Week 19: I am LOVING it up here! Time is flying by way too quickly!

My smile is starting to catch on! haha

Been a great week once again!  November is over this week... Where does the time go???

This last Tuesday we were able to go to Temple Square with Lyndsey and have a private tour by the Sister Missionaries! It was awesome, and the Sisters do such a great job teaching. Sisters carry a unique spirit that the Elders could never compare with!

  

Lyndsey's baptism was this last Saturday and went so well! Elder Martin and I were able to stand as witnesses for her! This Gospel is so amazing. The joy that this knowledge brings is indescribable. Yesterday in her ward, I had the honor, privilege and blessing to confirm Lyndsey, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Lord truly prepares people in his own way. I have absolutely no doubt that Heavenly Father's hand was in every step of where Lyndsey is today. I am so happy for her.

So some more direct notes that i have from Elder Bednars visit last week:

Before he started, the first thing he mentioned was to only write on small plates. He informed us to not write down the things that he was saying, but the things that the Holy Ghost was revealing to us.

One of my favorite points he made, was to pray as Agents. And not as objects. When we ask for all these blessing's in our prayers, then expect them to fall from Heaven, something is wrong. We need to get on our knees and pray like everything depends on Heavenly Father, then get on our feet and work like everything depends on us. Then will the blessings come.

Another thing that also stood out to me during the 4 hour meeting, is that humility is key. If we are prideful, we are in the way. In the way of the Holy Ghost being able to teach people. We must thank the Lord in literally every aspect of our lives.

When one returns from serving a mission, his life should never be the same. It should always feel weird. If you return from a mission and things seem normal, something is wrong. The mission should change me eternally. Become a missionary.. Don't just go on a mission.

This week has been super busy, we have been able to get in 32 lessons this week! The work is truly hastening. The member support here is awesome! The people of Fruit Heights are Kaysville are seriously amazing. I am so excited to see what the future has in store.

This last Monday we were able to meet with James once again! Great news!! His parents (Less-active and non-member) both gave him permission to be baptized! He is solid for January 1st, 2014! We are meeting with him again tonight! He is a great guy and has progressed so much since we first met with him in August!

Cari has accepted to start the "Stop-Smoking Program" and will be starting it tomorrow! It is a guaranteed way to stop smoking (taught by missionaries around the world with great success)! She has already accepted baptism and wants to be baptized, so hopefully after this next week we can set up the baptism!

We have been introduced to a young man, probably 23 years old. He name is Nathan and was raised in Utah and has a strong baptist background. He is very knowledgeable about the Bible and loves to discuss religion. We are planning on meeting with him again this Friday! 

We met with Autumn, the 10 year old girl again yesterday, and had a great lesson! She gave the closing prayer and holy crap, it the most spiritual and heartfelt prayer i have ever heard. It just reminded me of how we should all try to be as little children, and be meek and humble and submissive to the Lord's will.

Transfers are this next Tuesday Dec 3rd! I will most likely be moving houses, so my address will change. I will send out an email asap when i know where my new address is!

Ahhh this transfer came and went... These past 5 months have flown by!! It will be a sad day to leave this amazing area. I have grown to love the people here.. I hope they keep me here another 6 months!

I am LOVING it up here! Time is flying by way too quickly! I love my companions and the people we are teaching and the members in the area! But mostly, i love our Heavenly Father, and this amazing opportunity he has given me to serve him and his children in the great Work. I love every second of this amazing journey.

"To those who wish, time is long. 

     To those who work, time is short. 

     To those who LOVE, time is not." 

                                          - Unknown

Till next week, and much love,

Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week:  Alma 34:38 - "That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

Week 18 Elder Carroll meets Elder Bednar!

Hey there everybodyyyy!

First off, I love this Gospel more than anything. The joy and happiness that it brings me is indescribable. It is such a tremendous blessing to be apart of this amazing and great Work. The people of the Utah SLC mission are just incredible. What a blessing to be called so close to home where I can visit these amazing people often. I love this Work!

This past week the SLC Mission had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be spoken directly to by an Apostle of the Lord. An Apostle that holds the same keys (authority) that the original 12 Apostles held! Crazy! Elder Bednar is truly a man called of God and is such an inspired teacher. I had the blessing and opportunity to speak to him one on one.  About 2 weeks prior to this meeting, we were given 3 talks by Elder Bednar and were told to study them. He asked us what we learned or got out of them. I was able to tell him something that I learned... We gain our testimonies, when we bear them. He then asked me why that particular part stood out to me at this time. I replied that it was because I realized how TRUE that statement really was.

Elder David A. Bednar

For the past few months, I have been able to bear my testimony, multiple times a day. And I've seen it strengthened each time I do so.  It is amazing. This Gospel is the true and living church of Christ.

It was a 4 hour meeting with Elder Bednar, and I took some notes, but I'll have to sort them out and write about everything that was said, next week!

This past week  we were able to take Reese and his mom, Joy to a "Missionary Fireside" at Temple Square! It was so awesome!! It was all of the sisters serving their missions on Temple Square. They sang songs and put on a great concert and the Spirit was so strong!  I ran into my past companion, Elder Katoa! And also Tamazine Peters from Heritage Academy! It was a great night!

Yesterday we were able to meet again with Alicia (The African American Women who was baptized, but doesn't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon)! We read 1 Nephi chapter 2 and had a great discussion. Her spirit is so strong and she is probably the most humble person I've ever met. She is so great at connecting the doctrine in the Book of Mormon, to her own life. We are planning on meeting with her again next Sunday! :)

Ireland had her baptismal interview this past week and now it's just a matter of her parents scheduling the baptism. Will keep you posted.

Chris is doing great, and we have continued to have scripture study. We are going to go over to his house tonight and see if he is interesting in taking the missionary discussions again. (He's had them before) So we'll see how it goes tonight!

We are going with Lindsey tomorrow to Temple Square! She is still solid for the 23rd of November, so she will be getting baptized this Saturday! We are super excited. It is amazing how the Lord prepares people.

This transfer is already more than half over so that means we only have about 2 weeks left! We currently cover 2 stakes (18 wards), but we have heard that they might split the area, so we will only cover 1 stake. I am anxious to see which stake I stay in, if they keep me in either of them at all. It will be hard to leave either one of them. I have grown so close to families in both areas, so transfers will be a hard day.

Well, I hope you guys are doing great. Thank you so much to everyone who emails/writes, it means the world to me! Stay safe, stay busy, you're in my prayers! Till next week!

-Elder Carroll

PS- D&C 59:7- "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things."

Week 17 Amazing doesn't even begin to describe it!

Hi everyone!

Guess what i just found out!!!!!! We have had a "Mission Meeting" scheduled for the past 2 weeks and today we just found out the Apostle David A. Bednar will be coming to speak to us!!!!!!!!! So crazy. One of the many perks of being called to Utah ;)

This week has been an amazing one. Amazing doesn't even describe it. 

So the other night, Elder Martin and I were informed that some friends of my family (The Tingey's) own a house in Bountiful, (about 10 min south of us) and are renting out the top floor to someone who is really interested in the Church. We contacted the Tingey's and they invited us to come meet her this past Saturday. Her name is Lindsey, and she is what we call a "Golden Investigator". She is currently going through a divorce and has 2 small children. She has been going through a lot recently and had actually ran into a Bishop in Kaysville, in the elevator while she was leaving a therapy session. They talked for 3 hours out by their cars and he introduced the Gospel to her. He gave her a Book of Mormon (actually a quad) with her name imprinted on it. Soon after, she found out that the Tingey's were renting out part of their place. She told us that all these events lead her up to where she is now. She told us, and i quote "I'm missing something in my life.. And you guy's have it. And i want it." I was able to explain to her that she could have it. She said she could just feel it within the Bishop she had met, and within the Tingey's. After a great lesson first lesson, I was able ask her if she would like to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized. She is getting baptized in 2 weeks, November 23rd.

This experience was such an amazing testimony builder for me. The Lord prepares people. We never know who is ready of willing to accept the truths taught in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not to judge who is and who isn't willing to accept the Gospel. We must be willing to share it with all men.

We have started teaching a 10 year old girl name Autumn, as of yesterday!  Her father is less-active in the Church, but really wants to straighten out his life. So he invited us to teach his daughter. We had a great first lesson last night and had an amazing spiritual experience with both of them. We invited her to be baptized, but her father wants to talk to his wife first (they are separated, but not divorced yet). Will keep you updated.

We were able to speak in one of our wards sacrament meeting yesterday. I love being able to speak on "Hastening the Work of Salvation". It gets the ward members all pumped and they always come up to us with referrals after the meeting!

So get this.. The other night, I ran into a very closely related relative! Her name is Jeanette Esplin Hugh, and she is half-cousins with my Grandpa Charlie and my dad's side! (Half cousins meaning their mom's were half-sisters) She went to school with Grandpa Charlie and had lots of stories to tell about him! He seemed like an amazing man. She said all the girls loved him and that he was a real charmer! haha. So her mom's name is Amy Heaton and Charlies mom's name is Elsie Heaton. Crazy huh! She brought out this huge book, "The History of the Carroll Family" and let me borrow it! It was so awesome to hear her talk about all of my family. She asked specifically about Uncle Clarence, but i told her i didn't know him too well. It is so awesome to make these connections.

We are still meeting with James, Carrie, Reese, Ireland, and Chris regularly. Please pray for them and also for Lindsey.

I love this Gospel. I know this is the true and living Church of Jesus Christ. What an amazing blessing it is to be a part of such a marvelous Work. These past 4 months have blessed my life eternally and how grateful I am to be able to serve the Lord in His Work. I absolutely love it. 

Thank you everyone who has been keeping in contact via emails/letters, it means so much! I love you all and i hope you are having as much of an amazing time as i am up here! Stay safe, you're in my prayers!

Till next week!

-Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week:  Jacob 6:12 - "O be wise; What can i say more?"

P.S.- HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIQUE! :) The big 16!

Week 16- IT FINALLY SNOWED!!

Hey everyone!

So first off, it's already November?! Where did the time go..? It snowed yesterday for the first time! It didnt stay any longer than that afternoon, but it was still a good snow :) It's getting super chilly during the days, and people are saying in the next few weeks its gonna be sticking to the ground!

We were able to visit with Carrie last Tuesday and she accepted baptism! She is on date for Nov. 16th! Please pray for her! We actually just found out yesterday, that she has a smoking problem. We didn't know this before, because we had been meeting at her neighbors house. So tomorrow we are going to be talking about the Word of Wisdom.

We met with James last Monday as usually, he is doing great. He is having some struggles, but his faith is strong. He is planning on being baptized Jan. 1, 2014. Keep him in your prayers.

This past Friday was Davis High's first play-off game. (They went undefeated in the season) But unfortunately they lost! So they are out, so that was the last game we could go to! Something funny though.. We usually are talking to people the entire game so we just walk back and forth to each sets of bleachers on both sides. When we walked over to the opposing teams side (Pleasant Grove High), the entire student section starting singing "Called To Serve"! It was pretty hilarious. The people here are great.

Speaking of the football games, we met a girl named Gabby last week at the game and she told us that she wasn't a member, but she wanted to learn more. Her parents didnt want her to though. She gave us her contact info and we are set to go with her to Temple Square this Saturday! The Sister Missionaries at Temple Square are awesome, so it should be a good lesson!

This past week we visited the Seminary building at Davis, and gave them our contact info. We told them they could call us if they ever wanted us to come in to teach a lesson or something. They said they would call us. We have some dead time during the day's when everyone is at work/school, so we figured why not go to where the people are?

A few days ago, one of our Ward Mission Leaders informed us that we have a Potential Investigator! Guess how old she is? Shes 100 years old! ONE HUNDRED years old!! Apparently, she has had a friend for about 40 years (He's 85) who is LDS and he invited her to be baptized and she said yes! So we are planning on going just north to Layton, to teach her the discussion in the rest home she is in, then she will be baptized in our stake! Crazy huh? Her friend is supposed to contact us soon.

We were able to go to the Bountiful Temple last Thursday, and man is it beautiful. Such an experience.

I love being a part of this wonderful Work. I couldn't be more blessed. I love the area I am in, and i love the people. These 4 months have been the greatest and i cant wait to see what is yet to come. I love is Gospel and it is such an honor to be able to do the Lord's work in spreading it.

Hope all is well at home, Thank you for all the wonderful emails and letters! You are in my prayers! Till next week!

-Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week: Matthew 18:3 -"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."