Agency. We all have it. Just use it wisely.

Hello Mates!

It has been 4 months since I have been home. It is really amazing how time flies when you are serving the Lord. I really can not believe it. I have had a pretty good week. We have met some really amazing people and are seeing a lot of progress in all our investigators. Our district, which consists of 6 total missionaries, is one of the best districts in the mission and all of us have been out less than 6 months. We are all young but are truly dedicated to this work. I love serving my mission in London. I think this city truly fits me. There is no question that I am a city boy.

This past week we have had some really interesting moments. There has been a common theme when we talk to people on the street. The theme this week or rather the question of the week was, "If there is a god why do so many bad things happen?" Every other person we talked to had this question. Of course this was said by the average atheist trying to test us with our answer. Foolishness I tell you.

I was trying to find in the scriptures an answer to this question. Something simple that I could show to the simple minded. I then came to the scripture in 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. It is found in chapter 2 Verse 27. It reads, "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." As it states in the first part of the verse, we are free to choose liberty and eternal life. We are also free to choose captivity and death. WE have the option to choose. When I showed this to our atheist friend, he then began to say, "Well if God is all powerful than why cant he just stop us from choosing?" I then read the verse to him again and asked him "Would we really be free?" He began to understand.

I tell you this story because many people do have this question. We must understand why we are here on this earth. "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to preform their labors." We are here to be tested. We all have our agency to choose these things. Of course there is children who are born in

unfortunate circumstances. You might ask "Where is their fair chance?" But I just ask you that if men were to exercise their agency in righteousness, would this world be different? If men and woman obeyed the commandments of God this world would be a much different world then what it is today. We have the agency to choose. So be the change you want to see in the world. Live in a way that people notice that you are different. That you are a disciple of Christ. If you make a conscience effort to change one thing in your life that is not in harmony with Gods teachings, and correct it in the coming week, then you will see a difference in your life and the lives of people around you. So give it a try.

Last P-day a few of us missionaries went to Harrods. If you do not know what Harrods is, then look it up. Inside there are £68,000 iPhones made out of gold. They used to sell lions, tigers, and bears oh my. And there are incredible cars sold inside. If you needed anything at all you would go to Harrods. ANYTHING. They have authentic Harry Potter Wands!! It is a childhood wonderland. So look it up! I will attach some pictures of what it looks like on the outside and the cars that are parked out in front of the building. And yes one of the cars is made out of velvet...In London there are some very creepy posters that are just weird. So I thought I would share some with you. When you see them all over they start to become ridiculous and just funny. And Last is a picture of my Halloween Package. Austin thought his note was hilarious. That GOOB.

I love you all and hope that you try to use the agency we have been given for good. I know you can do it. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder David

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Royals!

1.This is Royal Alberts Hall and this massive statue in Hyde Park

 

 

2.This is where Prince Williams and Kate just live. They moved in a few weeks ago! It is massive!!

"I learn from the grass." ~Weird Woman in London

Hello once again,

This week has been a good week in London North. We also had stake conference and a few other missionary meetings. This past week we have been teaching two amazing families. One family is from Jamaica and consists of 2 parents and 6 children. Which is very unusual for London. They are great and have been interested in learning what Mormons believe. There youngest son, Joshua, begged us to make his parents come to church with us. It was so cute and helped us ask them if they would come to church. They politely declined, because they already go to a pentecostal church. We are seeing them again this coming week.

We have also been teaching this wonderful family from Ecuador. This family consists of Janeth (the mother), and her 3 children. They are so nice and have been taught by the missionaries before. We will be seeing them this next week and they will be coming to church this Sunday. Whenever we go over, she has a 5 course meal ready for us. This last time she cooked us dinner and made us apple pie and a chocolate cake. We have to be carefull to not go over too much. My suits are fitting really nice right now and I do not want that to change. Running every morning has really helped though.

Stake Conference was really great this past week. It was focused on Member Missionary Work. It was so helpful for us missionaries. Since the Conference, the ward has been willing to help us missionaries. They are starting to come teach with us. We hope that they will soon begin to invite their friends over to meet with us. I have learned that member missionary work is much more effective than knocking on doors or proselyting in town centres. If every member invited a friend to take the missionary discussions or even to come to church, this work would progress in a way that we could not comprehend. I wish I was in your shoes right now. Just to be able to have friends who would benefit from the gospel. INVITE THEM!! Just do it people.

This week we met this weird woman. Which I guess happens every week. We started talking about God and she just blurted out "I learn from the grass. It teaches me all things which I should do." From there the conversation turned for the worse. I just had to hold back form laughing. Some peoples children haha. I love London and the Crazies that we meet each week. And on the other hand we meet amazing people. Like Fredrick. Fredrick is from Kenya and is studying in University. He is really loving the Book of Mormon and has tremendous faith. I love people like him and they make going on a mission worth it.

This past Thursday we were walking home and were caught in the middle of a live show in Archway! There were dancers all of the place and people dancing on the side of a huge tower! It was so cool! It was just a random Thursday in London and all these cool things were happening around us. I have a few cool pictures and I will share them all with you.

I hope you have an amazing week. And if you vote for me all your wildest dreams will come true. Love you all.

Elder David

1. This is the people dancing on the side of this building

2. This is the Ecuadorian food that Janeth makes for us. So good. It sometimes feels like I am serving in South America.

 

 

 

Oi! Meu Nome e' E'lder David. Eu nao falo porteguese muito bem.

Hey!

This week has been a pretty great week. We have been teaching this wonderful old woman from Columbia. She is the cutest old woman. As we walk into her flat, she immediately told us to sit down. She then pulled out her Mandolin and performed this little concert for us. I took a video of her so you will be able to see it when I get back. She is so amazing and loves hearing about what Mormons actually believe. Some people here really have heard some weird things about Mormons that are just not even close to being true. This one man came up to us and was quite interested about why we practice polygamy (which we don't) because he wishes we did because his wife had passed a few months prior and wishes he had a back up wife to help him through this hard time. He was quite sincere with his explanation but we had to correct him and say we don't practice polygamy. He is still meeting with us and is quite interested in our message now. He really likes that part where he can be sealed to his wife for all eternity. Earlier this week, a man approached us and asked if we drink juice. He honestly thought that Mormons do not drink juice.... Some peoples children.

Two days ago we received a referral from church headquarters in Salt Lake City. The referral said that we should contact this woman as soon as possible because she was just in Utah and loved the Visitors Center there. So Elder Mitchell and I took the hour long bus ride to the address of this woman. When we knocked on the door this big and mighty woman answered the door then immediately said "I hate religion and I don't want to hear a word of what you have to ." She then slammed the door in our face. We were quite confused because we were expecting a Chinese woman to answer, since the referral said she was from China. So we decided to knock again. She answered and before she could say anything to us I said, "Look we are not trying to convert you but rather asking if you know who this person is." She was thrown off by my direct approach and said, "no" in a quite and timid voice. We said thank you and went on our way. We were discouraged that we had taken so much time out of our night to find out it was a false address. On the bus ride home we decided we were going to bus find. Meaning that we would just sit next to random people and try to set up a time where we could see them again. On that bus ride home we set 3 new appointments and met an amazing family. God had blessed us and I am grateful that He is on our side to help us with this great and marvelous work.

Henrike is doing really well and is now planning on being baptised on the 27th of October. If you could keep her in your prayers that would be wonderful. She has already read the Book of Mormon and just finished reading Preach My Gospel. She is so smart. We have a deal that as long as I teach her the Gospel, she will teach me German. Ish vice das musik deen hileagen guyst in unzer leeben ienladen kann! I love being in London because I get to learn all of these languages. I speak Portuguese the best. I am hoping to pursue learning a language when I get back. I love being able to speak to people who are from all over the world.

I love you all and I know that life does throw us a few curves. But always remember that as you wait back and rely on the Lord, you will crush the ball out of the park. Pray often, repent always, feast on the words of Christ, and endure to the end. Then the Father shall say "Ye shall have Eternal Life." Exclamation point. Have a great week and I will talk with you all very soon.

Love,

Elder David

Its A Boy!

Hello Everyone!!

So It is a Boy! I have birthed a son and his name is Elder Mitchell. My first mission son haha. He is from Jacksonville, Florida and has that deep south accent. It is so funny!

So this week has been one of my favourite weeks on my mission and it is because we had General Conference!

We went into Central London to watch conference in the Hyde Park Stake Centre. I had a few favourite talks and that really inspired me.

The first was from President Uchtdorf in the Saturday Morning. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" was the quote that really stuck out to me but really the entire talk was amazing. It talked about how crazy we are to be apart of a religion that spends 10 hours of our weekend watching talks on the Tele and how we spend 3 hours at church. We go on 2 year missions. We have home teaching. We have callings in our church that are volunteer and that no one gets paid to do. We pay a 10% tithe. We donate to the poor once a month and much more. Now who in there right mind would join such a church? No one would. Unless they knew it were true and has the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I also loved the talk given by Elder Bednar in the Saturday morning session about tithing. Go pay your tithing haha. #

I also loved president Uchtdorfs talk he gave in priesthood about how we all have more strength than we think and that we just need to stand up now. He is an inspired man.

And of course President Monsons Sunday Morning talk. His words were beautiful and strengthened my testimony that he is a Prophet of God. I love this church. I love serving a mission. I love seeing the difference it makes.

When these talks come out in the Ensign to read, I counsel you to read them. You will receive revelation and it will bless you in your life. Just do it. I know that God loves us and wants us to reach out to our friends and family who have not tasted of the delicious fruit known as The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Spread this Gospel. Not the increase numbers in the church. Not because I just say so. But because it will bring them happiness in this life as well in the life to come. Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, by being baptised by the authority given from God. So Go and Do. The blessings will follow.

I love all of you and hope all is well. If you could pray from Henrike, Obi, and Katerina that would be great. They are all planning on being baptised in the coming month and could use some prayers to confirm that they are making the right decision. I love you and hope you have a great rest of your week!

Elder David

 

 

Posterity Picture. From Left to Right: Elder Adriano, Elder Huthcins, Me, Elder Mitchell.

 

 

 

 

 

And the MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR EVER!

 

 

 

 

Show trimmed content

Baptisms

So Lawrence got baptised!!!! YAAYYAYA. He is such a great man. He does not look too happy but believe me he could not stop smiling the whole day. The one time he didn't smile was for a picture... weirdo.

And then Angela! My first baptism! She is from Ghana and asked me to baptise her this last Saturday! She is so amazing and it was a privilege to be able to do so.

 

 

 

WOWZA!!!

So Elder Hutchins and I had a dinner appointment last night with John the Baptist (he is an Area 70 of the Baptist Church so we gave him that nickname) and he let us try on his Kilt... He is from Scotland and is such a great guy! That kilt costed like 2000 pounds! WOWZA!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Also here is a view of London! It is fantastic!

 

Should I Stay or Should I Go?!

Hey there folks!

So many of you are wondering the big news if I am staying in London or moving out? So here are the final results....................................................................I am STAYING AND TRAINING A NEW MISSIONARY!

I got the call last night and was so excited about staying where I am and with getting a brand new missionary to train. I am so nervous to train because I have only been out for 3 months. President Jordan said "It is quite unusual to train this early but we know you can do it." I feel so honoured to be trusted by him and most importantly the Lord. I love this work so much and am finally getting the hang of it. It is now easy to talk to everyone on the street and anyone I sit next to on the bus and tube. It is a blessing from my Heavenly Father to be able to do this.

This past week I have been studying some great missionaries found in the Book of Mormon but as well in the Book of Moses. In Alma 26:11-12, it talks about the great missionary Ammon. Ammon is found glorifying the Lord because of his success and strength and he says, "But Ammon said unto him:I do not boast in my own strength nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many might miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

I love those verses because it teaches us two main principles. Humility and worshipping God. I love Ammon and the example he was in the Book of Mormon.

Also in Moses there is another great prophet named Enoch. This is after God reveals himself to Enoch and he says" Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?"

So this week focus on the things God has given you and show thanks. Because we are truly nothing without Him.

I love you all and hope you have a great rest of your week!

Love,

Elder David