Friday, August 25, 2017
Small World/Church After All
Hello everyone!
Well, Transfers have come, as they always do. This transfer, however, was a bit different than any which I have experienced so far. Right after Monday Morning Devotional, I got asked to visit President Fenn in his office, as well as a few other Elders, including Elder Garfield. He interviewed us one by one, and gave us assignments. Elder Garfield is now a District Leader in the Contact Center, and I am responsible for training one of the new Young Elders who came . At Transfer Conference, these new callings were announced to everyone, and I learned who my new companion was - his name is Elder Stacey (Britt, if you are reading this, this guy is your cousin Rick - small world, isn't it). This calling does make me kind of nervous - now I must live up to a higher standard than I have before. President Fenn has told me that he has put a lot of trust in my by putting me in this position. However, I do have faith that I do have it in me - if I could not do it, I would not have been called. So, I look forward to learning and growing, as well as helping Elder Stacey get used to mission life too. Aside from this, no changes have come from this Transfer - I am still serving in the same zone, and I live in the same apartment as always. My P-Day is still on Friday, so you can still expect my E-mails around the afternoon on the same day as always!
I am sure you are all probably wondering about the eclipse from the point of view of someone in Salt Lake City at the time. My family got a much better view of the eclipse than I did - they visited my Mom's family in Idaho Falls. However, the view in Salt Lake City was not bad either. The entire mission was allowed to take their lunch breaks at 11:00 this day, as the peak of the eclipse happened at 11:33 AM. I had actually become somewhat of a distributor of eclipse glasses during this time, as I had asked for my mom to send me a bunch of them a couple weeks in advance. I was able to hand all 12 of them out - even the first counselor in the mission presidency, President Hansen, had asked me for a couple of pairs. The sky did not completely black out - the day just got a little bit darker, despite the moon covering 90% of the sun at the peak - but it was still nice to watch through the glasses. Me and the rest of my district watched it happen from the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, away from most of the crowds which filled the areas below. All in all, it was a nice little show to watch.
Work has been fairly typical, despite these big happenings. I do feel like Contact Center has been a bit slow as of recently, but it will likely pick up again. Elder Stacey has gotten through the training modules much quicker than I have - he was finished with all of them by day 2. So, he has begun taking chats, which are essentially text conversations, but with keyboards instead of cell phones, and the other one on the line is a FamilySearch Support consultant. These are a bit easier to work, but they do not come in often. So, I think that it will be good for him to go a couple more days on chats with help from other Elders in the zone helping him out (myself obviously included), and get put on phone calls by next Wednesday. I do think Elder Stacey will do good in this zone, but it is still up to me to help him adjust to service here, as well as to help him with the whole missionary thing.
The monthly Young Elder temple trip happened this morning, which was good because I could really use some inspiration to help me with serving in this calling. I do wish I could have been more attentive going through, but I still got some good out of going, just as I always do. Elder Stacey was also there, though his mind was a bit distracted. So, I think that a thing we can both work to improve on is preparing our minds for the temple on the days we attend. I also plan on attending the temple more on mine and Elder Stacey's own time - me and Elder Garfield have tried to do this, but we were not able to make time, sadly. But, I will make time this Saturday.
Well, that is my week for you. I am looking forward to serve as a trainer for Elder Stacey, as well as continue serving to coordinate Morning Exercise (me and Elder Garfield, despite our new callings, are still going to work together on this). Let me know if you have any questions about anything, and I will try my best to answer them. Thanks a lot, and have a nice week!
Challenge: The family is the basic building block of society. God's standard for a family includes a father to work to sustain the family, and to lead the family in righteousness; as well as a mother, who can raise her children to become good fathers and mothers, as well as prepare them to meet any other righteous goal they may have. If this standard is ever done away with, or in other words, if the family falls apart, then it will take nations with it. So, my challenge for the week is to strengthen your families. Fathers and mothers, begin doing more activities together as a family. Read the scriptures and pray together. Children young and old, get along better with your siblings and your parents. Right any wrongs which you may have done, and apologize to your family members, even if you may be right about whatever the argument was about. If the family can be strengthened, so can it's individual members. Everyone in the family will benefit from such actions, even if it might not be visible at first. So again, work to strengthen your family, and you will find that you individually will have more energy and strength to overcome.
From,
Elder Bryce Petersen
Friday, August 18, 2017
What happened to the transfer??
Hey everyone!
Wow, this transfer seems like it has gone by so fast - much faster than any up to this point! I have reached my five-month mark earlier this week, and things do not seem to be slowing down at all! However, I am still happy to be here, and to be serving the Lord and his church. I don't plan on slowing down any time soon, either!
We have gotten a new group of four Young Elders last Monday, including an Elder Stacey, whom I have heard was the nephew of someone from the community. The world is a small place, especially within the church - I have heard that, at one point in this mission, we have had two brothers serving on this mission! Anyway, I have not yet learned the names of all the new Young Elders as of yet, but I do plan on it. Then again, learning names on the mission is a bit difficult - as soon as you think you've learned all the names, a new bunch of Young Elders joins, and so you start all over again. But, I do look forward to seeing where they go to serve in the mission.
As always, new Young Elders is always a sign of an upcoming transfer - whenever Young Elders sit in the part of the chapel reserved for new incoming missionaries at the weekly Monday Morning Devotional, that is my signal that Transfer Conference is coming in a week and a day. It is times like this when things change a bit, as you do not know whether or not you will be with the same companion this week. And so, you must prepare for anything. This was the week of the month in which we did not collaborate our meals. And so, I have a couple less fancy meals planned out for myself, and I may buy some more things during the week. I do hope things stay more or less the same for me.
We also had Mission Conference for the Senior Missionaries in the mission, the one which my Choir obligations mean I show up to both sessions of. The message was a great one. President Fenn spoke at this one - by this point, we all understand he likes to teach a good lesson - about how the Book of Mormon explains the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I would like to share a bit about President Fenn's style of giving talks and lessons - the Church is not known for it's firey sermons, but President Fenn is, in a good way, as close to a Baptist preacher as they come in the Church - I have had multiple people, including my companion, tell me this. He speaks very powerfully, enough to wake most people dozing off in the congregation right up, but he knows how to speak gently as well. He switches between both styles in his lessons. All in all, his talks and lessons are very unique and memorable, in a good way. So, this makes mission conference much different than I am generally used to, though I have no problem with that!
Last Tuesday, me and Elder Garfield had worked together for running the first day of the new exercise program. We had called coordinators of the previous exercise program together to give advice and brainstorm ideas, and we have put together something quite nice - a combination of traditional exercise and fun, less-competitive outdoor games. The workout last Tuesday was not quite as intensive as I would have liked, but we will work on that in future workouts. There was another exercise yesterday, but I was not able to attend that due to a schedule conflict between this and Mission Conference. I will be there tomorrow though, and I look forward to helping the mission attain some degree of physical fitness!
And there is my week for you. I love you all, and appreciate the support! Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or anything along those lines. Just shoot me an E-mail at elderbrycepetersen@gmail.com. Thanks again, everyone, and have a nice day!
From,
Elder Bryce Petersen
Challenge (D&C 58:27): I am not an idle person here on the mission, idleness has always driven me crazy! It always feels a bit boring to have nothing to do. However, there are other problems which come from having nothing to do - nothing gets done, and your mind is more open to temptation. However, a thing which is just as bad as idleness, if not more so, is spending too much time doing the wrong things. These things are not necessarily sinful, and can be considered wholesome activities, if done in moderation. However, excess of anything is bad, whether it be television, video games, or even work. None of these things are bad if they are controlled, but we sometimes let them take up way too much of our time - I know that I did before coming out on the mission. So, what can we do to combat idleness and time-wasting? A surefire way could be to take up a wholesome hobby. This can include a variety of things - it can range from reading, to cooking, to hiking, to making some form of art, to serving others. Of course, not even these things are worth setting aside excessive amounts of our time for - we must keep our priorities straight so that what needs to be done gets done. So, my challenge to you is to find ways to avoid idleness and time wasting, and work on getting those into your schedule so that you can find yourself enjoying such activities.
Friday, August 11, 2017
A Driving Force
A Driving Force
Hey everyone!
This week was Young Elder's Conference in the mission. This conference was a bit different in the sense that it was not on the same week as the Senior Mission Conference - that's next week. It was President Fenn who spoke to us here, just as is traditional with Mission Conferences. The Conference was preceded by a fireside last Sunday, again from President Fenn. They were quite similar - they were about receiving personal revelation. Elder Garfield tells me that he thinks that President Fenn will try to incorporate proselyting somewhere and somehow in the mission. I would like to see how this goes over, but if it does happen, then I will be more than willing to help out.
I have had more meetings with Elders Garfield and Boone about the new program, and we have been adding more and more onto it. I have also began putting together spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel to keep records of who comes to each event, as well as their progress. I am not writing this E-mail to give a detailed description of everything that will go on in the program, but know that it is coming along quite nicely, and I do have high hopes for this coming together quite well. I have looked over the suggestions you have submitted to me, and I will try my best to incorporate them into my service as a leader. Thanks for the help guys!
Today was a turning point in my service, and I will be able to serve much better because of it - I have taken a driving test with Elder Boone (who I have mentioned is the driving coordinator as well as a Morning Exercise coordinator), and I have passed quite well. So this means that I am now certified to drive in the mission! Now I will almost never have to deal with the grocery hauling/higher prices associated with shopping at Harmon's, in addition to being able to help other missionaries do the same thing. Of course, because I was still a new driver today, and there were no available drivers today, me and Elder Garfield still had to shop at Harmon's today. But, we only bought some of the groceries we needed now, so the haul home wasn't as bad. We will buy the rest when we are done with E-mails.
The following story is just a thing which has been on my mind lately: I feel like every missionary on this mission has at least one creative outlet - a lot of us have a ton of creative energy which, while it helps them do what they do here on the mission, must be let out when they are not working so they can destress. Many missionaries do this in different ways: I know one missionary actually has an electric keyboard in his apartment, while others make chainmail out of soda can tabs (the latter was actually endorsed by a trusted psychiatrist for some Elders on the mission). My outlet, I believe, is a combination of two different things. First, I have my musical outlets, with the choir and other music-related projects, including that which my zone leader's wife has me involved in. I also enjoy listening to CD's, which I found can actually be many different types of stuff - anything that invites the Spirit. Anyway, my second outlet is baking, specifically the bread baking which I have taken up. It is fascinating how the ingredients combine to make a perfectly fluffy loaf of bread! Of course, none of this can get in the way of service, or replace important missionary activities such as scripture study. But, to me, destressing with creative outlets is not forbidden on the mission, so as long as I don't let myself get too distracted.
Anyway, that's just my week for you. Let me know if you have any questions or comments about my service, I will try to answer them as effectively as I can. If you can find a moment, try and send an E-mail, and I will answer it on my P-Day. Thanks again for the support you guys give me! I hope you all have a great week!
From,
Elder Bryce Petersen
Challenge (D&C 88:63): As I have said before, President Fenn has talked a lot about receiving revelation, and how we can do so. Revelation, contrary to what some people may think, is something which has to be worked for - answers are rarely given to unasked questions. In the challenge scripture, it says that the Lord will draw near to us, if we draw nearer to him. We are also admonished to ask for revelation. However, we are not to assume that prayer is all that is necessary - we must also study out issues we pray about in our minds (D&C 9:7). Before, during, and after this study, we must ask about whatever it is we are praying about. What happens next is best and plainly explained in D&C 9:8-9. So, my challenge to you is to try and seek personal revelation for your lives. If you ask in faith, while studying things out in your heart, then you will receive revelation so that you can go forward in faith.
Hey everyone!
This week was Young Elder's Conference in the mission. This conference was a bit different in the sense that it was not on the same week as the Senior Mission Conference - that's next week. It was President Fenn who spoke to us here, just as is traditional with Mission Conferences. The Conference was preceded by a fireside last Sunday, again from President Fenn. They were quite similar - they were about receiving personal revelation. Elder Garfield tells me that he thinks that President Fenn will try to incorporate proselyting somewhere and somehow in the mission. I would like to see how this goes over, but if it does happen, then I will be more than willing to help out.
I have had more meetings with Elders Garfield and Boone about the new program, and we have been adding more and more onto it. I have also began putting together spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel to keep records of who comes to each event, as well as their progress. I am not writing this E-mail to give a detailed description of everything that will go on in the program, but know that it is coming along quite nicely, and I do have high hopes for this coming together quite well. I have looked over the suggestions you have submitted to me, and I will try my best to incorporate them into my service as a leader. Thanks for the help guys!
Today was a turning point in my service, and I will be able to serve much better because of it - I have taken a driving test with Elder Boone (who I have mentioned is the driving coordinator as well as a Morning Exercise coordinator), and I have passed quite well. So this means that I am now certified to drive in the mission! Now I will almost never have to deal with the grocery hauling/higher prices associated with shopping at Harmon's, in addition to being able to help other missionaries do the same thing. Of course, because I was still a new driver today, and there were no available drivers today, me and Elder Garfield still had to shop at Harmon's today. But, we only bought some of the groceries we needed now, so the haul home wasn't as bad. We will buy the rest when we are done with E-mails.
The following story is just a thing which has been on my mind lately: I feel like every missionary on this mission has at least one creative outlet - a lot of us have a ton of creative energy which, while it helps them do what they do here on the mission, must be let out when they are not working so they can destress. Many missionaries do this in different ways: I know one missionary actually has an electric keyboard in his apartment, while others make chainmail out of soda can tabs (the latter was actually endorsed by a trusted psychiatrist for some Elders on the mission). My outlet, I believe, is a combination of two different things. First, I have my musical outlets, with the choir and other music-related projects, including that which my zone leader's wife has me involved in. I also enjoy listening to CD's, which I found can actually be many different types of stuff - anything that invites the Spirit. Anyway, my second outlet is baking, specifically the bread baking which I have taken up. It is fascinating how the ingredients combine to make a perfectly fluffy loaf of bread! Of course, none of this can get in the way of service, or replace important missionary activities such as scripture study. But, to me, destressing with creative outlets is not forbidden on the mission, so as long as I don't let myself get too distracted.
Anyway, that's just my week for you. Let me know if you have any questions or comments about my service, I will try to answer them as effectively as I can. If you can find a moment, try and send an E-mail, and I will answer it on my P-Day. Thanks again for the support you guys give me! I hope you all have a great week!
From,
Elder Bryce Petersen
Challenge (D&C 88:63): As I have said before, President Fenn has talked a lot about receiving revelation, and how we can do so. Revelation, contrary to what some people may think, is something which has to be worked for - answers are rarely given to unasked questions. In the challenge scripture, it says that the Lord will draw near to us, if we draw nearer to him. We are also admonished to ask for revelation. However, we are not to assume that prayer is all that is necessary - we must also study out issues we pray about in our minds (D&C 9:7). Before, during, and after this study, we must ask about whatever it is we are praying about. What happens next is best and plainly explained in D&C 9:8-9. So, my challenge to you is to try and seek personal revelation for your lives. If you ask in faith, while studying things out in your heart, then you will receive revelation so that you can go forward in faith.
Friday, August 4, 2017
Taking the Hint
Hey everyone!
Well, first and foremost, I must admit that I have not been the most physically fit person on the mission. It's a routine which I have tried to get into multiple times, and yet I still have fallen short. A reason for this was that the Young Elders did have a scheduled time to work out together as a group, but this was on certain days of the week, at 5:00 in the morning. There are things which I would rather be waking up for, so I decided against this. Not the best missionary behavior, I know. However, I was not the only one. President Fenn noticed this problem, and so he will be implementing a couple of changes soon.
Do you remember the story I told you about how the mission schedule changed so that we only have to be at zone at 9:30? Well, President Fenn wants to begin scheduling a mandatory workout three days a week. This will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You are probably wondering what this has to do with me, and why I am telling you this now. Well, President Fenn has one of the senior missionaries (the new driving coordinator, Elder Boone), as well as two of the Young Elders, to plan and coordinate this new activity - the two Young Elders are me and my companion. So, in essence, I think the Lord is giving me a little hint about my physical health, as well as giving me an opportunity in leadership. So, to make this program work well, me and the other missionaries will have to work hard. However, I am excited to see where this goes - now that working out is easier, as well as required, among the Young Elders, I think we will see an improvement among us all. Talking about this gives me an idea: if anyone of you back home have any ideas of things we could implement in this new exercise routine, please do let me know! Just shoot me an E-mail at elderbrycepetersen@gmail.com. Thanks in advance!
Aside from working out, work in the zone has not changed a ton. FamilySearch has been having a few server issues as of late, so we have been getting a lot of phone calls most days. That has been quite a bit of what my job has been - telling patrons that something is broken. I have also finally gotten access to another type of case, which involves helping patrons resolve membership issues in FamilySearch. I have been doing these quite well - so much so that I have already gotten a certificate of recognition for it from my supervisor. This type of case is fun to work, for me anyways. And when I am genuinely having fun, then I can work a lot faster and more efficiently. I like that about myself.
The wife of our zone leader has also been having some fun as of late - she has called together any interested Young Elder in the zone to perform a musical number for an upcoming sacrament meeting in our branch. I love opportunities which give me a chance to sing, so I did not hesitate in signing up. There is some work to be done though, the other Young Elders still have much to learn about music (not that I don't, of course).
Well, that's about the whole week for me. If you have any more questions, do feel free to ask me about the E-mail I gave earlier. It is good to hear from all of you, I appreciate your support. Thanks again, and have a great week everyone!
From,
Elder Bryce Petersen
Challenge: One of the fundamental truths of our gospel is that we are all children of God (Psalms 82:6). However, it seems that sometimes, we forget this when we view other peoples' actions, whether they be evil, bad, or just downright annoying. We are all asked to forgive all men (D&C 64:10), and judge righteous judgment (Matt. 5:1 - See JST). How can this be possible when people do things we so strongly dislike? The easiest way to do so is to see people how God sees them - not as corrupted beyond repair, but as imperfect beings who are a child of God, just as we are (D&C 18:10). Of course, this does not mean that abuse should be tolerated (D&S 98:41-44). If you do feel such treatment does happen, try and make amends with the person who has offended, before bringing up such issues with the proper authorities. But, generally, all people do deserve our forgiveness. So, do try and look at people the way God sees them, and you will be more able to forgive where it is needed, and to judge unrighteous judgment.
Well, first and foremost, I must admit that I have not been the most physically fit person on the mission. It's a routine which I have tried to get into multiple times, and yet I still have fallen short. A reason for this was that the Young Elders did have a scheduled time to work out together as a group, but this was on certain days of the week, at 5:00 in the morning. There are things which I would rather be waking up for, so I decided against this. Not the best missionary behavior, I know. However, I was not the only one. President Fenn noticed this problem, and so he will be implementing a couple of changes soon.
Do you remember the story I told you about how the mission schedule changed so that we only have to be at zone at 9:30? Well, President Fenn wants to begin scheduling a mandatory workout three days a week. This will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You are probably wondering what this has to do with me, and why I am telling you this now. Well, President Fenn has one of the senior missionaries (the new driving coordinator, Elder Boone), as well as two of the Young Elders, to plan and coordinate this new activity - the two Young Elders are me and my companion. So, in essence, I think the Lord is giving me a little hint about my physical health, as well as giving me an opportunity in leadership. So, to make this program work well, me and the other missionaries will have to work hard. However, I am excited to see where this goes - now that working out is easier, as well as required, among the Young Elders, I think we will see an improvement among us all. Talking about this gives me an idea: if anyone of you back home have any ideas of things we could implement in this new exercise routine, please do let me know! Just shoot me an E-mail at elderbrycepetersen@gmail.com. Thanks in advance!
Aside from working out, work in the zone has not changed a ton. FamilySearch has been having a few server issues as of late, so we have been getting a lot of phone calls most days. That has been quite a bit of what my job has been - telling patrons that something is broken. I have also finally gotten access to another type of case, which involves helping patrons resolve membership issues in FamilySearch. I have been doing these quite well - so much so that I have already gotten a certificate of recognition for it from my supervisor. This type of case is fun to work, for me anyways. And when I am genuinely having fun, then I can work a lot faster and more efficiently. I like that about myself.
The wife of our zone leader has also been having some fun as of late - she has called together any interested Young Elder in the zone to perform a musical number for an upcoming sacrament meeting in our branch. I love opportunities which give me a chance to sing, so I did not hesitate in signing up. There is some work to be done though, the other Young Elders still have much to learn about music (not that I don't, of course).
Well, that's about the whole week for me. If you have any more questions, do feel free to ask me about the E-mail I gave earlier. It is good to hear from all of you, I appreciate your support. Thanks again, and have a great week everyone!
From,
Elder Bryce Petersen
Challenge: One of the fundamental truths of our gospel is that we are all children of God (Psalms 82:6). However, it seems that sometimes, we forget this when we view other peoples' actions, whether they be evil, bad, or just downright annoying. We are all asked to forgive all men (D&C 64:10), and judge righteous judgment (Matt. 5:1 - See JST). How can this be possible when people do things we so strongly dislike? The easiest way to do so is to see people how God sees them - not as corrupted beyond repair, but as imperfect beings who are a child of God, just as we are (D&C 18:10). Of course, this does not mean that abuse should be tolerated (D&S 98:41-44). If you do feel such treatment does happen, try and make amends with the person who has offended, before bringing up such issues with the proper authorities. But, generally, all people do deserve our forgiveness. So, do try and look at people the way God sees them, and you will be more able to forgive where it is needed, and to judge unrighteous judgment.
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