Jan 29, 2018 - South SLC, Utah

Letter from Clayton to his Madre:

Hey Mom! Hope all is going well! I am doing absolutely amazing out here on my mission! My new area has been an absolute blast so far, and I am staying safe and working hard. My new companion is Elder Bowman, and he is such a good hard worker. He is very in tune with the Spirit, and we have witnessed miracles as a result of following promptings we have received as we teach people. I find it amazing how the Lord can take just ordinary people, and truly qualify those whom He calls to work wonders in His name. I know, and I know that you know, that He can help us all do the most amazing things in our life, even if it seems impossible to us at the moment. I love the phrase that we have already survived 100% of our worst days; living life with optimism is the best. I often reflect on Joseph B. Wirthlin's mother's statement, "Come what may and love it." This thought of trusting in the Lord brings great peace to me in this world of calamity. I love the strength that reading daily from the scriptures brings me. I am grateful for the strong work ethic and desire to serve God you have instilled in me as I grew up. This has blessed me, and through me the Lord has blessed so many lives. Because of all you and Dad taught me, you are now impacting 100's of lives eternally for good. Truly the Lord is working wonders among the children of men today. I love you SO MUCH Mom, I pray for you daily. Keep holding close to God and the iron rod!

Love,

Elder Adams

January 29, 2018 - South SLC, Utah

Hello! This week has been mind blowing! So I was transferred to work with the Columbus Branch of the South Salt Lake Stake, which is a Burmese refugee branch. The two languages in the branch are Karen and Karenni, and I work with the Karenni. It is super cool learning a new language, and boy are there new experiences every day! It has been absolutely amazing. Sometimes it feels like I am in another country, especially when the food is weird and different, the smell is all different, and the language is different. I sit on the floor, eat with my fingers, and say lots of fun words. It is so amazing!
My companions name is Elder Bowman, and he is from Illinois. We have really been working super hard. It is super fun, and our area is the entire Salt Lake Valley so we go all over! We leave the mission (boundaries) every day! So yeah, this has been an incredible week. We have had a lot of opportunities to help and serve the other missionaries, and we teach a lot and help people work towards baptism. I am so excited for the many opportunities that lie ahead for this great work and area.

So this last week was rather confusing, the first part of it I couldn't understand anything that was going on. Plus, we cover the whole valley. So I had no idea where we were. But now, I have a better idea, and have been able to help some people come closer to Jesus Christ and baptism. A fun story: So Elder Bowman and I had an opportunity to go and teach a young boy who the Karen sisters had been struggling to get on date. We went over Thursday night, he got baptized Saturday 12pm, and confirmed a member Sunday at church. It was absolutely awesome to feel the Spirit work on him so he would realize the importance of baptism and get baptized. 

I am pumped that 2018 is my "blackout" year of my mission. I love my mission so much, the gratitude I feel every day for my Savior has increased so much! And the love I feel for these people as I give them my all is so powerful, I cannot deny that there is a Supreme Creator who loves them infinitely! 

I have had so many great experiences, I look forward to sharing what I can over the next few months here! 

Love you all!

Elder Adams 

Pics- Elder Bowman and I with Tow Mater. Thaw's baptism. And Burmese floor mats are super comfy!

January 22, 2018 - Murray, UT

Hello, this has been a week to remember! So last Monday, Elder Larsen and I decided we were gonna work as hard as possible every day this week, and do all we could to bring people closer to Jesus Christ. We work hard already, but this week we blew it all out of the water.

So we went out and knocked on doors for 27 hours, some days it was for 8 hours straight. One 8 hour day was trudging through almost 2 feet of snow, and the day before we were out in it as it fell. We made some great memories and stories. We spent the other time teaching lessons to those who are close to baptism.

Elder Larsen and I are both getting transferred out, Elder Larsen is going to the Philippines and I find out where tonight. Because there will be 2 brand new Elders here on Tuesday we met with a lot of ward mission leaders and bishops to talk over things.

I spent my last Sunday the best way possible in this area I have called home for almost 6 months. Anabell got baptized! I was honored to baptize her and be the voice of her confirmation and receiving the Holy Ghost. There was an incredible Spirit there, and she even gave a small talk, bore her testimony, and quoted scriptures like it was nothing. She is super converted, and she is even taking an institute class. So that was awesome!

I have loved serving in Murray, Utah, in the South Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Stakes, and it is hard to leave these people I love so much. But I know the Lord is in charge, and He will make things work great. I am excited to see where I will go next and fall in love with those people as I pour my heart and soul into strengthening them.

Have a great week, love you all!

Elder Adams

Pics: Me and my 2 "sons". Anabell's baptism. 2 Thunderbirds.

January 15, 2018 - Murray, UT

Hello from beautiful Murray Utah! Where it is like 40 degrees everyday! So the weather has been interesting. There has only been 2 days it snowed, and it all melted super quickly. The last couple weeks we haven't even gotten below freezing. It has been an unusual winter out here; the "natives" are both concerned and stunned. We have been walking everywhere, but actually just got a bike and helmet for Elder Larsen, so we will take off now! 

This week has been rather smooth, no crazy ups or downs. But it has been amazing because I have been able to serve the Lord! It feels as though not much happened this week because we had long meetings and activities. But we are set up this next week with lots of individuals and families to reach out to and contact. It will be an amazing week full of miracles! 

Sydney was baptized on Saturday. Her dad baptized her and her grandfather confirmed her a member the following day at church. She was so happy afterwards. She had a huge smile on her face, and gave her dad a big hug! She is a sweet girl, we are blessed we were able to participate in her preparation for baptism. 

Not much else happened this week, but lots more work to do, last full week of the transfer! I was able to watch the Uchtdorf's devotional. I thought it was super good, and that Sister Uchtdorf is so cute! She definitely had both a thick accent and a great love for Dieter, her favorite apostle. He certainly had some great jokes and insight, so that was wonderful. We were also invited to watch President Monson's funeral, so Elder Larsen and I watched it together. I thought of you (Mom) every time MoTab sang, especially because of the songs and purple dresses. I love the connection you made between President Monson, and how he truly showed the character of Christ. I hadn't even thought of that, what a wonderful insight! I echo your desire to live how he lived, and we will fall short, but I'd rather fall short trying to obey the Lord with exactness then trying to just obey sometimes. And we can always try again!

Sister Hillier has asked us all to be sure and watch the message from President Nelson tomorrow. I am excited to hear what he has to say, especially as he is the next in line for the prophet.

I love the picture of  my siblings watching the devotional, I am so excited for Holli as she embarks in less than a month! So exciting!

Well, onward to battle, lots of work to do! I love you all, know that the Lord will guide you in life if we turn it over to Him and let Him guide us!

With love,

Elder Adams 

January 8, 2018 - Murray, UT

Hello all! This last week has been pretty amazing! Very many good things have happened as Elder Larsen and I have given our all to this service of our Lord. We were blessed with beautiful weather; I hope you all are staying safe if your weather isn't as agreeable as ours! 

So some amazing things have happened this week. First off, we got haircuts on Monday. While we were waiting around, we got a text from a Bishop. It was another miracle referral, and she is getting baptized this upcoming Saturday. Then, later in the week we had a lesson with a girl who is getting baptized in February. We talked, she realized she knew enough and was ready, and she is getting baptized in 2 weeks! The Lord is richly blessing us. 

The Lord works in mysterious ways. At a recent training, one of our Zone Leaders said that if we do our work, which is to be diligent, obedient, and focused on inviting people to follow Jesus Christ, then the Lord will do His work and glory, which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of all of us. (Moses 1:39). 

I love this work so much, and I am grateful to be serving so many great people, I love trying to help people find joy through living and following the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love you all so much! Remember how much God loves you personally! 

Love and prayers flowing your way,

Elder Adams

Picture: some p-day comp fun. 

January 1, 2018 - Murray, UT

Happy 2018 to all in Missouri! This year is going to be amazing, I am pumped I get to be a missionary every single day of it! Truly the world needs to know of the hope Jesus Christ can give. And the love and comfort faith in Him brings.

2017 has been incredible. I left behind the past, and dove into the future. Having the opportunity to serve a mission has been the greatest decision in my life. And I think it is and will be one of the most important parts of my entire life. So I have tried to do my best to make sure I am not wasting this time and opportunity I have been given. 

At a training last week our mission president suggested we spend 80% of our time out trying to serve and find people to teach, and 20% of our time just teaching. After some math of our last 2 weeks, one week we hit that perfectly. This last week we did not. We spent 95% of our time finding, and 5% teaching. What this means is that we have spent a lot of time knocking on doors and talking with every person within sight or sound of us. It has been a challenge, but it has been so much fun too. It has been fun to see how people react to the spirit when they feel it testifying of the truthfulness of the Gospel to them. We have tried to be guided by the Spirit in all we do. This has saved us from knocking on some houses that might have been a bad idea. But we have had some incredible experiences as well.

We were out one night, and it was about 7:45pm. We were walking past a dark house, and we felt very strongly we needed to knock. We did, and the mother opened the door and the first thing she said was, "Oh, you're an answer to prayers." Turns out she was an less-active member, but she and her husband needed some spiritual uplifting. I love how the Lord guides His work. Elder Larsen and I had no part in this except we got out of the way, and knocked on that dark house. 

Well, lots of fun coming up here in good ole' Murray, Utah! I have learned how important it is for us to help the missionaries, so please reach out and share with them families who could use the light and joy the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings! 

I love you all so much!

Elder Adams