Week 53: Week of Tender Mercies

Ok, so we had just an amazing week!! The biggest miracle we had though had to be how we had 8 of our friends at church on Sunday! We had set up some contacts of who we would stop by that morning. We stopped by Jose Jesús, and he brought his daughter too! As we were contacting that morning, Elder Springer felt that we should go stop by someone else we hadn't put in yet. This person we'd only talked to once, when we tracted into her on exchanges. We gave her a Book of Mormon and hadn't seen her since, but when we went by her husband answered and he said they would come. We weren't sure they actually would on such short noticed, but they both came and brought her Mom! It was just so amazing. Normally it's hard to get friends we've been teaching for a while to come to church, but they came even though we haven't taught them anything. They all loved it though, and the members really made them feel welcomed.

Another miracle was this guy named John that we met. We had a funeral for a member who we actually got to know really well, and it was sad. His name was David. He loved helping us with missionary work. At the a funeral, John came up to us, and said he wanted to learn about our beliefs. He had no idea David was LDS, because he thought he was Catholic. His family is very catholic, but he joined our church in his 20s, and everyone admired his incredible faith in Jesus Christ. We visited John, and he loved all of it. He's read Under the Banner of Heaven, and was really curious about Joseph Smith, and our history, and also served in the Army and wanted to know about our beliefs on life after death. Anyways, we talked about a lot, and he asked us where he could get a Book of Mormon, because he loves reading and also asked if we had an audio book (so he can listen to it as he walks his dog. we showed him the app). It was just amazing. He's bringing his whole family to church. I've never seen someone so prepared my whole mission. Anyways, it was an amazing week. Sadly, we have to pass him off to the English missionaries now, (teardrop emoji)

For P-day last week, we did squid game elimination type games, and I got 3rd place. I was lowkey really upset about it, I was invested. But I lost because I wasn't fast enough at sudoku, even though my opponent had the game master helping him the whole time. Today we went and played in the sand for a few hours.

I also found a hockey stick and a golf ball, and I'm literally so happy

Week 52: Questions = Answers

So, this week was really good. Sorry I didn't get a ton of pictures, and I don't have a lot to say right now, but we worked hard. We set some high goals in our weekly planning. We found 8 people, had 10 member participating lessons, had 4 people at church, and put another friend on date!

A fun thing though, is there's a Muslim guy on messenger who reached out to me and is trying to convert me. I also just randomly found a Quran at the other Elders Apartment. It's kinda interesting though, some of the stuff he sends me don't quite make sense and he isn't really answering my questions.

That leads me to a small spiritual thought, and it's that our Church actually has answers, and even better, they make sense!! At times I get confused, but I've noticed that if I actually study, I find answers. And this week I relearned the importance of having questions. My studies have felt non-beneficial lately, because I couldn't think of anything that I really wanted to learn, but then I started to think about the sealing power. Like, let's say a Dad is sealed to his son, and one of them chooses not to believe in the Savior, and doesn't go to the celestial kingdom, but the other one was faithful. If the Dad was faithful, but the son wasn't, does the Dad still have claim over his kid in the next life? Anyways, I'm still reading up on it, but it's been a lot more fun when you have a question. So ask questions!

Quote from Elder Uchdorf

"We rarely find something we are not looking for. Seek, and ye shall find."

He was speaking about Joy, but I think the principle applies to everything. Love you guys! Sorry for the short email

- Elder Wride

Week 51: Make it Sacred

We were going to have zone conference on Thursday, but it snowed a TON here. Normally it snows once a year, and it's all gone the next day, but we lowkey had a blizzard. It felt like home. So Zone conference was canceled, and we spent 5 hours shoveling driveways. And so we had Zone Conference today instead!

I forgot to say, but they asked me to be an SMS again, and so we've been leading the Zone in that again. People kind of loathe Facebook work here, but it's fun to see them get excited about it when we send challenges out. I think we do a good job. We definitely have a lot of fun and it unites us as a Zone.

Anyways, January 8th was an interesting day. My estimated homecoming day is January 8th, 2026. And I was like "oh no, I don't have a lot of time left." It does not feel like I've been here for a year, and I've been told the 2nd year goes even faster. So I sort of panicked and said a pleading prayer asking God to help me make the most of it. I don't want to look back with regret. Anyways, and then at Zone conference, President talked a lot about the dangers of becoming casual about sacred things, and as a missionary, every day of the week is meant to be sacred. We talked a lot about things that we start to treat casually, and the dangers of doing that. There were a lot of things I realized I need to shape up at, and after Zone conference I realized that was God's answer telling me how to get the most out of this next year. But I guess it doesn't make sense to ask for a fruitful year and expect not to work and make sacrifices, even if they night seem miniscule. But to sacrifice literally means to make something sacred. By making the sacrifices the Lord asks me to make, my mission becomes his mission, which is what it was always meant to be.

Our friend Juaquin was going to be baptized this Saturday, but he's still been drinking coffee. So we rescheduled it for Feb. 1st, had an amazing lesson, and he gave us his coffee!!

They moved P-day to today for Zone Conference, and a food bank called us asking us to help. Normally we wouldn't because it's our P-day, but we decided to put other first, and the Lord Blessed us abundantly. We now have 15 DOZEN eggs in our fridge, 6 giant bags of apples, and 40 bags or BBQ chips. We have a lot of food, which is amazing because eggs are expensive

I finally got some Boots!! It's about time too, because I've had my blazers for 3 years now, and they offer no support anymore. Here in Roswell, it's close enough to all the Texans that they have a store dedicated solely to high quality handmade boots, but far enough away that they're actually really cheap for boots. They aren't at all like what I went in looking for, but I saw them and I just had to get them. I'm so excited to wear them country dancing after the mission (Emoji face with cowboy hat)

Week 50: Good = True

My brother Hyrum told me how each week is about 1% of your mission. I can't believe I'm basically 50% of the way done. The time goes by way too fast.

We have had some awesome lessons this week, and a wack one too. One guy really needs prayers, his name is José Jesus. They want to grow closer to God, but they're really struggling financially and might not have a home soon. Please pray for them. Also Adeline. She's basically ready for baptism, but her family is catholic, and her mom won't let her come to church. I'm not sure what the best move is to help her, so please pray for her and her family. I don't have a ton to say this week, but we had another lesson that was kind of weird. This guy has been meeting with missioanries for like 50 years, and isn't progressing. He came up to us and basically told us that all churches are good, and it doesn't really matter. He's read the Book of Mormon in 3 different languages (he speaks 7), and said it's a good book that we should read, but he doesn't think it's true. He said he's prayed about it, but we're not sure how open he is to an answer. It made me think though, because if the Book of Mormon is good, than it has to be true. It can either be good and true or evil and false, there is no in between. The Book of Mormon claims to be the word of God, and if it isn't from God, who's it from? Anyways, we explained that to him, but he didn't really hear us. Anyways, I don't have much to say this week. But at the very least, the Book of Mormon is good... that just also happens to mean it has to be true.

I need to get more pictures with our friends, sorry I keep forgetting. I love you guys

Week 49: Sierra Blanca 🏳

Sierra Blanca is the name of the mountain we tried to hike today for P-Day. There ain't no way anyone's making it to the top as a missionary, but we had fun trying.

We had an awesome lesson with a member who hadn't come to church in over a year. He served a mission, was the branch president a while ago, but he lost his brother and was angry at God. We had an amazing lesson with him and talked a lot about the refiners fire. I was led to study the story of Job that morning and it was just perfect for the lesson.

Anyways, I don't really know what to write this week, so I'm just gonna kind of throw a bunch of thoughts out.

2025

I saw someone post a story with a bunch of letters, and it said the first 4 words you find will like determine the new year or something. Anyways, kinda silly, but anyways, my 4 words were Change, Connection, Power, and Alignment. I actually really liked that because basically what I've been praying for for a long time. I want a changed heart, so that I have no more desire to do wrong. I want a deeper connection to the Savior. I want spiritual Power, so that I can actually help people. And I want to be aligned with God, and his will. Anyways, so thought that was cool.

Miracles 

I have started studying miracles, and I've loved it so far. I talked with my Dad a lot about Miracles, and how they happen, why they happen, etc. One thing he said that has stuck with me is that you cannot witness miracles just as an observer. You're a part of it. Miracles happen, but they don't just happen. They come through sacrifice, and obedience, and faith. I've decided to start studying miracles, what they had to go through to receive those, and what was the result. There are very few miracles that happen without a lot of sacrifice and faith, and those tend not to end well for the recipient. So if you want miracles, have faith, and be willing to give it your all, because every miracle that's worth having comes with sacrifice.

Faith = Loyalty

I was reading when Nephi and his brothers were trying to get the plates, and everytime Nephi said "Let us be faithful" to his brothers stood out to me. The way he said it made me think of Marriage. If you think of a man who's loyal to his wife, you could just as easily say he's faithful to his wife. And I was like, we'll then what's the difference? And I don't have a ton of time left, but basically, Faith is a lot more than just a belief. It's hope, and love, and LOYALTY. True faith is loyal. You have to love it, you have to hope for the blessings, you have to trust it, and you have to be loyal. I've started writing loyal in red next to everytime it says to be faithful. That leads me to probably my favorite quote.

The crowning characteristic of Love is always Loyalty - Jeffry R Holland

- Elder Wride

We tried to hike to the tallest point in the mission, but apparently we're a bit out of shape (were stateside car missionaries), and so we didn't make it, but we climbed the second highest peak in our mission today for P-day. I brought a white shirt and tie for some funny picks. Got a little burnt, but it was worth it. Ruidoso, New Mexico is a beautiful place. I saw like 60 Elk and Deer just walking around the town. Like on people's porches and stuff.

Week 48: I'm a believer 🛸

Aliens are real. I'm a believer...

(3 emojis - alien head, ufo, and scared face)

Lol, jk, I'll talk more about being a believer in my spiritual thought.

My first week in Roswell has been fun, but sadly, the Walmart isn't green. I haven't seen so much police activity in one area. There isn't a day that goes by without sirens and cop cars zooming somewhere. I don't like McDonald's, but i do have to eat at the one here at least once. Its built like a UFO 

We went to a UFO museum today, and that was pretty fun. I made a hat out of aluminum foil, and as we were leaving a kid bumped into me, and he was like "sorry," and I was like "no worries." And then he was like "woah, an aluminum foil hat?" And I was like "yeah, you want it?" And he was like "really?" So I put it on his head, and walked out like a boss. I can't help thinking that was a Canon event for him.

We had our Branch Christmas party, which was a lot of fun, but lowkey stressful, because none of the members showed up until at least 40 minutes late, and it didn't start until 5:20, when it was supposed to start at 4. We used that time to show some of them the chapel though. We did lots of stop bys that day and 10 of our friends came to the party!!

And then yesterday, we had a goofy lesson with a friend of ours, but it was actually awesome too! He's come to church 6 times and we put him on date to be baptized!!

Spiritual thought:

So I've been listening to lots of the Hank Smith tapes, and he has one that I really liked about being a believer, and what that really means. It's called Be Who You Are, if you can find it, I highly recommend giving it a listen. It was really funny and really profound too. One thing he said that I want to talk about was a quote from Elder Holland saying

"God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe."

I loved that. God cannot answer our prayers and fulfill our dreams if he don't believe. Sometimes we think God has it backwards, we're like "give me comfort, answers, guidance, understanding, etc. and then I will believe." But he says "no,  you have it backwards. Believe first." But we worship a backwards God. I'll talk more about that next week. Sorry this is a little messy. Anyways, what is a believer? It's a lot more than someone who just bears their testimony on Sunday, or just goes to church. A believer is someone who lives it and is a believe in all times, all things, and all places. Not sometimes, not most times, it's in all times. So who are you when there's no one else around? Do you still believe then? Do you still believe when it gets hard or risky? Just a thought. Hank Smith did a way better job, so just go listen to that. Love you guys. Don't get abducted

- Elder Wride