I know the message is true

Hey mom! Thanks for the email

So we went to the temple this week. I totally would have sent pictures but I forgot my camera. Maybe next week or in two weeks I'll just show you. It was an amazing experience. That is the fourth time I've gone with Bo and Sister Pratt on my mission. There has always been other people but they were always there. They both mean so much to me. Same with the temple. I feel I learn something new each time. Well obviously I do but it just is amazing to be in there and feel the influence of the Savior and Heavenly Father. I love the temple, I can't wait to go when I'm home. But I will go one more time as a missionary. I will be going with my departing group not this Friday but my last Friday. I can't wait to be there with all of my buddies. It will be a great end to an amazing two years. 

My mission has been unreal with how many miracles and spiritual experiences I have had. I couldn't have had those without coming out here to California. I'm going to miss my mission for the rest of my life and think about it everyday. It is really interesting because with the time left it is impossible for me to get any more baptisms. Because investigators have to come to church three times so it has been interesting turning my mindset to realizing that I still can do so much for the great people in California. I hope to find people that will be baptized in the coming weeks and give them everything I can so they can find the peace I have found. I love this work. I love bearing my testimony of the truth. That probably is one of my favorite things about my mission. That when I'm testifying I know the message is true. That is such a good feeling. 

My companion is doing well and is teaching me by example. He is great and we are having fun. I feel like I'm always laughing and having a good time. Our area is still pretty slow, but we picked up a new investigator last night, which was cool. This kid has gone through a lot of tough things in his life. It will be good for him to grab hold of the sure and firm Gospel. It will bless him in his life. I'm excited to teach him a couple more times, then hear from Elder Solomon what his progress is through letters and emails. 

Welp I better go, I love you all and I'm thankful for you! We will talk to you soon!

Elder Simons

There is no greater work

Hey mom,

This week has been good, although there have been some disappointing things that have happened. First of all, our baptism for this Saturday is getting post-poned. He was the one that was young and at the baptism he received divine revelation that he needed to be baptized. But his dad is saying no as of right now. He already said yes before but now he is saying no for right now. It has been sad and frustrating to watch this. But i know that eventually this kid will be baptized. Hopefully sooner than later. I want to be here when it happens. 

So this week we were visiting some LA's and we came upon this one that we decided to go and visit and he was such a cool guy! We were talking about technology and stuff and he was updating me. Then I started turning the conversation to the gospel and he was like "if you are wanting me to come back then it is no". I was like...whoa what? And we were talking about it and discussing religion as a whole. Basically this guy's beliefs are the same as Korihor's in the Book of Mormon. He believes in no Christ, no guilt, no afterlife, no God, no nothing basically. It was sad to hear him talk about this and I see his two kids, probably 1 and 3 years old and imagining their future. With no teaching of the Gospel of the Truth. That is Satan's plan, to attack the parents so the kids never even have the chance to hear the beautiful message of the gospel. How sad will that be for the kids? Their parents were sealed in the temple and they will have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They don't have the knowledge that if one of their parents passes away that they will see them again. I can't even imagine. I have been thinking about those two kids. I know that the Gospel can and will save all of those people who will and would receive it either on the earth or after. 

I do love this Gospel with all of my heart. I can't put into words how grateful I am that I have been able to do nothing but preach the everlasting gospel for the last 22 months of my life. There is no greater and more rewarding work. Even when we don't teach a ton of people or things aren't going our way, I still feel blessed to be one of the Lord's chosen servants to serve a mission. I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for the support.

Elder Simons

p.s. Thanks for the package mom! That "Last days of Jesus" was the best. It makes it so real and intimate, like you are really with the Savior. Thank you so much!

Become as Little Children

Another great week up in LOP. (Lake Of the Pines) I feel strongly that our ward is turning in the right direction. We set a baptismal date on Saturday that was great and really unexpected. We asked one of our investigators to come to a baptism that was happening in the stake. Before this he decided to wait till he turned 12 to get baptized to wait for his testimony to grow more, which I was kinda sad about and we had a couple lessons where we explained that God has gifts and blessings that He is willing to give to you now. Don't wait! But he was still pretty set on getting baptized when he was 12 which is in December. We were talking to him after the baptism and he was saying "the feelings I had made me feel like I have to get baptized now. I can't wait, it is supposed to happen now." 

I just love that example and will probably never forget it for the rest of my life. No wonder Jesus said we must become as little children. They are so open and willing to listen to the Spirit. It was just humbling to realize he was open to the spirit and it came to him because he asked for it and he was willing to act upon whatever the Lord had prompted him to do. Just a special experience. So he's getting baptized on the 30th, so we have to hurry and prepare for it. 

We are about to pick up some new investigators that I'm really excited about. One of them that really wants to change his life around, I'm hoping we can teach him and he will understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to turn your life around for the better. And eventually be saved in the Kingdom of God. But he will find that out later. 

Anyway life is just good, I'm having fun just living life. I can't believe transfers are in two weeks. And then it is my last transfer. Ah...crazy. 

Anyway we are going to play some ball today as always so that will be good. Anyway I love you all and thanks for everything you do for me! This Church is 100% true and Christ is Living and Loving.

Elder Simons

A week full of blessings!

Hey mom,

This week has been full of blessings! First of all we got a car! This area is like the area where bikes shouldn't be allowed because it is sooo dangerous and there are like mountains we have to somehow bike over. So we got a brand spanking new 2013 Toyota Corolla with 100 miles on it. It is so amazing to drive. We are loving it. Since we have a car we are able to travel around more easily and visit so many more peeps. 

We were visiting this less-active and she has a friend living in her home that is interested so we are teaching him too. I'm so excited for him. He said yes to the question 'if you knew these things were true would you be baptized?" That is always good to hear. So basically i'm hoping and praying he will be baptized soon. 

We also picked up another investigator.  He is about 10 years old. He wants to get baptized too. We have our first lesson with him on Wednesday. It is great! What else is new? So funny story... every time my companion sees a big fat dog he says "good meat". He used to eat dog in Tonga and so he like sizes them up and how they would taste and stuff. It is funny. I love him so much! 

Anyway there has been some great things happening. I love how excited the ward is about all of the work. So this week on Saturday Elder Neil Anderson is coming! I can't wait. The whole mission is going down to Roseville. It is going to be amazing. Thanks for everything! I feel the prayers coming my way and I appreciate it so much and can't thank you all enough.

Elder Rasmussen, Elder Simons, Elder Wilson

It has changed my heart

This week has been great once again! And little Wyatt was born! That is amazing. I can't wait to hold that little mister. So you say he has a mouth like mine? That serves Whitney right for making fun of my ghetto lips. Just kidding Whitney! That is amazing though. What a special time in all of our lives to welcome a new born baby into the world. So fresh from our Heavenly Parents'  presence. I'm sure there was a special spirit that was about him when he was born and first held. I hope and fully expect to feel that little boy's spirit when I get to hold him soon. What a blessing our family has received! 

But anyway to report on my week, it has been alright. I have had a lot on my mind but things are great nonetheless. The work has been a bit slower. I credit that to having four exchanges this week. I was out of the area quite a bit so Elder McMurray had to take the area over, which he isn't too familiar with so it was hard for him. Oh well. I was able to perform a baptismal interview in Hayfork. A man I interviewed in November that wasn't ready at the time, but when I interviewed him this time he was ready to go and ready to fully accept the Gospel of Christ and live accordingly. He is a great guy and will be a great addition to that little branch up there. 

The week has been good though, we have to push back our date for [one of our investigators] because he wasn't able to make it to church and he still has to work on some things. I really hope we can help him be baptized and enter into covenants with God. It will bless his and his wife's life.

Our ward council in our family ward is doing some amazing things. Everyone is putting forth their best effort and miracles are happening. I bet this ward will have 10 baptisms this year. Which is really good in our mission and extremely good for Redding. So I told you about the short transfer right? It ends in three weeks which is so crazy. And then we get a bunch of 18 year old missionaries. That will be so crazy. I really want to train one so bad! We will see what happens come transfer time. 

What else is new? Not much actually. The work has been slower but that is okay. It has been refining me and has put me in the position where the Lord can humble me and teach me new things that will help me for the rest of my life. I'm grateful to be in this position up here in Redding. I love it up here so much, the people are amazing. I love working with the members and they are doing great things. I love being able to work 24/7 for the Lord Jesus Christ. What an honor. This is something that I never will forget. It has changed my heart and built my faith. I know where my life is headed and that is because I have put my trust in the one and only true God. He will continue to guide me as long as I heed the spiritual promptings that He gives me. I love that we have the spirit to lead and guide us. We are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful church. I invite you all to thank God everyday of your life that you are a part of this church. I have been trying that and everyday I do with a sincere heart my appreciation and love of this church grows. I love you all and  I'm thankful for the service and great example you provide for me. Have a great week!

Busy and Loving Life!

Hey Mom!

Elder McMurray and I are doing great! He is from Cardston Alberta which is sweet. They have a temple there so that is really exciting. We were able to find a YSA investigator and start teaching her so that is great and we are excited for the potential there! 

We have to do like 4 exchanges this week which will be soooo crazy but that is okay. One of which I'm going up to Mt Shasta. So I'm pumped about that. 

We were able to set a date with another of our investigators. This guy is the man. I'm pumped for him. We still need to teach him some major commandments so that will be good. 

I'm loving life and having a good time. I'm super busy which is good and bad. It makes the time fly by so quick that I can't keep up but at the same time I'd rather be busy than a lazy missionary. 

So anyway our ward is doing great, they are so missionary minded. And it all really stems from our bishop. He is excited about it and that makes others excited for it as well. It is amazing. 

I'm sorry this is so short but I have so much to do today! And today is supposed to be my p-day! Ha! I love you all so much and have a great week. 

p.s Maybe Junior is waiting for me to come home?

We even got See's turkeys!

So this week has been a good one as usual. We have a baptism on Saturday with one of the YSA girls! She is truly amazing. So I haven't talked too much about her but I think I will today. So she had sat in on a lesson about two or three months ago when some missionaries were teaching the word of wisdom. And not much happened after that. So for the first two weeks I was here we were trying to contact her and set up something with her and finally like the day after the election we met up with her and had a lesson on life. And how we are supposed to be good people generally. It was a really weird lesson and I wasn't too sure if we should set up a follow up lesson with her but we did anyway. And since like Nov. 7th we have seen her basically every day and set a baptismal date and taught her all the lessons and commandments. She has caught hold of this wonderful gospel and ran with it, not ever looking back. She has been through some tough times in her life but wants a change and what I love most is that we as missionaries get to be there for the whole complete change. She looks different she acts different she has been changed by the Atonement. I love my mission. I'm so dang lucky to be able to do this. 

What else happened this week? So there is this crazy girl that we talk to every once in a while and she is pretty funny but she is trying to quit smoking. So we came over and she was saying she was going to stop after her last three cigs inside. I was like "no no no that ain't happenin' go get those cigs and we are going to step on them". And she is like "no you wouldn't".  But we just stared at her until she went in and got two of them. We threw them on the ground and each stepped on one. We then proceeded to tell her to go get the third one and it was her turn to stomp on it. So she did and she did step on it. It was cool. Since we did that she has smoked just a couple packs but still has a desire to quit. We will keep checking up on her and hopefully get her to quit. 

Our Thanksgiving was awesome. We started the day like normal with our studies and all that good stuff then went and played dunk ball. It was so sweet. Then we went to a member's home and had this huge dinner thingy and it was amazing. We even got See's turkeys. [editor's note: See's chocolate turkeys are a tradition around here... I am so happy that some wonderful family in Redding invited the missionaries for Thanksgiving AND also recognized the yumminess and necessity of giving See's turkeys!] And then after, we went to the stake center and played some more ball. It was so sweet!! I love basketball. 

Anyway life is so good. I'm starting to really love Redding. I wonder if I will finish my mission here. I wouldn't mind it. But thanks so much for everything you do!

Am I still fishing?

Hey mom,
 

Zone conference was amazing. President Weston is such a man, he is so good about inspiring us and helping us find the desire in our own hearts and working for that. He is very smart. So he gave all of us a challenge. By the time we have zone conference again, sometime is Feb, that we finish the Book of Mormon and we highlight like four different things. And every time we study we have to have a prayer before and after and ask our Heavenly Father if the book is true. He said doing this will change our lives. I love being invited to change my life! 

Life is wonderful. We are being so blessed here its almost unbelievable. I love it. We are teaching these two YSA girls and they both now have dates for Dec 1 and Dec 8th.  They are both doing great things in their lives. I want to talk about one of them in particular. She understands the gospel so much. We taught her the Plan of Salvation (with the wood things Dad gave me) and then I picked up all the pieces and gave it to her and said now you do it and also explain it to us. She gave probably the most beautiful testimony on the Plan of Salvation that I ever had heard. She did all of that while correctly placing the wooden shapes in order and she told us what each of them meant to her. And after she was like "I understand why you guys focus so much on missionary work. This needs to be spread." She has expressed a desire to serve a mission. Man that would be....amazing to say the least. 

I have been pondering a lot on a couple things. First testimony and conversion and also the talk which Elder Holland gave which talked about Peter and why he was still fishing. I have come to realize that when someone has been converted they change. They have a complete 180 on what they say, think, and do. They have no more desire to do evil, yes they still fall but they have a drive to follow and keep the commandments. They are focused on Christ and His Atonement. I have been looking a lot for things like that in myself and others around me and it is really interesting. 

Now to my other subject which goes hand and hand... I have been thinking a lot about my own conversion and what I used to do before my mission. There were a lot of interesting things that I did but I will just say fishing because that works well. But I was thinking more deeply about my conversion and a couple questions came to my mind. First of all where am I and where am I going? Am I ever still fishing? Am I making decisions and choices that lead me to the Savior or to satan? Whenever I think about fishing I say to myself and sometimes out loud "Stop fishing Elder Simons". (I have got my companion into the habit too) It really helps us focus on where we are on missions and to focus on our conversions. A true conversion would be where someone has no desire to re-do the evils and maybe not just the evils but also the things I was doing well enough. A true conversion is when someone has turned their back on that promising and striving to never go back. So are we  converted? I hope so. 

This is such a wonderful time of the year. I hope we all can focus on Christ and what He has so willingly done for us. It is easier for me because I teach of Christ and I testify of Christ all day long so He is always in my head. I'm lucky I do not have to deal with all of the many distractions we as humans have put in our own lives. I love my Savior and I'm grateful for the many things He personally has blessed me with. I love my family. I would do anything for any one of them and I hope they know that. I love how much they support me and bless me. I love anyone who is reading this email. I'm thankful for the support you give me in any way. I love you all!

Extension please.

Life is good. I am getting more used to Redding. It is still very different from the fast paced south and I miss that, but that's okay. 

Country road in Ono, California
(in the Redding Zone)

We had such a good ZLC this past week. We discussed how we are going to prepare for the new influx of missionaries coming in and how we are going to accommodate them. It was really exciting. I can't wait. (Although when they are expecting our numbers to reach the highest will be about a month or two before I go home). Which doesn't seem right. Extension please. I wish. 

We have zone conference next Tuesday. I can't wait. Elder Buhler and Rasmussen will be there. Its the top three zones of the mission. Anderson, Chico and Redding. It will be great. 

What new has happened....we met with this new guy named. He is really great. He hasn't been taught in a couple months and he comes to church about every week. We have a lesson with him tomorrow that I'm really excited for. We asked him if he has considered baptism before and he said he would if he knew it was true. That excited me. This ward has only had 2 baptisms this year. That is no good at all. I hope we can get two maybe three before the year wraps up. 

Oh we also had stake correlation up here on Sunday. President Weston came which was so great. It was weird being in a different correlation than Antelope. I felt outta place for the first little bit but then I warmed up and jumped right in.

I have seen amazing miracles while I have been up here in Redding. I can't wait to further the work up here in the Lord's vineyard. I'm just excited about the work. I love this work and know that the Lord has all power in it. I love Him so much. I love you all as well!

Elder Simons

Wilson's pumpkin carving of Moses

Transfer to Redding!

So I got the package from the Rossettis. But I couldn't answer their call or text because we really aren't allowed to answer area code 801 numbers. So they just met me at the church and that was awesome! Thank you so much for the package!! I truly am going to get a belly. Luckily its almost time for my six month slim down!

Soo big news! I'm getting transferred. All the stinking way up to Redding!! Up there we cover a family ward and YSA branch. I'm really excited and also pretty nervous as well. I don't do too well with transfers and leaving areas. I just fall in love with wherever I serve and don't want to leave. I will miss the wonderful people down here. This place is amazing!

So hopefully I get that other package before i leave tomorrow!

So Redding is on the complete opposite side of the mission. It will be a long drive to get up there but that is where the Lord wants me so i will go!

Our investigator's baptism didn't happen. She hasn't yet been converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It will happen with time and through keeping God's commandments. I hope I get to come down and go to her baptism. I can't wait. It will happen though i know it.

This week has been a week where we have had a lot of time to do some finding. We only found 1 new investigator but she is amazing. I can for sure see her getting baptized in a couple months. She is someone who truly feels the Holy Ghost and someone who will truly act on that. She is great!

I love this work! The Gospel is hopefully still true in Redding!! I will tell you next week!

P.S. I'm sorry to hear I'm still causing terror in the house mom! :) [editor's note: that "P.S." is in response to me telling him about being all alone in the house one night, and going downstairs to the basement to put something away. I turned the light on in the guest room, and just about jumped out of my skin when I saw the  full-size cardboard stand-up of Wilson. My heart is still not back to its normal rate yet]

Seeing God's hand work in people's lives

Thank you for the email yet again mom. It means a lot to have the support of an awesome mother. I feel as the 2,000 strippling warriors felt about their mothers. They did not doubt that their mothers knew the gospel. I'm sure they had this knowledge because their moms lived and taught the gospel in the home. I am eternally grateful for the amazing example you and Dad have set for me in the home. Even when I wasn't always what I was supposed to be you stayed strong and did what the Lord always asks us to do: keep the commandments. So thank you for always doing that. I feel like I'm reaping the blessings from you being obedient. So thank you.

Anyway,[our investigator] is doing good. She is struggling just a little bit. She doesn't know if Joesph Smith was a Prophet. Actually she feels like he was for half of his life. So we are working with that. We are going to be meeting with her everyday till Saturday in hopes of helping her receive her answer for herself. I know that she could receive her answer at any moment. I really hope and pray that she will be baptized this week. I will let you know how it goes and I will send you pictures next week. 

What else happened this week...our truck was acting up so we had to go get it fixed, and when the mechanic guy sat in the car with me while I was driving of course it didn't make the sound. I hate it when that happens. But eventually is made the thumping noise. He then got in the car to take it for a spin and he I was really scared. I casually grabbed onto the handle and slowly slipped
my seat belt on, hopefully he didn't notice. I guess I should have been wearing my seat belt in the first place. 

We are teaching this part-member family and they are coming along slowly but surely. The guy is a less-active member and his girlfriend is the non-member. She has such a great desire to do the things she has to, to get aligned with God's will. It has been a huge testimony strengthener (maybe not a word?) to see herand her progress. I love teaching them and watching them grow. I love seeing God's hand work in peoples' lives. It really is such a blessing to be able to just sit and watch him work. I love it! I love seeing miracles. It strengthens my testimony so much!! 

Thank you for all you do!

An honor to teach him

Well this week has been another good one. I can not believe its the 7th of August. Time runs through my hands like sand. It is crazy. Elder Coburn and I are having such a good time. We joke around a lot and just have fun. We are trying to teach everyone we see and we will see success from it, I know that. The investigator that is having trouble with coming to church didn't come on Sunday. It was really heart breaking. I called her and she took a spill and was really sore. I felt really bad and was down on life but it was okay. Everything happens for a reason. We didn't have any other investigators come to church. It was a bit frustrating, but again everything does happen for a reason. I hope and know that as we involve the Lord more in our life we will see an abundance of blessings.

We had ZLC on Friday. It was a good one. I learned so much. Something that the spirit really was whispering to me was that we need to be more grateful for the commandments we have been blessed with. Often we look at commandments as just something we are supposed to do, but as we do it with a willing heart and with a grateful attitude we will receive so many more blessings from our loving Heavenly Father.

So "Mike's" [name change] story is a really interesting one. I love this guy so much. We were actually supposed to meet with him this morning but he wasn't home. His wife was baptized about five years ago and he wasn't interested in joining until about three months ago. And he has very little Christian background so it has been really interesting helping him build his faith in Jesus Christ. Most of the people I have taught have had that solid testimony that Jesus Christ is their Savior and Redeemer but "Mike" knew very little about it. It has been such an honor to teach him. I love that man.

I have been pondering the 3 disciples out of the 12 in the Book Of Mormon that decided to stay on the earth and help build up the Kingdom of God. What a decision that must have been. They probably had a good knowledge of what heaven would be like and how it would feel but they decided to forego that and stay on the earth and help bring others to Christ. What a sacrifice. I feel humbled to see their example and it often makes me ask, "Do I have that dedication to the Gospel and building God's Kingdom?" I hope I have that faith and determination to serve and follow Christ.

We have half mission conference on the 23rd with Elder Cardon from the Quorum of the Seventy. I can't wait to see all my buddies and a servant of the Lord. It will be such a revelatory experience. I will make sure to let you know how it goes.

So I love you all very much. Thank you for you prayers and everything you do for me.

Elder Simons

 

This is a little message from Sister Jackson ( the one who gives your son candy when he visits the office)  Your son is great!  He is a hard working missionary who is loved by all.  Thank you for sharing him with the California Roseville Mission.  We are extremely proud of our fine missionaries and your son is one of the best.  Sister Jackson

A letter from Sacramento

[Editor's note: I got this note in the mail on Monday...]

Hi Sister Simons!
I am in one of the wards your son is currently serving in here in California. I would just like to say you have raised an amazing missionary. He has such a bright spirit and sweet personality, but I think the best thing about him is his love for this gospel. I've had the chance to work with him in our ward missionary effort and every lesson he has definitely touched and enlightened the people. Especially my best friend who he will be baptizing this weekend! What I am most grateful for though is the effect he has had on my parents. My parents are not members, and are currently investigating the church. Elder Simons has only truly taught one lesson with my parents, but he has found his way into my parents' hearts. His presence in our house has changed the whole atmosphere. My parents are now very interested in being baptized and scripture study. They always volunteer to let Elder Simons and Elder Ellsworth teach lessons here. He truly has an amazing testimony and I feel so blessed to be able to be around such a great missionary. Thank you for sacrificing time with your son so he could change as many lives as he has thus far. You should be truly proud to be his mother.

Someone somewhere whispers a prayer for me

I appreciate that email mom. Thank you for your love and your prayers. I feel them strengthen me when I feel like I have no energy to endure. I feel sometimes that when I have no power or motivation to get up and do the Lord's work that someone somewhere whispers a prayer for me and our Heavenly Father gives me the desire needed and I get up and can go do my work. I would not be able to serve this mission without the people back home standing behind me. I love you all and thank you.

This week has humbled me to the depths of my heart. We had to "pass off" the young adult girl on Saturday and that was one of the hardest moments on my mission. But the Lord never leaves us feeling like we didn't get the best out of a situation, and she asked if I would baptize her. I felt so honored. I'm so excited. 

We found another golden investigator on Sunday. I really feel like it was the Lord blessing us for giving up our other one willingly. I'm excited about this new investigator and the potential he has. 

We taught these two foreign Exchanges students from China and I had the chance to teach them about Jesus Christ whom they had heard of before. We gave them Book Of Mormons. Man it made me really sad that there are people in the world who don't know Christ. And who probably never will. But I ponder on the Plan Of Salvation and I realize they will have a chance to hear and accept this Gospel. I love that Plan and know its true.

So we have Zone Leader Council the very first Friday of the month. And then we train our individual zones the Tuesday after. We have stake coorelation the third Sunday of every month. I love these meetings because I feel the spirit teaching me new things about how I can become a better missionary and maginify my calling better. I love this work. Its not my work though, its the Lord's. I feel honored to be able to help him in such a wonderful way. So many blessings I have received where I felt undeserving. I love the Lord. I love my mission. Again thank you for your prayers. I love you all!

OH and a mini missionary stays with us for about 3 days and lives with us and sleeps in our home. We had a lot of fun with this one this time. When he came he wasn't sure if he was going to go, but the last thing he said to me was that he was going to go. What a neat experience! I love you!

This church is pure and real

Hey mom!!

Well this week has been interesting!! So first ZLC last week. We have all the zone leaders in the mission and the assistants there. And we talk about policies and then we hear from President and Sister Weston. We got an email from Salt Lake (well President did) that says after every ZLC the zone leaders have to give a three hour training meeting, on what we have learned at ZLC. So I might have mentioned this last week but we were so underprepared!! But the Lord made all the difference and totally took control of our meeting and taught very well through us. I hope all the missionaries in the Zone got edified and enlightened. There are 8 elders 4 sisters and 1 senior couple. I love this zone so much. They are all such great examples to me.

Life is so much like a blur its crazy. I feel like it was yesterday that I hit my year mark, and I feel like it was like a week ago that I left the MTC to fly out here. Its crazy.

So this week we had stake correlation. That is where Elder Ellsworth, Me, the stake presidency, President Weston all come together and talk about the work in the stake. I have learned so much about priesthood leadership from this meeting. I love that I get this wonderful humbling opportunity to work so close with these leaders. They are teaching me so much just from their good examples. We are really trying our hardest to train the ward councils to just focus on the ward mission process and help them be more missionary minded. I got to sit next to President, and I just know that he is called of God. Everything that he says I feel the spirit confirm to me that it is true. I love that man. I look up to him so much. He is such a man!!

So I don't know if I told you much about Alicia (YSA girl). She accepted a baptismal date the first real lesson we had with her. She is so sharp and totally picks up the doctrine and runs with it. But she doesn't live in our mission :( So we have to pass her on. But I think we still can go to it. But we were asking President if we could teach her and baptize her but he totally explained and taught us about stewardship and how we can't receive revelation for her and the bishop can't either because she isn't under our stewardship and all this cool stuff. He doesn't miss a chance to teach us. He is amazing.

The Lord is real. He lives. He is amazing. I know that this church is pure and real and has the priesthood which is essential for anyone's salvation. I love you all!!

I love my life!!

Thanks for the email Mom!!

Anyway this week has been so stressful!! We had some missionary problems (getting along). That was really frustrating. We had to be on exchanges all week with the missionaries. It really made me understand being a parent in a way. When I was so frustrated with them I had two choices show them that I'm mad and frustrated or I could be nice and loving and help them know that all I want for them is to have a good mission. It makes all the difference in the world. But we eventually had to have an emergency transfer.  I have never have been able to study less and do less missionary work in a week. And it has killed me! But this next week will be a good one. 

We already have three lessons planned for tonight. We have so many wonderful investigators. I love this work. We have 2 baptismal dates. WE have a lot of potential. I can't wait for the future. I need to live in the now though. We have interviews tomorrow. That will be good. 

What else happened this week...Elder Ellsworth and I are brothers. We got super close this week. That was good. We teach so fluidly together. I never have like morphed so well with a comp before. I love all of my companions very much, but with Ellsworth and I we trade off so well. It has really worked out well. I feel like I'm the bad cop and he is the good cop. Haha I'm so weird. Its really fun working with him though. I love it. It has been so much fun to watch people, even in my two weeks here, grow so much in the gospel. I love my life!! Thanks for the support everyone!

In the eternities...

Hey Mom and Dad!

It was a wonderful week. I went on exchanges with Elder Mansell and Elder Christensen. Both are really great elders. Elder Mansell is a hard worker and his investigators and the other people he is teaching just love him. He truly is a great example of how to be a great missionary and have people love you. Elder Christensen is just as amazing. He is so knowledgable in the gospel. It impresses me with some of the stuff that he says. He is a very capable servant of the Lord. He is going home though. Which has been hard for me! He gave his departing testimony at zone conference (all the missionaries bear their testimonies the last zone conference before they leave) yesterday and I just was crying the whole time through. I feel like I haven't learned more from any another missionary than him while I have been out here. Well maybe Elder Buhler. But Elder Christensen is such a man. I keep telling him I'm not going to let him go home. He wishes he doesn't have to go home either but its his time and his family needs him before they leave to South Korea. We had a long conversation at the end of our exchange about our friendship and we have seen each other grow so much in the past year. And how we hope to hang out after our missions. Man i love that kid. I will miss him so much.

On a happier note, we had zone conference yesterday and i got to see some missionary buddies that i haven't seen in a while, namely Elder Leone and Elder Amataga. Man i love this mission thing and the friends that i have made. I love that i get to serve the Lord and have fun while I'm doing it. I think for my whole youth i figured a mission is just going to be boring and that i wouldn't enjoy it. But I could not have been more wrong. I love it! And I never have a boring moment! My president said something yesterday that has really impressed me, and the Spirit and this thought have been working on me since..it goes along the lines of this..."I'm confident that we know in many instances why we were called to the Roseville Mission, either by the people we meet and teach or the companions you have and learn from, you will know just from seeing that God has reasoning behind this call, but I can promise you there are many other unseen reasons why you are here right now, but they will be revealed to you in the eternities"...How awesome is that? That gives me the desire to want to be out and doing things like tracting where I don't know what the outcome is, and to my natural eye it seems like i just got another slammed door in my face, but in all reality the quick little response we say to a person when they open the door could prick their hearts and affect them in a time down the road. We just need to have faith that one day things will work out for the good of all people. Right now for instance if i didn't understand a certain rule or commandment but if i obey, i know with surety that i will be blessed for it, and that in the future when i die everything will be made known unto me. That promise is wonderful to me.

Elder Rasmussen and I are gelling nicely. Since we have been together so long we are pretty good teachers together. Its sweet. We get along great. We have SOSOSOSO much fun. We always have something to laugh about each day. The ward seems to love us as well. We get the line "you are our favorite missionaries" like once a week. Its crazy but I love it so much, its just a confidence booster. We are doing the mutual thing tonight. And I'm stressing a little bit. Because we are on exchanges right now with the ZL's, and me and Ras aren't 100% prepared. But we will have some time tonight to get prepared. I hope the kids like it. I'm sure they will. We are hoping to to help them realize that yes we are missionaries but we went to high school and we went through stuff as well. We hope to help them out alot.

There is a scripture that i can't find right now that I love! But hopefully i will find it soon, but its a prophet and he testifies that he will be in the rest of his Lord with his converts. I wish i could find it. But that excites me! I want to be in the presence of Savior with my family and my converts. All the people i have taught on my mission. And also the less-actives i have helped come back into the fold of God. I want to rest with them in heaven. I can't imagine my happiness level if and when that happens. I cant wait!

We had a lesson with a less-active single mom last night. And the spirit was so present during the lesson! She felt it, we felt it. She will be in the temple in five months. I can promise you that. I want to be there when she goes to get her endownment out. That would be such a great moment. She has so much potential and she has a huge desire to come back to church. I love that. When people have a desire to learn and get blessings, its easier for us to work with them and easier for the Spirit to testify of the truthfulness of the message. I love this work. This is the Lord's work.

I better go! I'm praying for everyone at home a lot!

Elder Simons

One year behind, one year ahead

I can't believe that it is my last week as a nineteen year old. I still feel like 6. I for sure still feel like a greenie. I can't believe i have been out for almost a year. It's a weird feeling to know that in a week or so i will be able to say that i have been wearing this same missionary tag for one year. Time has moved incredibly fast. Unfairly fast. But i know it has moved by as the Lord would have it move. I have been blessed to be able to be an instrument in His hands. I feel like i have had so much success on my mission. I know that i have helped others build Faith in Jesus Christ. I love what Ammon says to Aaron in the Book of Mormon when Aaron is worried about Ammon boasting. In Alma 26:11, "But Ammon said unto him: I do not ^aboast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my ^bjoy is full, yea, my heart is brim with ^cjoy, and I will rejoice in my God.12 Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God, for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

I know that any success that i have had on my mission or if anyone has come closer to Christ from a visit from me i know without a doubt that it was because God's hand was in it. I don't give myself credit except for the fact that i was acting as voice and i just happen to be the bag of bones with a name tag that is in the area. I love this work. I have one year left. That is scary. But that excites me, that makes me determined to finish strong. I will finish strong, I will make the Lord proud. I don't care how many baptisms i have. If i have one more or ten more i will be happy because i know that I'm doing what i have been asked to do. I know its here right at the front door but I'm sooo excited for my last year. My time to shine! I can't wait!

This week was really great. We had such a powerful lesson with our investigator. We got so close to committing him to baptism with a date. SOOOO close. We taught lesson 21 in the Gospel Principles handbook on the Holy Ghost. What i love so much about the Holy Ghost is we have the power to dictate how powerfully the Spirit works in our life. What a smart God to create the spirit according to our obedience and faithfulness. I have seen several times on my mission that when i try my hardest to qualify for the spirit, i receive it. Simple enough. We aren't expected to be perfect to have the spirit or else no one would have it, but we get it nonetheless. But when I don't care as much or don't pay as much attention to having the spirit as i should, i don't have it. I notice it in my teaching and everything i do. Its quite simple! Its amazing. I love that i have the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a blessing. I want everyone in California to have this gift as well. 

We found three new investigators! How cool is that? We are teaching them today at three. We are cutting our p-day short so we can maximize our time out working. I can't wait. Then we have dinner with Shawn's cousin who went to Alta. It will be awesome! We have a good week planned. I'm excited about the potential ahead. 

Roseville is getting really hot. But that's okay.. I'm getting skinny hopefully. Life is amazing. Thank you for everything parents! I love you!

Hello, Bob. How are you doing?

Hey parents!! How are we doing? Hopefully good

Anyway, this week has been a roller coaster. Its had its ups and its had its downs. Which should i explain first? Well i guess i will just do the bads so we can finish with the goods! So first, Bob Thompson, the 94 year old who just got baptized March 3rd passed away Thursday night. He was in the hospital on Monday for something minor and was expected to be released Friday morning, but Thursday evening while sleeping he slipped away. We found out about forty minutes before we were going over to his apartment so we had no idea. Bob was such a great man. His story truly testifies of the statement that its never too late. Bob was set in his ways for years. And he was fine with it, he didn't feel like he needed to change. But with the wonderful example of his family he realized there was something better in life. So at age 94 he took the lessons and was baptized. What a turn around. Its almost like the prodigal son, but in reverse with the prodigal father. Its an amazing story. I loved going over to his apartment and him showing us his simple picture of Jesus, smiling. He would always say "its like he is saying Hello Bob how are you doing?" and he would always talk about how excited he was to see Jesus. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real. It is true. How lucky we are that we have our eternal plan basically mapped out for us. Life on earth isn't even that mapped out. I feel like I have come to understand the Plan of Salvation more in my life, and it has given me so much peace and help during times of need. Bob was a great man. He is happy and healthy now, and that is awesome to me! He is in a better place.

Moving on, (so this is my last down which also turns into a good) so this weekend i was just feeling spiritually...whats the word I'm looking for?....down, I guess you could say. I had no idea why. It was frustrating me. Especially because I'm trying to work as hard as i can to get the spirit with me always so i can be aware of what our Lord wants me to do. Saturday night while pondering on my mission and what it means to me, my mind turned to the following day and how I was able to partake of the Sacrament, and i was like "hmm it seems like such a long time since i had the Sacrament" and it was because of the stake conference we had. That's why i felt spiritually down was because i wasn't able to partake of the Sacrament and renew my covenants with the Lord and receive the promise that i will always have his spirit to be with me. What a promise I have taken for granted. I need that spirit. Without it, i was emotionally and physically not feeling right. But when i partook of it on Sunday the spirit just flooded back. What an amazing experience that was for me.

So another up... our investigator's mom wants us to come over for dinner again, so we are doing that tonight. I'm pretty excited! Our investigator is still doing great. Her testimony is as strong as ever. 


So we had a lesson with another one of our investigators and it went really well. She is progressing great. We are hoping to set a date soon. So she can start receiving the blessings of membership. 


We helped with Mormon Helping Hands this weekend. We had a ton of fun. We helped clean up a park and get it ready for bark. We had a good time mingling with the other missionaries and members from the stake.

It is crazy that I get to talk to you guys again in two Sundays? That's so crazy. I can't believe that. It feels like we just skyped for Christmas. Time flies! Anyway i better go. I love you guys!!!

"Where goest thou?"

Thank you so much for the prayers and support, they mean so much to me. I feel the power and influence from them in my daily blessings. This week went by way too fast. I don't really understand how I'm emailing again, it feels like it should be Tuesday of last week and overall it seems like it should be July 2011. I can't believe its April 2012. It just doesn't make sense. Time flies when you are serving the Lord. I cant believe i have been in Roseville for almost four months. AHHH!! 

So i have a cool story, so Elder Rasmussen and I bought sorta cheap baseball gloves today because we needed one for P-day today and also life just seems to require a baseball glove. So we were passing the ball a bit this morning and this guy came up to us and started talking to us and telling us to guess his age. And of course we under-guessed not to hurt his feelings but anyway anyway we had a great conversation about church and God and set up a return appt and are going back on Saturday!! This guy was sweet! I see some potential in him. We have been searching for a new investigator and one just walked up to us. What a blessing and miracle. Other then that though we haven't been able to find any others but the Lord teaches us patience in funny ways. 

Elder Cordova of the Seventy came to the Roseville stake conference. It was awesome. I just want to share some stuff he said. First a scrip in Genesis chapter 3 verse 9 "And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, "Where art thou?" (this is when the Lord comes to the Garden of Eden and is seeking Adam, but he is hiding... we all know the story) So Elder Cordova said "where are we now? Where are we standing? In holy places? Where is our spiritual level at now?" The next scripture is in Moses, 4:15 "And I, the Lord God, called unto Adam, and said unto him: "Where ^agoest thou?" (same situation as the one in Genesis) But here the Lord is asking us where we are going. What are we going to do to further build up the kingdom of God and build our personal testimonies? What are we going to do because of where we were? Are we moving forward? I thought that that was a great thought -- we need to always be improving, going someplace better. When i think where i have been spiritually, or really in any other aspect, when i started my mission to where i am now, it is a huge difference. I can testify that it was because of the enabling power of the Atonement. The only way to move forward is through and by the Atonement. I know that to be true.

We had dinner with our recent convert's parents and it was awesome!! They made some really good pasta. And after we had a nice talk about relegion with her mom and what she believed in. And how she felt when she read some of the Book of Mormon. I told the daughter that her mom is going to be baptized. I really think she will. It will take some time though. And like all good things, it takes time. And i will take it back to Elder Cordova's message. Her mom is at this point, at point a, and i have no doubt that through Jesus Christ and His Perfect Atonement she can reach point B, C, D, E, and F if she really wants to. There are no limits! How blessed we are to be able to use the Atonement as baptized members of this restored gospel.

Its been hot!! Really hot! I dont think my body is used to it yet. But man i have been sweating like a mad man. But people seem to have more pity on us and give us water here and there so that's nice. Not too much has happened. Our older investigator hasn't set a date yet for his baptism, but we are hoping to do that soon. But I'm loving life!! I love my mission.

Elder Simons!