August 29, 2017 - Murray, UT

Hello! I am still here! Sorry I didn't email yesterday, I forgot to tell you last week that our P-day switched to today for zone conference. We got to go to the Salt Lake Temple today, which was such an incredible experience. We have the actual conference tomorrow so that will be a blast. I get to be the music conductor. Anyways, this last week has had a lot of ups and more ups. The parts that might have been down are just lower ups than the higher ups. 

Some fun parts of this week have been the relationship with the members. We have had a meal every night in a member’s home, and every time we try to buy something it is either paid for by some random person in the store, or they give it to us for free. It is quite crazy.
The missionary work has been pretty slow lately. Other than the 3 people we have on date for baptism, and 3 others we are teaching, we really don't have any other investigators. Addressing those on date, Dutch and Brian both came to church this week. Dutch wasn't gonna be able to go, but then Brian slept in, and when we got Brian, we went ahead and checked to see if Dutch could go to. So they both went, which was awesome. We are working with a guy named Paul, and another named David. Both have such strong testimonies of Jesus Christ, and it is awesome to see. Paul is more willing to learn more, whereas David is still working on if the Book of Mormon is historically accurate. We have great discussions with both. We did pick up a new investigator yesterday, Mary. She is very curious, and has since seen and read many things about the church. We are able to clarify and help her recognize some important things. She seems willing to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, so that’s awesome. Cody is another one we have, he has gone to church twice now, and hopefully we can put him on date for baptism soon.

There was a really neat experience that happened this week. One of the bishops asked us to visit a less active member. He was outside when we showed up, and what followed was really neat. He is a recovering alcoholic, and was trying to come back to church (grew up a member), and had been doing pretty good, but had actually just 30 minutes previous to our arrival gone out and bought a beer. He still was fighting off the temptation, didn't drink it, went out to mow his lawn, and then was kind of praying for help to be strong, and also wondering when the missionaries would show up because Bishop Tingey had said they would visit. And then, he said that not even 2 minutes later, we pulled up. That was really awesome to see his faith and recognition of God in his life, he said he wasn't gonna drink tonight, and we are gonna make sure he doesn't drink again.
A funny story. We ran out of toilet paper early last week, so one night we were visiting with a member, and Elder Jolly was like, hey can we get a roll of toilet paper? They gave us a pack of six rolls.

I know that Jesus Christ lives. We all know Him. He is our brother. We loved with Him before we came to earth, and someday, we will all have a chance to live with Him again. I am so grateful for this gospel; it has changed my life so much. I love the joy of living the gospel, and the blessing that come with obedience. 

I love you all so much, I hope that all is going well!
Take Care,
Elder Adams

P.s. happy birthday Madre on Saturday! Love you mucho! 

P.ps I have been able to run a lot every morning, that has been amazing. Staying pretty fit actually. 

Pictures: Salt Lake City Temple and Elder Jolly and myself and some of our zone, and my water bottles. Also, the mountains are beautiful.

August 21, 2017 - Murray, UT

So I have always wanted to serve a mission. That has been a goal of mine since I was a little boy. As I grew older I later added some specifics to that goal. Not only did I want to be the most diligent and obedient missionary ever, but I also wanted to do some more physically demanding things as a missionary. One of those dreams was to go on a morning run with my companion, who would be able to keep up with me on a bike. Well, I was blessed to enjoy it not once, not twice, but 3 times this last week. That was extremely awesome.

As for my goals and dreams on a more serious note, I have found great love for the Lord in always striving to give Him my all each day. I see and feel the joy of being obedient to all that we are commanded to do. I know that the Lord blesses us as we are obedient. As missionaries, we are always extremely keen to heed the promptings we receive from the Holy Ghost. One day, last Friday actually, we felt as though the last few hours of our day were not well planned by us. We did feel the need to visit one gentleman though. So we did, but he was not home. Then as we went to the next place we met a man who was in great need of some words of encouragement. He thanked us for stopping and talking, and said that it was the best thing he had had all day and week. Then we visited a  single mother and we were able to comfort her in a time of need. We continued to follow the Spirit on where we needed to go, and eventually talked with another young boy who is now on date to be baptized in September. Then, we stopped by one more gentleman’s home, a man who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and lost is right leg all in the last year and a half. He was thrilled that we stopped by to talk, and told us that it was exactly what he needed that day. We returned home that evening feeling very happy because we had brought so many of God's children, and our brothers and sisters, so much joy. It is a great feeling!

Also, on Saturday morning we were headed to help a member move, and on the way my companion Elder Jolly became entangled with the curb. He did an almost complete barrel roll to his left, and fractured his elbow. So the last couple of days have been very brief, with nothing more than just dinner appointments and planned lessons. We received a car from the mission office Sunday afternoon because we cannot bike for a little while. An interesting thing about driving on the mission: before you can use a mission vehicle you essentially take a driver’s test with the senior Elder in charge of mission vehicles. You usually do this test when you go to a car area. So in this area I have no need of certification. But for some reason, for this transfer with my group of incoming missionaries, he (President Hillier) felt that we should take the test immediately. If I had not taken the test just 4 days before Elder Jolly's accident, we would not have been able to do anything until I had taken the test. Truly God inspired President Hillier to make those actions. God lives. I know that to be true with all my heart.

I learned some new words this week from some people driving by who shared them with us. I won't repeat them because I chose to forget them.

A lot of other things happened this week, like I popped a bike tire, I got to do some running, I meet some incredible people (like retired NFL players who say they are gonna work out with us in the morning), and I got to grow closer to my Savior Jesus Christ.  I am truly living the dream; I love this work and the gospel so much!

I am glad you loved those photos, the Woodlands are an incredible family, and they have helped us so much. And the Adams (Bishop of one ward) are very kind as well! That is so incredible about the youth conference bus driver. That brings me great joy to hear! 

Hope Carson keeps going to seminary, it will be great for him spiritually and physically and he will be blessed in his many activities! Hello to Heidi and Cody and Carson! I love you all!!!!!!!!!

I love to hear that things are going well, love you super much Mom! I love you so much Dad, thank you for taking care of the family in every way you do!

Remember Our Savior's infinite love for us always! 

Love you!

Elder Adams

P.S. We just watched the solar eclipse, I'll hopefully get a photo of it soon, it was very awesome! Good picnic and such! I wore my special glasses, and Sister Hillier made sure we committed to not look directly at the sun! It was really cool to see; only a sliver of the sun was showing, and it dropped 10 degrees and got pretty dark. I am so grateful to have your support for me serving; it truly has been the best month of my life so far, way better than any races I have won. I look forward to continuing to work my rear off; I love this gospel so much!

 

August 14, 2017 - Murray, UT

Hello! I'm still alive! These last two weeks have been amazing. So first off, my last couple of days at the MTC flew by. On my last Sunday, the evening devotional speaker was Jenny Oaks Baker. We all thought an apostle was going to come because they moved the time earlier. Instead, we got to hear from Jenny Oaks Baker, who is an internationally renowned violinist. She played some songs for us, and it was really neat. Then, they asked everyone to stay and watch one specific film, a talk by one of the apostles, David A. Bednar. So we watched it, and as it ended, we stood to leave. Now, unfortunately I was seated in the overflow section, with all of the other missionaries who left that week, so we were just watching Jenny Oaks Baker on TV. So as we were about to leave, into our room walked Elder David A Bednar himself. It was incredible, you could feel his strong spirit just as he walked in the room. He spoke to the 400 or so of us missionaries who left that week, did a Q&A, and then went to the other building to answer questions. He spoke with us for another hour. It was absolutely one of the coolest moments in my life. I attached some pictures, I was only like 10 rows and 40 ft back. So that was awesome.

Then, we departed for our mission on Tuesday. On the train, we had 40 seconds to unload 20 people's luggage. That was a rush, and we accidentally left my companion, Elder Fitch, behind. We picked him up later. Then we went to This Is the Place Monument (State Park) and ate and met some of the missionaries, and the mission President and his wife, President and Sister Hillier. They are amazing. Sister Hillier is the bubbliest, most loving, yet most strict and obedient person ever. As long as we are obedient, we will have incredible missions. President Hillier is a very spiritual guy. He spent almost 5 hours total in prayer and pondering on all of the new missionaries, and who they should be companioned up with. Truly he was inspired. So here I am.

I am serving in the Little Cottonwood and Cottonwood South Stakes. We have 2 stakes, and 11 wards. My companion is Elder Jolly, from Washington State. He has been out 10 and a half months, and is an incredible, hardworking missionary. We have been busy every day. I am tired every day, but that is okay because I know that I am doing the Lord's work, so He will help me through. A great experience we had was one day we had worked really hard, but we hadn't been able to teach really anyone. We got back to the apartment and were super tired and about to go to sleep. But then we got a phone call, and it was a guy we had tried to contact, and he wanted to meet, so we met with him on Sunday. Who knows how it will go, but we will see. Well, that's about it so far, I love it out here so much. 

I’m in a bike area, we bike like at least 15-20 miles a day, I try to keep track on my watch a little.​

Got a bike, only had to pay 70 bucks for repairs. It works great. As for the investigators, we are busy, busy, busy. We teach 4 plus lessons a day, and we keep getting referral after referral. We meet with members, share a lesson, and then commit them to pray and find at least one person they are willing to take us to, and it is starting to roll in some people. We have 2 on dates, and at least 3 maybe 5 or more that could and should be on date by the end of the week! It is awesome, the members are starting to reach out more, and part member families are starting to be a huge focus area for us too! I love it!

The coolest thing here is that I have only spent 7 dollars, and I have way too much food. The first week groceries, some sister paid for, then we got a gift card in the middle of the week, every dinner is with a member, and the one time we ate out, some HS football coaches (one who served in Independence) paid for us. That is pretty awesome.

That is so awesome for Carson, (getting his driver’s license). I am so proud of him, tell him to keep up the good hard work. I hope Cody and Heidi are enjoying their last few days of freedom from school! Glad to hear all is well in the home. 

Elder Adams

  

August 1, 2017 - Missionary Training Center

Happy first of 24 month changes! That is so cool for Jarom, he'll be a great influence in Chile. Ty's should be soon, that is so exciting!

Oh man that is sooooooo awesome about the bus driver, you can bet he is in my prayers! I am so glad you could go to Nauvoo, it sounds as wonderful as always. The Spirit here is so strong too, and I'm excited to do my part in embracing the gospel and sharing it with everyone.

The new MTC, which consists mostly of classrooms and sacrament meeting  rooms, are open for our use. We actually spend most of our day in classes in one of those buildings. They are still giving tours, they end in a few weeks. My district was able to help with the open houses, which was a really neat experience. I didn't get to actually do it because I had to stay back with a sick elder. One more week of 9 hour class days and I am off to the field! It has been a really neat experience to start teaching people with my companion Elder Fitch. I love to feel the Holy Ghost testify to them of the truthfulness of the gospel. I love this church so much, and I am so grateful to be able to serve a mission. 

This last week, I have been able to have some really neat experiences in teaching lessons. One particular time, we went into a lesson with a plan to teach about how Jesus Christ's church came to be restored to the earth through Joseph Smith. But as we talked with the investigator, we felt that we should talk about the plan of salvation, God's plan for each of us to come back and live with Him again. The investigator really appreciated that message, and said that it helped her find out her purpose in life. I know that we were guided by the Holy Spirit to share those things with her.

As a not so fun side note, my whole district has been sick at some point over the last week, and I am taking up the rear, getting over it today.

Carson: I won't be able to email later in the week, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 16 is such great age to hit for a variety of reasons! You can date, you can drive, and then you can get a job or 3 and drive yourself there! Hope it is a great year full of memories and stories you'll share with me!

Pictures: Two of my favorite giant murals they have on each floor of the new buildings. 

An Elder Fitch and I selfie, and what the wall behind us says. Great scripture. It is what I am here to do.  (Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.")