Elder Conner Brown

University Bus, PA - Week 15

Hello there!

Things are still pretty quiet over at Penn State, but we still had some great lessons and experiences.

 

Our friend A is still reading the Book of Mormon and we're helping him to understand it better. That's been the main thing, as well as helping him to apply and act on what he reads and learns.

 

We have a new friend we just started meeting with who we friended on Facebook. He wanted to meet right away and is taking some time during the summer to build his spirituality. It's super cool because he doesn't have much of a Christian background, though he's very open to things.

 

A member shared with me a really cool talk recently from a convert who makes some really great points about revelation and finding the truth. One of them is this:

 

"I believe that Heavenly Father, in a merciful way, does not give us revelation when we’re just curious and not willing to act upon it, because then we’d be held accountable if we failed to make the change."

 

When we are given knowledge, revelation, and/or truth, we have a sacred responsibility to use it. That shouldn't dissuade us from seeking guidance, but should teach us how to better be ready for it. Like the parable of the talents, if we bury our talent it will condemn us, but if we do just our best to use it, it will prepare us and empower us.

 

Hope your summers are off to a great start!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

University Bus, PA - Week 14

Hello there!

 

This one's a bit longer, so I'm making up for the past couple weeks!

 

The town has been mostly pretty empty and we had a lot of work to do as SMCs (Social Media Coordinators), but we still had some awesome experiences and tried to be outside when we could. 

 

Monday evening, for instance, we had to do a bunch of calling, so we streeted to a place out in the open where we could do it. While we were out, we stumbled on a bunch of great people. We met a guy named F who was doing some traveling around the East Coast. We told him about the Washington DC Temple Open House and showed him a picture. He was floored by how big it was and was super excited to check it out.

 

Also have to let a couple investigators go who are graduating and don't want to keep meeting, even over zoom. We at least got our friend D's contact info so we can keep in touch later on, but sad to see him go.

 

Our friend A, however, can still meet over zoom even out of town for the summer, so we're having a blast reading the Book of Mormon with him. Great guy and a deep thinker.

 

Lots of our time was occupied by SMC duties as well. We went to the Mission Leadership Conference and talked with other mission leaders about building up the Christ-like culture of the mission. On our way home from the big meeting, we were able to have an impromptu lesson with a new friend named B over the phone. Super solid guy with lots of potential and a desire to learn more, so we'll be excited to teach him!

 

I love the story of Moses and the serpents, party because of the description of fiery, flying serpents, but also because of the stupidity of the Israelites' reaction.

 

1 Nephi 17:41 "...and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished."

 

Perhaps some of them didn't have faith in the way the Lord prepared. Perhaps some of them didn't want the brazen serpent to work because they wanted a more miraculous way. God's modern prophets today give us revelation and guidance for our day. It's usually pretty simple, but the effect is the same. I invite you to keep that in mind and watch the devotional from President and Sister Nelson given last night. Also keep in mind this exhortation from Amulek

 

Alma 33:21 "O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?"

 

Take advantage of the modern council the Lord gives us, and hope you have a great week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

 

 

 

Facebook Post 5/15/22

 

The Washington DC Temple is having an Open House right now until June 11!

 

What's a Temple Open House? It's a period of time before a Temple is dedicated to the Lord when anyone is allowed to come inside and see what Temples are all about.

 

What are Temples? Since the beginning of the church, the Lord has commanded his people to build Temples as a place where we can worship Him and make sacred covenants. In Temples, we are able to make special promises to follow the Lord more fully and bind families together through time and all eternity.

 

D&C 88:119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

 

Come check it out if you have a chance! Here's the address and the website where you can schedule tour reservations.

 

9900 Stoneybrook Dr, Kensington, MD 20895

DCTemple.org

University Bus, PA - Week 13

Hello there! 

 

We had a nice week of preparing for the summer season. Lots of our friends are going home for the break, sadly, but a few of them would like to meet over zoom still. Getting as many lessons set up as possible for the this week, since there'll be little to no students in town until the summer term starts next week. 

 

A lot of our commitments lately have focused on reading and especially praying about the Book of Mormon. And that can take different forms depending on the investigator. Pray to know the Book of Mormon is true, so you know this is the direction God wants to you take. Pray to know so you know God speaks to prophets today. Pray to know so you know that God really did send another witness of his Son. Pray to know so you know the Church is true. President Ezra Taft Benson had it right that the Book of Mormon's truthfulness is the key answer to any question.

 

Another cool thing we got a chance to share in a lesson was the end part of the new Missionary Standards, which talks about going home. It says, "Live so that you will experience the kind of joy described in the Book of Mormon when Alma the Younger met fellow missionaries later in life" Alma 17:1-3 are then quoted where Alma has great joy that his brethren were true to the witness they'd been given. I know it's so important to be true to our witness, not just for ourselves, but for others who see our example. As bearers of the truth, it is our sacred responsibility to stay true to it.

 

Hope you all have a great week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

 

University Bus, PA - Week 12

Hello there!

 

Time got away from us so sadly this one's going to be a bit short 😅. Transfer boards just came in and as expected, Elder Powers and I are both staying. This is Elder Powers' last transfer, though, so we're gonna try and make it count! 

 

We had some good lessons this past week, though finding was pretty slow with finals week and all. Still have one more week as finals wind down, but it'll be interesting to see how the work adjusts with summer here on campus. 

 

Been reading ahead in Leviticus recently to try and get through it before we skip it all in Come Follow Me 😆. I love how the Book of Mormon gives us a great perspective and meaning for why all the animal sacrifices, to point toward the Great and last sacrifice of the Savior. I definitely encourage you to keep that in mind as we're reading about the Law of Moses and what it means.

 

Have a fantastic rest of your week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the elder

 

 

When transfers approach, the missionaries make guesses as to who in the district is staying (home) or going to a new area (car).  

University Bus, PA - Week 11

Hello there!

 

Have you ever had a moment when you're talking with a friend who isn't a member, and they say something that is surprisingly 100% doctrine, or they say they're pondering a difficult question that with restored doctrine is incredibly easy to answer? Then you have to just hold yourself back from going up to your metaphorical pulpit as you discuss the gospel truth with them?

 

Lol, we had that kind of moment with a friend of ours today. We were planning on going over the Plan of Salvation and just before we got into it, we had a short conversation where he mentioned he thinks we'll never be perfect in this life, but it's our desire that really counts, and how becoming like Christ isn't an event, but a process. He also shared how he wondered why he would be saved since he knew and followed Christ, while lots of other better people wouldn't be saved. We got to share about the spirit world and how God gives everybody a chance to accept and follow Christ.

 

Our other friends are doing great. Things are going to get interesting with finals coming up and everybody getting busy. Also, the summer is coming up, so we'll see who's in town during the summer and who's going home. It'll make things easier for some people, but very difficult for others. Hopefully we can at least transition some people to their home missionaries for the time being.

 

From Come Follow Me this week, I like when Moses' father-in-law Jethro comes and sees Moses judging the whole people. From Moses' and the people's perspective, this was fine. From Jethro's outside perspective, "Thou wilt surely wear away". The two-fold lesson I like is 1. Delegation is divine and it works. 2. Revelation also comes as we converse and reason to help each other

 

Hope you have a great rest of your week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

University Bus, PA - Week 10

Hello there! 

 

Sorry this one will be kind of rushed, cause P-day's almost over, but Elder Powers and I had a great week here in University.

 

We met with A again, and he's progressing pretty well so far. He's been very good at keeping commitments and asks really deep questions, so hopefully we'll be able to help him find the answers he seeks. 

 

Also did tons of streeting this past week. People are a lot friendlier and happier in the springtime, so they're much more willing to talk. It's funny, our mission president compared this season to the seven years of plenty before the seven years of famine. AKA, winter. Get as many numbers as you can before everybody shuts down and stays indoors.

 

Had a double injection of the spirit this last week with Zone Conference and Stake Conference. Hope that everybody enjoyed their Easter weekend and had a chance to reflect on the Savior's sacrifice. A favorite scripture of mine, lately, has been Helaman 5:9-11, where Helaman tells his sons just how important the Savior's role is, and how important it is for us to access his power.

 

Also, I think I finally understand why a groundhog is used to predict the weather here in Pennsylvania. His guess is better here than ours. Literally, last week we were sweating a bit and about to break out the short sleeves for good. It snowed like 2 inches today 🙃 I'll gladly take a few more days of cool air, but it's still pretty bizarre.

 

Happy late Easter and have a great week!

 

Sincerely 

Elder Brown the Elder

 

Facebook Post 4/17/22

3 Nephi 11:13-14

13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:
14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

Today, we celebrate the day Christ rose "from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Cor 15:20) Because Jesus Christ lives, we all will live again. Because of his sacrifice, we have a path whereby we may all return to him.

Today, he invites us all, just like people in ancient days, to learn of him and know that he lives, that he loves us, and that by following him we can gain eternal life.

Though we can't feel the wound marks in his hands, I invite you to take some time today to read the witnesses he's given us in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and feel the Spirit testify that he lives!

University Bus, PA - Week 9

Hello there!

 

This last week, we had some super exciting lessons with our people, both old and new. We're really starting to see the teaching pool grow in University.

 

Had our second lesson with A, who really likes meeting and has been very good at coming to church. He asks really deep questions, so the plan of Salvation was a good chance for him to let loose. One thing we were sad about was we hadn't gotten him a physical Book of Mormon yet. All our lessons have been over zoom and we totally forgot to get him one on Sunday. Later after we had our lesson, though, we were headed out to do some streeting, when we caught a glimpse of A walking! We chased him down and were able to get him his copy, at long last. Thank goodness the Lord makes up for our weaknesses, lol.

 

In the early afternoon today (Monday) we had an epic first lesson with a guy we met on the street last week called N. Talk with everyone you can, cause you never know who the Lord has prepared. N was totally down to hear a scripture from the Book of Mormon and learn more about it. We taught him the Restoration today and he's super excited to start studying the Book every night! 

 

Also, one sad thing this past week was Elder Kano had to transfer to Eerie. He rolled his ankle a couple times, and we walk a LOT in University, so he wasn't getting a chance to heal. Excited to have my new comp Elder Powers here, though (and yes, one of his relatives is named Austin ). We're both keeping the Social Media Coordinator roles, so should be interesting having some fresh blood in the role. 

 

Lastly, a testimony that the prophet and apostles really do receive revelation and guidance for our day and what we need to stay firm and anchored in Christ. We had a meeting last week with D and T. The discussion went all over the place, but afterwards we listened to Elder Oaks' most recent talk, "Divine Love in the Father's Plan". It literally goes over every single point we went over in our discussion with the two of them, so we sent it over to them.

 

May we all heed the council and guidance the Lord gives us through his servants. I testify with them that a mission is a transforming experience, and the perfect place to build up your testimony and your foundation for life.

 

With love,

Elder Brown the Elder

 

 

University Bus, PA - Week 8

Hello there!

 

What a fantastic conference weekend! I hope that everyone received the revelation they needed, either by the words of the prophet and apostles, or by the Spirit as you listened to their words.

 

We invited lots of people to watch the prophet speak this weekend, either online or at the branch building where we watched with other members and missionaries. Nobody came to the building, sadly, but hopefully some of them watched online.

 

We were also super busy preparing for MLC, where Elder Kano and I gave a training on Social Media in the mission. We're working hard to integrate it into all other aspects of missionary work, like the people we meet while finding and the members we work with. It's a great tool that saved us in Covid, so giving it a permanent place in our work, even as things open up, will be very helpful.

 

Our favorite meeting this last week was probably with D. He's super cool and open to hear more about the Book of Mormon, though he said he doesn't plan on converting. He says that, but during the lesson he was blown away each time the Book of Mormon expounded on the Bible and supported it. For instance, we used both the Bible and the Book of Mormon to explain what happens after death.

 

After seeing the effects of the gospel in my life, my family, and the lives of those who accept it, I can firmly testify that what President Nelson declared is true:

 

"I love the Lord Jesus Christ and testify that his gospel is the only enduring solution for peace. His gospel is a gospel of peace."

 

When our lives are built on the principles of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, we really do have peace, not just between those around us, but also in ourselves. 

 

Hope you all have a wonderful week and you study the inspired words we heard this past weekend.

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

 

 

Facebook Post 3/29/22

Hello! Hope everybody is ready for General Conference this weekend!

Throughout all history, God has followed a pattern of calling prophets and apostles to lead and guide his people.

Mosiah 3:13 - "And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them."

This is one of two weekends a year we get to hear the words of Christ's modern prophet and apostles, to ponder on the words they speak, and listen to what the Spirit has to tell us. I hope everybody prepares themselves to attend and feast on the words of Christ this weekend!

 

University Bus, PA - Week 7

Hello there!

 

Hope everyone is super psyched for General Conference Weekend! For missionaries at least, it's a party. All new talks to study, a chance for investigators to see the prophet speak. It just occurred to me recently this'll be my last General Conference as a missionary. It'll be a super fun one, though, especially since the YSA branch has it broadcasted at the building and we can watch with some of the members.

 

This past week was pretty busy recovering and getting settled from transfers. My new companion, Elder Kano, has to train me in the ways of Social Media Coordinator before he finishes his mission in 5 weeks. 

 

As far as the work goes, we have a new friend, A, who is super chill and we met for the first time over zoom. Gave him a casual invite to church and he actually came! Really excited to see how he progresses. 

 

We met with D again, and he brought a friend this time! That just makes our day when the very people we're teaching have referrals 😆 (PMG 9.3)

 

M, V, and C are doing alright. Sad to see Elder Taniguchi go, but they got departing pics. 

 

A couple people recently asked us why God created us, or in other words, what does creating us do for God?

 

For questions I've never thought about or don't know off the top of my head, I like to start where Nephi does when the angel stumps him, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17)

 

God loves us as his children. He rejoices in our progress as we go throughout life, striving to become more like him. His purpose is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39). 

 

It brings me so much joy to see someone we're teaching take those steps toward repentance we know will bless their lives. I'm sure parents feel a similar way when kids grow up and learn to make the right choices. (Never been a parent, so let me know if I'm wrong 😆)

 

Moses 1:31 confirms we may never know the whole answer to why God created us, but "I give it as my opinion" (Alma 40:20) that part of the reason is it brings both Him and us joy.

 

Hope you all have a fantastic week and you listen to what the Spirit needs to tell you this week at General Conference!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

University Bus, PA - Week 6

Hello there!

 

Wow, it's already been 18 months in the field! Time is super weird in the mission because we live and breathe in 6 week increments called transfers. So when I think about 6 months, it feels like a ton of time. When I think about 4 transfers left, not so much.

 

I'm excited, though, because we got transfer news and I get to spend another 6 weeks in University Bus. Elder Taniguchi is leaving, sadly, but he gets to see more of PA now (he's been here since he got to the PPM).

 

My new companion will be Elder Kanoe, and we're going to be Social Media Coordinators. Basically, we work with the social media leaders to regulate the vision for the mission in regards to social media work. We work to prepare trainings and devotionals to help missionaries with SM finding. Should be an interesting experience, especially since the assignment is fairly new.

 

M and C have been doing well, both reading the Book of Mormon and both meeting with us last week. We have a new friend as well, D, who talked to us when we set up our table and a poster on campus. Very cool guy who's studying to help people with addictions, and totally down to talk with us about the Book of Mormon. I'll be excited to see where he goes!

 

In Come Follow Me this week, it was cool to read about Joseph reuniting with his brothers. Until reading those chapters together so quickly, I hadn't realized how many times Joseph referred to his selling into Egypt as the Lord's doing to spare his house. 

 

We know the Lord is always in the details and whatever hard times will be for our eternal benefit. How awesome is it though, to have a constant attitude that the Lord is guiding your life? The way Joseph saw it, his brothers didn't just sell him into Egypt, the Lord sent him there. Our burdens really do seem light when we know that good things will come from them.

 

Have a great week and a start to your spring!

 

Sincerely

Elder Brown the elder

 

Epic katsu

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