November 21, 2016

Well, this week was pretty fun, but pretty much exactly the same as last week finding wise. 
We had a few good experiences as we now shift our focus to: much, much, much more member work. We have been stopping by a few members everyday and sharing a little message with them and then asking if they know anybody that we can teach, or if any of their friends are interested. We have a big push in the ward right now to be more missionary minded. So that is progress. I don't have a lot of things to report though. But I will share what I found in my studies this week.

It is in Alma 37:44-46. It says:

44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the work of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepare for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us.  The way is prepared, if we will look we may live forever.

I thought this was really interesting. Alma is talking to his son about the Liahona. And then he compares it to the Word of Christ, which is the Gospel. And it struck me how unbelievably simple it is. Literally all we have to do is look, just the same as with the children of Israel with Moses in the wilderness. They just had to look and live. But they said it was too easy. Salvation cannot be that easy. And I think that is a human thing; To overcomplicate things. To make things more difficult than they really are.

We think it has to be some grand event when in reality; we just have to have faith that the Savior can heal us and help us, and then follow the Gospel. It is the most simple thing we can ever be asked to do. It may not be easy, it may be the most difficult thing you have ever done in your life, but it is simple. Christ knows us, He loves us, He died for us. And this is all that he asks. To look, to behold and believe, and to live His commandments and love Him.

Christ will indeed carry us beyond any vale of sorrow we can encounter. And he will carry us to a far better land than we have ever dreamed. Eternal bliss is indeed ours if we but endure to the end.

Love you all!

--

Till the Work is Done

- Elder Mickelsen

November 14, 2016

Well, this week was pretty good. Can't complain.  We even got some snow this week! Which quickly turned to slush and then just freezing cold rain. But we had SNOW!

We had a really good experience this week on Wednesday when we went over to visit a Less Active and her Non Member husband.  We have been over there a few times, but this time, the husband agreed to be taught the Gospel and he said he might like to join the church! So we were pretty excited about that! We are going to go over tomorrow and teach them! So hopefully that goes well!

We spent the rest of the week finding and stopping by various members and such, and it was actually really good! We have members that are rather missionary-oriented; I think sometimes they just don't know how to go about doing the work. But we are helping them and soon we'll have this ward being a baptizing machine! It's going to be awesome! But that was basically my week in a nutshell!

I have learned a lot spiritually this week, and my knowledge has grown substantially. Every day I learn something new! The Spirit is truly a great thing. I also have a testimony that the Lord doesn't always answer in the way that we think. For a long time there I had been praying for something, and doing everything I knew how to do to try and get it. When finally, out of the blue, it happened, but it did not happen from the things I was doing. I had been so focused on what I did not have and how to get it doing it my way, that I had neglected the Lord's way. And he answered the prayer, in His own time and in His own way.

But you know, C'est la vie! But this week has been really good! And this next little while should be even better!

-Till the Work is Done

-Elder Cody Mickelsen

Mount Ben Lomond!!

October 24, 2016

Beautiful Fall in Scotland

So this week was pretty much like any other week. We spent quite a bit of time trying to find someone to teach. We also had a few good DA's and visits with some members.

This week, we did find a guy named Peter. He has met with missionaries before, and he is a pretty nice guy. He can be a bit hard to talk to, but things have been going well with him. We have met him twice, and he read half of the Book of Mormon in a day! That was pretty impressive, not gonna lie. He will need to make some big changes to be baptized, but he could do it. So we are going to continue working with him. He gave us a painting of a boat and told us that it reminds him of Peter the Apostle since he was a fisherman. So he told us to hang the painting in the church. We said we wouldn't be able to hang it in the church be we could probably hang it in our flat. So now we have a picture of a boat. It's quite tranquil. But that was the main highlight from the week.

I have also come in contact with anti-Mormon stuff again for the first time since leaving Northern Ireland. Only this time it came from a former member. We were chatting, not even about the church, and all of a sudden, he just outright attacks the church. In that moment, I learned that when the Lord promises to give us the things we should say, He doesn't mean he will give us the ability to answer every question, but He will give us the Spirit so we can testify about the truths that we do know for sure.

If we knew every answer, it wouldn't require faith. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel. Without it we can do nothing. Think of Nephi going to get the plates. "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." If Nephi knew exactly what he had to do, it wouldn't have been a test for him. It would've been pointless. Hence the Lord gives us enough to satisfy, and we have to take the rest of Faith, and trust that the Lord knows all things and will lead us to truth. He will lead us, He will guide us. All you have to do, is listen.

-Till the Work is Done

-Elder Mickelsen

November 7, 2016

Elders Mickelsen & Milburn

Well, another week has passed by here in good ol' Dumbarton! And it has been a really good week! From exchanges and surprise Zone Conferences, to getting moves call. And of course, a little bit of Chinese food. This week was pretty great.

You know, this area has opened my eyes a bit more than previous areas have. Each area has taught me something to apply to my work, and this area is no different, especially with a whitewash. We had no info about the area, other than the fact that it was 13 miles West of Glasgow, and that Loch Lomond was in the area. So with that knowledge, we got on a train and only knew that we had to get off in Dumbarton. We didn't even know where we lived! And now, fast-forward 6 weeks later, we know the area, and we are working hard to find the souls that are prepared to accept the Gospel. Each day brings something new. And it is quite exciting. Although, the Scottish accent was a bit of a struggle for a few days, but now I have the hang of it! 

So, this week we went out a few times with the members to visit some less actives and get to know some active members more. And on Tuesday, we spent the entire day in Glasgow City Centre! It was pretty awesome! It is starting to get cold here, and we haven't had cloud cover all week, so it's just freezing outside! But it has been so good! Glasgow was great! Just the boost we needed to help us to finish off our week strong.

 

Sunset at Helensburg Pier

We had a good day on Sunday as well. Church was really good, and then we also went over to a member's house for lunch. We taught a little spiritual thought to them and then we committed them to give out 2 pass along cards each this week. And then, we role-played with them on how to give a card out. So that was fun. After that we went and stopped by to see Peter. He let us in and we had a little chat. He said that he is reading 2 pages of the Book of Mormon each day and he really likes it. But he doesn't know if he wants to have us start meeting him regularly again. So that was good to see that he is doing better. He looked better than last time as well. He is still a nice guy.

After that we went over to the Gallacher's house and we shared the Restoration with them. It was super spiritual, especially the First Vision. It was so good! It was probably one of the most powerful lessons we have taught. And Sister O'Rawe was there as well. So that was good for her. It was good to practice our teaching and then to also have the members see that we are capable teachers.

Saturday we had a Zone Conference with the Glasgow and Paisley Zones, and that was awesome! We just spent 2 hours looking at the scriptures with President Donaldson, and that was great. We were looking at the journey of Jared and his Brother in the Book of Mormon. It was fantastic. Nothing beats getting taught straight from the scriptures by President Donaldson. Absolutely nothing. We looked at how much faith Jared and his Brother had, and how we need to have faith to keep the ball rolling this year and reach our goals and show our commitment to Jesus Christ. It was just awesome. Super spiritual. So good.

And then moves call came! I will be staying in Dumbarton with Elder Milburn for another 6 weeks! So we are looking forward to the work that will get done this transfer! It's so exciting! Love you all!

-Till the Work is Done

-Elder Mickelsen