June 2, 2014

Great letters from you all this week! Happy birthday Lexi! I also had an awesome week, yesterday Ann and her son Keegan (14) and Julie came to church! It was great! A lot happened during the week, Ann's son Keegan is autistic and has had a little bad taste in his mouth from an anti-person feeding him bad info, but then on Friday we have an open gym night where we get people to come to the church and play basketball with us and Keegan came and it was a big change in perspective for him! While he was playing ball we gave Ann a church tour and also her friend Jody. They really enjoyed it and had fun. Then Keegan was happy to come to church since he had already been there and had fun. They enjoyed church, Ann's baptism might be pushed back one more week to the 21 but hopefully still the 14th. Julie she was able to come to the BOM class during the week and feel the spirit, then we taught part of the Plan of Salvation to her but ran out of time so we after church on Sunday we finished it, and after we were done we set a baptism date with her! On August 30th. It’s a long ways out, but that's her birthday and she agreed to pray about it and ask if that is the right time or if she should do it sooner. We have been doing a lot checking on people who used to be investigators, one guy named Michael we went to his house and this guy was a genius and had a really good chat with him about the gospel (he was taught from 09-14) and he said he wanted to fast and ask for an answer, so on Thursday we went to his house again to start his fast and again had a good lesson/visit. /he wanted to fast from Thursday night to Sunday morning so we tried going by Friday, Sunday and he wasn't home! We were sad cause we wanted him to come to church with us and be able to teach him while he was fasting but oh well.. Finding lots of people to teach, its hard though because everyone will talk to us and say sure you can come back, but then they aren't really committed and don't keep appointments or invitations. D&C 58: 64 For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth—the gospel must be preached unto every creature, with signs following them that believe. I love you! Elder Stevenson

May 26, 2014

Hi guys, Every day is an adventure here. We are still teaching Ann. Satan is working on her so hard it stinks. She came down with strep throat Saturday and the weekend has been bad, then her anti Mormon anti religion friend has been nagging on her and telling her son lies all week and it is making it hard so please pray. We had a great lesson with Julie, we took the bishop with us and taught her the restoration, she was crying and could really feel the spirit, it was great, that bad thing was Sunday morning at 8:57 she text us and says I can’t come to church, I don't have a ride and so that stunk cause we would have gotten her a ride earlier if we had known.. Before I got here the missionaries went to church with a pastor who is our next door neighbor and then yesterday she came to our church with a bunch of her friends and fellow pastors. there was around 8-10 and it was cool. On Saturday we got to go to the temple with a sister in the ward who the missionaries were working with before i got here, it was awesome! There was actually 4 people going thru for the first time 2 missionaries and an engaged girl so it was cool to see them all. Lots of stories I could tell, I will tell you a few things about yesterday for example. One door we knocked on, well i was the one knocking, he open it all really fast and was all freaking out thinking we were the police/FBI, a guy was yelling at us to quit lying about Jesus being white, we met an alien from Saturn that one was pretty cool, the light rail (public train transit) got mad at us for giving out a BOM on their property. One last thing, did you know bed bugs are real? And they can infest your house and bite you lots? I always thought they were just microscopic things till I got here, but I think it’s too cold for them in Idaho. Lots more but I am out of time. Have a great week! Have fun camping. Love Elder Stevenson

May 19, 2014

I don't even know where to begin. This week was pretty crazy. A little more about my comp, he is from Layton Utah, he is also 18. He's been out 3 months. My new companion is great! He has a good work ethic. This week we put 2 people on date for baptism, for June 14th. One is Sister Gonzales. She is married to a LA member. They have been alcoholics and called us for a blessing. We challenged them to go 2 days until we could see them again to not have a drink and they accepted! We went back on Saturday and had a great lesson and they gave us there coffee pot and a huge thing of coffee. They are definitely going through with drawl but it’s going good. The next and last thing with be cigarettes, it will be the hardest but something she is ready for and needs to do. The other is Anne. Anne was a referral from the Easter Pageant; she is super prepared and is going soaking the gospel right up. We also are working with a lady named Julie, she has 2 little kids, and she really wants to be baptized but knows she has to be married first. We are going to try and get her married so it can happen. There is lots of people to talk too so we pass out tons of cards, book of Mormons, pictures of Jesus and find lots of people that live outside our area or are Spanish for other missionaries. Lots of other stuff but I am out of time, this computer was having problems at first. Have a great week. Love Elder Stevenson

May 14, 2014

Hi guys, it was good to see your faces on Mother’s day! Life sure is different than a couple days ago! My new companions name Elder Hinds (say Heinz like the ketchup) he's been out about 3 months. Our area is a pretty good size; it might take a little while before we figure out which way is what. We have a gym and park right by the apartment that will be great so I can have quality exercise and get skinny. I am sad to leave pine, one reason being because I feel like the work is finally taking off and there is so much to do, whereas 6 months ago it was pretty quiet. I sure am going to miss a lot people there, felt like leaving home again, just in a different way. But I am excited to be here in Phoenix, we share a ward with other missionaries. There is around 600-800 member in the ward, and under 200 are active. There is a senior couple who is just doing LA work and then we split the ward with other Elders. Our bishop seems to be missionary minded and hopefully the rest of the ward too. Not really sure what else to tell you.. Have a good week! President Joseph Smith- “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel” Love, Elder Stevenson

May 5, 2014

Hello! I'm excited to talk to you Sunday! On Saturday Gwen was finally baptized! Her baptismal service was good, an investigator also came!- John, he really enjoyed it as well. The confirmation at church Sunday was my favorite part though. When the speaker of the confirmation said receive the Holy Ghost, it seemed like the whole chapel received the Holy Ghost, the spirit was there and the fast and testimony meeting was amazing, probably one of the best I can remember. Butch, another investigator came to church and he liked it, it was a good Sunday for him to come. One other miracle that happened was at church a lady showed up we have seen before that we gave a pass along card too with our number, church address and time, but never really had the chance to sit down and talk with her. Well she said she needed to change her life around and so she was at church! Sadly in the middle of sacrament she left but we found out where she lives and hope to see her this evening! A few other notable things during the week- We have found people that have been hiding out! They think they can do that by going to the middle of nowhere but no one can stay hidden in a small town forever. One referral we got we went to his house and it was a big bearded, smoking/drinking biker guy (beautiful bike) and he actually turned out to be a LA member. Nice guy once we started talking to him too he was just trying to act tough when we got there! The other referral we got told was a LA member who was offended but then today just found out he was never a member, but he was nice and agreed to let us come back and teach him! Have a great week! (Mother’s day scripture) Alma 57:21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them. Love,

April 28, 2014

April 28 Sorry this letter is so late, I'm not sure what time it is there, but it is after 6 here. Today we went on a hike to a place called fossil springs. We went with a convert couple and they are almost 60... Not thinking too much about that we started hiking and hiked 5 miles all downhill to the Garden of Eden, it was beautiful, the worst part was not being able to swim in the blue green clear water, but I'll be back in a few years. Well we started hiking out, the 5 miles up hill. Me and my comp were good but they were out of energy. They hiked so slow, I carried 2 backpacks and then for about 2 miles the lady with us got cramps all up her legs and it was awful. But anyways it was lots of fun! I would send pics but don't have a SD card reader. This week, was a great week, a few of the high lights: A loved ward member passed away, he got cancer and the chemo is what got him, within a month. It was a sad deal, but there was some good that came out of the whole thing. His daughter is a LA that hasn't wanted anything to do with the church and now her heart has been softened and hopefully it will be a key for reactivation. Also at the funeral a lot of people that are not members came and a lot are ones we have been able to work with in the past and are working with. It was great to see them in the chapel and that it’s not too scary. One of the people who spoke did a really good job and turned it into a missionary experience by sharing the plan of salvation. He did a great job and taught very simply while letting the spirit testify. Another thing is members here are stepping up; they are inviting people to have dinner with them and with us which is perfect! One of my favorites was when we had dinner on Friday with the Phillips they invited some friends over that they have been working with- Jim and Donna. The Phillips took them to the temple open house) and there kids joined the church about a year ago so they are getting a little more familiar with the church. They said they would think about listening to the lessons when we asked (polite no) but after we left the spirit left with us which made them wonder what the presence was that was with us so the family explained to them and it was cool! Many other miracles but I have to go, I love you, and next week I will write more! Love, Elder Stevenson

April 21, 2014

This week is a great week to really take to heart our sacrament covenants and "always remember Him," always remember the Easter spirit and that Christ Lives. We had a very busy week, probably one of the busiest since I have been here in Pine and success is rewarding. Starting at the beginning with the main points, we are still teaching John, we gave him a tour of the church and he loved it. All the way through he kept saying, “this is great, awesome, I love this” and that type of stuff. Well, long story short he is having bowel movement problems and can't make it through sacrament meeting without using the bathroom a few times and doesn't want to be embarrassed.. He doesn't want to see a doctor but I think he will be going soon anyways. We are going to give him a blessing tomorrow. We had another lesson with Butch and talked about the plan of salvation. I liked the way the mission president answered the question about handicap people. If they know between right and wrong and can exercise there agency they can be baptized. Our ward mission leaders daughter and husband are visiting, who have been excommunicated and we were over for dinner and had a good visit and scripture and things. After it was neat to hear from the parents that their daughter asked us to come back and visit more. We got to go to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple!! It was great! I'll try and send a few pictures; man there was lots of people there though. One of the people we went with asked for a Book of Mormon as we were walking in and we weren't sure why but he gave it to the protester, it was funny. I ran into Tanner Erickson there, I went to high school with him. He is in the Tempe mission. We love referrals. Always good even if the person isn't interested. One evening we had dinner with a member family (who will actually be driving thru Rexburg soon) and they invited a nonmember friend who has had dinner with previous missionaries before and you could just tell she was expecting us to push something religious on her but during dinner we just chatted and it was comfortable, then after dinner we shared an Easter message and ended up having a great discussion from the resurrection to the plan of salvation to the gift of the Holy Ghost and then the MEMBERS (like you people reading this) took Elder Ballard's advice from conference and invited her to learn more and be taught by the missionaries. And she said yes! But we have to wait a couple weeks till there back from there trip. But anyways you should also take that advice and invite somebody! One last little thing, being prepared is a very big concern for fire danger here in Pine since it has been such a dry winter. We need to be prepared, I know there's a bunch of food storage in the basement but a few guns and a lot of ammo should be in that pile too. Mom, you should get that pistol you wanted a while back! Also what is more important than that is to be spiritually prepared. Would you be ready if the Savior came tomorrow? Even though it's extremely not likely we should all be preparing and be ready. Wish I had time I could tell more miracle stories... Anyways, have a great week! Love Elder Stevenson