world wide leadership

Hi Talon,

 

The whole family watched the broadcast yesterday. It sounds like some exciting changes are coming and I suspect some changes have already been occurring in recent months. I know that as a ward counsel we have put together a ward mission plan and are targeting specific families in the ward to activate. I hope our efforts pay off but the Lord only knows. It is hard for me to get out of my comfort zone to visit people I have never met but I have to have faith the Lord will use me as he sees fit. I have always believed that missionaries time is best spent working with less active or part member families. Miracles can happen within these households and missionaries often can do things that members have failed to do.

Finally the roof is finished. It took a long time to do it but it looks OK. I am waiting for a contractor to do the soffits and fascia for me and then I can start the siding. I will be starting the electrical soon as well. Once that is done I can get the garage doors installed. I am going to have to wait to do insulation and sheet rock.

I really don't have anything exciting to share this week. I am going up for mediation again Thursday. I am going to have Aubree drive so she can get a feel for city traffic. Scary!!! On Saturday we have the Williams family reunion in Summit. Kendall and Leesa and their kids will be there.

Some local gossip you may or may not care about. Sunny Grant has left on her mission, she's going to Peru. Mason Shaver leaves next week for the MTC. Race Parsons was ordained an Elder and plans on getting married in August.

You have really seen a lot of changes in the missionary program this past year. You are serving at a historic time. I hope you are finding joy in what you are doing. You have so many talents that you can use as a missionary. Take time to consider what they are and ask the Lord to find ways for you to use them in your work. We pray for you daily and often mom and I ask each other "What do you think Talon's doing right now?" It's funny but every Sunday when we walk into church by the Bishop's office, Brandt will tap the glass where your plaque is I think it's his way to feel connected to you. He misses you a lot. I am happy you've set the standard for him.

Be well son and know that I love you and think of you daily,

Dad

 

 

Dear Elder Williams,

We watched the World Wide Leadership Conference. It was very inspiring. Preaching the Gospel---what a daunting task we have been given as members of the church, but it is also one of pure love. I'm excited to see the changes that will be happening as a result of the messages yesterday.

How are you doing? Did you have a chance to visit with your Mission President? I hope you will let me know where you are in your heart and mind.

I read Enzio Bushe's talk that you suggested. It was so uplifting and helpful. I appreciate it and thank you for sharing with me.

I've been learning a lot---about random things like the Irish Potato Famine, Afghanistan, the "deep-internet", bit-coins, and other stuff. I can't wait to talk to you about it, but for right now, I'm so happy that you are focused on the Lord and the gospel. We live in very interesting times to say the least.

I pray for you and hope that you feel the love and comfort of the spirit. We send you our love, prayers, wishes, thoughts, and blessings from home.

God bless you son.

Love,

Momma

 

 

 

Dear Momma,

I'm so happy that you all watched the World Wide Leadership Conference. It was a powerfully spiritual experience. I'm so thrilled to see the new call to action and the vision of unity that the leaders of the Church has shown us. This truly is the greatest time for missionary work that this world has ever seen. There are miracles to be had.

My mission is on the edge of all these changes. We'll be implementing the new technology that the Church has developed for us soon. We are teaching in new ways, more powerfully than we ever have before.

Our goal and vision in the mission right now is the 101. 101 baptisms in July. We have been seeing the hand of the Lord in our preparation for this. We pray for the faith to find families, families who will support one another in receiving the gospel. Will you pray for our people? The people we have high hopes for are Kieth, Christina, and Marissa their daughter, Jessica and Jeff, Bud and his family, Robert and his family, Stephen and his family, and Shay and her family.

I'm glad that you liked Elder Bushe's talk. I've been blessed a lot recently by the principles in that talk.

It'll be great to talk to you about all of the things you have been learning. We do live in spectacular times.

Thank you for your support and love.

Love,

Elder Williams

June 17

Elder Williams,

I want to share a thought by Elder Dallin H. Oaks:

" Our missionaries, young men and women and older couples, are workers for world peace..by inviting all to repent and come unto Christ, (they) are working for peace in this world by changing the hearts and behavior of individual men and women."

I am thankful for the counsel of our leaders because this world can seem so discouraging with all of the problems in it.

I'm reading a book about Afghanistan which includes the time period of the Communist invasion to the Taliban takeover in the 90's. It makes me so grateful that I live in the United States of America where we have freedom.

This leads me back to the words of Elder Oaks. The path to peace is through the atonement of Jesus Christ and trusting in his mercy and grace to change the hearts of our brothers and sisters. There are so many in this world with hard hearts filled with hatred that it can seem hopeless, but we must look forward and trust in the promises of the gospel...the good news.

You are a messenger of the good news and a worker for world peace. I pray for your protection. I send you my love.

Mom

 

 

 

Dear Mom,

The thought you shared reminded me of something I love in Preach My Gospel. “We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 167).

I truly feel convicted. The Gospel is the the way to peace. I wish more people would grasp this truth and run with it, members and nonmembers.

That's why I'm always grateful for people who will listen.

We taught a guy named Stephan, a middle aged family man who is super active and knowledgeable in the Catholic Church. We taught him how we trace the priesthood authority different than him, and he said that he would read the Book of Mormon. We are going back next week. We really hope we can teach his whole family.

Finding and teaching families has become a greater and greater focus in the mission. We are striving to find elect families who will support one another as they learn about the gospel and make covenants.

I'm so excited to be out here at this time. On the 23rd the world will change forever. I hope you and the family get to go to the broadcast on Sunday. It is going to be one of the most monumental meetings in church history.

I love how much I've been learning the past couple of weeks. I see no coincidence in the new things I've been learning about myself and the great things that are coming to pass.

I love you Mom.

Elder Williams

 

June 10

Dear Elder Williams,

 

The pink peonies, purple irises, and white snowball flowers have all bloomed and they were gorgeous. It reminded me of your farewell and departure. I can't believe that it's been over a year since you've been serving as a missionary. Time goes crazy fast. I guess the lesson we need to learn from this is, "Carpe Diem"! Or another way to look at is, "Don't procrastinate the day of your repentance". I am so grateful for repentance.

We've been focusing on the Priesthood in Young Women's this month. I've become aware of how sacred and important it is. What a gift and blessing from our Heavenly Father. The priesthood governs the expanse of the universe at a macro-scale and even the very atoms at a micro scale. I love learning about how everything is connected and works together under laws and principles of truth. I think if we just applied the simple laws and truths of the gospel, our lives would be so much happier---but, we must first learn to rule our selves then we can become rulers of much more. This is the test! To become a master of our flesh and submit to the will of the Lord.

I think about you and pray for you everyday. I love you and hold you in high regard. Thank you for your service to the Lord and His children.

God bless you, son.

Love,

Mom

 

 

 

Dear Mom,

You are right about how time goes by so fast. There is such a growing sense of urgency out here in the field. The world is changing so fast. I'm so blessed to be out here at this time and play a part as the Lord's plan unfolds.

On the 23rd the world is going to change. I'm really excited for the leadership broadcast that the Church is having. I hope all of you can watch it. It will be at 4 o'clock in Utah.

We've been going around to the members and helping them feel the excitement.

The mission has a goal of 101 baptisms in the month of July, and everything is falling into place to make this possible.

Our people that we have been teaching have been doing well, and we have a few families that we know that we hope investigate.

I love you Mom. Thank you for all your support, prayers, and love.

Elder Williams

June 3

Hello Elder Williams,

I read the letter you sent to dad and I've been a bit concerned because you seem a bit discouraged. I just want you to know that I love you and I'm proud of you. You are going about our Father's business and I know that He is well pleased with you. Your effort as a missionary is a grand act of selfless service. I know through your devotion and dedication that you will change lives and help many of our Father's children come to recognize and accept truth. You are a compassionate, insightful, and thoughtful person with a good heart. I'm so grateful that you are my son and my friend.

Luke Oscarson returned from his mission. He bore his testimony on Sunday and he is a strong and faithful young man. I was so impressed with his spirit and conviction. He spoke about the enabling power of the Atonement and his belief in the Book of Mormon. What a beautiful example of the strength and faith of a missionary.

The healing effects of grace and mercy are available to us. I know I need them and I don't petition the Lord for them as I should. I've been thinking about my weaknesses with doubt and discouragement. A talk by Elder Bednar spoke to my soul. He used the example of Nephi when he was bound with cords on the boat. Nephi didn't just sit there...he struggled and fought to loosen the ropes and asked the Lord to help him get out of the situation. I thought of myself and how I need to struggle and fight to get free from the strong cords of my thought patterns. I am catching myself when I go into a downward spiral and say to myself, "Choose joy." I know the Lord will help me, but I also need to act in behalf of my agency and choose to turn my thoughts around. It is such a difficult thing for me because the patterns are deeply ingrained in my psyche, but I am trying. I do hope that I can become a light to others and serve them as my Father would have me do. We all have our different struggles and challenges, but we can change through the enabling power of the Atonement...anyways, this is my prayer.

I love you deeply and hold you in high regard.

God bless you.

Love,

Mom

 

 

Dear Mom,

Thank you for your email. It has been hard because I'm hard on myself. I'm understanding more and more that God wants me to continue to be diligent but not tear myself down. He wants me to be happy. You and Dad are helping me a lot. It is good to feel the love and support that you have for me. It keeps me grounded.

I'm grateful that you are my Mom. Thank you for your kindness.

I found this old Ensign in our apartment and I read this article that is helping me be more honest with myself. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/truth-is-the-issue?lang=eng

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. I feel like we are learning similar things. Because of that, I feel like you're on my team.

I'm sorry that I don't have too much to say this week. I've got a lot of reflecting to do. I just hope you know my gratitude and love. Thank you so much for all you do.

All my love,

Elder Williams

 

May 27

Zdravstvuj Elder T-T,

 

I've been shingling the roof and listening to War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. It's an epic masterpiece of 1,300+ pages. Tolstoy was a deeply convicted man of strong Christian values. He influenced such men as Thoreau, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King Jr., to name a few. Tolstoy is a sage and speaker of truth. President Kimball called such men, "minor prophets", and I believe he was right on the mark. There are people who's mission in life is to reveal the truth of God whether or not they are officially called in a church position. I'm grateful to these authors for bringing the world a bit of light which opens the heavens.

How is California? Are your investigators progressing? We have been praying for the members of your ward to catch the missionary zeal and help you find people to teach.

I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on Saturday and thought of you and prayed for you. Morgan Aston and Jeff and Beverly Neilson gave their farewell yesterday. Morgan is going to Washington State and the Neilson's are going to Ghana, Africa. It's pretty exciting. Luke Oscarson is returning on Wednesday from England.

I hope you received your package from the distribution center. If not, I'm sure it will be there soon. Were you able to buy any shoes or shirts? I hope you had time on your P-day.

We love you and hope all is well. God bless you.

With love,

Mom

 

 

Dear Mom,

I bet there is no better book to listen to while you are shingling. It looks great from the pictures Dad emailed me.

I know you are right about people's missions in life. I'll paraphrase something from the Gospel Principles book; We are born at the time and in the place where we can do the most good with our lives.

I'm trying to understand that more, what my talents are and how I can grow and give of them fully in my missionary service.

Mia and Alyia were baptized last Saturday. They are 9 and 10, part member family. Their mom wants the family to be sealed in the temple. Their dad did the baptisms, and we hope it helps him to be more active and overcome his challenges so that the family can make it there. I look forward to working with them and helping them.

Jessica is the investigator we are most excited about. She has told us that she is so grateful that we are in her life and she loves church so much. Her husband thanked her yesterday for taking their 5 year old daughter to church to learn about God. He is hesitant and guarded, so this is good progress. They also made a deal, and he might be coming to church soon. We are probably going to move her baptismal date up.

Thank you for the prayers for the members. Things are starting to move faster. The ward is trusting us more, and we are working hard.

It is so strange that Luke is coming home. It feels like he just left. Tell him hi for me.

I haven't gone shopping yet. I plan on that today. Thank you. I'll keep my eyes out for that package. I bet it'll be here in the next few days.

Love,

Elder Williams

 

May 20

Goddag Elder Williams,

 

Carson Gifford is going to Denmark on his mission. A few other people got their calls...Jason Twitchel to Reno, Nevada, another to Boise, Idaho...and I don't remember what others the girls said. It's pretty exciting to see all of the missionary work happening.

Well, I've been listening to a book about marriage relationships written by an evangelical preacher and I've learned a lot about Paul and his writings in the New Testament. This has helped me understand the meaning behind his message and I've gained a lot of respect for him. I thought he was a misogynist, but I've realized that I'm seeing him through 21st century feminist thinking. I'm not a feminist, but I know that the philosophy of feminism is ubiquitous in our society, so it has colored my thinking. I'm grateful for the clarity I've gained from listening to this book.

How are you doing? Do you have a new companion? Tell us about the people you are teaching. I think about them a lot and pray that the spirit will touch their heart.

I love you and wish you well.

Mom

 

 

 

Dear Mom,

It is wonderful to hear about all the missionaries going out. I know the hastening is happening. We have great missionaries and future missionaries, and that's part of the reason that the Lord is hastening His work. I realized more clearly yesterday in a meeting with the leaders of the Napa Stake (the stake I'm in) that another huge reason that the Lord is hasting His work is also because of the members. They have such a great capacity and potential to do missionary work. They are placed where they are, when they are for a reason. The stage is set for them to help their brothers and sisters receive us. This work will be so much more effective and wonderful when the members awake to this reality.

I'm doing very well. I'm with Elder Bliss. I think I told you that I served with him for a week in San Rafael before I went to McKinleyville. We are getting along well, and the members like us.

We have a baptism on Saturday for Mia and Alyia, who are 9 and 10. Their family is less active, so they didn't get baptized when they were eight. I'm really excited to have their family all be members.

We are teaching a girl named Shayna. She came with us to church last Sunday, and on Saturday she came with us to a baptism for another ward. She really felt the Spirit, and we have high hopes for her. She has some things that she will have to overcome before she can be baptized, but we have high hopes for her. We know she can make it if she calls on the Lord, which she has been. It has been wonderful to see this girl, who had no knowledge of God, begin to grow her testimony of a Living God.

Thank you for praying for my people. It means a lot to me. Could you also pray that the members will be able to catch the spirit of missionary work?

I love you Mom, and I'm grateful for all that you do for me.

Love,

Elder Williams