Week 6/104

April 18, 2016

Hello Everybody!

I absolutely love reading your emails! It always makes me so happy to
hear how you're all doing. Unfortunately, since I only have an hour to
write emails, I don't have a whole bunch of time to read your emails
when you send them on Sundays or Mondays. Luckily, mission policy
allows us to read emails any day of the week after 9 pm. So feel free
to write me throughout the week, and that way I'll be able to respond
better to your emails!

This week has been kinda crazy. I've learned that when people are well
off, they generally are not in a place to accept the gospel. Most of
the people we meet are pretty wealthy, and because of that, they're
quite comfortable with the way their life is going. Therefore, they
don't see any need to change as the Gospel suggests. They're mostly
very kind to us, and they'll let us in to their homes and teach them,
but they won't really keep the commitments they say they will. It's
been a little frustrating, but we keep plugging along!

One really interesting thing that happened to one of our
investigators: Evan was riding his bike without a helmet, and ended up
crashing pretty hard. This happened on Tuesday, and when we met with
him on Thursday, he said he remembered who we were and that he wanted
to get baptized, but he doesn't really remember anything that we
taught him. He also doesn't remember anything about Tuesday, except
being carried home by someone. We still don't know who it was (he
didn't even contact Evan's parents), but all we know is that God was
looking out for him. Because this happened, we're pushing his baptism
date back to a currently undecided date. Crazy stuff!

Here's a couple things that happened to us this week. I got a call
from the mission office saying that my grandma dropped off some
groceries for me and my companion. When I received a package at my
door, I was surprised to see that they were right, however, I thought
it would be from Grandma Grover, since she lives nearby in Apache
Junction, but it was actually from Grandma Munk, who lives in Northern
Utah! I have no idea why she was here, but she and my Aunt Valeen were
here. Also, we were informed that on the 26th of this month, we're
doing what's called a mission tour, where a general authority comes
and judges the state of our mission. We've been promised that it will
be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve! We don't know who it is yet,
but we were told we wouldn't be disappointed.

One final thought: as part of my studies, I decided to write down my
testimony of the Restoration. I thought it would be good to share with
you:

I am so thankful for Joseph Smith, and his decision to act. If he had
not acted on the prompting he had, to do as James directed, I would
not be a member of this church. I would have no church to be a member
of. This mission I am serving would be useless and nonexistent. I
would have no guidance, no direction, no purpose. The current
relationships I have with friends and family would likely be
shattered, and my own self confidence would be dissolved. My happiness
and spiritual strength would be minuscule compared to that of my
current demeanor. Without Joseph's action inspired by his studies, the
guiding light of the Savior would dwindle within me, and I would be
utterly, spiritually, completely lost. But I'm not lost. I am filled
with the light of Christ, and that has blessed me with a strong
spiritual sensitivity, and a joy that cannot be found anywhere else.
My family and friends are closer to me than I could ever do alone,
because we are unified in purpose. I know which direction I am headed,
because I am guided by the teachings of Christ. He has established his
church, and I am a faithful member of it. All of this is possible
because Joseph Smith was prompted to act, and for that, I am eternally
grateful.

I love you all, and look forward to hearing from you again!

Love,
Elder Grover