• The weekly planning session we had during district meeting was incredibly helpful.  We specifically planned what days we would teach our investigators, and it contributed greatly to our success this week.  Weekly planning is vital for the key indicators, as well as knowing what to focus on for our daily planning.
• On Sunday our recent Convert Antonio bore his testimony of the church and testified how he knew the BofM was true and that he only had two chapters left to finish it. He testified that he knew the President Monson was a propthet of God. He has been a member for 4 months and this are the moments that truly make me rejoice and make all the challenges and difficulties worth being on the mission. I can't wait til next December when he will go to the temple to be endowed. I truly love this work.
• But General Conference was AMAZING. I felt a common thread through most of the talks was all about families and how important they are and how to strengthen relationships. It really made me look back and really see how much the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ is meant to help families and how much it has helped me in my own family back home. I used to just skim over the principle of the gospel blesses families before. Now, I'm sure it will be a major focus because that is really what the gospel is all about.
• Personal study. I like the following quote, which, if i remember correctly, is the first published paper after the press was destroyed: "if you do your duty, it's just as well with you, as though all men embraced the gospel". yup, i like that one
• I learned a lot from general conference one of my bigger questions had to do with finishing my mission strong so I got a bunch of anwsers reminding me it's not about me or anything of that sort, It's about the people, heavenly fathers children. a quick quote of the day: A missionary = someone who leaves their family for two years so others may be with their families for eternity.
• Conference this weekend was amazing! Every single talk, whether given by one of the apostles or someone I didn't recognize, was inspired. I felt the spirit strongly with each speaker, and especially at the conference center when the Prophet walked in to the room. That experience has made me more enthused to share the gospel with others so that they too can hear our Prophet speak, and enjoy conference. On our way out of temple square after the morning session of conference we saw one of our investigators heading in.
• Zone Conference was great.  I loved the doctrine of power and authority.  One thing I haven't really thought to much on is the difference between the two.  Understanding that has helped me understand my role a little more.  We have the power to receive revelation for that which we have stewartship over (investigators and finding activities) and the authority to implament that revelation.  We need work in harmony with the keys of the bishops and stake presidents as well.  We can be guided to those seeking the gospel as we call upon the powers of heaven to guide us.  I've seen that this week even.  We'll probably be working on doing FHE's with the members of Midvale North.  I know that their are many in our area ready and waiting to hear the gospel.
• So this week was great we finally hit 30 leassons with a member present for the first time which has been our goal for months its amazing. we have been planning really well this week and last week. saying alot of prayers and running all over the place to try to get in doors. we picked up 5 new investigators this week and are doing well. we have been planning so much better and talking about our investigators a lot. we are seeing what they need and getting more personal with them i am loving this work so much. so cant wait to hit 30 again this week i hope we can do it again. the lord is really blessing us.
• This week was so much better than the last one. We taught one less lesson than last week, but we were able to find some new people to be in the teaching pool as well as give baptismal dates in two of the first lessons that we taught this week. It's not perfect, but it is an improvement. We are going to continue thanking the Lord for the success we had this week and trust that we will have more in the coming week. I really have learned a lesson, if we aren't happy and positive, the Lord wont bless us. So now im just going to decide to be happy even if things dont work out perfect. I loved Zone conference because the principle of being happy and not thinking about yourself was what I really needed and what the Spirit took to my heart.
• Thank you for the wonderful Zone Conference! i learned so much and was touched and inspired by the Spirit. You are a great example for us and i am trying harder to know the scriptures like you. i loved the different classes we had at zone conference and i learned that we need to tell the investigators how important it is to God for them to keep commitments. that was a question we had as a companionship- how to be disappointed when they do not keep commitments and it was the perfect answer. i also loved the stone cutter movie. i decided to give my all to God and be the best missionary i can be.
• Zone Conference was good.  Chapter 1 has been my favorite chapter my entire mission.  The biggest thing that I took out of it was what you said at the end, "When times get tough, it's your purpose that keeps you going."  I  believe that.  I understand what I am supposed to be doing here, and I want to fulfill that purpose.  This past week was a good example of that.  I am lucky that we had this zone conference to help me stay focused on my purpose, especially when it seems like nobody wants to get baptized.  The Lord never lets me feel comfortable.  I think that will be a pattern for life, never feeling comfortable.  Oh well.  It makes things more exciting.
• so, how are things? things are going very well here. we're having a lot of success and also a lot of fun. we're trying to do everything we can to be exactly obedient and hit our goals. we've also, with the new meal policey, stopped dinners with a family in our area who had us over every sunday for a long long time. it was tough. we really love that family and for me it was a good model for how to run a good family, but i know it's much more important to be obedient. we're feeling the blessings already.
• I really learned this week about the spirit. It is the spirit that lets people know/feel something is true. I learned that sometimes you are prompted to say things to people and you don't even know it. I learned that it doesn't take forever to be prepared to be baptized, it only takes the witness of the Holy Ghost. I know that the gospel is true. I know that it can change lives. I know the Holy Spirit is the true teacher and witnesses of truth.
• From Zone Conference I really was impacted by the pictures of the people going to the temple. Those people have worked hard to get there, and it really was a change for them. While I was at zone conference I had thought "I wish we could have focused on this at the beginning of my mission" and then I looked back through my notes and my second or third zone conference was all about helping people get to the temple. I guess I should have taken it to heart the first time.
• Zone Conference was an amazing learning experience (as usual). I always love getting the chance to be taught by you and Sister Laney, and the trainings from the Assistants and Elder Toleman were great as well. What I learned at that conference can be summarized by quoting something you said. "You have the power to do this." I'm sure there were many things to be taken from the Conference, but for myself, I learned that we as missionaries truly  do have the power to do this. Living our lives day  by day, we tend to slip in to routine and forget just how sacred this calling is.  I felt God's trust in me. I felt my time become more precious, and my responsibility more sacred. How I plan to implement the things I learned is by continuing to do the things we've always been taught to do. Use the Golden Hour effectively! Treasure up the words of life. Keep a continuous prayer in my heart for the welfare of those I teach and  for the benefit of my own soul. I feel that as I do these things, my power and authority will be manifest by the fruits that are produced.
• I read in the mission letter our mission motto.  The part that said, obedience is the price, hit me.  It made me realize that none of us ever want to pay for anything whether it be money or whatever.  However, if we do we will get the rewards.  Just something that I had studied this week and liked.
• So I was looking in The Topical Guide for the Mission of Jesus Christ and I refferenced it to Isaiah 61: 1-3. After reading those scriptures I saw that his mission was basically the same as mine. To preach to the meek, comfort all that mourn and to show people the beauty of life and life eternal. I have grown more with a desire to share that message to more and more people over this last week. Understanding the mission and atonement of Christ, it is a constant reminder for me to work harder to share our message! I LOVE THE MORNING HOURS!
• Also in Zone conference I learned that as we are obedient, everything we do has a purpose. We all should trust the Lord and be confident because we have the AUTHORITY. We were set a part before we came to mission. To know that I have the authority to teach, I feel better and don't feel less confident or hard on myself. I want to be more perfectly obedient and follow the spirit. I want to love the people and do my best every minutes. The time is Lord's time and I want to be a trusted servant from the Lord and people that we serve. I am going to push more and more as I do missionary work.
• Zone Conference:
    -I observed that our purpose is to emulate the Savior.
    -I learned that a simple testimony backed by the spirit is far more powerful than an intellectual explanation.
    -I am going to fulfill my purpose until the day I am released from this mantle. And I will continue to serve after.
• I always remember a quote I heard from one of the general authorities in the MTC: "Pray as if it all depends on the Lord, and work as if it all depends on you." "This work is NOT YOUR WORK, but has EVERYTHING to do with you." So I have been doing my best to live up to that. Daily planning at night is always a good time to reflect on the day, and to prepare for the next. We take full advantage of that time and most of the times end up going over half an hour.
• We have been very blessed. We were able to teach a woman who just moved-in from St. Louis, Missouri. She is living with an older man who claims to be a former member of the Church, and who was at first pretty cold towards us. After we taught the Restoration to Keena at the door, the man living with her, came up to us, apologized to us, and asked us if it would be alright if he sat in with us when we teach her today. He then told us that he hadn't been to church for forty years and that we were the first missionaries he's talked to that asked him why he hasn't gone, and what we could do to help him. I was so thankful for the Holy Ghost being present for those twenty minutes we were at the door, because He softened the heart of a man that has been embittered towards the gospel for a long time. We gave a prayer of thanks to the Lord after this experience, and I was thankful for the feeling of true gratitude that I felt as we prayed.
• I attended Zone Conference, and heard others speak who have been through more than I can imagine, are far more obedient and devoted missionaries than I am, and who I have never heard complain once. Then you said something that made me realize how ungrateful, prideful, and selfish I have been for the past eight months. You said, "If you think you have it hard, study the Atonement." I have begun studying it, and I'm planning to continue to study it for the remainder of my mission, because I've realized that I really don't have it hard at all. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of this past week, I have continued to hear stories from people that we've met, describing the terrible things that they've gone through. I have never felt more humbled unworthy in my life. I realize that I haven't served the Lord with all my heart, and I realize that He is helping me understand that in one of the only ways I can.
• I have learned that I needed to forget myself because I was focusing on me rather than my purpose.
• Zone Conference was so inspiring! even though im going home soon i still have all the desires of my heart here in the mission, there really isn't anything better i could be doing right now than teaching the Gospel, we've been baptizing weekly this transfer and its amazing! we don't have anyone on date as of right now but if there's something i've learned on the mission is to trust the Lord, as long as i am being obedient and doing what i need to do i know the Lord will provide the way for us to find and baptize.
• This past week we have been working with a less active family. They have never gone back to church after they were baptized about seven years ago. The father came to church the week before conference and now the two teenage children are wanting to return as well. One of them was not baptized with the rest of the family. We didn't know that until about three times visiting them. It just goes to show that working with less-actives is not a waste of time.
• We are very excited about the coming weeks here in our area. We've taken to heart the emphasis on finding, and are starting to implement some new ideas into our stake. We feel completely optimistic about them, and are confident that the Lord will bless our efforts. Our investigators are also doing well. Our greatest excitement is with the Martinez Family, who will be baptized on the 24th. The Lord has allowed that family to experience a complete conversion, something that I havn't seen all the time during my time here. It is such a wonderful feeling to see a family, together learning about the Gospel, sharing in the excitement of coming unto Christ.
• I was invited to come back for the baptism of Rosa. It truly has been a miracle. Someone once said that we elders "have been called to see and perform miracles"  I don't have a doubt of that.
• Elder Uchdorfs talk on patience stood out to me the most. I need to be able to put my thoughts and desires on hold for a time. Patience is not just enduring, but enduring well. Impatience is a trait of the self-absorbed (that hit me hard). I have been trying my best to pray for and cultivate patience. Patience wins mastery.
• The thing that I loved the most is that we taught 44 lessons!!!
• This past week we had the ample oppurtunity to be with two tongan mini missionaries and enjoy their great spirit and fire, it was wonderful to see how excited they were for every aspect of missionary work. we worked well and talked with everyone in our path and I remembered what it felt like to be a new missionary again.
• We had a wonder experience last night... We have been teaching this family for about 12 weeks now( since I have been here) and we started out with the kids and slowly the parents became interested... Even though the parents would not let the kids be baptized, we kept visiting them and sharing messages. The Father had a eyeopening experience Saturday night as well. The first thing he told us when we went for the lesson yesterday was that he needed to come closer to the savior and that he and the whole family would be attending church with us this coming Sunday!
• I really enjoyed having the Tongan stake work with us.  I enjoyed the awakening to finding and the boost of faith those brothers gave us.  We will not rest until we have found at least one person to hear the message of the restoration.
• Gospel study has been alright this week. I've taken the counsel of Elder Scott at General Conference to read more on the Atonement. So I decided to study Isaiah 53 more in-depth. It is amazing the amount of suffering Jesus Christ went through. With words like grief, pain, sorrow, and bruised; one can only grasp a small portion of that pain and suffering. Just as with anyone who tries to describe the Atonement, words can never express what Christ went through. This chapter brought a whole new meaning to the Atonement for me.

• General conference was amazing.  I loved that it was about family, because my family has made so many improvements and changes since I've been gone. The first talk really got to me because it was about allowing and asking fathers to give us blessings.  My dad did not help set me apart as a missionary and I asked my grandpa to give me a blessing before I went out, but not my dad.  I see the error of my ways, and I felt strongly that I need to ask my dad for a blessing as soon as I can. General conference was amazazing!
• I was so thankful for the opportunity to hear General Conference this past weekend, especially the Priesthood Session. I felt many of the same feelings there, that I had felt during our revelatory experience with Elder Bednar. Many of the questions I had had during the past few weeks were answered during Conference, and I'm so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to be receptive enough to understand how he wants me to act.
• General Conference however was amazing! Like always. I always look forwards to hearing from specific individals, but I noticed this time nearly all of them I feel were really great talks. Normally I tend to zone in and out if a talk isn't too appealing to me, but this time I was there the whole time. I agree to Presidnet Monson when he kept saying that this was one of the best conferences he's ever attended. Things are going good. We're still finding every week and should be picking up a family a five with two non-members and three less-actives. I'm really excited for them because we've been working about 6 months to be able to teach them.
• I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to go to General Conference, I enjoyed every single moment of it =) Usually at home I only woke up for confernece with my family to watch the opening prayer and eat breakfast then lay down and take a nap, but I have payed attention this time!! =)  When President Eyring spoke, it reminded me of my family and my older brother who needs to be rescued, then to my mission and that I also need to be a rescuer to those who don't know about the gospel.
• General conference was an amazing experience. I learned a lot and specially from the priesthood meeting session. I guess what hit me was the importance of being patient and Pres. Uchdorf spoke really good about the subject. I also liked the talk by elder Oaks that made me realise the importance of the actual anointing and sealing part of the blessing. Sometimes I get too worried about what to say during the blessing, but elder Oaks made clear that the most important thing is the anointing and sealing and specially the faith of that who receive it. I really enjoyed being able to go to the saturday afternoon session and sostain the proohet. Something I have learned from my mission is that sustaining the prephet is more than just raising our hands is also obedience and prayer in his behalf.
• I was EXTREMELY grateful for the opportunity I had to go to conference! THANK YOU! I have always seen it on T.V. and such but to actually be that close to the brethren you can definitely feel the spirit. Elder Dallin H. Oaks came over to the missionaries in the Saturday morning session! Just even being able to shake an apostle's hand was a wonderful experience! and to just be able to see president Monson was great itself! I have always wanted to see the prophet in person ever since I was a child just because growing up you hear that they are the prophet and sometimes you just want to see! So confernce was an amazing experience which taught me to always be prepared and I received great information that will benefit me on the mission and especially after my mission and when I am 60 years old! I already can't wait to go to the next conference!
• As I went through General Conference notes today, I looked at all the invitations that I received from apostles and prophets, and thought, "Oh my, I have lots to work on!"  So now I need to set goals with the Lord to accomplish them.  My favourite talk was from Elder Oaks in Priesthood session, because I had been wondering about a lot of the things he talked about.  He answered some questions I didn't even know I had.
• General Conference was great!  I honestly loved nearly all of it, and learned quite a bit.  I was suprised of how much emphasis was put on the family, but all of it was very good.  I've come to appreciate the conferences more and more as I have aged in the mission.  They leave me with a renewed faith and conviction. The most important thing that I learned would probably be the importance of having the spirit with us all of the time, and how being obedient affects that.  I loved the talk about justifying not obeying commandments and definately saw that in myself.  So I'll stop justifying and be more obedient.
• Im still figuring out what else im supposed to learn but conference helped alot. I realized I really need to spend some time studying compassion and charity. So im going to devote some study time to that. The past few weeks I have really gained a testimony of the golden hours. The study habits I have developed on my mission I really am going to work to take home with me. I love the scriptures. I love learning about them and about our Savior. I just started reading Jesus the Christ. Im one chapter in but I can just tell that its going to be an amazing experience studying that book. I feel that there is never enough time to study and prepare. I guess thats just another reason why we need to rely on the Spirit and on prayers of faith. No matter what numbers say, I know Im constantly working to improve and work harder. Im going to continue to do that and to exercise faith. I know the promises in the scriptures are true and that this area is going to pick up as we do our very best.
• In conference I particularly enjoyed the talk by Dallin H. Oaks about giving priesthood blessings. It's something that I wondered about for a while. Now I won't feel so uncomfortable about giving blessings in Spanish. Our goal for this new week is to get the people we're teaching to church and on date.
• I loved Conference this week. I've personally been struggling with my confidence in accomplishing what the Lord has given me to do, and I went in to conference with a speficic prayer that the Lord would not only strenthen me, but teach me what I could do to strengthen my confidence. He did that very thing in the first session. Watching it, I was amazed that so many individuals spoke on exactly what I needed. The Lord reaffirmed the knowledge I already had; specifically that if I act, then the Lord will be able to change my heart and give me power to accomplish all things.
• It was a terrific week.  General Conference is the highlight of the week.  Thansk also for the privilege of letting me go to the Priesthood Session of the General Conference. We are still working with 10 investigators they don't have a date yet but I am confident that they will accept one pretty soon.
• Thank-you so much for the opportunity to listen to the living Prophet, Apostles and other General Authorities. I had a truly wonderful experience listening and being edified by there talks and the music that was shared throughout the entire conference. I very much enjoyed the Priesthood Session as well as the Sunday Afternoon Session. I especially enjoyed President Dieter F. Uchtdorf talk labeled, "His Hands" where we are His hands, the hands of Jesus Christ. We, being missionaries, are literally our Lord and Savior's tools and His hands. The whole experience and his talk was very profound. There were many surreal moments during the conference. Additional, another talk that had an intense or at least an immense impact on me was during the Priesthood Session. The topic was on the Priesthood and Priesthood Blessings. There were many points that were very direct and straight forward. But probably the most surrealistic point in the conference, to me, was when ever the brethren were speaking about the latter-days and how there are earthquakes in diverse places: Haiti, Chile, Pacific Islands and according to our Land Lord this morning, Mexico.
• Conference was wonderful.  Enjoyed the talk given by Elder Carlson of the Seventy in the Saturday Afternoon session.  I loved his analogy with the airplane, as will as the common excuses for disobedience.  Its a good reflection to see if any of those thoughts enter my mind as I do the work.  There are no shortcuts.
• I really enjoy it conference it was great i notice how we are always suppost to work in the service of the lord and how much heavenly father really is loking out for our wellbeing.i learn that the scriptures can show us very clearly what is the right path to fallow they declare the true.and somany other things that i will not write just because i know you will get very long letters.no concerns.
• Priesthood Session, the talk by President Uchtdorf, Eyring and by our beloved prophet President Thomas S. Monson.  Those were the talks that really stuck out to me.  President Uchtdorf on patience.  President Eyring on dilligence, and President Monson talking about the eternal importance of being close to God.  They were all inspired of God.
• So this past conference was really neat.  Thank you for letting us attend a session of Conference.  It was a great blessing to hear the talks in person.  Its funny cause a few of the talks seemed to talk to me and answered some questions that I had and also made me think in new ways.  It was really special to be taught by the Spirit as Elder Bednar taught us when he came here.  Well, we will keep working hard and doing our best.
• General Conference was great. They had a lot of good messages and it seemed like they talked a lot about Families and the Resurrection. But it was all good. Of course it is hard to improve family relationships when on a mission but we can use these messages with the people we are teaching. Helping them realize how important the family is. Also in the Sunday Morning Session of Conference I could really feel the spirit from the speakers in that session. It could just feel it a little more that session as it concentrated on the Savior. It was a really good experience. Also one of my favorite talks was by President Uchtdorf in the Priesthood session. Patience is something everyone can need. It was really cool learning about that.
• The most exciting thing this week was with the Martinez Family. They are a family of six that the Lord led us to while we were simply walking down the road, and they have all been truely converted to the Gospel. They all watched conference yesterday, and we followed up on what they learned last night. All of them remembered and saw how they could apply the lessons in Conference. They are all now looking forward to their baptism on the 24th of April.
• I received a lot of impressions during the Sessions.   One of those impressions was about the role of parents teaching their children the ways of the Lord.  We are going to use some of those talks for some of our investigators.   Another one was of not judging inmediatly, I loved the example of Martha who asked the Savior to let her sister Maria help her with chores at home compare to when she told the Savior that whatsover he asked the Father, the Father will grant him, even to raise her brother from the death.  I personally will apply that in my life, I trust that the Lord will bless me for that. I am grateful for my gospel studies that are helping in every aspect of missionary work.  The Spirit and Revelation have been in my mind a lot.
• Work is going well, lots to do and improve. We are going to work extra hard this week and put people back on date. We had two baptisms this week, miracles baptisms becuase we had been waiting for a long time. I am grateful for the insights I got to hear from speakers at Conference. A lot I heard were things I was seeking for. Hope you have a good week.
• I loved Conference. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to serve so close to be able to attend a session. I felt like they spoke a lot about working to make the Savior the center of our lives. As I saught guidance about finishing up... what I can do better, how I can manage not being a missionary anymore, etc., I felt the Holy Ghost tell me that, yes, I am starting a new chapter in my life like I have many other times, but now I am girdled with the power that comes only through prayer, the strength that comes only through service, the testimony that comes only through trial, and the love that comes only through leading others to Christ. I am grateful for modern revelation and the Spirit that permiates those who spoke to us. I know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers. We are looking really hard to find more people to teach. There are always so many people waiting. When we rely on the Holy Ghost and not our own selves to find these people we will be led to them to them to us.
• The conference was really good, Elder Anderson's talk touched me a lot, I have been inspired to study the Savior until the end of my mission, just focus on his life to make that the majority of my study.  Our investigators are progressing really well, we are continuing the search for new investigators.  Thanks President, have a good week!
• I learnd that the time in the morning is so important. i need to use it wisely to study and gain the knowledge that i need to help and invite others to come on to christ. the work is going good im just trying to do my best to better my self daily. to grow little by little. im just trying to study to best of my ability. i try to stay humble and be open to all things.
• I love the area, but i guess sometimes it get to me how people say its a bad area or everyone is shady or how we are wasting our time doing this or that. But yea, "not compare yourselfs to others". Its ok though, theres been good moments (Talked to the mom of one of the youth from another area, he's going on his mission, and i guess i played a role in that (i did just about nothing to, just told him to go, and one day he agreed).   Also a member told me that i was the first "Elder elder" he has had. I asked what he meant, and he just said the first one that didn't walk around all stressed out looking (though i really am a lot, but not in despair), but always looked like i was enjoying my time).So all in all, ups and downs. I'm sure later on the downs will be ups.
• We are also teaching a twenty year-old who has been investigating for seven years and he says his hold-up is the blacks and the priesthood issue. He has developed a friendship with the ward mission leader who taught him that he won't feel right about it unless he is coming to church and living the gospel. Our investigator is now coming and meeting with us each week, and is looking to be baptized before his birthday at the end of May. We are praying so hard for him!
• I have been reading the book of John at Elder Andersen's request and learning a lot more detail and "morals" from the stories of Christ. I taught about the Pool of Bethesda to my mini missionary since she hadn't heard it before and we spotted the painting of the story in every chapel we were in on Sunday.
• Dear President Laney, things are going well.  I can honestly say that I have never had this many baptisms in a single transfer before, no not since my very first transfer on my mission.  This has been a great confidence booster in both me and my companion, we have a stronger mindset that we can baptize.  We are also starting to find again.  This week should be an even better week for finding new investigators, we have some extremely promising refferals. Date    April 12 2010
• This Sunday we had a correlation with our stake president and he gave us very good advices of how we  can help some of the investigators that we have, its pretty impresing how the Holy Ghost help the stake president to say the right comments about the investigators, he knows some of them, but  his stewarship in this area is totallly revealtory. I was pretty happy after that, because he gave us very good ideas that we are going to apply this next week.
• The Tongan Mini Mission was wonderful. Feeling of their Spirit and working along side them reminds me of how it was when you first come out and you don't really know anything and all you do is rely on the Lord and His Spirit.
• This week was great. Thank you for coming to Josephs Baptism. We were really blessed to find 4 new investigators this week and that is why we were able to surpass our goal. Next week we are planning on trying to get even more. We have been working with some who have fallen away and it is pretty crazy to hear some of the reasons why they stopped comming to church. It is really sad but reminds me that a testimony has a short shelf life. We are working to get many to have that desire to learn and have that motivation to act.
• Something really neat happened this weekend. There is a family named the Christiansens, who we went over to meet for the first time a week and a half ago. They have three girls, ages 5, 8, & 10, and the husband in currently in Afghanistan until October. Both parents are members, but have not gone to church since before they were married eleven years ago. The elders taught the 10-year-old last year, but the parents decided they want her to know enough and be old enough before she is allowed to make a decision about being baptized. (We seem to come across that way too often). Because the parents never go to church, of course their daughters are never going to learn anything to be ready to make that decision. Well, we went over, got to know the mom and the girls a little bit, and asked them if they would come to church the next Sunday. She said they would. That in and of itself was unexpected. Saturday, we went back over to make sure they were still planning on coming. We had to speak in a different ward the same time as theirs, and she really didn't want to do all of this by herself. It's a really big step to come back to church with your three girls when you haven't been for that long. That takes a lot of courage. Well, the only person Sister Christiansen feels comfortable with in the ward is her visiting teacher, who has faithfully fulfilled her calling for the last six years. So, we immediately went to see her (Sister Salazar) and told her that Sis. Christiansen would be coming to church and made sure she would call her that day and let her know they could sit with her, etc. When we told Sister Salazar all of this, she started crying and told us that the Christiansens have been part of the "21 day promise" that they'd been doing this last month. It truly is a miracle that Sister Christiansen agreed to come and bring her three girls, all because the Lord has been preparing her and all we had to do was ask. With enough faith and prayers, amazing things happen. They came to church all three hours. They invited us to have dinner with them, as well. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks. I am excited to see their progress. She told us they will definitely be there in two weeks (next week they have a family conflict). The work continues to go well. Thanks for all you do, President. Date    April 12, 2010
• This week was probably our best week of the transfer. We have really tried to be humble and patient during the last couple of weeks (about 6 for me) and it seems as if the Lord has accepted our offering and is now blessing us with more success. I know that as we continue to keep focused and work hard every minute of every day, we will see more success. I am very thankful for the change that this area has made in my outlook on missionary work. Its not about us, just about others. That's really the key that I have learned and am still learning the hard way.
• Miracles keep happening in our area. I know the Lord is blessing us and D&C 103:36 explains why. President, it's like you say. There's so such thing as a dead area, only dead missionaries.
• As a district we found 12 total! It was incredible! We also had a goal of 32 lessons with a member present and we ended the week with exactly 32! Things all turned around Tuesday after that companionship inventory. I know that studies are important and that it makes the difference.
• My companion said that in the last two weeks or so, a light just came on with the mother and she had made a lot of progress. He didn't know why, but he said that she just decided one day to start reading the Book of Mormon and praying, and that has made all the difference. I love the rescue! I've really tried to catch hold of the vision of reactivating the parents of the kids that we teach, and it's so rewarding!
• Zone Conference: It was a great experience to see the movie, "Only a Stonecutter", because I could relate to him personally, I felt as if I did loose one of my legs when I left my comfort zone in the Spanish assignment and now its my choice to act upon what im going to do about it. So, like I said, Im going to build-me a wooden leg so I can walk again, spiritually.
• I enjoyed zone conference, as always.  My companion and I are using the finding packets to try and find new ways to find people.  I've noticed a trend since I have been in this new area.  The investigators we have have concerns I haven't dealt with my whole mission, and the ways I have found in my past areas haven't been very effective.  We need to teach different and find different and always remember to study hard so that we will be inspired to do what we need to do and when. In general, I need to stop doing things I know how to do and start doing things I don't.  That forces me to rely on someone that does, the Lord.
• I've been studying diligence and initiative this past week. I have learned so much!! I will always take initiative during my life. I dont want to go through my life with no initiative. Zone conference really emphasied that for me. Thank you.
• Also in Zone conference I learned that as we are obedient, everything we do has a purpose. We all should trust the Lord and be confident because we have the AUTHORITY. We were set a part before we came to mission. To know that I have the authority to teach, I feel better and don't feel less confident or hard on myself. I want to be more perfectly obedient and follow the spirit. I want to love the people and do my best every minutes. The time is Lord's time and I want to be a trusted servant from the Lord and people that we serve. I am going to push more and more as I do missionary work.
• Zone Conference:
   -I observed that our purpose is to emulate the Savior.
   -I learned that a simple testimony backed by the spirit is far more powerful than an intellectual explanation.
   -I am going to fulfill my purpose until the day I am released from this mantle. And I will continue to serve after.
• I always remember a quote I heard from one of the general authorities in the MTC: "Pray as if it all depends on the Lord, and work as if it all depends on you." "This work is NOT YOUR WORK, but has EVERYTHING to do with you." So I have been doing my best to live up to that. Daily planning at night is always a good time to reflect on the day, and to prepare for the next. We take full advantage of that time and most of the times end up going over half an hour.
• Wetaught the Restoration to Keena at the door, the man living with her, came up to us, apologized to us, and asked us if it would be alright if he sat in with us when we teach her today. He then told us that he hadn't been to church for forty years and that we were the first missionaries he's talked to that asked him why he hasn't gone, and what we could do to help him. I was so thankful for the Holy Ghost being present for those twenty minutes we were at the door, because He softened the heart of a man that has been embittered towards the gospel for a long time. We gave a prayer of thanks to the Lord after this experience, and I was thankful for the feeling of true gratitude that I felt as we prayed.
• At Zone Conference I loved the movie about John Rowe Moyle.  I was impressed by his dedication and it inspired me.  I learned that much of our purpose has to do with who we become and it just reaffirmed that for me and helped me realize that although we have alot of success in this mission it isn't about that.  I feel like it has been a process for me to learn that even if we had no sucess numbers-wise that it would still all be worth it.
I Love this mission and this work.
• I loved zone conference and loved talking about our true purpose and power as missionaries I plan on using it to better help my investigators feel and recognize the spirit. I also have continued marking the preach my gospel scriptures and have been working on tring to memeroize them. Thank you president for all you do

• Life is good. Conference was absolutely wonderful. It was pretty much the best. I really just felt a lot of confidence during conference, confidence that my mission has been successful and that the Lord will always take care of us. As far as what I learned, one of the biggest things I learned was in President Uchtdorf talk on patience when he mentioned the parable of the two servants, and applied it to treating those we serve with patience and mercy and sometimes giving them a break. It's the first time I'd ever thought of that parable as a principle of leadership, so that meant a lot to me. And now what do i do? Well I guess what I need to do is apply elder christophersons talk and really have solid scripture study and apply Pres. Uchtdorf other talk and be a true representative of Jesus Christ and help people to take care of their needs. Church is true president. Have a great week.
• We are trying to meet the needs of our investigators in our lessons with them and trying to increase the frequency of the lessons to help them prepare even more. We are working through members to get referrals and find new people to teach. We have to potential investigators who have both attended church and want to meet with us. We are just trying to set up appointments with these individuals.
• I learned so much from conference. The one that sticks out the most is the talk by Elder Packer about the role of fathers. A lot of the stories he told applied to me and my dad. My dad was rarely able to do much in the priesthood. It just really hit home for me. It made me realize the role that I will soon have. It opened my eyes so much. Also I am through Alma in the Book of Mormon and have learned so much by reading about the Great War leaders. They trusted God, had unshakeable faith, and consulted Him in everything. I learned that I should do the same since we are in a war with a real adversary. My studies have helped me learn and grow so much. I cannot believe how big of a difference I can see after only a month of my mission. I can't wait to see what other blessings and lessons the Lord has in store for me. I am doing well and don't have any concerns right now.
• I really enjoyed conference.  The theme this year of conference seemed to focus a lot on families, I suppose that is what it is all about.  Conference helped me to learn that we are on missions to help save families.  Recently we have been baptizing a lot, but our teaching has gone way done.  WE MUST FIND NEW INVESTIGATORS!  There is no option, luckily we have a lot of potential, and I know we will have new investigators this week.
• I am thankful for the Lord's hand in all of this.  It seems like we work as hard as we can and then he always just hands us the investigators.  We have been so blessed in this area and I can just see the work expanding.  At Zone Conference I loved the movie about John Rowe Moyle.  I was impressed by his dedication and it inspired me.  I learned that much of our purpose has to do with who we become and it just reaffirmed that for me and helped me realize that although we have a lot of success in this mission it isn't about that.  I feel like it has been a process for me to learn that even if we had no success numbers-wise that it would still all be worth it. I Love this mission and this work. Thank you for your love and prayers.
• Conference was AWESOME! I had been praying in preparation for it for quite awhile. I was asking what I am to learn from all that has happened. Then in Priesthood President Uchtdorf started speaking and I knew I was about to get my answer. It was patience. I never knew how important patience really was but after hearing his talk i realize it. So that was a neat experience for me. I need to work on being more patient and learning from all my experiences.
• As I briefly mentioned to you, I read Elder Bednar's talk on being quick to observe. I think that that talk was given to us with exceptional timing. I was able to apply the principals taught in it as I listened and observed at Conference. It would be impossible for me to expound on all of the things I learned during Conference, but I can give a summary of how I felt. I can definitely say I learned more fully how it feels to be taught by the spirit. Instead of taking detailed notes on a subject, I listened carefully to the messages trying to be delivered. As I listened, I felt the reality of my Savior's love. What an amazing reality that the Lord has called men to be His mouthpieces. What I plan to do is to constantly strive to live worthily of the Lord's trust. I believe that if I do so, I can be a more effective tool in the Lord's hands.
• Conference was great as always. It had a lot to do with the family it seemed and also the atonement of Christ. All is well.
• I love my mission because serving in Utah has its many advantages. It was such a privilege for me to be in the same room with the Prophet and his twelve apostles. The spirit testified again to my heart that these men were called from God. They truly radiate the love of Christ and his goodness. The greatest desire of my heart is to radiate the Lords love, goodness, and light. I want to be like these men and devote my whole life to the Lord.  Elder L. Tom Perry came over to talk to the missionaries and I shook his hand. I was so happy to meet him. I will write a couple of the things that stood out to me from Conference.

The main theme that I received this conference was about strengthening the Home and the Family. I will bullet point parts from different speakers that stood out to me.

   * The best teaching that we will ever do will be in the home
   * none of our preparation is ever wasted because we will always use it in our homes
   * children are a heritage of the Lord
   * Strict obedience to the commandments equal blessings "there are no short cuts to God's commandments"
   * We need hands that help and save spiritually
   * The scriptures enlarge our minds-  they help us so we don't for about the past they remind us and help us learn from others
   * When the Lord commands we do it
   * Obedience to the Lords commandments no matter how trivial
   * The only real control in life is self control
   * Let will be your reason
   * Satan deceives true love and desecrates true love
   * Rebuke the enemy by the redeeming of Jesus Christ
   * "You are my hands" we are the Lord's hands
   * Let the joy of fidelity be the highest as we keep ourselves, our home, family, and society pure.
   * Let us lift those around us
   * every person we meet is VIP to Heavenly Father!
   * Even though we might not look that much, have that much, or know that much we are STILL WORTH A LOT!
   * The savior never talked down to the people
   * "Be a simply devoted latter day saint"
   * The best way to change is to make Jesus Christ our role model
   * What would the Lord Jesus Christ have me do? ask ourselves this question through our day and life
   * We glory in tribulation because we know that God has many times delivered us
   * Never give up turn to the Lord
   * Seek the Face of the Lord (love the Lord and our family, Become worthy examples, & bring our children to the Savior)
   * "How we disagree is a way that shows who we are"
   * Never lose our faith in Jesus Christ!
   * HE IS RISEN! JESUS CHRIST LIVES! tell it out with joy
   * Be forgiving
   * The greatest missionary service, activation, rescue, greatest family history work, greatest family heritage, greatest family legacy will come in our homes!!!  We need to rescue our families.
   * Distraction does not have to be evil to be destructive
   * how we react to difficulties is what matters the most
   * The Lords way is the best
   * Two men can do anything as long as one is the Lord
• Conference was great. It was an honor to shake an apostle's hand. I learned a lot about priesthood blessings from Elder Oaks. I really enjoyed President Uchtdorf’s talk on love and patience. I really need more patience! I lack patience and so that is what I'm going to be working on. It's not enough to do missionary things. I need to be a Christlike missionary.
• i did love conference at the conference center, the spirit i felt there cannot be denied, i don't remember which of the sessions or who the speaker was but someone talked about how we have now more than ever before and it is so true, that thought has been in my mind since i heard it because it is true. We have the Bible, The Book of Mormon. Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, the Ensign plus the living prophets! i mean can we ask for more?! i noticed that most talks focused on the youth and it made me think of my little brother who is going off the path and the talked gave me so much hope because Heavenly Father knows what’s going on with not just my brother but the youth of the world, they are the future of the church that why they have so many distractions coming at them from every angle but its o.k. because they also have the help of the Lord to overcome all that, and having a good mother like mine lets me know that its o.k. all we can do is never give up and just look forward. My overall feeling from General Conference is gratitude, i have so many wonderful blessings in my life to be grateful for, I’m grateful for the Love of God i feel in my life, he gives me hope, joy, makes me smiles he gives me strength to face and overcome the fiery darts of the evil one..i am so blessed and n\have no reason to complaint about ANYTHING! i always say president that LIFE IS GOOD AND IT'S TO BE ENJOYED.
• Things are going well. Conference was a great experience as always. It was especially great to be able to meet Elder Scott. I learned a great deal. Two talks that stood out to me were given in priesthood by President Uchtdorf and President Eyring they spoke on patience and diligence. I thought I was doing pretty well with patience, however after listening to the talk by Pres. Uchtdorf i realized that I have a lot to work on. The work in the area is going great and we are getting many referrals.
• Conference was great! thank you for the opportunity to attend. I love conference. I will always try to attend conference for the rest of my life. And I mean at the conference center. And I will never miss watching a conference.
• My gospel study continues to make me realize this gospel is a gospel of action. It truly has become the theme of my mission to have righteous desires and hopes that will lead to righteous actions and bringing souls unto Christ.
• Conference was marvelous. I don't know quite were to begin or end because I learned a lot. For the first time I wrote down questions I wanted to answer for conference and they were all answered. It was amazing! Indeed I was taught by the Spirit. I learned a lot about how to help my family because they are struggling. And also how to help my family who aren't members. Again I realized how important we all are to one another in each other’s journey of life. We are placed in people's paths for a reason and people are placed in our paths for a reason. I'm grateful for all the examples I've had growing up, they've shaped me into the person I am. The family is so important and that's how my dad raised me to treasure families. And we have the opportunity here to teach families and to help them get to the temple. It's great; we're teaching the importance of families.
• I was so thankful for the opportunity to hear General Conference this past weekend, especially the Priesthood Session. I felt many of the same feelings there that I had felt during our revelatory experience with Elder Bednar. Many of the questions I had had during the past few weeks were answered during Conference, and I'm so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to be receptive enough to understand how he wants me to act.
• I really loved this general conference. I really enjoyed the first presidency's messages during the priesthood session and also Elder Rasband's talk on missionary assignments. I look forward to being able to study all of the talks in detail when they come out in the ensign.
• I am really grateful the opportunity that I had to attend General Conference. Before, I used think or feel so far to face Prophet and I always watched on the screen but being there and feeling the spirit testified me that this is real. Even though I knew that they speak words of God, when I went there I felt really strong and confirmed me that we are truly living in the dispensation time. Hearing about family relationship and youth, made me think about our investigators and my family. Am I listening to every investigator? Am I being a good example to them? It was not only to families but investigators as well. The spirit I felt was so strong. I wish my people could be here and feel the same thing.
• I always remember a quote I heard from one of the general authorities in the MTC: "Pray as if it all depends on the Lord and work as if it all depends on you." "This work is NOT YOUR WORK, but has EVERYTHING to do with you." So I have been doing my best to live up to that. Daily planning at night is always a good time to reflect on the day, and to prepare for the next. We take full advantage of that time and most of the times end up going over half an hour.
• I really enjoyed General Conference.  I loved how there was so much emphasis on the Savior and families. It was definitely what we needed to hear. I also took the time this Easter week to really think about what the Savior did for us.  I took some time each morning during personal study and read from 'Jesus the Christ' the chapters that talked about the Savior's last week. I was very impressed. The forces of evil against the Savior that week were immense, but he was in control and conquered all of it.  He literally gave Himself.  He could have stopped it all, but He sacrificed Himself because He loves us. Studying about how the events of that week panned out and how they fulfilled prophesy in so many ways really increased my testimony of His divinity.  I have a testimony more than ever that He lives and that He is our Savior.  I hope that I can take what the Prophet and Apostles told us this weekend to heart and keep Him at the foundation of my life.
• i enjoyed conference I really liked elder Holland’s talk about lusting after things and watching our thoughts I like how he said to just run from things or people but to also think and picture the faces of those that care about us. I liked continuing to hear from the general authorities it’s been great.
• One of the first talks that stuck out to her was be Elder Keith B. Mcmullin and how he talked about how in order to receive god’s forgiveness we must first earn it by forgiving those who have injured us.  The talks were great and of course Elder Holland was bold and blunt and out there but he did apologize first. And I like how many of the talks were centered on family and the importance we play in each other’s lives as we grow and learn and are tested in this world.
• I love General Conference.  It always seems to come at the right time, when I really need that spiritual boost.  It was clearly evident that the conference focused around the importance of the youth and strengthening the family.  I really enjoyed the talks given in the Priesthood Session.  I loved Elder Rasband's talk on the inspiration behind missionary calls.  That one hits closest to home obviously.  General Conference always gives me a renewed desire to do the work. I studied authority and the doctrine of conferences recently.  It helped me to more fully understand the importance and validity of General Conference.
• this week we had a really fun time biking on our bikes and we enjoyed the conference so much. i felled so blessed to go down town to the center Saturday morning, thank you so much for letting me go. i loved every single second of it and it was a WOW experience. i don’t really know what to tell. our investigators are great they feed us all the time and we had atleast 4 dinners yesterday...it was hard to eat...they are so nice to us and i love them all. As i said in the start WOW experience, i don’t really know how to write it or say it...but it was amazing.

• Zone conference was really good. It’s like a spiritual rejuvenation. I really appreciated the movie about the Stone Cutter... I have thought about that every time I get tired or discouraged. I need to have that diligence, to find joy when there is no joy to be found.
• I learned a lot at Zone Conference. Especially about power. Missionaries have to power to do many things as long as it pertains to the will of God. And we have to be worth of that and be obedient to be able to use it.
• There is so much potential and the members here are so ready to help us. We are trying really hard to find. We are not quite getting 3 new investigators a week but we are increasing our teaching pool so for us that is great! We know we have the faith to find three; we need to work harder!
• This week we were able to put three people on date for baptism in April.  We have been having good companionship studies, which help when we teach lessons. I have been studying the scriptures, and Preach My Gospel.  Studying the scriptures helps strengthen my testimony, and studying Preach My Gospel helps me learn the scriptures that will be helpful when teaching investigators.
• We had a really good week.  I don't have a lot to specifically report. We are working hard and the area is coming along. One thing that has stood out to me this week that while missions are a lot work and difficult at times, they are a lot of fun.  It is so fun meeting people all the time.  I am having some really great time!
• Thank you for Zone Conference, I love each and every one of them. Zone Conference was amazing as always! Every zone conference always gives me a renewed desire to get out and just get to work. Just to be bold and be excited about the work, so this week has been one of those, lots of good happened in just a few days. We're finding a ton of new potential and really trying to get the potential we know about to start meeting with us. So a lot happened that was good.
• This week was very good. I enjoyed Zone conference a lot. That movie about the stonecutter was very moving, and I could feel how it applied to me when his wife tells him not to go back to Salt Lake, and he tells her that it is his calling. I know that I need to have the same zeal toward my calling (Purpose).
• Things are starting to look a little better! Even though we weren't able to teach as much as we would have liked to, We got a lot of referrals and potentials to check on! I am just glad that I didn't waste time being upset or anything! Lately with anything that has happened if it was bad, like lose and investigator or something, I have always just stayed positive! Usually I would get upset and wonder why, but I really like Elder Wirthlin talk, Come what may and love it. My attitude has changes about lots of things and it has really helped to just keep smiling and keep staying positive despite what things may happen!
• The missionaries are great and they are quick to pick-up on their own mistakes and are always trying to improve their area! It's a good thing when missionaries ask how are things and then you tell them, and they say "Wow we need to fix that!" I love these missionaries and I make sure to let them know that! But things are starting to pickup and I am happy about that! People are starting to find more and put more people on date and things are on the uphill! Alright President well that’s how the week has been and I am really enjoying the mission!!! I just want to keep doing my best and giving it my all! Alright President hope you have a great day and week! Take Care!!!
• Zone Conference was great.  I loved the doctrine of power and authority.  One thing I haven't really thought too much on is the difference between the two.  Understanding that has helped me understand my role a little more.  We have the power to receive revelation for that which we have stewardship over (investigators and finding activities) and the authority to implement that revelation.  We need work in harmony with the keys of the bishops and stake presidents as well.  We can be guided to those seeking the gospel as we call upon the powers of heaven to guide us.  I've seen that this week even.  We'll probably be working on doing FHE's with the members of Midvale North.  I know that there are many in our area ready and waiting to hear the gospel.
• Zone Conference was good.  Chapter 1 has been my favorite chapter my entire mission.  The biggest thing that I took out of it was what you said at the end, "When times get tough, it's your purpose that keeps you going."  I believe that.  I understand what I am supposed to be doing here, and I want to fulfill that purpose.
• Last week was great because we get a lot of referral and one of them is golden. That’s not what really stood out to me but it’s how the Lord prepares people for us to teach here in our area. It’s like what we saw in the movie of the stone cutter he did it no matter what happen because he love his families, but ultimately he love his Father in Heaven. I know that when we do this work because we love our Heavenly Father, there will be a huge different.
• My companion is a hard worker and helps me out on a daily basis. We had a really great experience yesterday; we got a lot of referrals for us to start teaching this week. And we got a referral for somebody who wants to be baptized as soon as possible. It’s crazy how prepared people are in our areas, and just like Elder Snow said back in zone conference, they have always been there, so where were we. And now we’re finding them and the feeling is GREAT! Thank you for all that you do President.
• This week was good, it felt good to be baptizing in the area, the trick is to continue solidifying all our investigators and help them to learn. E. Bednar's training really helped. I have been trying to get the companionship to ask more questions for understanding and to use the book of Mormon more in teaching themselves to learn. It's going well so far.
• We are working hard. I even push myself. lf I was sick last week but we still went out and worked when I was feeling up to par. I loved zone conference and loved talking about our true purpose and power as missionaries I plan on using it to better help my investigators feel and recognize the spirit. I also have continued marking the preach my gospel scriptures and have been working on trying to memorize them.
• Gospel study this week has been good. I've been looking up scriptures on certain topics in Preach My Gospel. I've found new scriptures to use in the lessons, as well as ones I knew about, but found out where they are at. So gospel study is getting better as I've found out what to study on each day. It's amazing to see how much easier it is if I plan what to study the night before.
• Well, our Daily Planning session is improving. It is a lot more meaningful and productive. We are covering things in our Planning session that are important to discuss, that we wouldn't otherwise discuss. So it's going well.

• I have been praying for the chance to teach and baptize a whole family.  We've found them.  They've been to church twice and have been seriously reading the Book of Mormon.  The father of the family came to the baptism last night and felt great.  We had taught him about fasting and we invited him to fast and he showed up to church fasting.  At the baptism as he broke his fast by eating the refreshments he asked us what he had to do to donate his fast offerings.  I was humbled to see how ready the family was and how great the power of the Lord is in preparing those that he wants in his church.  They should be baptized this coming Sunday, and I am really excited for them.  In addition to that the Lord has given us another family to teach that has expressed interest in being baptized, but we are working out relation ships with his mom in Mexico who is hard core catholic and we have been praying so that the Lord will soften her heart, and that he will have the courage to do what he knows is right. I Love this area and I love this work! Thank you for your faith and prayers on our behalf.
• The Work is going great, we keep looking for new investigators.  We have been able to meet the standard of 3 new investigators a week but have had a difficult time turning those potentials into solid investigators.  We are working hard and relations with the members keep going up.  We had a very well attended baptism this past week, a mother and her daughter were baptized.  We are praying that the father will soon follow but the others didn't want to wait.  We hope he was touched by the spirit.
• This week went well. We taught 25 lessons this week and are working very hard. I have come to recognize the spiritual power that lies in obedience and prayer. We have been praying more specifically about our investigators and have seen a great difference since then. Despite being sick, I have had tremendous spiritual experiences this week.
• The packet you gave us to work with through the next 6 weeks has helped me to review the lessons again. And your goal for us to be familiar with the scriptures in each lesson is definitely helping me, because I'm still learning how to be quick with remembering and finding different scriptures. Also the role-plays we do as a companionship is very helpful. I'm also enjoying reading the Book of Mormon in 90 days and I've tentatively set a goal to do the same with the New Testament and Old Testament.
• The Area book is not good.  It is unorganized and most of the teaching records don't have addresses nor the records of the visits. I have to clean the house today. It has not been vacummed for about 2 or 3 transfers. I am learning a lot in my studies. I pray in the morning that the Holy Ghost will guide me. Thanks a lot for everything, I will work hard make my area nicer than I found it.
• At the baptism when it was our turn to share a spiritual message while Hector changed, we shared the message of the restaouration and the Book of Mormon because there was a lot of investigators there. As i recited the first vision , the spirit visited every single soul in that room. It was something so sacred and undeniable. I felt prompted to as the congegration this, "If there is anyone in this room that has felt the spirit and desires to be baptized, please let it be known." An 11 year old girl sitting in the front row raised her hand. She will be baptized next Sunday.
• My studies are my favorite time of the day. The early morning hours are what keep me going.
• I had a really good experience this week as well. We were visiting our recent converts as always to make sure they were still doing well and so we went by Carlos, who is one of the first converts I had in this area. He was explaining about how he had fasted to get an answer and it worked and how his whole family is really being blessed right now. They have found lots of work and his father and brother who weren't baptised are really coming around. He has been dating an Rm for the last year or so and they are planning to get married in the temple this year. It was a real testimony builder for me because thats what we are here for. Just to help people be happy.
• We had a really good week! I love my companions! we work well together and it is so easy to feel and recognize the spirit. We had a miracle baptism yesterday, everything about this person was a miracle from how we found him to teaching him to him finally getting baptize in 3 weeks, we pretty much have been baptizing weekly and it makes me so happy to see the change in people! I love missionary work! Im glad the mission is trying to change to caring more about the people.
• My stake president said the following,
Good, Better, Best!
Never let it rest
Unitil your Good is better
And your better is Best!
Right now I am good, but I need to make it better, and from there turn it into best.
It is, right now, a weekness that is leading me to be humble - and I pray that the Lord will then turn it into a strength.
• The district is doing good. Something that we have to improve on its on finding. I was thinking about giving a shot to family history again. I remember we tried it over a year ago and It did not work for us, but I want to give it a shot again see how it works.
• Before being baptized I went over the interview questions with francisco. I asked him " why do you think it's important to have a prophet?" he responded with the best answer I've ever heard, he said " It's important because I know I can trust in a living prophet to tell us just what God wants us to do. In these days of trouble we need the guidance of a living prophet". I couldn't have said it better myself. On another occasion he also told us " there's people out there walking around looking for you. They are not just sitting at home hoping for the missionaries to come but they are actually trying to find you" He knows because he was one of them. He sounded like he should have been quoted in Preach My Gospel. I'm thankful for this testimony.
• Hey President how are you doing? This week was pretty good. We had an amazing lesson tuesday where the lady really felt the spirit a lot. I felt it so after the lesson I asked if she felt the spirit and she said she did. I asked if she could explain it to me and she said if she did she would start crying. After I explained the spirit a little bit. It was amazing. One of the best lessons in my mission.
• We applied the training from district meeting last past week. About setting goal and work towards to archive the goals. Now, every time when we plan in each everyday, we always look at the weekly goals page and discuss about how can we accomplish our goal. It is difficult to do that in each everyday. We started to say a prayer with more faith and put more effort on it. The Lord blesses us so much, it might not on new investigators, but blesses us with our investigators that we are teaching right now that they were be able to go to church and how progressing they are. We set goal again to accomplish our goal for this week.
• I am also getting more back on track with being a workhorse.
• Mario should be baptized this week. He's great! Don't ask me how or why, he was already that way when I was transferred here. Just like in Mountain Shadows 9, I've systematically mapped out as many potential investigators as possible, so in any area, we can most effectively visit all of the people in that area and save miles as opposed to jumping all over the area and eating gas. I don't really know if that's the best way to find people to be baptized... I've never had much luck with it. Then again, I've never had much luck randomly jumping all over the area... the best missionary work in my mission has been through member referrals and OYMs.
• Yesterday another miracle happened. Mary Schoeneck, a former investigator of mine from about 9 months ago showed up again! I had taught her in the Hidden Valley area, but at the time she just wasn't ready to receive the gospel and she dropped us. Now all of a sudden she showed up at one of our singles wards and she wants to be baptized! Her countenance has totally changed since then. She used to be unhappy and have a certain darkness about her. Now she is beautiful and full of the Spirit. She became totally lost in her life after she dropped us 9 months ago. She went back to try the party scence, but it brought her no happiness. She really hit rock bottom, and so she decided to pray in her backyard a few weeks ago and she received a very strong spiritual confirmation of the truthfulness of the gospel. We taught her yesterday and she will be baptized on the 10th. She has truly experienced a mighty change of heart. The Spirit truly does change people. The Lord is so aware of all of us. It is not a coincidencethat I'm teaching her again.
• This week was kind of dificult becaue two of our baptisms fell apart suddenly.  They just called and said it was off and not to talk to them.  Then on friday they called back and said they had alot going on and they still wanted to be baptized so we moved them to next weekend. Its was crazy how fast it happened.  We have alot of good prospects it's just a matter of contacting htem.  Other then that things are good.
• It has been a great experience working with our current investigators. The more honest we are with them, the more honest and open they are with us and I truly love them. It seems here we work with less-actives more than I'm used to. Many say they are too lazy to get to church, even though it's always a street away, but when they do reconnect with the Spirit it becomes a habit again to go.

• We had a fun experience. We knocked on the door of a part member family. A man answered and said "Hi Elders. Isn't it Cold out" We responded "YES Sir". his cheering deposition left and he said "Good" and Slammed the door in our faces. I couldn't help but laugh. It was a good one for sure. ha-ha. Made my day.
• The Lord has provided so much work in this Stake. It has gone from teaching four lessons a week  to an average of almost ten a week this transfer. Not only that, but instead of baptizing once every other month, now we are baptizing nearly weekly. This transfer we had five baptisms, and, if half of the individuals we are going to be teaching this week accept/stay on date, we should have about eight. But, we are confident that more than half will progress towards baptism. Not only that, but I am sure that the Lord will continue to lead us to more families who are prepared to receive the Restored Gospel.
• This week went very well. We taught 22 lessons which is a new personal best. We are excited about the work and looking forward to exceed that number next week. The Lord has blessed us so much. Every time I think about our success it reminds me of how much the Lord is helping us along the way. I'm very grateful for what he has done for us so far. It’s very humbling to see how the success in this area has grown. I'm always excited about personal study. It allows me to see what I can learn to help my investigators progress towards baptism.
• Hey, the work is going great down here.  We are teaching a ton more lessons and working with a lot of less actives/recent converts as well.  It is amazing how much more enjoyable the work is when we are busy teaching, well it has always been enjoyable but now it is just so much more.  Some weeks it works out, others weeks not so much.  But we are finally teaching a lot more lessons a week, double from a few weeks ago.  The number looks like it will keep increasing as well and it is going to be great!  We just need to get more referrals so we can keep it up so that when the people we are teaching get baptized we will continue to teach other people and help them to progress towards baptism and entering the kingdom of God as well.  Thank you so much for the training that you did in our stake this past week, it was great and everybody loved it!  They are all on fire to start getting missionary work done as well!
• Anyways, we're excited to get together and eat our pizza with the other zones who hit the goal!
• This week was as busy as last week, and we are preparing several people to be baptized next week.   I am thrilled beyond anything that our zone hit its goal.  The reason I am so thrilled is because I know that it wasn't because of pressure from leadership, but from loving encouragement from them.  This is the first time in my mission I feeling I  can say that with certainty.  This mission has become so much more Christlike than it was when I came in. One of the things that struck me about the last training that was presented during interviews was that the missionary leadership in the mission from the assistants down, has finally realized that the perfect formula for Baptism that had been created was not the perfect formula for the long term conversion of the people in our care taught in Preach My Gospel.  I am thrilled that they are now teaching this.
• This week was better for us because we have both been more obedient in following the schedule. Thank you for the interview last Thursday it really helped me in knowing the importance of the schedule and why we have it. I always appreciate the doctrine that you always give in your lessons.
• We were able to put  2 more investigators on date now we have 11 on date but there’s a few more that we can put them on date too so we give you report next week.
• This was a great week. We had two baptisms and they went great. My favorite part of baptizing is being able to see the changes in the entire family. The father of the family is less active and we usually invite him to church but he just tells us he doesn’t feel right doing it. We used the opportunity of having the confirmations on Sunday to help the father want to come to church. Well, he came and we expected him to leave right after the confirmations were over, but surprisingly he stayed for the whole sacrament meeting. It was a great one for him to be there for. Another recent convert spoke on the importance of the priesthood. I kept looking at the father and I could tell he had some bit of interest and that it kind of got to him. Afterwards, the father was leaving but he kept thanking us for what we had done. Just goes to show that this is all about families, not people or numbers.
• I apologize for the lack of lessons last week. This was because we god new print outs of MLS sheets and we spend most of our time going over them on the list as oppose to Positive Daily Teaching. This week will be much better seeing as we've found at least 30 potentials from doing this. I'm pretty excited about following up and contacting these people this upcoming week.
• I'm starting to feel like an hour study is barely enough personally--so I realize how important it is!  I am trying to take full advantage of that time now.  I love to study and implement what I learn in my teaching--which I also love.  Being a missionary is such a blessing and privilege.
• Just the other day we were walking to an appointment dropped and we noticed this man taking out a load of garbage. We helped him move the trash and started talking with him. We shared a brief message of the restoration and asked to if there was a time we could share this message of Jesus Christ with him and his family. He was just about to schedule a time that we could come back when I felt impressed to ask him if we could share part of our message right then in his home. Surprisingly he said, “sure come on in”. He gathered his two daughters  into the living room to hear what we had to say. We taught them the message of the restoration and left them with a Book of Mormon. They were incredibly receptive and even agreed to come to church. We left them with the commitment to pray and read from the Book of Mormon. They even agreed to come with us to church! The next day we came over again and this time the mother and cousin (who is permanently living with them) Johanna (17) was there. We reviewed the message ofthe restoration with the entire family present. Soma and Johanna were far more skeptical of the message. I felt so inadequate that day, as I taught I was so much less articulate and I felt so terrible because I thought that must be the reason Soma and Johanna were less receptive. I was wrong. I bore my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and how it affected my family, it was such a fumbling testimony and weak in words but the spirit was so powerful. I know it touched the Mom and cousins heart. They agreed to read and pray. Later that day we sent over two wonderful sisters to the home to talk with Soma and Johanna. I know that had a huge impact. They were able to connect. It is the influence of such member help that is really driving the work here. That Sunday three of the family came to all three hours of church. I sat right between them and explained things to them during sacrament. We also connected the kids with their age- another example of how member help is critical to success. I am so excited or this family!!!
• This week we have just been doing our best to find new people to teach.  We have made a few investigators and are just setting up new investigator lessons with the other people.  We are doing our best and are having a good time.  Have a great week.
• We had an amazing week. We were able to do a lot of good. There were a couple of people we met that hated Mormons and especially missionaries. One of them told us she liked us and that she is willing to listen to us. The other Kayla was so mad when we knocked on her door. I'm serious when I say you could feel the anger from her. We got a fellowshipped to come with us and went back last night. By the end of the conversation she was crying and saying "You mean I can be forgiven?" she told us she had so many regrets. She told us that she didn't think God could love her. She told us so much and I am so grateful the Lord saw fit to leave me here to touch these sweet souls. I really hope to be able to continue helping them but if I do leave I know the Lord will provide. It is in his hands.
• This week was an incredible week for me. It was definitely a very well spirited felt week. First off, I reached an incredible goal which for the time being out, I never did. I am proud to say we hit over 21 lessons this week. I definitely learned a valuable lesson this week which is that Hard work really does pay off. We did our best this week and we met our goal. This next week is only going to make me want to do even better.
• We have been working a lot with these two who were just baptized and all went well. Our efforts paid off and we had two baptisms this weekend as planned. We have been working with a lot of others and should have some more baptism coming up this next week, if not this then the week after. Things are going very well though. I'm getting used to the area! This has almost been the area I've been in longest so I'm kind of excited.
• Definitely the highlight of the week was the baptism of Patrick Phillips, the man who we saw walking his kids home in the wagon. It was a great service. He was then confirmed the next day and received the Aaronic Priesthood after the church block. But the most memorable thing of all was towards the end of Fast and Testimony Meeting, he got up and exclaimed, "My name is Patrick Phillips, and I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!" He then bore a powerful testimony. His wife then got up and talked about how she hadn't borne her testimony in church in about 15 years, and how the last few months of returning to church have been wonderful for her and her family. What a great experience! I love being able to share something that makes me happy with others and seeing how it makes them happy too.
• Yesterday we finally put our new finding activity for the branch into motion.  We have a lot of maps and records for many Hispanic people that live within the branch.  We organized the names and addresses of these potential investigators and made specific assignments for the members to visit them.  We gave a presentation in priesthood meeting, giving them their assignments and instructing them in how they can approach these potential investigators.  We discussed finding tools such as Daily Dose, family home evenings, and temple tours.  All of the priesthood was excited at this opportunity to participate in the missionary work.
• President Laney, I finally finished the Book of Mormon Challenge.  I feel great.  I learned a lot and felt a special feeling by the end of the chapters in the book of Moroni.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I also felt a feeling that the Lord was pleased with me as I was obedient in finishing it.
• We had a pretty sweet experience. I read the experience in one of the weekly newsletters about the companionship that decided to follow the savior’s example of thanking the Lord for something yet to happen. I decided to try this out. We had a fair few baptisms last month. but only one baptism was scheduled for this month. So I prayed and thanked Heavenly Father that we have at least 3 baptisms this month. We now have 4 baptisms scheduled for this month :It blew me away...but why am I surprised? The Lord gave the promise that if we ask it shall be given.
• On Saturday it was really nice to be invited to attend ZLC. I was very grateful to be able to ponder more on the importance of our study time. I can honestly say that I have never chosen to not study. I haven’t taken it as serious as I should though. This is precious time! I have learned more in one year than in my whole life. I am grateful also that you taught the importance of prayer. As a missionary prayer can become just part of what you do. I have had the chance to reflect on how "meaningful" and "sincere" my prayers are. It is so important to have individual prayer not just your prayers as a companionship. I am so grateful for these insights you shared.
• The other day, we came across a family I taught over seventeen months ago at a different residence in the Cobble Creek 5th ward. It was a pleasant surprise to see him after so much time and to see that we both remembered each other. I hope that his family will be baptized soon. I think that one of the strongest testimonies that we can bear is that the gospel will bring more happiness than any other course in life. I have spent a fair amount of my mission testifying to people that our church is the only true church with the only true baptism, and that they'd better suck it up and accept it. This is true, but not very compelling, so I've decided to stop attacking false doctrine and beliefs so much and just testifying that I know they will be happier. That generally is more persuasive and leaves a better impression. I wish I had known that sooner.
• We had a miracle week and I feel so blessed to have people in our path every day. We were teaching this boy who is 13 years old for 3 weeks and he keeps all the commitments and commandments. But he didn't believe that God exist. We were teaching the doctrine and giving simple example and he prayed a lot, but no result. But he had a strong desire to be baptized. We prayed to heavenly father for help to let him know that there is God. 1 hour before the interview. We had no idea if he will pass. But he passed!!! He got baptized and he bored his testimony with his sincere heart said that he believes in God and knows that god is real. I was really surprised because I could tell that he got his answer and he gains his strong testimony. I know the power of prayer is real. I know heavenly father provides a way. WE also invited investigator to the baptism. After that she told us that she is getting baptized in 2 weeks too. It was a beautiful baptism I have ever seen. Yesterday was full of miracles. This stretched mytestimony that the gospel is true and God is loving father and knows everything. According to our faith, miracles happen. I am so grateful for the missionary work that I can do for our savior. Without the spirit and guidance of Holy ghost, I am really nothing and useless. I am so grateful this wonderful moment.

• For about the past month I have been praying every night for integrity because it is something I have learned from you as I have been on my mission.  I have seen a high increase in my integrity throughout the month of February.  I have always stressed obedience on my mission.  The good thing is that I always learn from the choices that I make, and I am thankful for repentance.  Even small mistakes make me feel remorse, which is a good thing.
• This week went great. We taught 24 lessons which is a new personal best. The work is moving forward and God is preparing people for us to teach. Our investigators are doing very well.
• "This Sunday, we brought several less-active people to three sacrament meetings. We met a less-active English speaking lady last week and she said she'd go to church if we did, so we went with her and her mother at nine in the morning. Then at eleven, we went with Patricia Martinez to the english ward she started attending a couple years ago when she angrily walked out of the Spanish branch. She hadn't been in over a year, and while she was there, she decided to give her testimony which I feel would take a lot of courage after not having been there for so long. Afterwards, several of the members including the bishop spoke with her and her neighbor who has been working with her for so long was crying and hugging her. You'd think she'd won an Olympic medal..."We really are working hard and trying to get investigators to progress, but in the meantime, to stay occupied, we are working with less-active members, even less-active members from English wards (Elder Newhouse isn't complaining too much) and we are having a lot of success there. Just hope that we can have some people baptized soon.
• Things are going well, we are working hard. I'm glad to get the motivation from interviews, I needed that. We are getting better at it.
• We have a lot of potential this week, and things look like they are going to be better than last week. Also thanks President for the interview, I know I have things to work on (as always) and I'm still striving to be better.
• To help me with my accountability and improvement as a missionary, I'm going to commit this week in my letter to improve how we plan. The past few weeks have been back and forth in having a quality planning and a poor planning. I've witnessed in the past that the better plan you have for the day/week, the better day/week you have. Even though things have been going well here, using our time more effectively can help them improve even more.
• So last Monday I had a cool experience. We went to an appointment at 6:00 and we found out he was going to be busy until 8 so we rescheduled for that. When I was thinking about what to do right then I prayed and asked what we should do. I immediately got a thought to go check a referral. We went there and we taught them the 1st lesson right then and put them on date. Afterwards I realized that we were doing exactly what were supposed to do and I immediately prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for that prompting that led us to that unexpected lesson. It was an answer to a prayer and it came quickly. It was evidence that God answers prayers and can answer them fast than you think he will.
• This week was so crazy. so many baptisms in one week it was great but we were running all over the place. I am loving the Mission so much. The area we are serving in is amazing and the Members are great. The members help so much and really take care of you well. I really hope we can meet our goal of 30 lessons soon. We are trying so hard for it. 
• Sunday was amazing. Three weeks ago we had the baptism for Robby Rindaldi. Since being baptized he has remained active, and received the Aaronic Priesthood. Yesterday he was able to exercise his Priesthood, and put a congregation of about 100 or more people under covenant with God. When he gave the blessing he gave it with so much conviction. The Spirit truely has converted him to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. All he talks about when he comes over his how he can't wait for his kids to go on a mission, and do the same things we are doing. He also said he would like to tell ever young man before he leaves on his mission, "You have no idea what you are about to do for the lives of people". Our prayer this week is that we will be able to make this area a model area.
• The Last few weeks have been a little difficult finding people to teach. It's so hard not to get discouraged when your numbers are awful when the members don't go out with you. At times I feel like I have to worry about everyone and try to solve everyone's problems. I worry about Recent converts, and investigators. It can be kind of draining emotionally and physically. I really worry about some of my recent converts and I am trying to do everything I can to make sure that they stay active so that they will go to the temple. I WANT TO SEAL FAMILIES!!! So I keep telling myself that I have to do everything in power so that my fruit will remain. I really love my recent converts and I want them to progress and fully enjoy the blessings of the gospel. I get really sad when I don't see them at church. So this Sunday I made sure that everyone that I helped get baptized was at church. I worked so hard but EVERYONE was at church last Sunday :) It made me so happy to see all of my recent converts at church. I will take care of these precious souls because they are dear to me.
• This week was better for us because we have both been more obedient in following the schedule. Thank you for the interview last Thursday it really helped me in knowing the importance of the schedule and why we have it. I always appreciate the doctrine that you always give in your lessons. have a nice week.
• Everything is going pretty good.  This week has been really good.  We had an awesome baptism last night.  After it was done the father of the family bore his testimony and just said how grateful he was to make this step with his family and the joy he felt in his life.  It was really good to see that family progress and do all that they needed to do to get baptized.  They are going to be very strong members and I cant wait to see them go through the temple and be sealed.
• We had two great baptism this last week. The thing my companion and I are going to do is organize and teach the new converts how to teach the lessons from PMG and we are going to take them out with us to teach. We are going to do this for a couple of reasons.
1) to strengthen the new converts in their testimony and knowledge of the gospel
2) To help us have more members at lessons and fellowshipers for our investigators
As I told you in our interview, our biggest problem in this area is getting members at our lessons. My companion and I have prayed and we feel that gather the new converts together and bringing them with us will help us to further the work in this area.
• The work is going great up here, We have foud two new families that are willing to meet with us and this ending week even though we couln't acheive our goals, it was a wonderful week. Two of the 6 people that we have planned got baptized and the baptisms were awesome, you could feel a really strong spirit there. One of the people who got baptized was really prepared and yesterday his baptism was a great expiritual experience for me, I almost cry -something that is not very usual on me- when I was talking about the holy ghost. The truth is that I never met someone that was so, so prepared to be baptized. Not even my family or I were that prepared when we got baptized. Now I have gain a testimony that truly there is people that is waiting for us to knock on their door to receive the restored gospel and follow our lord jesus christ throug baptism.
• Our week was slow, but good.  Many of our investogators weren't able to see us this week so we did very little teaching, but some other good things happened.  We had a great dinner with an inactive family. For some reason we really clicked with that family. I really feel that they are a family that I was meant to meet here in the mission field. The wife was even a little teary eyed when we said goodbye.  I am grateful for that evening.  I was feeling a little discouraged to that point so it was a great boost.  On my mission I have noticed that when I am feeling a little down about things Heavenly Father will bless me with an experience that will boost my spirits and let me know that He is still there.  I am so grateful!
• The work continues to progress... We contacted a referal today who wants to talk about how families can be together forever. We dropped a copy of Together Forever off, and although he wanted to talk to his wife and watch it before making an appointment, we played a bit of basketball in their driveway with him and his son, and built a really good relationship to the point where he said "you elders can come back anytime, you're always welcome here", and yes they're non members! I can see some great progression happening there!
• This has been one of the most rewarding weeks of my mission.  David White got baptized.  It was amazing.  I have only cried at two baptisms on my whole mission and this was one of them.  It hit me when he was walking into the water that that was the moment that we had been working towards for so long.  We met this amazing family in November and David had many things to overcome before he could get baptized.  The first time we met with him he accepted a date for the next Saturday, but it obviously did not work out and we have been fasting and praying ever since.  When we were taking pictures before the baptism his wife said, "Do you know what is so amazing about this?  This is one step closer to having an eternal family."  I can't even imagine how much she has gone through with David to get to this point.  I can't wait to go to their sealing next year
• Just working on using our finding tools, besides that I feel wonderful.  I refuse to let the adversary have a part in me.  I love God and the Savior and I want to have His Spirit with me so I can invite all I can to come unto Christ.  I will magnify my office unto the Lord and strive to build others up, if they like the structure of their building that's fine...  The rain will still decend and the winds will still blow, in time all will come to know. some more new investigators.