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.