Week 40: Easter & 7 things I've learned!

Hey Guys!

I would first like to say that this Easter Sunday has been a great one, and we have been able to spend it with some friends that I know i'll be friends with for a lifetime. I am so blessed to be serving in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. I'll be able to come back and visit here without a problem :) The people i have met here are amazing and I love them!

Soooooo... 9 months already! Where in the world did the time go? It seems like yesterday, I was entering the MTC. With my mission almost half over (and that's sad to say and/or think about), i've come to realize a few things..

1.) You can always turn a discouraging situation into a learning experience.

2.) Our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ love all of us with an incomprehensible love.

3.) There is not one person on this earth that is too far from our Lord's reach.

4.) When you can't stand any longer, get on your knees and pray.

5.) When you serve the Lord with all you have, you can feel true happiness.

6.) Sharing your testimony can be one of the most effective ways in bringing the Spirit into a situation.

7.) I love this Gospel more than anything.

This past week, we have met with an inactive member family to share a message and invite them to come to church with us this past Sunday. The father is a returned missionary. It breaks my heart when we come across someone who has given 2 years of their life to the Lord, in teaching his Gospel, testifying about it, and for some reason or another comes home and decides it's not for them. I just don't get it.. This unfortunately happens more than i would have ever thought. In the past 9 months, i've ran into a handful of other returned missionaries that are in the same situation. How does this happen? You can't just go through a mission.. you have to let the mission go through YOU! You have to internalize it! Your mission is the building block for the rest of your life! It will help you become a better Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Cousin, Friend, Priesthood Holder, Saint, and Disciple of Jesus Christ. That is, if you let it.

Conference Center downtown SLC

Yesterday we were able to attend 3 sacrament meetings (as usual). I never thought i would enjoy attending (on average) 9 hours of church every week! Haha it's a blessing.

The Work is going great! We are currently working with about 27 people. About 8 investigators and the rest being either Less-Active Members or Recent Converts. Their are 2 investigators we are working with that are close to baptism and i think could really benefit from being added to your prayers! Their names are Casey and Joe.

Casey (28) is married to a less-active member and is an honest truth seeker. He wants to know the truth. He is very receptive and is just praying now for an answer from our Heavenly Father.

Joe (32) is in a similar situation.. married to a less active member and wants to learn more. All of her family are active members, so they are a great support. He is also reading, praying, and coming to church! So he is doing all the right things. It is only a matter of time before he comes to know of the truth of the wonderful Gospel.

I know this is the Lord's true and living Kingdom on this earth. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I know without doubt that Joseph Smith truly did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is a witness of that. If you have not asked God, in the name of Christ, if the book is true.. i invite you to do so. And even if you have, i invite you to ask again, and get that re-confirmation. Feeling that Spirit of the truth is truly amazing.

Thanks to everyone for the amazing letters and emails!

Stay busy, and stay safe! Love you all!

Much Love,

~Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture - Mosiah 29:20 - "..and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him."

Week 39: Sam was baptized!

Elder Carroll plays whenever he gets the chance!

Hello!

This week has yet been another successful week that the Lord has blessed us with!! It's a great feeling to know that hard work gets things done. It feels good to do good.

Sam was baptized Saturday April 12th, and confirmed the following day in Sacrament meeting! The baptism was relatively small.  Maybe 10 people showed up to support. Sam does not have any family in Utah, so it was mostly the ward members that cam to support :) The ward is great and i know we are leaving him in good hands. It was hilarious.. the first thing that Sam asked me after the baptism.. "When do i start paying tithing?".. He is going to make a great member. His testimony is strong, even though he has a lot more to learn (as we all do)!

So during a District Meeting this past week, I've come to realize something.. we need to get more excited about mission work! About the Book of Mormon!! About the Gospel!! If we introduce the Gospel or the Book of Mormon top someone.. and we're not excited about it.. why on earth would they be?? We need to express our feelings about the Church, like it's the most important thing in our entire lives.. BECAUSE IT IS! Plus people respond better when they actually think our message would be beneficial to them :) Get excited about the joy and happiness that the Gospel brings YOU! 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

We had the opportunity yesterday to speak in 2 Sacrament meetings! I love speaking, especially on "Hastening The Work"! It get's the members excited about the Work and we always have multiple people coming up to us after asking us if we can teach their family/ friends! :) Member trust is key. If we work with the members, that's when the real work gets done. The thing I love most about speaking (and teaching) though.. is when you can literally feel the Spirit testifying through you. It's an amazing feeling. We are merely vessels for the Spirit to work through.

Being on a mission.. has made me realize that i never ever ever want to leave this wonderful Church and Gospel. We are currently working with this guy named Jay. He was raised in the Church but stopped going when he was a teenager. He got into a lot of bad things, but is now trying to make his way back to the Lord. Working with Jay (and many many others that have gone astray, but have now realized that the Gospel does bring true happiness) has made me realize that that's all this Gospel does. It brings true and everlasting happiness. That's the purpose of life.. to be happy. I know this Gospel teaches the truth, but even if it wasn't true, living the standards of the church would be a perfect way to raise a family. It makes us happy.

 "..[M]en are, that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25)

So this week we have once again made it around to the Samoan ward's turn to feed us dinner. Have you ever tasted taro? It's a root that they eat like potatoes.. It's actually not too bad.. maybe a little bland is all.. We have it with every meal they serve us! It's an acquired taste i think. I love the Samoan people! They always send us home with all the leftovers! :) They treat us well.

I know this Gospel blesses families. If you know a family member or friend who currently isn't experiencing these Gospel blessings, it is my invitation to you, to get excited about sharing the Gospel and show them how much it can truly bless them. Another invitation.. if you don't a copy of Preach My Gospel, i invite you to do so! It is a great tool for not only us missionaries, but members too! :)

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful emails and letters, i enjoy them :) 

Hope all is well! Keep up the great work, stay busy, and stay safe! :)

Much Love,

~Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week:  2 Nephi 30:7 - "..as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people."

Week 38: Elder Carroll has some great advice!

Hey guys!

This week was once again a great one! Although a few up's and downs, it ended great with us having the opportunity to attend 3 of the General Conference sessions at the Conference Center! We were able to take 2 Investigators and a recent Convert!

This General Conference was an amazing one to say the least. It is truly amazing to be in the same room as so many of God's Apostles and Prophets. When President Monson walks in the room, the conference center goes quiet and everyone stands up. During the Saturday 2pm session, the Spirit was especially strong when this happened. I love the Spirit. I am so grateful for God letting me feel the Spirit as often as I do. My journal is speedily filling up with times when I feel the Spirit.

I've got to get my notes together so I can give a better synopsis of them for next week's email, but I have do have one thing I'd like to write about today... One of the topics that was brought up in the Saturday afternoon session, was "testing the Word". Gaining a testimony for ourselves is essential. It is a building block. As we build our foundation upon Christ, our testimony is strengthened. If you do not have a testimony that Joseph Smith truly was a prophet or that the Book of Mormon is true, I invite you to test the word. It might not all come at once, but I can promise you that our loving Heavenly Father will answer your prayer, so that you too may know the truth of His word. This Gospel is amazing and only brings joy happiness!

Elder Ballard quoted my favorite scripture:

D&C 62:3 - "Nevertheless, ye are blessed. For the testimony which you have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon. And they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you."

My invitation to you is to follow this scripture and "When thou art converted, strengthen [your] brethren."

For the past month or so, we have been working with a less-active member named Mike. He is an awesome guy and has a big heart. We have gotten really close to him. He works on Sunday's and is not able to attend church. But we meet with him often and have great lessons. He has a bad problem with alcohol and tobacco. The last time we met, we had a discussion on the Word of Wisdom (God's health code for his children). He has beer bottles and hookah pipes laying all around his trailer. After discussing the commandment and blessings that come with obeying it, Mike agreed to give up tobacco first. This is a HUGE step for him. As he gathered up his tobacco and hookah stuff, he kept saying how hard this was for him, but nonetheless he continued to gather is up and gave it all to us. I am so proud of Mike. It is amazing what sincere love you can feel for someone who you have barely known for only a month. I love Mike and am going to do everything in my power to help him.

Fabian and Shaynell have unfortunately fell off date, because of lack of church commitment. We are going to meet with them this week, and see if they are still interested.

Sam is solid and still on date for this Saturday, super stoked for him! :)

Being on my mission, and being able to see how much prayer can have an impact on myself, is truly amazing. Not only personal prayer, but companionship prayer. Having companionship prayer brings my companion and myself closer together. It builds unity. If you are currently not having companionship prayer with your companion (spouse), I plead with you to do so. I can promise you that it will bring you closer together, and closer to Christ.

I know this Church is TRUE and I LOVE it! 

Hope you are having an amazing time back home, as I am here. Stay close to the Lord and He will bless you. Love you all, Stay busy and stay safe!! :)

Much Love,
~Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week! D&C 4:3 - "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"