McKay: Grace is like a drowning man. Jesus is the
lifeguard. He throws out a line for you to grab. You just have to hold on and
let Him pull you to shore safely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note the difference?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suffice it to say that the pastor flatly rejected President
McKay's analogy. However, thinking back on these two parables, there is one
question I want to bring up that perhaps my friend the pastor had not
considered: why was the man drowning in the first place?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The point is, we are indeed saved by grace; it is the gift
of God. However, if you keep jumping into the water after Jesus has
saved you, you won't be saved! Ultimately, there also has to be repentance
-- an acknowledgement that the water can hurt you and that you shouldn't go
swimming in it. We can only be saved through grace, but we cannot be saved
without repentance, either. Jesus will indeed get you to heaven through His
grace, whether you want Him to or not, but only repentance, made possible by
the restored Gospel and its ordinances, will cause you to stay there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am excited for another great week of missionary work with
my wonderful companionElder Arnold. The Church is true, and the priesthood
of God cannot actually be transmitted via the Internet, despite what modern-day
apostasy would have us think. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love you all. Hurrah for Israel! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-49223658090919584932014-07-22T06:56:00.001-07:002014-07-22T06:56:51.046-07:005/27/14 "Cheerfully do all things"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully
do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the
utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be
revealed." - D&C 123:17<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, everything cancelled this week. 90% of our appointments
fell through, many investigators fell off the map, and even the baptism we'd
planned for this past Sunday didn't happen at the last minute.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, of course, life goes on, in a fruitful and happy way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While doing service for a recent convert we noted that there
was a stray kitten hiding in her bushes, and the sister we were helping asked
us to catch it for her. We never would have been able to find it in there
except that, whenever we said "Meow," it would meow back at us. It
was like some kind of inter-species game of Marco Polo. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher was the one who caught the kitten
when it lost its cool and made a break for it. He soon discovered that it had
claws and hurriedly passed it off to Elder Arnold, who was wearing
the gloves. The kitten is now living happily with its new family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had just barely sat down in a lesson with a less-active
last week when all of a sudden he got a knock on his door. He answered it and
then, turning to us with a slightly puzzled expression on his face, he said,
"It's for you."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went out and talked to the man standing outside. His name
was Guillermo, a member of the Church from Matagalpa, Nicaragua, who has been
in the United States only a month. He had been wondering where the local church
unit was and he was driving down the street when all of a sudden he saw two
missionaries walk into a house. He immediately stopped his car in the middle of
the road and left it with the emergency flashers going so that he could come
and knock on the door of that house and catch us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a good lesson for me in devotion. Guillermo stopped
the very instant he saw us so that he could talk to us. Shows that the Lord
needs us to respond quickly to things He sends our way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess I'm at a loss as to what to say more. It's just been
one of those weeks. But the Church is still true! And the work is still
wonderful!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love you all. Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher <o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-50474922123469488242014-07-22T06:55:00.001-07:002014-07-22T06:55:50.257-07:005/18/14 "God gave the increase"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by
whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos
watered; but God gave the increase." - 1 Corinthians 3:5-6<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a sad fact of missionary work that if you are working
hard, staying obedient, and generally doing your job, the members are probably
not going to remember your name.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This realization came to me a long while ago but came back
again this past week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Arnold is a singer. He was Javert in Riverton
High School's production of Les Miserables and has quite a good
voice. This Sunday the Sister training leaders had a baptism for one of their
investigators, a young man, and they asked us to sing, so we did a duet of
"How Great Thou Art." It went very well. It also helps that both of
the sisters have around 13+ years of piano experience so they are both
amazingly good and do piano duets for meetings and such. All four of us have
enough musical experience that we can through something together at a minute's
notice if need be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the baptism we participated in the confirmation of
this young man. He is Hmong, so one of our Hmong members did the confirmation
in that language. It was a great experience for me. I had absolutely no idea
was he was saying, but the Spirit indicated to me that although he was speaking
in a different language, it was still the same priesthood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This upcoming Sunday we are planning to have the baptisms of
Faith and Madison, the daughters of convert parents. Their father will be
performing the baptisms. If they meet the date, this will be the first time in
my entire mission that a baptism will have taken place in my area while I was
there. A lot of people I found and taught got baptized very shortly after I
left the area, and I had the immense privilege and honor of performing the
baptism for Rosita, but this will be the first time in 22 months that a baptism
has happened on my watch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suffice it to say, I'm very excited.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But with this also comes a realization. Many many
missionaries have tried over the years to visit Faith and Madi's parents and
get them back to church. I am certain that I am no more obedient than they
were, or any more diligent that they were, or any more sanctified in my calling
than they were. Yet, for some reason none of them ever got in the door of this
family's home. Elder Dedrick and I had just so happened to show up on
a day and at a time when the mom was outside and we were able to talk with her
and set up a return appointment. Now, jumping forward over a month, the
daughters are preparing for baptism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What changed? It was not our individual skills that got us
in the door. It was the Spirit, who softened the hearts of the people involved.
If Elder Dedrick and I can really claim anything, it is that we acted
on the prompting to stop by their home at that right moment, which was able to
get the ball rolling. We cannot say that this upcoming baptism came about
because we were better missionaries or more spiritual or anything. God
simply allowed us to participate in this story.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am loving being with Elder Arnold. He is an
excellent missionary and we get along well. Hopefully this week will be full of
miracles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love you all. Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher <o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-82448490765779249292014-07-22T06:54:00.001-07:002014-07-22T06:54:46.076-07:005/12/14 "The Meaning of the Tree"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father
saw?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of
God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men." -
1 Nephi 11:21-22<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week Elder Dedrick and I witnessed our third
car crash together. We had just knocked on a less-active's door and were
waiting for them to answer when some guy just drove off the road into a ditch.
He eventually maneuvered his wrecked car out and back onto the road and drove
off. I have no idea what is wrong with the people here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even up to ten years ago, missionaries still taught people
using memorized discussions. They were supposed to commit every word of the
lessons to memory and recite it exactly when they taught someone. There were
several lessons, and all the lessons had to be taught in order, and there were
specific commitments for each lesson; for example, people were often invited to
be baptized when teaching about priesthood authority. For those of you who have
seen The Best Two Years, this was the teaching method still in use back
then.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now things are very different. Preach My Gospel presents
lesson material that missionaries are supposed to study and gain a testimony
of, but we are given the freedom to present the doctrine in our own words, as
directed by the Spirit. We can teach someone about the Plan of Salvation before
we teach them about the Restoration if we feel that that is what they need, or
we can teach part of the Gospel of Christ in the first lesson, or we can put in
a few points of the Word of Wisdom if we feel that's necessary. It's all a lot
more inspired.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the course of my mission, I've realized that most of
the time it is simply best to teach things in the order Preach My Gospel puts
them. For a person to understand why they need to be baptized, they need to
understand the Restoration. For them to see the need for a Restoration, they
need to understand the Great Apostasy, which requires an understanding of the
Savior's original church, which requires understanding dispensation cycles,
etc. Things make more sense if people already understand the principles behind
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Saturday Elder Dedrick and I were teaching a
man named Reeon. We were teaching him the Restoration but he kept pressing us
to get to the point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"I feel that you're trying to sell me something,"
he said, cutting through our explanation of the Savior's earthly ministry.
"You're building and building up to something. Just skip to whatever that
something is. Skip to the end." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He wouldn't let us explain what we were trying to get to, so
I eventually said, "If I told you that there was a man, a convicted felon,
who was executed for trying to stir up rebellion against the government, and
didn't tell you any of what had happened before that, then you would never have
known that that man was Jesus Christ."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a long pause as we all thought about that. Reeon
stopped bothering us to skip to the end after that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A different man asked me about a week or so ago if I had
ever doubted that Joseph Smith was actually a prophet. My thoughts are a bit
more collected now, but the thought I expressed to him was around these lines:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"I have doubted if Joseph Smith was really a prophet
because I have previously doubted the existence of God. But I have no doubt
that if there is a God, that Joseph Smith is His Prophet."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At around 9:45 PM on Sunday night Elder Dedrick
and I got a call from President Craven, telling Elder Dedrick to pack
his bags because he was getting transferred! So today we drove down to
Charlotte to meet with President. Elder Dedrick got assigned to be my
zone leader in Hickory, 15 minutes up the road, and I was paired up with my
17th companion, seasoned zone leader Elder Arnold. Though I've been
out two transfers longer than he has, Elder Arnold is a year older
than I am, and I am excited to be with him. He is from Riverton, Utah.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another item of note is that President asked me to take over Elder Dedrick's
place as district leader. This will be the first time in my mission that I've
had a leadership assignment, so I will be relying a lot on Elder Arnold's
experience to help me out the first few weeks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday I finished reading the Book of Mormon backwards. I
had started reading at Moroni 10 and proceeded all the way to the title page.
I'm not sure why I decided to do this, but I got a lot of good insights out of
it. It also made for some ironic twists to familiar stories. For example, 3 and
4 Nephi now tell the story of a very righteous people, in continual peace for
200 years, who got visited by Jesus, and then afterward there was a bunch of
natural disasters where everybody died.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was powerful, however, that in this backwards readthrough
the "end" of the Book of Mormon was the story of the Tree of Life.
For whatever reasons it had a much stronger effect on me this time around.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever wished sometimes that our earthly existence
was just the Tree of Life experience? It would be so much easier, I would
think, to simply have to find that iron rod somewhere in those mists of
darkness and just hold on unto you reached the Tree, than to have to deal with
all the confusion and uncertainty of this life. There are so many different paths,
so many distractions, that it is difficult to know if you've found the Rod or
arrived at the Tree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I noticed that, although Lehi's dream portrays most of the
types of people and situations of life, one thing that is not found in the
dream is any sort of method for those people who are at the Tree to go and find
and rescue those others who are lost in the mists of darkness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I pondered this, there came to mind the words of the song
"Heaven's at Hand," played for a cartoon video portrayal of the Tree
of Life dream. Like so many other things, the chorus of this song has come to
have much greater significance to me now that I am a missionary:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't give up! Don't fall away!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm here to help you up again! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm here to help you up and then<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't look down! Don't look back!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We're here to help each other stay<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To help each other every day<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every way!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Savior is the Tree, the love of God. We, as missionaries
or as members, are the ones He assigns to go and find those lost in the mists
and bring them to Him. Because He cannot be there Himself, He entrusts us with
the great privilege and duty to go and find His family and bring them to safety
and eternal life. We are there to help them when they stumble, to encourage
them if they fail. We are to do whatever it takes to keep them moving along the
path so that they will finally get there to the Tree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of the people you meet are either holding onto the Rod,
at the Tree, or lost somewhere in those mists of darkness. It does not
matter to the Lord if any of us stumble along the way as long as we get to the
destination in the end! It is our job tohelp each other back up when
we fall. He cannot physically be present to do so, so He needs us to
be there. It is through us that the Savior can help these people back up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Among the most powerful moments of my mission have been when
I have been able to echo those words of the song to a child of God who has
stumbled: "Don't give up! I'm here to help you up again!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What a great calling, that Christ would call you to
go and bring those people to Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that this Church is true. I love you all. Hurrah for
Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-16954751912728675602014-07-22T06:53:00.002-07:002014-07-22T06:53:31.660-07:005/5/14 "If there is a god"<div class="MsoNormal">
"O God...if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt
thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know
thee..." - Alma 22:18<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was biking on the street this Sunday when I hit a crack in
the road and crashed. My front wheel got bent into a lovely figure-8 due to the
effect of 240 pounds of Elder Fisherlanding on it. I was surprisingly
unharmed but the impact tore a hole right through my shirt. I guess God
misinterpreted what I was asking for when I had been praying for Him to make me
more...holy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The crash wasn't really caused by a lack of skill on my
part; I just hit a crack. So, when E. Dedrick asked me "What made you
crash?" I could honestly reply, "It was the street'sfault."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But where to start about this last week? We spent several
hours helping a nonmember stack wood on Wednesday and several more helping a
member shovel mulch on Saturday.Elder Dedrick forgot his iPad at the post
office last Monday, but the very postal worker we'd talked to on that day
bumped into Spanish elders later on in the week and told them to
inform us that the iPad was still at the office. The postal worker had figured
that all Mormon elders know each other, and by golly, we do. Miracle?
Oh yes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What could I tell you about my mission? I could tell you
about the helicopters that we always see flying around, searching for dope. Or
how everyone smokes here and not one person has a full set of teeth,
or how I'm getting really tired of the smell of marijuana. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or how the little daughter of one of the people we're
teaching stopped me after a lesson once and said, "You know who you remind
me of?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Who?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Joey Gladstone from Full House."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or when we were teaching a 50-year old man and his elderly aunt
walked in the room and he started loudly cussing her out while she patiently
ignored him. It was entirely unprovoked on her part -- he was just holding some
ill feelings about something that had happened years ago. We took him outside
and talked to him about it, then marched him back inside so that he could
apologize. It was quite the sight, seeing this gigantic 50-year old man say
that he was sorry, looking for all the world like a 5-year old who was being
forced by his mother to apologize for calling someone a bad name.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the middle of a lesson with our investigator Charles, as
I was sitting in a lawn chair under the trees behind his beaten-down trailer, I
was listening to his gentle, raspy voice talk about what he'd read in the Book
of Mormon recently, regarding his beaten baseball cap and the Hitler-esque
mustache on his wrinkled face, when all of a sudden the powerful thought came
to me: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"The Savior died for this person."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could only call it a revelation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I find it both amazing and slightly worrisome that this idea
had never really occurred to me before. But ever since, I have tried to
recapture this thought for every person I see. For it's true, isn't it?
Missionaries wear the mantle of Christ, which means that we represent Him, but
also that we are entitled to receive any gift or quality we need to represent
Him accurately. Included among that is receiving the vision of
Christ: being able to see people as He sees them; being able to see them
as who they can become.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Savior died for Charles. And for Allen, the man we're
meeting with who's worried about how his adult children are going down dark and
painful paths despite all of his best efforts to raise them as Christians, and
is torn with guilt, thinking that he's a bad father. To which I replied,
"God's children disobey Him all the time. But we would never call Him a
bad parent."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Savior died for Allen. And for Joseph, the man we taught
who is not sure if there really is a God, and who, when we invited him to pray,
offered up a prayer remarkably similar to the one offered by Lamoni's father in
the book of Alma. Or Cedric, the cool gangsta recent convert who taught me how
to do a gangsta handshake -- which is, to this day, one of the greatest
accomplishments of my mission -- and for countless other people that I do not
have the time or the means to tell you about, people who I love with all my
heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not have time to write out the rest of my thoughts, so
I'll just save it for next week. What a precious time this is! How I love to be
a missionary. This work is true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love you all! Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-80210175483101557762014-07-22T06:52:00.001-07:002014-07-22T06:52:20.979-07:004/28/14 "Nourish the tree"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Now, this is not because the seed was not good,
neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is
because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye
cannot have the fruit thereof." - Alma 32:39<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a week of many strange occurrences. Elder Dedrick
and I survived transfers, for one thing, so he will be my fourth companion to
last for more than a transfer. We will remain together in Newton-Conover.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One such strange occurrence was Elder Dedrick and
I doing service for a nonmember lady. There was a MOUNTAIN of soda cans in her
backyard, the acquired Sundrops of ages piled up as a monument to the glory of
caffeine, that we had the great pleasure of bagging so that it could be taken
to the recycling place and handed over in exchange for a nice green Ben
Franklin in the hand. Afterwards we taught her about the Restoration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or the zone conference on Tuesday with President Craven.
Last zone conference he told all of the zone to prepare a talk on Moroni 10:32 so
that he could call on a few of us at random to speak. He got me to speak at
that conference, so when we were told to prepare another talk for this meeting,
this time on a General Conference talk, I prepared one but was fairly certain
that I would be safe. Not so. President called me to speak again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used President Uchtdorf's priesthood session talk,
"Sleeping through the Restoration," but instead twisted it to talk
about "Sleeping through your mission." I originally spelled out a ton
of do's and don'ts while preparing it, but I decided instead to just ask the
zone a lot of questions to consider: In what ways am I selfish? In what ways do
I try to avoid being obedient, or diligent, or selfless? What competing
priorities do I have? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Usually for zone conferences President gives a training the
last few hours or so on some practical principle, like finding or something.
Not so with this one. In front of the assembled Hickory zone he went into some
deep doctrine about grace and resurrection. Partway through, he asks the
audience, "When you are resurrected, what age will you be resurrected
to?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A timid voice replies, "Your prime?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Your prime?" President says. He rotates on his
heels to look at me and says, "ElderFisher, you just barely turned 21
today; is that your prime?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I paused and said, "Well, I had been hoping that my
prime would be a bit thinner."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have seen many highs and lows this week and much
activity. I accompanied a musical number at zone conference ("Lead Thou Me
On") another musical number at a baptism ("Beautiful Savior")
and sang a solo of "This is the Christ" in sacrament meeting. It was
hard for me, because I wish I had the kind of voice that could fully express my
testimony through that song, but hopefully the effort I showed sufficed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We see all different kinds of levels of faith here. This
week a learned man we had taught for weeks told us that he had to stop meeting
with us. Why? Because instead of reading the Book of Mormon to get his answers
like we had invited him to do -- and like he'd promised he would do -- he
instead looked up a whole bunch of anti-Mormon rubbish and believed it. On the
other hand, we had a powerful experience with another man, Charles, because he
actually had read when we asked him to, reciting to us the story of
Alma and Korihor, Helaman 13:37-39 and quoting Moroni 7:11.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
There are so many people and so many stories I could share, because this week
seemed to be crammed full of more events and happenings than should be possible
with a regular timeline. But I can't tell you about all of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me just say that it is so important to have faith.
I have complete, 100% certainty that if people will read the
Book of Mormon and pray about it, they WILL know that it is
true. It is a spiritual constant. Reading + Prayer = Answer of Truth. If
people do not get that answer, it is not because the Book of Mormon is not true
or that the seed was bad; it was because they would not nourish the tree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How important it is to even just try. Jesus told the
Pharisee that if they would onlytry what he taught, they would know for
themselves if what he taught was true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've only got three months left. I have no intention of
sleeping through my mission. Now is the time to work harder than ever before
and be even more sanctified than I've ever been. The day is drawing to a close.
It's time to go and harvest!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love you all. Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-90473414482816371042014-07-22T06:49:00.001-07:002014-07-22T06:49:31.743-07:004/21/14 "On a golden springtime"<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the people we are teaching here is a Jamaican
Canadian lady. Her accent is a lot of fun. For example, if she were to say the
phrase "Beer can" it would sound like "Bacon."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is always amazing how we find investigators. One of the
people we got to church this Sunday was a man we met at Walmart on a Friday
night because E. Dedrick had to go get a replacement tire tube for his bike. It
is so easy to start conversations as a missionary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last Saturday we took a moment to get off our bikes out
of the rain and actually met with our good friend the Baptist pastor, who spoke
to us two Sundays ago after we witnessed the car accident. He let us into his
office -- the first time I've been in another faith's church my whole mission
-- and we sat down and talked for a good while. He is pretty young for a
pastor, only 30, and was very polite. Despite our best efforts the subject
inevitably turned to the subject of how we are saved, with the pastor being of
the "Confess with thy mouth" school of thought, but thankfully he was
quite cordial so the Spirit stayed in the room. When we finally departed, it
was on good and friendly terms. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He mentioned to us afterward that he'd never met Mormon elders who
were so knowledgeable. He was also impressed with my ability to write
upside-down on my whiteboard. People always mention how I can write
upside-down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later that day we got a text from him saying that E. Dedrick
had forgotten his gloves. "Do you want me to save them or eBay them?"
the pastor asked us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My brilliant idea was that we should text back, "You cannot
save those gloves. They can only be saved if they confess Christ." Sadly,
E. Dedrick vetoed this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few other things about North Carolina. The Newton-Conover
area is apparently religious enough that kids get school out here for Good
Friday. I don't recall that ever happening for me in Washington, Texas, or even
Utah.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most people here have a Bible, even if they don't ever read
it. One nice touch about these Bibles is that the words of Christ are in red
ink. That way, if you are reading the New Testament you can easily tell what is
being said by Jesus and what is not. I actually like this a lot, and I wish
that we could do something similar with our own LDS scriptures. I would love to
see it in the Book of Mormon in particular.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was asked to be one of the speakers on Easter Sunday, me
and one of the stake high counselors. Immediately after my talk I went and sang
in the choir. Next Sunday I'm scheduled to sing "This is the Christ"
because the choir director volunteered me for it. And I enjoy all of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While preparing for the talk was quite a fun experience, the
real spiritual climax of the week came on Thursday. I realized that, if Easter
is the anniversary of the Resurrection, then Thursday night would be the
anniversary of the Garden of Gethsemane. On Thursday night, after I had said my
prayer, I turned out the lights and lay in bed and, in honor of the Savior,
listened to the song "Not My Will" in the LDS musical "The
Garden" by Michael McLean. As far as I know, this song is the only musical
attempt to depict what happened in Gethsemane on that night, and it is amazing.
The Savior's sacrifice felt so much more real and powerful to me knowing that
it was the anniversary of that great event.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Easter is a grand time of year. A few weeks beforehand all
the Christian churches start putting purple cloths around the central cross of
three in front of their church. As for my Easter thoughts, I don't have the
time and you don't have the patience for me to express all that I want to say.
The love involved behind Easter is unfathomable, both on the Savior's part and
on our Heavenly Father's part. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will just point out how agonizing it must have been for
Him, our Father, to have to watch it all. There was no ram in the thicket for
His Son, no last second rescues. He had to watch it play out to the very end.
How grateful I am that He was willing to put us, His not-so-obedient children,
above that of His Well-Beloved.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will close with the words of the Primary song, On a
Golden Springtime. Like so many other things on my mission, this has taken
on a whole new meaning to me since I have come on a mission. I would encourage
you to look it up if you can and listen to the whole song if possible -- it all
makes me get choked up now. But I will just share the second verse, and my
testimony of it:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a golden springtime, Jesus Christ awoke,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And left the tomb where He had lain; the bands of death He
broke.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Awake, awake, o sleeping world!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look upward to the light!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now all men may live again,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look upward to the light!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Savior did live again. I know this with all my
heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you all. Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-80089970117560132832014-07-22T06:48:00.002-07:002014-07-22T06:48:27.616-07:004/14/14 "Man must hope"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an
inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Ether 12:32<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another interesting thing you should know about the
Newton-Conover area is that there are a lot of wild onions here. Elder Dedrick
stooped down once to pull one out of the ground, took it home, washed it off
and ate it. He kindly offered to share with me but I didn't go for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last week has been very surreal. We stopped to make a
phone call on Sunday and witnessed another crazy man crash into a street pole,
though this time the car's rear-right wheel got bent horizontally and he
started driving his devastated car down the street. This occurred right outside
a Baptist church, so as Elder Dedrick called 911 and I ran to survey
the wreckage strewn all over the street, a ton of church-goers filed out to see
what had happened. We talked with them briefly, but I decided it was time to go
once the pastor started asking us, "So do you think you're going to heaven
when you die?" Instead we set a return appointment with him, when
hopefully he would not be surrounded by his congregation and have a
point to prove.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I don't know what it is with Elder Dedrick
and I witnessing people crash all over the place.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was something I read in an email from my dear friend Elder Ward
that hit me very powerfully. I paraphrase his conclusion:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Faith is a belief that determines our actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hope is a belief that determines our attitude.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I got Spirit-slapped in the face. I think that my whole
mission I've had quite a lot offaith, because I have always gone out and worked
all day, every day, following all the rules and making all the invitations and
doing everything as best as I possibly can. However, I realized that I haven't
had a lot of hope. I put the work in, but need to have hope that
people actually will keep the commitments and actually can get
baptized.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One great thing about Elder Dedrick is that he has
a ton of hope. Every prayer he says he asks for Heavenly Father to lead us to
somebody we can baptize in April. I've never had a companion do that. I try to
keep that attitude of his going and learn to emulate it. This last week was the
second time in my mission that I've met the Standard of Excellence for total
lessons in the week, and that was even with two days getting taken up by
ID-card stuff.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last thing I will mention is something our bishop said
in his sacrament talk on Sunday. He told us that his wife frequently says to
him, "If you love me, show love to my children." He continued by
saying that Heavenly Father probably thinks the same way: "If you love Me,
show love to My children."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think it important that the prophet's address this last
conference, during the Sunday morning session when the most people would be
watching, was about having love for people. Only the Gospel will save the
world, and that because it teaches us to love as the Savior did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love my mission. The Church is so true. Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-79295578148551707602014-07-22T06:47:00.000-07:002014-07-22T06:47:02.303-07:004/7/14 "Pray for them that persecute you"<div class="MsoNormal">
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you." - Matthew 5:44<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How about General Conference, huh? I don't know about you,
but I think that there were a few central themes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) The end is coming, so<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Get ready, by<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) Strengthening your families, through<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) Teaching them the doctrines, because they'll have to<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5) Endure persecution, and do so by<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6) Loving others.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What greatly caught my attention was President Monson's
extremely unusual statement that no new temples were going to be announced for
the time being. It seemed quite unprecedented. The message I got was:
"We'll get you more temples when you start using them!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a missionary I generally keep my ears open for any
references to missionary work, but in this conference, besides Elder Ballard,
no one else really talked about it. The theme of this conference all seemed
about preparation, as there was so much advice on topics like protecting
the family, setting priorities, making wise choices, and abandoning sin. But
how to do this? I have never seen a Conference where explanations and
testimonies of such basic things like the Savior's life, Atonement, and
resurrection were shared. It is clear that the key to making all these
preparations for the end rely on understanding and emulating Him. More than I
can ever recall it was emphasized that we are Christian, and only two talks
really mentioned Joseph Smith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When people ask you what your favorite talk was and you
respond, "Jeffrey R. Holland," they tend to assume that you hadn't
really listened to anyone else. Truth be told, I loved a lot of them. But Elder Holland's
talk about persecution really stood out to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On my mission I have been yelled at, cussed at, mocked,
ignored, threatened, flipped off, and waved away. I've had beer cans and other
things thrown at me. I've been called a devil worshiper and frequently told
that I'm going to hell. I've had my most cherished beliefs reviled -- some of
the comments people have made deal with sensitive and sacred things that cannot
be talked about here. I can honestly say that I have done nothing of myself to
provoke these things. I once heard that North Carolina is the most anti-Mormon
state, and I know that there are churches that deliberately teach their
members, especially their youth, anti-Mormon material that is blatantly a bunch
of hateful lies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And how do we deal with it, as missionaries and as members
of the Church? The answer is found in the words of the Savior: "Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." The correct response
is to love them anyway. And I do. It makes me sad to see how so many people
respond to us, but we love them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just last night we met a man on his porch. He told us that
his wife was going in for brain surgery the next morning -- today. I asked if
we could say a prayer for her and ask that everything would go well. She
refused because we were Mormon. So when we went home, we prayed for her anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could give much more commentary on Conference talks but
I'll tell you some stories instead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Dedrick's bike has been given him much trouble
this past week. We were out working between conference sessions when all of a
sudden his tire exploded, leaving us many miles from anywhere we needed to be.
We started to call a member for help, when all of a sudden a blue Land-Rover
came down the street and hit a telephone pole. The impact knocked its front
right wheel off entirely, but the driver kept going, the car lurching down the
street on only three wheels and its tireless axle throwing out sparks,
Lightning McQueen from Cars-style. If he was trying to not get caught, I
think he was completely unaware that his axle was leaving a nasty scratch mark
in the pavement behind him that told the entire world where he was going.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we did what any sensible people would do and took
pictures next to the whistling tire. (Photo attached.) After that we walked
over to the nearby police station and informed them of what had happened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5OM0Zs_6kO8_ZXiz_j9ioh9PV-3DJRC6uMjQqJ11-36bwk5ykE6ma2pzIa_CGQj4RVcBPn7s-EJP-dICZ2gCySyUrul66OSsx2DVMqyYHlTCwgQH2kJvpQkS7SRyZhIfM4UbeoXfb8M9/s1600/Tire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5OM0Zs_6kO8_ZXiz_j9ioh9PV-3DJRC6uMjQqJ11-36bwk5ykE6ma2pzIa_CGQj4RVcBPn7s-EJP-dICZ2gCySyUrul66OSsx2DVMqyYHlTCwgQH2kJvpQkS7SRyZhIfM4UbeoXfb8M9/s1600/Tire.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Friday we had sawed some logs for an older single sister
in the ward. After the final session of conference she asked us if we could
give her a blessing of comfort and counsel. I ended up doing it. After the
blessing she wiped away some tears trickling down her face and told me that
some of the things I had said in the blessing were also lines that were in her
patriarchal blessing. It was one of those powerful, warming moments when the
Spirit reassures that the priesthood is real.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love all of you and I am grateful that I've gotten to
listen to modern-day prophets. The Church is most definitely true. Hurrah for
Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-55482049740016201742014-07-22T06:44:00.001-07:002014-07-22T06:44:23.341-07:003/31/14 "That evil may be done away"<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week has been quite the whirlwind. It has been
nonstop action from start to finish.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me tell you a bit about Elder Dedrick. I've
had 16 companions, so I've had a wide variety of personalities, interests,
testimonies, and work ethics. Elder Dedrick is probablythe hardest
working that I've ever had. He is unbelievably diligent, bold, and full of
faith. We have seen so many miracles because of his desire to work. He is a
very effective missionary, and obedient, too. I have taken him to be an answer
to prayer from Heavenly Father: I want to work as hard as I possibly can for
the remainder of my mission, so He's paired me with Elder Dedrick so
that I can relearn what it means to have faith, work hard, and serve well. I am so grateful
for him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Monday Elder Dedrick had put his iPad on the
shopping cart at Walmart and forget it there when we took off. When we realized
this an hour later we rushed back to the store and went to Customer's Service.
Thankfully some honest employee had found the iPad while retrieving carts and
turned it in. When we asked for it, the bored-looking worker went into the back
room and brought it out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"What's the background picture?" he asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Jesus Christ, sir," Elder Dedrick
replied. The other people waiting in line cheered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it was one of those moments when it's amazing being a
missionary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could tell you more about what I did this week, but I
would rather share my testimony as a result of something that happened. You may
consider it overly dramatic, but such are the thoughts that came to my heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As our very last stop of the night before going home one
day, Elder Dedrick and I went to go visit a certain household. As we
pulled up near to the door, we heard two people screaming at each other at the
top of their lungs. Literally every other word was an obscenity. We stood there
for a minute or two, listening, and I must admit that it made me afraid to
listen to it. For whatever reasons, we didn't knock on the door, and after a
while we pulled away from the house. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Dedrick was ready to go home, but I could not. I
had a bad feeling in my heart and I couldn't end the night on that note. I
motioned him to follow me and I walked over to a nearby streetlamp. There,
inside its little circle of light, I opened up my scriptures and read a verse
from the eighth chapter of Ether.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I share them, I want to say that they are the words
of Moroni. There is perhaps no other scriptural figure who has captured my
imagination as much as he has, which is probably why I talk about him so often.
He witnessed the society he grew up in grow ever more wicked and depraved. He
saw his family, friends, and fellow church members get killed and his entire
civilization get destroyed. On the run for his life because he would not deny
the Christ, he watched as the Lamanites turned inward to war against themselves
in an endless cycle of violence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I can see him, all alone, trying his best to finish the
monumental and difficult work before him of completing the Book of Mormon, with
all of these horrible things still fresh in his mind, writing these incredible
words:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these
things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan
may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they
may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain
of all righteousness and be saved." - Ether 8:26<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe in his day, the bad guys had won. But far in
the future, there would be a time that the good guys would win, and evil would
be done away with, forever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Dedrick showed me a video one of our first days
together. I'd seen one like it before, so it was nothing new, but it still
brought me to tears. Here's the link for it:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-060-the-gospel-shall-roll-forth?lang=eng" target="_blank">https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-060-the-gospel-shall-roll-forth?lang=eng</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the Church was first founded, no one could have
possibly thought that it would have survived. But it did. Despite the
persecution and the death of the Prophet, it did. And led by living
prophets, it has spread, and will continue to spread, to cover the whole earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I read that scripture to Elder Dedrick in the
light of the streetlamp, having just walked away from the terrible argument and
darkness going on inside the house, we had it brought to our hearts that it is
to get rid of things like that that the Lord has sent out
missionaries in this, the last dispensation. The Book of Mormon was
written and protected so that, thousands of years later, it could be our weapon
in the great battle for the happiness of mankind. No longer are the members of
the Church on the run; now they are advancing. No longer is the Church
dwindling; now it is growing. This is the day when the good guys will
win. This is the time when the filth, the war, and the broken
families will finally be gone. This is the age when the Master will
return and evil will be defeated forever. And we get to be a part of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Work is true. It is my honor to be serve, so that evil
may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon
the hearts of the children of men, but that they may come unto Christ and be saved.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-1621069882484743792014-07-22T06:42:00.004-07:002014-07-22T06:42:58.636-07:003/23/14 "A mighty change of heart"<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher #85, 3/23/14:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the
church, have ye spiritually been born of God?...Have ye experienced this mighty
change in your hearts?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Alma 5:14<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked out the window, and what did I see?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Popcorn popping on ornamental pear trees!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spring has brought me such a nice surprise:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Popcorn popping right before my eyes!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes indeed, it's that time of year when all the trees go
crazy in North Carolina and sprout popcorn. It's beautiful. Right now it's the
white popcorn, and in a few weeks we'll get the pink popcorn. After that is
will be time for the airborne waves of yellow pollen that cover everything and
make poor Elder Fisher have allergies. But this time I will be
prepared for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
E. Mickelson had to go to transfers early because he was
going to be a trainer. As I sat down at the little luncheon they'd set up for trainers
and their companions, I sat next to one E. Dedrick. His companion was going to
be a trainer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Oh, so are you staying or are you going?" I
asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Staying."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Oh, well in that case, we might just end up being
companions!" I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About thirty minutes later in the transfer meeting,
President Craven announced over the pulpit, "And Elder Fisher will
be serving in the Newton-Conover ward with Elder Dedrick -- he's now
served in every zone in the mission."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got a good laugh out of that. I have now indeed
served in every stake in the mission. One of the many blessings of serving in
so many places is that I've been able to see how nine different bishops
approach missionary work. There's been a wide variety in how they involve
themselves in it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for E. Dedrick, he is from Anaheim,
California, has been out 10 months, and is serving as our district
leader. He is always smiling and one of the most amazingly diligent
missionaries I've ever met. An investigator family of his got baptized
just this Sunday -- pictures attached.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We share the Newton-Conover ward with the sister-training
leaders. This is a new leadership position developed because of the
increase in number of sister missionaries mainly due to the age
change. They are kind of like zone leaders in that there's one companionship of
them in every stake and that they go on exchanges with other
sisters missionaries. However, unlike district or zone
leaders, missionaries do not report to them each week on how their
efforts. It's a useful position because the sister-training-leaders are
able to talk to sisters about female things, which no district or zone
leader, however mature, is able to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, some mission info:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Our mission is roughly shaped like the corner-stone of an
arch, the top of the stone being the Virginia border and the bottom being the
border with South Carolina.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-There are 7 stakes in our mission: Charlotte Central,
which is where the mission office is located; Charlotte South,
extending about a 40-minute drive south of Charlotte; Gastonia,
which is up to 40-minutes west of Charlotte; High Point,
which is about 45 minutes northeast of Charlotte; Greensboro,
an hour and a half northeast; Winston-Salem, an hour and a half north; and Hickory, an
hour and a half northwest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some Newton-Conover info:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-The Newton-Conover ward building is the stake center of the
Hickory stake and is right across the street from a Protestant church. The
chapel in our building is quite unusual -- it slopes downward so the people in
the front are lower than the people in the back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-This is the first area I've ever been in where I've been
able to see mountains. The Appalachians are just to the west of us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-This area has a lot of Mong people. They're from Laos, I
believe, and most of them say their religious background is "shaman."
We keep Mong Book of Mormon copies and Mong pamphlets with us when we go
out looking for people to teach.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-There's also Catawba Indians here. One of their old
chieftains from years ago, Chief Blue (spelling?) is a bit of a legend because
he joined the Church, along with much of his tribe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some North Carolina info:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-As missionaries -- to use North Carolina speak --
sometimes we ax people on the skreet questions about faif while we's
conversatin' with them. Or we ax them how they eat their Ree-see's cups. (But
only if they live in the Apple-aah-chin mountains.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-It was once suggested that missionaries get little mopeds
to ride around instead of bikes. A member told us that that would not be a good
idea. In North Carolina, if you get too many DUI's you get your driver's
license taken away, but you don't need one to drive a moped. Thus, mopeds are
often referred to as "liquorcycles." Were missionaries to ride mopeds
people would assume we were all drunkards.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Every time it rains here, a bright red-orange clay
comes out of the ground. If it gets in your clothes it becomes indestructible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-There is a fast-food restaurant here in North Carolina
called Cook Out. It is THE BEST fast-food I've ever had. For $4.40 you get an
enormous and delicious main dish (like a big fat double burger) and
your choice of two sides, like a bacon wrap, chicken wrap, hush puppies, and so
forth. The first time I ever got a "Cook Out Tray" back in
2012, I got completely filled up. For just a dollar more you can get
a shake that's bigger than a DQ Blizzard and tastes better. I will greatly miss
Cook Out when I go home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would include a funny story from this last week but I'll
save it for next Monday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not surprisingly, the Church is still true. Love
you all! Hurrah for Israel!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher<o:p></o:p></div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-14941196067296456692014-03-20T20:05:00.002-07:002014-03-20T20:05:43.255-07:003/17/14 "All things to remembrance" <div class="MsoNormal">
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
E. Mickelson got a call this Saturday from the Assistants, who told
him that I was going to get transferred and that he was going to be staying in <st1:place w:st="on">Summit</st1:place> to train a new
missionary. So I will be getting companion #16 in area #9 on Tuesday. President
might pull another fast one and throw me companion #17 while he's at it,
though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The title of this email is E. Mickelson's favorite
scripture. He got in a car wreck in high school and actually died, but was
brought back shortly after. He still cannot remember anything that had happened
up to 6 months before the accident. Before the crash, he had a very promising
sports career ahead of him but his injuries took all of that away, and in the
weeks after he had problems with his short-term memory. So, with college sports
no longer an option, he decided instead to study the scriptures and prepare for
a mission. While reading in the New Testament, he came across John 14:26.
The Savior's promise that the Holy Ghost would bring all things to
his remembrance was of great comfort to him. It has definitely helped him on
his mission so far.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The main story of this week happened on exchange with E.
Kemp. We were happily driving to our next appointment when all of a sudden a
Storm of Terror came out of nowhere and blasted the whole earth with rain.
Rarely ever have I seen enough rain to justify the expression "rain
curtain," but this was one such time. The rain made a solid grey wall all
around us in the car.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
E. Kemp and I were marveling at this when lo! there was a
terrifying green flash to the right, filling up the entire right side of our
vision for a split second and then disappearing. Elder Fisher pulled
the car into a nearby apartment complex and we waited out the storm. Afterward
we drove past the spot with the flash to see what we could see. We didn't see
any devastation but we did notice a very powerful burnt smell. At the time I
had thought it was a lightning bolt but in hindsight I realize that there wasn't
a thunderclap, so it was probably a transformer exploding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day after, back with E. Mickelson, we were out working
and we saw that the storm had knocked over a lot of trees. A photo of one such
tree is below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9Sl55pyk-ZBDBGrwf_HBQ2-Dqc23vjjP4Eu2H-3pq9he2WMNx-BbdmQPc_ZlnKTokfQ9_6LB20J5SuJUA5pyw5SlprWeo5ihj2fmeR0myDrG5HbQ_eC6ihcd4mPULT92c1lEg-RP37bK/s1600/Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9Sl55pyk-ZBDBGrwf_HBQ2-Dqc23vjjP4Eu2H-3pq9he2WMNx-BbdmQPc_ZlnKTokfQ9_6LB20J5SuJUA5pyw5SlprWeo5ihj2fmeR0myDrG5HbQ_eC6ihcd4mPULT92c1lEg-RP37bK/s1600/Tree.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shortly after I took the picture, as we were walking back to
our bikes, I saw a man waiting for the bus, so I started talking to him. It was
a cold day that day and I noticed that he had his hands in his coat pockets, so
I asked if he had any gloves. He said no, so I gave him mine. We talked to him
a bit more and got his information and then his bus showed up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, there's not much more to say. My time in <st1:city w:st="on">Summit</st1:city> was very short, but while I was here I helped get
Summit III the first investigator at sacrament meeting that it's ever had:
Tilak, a man from <st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place>
who we got to come to Stake Conference. There was a special broadcast with Elder L.
Tom Perry that I could spend a lot of time talking about but I don't have the
time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am LOVING the work and excited to report next Monday on
who I'm with and where I'm at. The Church is true. Love you all. Hurrah for <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher</div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-52720265404020914802014-03-20T20:01:00.001-07:002014-03-20T20:01:04.856-07:003/3/14 3/10/14 "Go and Do"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher #82, 3/3/14:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will
ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" - Ether 2:23;
reference to a story I don't have time to tell here, and also...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher #83, 3/10/14:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath
commanded." - 1 Nephi 3:7</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plot twist number three...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did not get a chance to send off my email last Monday due
to the busyness of being with the Assistants. Much much much has changed since
that Monday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just in my first week with the assistants, we had a meeting
for new trainees and their companions on Tuesday, then back-to-back exchanges
on Thursday and Friday, then a mission leadership conference with President
Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy on Saturday, then a mission home
fireside on Sunday. There is never a time when the Assistants are not moving
around and teaching. They rarely have time to do regular morning studies, often
have to wake up early and get home late, and never get to really stop and eat.
I have an advantage over them seeing as they are both extremely thin and I have
natural energy reserves (a.k.a. I am fat). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second week just had more craziness. There were many
notable stories that happened but there's only one in particular that I will
share...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was with Elder Frost on exchange with zone
leader Elder Arnold. We had gone and worked in the heart of <st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city>, among the
skyscrapers, and were driving to our next appointment when we got a call from
the Pineville sisters. Elder <st1:city w:st="on">Arnold</st1:city>
answered and put it on speaker.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Hello, is Elder Fisher there?"
they asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder <st1:city w:st="on">Arnold</st1:city>
said, "Yes."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"This Saturday we are having the baptismal service of a
lady named Rosita Quitugua and she said that she wanted you, Elder Fisher, to
baptize her. Would you be able to do that?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My jaw dropped. Elder Frost and Elder Arnold
turned around in their seats to look at me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"...YES," I said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn't even know what to say. Little Rosita from <st1:place w:st="on">Saipan</st1:place>, the lady I taught way back in November of 2012,
was finally getting baptized and she wanted me to do it! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought about it again and again throughout the day and
the time flew by until finally we stopped by the mission office. There were a
few missionaries there who needed to stay the night at the Assistant's
apartment, and President was interviewing one of them. While he did so I spoke
to Elder Arnold and Elder Frost about all the zones I've
served in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pointed at the map. "The mission has seven zones and
I've served in five of them: <st1:city w:st="on">Winston-Salem</st1:city>,
Charlotte South, <st1:city w:st="on">Gastonia</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">High Point</st1:city>, and now, with the Assistants,
Charlotte Central. I haven't served in the <st1:city w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:city>
or <st1:city w:st="on">Hickory</st1:city>
stakes yet, but hey, I've still got three transfers left. There's still
time."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A moment later Elder Frost and Elder Arnold
were called into President's office, and after a minute or so I was called in
to join them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President sat me down and explained that, due to a variety
of circumstances, Elder Mickelson in the <st1:city w:st="on">Summit</st1:city>
ward of <st1:city w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:city>
needed a companion. He looked me in the eye and asked, "Will you be his
companion in <st1:city w:st="on">Summit</st1:city>?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the half second that followed, the following thoughts
were going through my brain: <st1:city w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:city> is over
two hours away from <st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city>.
There's no way that I would be able to come down for Rosita's baptism. I
haven't baptized anybody my entire mission, and one just fell into my lap five
hours ago and now I'm going to have to miss it. What about Rosita's
baptism?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those were my thoughts in that half second. But
what I immediately said, though, was, "Yes, I will. Of
course!" I was almost laughing as I said it, because only a few minutes
before I'd talked about how I still had time to possibly serve in the two
stakes I'd missed so far.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President said, "That's good. The Pineville sisters
called me earlier today to ask if you could baptize their investigator Rosita
this Saturday. We'll have you drive up to <st1:city w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:city>
after the service."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt a wave of relief sweep over me at those words. I
could still make it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking back on this experience, I found it important that
my immediate response to President's question was not the self-centered
"But what about Rosita's baptism?" but "Yes." I did not
know that President would schedule things around me but I said "Yes"
anyway, despite what I might have missed out on by accepting the calling.
Either way I would have agreed and gone to <st1:city w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:city>, but I think it important that my
first response was an unconditional "Yes."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now I am in the <st1:city w:st="on">Summit</st1:city>
ward of <st1:city w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:city>, companions to Elder Mickelson,
an elder waiting for his visa before he goes to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region>. He is
my 15th companion in my 8th area, and the fifth companion I have had this
transfer. Wow! (I've attended four different wards in four different areas the
last four Sundays.) Elder Mickelson is from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Yakima</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state></st1:place>
State, and a pretty fantastic individual. I will enjoy my time with him,
however long it is. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, before I end, this:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogDJWZkkWiwDJlPSQBra9f5-YY3dUNjxLSZtGrNy9WmppXwxpFdUFUZp9kRXvxitgA4a0u1w6Aw-GIPZHpx5CF4P6GehbHWaiANtCxUIzgFNan5EW3k89rRwNjcvkzWDaLOt-I8VHiSjh/s1600/Rosita.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogDJWZkkWiwDJlPSQBra9f5-YY3dUNjxLSZtGrNy9WmppXwxpFdUFUZp9kRXvxitgA4a0u1w6Aw-GIPZHpx5CF4P6GehbHWaiANtCxUIzgFNan5EW3k89rRwNjcvkzWDaLOt-I8VHiSjh/s1600/Rosita.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rosita Quitugua at her baptism on 3/8/14, 16 months to the
day from when I first met and taught her on 11/8/12. After waiting almost 20
months to experience it, I cannot express the joy I felt standing in the water
at that service. It is a feeling I will never forget.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Gospel is true. Hurrah for <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher</div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-19216998193749953442014-03-20T19:56:00.001-07:002014-03-20T19:56:35.289-07:002/24/14 "Angels round about"<div class="MsoNormal">
"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I
will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my
Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you
up." - D&C 84:88</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well. Plot twist number two...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This Thursday was interviews with President Craven. I was
the very last person in line to be interviewed, going in after Elders Kendall
and Eggett at around 6 PM. I have to admire my mission president's ability
to sit in a small room and talk to people for eight straight hours, but he says
that he enjoys it...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A portion of the interview went something along these lines:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: "President, I would like you to know that I am
extremely excited for this transfer. Elder Eggett is a brand new
missionary, so that gives me a lot of incentive to be extra obedient and
diligent because I need to be a good example. I also know Elder Kendall
from back at home, and that also gives me a reason to work hard because I don't
want to disappoint him and also because I'm probably going to be seeing him
after my mission. He's also willing to run with me in the morning! So all of
this makes me really excited. I know that this transfer was inspired of the
Lord and that we're all going to really take off in the next few weeks."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President: "...Yes. About that..."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He then told me that an important part of E. Eggett's trial
mission is seeing if he can do all the regular missionary things. With only two
companions it would be easy for him to sit back and let us do all the work.
President told me that, although he had hoped that I would get to see my
current investigators get baptized, because E. Eggett had to have only one
companion and since he knew Elder Kendall best, he was going to
transfer me to <st1:place w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:place>
to be with the Assistants that very weekend. I would stay with them until the
end of the transfer, at which time I suppose I would get assigned to a new
area.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He asked me if I was okay with that, and I said of course.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I was making lunch on Saturday morning I got another
call from President.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President: "Elder, how long would it take you to pack
your things?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: "What? Two hours, I guess."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President: "Could you do it in one? The Assistants will
be arriving at your apartment at that time."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: "Yes, President. I'll do my best."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was just barely finishing putting the last few things into
the final suitcase when the Assistants arrived. We threw my stuff into their
truck and took off for <st1:place w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The current Assistants are Elder Steed, who came
out on the plane with me, and Elder Frost, who is one transfer older
than we are. Both are absolutely incredible, of course. They work in the UNCC
campus and are assigned to the YSA ward there. I have spent many hours with
them in meetings and doing paperwork in addition to regular missionary
activities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's all been rather sudden for me. The changes still
haven't really hit me yet. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to anybody in
Lakefield other than giving the ward mission leader a quick call telling him
that I was getting transferred, which surprised him greatly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Interestingly enough, I have been out 14 transfers and I am
now up to 14 companions in my seventh area. That's one per transfer! And I'll
be getting comp #15 and area #8 in a few weeks, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My thoughts go out to Elder Kendall, who now has
to face the task of taking over a new area with only two weeks of experience
and also with a brand-new missionary as his companion. He is very capable and
competent and I know that if anyone can pull it off, he can.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This whole experience has strengthened my testimony that the
Lord really is directing the work. He is always in control.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't have the time to say anything else at this moment.
Hopefully next week I'll be able to write out a bit more. Love you all! Hurrah
for <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher </div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-44534934149015853492014-03-20T19:54:00.002-07:002014-03-20T19:54:39.341-07:002/17/14 "Of you it is required"<div class="MsoNormal">
"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of
you it is required to forgive all men." - D&C 64:10</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last week we had a rather large snowstorm by <st1:place w:st="on">North Carolina</st1:place>
standards. Everything shut down for two days. For the periods of time it wasn't
actively snowing we were out shoveling walkways and pushing people's cars.
Still, we were forced to spend much time in the church attempting to talk to
investigators over Facebook.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While out offering to help people I saw an older lady
shoveling snow in her driveway. I heroically rushed to her aid and with great
dignity slipped on the snow and fell right on my tush.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I had brushed myself off and walked up to this same
lady and politely asked her if I could shovel her snow, she ran away from me,
brandished a stick at me and told me to go away. Grouch!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I sat in the church during those snowy days, I had a lot
of time to think. I was thinking about sin. Sin, as we know, is when someone
has a knowledge of what is right but nevertheless willfully and selfishly puts
his or her wants above God's. Each day every person on earth commit numerous
sins. But -- the question came to me -- just HOW many?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I put a little scenario together, just for fun. All of
these were done with numbers I made up because I didn't have access to any
statistics as a missionary snowed-in inside a church.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are 24 hours in a day. We are ideally asleep for 8 of
those, so we generally don't commit sin during that time. To keep the numbers
easy we will assume that each day we commit 10 sins, so a little less than 1
sin/hr. That is an extremely generous estimate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Multiple this across a year: 10 x 365 = 3,650 sins a year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will arbitrarily assume that the average human lifespan is
about 70 years. 3,650 x 70 = 255,500 sins per lifetime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are an estimated 7 billion people on this earth. I
will arbitrarily assume that three times that, 20 billion, have walked this
earth since the beginning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
255,500 x 20 billion = 5,110,000,000,000,000. A little over
5 quadrillion sins.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To give you an idea of how big of a number 5 quadrillion is:
5 quadrillion millimeters, a unit of measurement so small that it's hard to
make with your thumb and index finger, is a distance that would take four and a
half hours to travel while moving at the speed of light.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's 5 quadrillion offenses against God. Each
one was when somebody decided to ignore their Father in Heaven. 5 quadrillion. How
many times are YOU willing to forgive someone?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my favorite Primary songs goes:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Father said He needed someone who had enough love</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To give his life so that we could return home above..."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Plan simply could not work without someone
with the sort of love that still forgives after so much rejection. Even a
mother's love is not that strong. Any normal being would have given up on us in
hatred and disgust long before they had reached the thousands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"...There was another who sought for the honor divine;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus said, "Father, send Me, and the glory be
Thine."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Savior had that kind of love. Though He was wronged an
incomprehensible amount of times, it is this same Savior who said, "For
behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not
suffer if they would repent."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do we begin to understand a bit better, now, the Savior's
love for us? That love, which makes Him so freely forgive, is charity, the
most powerful force in this universe. It is infinite. It does not fail. Even 5
quadrillion is nothing compared to infinity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is this same Being who tells us, "As I have
loved you, love one another." And, also, "Of you, it is required to
forgive all men." He will lend His love to us upon our request if we feel
we are struggling to love our neighbor. He will give it freely, but only if we
ask for it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What started out as a fun little experiment became a
profound spiritual experience for me. I love being a missionary and I am
grateful for the ability the Lord has given me to love the people I come in
contact with. I treasure the time I have to serve Him. This Church is true, and
I love you all. Hurrah for <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher</div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-66351133818724958762014-03-20T19:52:00.002-07:002014-03-20T19:52:53.315-07:002/10/14 "Beware of Dogs"<div class="MsoNormal">
"Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of
concision." - Philippians 3:2, proof that missionary work is still the
same 2,000 years later</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
It has been a week of flashbacks and surprises...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For two semesters in high school, I went to released-time
seminary with a kid named Kason, who was one year below me. In Pineville last
February, Elder Shumway and I walked into a member home for a meal
with the Zone Leaders and, lo and behold, there was Kason sitting there with
them. I stopped in mid-step, completely surprised. My first response was to say
"What are you doing here?" but I settled instead for
"Hey?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It turned out that Kason was waiting for his visa to go to <st1:place w:st="on">Brazil</st1:place>.
I remember mentioning in my email that week how incredible it was that out of
400 missions in the world and 100 companionships in my mission, he had gotten
assigned to the pair that lived in the same apartment as I did. That's 40,000
to 1 odds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, Kason got sent to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region>
and got sick and got sent home and then got sent back here to <st1:place w:st="on">North Carolina</st1:place> permanently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Saturday before transfers President had told E. Mejia
that I would be getting "a senior missionary at the very end of his
mission." So imagine my shock when, at transfers, President assigned me to
be with Elder Kason Kendall and a brand new missionary, Elder Eggett.
That was definitely not expected.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right after he announced the companionship, President Craven
told the audience that "neither of them had any idea that this was going
to happen," referring to E. Kendall and I getting a trainee. So along with
getting my 11th companion at transfers, I got companion #12, too!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we went home and I slept on the floor until we got ahold
of a third bed and I gave up my desk so that they could use it. The three of us
have been doing just fine. Elder Egget is serving a 12-week trial
mission, so at the end of that time he will either be honorably released or
will be assigned to go serve somewhere for the full two years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was another pleasant surprise at transfers. The
Pineville sister missionaries found me and told me that they were working in an
apartment complex a few months ago when all of a sudden a little woman came
running after them, shouting to get their attention. It was Rosita, the lady
from <st1:place w:st="on">Saipan</st1:place> who I taught wayyy back
in November 2012. She had been praying yet again for God to send angels her way
and again missionaries came into her path. She's been coming to church every
week for the last two months. That totally made my day!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another fact about <st1:place w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:place>:
Sauron lives here. I kid you not. At night you can see his dark <st1:placetype w:st="on">tower</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Barad-Dur</st1:placename>
rising high above the other buildings in <st1:place w:st="on">Greensboro</st1:place>,
with the entire city resting under the awful gaze of the great glowing Eye at
the top. One does not simply walk there, however, because it is out of our
area. Barely. Photos will be forthcoming...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The three of us went to go contact a less-active member on
Saturday. When we pulled up at the house, we saw a pit bull on a chain sitting
on the porch, guarding the front door. The second it saw us it jumped up and
starting barking. My companions heroically took cover in the car. I spoke to
the raging mad dog as it barked at me, drool and spittle falling from its
frothing mouth. Eventually I got it to stop barking and sit down, and I sidled
past it to knock on the door and, when no one answered, sidled past it again to
leave. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In stake conference last November President Craven told the
members a bit about his role. He said that he holds the keys for themissionaries,
not for missionary work. The bishops of a ward hold the keys for the
missionary work in their ward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I see this to mean that, as missionaries, we do what our
mission president tells us. And our mission president has told us to do what
the bishop tells us. So we do what the bishop wants, but only because President
tells us to. Which means that at any moment...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Elders sitting in ward council meeting)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Phone rings*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder: "Hello, this is the missionaries."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President: "Execute Order 66."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder, brightly: "Alrighty, President!"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the sort of random things that come into my brain
these days...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week has been one of fun and fulfillment. I love
being a missionary. Sad to think that I'm running out of time, but I'm glad to
be here while it lasts. The Church is true. Hurrah for <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fisher </div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003329617058927388.post-90948704270223508712014-03-20T19:45:00.000-07:002014-03-20T19:45:17.886-07:002/3/14 "Driven Snow"<div class="MsoNormal">
"And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me:
Look! And I looked and beheld a tree...and the whiteness thereof did exceed the
whiteness of the driven snow."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we got hit by a snowstorm, the same snowstorm
that shut down <st1:place w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:place>,
just not as bad. Working and biking in the snow was a great experience for me,
and I was actually glad for the snow since it warmed things up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After nightly planning the Spaniards and ourselves had
decided to have some fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Others: "Do you want to build a snowman?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brain: "We haven't even seen that movie
yet."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Others: "..."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So instead I wrote in the snow an enormous "MORMONS
ROCK" in the church parking lot, then we threw some snowballs at each
other, slid down the hill a few times and went home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am staying in Lakefield for yet another transfer and Elder Mejia
is getting sent to Charlotte to be a Spanish missionary again. I'll miss him.
He was a great companion and we got along well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were times with Elder Mejia when we'd be
teaching an investigator family with members helping us and I would realize
that, of the 10+ people in the room, I was the only white guy. A very unusual
feeling to have...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I share the Lakefield ward with a companionship of sisters.
There is thus competition over getting member help for appointments, getting
member meals, and all that stuff. In the ongoing war to win member trust sister
missionaries hold a natural advantage, so I try very hard to gain some brownie
points whenever I can. One thing I've done throughout my mission is write
thank-you notes and hide them in clever places so that the members will find
them soon after we've left their house. I have yet to see if this strategy has
paid off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As snow was falling around us on Tuesday we stopped by to
visit a part-member family, a couple that is in their later 60's. As we were
preparing to leave Elder Mejia was talking to the member husband and
I went to go say goodbye to the nonmember wife Teri, who had not joined us for
the lesson.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I walked towards the back room I saw her on the phone so
I turned and went back to talk to the husband. In the background we could hear
Teri saying "Thank you, Jesus" every few seconds. As we talked, the
"Thank you Jesus"s got louder and more frequent, until finally we
heard a shouted "Hallelujah, Lord!" from the other room. It made me
wonder if she'd just won a million dollars or something.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then Teri came into the room, sobbing and hysterical. I had
never seen a woman her age be hysterical before. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As her husband took the phone and started talking, I learned
that Teri, who had already lost two of her sisters in the last eight months,
had just been told that a third sister had been admitted to the
hospital in critical condition. With the thought of losing yet another sibling,
Teri was crying and afraid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her husband was on the phone and oblivious to what was going
on. So I sat Teri on the couch and sat down next to her and patted her back and
gave her a hug and told her that it was all going to be alright and soothed her
as best I could. </div>
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After her husband got off the phone I gave Teri a blessing.
Among some of things I felt prompted to say were that Heavenly Father wanted
her to know that He was proud of the choices she had made in her life and that
she would be reassured that, because the Savior lives, families are eternal.
Afterwards I gave her a side hug and she put her head on my shoulder and just
cried and cried for a long time. We probably looked really funny, a small
little old lady crying on the shoulder of a young man a great deal larger than
her.</div>
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This taught me a whole lot about compassion. At that moment
I wanted very badly for her to know that she was loved and that it would be
alright. Hugs to females are technically against the rules for elders but
I felt the situation justified it.</div>
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Checking back on this family on Saturday, the husband told
me that two days later Teri's sister had been released from the hospital and
said something along the lines of "she must have heard your prayer for
Teri."</div>
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I am grateful for the gift of compassion. Compassion is one
of those things that makes us human and sets us apart from animals. It's a part
of the divine nature that is in each of us. </div>
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I love you all. I know this work is true and I'm excited to
see who companion #11 is. Hurrah for Israel!</div>
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<br />
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Elder Fisher</div>
Laura, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690743198572535666noreply@blogger.com0