The 22nd Chronicle

Hello Family & Friends!

We recently shared a lesson with a guy we've been teaching. He met with missionaries a year before, but wasn't progressing because of a particular situation and his personal commitment. It was awesome 'cause he was the one who reached out to start up again! He has a TON of questions. It is exciting to teach him because he really wants to know the truth and we know that once it clicks for him he will be rock solid. With that said, he struggles a lot. It is hard for him to modify what he believes already about religion and the Bible (which has been influenced heavily by anti). As we share with him different points, he is usually apt to instantly reply with a counter thought. As we shared the Restoration with him during our lesson I began to relate Joseph Smith's "First Vision". When I started to share Joseph's own words about his experience I choked up. That turned into tears. Between sobs and sniffles I continued. I struggled to get out the words as I bore my personal testimony that I knew Joseph Smith had in fact seen God. Our investigator didn't say a word during the whole thing and everyone in the room had gone quiet. The spirit was radiating.

Just when you think your son (the companion you are training) is pretty close to perfect (in most things), he wakes you in the middle of the night to inform you he is very sick. Half conscious, you provide some words of comfort and go back to bed. BUT! You cannot go to sleep, because now you can hear his suffering moans and trips to the bathroom to empty his stomach... All. Night. Long. (*sigh*) Poor kid. So, we spent the first day of the transfer (Yes! I am indeed still in Logan for another transfer to finish training Elder Foran) sitting inside all day while Elder Foran tried to keep food down, rest, and not die. In the mean time, I took it upon myself to clean, organize, and study the scriptures like crazy. Also, I read some of the NEW Saints book. Highly recommend. Wish I had read that a lot sooner. Sure takes the "shock" effect away from many early church history questions people may throw at you. Good stuff! I am happy to announce that my son pushed though and we ended up working a bit that evening, and he has been fine since. 

Ever since a little tot I have loved "attending" #GeneralConference! I believe that love was first nurtured by my caring parents who taught me not only it's importance through conversation but also through example. That love was also nurtured as I noticed that General Conference was an excellent chance for families to have quality time together. I will say as well... my love was definitely nurtured by the yummy munchies that we always prepared as part of the event =). As I got older, that enthusiasm continued when I learned that one of my friends (a cute girl)  was just as obsessed with conference as I was! It was awesome to be able to anticipate with friends for weeks before conference as we looked forward to that day drawing near! In the end though, my love is truly sustained because of the guidance and direction I receive every time I go to General Conference. As I listen to the words of God, through his prophets, I am uplifted. As I record my thoughts, and impressions, I am motivated. I love hearing announcements about exciting changes (in procedure) as well as powerful witnesses of unchangeable truth. #GeneralConference drives me to reflect, moves me to improve, and fuels me into action. P.S. I think that a HOME-CENTERED and CHURCH-SUPPORTED way of strengthening families is rockin' awesome!

Kia Kaha!

Elder Brady