Worth More Than A Million

As a missionary we are always looking for people to share our message of the restored gospel with. As a missionary you also walk around from appointment to appointment during your day. This often creates an opportunity to come across those people who are outdoors to share our message with. Sometimes this may present an awkward situation though as someone working outside on their lawn or doing other activities can often be startled or caught off guard when two Mormon missionaries in white shirts and ties, who they don't know, walk up to them, say hello, and ask them how they are doing. As a conversation is started usually we, as missionaries, can pretty quickly learn how interested, or not, someone is who we've just walked up to. Whatever the case though we always ask "is there anything we could do for you today?" The answers back do vary, but one of the most popular responses back is "Give me a million dollars." Usually I just laugh this off as nothing but a response to get us on our way quicker and say "Ok, have a nice day!" but the other day when this happened it caused me to think about this statement more. If only these people realized how valuable this message we have to offer really is.

 The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ can not be bought or purchased. Neither can the peace and happiness that comes from it. It is truly worth more than a million dollars, it is priceless! Those who realize and find this live rich and wealthy lives. Not the rich and wealth the world thinks of though. They live rich lives because they are inviting God, through their obedience, to poor out blessings of spiritual wealth. It is my hope that we can share this priceless message with all of Gods children in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

  To learn more about this Priceless message visit mormon.org

Popcorn!, Peanuts!, Crackerjacks!!!

Popcorn!, Peanuts!, Crackerjacks!!!-As you sit and enjoy a baseball game you will notice vendors walking up and down the aisles selling all types of food and treats for you to enjoy during your baseball viewing experience. As they climb up the stairs and get closer to you, you hear them yell out their pitch of what they are selling. "POPCORN!!!, PEANUTS!!!, CRACKERJACKS!!!, HOT DOGS!!! Who wants a Hot Dog!!!" Their voices fill the stadium and the sight and smell of their food quickly tempts you into buying one of their treats.
   While living in Arizona I would attend many Arizona Diamondbacks professional baseball games. As I sat with my Dad or with friends these vendors would come by calling out what they were selling. The one vendor I remember the most was the one who sold lemonade. He would walk up and down the aisles of the upper decks yelling "Lemonade, Lemonade, Like Grandma Made!!! OOOOWEEEOO!!! You know You Want it!!! You could hear his humorous sales pitch from clear across the ball park! There were many times I bought a nice cold lemonade from him and enjoyed it very much. He and his lemonade surely added to my baseball viewing experience.

   Similarly there are, in a sense, vendors for God. They are His missionaries. His missionaries are called to serve Him by proclaiming, not selling, His Gospel to all of His children in the ball park, world. As a missionary I walk all over trying to get people to listen to what our Heavenly Father wants them to know. Though I don't walk around yelling about the Gospel I do ask others to invite us into their home and hear what our Heavenly Father has to offer them. Unlike the food that the vendors sell at a baseball game it isn't good smelling or good tasting physically, but it is spiritually. John 6: 35 states: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. As a missionary through preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are able to help others to find that bread of life and that water. Those who are willing to listen and partake will truly never hunger or thirst again. It is my privilege to be a servant of my Heavenly Father and help others come unto Christ and I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

March Madness Missionaries

There are 14 Mormon basketball players who before making a big impact for their teams on the court this March have made big impacts on peoples lives by serving LDS missions, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Here's a list of those players and where they served their "best two years".

   Brigham Young University Cougars:

Jackson Emery

Noah Hartsock

Jackson Emery, a senior guard from Lone Peak High School in Alpine, served a mission in Mexico.

Logan Magnusson, a senior forward from Wasatch High School in Heber City, served a mission in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Brock Zylstra, a sophomore forward from Bonita High School in La Verne, Calif., served a mission in New Zealand.

James Anderson, a junior forward from Page High School (Ariz.), served a mission in Guatemala.

Noah Hartsock, a junior forward from Bartlesville High School (Okla.), served a mission in Salt Lake City.

Chris Collinsworth, a sophomore forward from Provo High School in Provo, served a mission in Australia.

Nick Martineau, a sophomore guard from Davis High School in Fruit Heights, Utah, served a mission in Chile.

Stephen Rogers, a sophomore from Mountain View High School in Mesa, Ariz., served a mission in Cleveland, Ohio.

        Utah State Aggies : 

Tyler Newbold, a senior guard from Payson High School, served a mission in San Bernadino, Calif.

Nate Bendall, a senior forward from Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, served a mission in Nauvoo, Ill.

Brady Jardine, a junior forward from Twin Falls High School (Idaho), served a mission in San Antonio, Texas.

Brad Brown, a redshirt freshman from Orono High School in Orono, Minn., served in Porto, Portugal.

Tai Wesley, a senior forward from Provo High School, served a mission in Mexico.

Matt Formisano, a senior forward from Heritage High School in Centennial, Colo., served a mission in Mexico.

Most so called experts would say a college basketball player is crazy for taking two years off of basketball to serve a church mission but I think its great to see that these players have been able to balance a love of basketball with a love of serving the Lord. And I have no doubt that the Lord has blessed them for their service.

The MTC

The Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah is one of 17 MTCs world wide. Here is where 4,000 19 to 25 year old LDS young men and women gather to be trained for periods of three to twelve weeks on be missionaries and representatives of the Lord. The missionaries focus their whole day on learning more of the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching skills, potentially a new language, and how to get along with their mission companion, who they are with 24/7. It can be a grueling period of time for some But this time causes you to very quickly become a missionary and you soon find yourself literally eating, sleeping, walking, and talking missionary work. This causes you to feel a great increase of the Lord's spirit with you as you focus on doing His work.

   I remember when I first entered the MTC. It was a great feeling to know that I was finally on MY mission! As you grow up a member of the church you hear stories about other's experiences at the MTC and on their missions. It was just a great feeling to know now it was my turn. I was so excited when they first placed that famous black missionary tag on me. As I read Elder Davis and saw my Saviors name along side mine, I felt a flood of emotions. This was for real.
    As time went on in the MTC it was amazing to see 4,000 other young adults just like me who had prepared themselves to be in this same situation. What also hit me is that my Heavenly Father was aware of each and every one of our individual situations and needs. He had a hand in all of our lives and how great it was to know we were all joining Him and His work. At first it was a little tough to stay 100% focused all the time. When you are sitting in some sort of classroom setting from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm with only bathroom and meal breaks and your hour of gym time it can become tiring process.  Over time as I got used to the missionary schedule and started to dedicate myself fully to learning and preparing myself to be able to teach the people in Montana it became easier. Before I knew it my time at the MTC had come to an end. I think the thing that I will always remember the most though is singing "Called to Serve" with 4,000 other missionaries before a fireside. The great feelings of that power and emotion of God's missionary army singing together was Amazing and something that will always remain my MTC highlight!

    To learn more about the MTC watch the video below or visit http://www.mtc.byu.edu/index.htm. For a virtual tour of the MTC Click Here.

Popcorn Popping Missionary Style

One of my favorite songs when I was younger and in Primary at church was Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree. It was always just a fun upbeat song that I enjoyed. Now as a missionary I recently, thanks to my mother, came across a new version of Popcorn Popping. But this time it has a missionary twist to it. Here are the words to Popcorn Popping missionary style:

        I looked out the window and what did I see?
       Two Mormon missionaries coming after me.
       They had brought me such a nice surprise,
       A Book of Mormon for my very own eyes.
       They told me if I read it and prayed about it too
       Heavenly Father would tell me it was true.
      It didn't seem to me, but it seemed to be.

      The very best thing that ever happened to me!

Just like this song states there are times when we, as missionaries, catch people off guard. They see us coming to their home through their window, their eyes get big, and they think exactly as the song says, "They're coming after me!" But when people will let us into their homes, and listen to our message they quickly see that it is such a nice surprise. They learn how the Book of Mormon can change their lives if they will simply read about it and let Heavenly Father give them the answer that it is true. I testify letting The Book of Mormon and the missionaries into your home will be the very best thing that will ever happen to you. Popcorn Popping