Sister Rasmussen’s Message to the Missionaries:
It is always such a highlight of our mission when interviews roll around. I can't tell you how much I look forward to sitting down and talking with each of you. When we first arrived here and did the "Meet the President" tour of the mission, I told myself that I would probably never know every missionary. How wrong I was! I do know each of you and look forward to learning more about you and the work in your area during interviews.
This time it was such a thrill for me to hear of the revelation you had received about God's plan for finding his prepared children in your area and how you were applying that revelation. I look forward to hearing the coming chapters of that incredible story that will lead you to baptize God's prepared. I know that with continued faith and diligence you will see miracle and baptisms as a result of your efforts each day. Please text me of those miracles you see. I love when you share the successes you see in this great era of the hastening of the Lord's work.
I also loved hearing about your Hark, Mark and Embark reading. I have been blessed with a greater understanding of the Doctrine of Christ and the importance it has been to all people, in all times and in all places. God sends his prophets to teach the same important truths in every dispensation of time. We are blessed to know that it will never be taken from the earth again. We can look forward to seeing many prophecies fulfilled as we take this mighty work of bringing His sons and daughter to a covenant path that leads back to Him. I hope you have seen your faith grow and your understanding of the Book of Mormon expand as you take this challenge and show the Lord your desire to learn more from His holy scriptures each day.
The following Missionaries have Birthdays this month:
2 May Sister Iris Stevenson 19 May Elder Scott Scheidell
4 May Elder Zachary Stoker 21 May Elder Cache Lowry
4 May Elder Joshua Hancock 22 May Elder Reggie Northrup
5 May Elder Travis Leavitt 23 May Sister Lucy Tayco
8 May Sister Hannah Erickson 27 May Elder Hooten Fullmer
10 May Elder Barry Stratton 27 May Sister Christine Johnson
11 May Elder Joel Mason 30 May Elder Walker Riley
Missionary Moments:
Subject: Dan Scoville Baptism Week! (and
Auburn Day of Service with the Zone)
This week was amazing and not one
that I will soon forget. Brother Dan Scoville was baptized on the 22nd and
confirmed on the 23rd! It has been a long and stressful journey for sure but I
am so grateful for the opportunity that the Lord has given for me to be a part
of his life. We first met him amount 3 months ago when we approached him
outside while he was working on his car and have taught him and grown to love
him a lot. It is amazing also how much I have learned and my testimony has
grown as we served him and got to know him. Brother Hanson in the ward baptized
him and I was given the opportunity to confirm him yesterday. At the baptism
the Spirit was so strong it was a tangible feeling and I felt such a pure joy
the whole night. Elder Thibaudeau sang "Come Thou Fount" and I was
reminded of how grateful I am that the Lord offered himself to rescue me from
the path I was on and helped me to be where I was sitting that night and where
I am at now in my life. I am grateful that he doesn't give up on us and I know
he will never give up on me or anyone. We taught the Restoration of the Gospel
at the baptism and I could feel the power of the message stronger than ever.
The word that has always stood out to me has been Restoration but lately the
word that stands out to me is Gospel. It is his gospel that matters. That is
what was restored and by living it, that is how we find real joy. I have seen
in my life that it is a formula that always works. and it worked for Dan. On
Sunday after he was confirmed he bore his testimony of that. He said that after
learning about the Gospel in its fullness that sorrow that he had not known how
to deal with became Godly sorrow. It was and is the same for me. I have never
been happier and I know it is because of him. I am very happy in this area I
have a great companion and I love this ward a lot. We don't have anyone else on
date for baptism yet but hopefully soon! As far as the Confirmation I was very
nervous but as always when the moment came the words were there. I'm not
entirely sure what was said but I could feel the power of the priesthood and
know that they weren't my words. It was pretty nerve racking to stand in a
circle with so many great men but I am so grateful for it. I have a lot of
emails to write but It was a great week. Dan is a great man and a friend and a
new member of the church and God led us to him so his life could be changed my
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it has changed my life. He lives and I love
him.
Love, Elder Braiden Clayburn
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| Elder Clayburn, Brother Scoville and Elder Thibaudeau |
Missionary Moments:
Connie Plum was baptized on April 29th and Confirmed the
next day. She has an amazing story.
Her daughter was baptized a couple years after marrying her
husband who has always been a member. From that point on Sister Plum was
against the church. Then after 30 years or so something miraculous happened. She had a stroke. Her children thought she was going to die so they sold her
house along with all her belongings. But being the fighter that she is she
survived. With nowhere to go, and in too good of health to be in an assisted
living place she moved in with her daughter and her family. A year ago the
missionaries came and taught her for the first time. Apparently it didn't go
well. She bashed with them about the trinity. Fast Forward to about a month
before her baptism. It was my first lesson with her. She had spent the past
weekend watching general conference and loved it. She was also reading the Book
of Mormon. She told us she wanted to be baptized and committed that night. Each
lesson after that she taught us. We would give her a pamphlet or tell her what
we would learn the next lesson and she would study. She would then take 3 to 6
pages of notes on that subject and would teach us what she had learned. Her
heart went from hard to soft. When you ask her what caused that change she said
it was the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon softened her heart and I know it
can soften any heart that reads and studies it.
I know the Book of Mormon is true. I have seen the Book of
Mormon change lives and families. It has changed mine. I know Christ
lives. He loves me and knows me. He knows you too. I know that there are more
Connie Plums in the Washington Federal Way mission who are prepared and ready
to accept the gospel. It may take some time, but they are there. We need to
find them.
- Elder Mason Cottrell
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| L to R: Elder Drake, Elder Cottrell, Brother Babbel, Sister Connie Plum, Elder Faulkner, Elder Pinckney |
Missionary Moments:
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| Sister Facer, Brother John Jorgenson and Sister Giles. |
I just wanted to share a special baptism we attended last Saturday. This is Sister Facer, Brother John Jorgenson and Sister Giles. John is almost 90 years old. After being taught by the missionaries about Jesus Christ, and after having several spiritual experiences he decided he wanted to be baptized!
At his baptism, a sister from the ward was giving a talk about the Holy Ghost and John added his testimony several times about how real the Holy Ghost is. He has had several experiences with promptings from the Holy Ghost that he said are priceless and sacred. I'm so thankful for worthy, obedient missionaries that serve as a conduit for the Holy Ghost to teach. It's not the missionaries that convert...it's the Holy Ghost! I'm thankful for the third member of the Godhead!
