Semana 52: The Lord Didn't Send Me Here Just to Baptize

Semana 52: The Lord Didn't Send Me Here Just to Baptize

Buenos Dias! Well week two of my adventure in Price is over. It has been a decent week overall. We have had our ups and downs but I think I'm adjusting to the fact I'm going to be in small town America for awhile. The run and gun style of teaching I was used to in St. George does not happen out here but I am happy and excited to be working in whatever part of the Lord's vineyard that he wants me.

The week started out to a rough start. We planned everything out so we would spend one night working in Huntington and Castledale. Then we would just spend the night with the Castledale elders to save time and miles on the car. We ended up getting out to Castledale at 7:00 pm and we couldn't find a single Hispanic. I was slightly stressed because here we were in a town we didn't know with no one to visit and two hours of time on our hands. I would be happy if I just sat in a room all day and had a line of people ready to listen to the gospel. ( I think that's every missionaries dream) I'm the happiest when I'm teaching. Plain and simple. I love teaching! :)

Thursday we had interviews with President Leonard. He and Sister Leonard showed up to our district training meeting. It was nice to see them. Down in St. George it was almost a weekly occurrence to see President Leonard. Interviews with President are always fun. He did make me a little nostalgic though. President went on about the success Elder Hayden and I had. He told me how the Hispanics are going to miss me down there haha and how Elder Hayden and I will be remembered as the legends of St. George. It was bitter sweet to hear that. The recognition is nice, especially to know President thinks that work we did was "legendary". At the same time it makes me miss St. George and MY people.

Saturday was probably the best day I've had in this area thus far. Saturday we started off filling the baptismal font for Brandon's baptism. While the font was filling we ran over to McDonald's to grab lunch before the baptism. While we waited for the food we started talking to a couple guys. One was named Seth Bott and he goes to BYU. We got to talking and he said that I looked familiar. Come to find out he is in BYU's mens choir and he remembered me from when I was there for a week hanging out with Zach! I guess he is the organ player and so I assume he is in that class with Harrison Collier. I thought it was crazy that he remembered me from a year ago and here I met him down in Price. It is always fun to see people that have common acquaintances.

The baptism went great and on into the evening we had lessons. At about 8 we had no one else to visit so we decided to contact a referral we had received. We were driving and couldn't find the address and there was a shady looking character walking into his trailer. We took the chance and pulled over and asked him if he knew where this address was. He looked strung out and looked unstable. The way he was moving his hands in his hoodie I thought he might have a gun. He put his backpack down and said wait a sec, at that point I thought he was going to rob us but then he began to explain how he had just sold his gps and didn't know the streets that well. We thanked him for his help and as he was leaving he said, "I know your job is tough but thanks for doing what you are doing. I used to want to be a missionary when I was younger (he can only be 28 or so) but I just got out of prison and I'm headed back to die in there." I had no idea what to say and froze. He went into his house and we proceeded to try to find the address. We probably only got a block away when I just felt this need to turn around and go see what he needed. We realized we didn't have a Book of Mormon in English so we ran to the house, got a copy, and I wrote a short message and a scripture reference which is in Alma 7:11-13. We went back and talked to this man for a bit and he told us that he had two convictions for possession of meth. One time he was caught with half a pound of meth! The miracle was the fact that he had two pistols but that afternoon he pawned them off to cover his rent. It was a testament to me that the Lord kept us out of harms way. He told us the night before he was praying for guidance and the following night we showed up. It is experiences like this that I wouldn't trade the world for.

Saturday was another turning point for me in my mission. In one day I was blessed with two very spiritual experiences. First off we had a baptism. Baptism is one of the most fundamental ways we can fulfill our purpose as missionaries. That is what our purpose is. My second experience was one that doesn't happen for me as often as we baptize yet it is equally important and amazing. The experience with Shawn opened my eyes as to how little I understand the ways of my Father in Heaven. "For my ^athoughts are not ^byour thoughts, neither are your ^cways my ^dways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ^aways ^bhigher than your ways, and my ^cthoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9) The Lord has plans for each of us that are not always apparent. I may not have been sent to this area to baptize like Alma but I was sent here because I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I am here at this time for reasons I may never fully understand. What I do know is that my thoughts are not His thoughts and thus I will go and do. "I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.  And now I say unto you that this is the ^aorder after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be ^bborn again." (Alma 5:48-49) Vaya con Dios.

Dios es amor,

Elder Bennion

Semana 51: Tracting In Utah Is Considered Trespassing?

Semana 51: Tracting In Utah Is Considered Trespassing?

Oiga familia! I don't even know where to start right now. I guess for starters I have had one week in Price so far and it has been one of the most "different" times I have had in my mission so far. Here is a little information about Price: Price is a mining town of about 10,000 people. The people here are different than anywhere else I have served. Price, unlike most settlements in Utah, was not founded by Latter Day Saint pioneers. Instead it was founded by coal miners and oil prospectors. The area that we cover is gigantic as well. We cover all of Carbon county and Emery county. This is a brand new area for Spanish work so we have spent a lot of time finding this week. It is a little frustrating at times because I was able to spot a Hispanic house and car easily in St. George but out here every one's house/trailer looks the same. I feel like I was on my game in St. George and now I'm on another planet out here. I guess everyone is a little more "country" if you know what I mean. We cover little towns out here that are just like Randle! It makes finding people difficult pero asi es la vida aqui. I'm definitely not accustomed to the simple life, yet but that is why God gives us challenges. "My people must be ^atried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the ^bglory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not ^cbear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom." (D&C 136:31)

My first full day here we drove about 45 minutes out to a little area called East Carbon. It was snowing hard and this was the first time I've seen snow in the mission field. The English speaking Elders were following us out there to get to know the area and they were sliding around. Having not driven in the snow for a long time, I was worried we would get stuck out in the sticks, and freeze in the car for the night. haha Luckily we made it home safely and things were okay.

Price has a lot more anti-Mormons than anywhere else I've served. Even in St. George where there are many non members I only had a handful of people be extremely rude. There is a trailer park in Price that we were tracting and the manager said that we can only be there if we have an appointment. She said if she sees us tracting she will call the police for trespassing. Never in Utah did I think that would happen! It didn't phase me though because these people need the gospel. The next day we saw where this woman lived. I saw she still had her Christmas lights up so Elder Noriega and I knocked her door and offered to help her take her Christmas lights down. She was pretty shocked I'm sure but I knew we were doing what Christ would do even if she hates us. "And ye shall be ^ahated of all men ^bfor my ^cname’s sake: but he that ^dendureth to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22)

In the midst of all this new adventure the Lord has managed to use us as instruments and do just as President Leonard told me to do, get my paddles out and just start the area. We started out with one person to teach and now we have five. It is a far cry from the 20 people I was teaching in St. George but hey, that is why I'm here. We have already invited people to be baptized and they have accepted. If it all works out we should have a miracle baptism next week when this area hasn't had a baptism in over a year! I'm not going to lie, I miss St. George but I know the Lord has a lesson for me to learn out here. There were brothers and sisters in the pre-existence I promised to bring the gospel to them. While in Ephraim John Bytheway gave a talk and I remember him saying, "Bloom where you are planted." At times God plants us in nutrient rich soil, other times we are forced to grow in dry arid climates. In either case God knows us and will never set us up to fail. As Nephi said, "I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." Time to go work. I know my Savior lives and this is His church. Never forget that. Vaya con Dios.

Dios es amor,

Elder Bennion

Semana 50: All Good Things Must Come To An End

Semana 50: All Good Things Must Come To An End

I hope everyone had a good week. This week definitely was not a cake walk for us, but I learned some great lessons. First we will start off with the breaking news though. We received transfer calls last night and I will be heading up to Price Utah which is in the central/eastern part of Utah. We will be opening up the Spanish work there so; it should be an interesting experience, considering my new companion will have no experience in the area either. I'm excited to be moving on to a new challenge and getting to explore a whole new area. I've been so blessed to have had so much success in this area I think it's time to grow in new ways with a whole new group of Latinos.

The highlight of the week was receiving a missionary who is waiting for his visa to the Mexico, Mexico City West mission. His name is Elder Johnson from Melba Idaho. His is a really cool Elder and has a lot of great teaching attributes. It is funny to hear his Spanish and think back to the days of the MTC and when I came into the field. It is going to be a shock for him when he gets to Mexico coming from Utah. :) Being in a threesome tends to hinder missionary work slightly, but it has been fun having Elder Johnson join our companionship. I have decided I should have my name changed to Elder "Father" Bennion because of the two new missionaries I have with me. People told us several times this week they could tell who was the oldest in the mission and that Elder Johnson and Valdez were the younger missionaries. I guess it is a sign of the times and I'm starting to show my age out here. :S

This week we ended up having a lot of people we thought were progressing and doing really well falter on us. We have three couples, all of which have been very receptive to the gospel and accept a baptismal invitation tell us either one or both of them have a spouse in Mexico. They would need to get divorced first, get married, and then baptized. Let me just say this process takes a LONG time which is frustrating. It is hard when you find great people but legalities hold them back from baptism. I feel like Elder Valdez and I have found every single non-married couple living together in St. George.

This week has been all about finding all the little miracles that happen daily. Every day this week I can count at least one miracle. Whether it was something as small as knocking on a door close to the address we were looking for and finding someone who was interested or something as powerful as a priesthood blessing that took the pain away immediately from a grandma with a kidney stone. I think I've taken for granted these blessings and miracles I have been seeing for the past few months but I was not actually seeing them with my spiritual eyes. I love the talk given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled Pride and the Priesthood. Pride is a feeling that easily creeps into our lives unknowingly. In a revelation to Oliver Cowdry, the Lord spake saying, " Behold, I speak unto you, Oliver, a few words. Behold, thou art blessed, and art under no condemnation. But beware of ^apride, lest thou shouldst enter into ^btemptation." The mission becomes hard at times not because we are not doing a good job. We are brought low at times to remember who has given us everything. We are tried so He can build us higher and stronger if we give Him all the glory.

It is amazing the individual progress we make as missionaries. These really are the best two years to prepare for us for life. I relish in these moments where I have to keep working and put my shoulder to the wheel. At times finding and setting a good example for the younger missionaries is hard but there is no other choice. This is nothing that can shake my testimony of this church. No matter how many people want to bash and not believe, until they come to a softening of their hearts and can open their minds to read the Book of Mormon they will never know the blessings they could receive from the restored gospel. "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.) Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah." (Introduction of the Book of Mormon) How could it be any simpler than that? Vaya con Dios.

Dios es amor,

Elder Bennion

I have no idea where he got this...anyone know? 

Semana 49:: Two Years As a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints+ One Year As a Missionary For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints= One More Year of The BEST TWO YEARS!

Semana 49: Two Years As a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints+ One Year As a Missionary For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints= One More Year of The BEST TWO YEARS!

Hola familia! Well Today is a special day! Can you believe two years ago today I was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? It is hard at times to think it has only been two years ago. In a sense, I feel like I've been a member of the church for my entire life. Serving as a missionary has brought me to a whole new plateau of scriptural knowledge and more importantly strengthened my testimony that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. In a year from today I will be on an airplane home, having completed my mission! Can you believe that!?!?! :o I'm sure my shirts will be a bit more dingy, my shoes will be well worn, but the memories of these great people I've served will always be fresh in my heart. I'm starting to feel like an old dog in the mission, when I still should be the greenie.

It was a pretty good week here in St. George. The weather has been perfect. Usually it is in the high to mid 50's with not a cloud in sight. It has made tracting really enjoyable. Most missionaries don't enjoy knocking doors but I actually enjoy it. It is a rush to have no idea who will answer the door and have to come up with the words you need in order to invite someone to hear our message. It is not the most effective finding tool, but when members don't find them, someone has to do it.

After baptizing our teaching pool I thought it would be good to go visit some of the seeds we had planted six months ago when I first got into this area. It surprisingly worked out with several people. They seem a lot more receptive so we will have to see how it turns out. We have a lot of great potential in this area. Eleven people have a baptismal date but most of them have a lot they must do in order to be ready for their baptismal date. The impatient Elder Bennion wants for all of the investigators to just be as ready as most of our recent converts were. I think I got accustomed to miracle baptisms and thought everyone would just be accepting of the message  and be ready para su bautismo. Right now a lot of our investigators have potential, but they all have concerns and doubt that Elder Valdez and I must help them resolve in order for them to be baptized. Again, I've learned that I still have so much to learn and need to become more humble.

It has been nice for things to be moving a little slower. I feel like we are focusing more on each individual person and can actually do something to help them if they need it. Return missionaries tell me stories all the time of the service projects they did to help investigators and I can't remember more than three things I've done "service wise" in the past six months here. It is a blessing to be so busy teaching that we don't have time for service projects but the mission is more that teaching people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The mission is also about ACTING like Jesus Christ as well. Let your ^alight so shine before men, that they may see your good ^bworks, and ^cglorify your Father which is in heaven. (Mat 5:16) I think that I forgot how much fun gardening is. I've been used to harvesting 24/7 but now I get to plant and grow some seeds.

Well, I better wrap this up but I just want you to know I'm livin' the dream! :) Este vale la pena mucho! I think I forgot to mention we had the opportunity to see Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Snow of the Seventy last night at a fireside at Dixie College. Without going into a lot of detail, nothing (besides the Temple) strengthens my testimony more that this is the true church and these men hold the apostolic keys of Jesus Christ. Elder Bednar is a living Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and one of only 14 other men that hold ALL the priesthood keys to seal on earth and in Heaven. We drove by the Dixie soccer field on Saturday and a bunch of people were playing and I thought to myself, that looks like a ton of fun but will it matter in a year? Will it even matter in a week? No, it won't. Sports, entertainment, ect… Are all fun but will not have the long term gratitude of sharing the gospel. As King Benjamin said, when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.

Vaya con Dios.

God is love,

Elder Bennion

P.S. Thanks for all the letters everyone! I will try to have a writing party today. Thanks Bishop Grove and family for the rice crispy treats and letters too! YUMM!