Happy Fathers Day Dad!!! Well, it's nice that the conference thing is finally over! I like the pictures from it! Elder Goodrich (another missionary. Not my comp.) said that Kumen looks like a velociraptor. Members here could take a note out of President Slaughters book. 

Our baptism went without a hitch! Except I had to stop the prayer twice. President Taggart came, so I was talking with him afterwards and apparently he had held a stake meeting earlier in the week and our Ward was the only one that was not represented! A4. Enough said. 

In the meeting I told dad about that President Taggart had with the whole stake, the whole focus of it is to get the Ward super actively involved in teaching and fellow shopping investigators that are progressing or have a baptismal date. That is part of what I'm going to teach about in this week District Meeting. Without members involved, less than 20% of investigators WITH A DATE end up getting baptized. When members are involved, that shoots up to 60%. After our baptism yesterday, the Anaheim 1st Ward was baptizing Kristina, who I interviewed. As she was coming in at the conclusion of our baptism, a sister in our Ward said hey! I know her! She works with me! She had had no idea that someone she spoke and interacted with every day was getting baptized. That just goes to show that there is SOMEONE that EVERYONE knows that WOULD get baptized if the member would INVITE them to learn from the missionaries. Member missionary work is the only way THAT works. Otherwise the missionaries will only find crazy people. 

Anyhow, mom, I enjoyed the stories and the teaching from President Slaughter. Being an example is so very important. 

Mom finally made your chicken rolls for you! That's wonderful! And the cheesecake sounds amazing. I know you want to, but don't send me any. I'm trying to cut back on any kinds of unhealthy food. Yes, you are imperfect, as are we all, but don't worry! You did a pretty bang up job as a dad! Take this one example. When the youth were staying at the house, the probably had scripture study.  I guarantee most of them never have a regular family scripture study. In the ward I'm serving in right now, I have not met a single family that has a daily family scripture study. They simply don't know how, and don't have the discipline to set aside time every day to have some physical and spiritual structure in their lives. That is one of the best things you have done as a dad. Establishing a pattern of daily family scripture study. If everyone in our Ward did that the activity rate would increase from 17% to 50%. 

Thanks for the spiritual thoughts! I loved em! I'll send some pictures later today.

Elder Hunter

Hey hey everyone! This week started off great! 2 lessons on Monday, 2 on Tuesday, 4 on Wednesday, one on Thursday, and then nothing. It's like running on the wet sand at the beach at an angle towards the waves. Eventually you end up in the water and slow down drastically. I forget if there is a physics term for it, but it's the same idea with light traveling through different mediums. But that's not the point!

Things just slowed down. But that's ok, because that's just one week!

And this one was very productive! We committed a number of people to start reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it's true, or if we were all duped by an 18th century con man. I don't like con men very much. Or con women. Lost $$$$$ to one of those......we also met this guy.....we were looking for a member of our Ward no one knows, and he answered the door and said, " So, what's all this about changing your doctrine? You believe black people have souls now, do you?" Just out of the blue accusing us of believing, or having believed, that black people don't have souls. I calmly explained that he was wrong, and that whatever book he read that out of was completely untrue. He then went on to start telling us why we were wrong about everything we believed. I answered all his questions and explained why his accusations were incorrect, but he just kept on ranting. At one point he called us Devils. By the time we left (we were waiting for the lady we had come to visit b/c she was supposed to have been coming back) Elder Meyers said he thought I was going to strangle him, and I thought he was going to give home a 'nice pile drive to the face' (Nacho Libre quote there for those of you who are

fans.....) so that was quite the way to end the week! On the bright side, we have a baptism coming up this week! I shall send pictures next week because Victoria is getting baptized this Saturday. The short thought for the week comes from the frustrating experience I described above.

"To one with faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible" -- I will tell you who said it next week because I can't find where I've written it right now. Love you all!

Here are some pics from the week!

Elder Hunter

1. A Mormon missionary was shot this week in Anaheim California.....

2. Funny Buddha statue.

3. Creepy picture in an old home.

Hey everyone!  This week was pretty interesting......on Tuesday we were driving home and stopped at a red light.  There was another car slightly in front of us and to our right.  The guy in the drivers seat looked back at us and then did a double take, and then as quickly as he could (not very quickly. he had some trouble getting it out) He put his seatbelt on!, the whole while, glacing at us.  he totally thought we were undercover cops.  The next day we had to run get Elder Meyers a pair of socks at the store because it was an emergency.  When we walked in, a young girl thought we were security guards and was yelling at her mom, "It's the securities!  It's the securities!"  According to another Elder we are the most intimidating pair of English Elders in the mission, so I guess it's kind of understandable.                          

On Wednesday we had a sort of open house at the stake center, where people could come in and learn more about what we believe and eat free food. Yaaayyyy! Free food! So this guy comes in that is stoned out of his mind. Some guy comes by a couple minutes later and yells at him for harassing his wife. A couple minutes later, a cop pulls up, so I offered him a hot dog, and he said no thanks, and then asked me if some guy that was harassing someone is in the building and I said yeah. Then he came out and the cop pulled him aside, talked to him a bit, and then arrested him. It was great. Cali life!

On Thursday I taught my first District Meeting! It went alright if I do say so myself. On Friday we went to work at a soup kitchen! That's always fun. I got to wash dishes with a big spray thingy!!! On Saturday I had the opportunity to confirm 8 year old Elias, a kid in the ward, a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

It was an incredible opportunity. It was an amazing thing to use the Priesthood of God to allow someone to experience and have the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sunday, I had the opportunity to play a violin at the seminary graduation for the seniors! I played Savior Redeemer of My Soul, while sister Atkinson sang, and Elder Seegmiller (the AP) played the piano.

Two days before, sister Atkinson had called up and asked if I could learn a piece for the graduation on Sunday, so of course I said yes, and she told me what it was! I already knew it, so there were no kinks to work out and it went amazingly. Also, the surfer from the Mormon message was there! For those of you who don't know who that is, if you go on to Mormon.org or Los.org, and find Mormon messages, it is the one entitled 'No Regrets'. It is also on you tube I believe. But I met THAT GUY! I got a picture to prove it. Here is my thought for the week. Starting with a quote by Boyd K. Packer, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

"I said there was a question that could not be taken lightly nor answered at all without the prompting of the Spirit. I have not asked that question of others, but I have heard them answer it--but not when they were asked. They have answered it under the prompting of the Spirit, on sacred occasions, when “the Spirit beareth record.” (D&C

1:39.) I have heard one of my brethren declare: “I know from experiences, too sacred to relate, that Jesus is the Christ.” I have heard another testify: “I know that God lives; I know that the Lord lives. And more than that, I know the Lord.” It was not their words that held the meaning or the power. It was the Spirit. “… for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.” (2 Ne.

33:1.) I speak upon this subject in humility, with the constant feeling that I am the least in every way of those who are called to this holy office. I have come to know that the witness does not come by seeking after signs. It comes through fasting and prayer, through activity and testing and obedience. It comes through sustaining the servants of the Lord and following them."

I want to simply add my testimony to President Packers, that gaining a witness of truth comes by the Spirit, after we do our part of fasting, praying, searching, and pondering. This is the kind of testimony I have of the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon, and of Joseph Smith's calling as a prophet of God. This witness is not reserved for any particular person, or group of people. Only those people that work for it. Many people argue that you cannot trust the witness of the Holy Ghost, because it is the devil manipulating your feelings. This is a lie conceived by that very person. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. If the Book of Mormon is true, if Joseph Smith is a prophet, if this church is Gods Kingdom on the earth, the devil isn't going to tell you that, but God will. In the name of Jesus Christ, who I have a witness of from the Holy Ghost, that He is the Savior of the World, amen. I love all of you! Enjoy the pictures.....

1 Me and a little wabbit!

2-3 Some guy we saw on a bike. Why he was wearing a whole bunch of body armor we don't know....unless he wrecks as much as I do and just can't take it like a man.

4 Me, Elder Halle (who baptized Elias), and Elder Meyers. From this, you can see why we are an intimidating duo. My suit coat makes me look a bit bigger than I actually am, but I've gotten pretty cut while I've been out.

5 Me and the surfer dude! Right when I got there I went up to him and said "Aren't you the surfer dude from the Mormon messages?" Nailed it. My tie is a bit sloppy because I just finished playing my violin.

Our baptism went great! We had Allen interviewed by a member of the mission presidency, because we felt kind of uncomfortable, but he passed! He's got the intent, just zero understanding. He refuses to let go of past spiritualist things......and refuses to accept English definitions of words because that's not what they actually mean. It took 30 or so lessons with him, each at least two hours to finish teaching him everything. He just exhausts me. After he was confirmed a member of the church in church yesterday (the guy that confirmed him was a former gang member that had done prison time for a few years. He was super nervous and was asking me to go over it with him a whole bunch before. He gave a beautiful blessing) and after everyone stepped back at the end sat there humming in the chair. He thinks feeling the spirit is unnatural or something. We need to go over that with him.....probably will read about receiving spirits that are not of Him.....he went up and hugged a sister missionary yesterday after a music fireside.....President Taggart and I were both about to pounce on him. He is very lovable, but sometimes it is just a little to creepy. And we aren't sure of his intentions. But whatever they are he needs to realize that just about all of what he thinks is appropriate is not. For example, he wanted to do his baptism in the nude....but notice his haircut in the picture! I did that. 

We have a baptism lined up for the 13th, and one for the 20th that was actually a Referal from a member! It was a great lesson. They wanted to have a family night and talk about the plan of salvation, but we made it work, and extended an invitation to be baptized with a specific date! It is gonna take some miracles, seeing as the happy couple is unmarried with a child, but they are solid. The guy is a returning member. We are really excited for that. We are hoping to have another kid on date for the 27th. His dad is a less active member, and has loooots of problems. But we had a talk with him and he wants us to help him get his act together so he can baptize his son. He showed up at church today!! That was a miracle because he has not been in ages. And he said 2 days ago that he probably wouldn't be able to make it. 

Heh. The members. We have earned the trust of the ward council very much so. From reporting on assignments we've been given, and we have organized a set night each week to go on splits/exchanges with the priests and a youth leader. It's good for them. We are starting to have more young men show up it seems! The rest of the ward is basically Innactive. We currently have a list of...it was 30....now 17 people we have to hunt down and see if they are A. Alive  B. Still live there. Or.  C. Are interested in coming back to church and would like home teachers or not. That's just us. The missionaries. All the other quorums and auxiliaries have lists of their own. So we have our work very much cut out for us. Here's an awesome story for this week!

So on Friday we went on exchanges with our District Leader. I went with his trainee who is just finishing. Elder Smith. We started off by visiting two less actives. One was a less active. We talked about her experience doing temple work and her problems. I felt impressed to share a story someone gave me about a missionary that taught someone that was having much worse problems, and promised her that if she read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it, everything would be taken care of. She read a verse and prayed, and nothing happened so she thought ha, they were wrong. She dreamed that night that a man appeared and asked her if what she was planning on doing (dating a rich guy for his money) was right in the eyes of God) and after being asked twice, she said, well how else am I supposed to care for my children? He said open the book. She woke up, opened it, and opened it to the page of Joseph Smith.....the man that had appeared to her in her dream. She hadn't seen his picture before. She got a slew of phone calls from the government saying that they could do various things to help her out because there were abnormalites in the system that shouldn't have been there, but were, so she could make use of them. After telling this sister this story I promised her that if she would listen to what the missionaries (elder smith and elder kuehne) would ask her to do everything would work out. The lesson with the returning member was short and uneventful. The next lesson was a short teaching the daughter of a less active on the doorstep and inviting her to read from the Book of Mormon. Then we went to the church because I had to pee. Elder Smith was trying to figure out what to do, and I asked him if I could see his area book. I glanced through the potentials, and stopped on one, and opened it up and asked him if he would like to go visit that person. So we did. She had spoken with missionaries exactly 376 days previously. We taught her the plan of salvation and restoration on the doorstep. She said she wanted to change her life around. She asked us if we had been baptized, and then said that she hadn't been baptized. So I said, well, how would you like to be baptized?! We committed her to reading the Book of Mormon and set up a return appointment for tomorrow. And she said she would love to be baptized if she feels like the Book of Mormon is true, and was even asking us what exactly had to happen for that to happen. It was a great day. I'm especially glad, because he is about to be put with an elder that I love, but is pretty apostate. He just likes having fun more than working to find people to teach the gospel to. Soooo....in other news.....transfers!!!

I am staying in A4 with Elder Meyers, and I have been called as a district leader. There are 25 missionaries leaving this transfer and 2 coming in. Next transfer there are 30 leaving and 25 coming in. I was talking with President Taggart about it and he gave me the scoop. :) Love you all! Can everyone please answer my questions though......that would be great. You can email me again on Monday you know. And during the week. But if you don't answer my questions, I'm in the dark and I don't know what's going on!!!

Love 

Elder Hunter

So this week we baptized Allen! This is when lock picking becomes useful.....no one had keys to anything in the church building, so I had to pick 3 different locks to make the baptism happen! I was quite impressed with myself. But after three grueling months of teaching Allen, it finally happened! Notice his handsome haircut.....yes, I did that....I am very proud of that too! As far as baptisms go, it was an interesting one. I'll leave it at that. This week was one of my favorite weeks! So much happened! We had so many great lessons!!! Transfers are also happening today! Elder Meyers and I are staying together. Every Ward that has two sets of missionaries is going down to 1! A year ago there were 240 missionaries in the mission. Now there are 140. So in the next 3 transfers we are getting a huge influx of new missionaries! 

Here is my short thought for the week!

In my studies this week, I read a few conference talks from ages ago...here is a passage of one that stood out to me.

"Through his experience and his omniscience, our Heavenly Father knows the end from the beginning. Through his prophets he has revealed and does reveal the history of mankind, the timetable of life upon this planet. This is the dispensation of the fulness of times, when the keys of all former dispensations have been given to the prophets of the restoration, a time when God has spoken from the heavens and angels have appeared to man, a time when men and women have the Holy Ghost conferred upon them, and by the power of the Holy Ghost we may know the truth of all things. There is need for this great power in the earth today. The history of this world is in fulfillment of the plan prepared in the heavens before this earth was created. That which the world calls Mormonism is based upon the rock of revelation."

I am so grateful for the revelation that continues today. Revelation is what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints stands on. Either there is a prophet on the earth that continues to receive revelation, or there is not. The Book of Mormon is proof that revelation does continue. You cannot honestly read it, and honestly say that it is not the word of God. I have read the Book of Mormon, and more convincing than the many evidences there are of its veracity, I know it is true by the power of the Holy Ghost that allows us to know the truth of all things by testifying to our souls of truth. I'm so grateful for the guidance of the spirit in my life, and his role in testifying of truth. I'm grateful for the revelation that is continuously received by the prophet Thomas S. Monson today. I tandem with the email I sent a couple weeks ago about the Book of Mormon, I want to invite everyone who reads this that has not read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and prayed to God to ask Him if it is true or not, to do so. I promise He will answer if He is asked with real intent. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. I love you all!

Elder Hunter

Pictures 

1. Elder Wilding, one of our zone leaders, at the baptism.

2. Elder Meyers and Allen

3. Elder Meyers going at a piece of chicken.