Alrighty, sorry this got sent late everyone! This week was preeeettty crazy. We had our Mission Leadership Council on Tuesday. Wednesday we had an exchange. I love exchanges! They're a wonderful opportunity to learn from other missionaries as well as help them learn. Thursday we had our Zone Training (in which Elder K and I are responsible for providing a training for the missionaries in our zone for two and a half hours), so we had to get ready for that Wednesday night after our exchange. Instead of preparing, it turned into an argument that lasted long into the wee morning hours and we went to bed without really knowing what we were going to do. We didn't talk until 9:30 when our training started. The idea of getting married gets scarier and scarier the longer I'm on my mission.....jeez. A missions about a lot more than sharing what we believe! It prepares you for everything and anything life has to throw at you! Anyway, it ended up being probably the best zone training we've ever had! It was great! We talked about our feelings afterwards and apologized to each other for being morons.

Turns out we were both really worried about how the training would go.

It's something the Lord really wanted our missionaries to have though, so He made it work! Thursday we had our first splits with the Ward members. Haven't done those in AGES!!! Friday we had a special MLC with Elder D from the quorum of the seventy. It was really cool to get training from hm. You don't get that opportunity often in life!

Saturday we went to help set up for Christmas in the Canyon. The canyon is a whole new world! Everyone is pretty countryish and just does their own thing. So different than a couple miles away in the city! That's what most of the pictures are from. Sunday we saw a guy try to catch an exit he missed on the highway. He fishtailed, over corrected, and skidded off to the side through the sand, and snapped the big sign held up by giant pieces of wood half a foot thick like a toothpick. It was pretty insane! So we pulled over and crossed the street on the exit to make sure he was alright. People are morons. If you're not going to stop to help someone in a wreck, at least STOP and let OTHER people help! People make me mad. If I had had spikes to throw under their tires I would have. NO ONE stopped to let us cross, so it was kinda difficult. They guy was alright, just a little shaken up. The first thing he did was call his wife! Good man!! Full marks!

Exactly what a good spouse should do. Short though for this week......

"When the scientific facts contradict what is being promoted as truth, then ideology has trumped reality."

- Miriam Grossman, MD, psych. at UCLA

This is applicable to our world on so many levels. It very much defines the pathway most societies are following. It's kind of sad, but it's true! And we'll have these problems for a long time! That's why I'm so grateful for prophets on the earth today! Like the song from primary says....."We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guid us in these latter days!" President Monson is much more than a President of some organization. He is the PROPHET OF GOD!!!!! I know he is. I know he has been chosen, not by any man or men, but by Savior Jesus Christ. I leave you all with this in His name, amen!

Love you all tons!

Elder H. Johnson

1-2. Mission Leadership Council. Everyone in the back row looks like a cardboard cutout. And the camera was at a bad angle I guess because Elder I (far right) looks huge. His hair comes down to his chin.

What is everyone's thoughts on guys having their hair like that?

Seriously, I'd like feedback. Because personally I think it looks ridiculous.

 3-4. Lunch in the Canyon was paid for us because we helped. It's a hole in the wall place. It was pretty cool!

A few pictures from service in the canyon. From Left to Right, it is Elder R, Me, Elder H, and Elder K. H and R are the funniest companionship in the mission. Soooooooooo funny!!!!!

1. Service on Thanksgiving!

2. and 4. Thanksgiving lunch at a families house the day after thanksgiving that wanted me to just come over and play something on the violin 3. Thanksgiving dinner. It's a really bad picture.

We helped set up for Christmas in the Canyon. Decided to take a swing on this rope swing we found.....there's a reason it is not being used.