An email that I just found and will now post out of order

Monday April 8, 2013

 

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Man what a conference weekend right!?!? I definitely get more out of conference on the mission. I didn’t even fall asleep! haha there were a bunch of talks that I really enjoyed and I’m thankful to be able to study them in the coming weeks. I was even able to go to Saturday afternoon session with an investigator and I didn’t see anyone I knew! Thank goodness. I am always worried when I go to temple square or conference that I will see someone. Our investigator really liked it. She got baptized yesterday. I forgot my camera or I would send some cool pictures.

 

We had an interesting week. The Johnson’s, who I’ve been trying to teach for a long time, finally let us teach them as a family! And boy was the lesson powerful or what! Probably the most tender the most powerful and the best lesson I’ve ever been in. They have two kids, ones 8 and the other is 11 and both were so smart or not going to church. They both bore their testimonies to their parents and they were willing to keep all the commitments we gave them. I think it really surprised the parents. I definitely think the Lord knew which kids to give to this family. They will be a strong addition to the ranks of the Lord.  Truly those two kids were generals in the ranks of Gods army in the pre earth life.

 

With the spring here we are talking to a lot more people. There are way too many people that want to bash; and I have to resist. The biggest problem is they are all sinning ignorantly- actually not even ignorantly they don’t want to know what is right so they choose not to learn and then they lie to themselves that they are okay and then they begin to believe it.  It’s like people are willfully rebelling.

 

We finally get to take off our jackets! We no longer have to wear them all the time. So now when it’s hot we just have on short sleeves. Today was super rainy and we still didn’t wear jackets. This transfer just came to a close. So I’ve spent 5 transfers here in Kearns. There is a high probability that I will be transferred. But who knows. I like this area and we are very successful here.  There’s a rumor that I’m going to West Jordan west zone.  But that’s a rumor.  I don’t really know who started it.

 So I met a lady that might know Mark Salmon. She said she played rook with a Mark Salmon in Ricks College.  I couldn’t definitely tell her if it was uncle mark because I didn’t know him when he looked young haha. Also did our relatives own the Salmon funeral home in Cardston? (Just some questions).

 

I’m still loving the mission!  It’s crazy to be a part of the big jump in missionaries. I’m glad I got out right before. I will just be training this army and leading this army. And I’m excited for it. The new missionaries are going to be great. I love that the work is hastening.

 

Hope everyone is good.

Love Elder Salmon

"We came to earth to learn by faith"

Dear family and friends,

 

Wow I can't believe I've been in sandy for 3 weeks already. I miss Kearns a little. The fonts gather too much dust here. Whereas the fonts in Kearns get washed out every weekend. So elder Dresen and I are making plans to start washing the fonts. So far we have a baptism planned! It's exciting. And another lady that we are focusing on is Wanda Brady. Her husband died and she is torn up inside. We do service and stop by and talk. The plan of salvation is really important for her along with the atonement, but she has a hard time believing it all. She's not reading the BOM yet so that's why.  She's reading the whole bible before she reads the BoM. Its a great goal but she putting off salvation until she prays for her answer.  She is smiling a lot more when we show up. Those are two investigators that I think will be baptized.

We are really trying to involve the member here because they are so awesome! They are always missionary minded and we should baptize here. They come out with us now we just need people to take them to lessons with us. Our numbers look soo much better this week. But I'm still hoping that we will pick up a few more investigators. There are golden ones everywhere-we're just waiting for them.

But a mom told me to tell you about my normal day mom cause she said that would interest you. So usually we wake up at 6, workout- I like to play basketball. I've gotten a lot better at shooting on the mission. Come back and make breakfast, usually eggs or cereal. A family gave us extra eggs and I'll probably keep going back because they always have too many. They have chickens. Then we start studying at 8. I always read a little from the BOM then I study a topic in the scriptures or in PMG. Then for 2 more hours I train Elder Dresen. I teach principles, have him practice teaching me, and I teach to him. Then an hour of missionary work lunch/ nap time (which is actually encouraged by mission presidents wife. At 1 we are out working till 5, then dinner for an hour and them work till 9 or 9:30 if in a lesson, then plan for the next day get ready for bed and sleep. Repeat.

 So music is still the best! haha and I'm thinking that I'm going to buy basketball shoes and another pair of Sunday shoes soon. Ill probably use my debit card.

Its getting hot here. And I got a lot of sun the other day. I'm hoping mom that if I tan while its not too sunny I'll tan and never need sunscreen. I got a little red the other day but didn't burn so it might work.

I had a weird lesson with a guy. He is an evangelical and I knew that going in but he wanted to discuss religion. I was thinking he wanted to bash... but he really wanted me to answer some gospel questions. I'm really glad that I know my stuff in the bible. The next time we go back he wants me to prove things using the bible... I don't know why people always think they need proof. We came to earth to learn by faith. The only principle we couldn't learn in God's presence. So I made a giant list of all the scriptures that support restored truths and how Christ's church was during his ministry. It's like 3 pages long. Obviously if he's not willing to pray about the BOM I wont go back though.

 

Well I hope you're all doing well.

Love Elder Salmon

"My Jaw Dropped"

Dear Family and Friends

 

Man I’m out here in Sandy! We are not in Kearns anymore. It’s different. But it is good. I do enjoy myself here and I am having a lot of fun getting to know the bishops and stuff. So my first week or so I had appointments with the bishops and stake president so that we could get to know them and they could see us and see how hard we want to work so they feel comfortable giving us referrals. We have been contacting a lot and trying to find the elect. We had to drop a few off the so call investigators here that haven’t been to church and don’t even want to come to church. So now we are working on finding our own. It can be a struggle. Where the main ward lives not many people move in and out so it’s hard. We have apartments in our area which is really nice but finding a time when people are home is rough. I see a lot of potential here and success will come with time I’m sure. I am definitely learning a lot about patience. All I want to do is teach but hey that’s not missionary work.

A family that I think elder Dresen and I have really touched is the Watts family. They are less active and have kind of felt forgotten by past missionaries because it’s not a baptism when we teach them. It is a reactivation. So because elder Dresen and I taught them like investigators and really showed our love for them and helping them to get sealed in the temple they have changed and they seem brighter and happier. In fact they said they were close to giving up because they were not feeling the spirit when the other elders taught. Our first lesson was very powerful with them. They are a really cool couple and I’ve learned a lot from both of them. Sister Watts is one of the most dedicated and avid scripture readers. She often texts us topics she wants us to teach them next.

 

We live with a cool English woman and her husband. They are pretty normal compared to the last house I lived in. I love having a car though. We got a brand New CAR last week. hahaha its a 2013 Chevy Cruz! It had 94 miles on it when I got it. It has some good acceleration. It hasn’t been too warm so we have been driving more often than I usually like.

 

 I’m doing well. I gave myself a haircut this morning and I think I did a pretty good job again. I’m getting better. We have weights downstairs so our workouts are good. AND I HAVE MY JUMP ROPE AND I'M GETTING BETTER.

 

We had a really crazy lesson with a Pakistani Muslim. I had no idea what to do so I invited this guy who works for the church and is the head interpreter for arabic. But the Muslim (syed) only wanted to talk to him because he knew where he came from It was a super long lesson and by the end of it syed said "I’m scared to find out because I’m scared your religion is right." my jaw dropped. This guy did an amazing job and really strengthened my testimony and taught me a lot about how much more I should learn about the atonement. Sandy is warmer than Kearns... And I’m glad the sun is out way more.

 

Hope you all are doing well. Love you all.

Elder Salmon