Week 58: A Burning In My Bosom!

Hey all,

This has been a fantastic week, with lot's of amazing experiences. I would like to share a video that I have been made aware of this week. It's quite amazing:

VIDEO:  The Will of God

We were able to share this video with a Less-Active family we are working with this week. It really put things into perspective for me. Our loving God only wants the best for us. He knows what's best for us. Sometimes, in order to build us up, he must cut us down. We learn from our mistakes and the trials put in our paths. I am eternally grateful that my God loves me so much that He is willing to give me hardships in my life, in order to help me become strong. We may not always be able to see the reason behind a challenge in our lives, but I can strongly testify that everything happens for a reason. And if we endure till the end, we will eventually see those reasons. I know it. I've seen it in my own life and in the lives of people around me. We must hold strong and trust in our God. "[He] will not fail thee, nor forsake thee". I testify of the truth of that miraculous promise made by our loving Lord and Savior.

There is one other video i would like to share.  This video was shared to us by a Less-Active family we are working with. The Spirit pierced my heart as i watched this. I can confidently say that at this time I felt that "burning in my bosom". I am so grateful for the sacrifice of my loving Brother and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him, I would be nothing. I would live for nothing. With Him, I am able to repent and change. I am able to change for the better. I am able to return to live with Him once again. We are so blessed to have the knowledge of which we have. We must stay true and faithful to our Lord and God, and I promise that He will be with us. We must do our best to have daily personal/spouse/family prayer and scripture study. We must faithfully attend all of our church meetings. We must be actively attending the Temple, if at all possible. If we make time for our God, He will make time for us.

VIDEO:  Sky Angel Cowboy

We are currently working with a particular Part-Member/Less-Active family. The father was raised FLDS (Fundamentalist LDS), and in a polygamist home. He does not practice polygamy, but he does not see anything wrong with it.  A great man, but a very stubborn cow boy :)  The mom is a less-active member, and only attends church about twice a year.  They have 11 children, ranging from ages 19 to 1!  An amazing family!  They are pretty much self-sufficient in all aspects of material needs. They milk their own cows for milk, they harvest corn and alfalfa.  They have a greenhouse and one of the biggest gardens I've ever seen.  They have chickens for eggs.  They also have pigs for slaughtering.  It's quite amazing what they do! I tell you these things mostly because they're interesting (haha), but also to ask for your prayers for them. We don't know exactly how to reach them. They are a great family, but lack a sense of urgency for religion in their life.  Please pray that we may know what we can best do to help this family.

"The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!

The latter-day glory begins to come forth;

The visions and blessings of old are returning,

And angels are coming to visit the earth." 

-The Spirit of God - Hymn #2

Full Length Song:  "The Spirit of God"

performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

I love music.  This line struck me yesterday while in one of the three sacrament meetings we were able to attend.  The marvelous wonder of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly amazing. God loves all of His children, and want's all to return to Him.  He has restored His wonderful Gospel for our benefit.  Let us take full advantage of the blessings that are in store for us, as we obey His gentle command.  I know that as we follow Him, we will be happy.  We will still have trials and challenges in our lives, but we will find strength in our Lord.

The mission continues to help me learn and grow as a saint and as a child of God. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity I have to serve my Lord full-time as His personal representative.  The joy that comes from sharing this great message is indescribable.  If you wish to find more happiness in your life, please do not hesitate to share this great joy that you know and love :)

Stay busy, stay safe, and stay close to the Lord! I promise he will bless you.

Love,

Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week: A church member showed us this scripture and said this is the reason he likes to feed us!  Keep this in mind when you see the missionaries haha :) "Whoso receiveth you, receiveth me; and the same will feed you, and clothe you, and give you money.  And he who feeds you, or clothes you, or gives you money, shall in nowise lose his reward." (D&C 84:89-90)

Preaching amongst the cows :)

                             

Wrestlin' dem hogs!

At the Great Salt Lake!

Week 57: Erda, UT is AWESOME!!!

Hey!!

Happy Birthday on Wednesday Mom!! The big 29!! ;)

I LOVE ERDA!!! We cover 6 of the 11 wards in the stake, which covers a lot of ground! This past week has been so much fun. Such a change from my past 4 area's (all of which were in the suburbs)! It's so open and just like farmland everywhere!! The people are so friendly and loving (not that they weren't in my last areas:))! We have made a lot of contacts and have been able to talk to so many people! They're all right wing conservatives and love their guns. They're all packin'! haha

As of now, I am in a trio-companionship! Elder Harward is from Hunnington Beach, CA and Elder Espinal is from North Carolina.  Elder Espinal finishes his mission in about a week, so he will be with us for just that much longer! I love these guys, we have so much fun together.

We got pulled over because we ran a stop sign!

So more about the area... The other day we went to contact a less-active member of the church and found out that he's a taxidermist! So he skins mammals and mounts them for people :) He showed us some of the procedure the animals go through before being mounted, and actually had just skinned a dear head right before we came to talk to him! I'll attach a pic :) He invited us back to his house this week to have some Cougar he hunted down! So stoked!

Skinned deer head!

Another less-active family in the area invited us to castrate their cows with them in the near future hahaha so excited. I love this place!! Everyone has livestock and chickens and whatnot. We get free eggs from the members of our stake :)

Making lots of new friends in Erda!

This week at one of the District Meetings in the zone, we sang a particular hymn of which a particular verse stood out to me:

"Oh, how joyful it will be

When our Savior we shall see!

When in splendor he'll descend,

Then all wickedness will end.

Oh, what songs we then will sing

To our Savior, Lord, and King!

Oh, what love will then bear sway

When our fears shall flee away!" -Come Ye Children of the Lord (Hymn #58)

I can only imagine what the world will be like when our Savior once again comes to Earth. How much joy will come to us, to be able to be in the presence of our loving Brother. I can't wait!  I know that if we strive to be obedient to His commandments, He will be merciful unto us.  Obeying his laws brings soooo much happiness. I know it! I have seen the evidence! I have seen for myself that the HAPPIEST people that I know are the ones who obey Him and regularly use His Atonement. It's taken me quite a while to realize this in my own life, but now I can confidently testify of this correct principle. It's all about the principle.

Please do not hesitate to share this great knowledge that you have. Please don't be afraid to use those "lds words" in your casual conversations. People know you're LDS. They look up to you for that. They know your standards, and they respect you for keeping them. I promise that as we continually pray for opportunities to share this amazing gospel, the Lord will bless us with those opportunities, and it is us to act on them. We will be blessed, and the people we share our great message with, will be blessed also. I know it.

Hope you are all having the time of your life, where ever you are!! Stay close to the Lord. He will bless you.

Much Love,

Elder Carroll

My Favorite scripture this week: 2 Nephi 31:10 - "And He said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?"

My favorite quote this week: "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved" - President Thomas S. Monson

Week 56: Transferred to Erda!!!

Elder Carroll still loves the guitar!

(Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Fender Telecaster, Peavey)

Hey!!!!

First things first! I got a call from my Mission President on Saturday and he informed me that I would be headed out to Erda for this transfer (just north of Tooele, on the complete opposite side of the mission. Google it!)!! This will be my first transfer serving outside of Davis County, which is basically the Mormon County of the world. haha! I have served over half my mission here, and have met so many amazing people. People that I know that I'll be friends with for a loooong time! :) But I am super excited to serve out in the sticks!! Erda is a really small farming community!! So it will be a bit of a culture shock I'm sure :) I am excited to serve the people of Erda and also my fellow missionaries in the Tooele North Zone.

Last Sunday in Davis County!

This past week, we were able to attend a leadership meeting with Elder Arnold of the 70! It was a great meeting and he is a great teacher. He is coming back at the end of the month for a "Mission Tour", where basically he will train us how to be better missionaries for 8 hours!

On August 5th, a terrible thing happened in one of my old areas. Up on the hill in North Salt Lake, there was a huge mudslide! It took out an entire house. Everyone living in the house is unharmed and now living with family in the area, until they can figure out what they will do. This reminded me of a simple Bible story. Most of us know it as the Wise Man and the Foolish Man. Apparently, before the house was constructed, the construction company was told that there was danger in building a house on that lot, but they proceeded with the building of the house. They knew of the danger, but still wanted to proceed. Helaman 5:12 gives us a great idea of how the Lord wants us to build up our "foundation".

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I can testify that as we strive to build our foundation about the sure rock of Christ, we need not worry. When the trials of life shall come, we will be able to stand strong against it because of our faith, patience, and diligence. We must remember to always CPR!! :) (Church, Pray, Read). I know the Lord will take care of us, as we obey Him and do all we can to strengthen our foundation every day of our lives.

Something that I have learned while being out here in the field, is that I am not able to be a vessel to convert people, past my own conversion. We, as members of His church cannot most effectively help to bring others unto His fold, past our own conversion. Which leads me to ask the question: How converted are you? How converted am I? Am I doing all that I can, to help build my own testimony and obtain my own conversion? Am I faithfully fulfilling my church calling? Home Teaching? Visiting Teaching? Reading the scriptures and praying? Am I doing all that I can do? Because when I am converted, I know the Lord wishes that I "strengthen [my] brethren". If you feel as if you are not doing all you could be doing, or feel that you could improve in any way, please don't procrastinate improving yourselves. The Lord will help you, when you ask for His help! :) I know it.

I have had some great experiences this past week and although I already knew this, I got a strong impression to share what I have felt. Christ is REAL! His life isn't just a story or a fairy tale, or something we tell people to give them encouragement. He LIVED! And still does!! It's so amazing to be able to have the knowledge of Him that we do. I know he suffered in the Garden. I know because I have felt burdens lifted because of that event. He will be our strength and our light--As long as we are willing to humble ourselves and come unto Him.

We were privileged yesterday, to attend 3 Sacrament Meetings, and speak in all of them! I am so grateful for the Spirit that accompanies us as we speak. We don't ever have to worry about what is going to come out of our mouths--Because it's the Spirit!!  While singing "Now Let Us Rejoice" in one of those meetings, a certain line stuck out to me..

"Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation.

No longer as strangers on earth need we roam.

Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation,

And shortly the hour of redemption will come."

The line "each nation" struck me.  I know that our loving God would not only save his Gospel for one nation, but that he would give it to all of them! He wouldn't want to save just a few of his children.  I know the Book of Mormon is a true record of the people of America in ancient times and their dealings with Christ and God. It's the most correct book on the face of the earth, and if we abide by its precepts, we can draw closer to God.

I love this Gospel, and this Work. I am so blessed to even be a part of it. I know Jesus is the Christ and I am so grateful to invite all to come closer to Him.

Hope all is well at home. Stay close to the Lord, stay busy, and stay safe!! :)

Love,

~Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week: D&C 18:11-12 - " 11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance."

Week 55: "The Truth Will Make You Free"

The Neighborhood "GANG!"

These kids are always running around the apartment

complex that we work in! lol

Opening the "Hump Day" package that my mom sent!

Family and Frieeeeends!

This week has been great, not too much going on though. One of our most progressing investigators, Chelsea, is out of town and we are working with just a few others.

We have the great blessing and opportunity to work with many less-active members in our stake, and (unfortunately) we are working with quite a few. They are steadily coming back to church and enjoying it. I feel so blessed to be able to see the Lord work miracles with them. The happiest people that I know, are the ones who do their best to best live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and use His infinite Atonement, daily.

A testimony is one of the greatest gifts that our Heavenly Father can bless us with. We must start with just a "particle of faith", and the Lord will help us to come to a sure knowledge of the truth of His doctrine. If we follow Him in every footstep, He will lead us to happiness. When we mess up, he is right there with his arm stretched forth, waiting to forgive us. The Lord is merciful and so loving. As long as we are willing to admit our faults, and change our lives for the better, He is right there, ready to help us along!! I know He lives and that he truly did suffer for us. I have been able to feel the effects of the Atonement in my own life, and in the lives of many others here in the field. The Atonement is real. Please use it often!! I promise that your burden may be made light through Him.

"27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)

If we are humble enough to come unto Christ, accept Him as our Savior, live by his commandments, and follow him, he will be there with us every step of the way. We must be diligent in praying to our Loving Heavenly Father daily, reading our scriptures daily, and faithfully attending our church meetings weekly. I promise that as we do these things, we will have nothing to worry about. Yes, trials will still come, but the Lord will never give us something that we cannot handle. (1 Nephi 3:7) He will take care of us. He loves us. He wants the best for us. He is the stable variable, and we are the ones who must change and come unto him.

If we will just humble ourselves and try our best to live as He wants us to, we will find so much joy and happiness. I know this. I have seen it. I can surely testify of this. I know it and i love it. I am so grateful to be blessed with this knowledge. The blessings of living His Gospel are indescribable.

I love this Gospel and am so blessed to be able to teach it to everyone i come in contact with. The joy of seeing people come unto and come back to Christ are so amazing. I love it.

Thank you so much for all the constant emails/letters/support. It means so much. I love you all!! :)

Love,

Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week:  John 8:31-31 " 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Week 54: Obedience is the key!

Daily morning scripture study

Helloooooo!!

I am so grateful for our loving Heavenly Father and His mercy towards us. I don't think we can truly comprehend His love. I am so grateful for the extraordinary experiences he has blessed me with. I am grateful to know that He sent His Son for me and for you. I am eternally grateful for knowledge of His Atonement and of God's Plan of Salvation.

A few weeks ago, a young family in our stake lost their 3 year old baby boy while on vacation due to a drowning accident. The ward and stake has rallied around them and has been an amazing support. We were able to attend the funeral for this young boy this past week. The Spirit was strong in the room as both the Mother and Father of the boy spoke from the pulpit. I cannot even imagine what this experience would be like for them. It has put in even better perspective for me, how blessed we are to know of our Father's great plan for us--The Plan of Happiness.  With this knowledge, sorrow can become hope. Hope that we will once again someday see our loved ones that have passed on. This is all possible because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What joy it brings me to know this. What joy it brings me to be able to share this, to teach it! What joy this Gospel brings me to live and abide by.

Something that I have learned on my mission, is the simple principle of Obedience.

“The discipline contained in daily obedience, clean living and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety from the temptations that beset you as you proceed through mortality.” -L. Tom Perry

When we obey righteous laws, we are blessed. When we obey righteous laws, we are protected. When we obey righteous laws, we are happy. When we obey righteous laws, we are not constrained by the ways of the world.

I have seen the evidences of these statements. I have had opportunities to learn from my own experiences, and talk with other people about theirs. I know that when we are able to match our will with God's, we are simply happier. Even if we do not understand the reason for a particular commandment, we still need to obey it. God is a lot smarter than we are. He knows what will help us to be happy. He knows what can harm us. He has a lot more experience than we do ;)

(D&C 130:20-21) - "20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

I can say that I know this scripture is true. If we want to be happy and receive blessings from our loving Heavenly Father, we must be obedient. I also without a doubt know that "wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:10)

We are teaching a lot and meeting so many people! That's one of the reasons why I love the mission so much.. We get to meet so many new people! It is so easy just to go up to any random person and start a conversation with them! I love it. One of our investigators, named Chelsea, is soooo close to baptism! She keeps talking like… "When I get baptized..." We are going to invite her to set a baptismal date this week. Most of her concerns have been about her Catholic family. They aren't too happy about her taking the missionary discussions. But i think recently that has become less of a concern. So we will see! :)

I love this Gospel and I love this Work. I am so grateful to be able to be called to the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. Our Heavenly Father has blessed me with so many choice experiences and opportunities. I love it!!!!

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and love, hope all is well at home. Stay close to the Lord, stay busy, and stay safe!! :)

Much Love,

~Elder Carroll

My Favorite scripture this week: Mosiah 2:41 - "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

My favorite quote this week: "It's all about the principle." - Uncle Kent Carroll