Elder Conner Brown

Hershey, PA - Week 15

Hello there!

We had some really cool lessons and experiences this past week leading up to zone conference soon so I'll share a couple highlights.

So last week, we called somebody who responded to a church ad in our area named M.. The person who picked up the phone, though, explained that he was a translator for us and that M. was deaf! Even so, we did manage to set up a time we could reach out and set something up. When we came over for a meeting on Sunday, she answered the door, but there was no translator to help out. Thankfully, we had recently found out that Elder Edwards in our zone was assigned to learn and serve in ASL. While I awkwardly typed messages in my phone to communicate with her, my companion got him on video call and he was able to translate for us.

 

Turns out this lady was baptized in the church a long time ago and fell away about 20 years ago. She was interested, though, in drawing closer to Jesus Christ and meeting with us, so we are super excited to be meeting with her! It's so cool how the Lord puts people in just the right places where they are needed, like Elder Edwards. There also happens to be a family in our ward that practices some ASL and the father is willing to team up!

 

B. and D. are both progressing fantastically! We had lessons with both of them last week and have more scheduled this upcoming week. They have great questions and sincere desire to do what is right in God's eyes. It's inspiring to see how they truly "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (3 Nephi 12:6) and it has been so cool to be a part of their journey.

 

They were both at church yesterday and enjoyed the Come Follow Me discussions about Adam and Eve.

 

In our Sunday school, we focused primarily on the Fall and how the Atonement completed by Jesus Christ reverses its effects. Both events were foreknown and expected by our Heavenly Father and both were necessary for our eternal progression. 

 

Nevertheless, we know that the choice was given to Adam and Eve whether they would transgress, fall from the immediate presence of God, and suffer death in the flesh. Quoting Talmage's "Jesus the Christ",

"He was given commandment and law, and was free to obey or disobey-with the just and inevitable condition that he should enjoy or suffer the natural results of his choice." (Chapter 3, The Need of a Redeemer)

 

Likewise, it was Jesus Christ's voluntary choice to submit his whole will to the Father in a supreme expression of love for him and for us.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."  1 Corinthians 15:22

 

Now it is our choice whether we will accept Christ and his teachings, letting our will be swallowed up in his, and return to the presence of God to never leave again.

"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." 2 Nephi 2:27

 

May we choose the better part, like Lehi, and enjoy all that the Father has in store for those who keep his commandments. 

 

Hope you have a great rest of your week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

 

Photo & text sent to my mom on Saturday:  "Your sons have been an amazing influence on our brother's baptism. We couldn't be more happy"

Hershey, PA - Week 14

Happy New Year!

 

Hope you all are healthy and well! We got hit with a bit of sickness recently. Conflicting opinions are telling us it's Omnicron or the flu, but at the end of the day, we're just sick, so we'll stay indoors until we're better.

 

The work's been moving forward, nonetheless! We did a lot of social media work and had a couple great finds on there. And lots of our appointments we were able to do virtually. I can only imagine getting sick before covid time and having pretty much nothing to do but call people while you're indoors. I feel very blessed that we're still able to keep busy no matter what!

 

Had some ups and downs in the work this past week. One of our investigators called us up this past week to say he doesn't want to meet anymore. He has a problem with organized religions not including all different types of ideas. Naturally, we respect the opinions, but at the end of the day, there's only one opinion that really matters, and that's our Heavenly Father's. The reason we go to church is to align our will with his, not justify or argue our own.

 

On the other side, we met this awesome high schooler who isn't a member, but came to church all by himself. Apparently he's read the Book of Mormon and had an awesome spiritual experience testifying that it is true. You can really tell he's hungering and thirsting after finding the truth and really knowing God. 

 

A brand new year and new beginning makes me think about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how it's a gospel of beginnings. As we repent and come closer to Christ and renew our covenants, we continuously strive to be turned into new creatures in Christ.

 

Mosiah 27:25-27

25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off

May we become converted anew every week, every day, and every moment as we start a new year in 2022!

 

Happy New Year! 愛しています！

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

Hershey, PA - Week 13

Subject: Transfers and Omnicron

Happy New Year!

 

Hope you all are healthy and well! We got hit with a bit of sickness recently. Conflicting opinions are telling us it's Omnicron or the flu, but at the end of the day, we're just sick, so we'll stay indoors until we're better.

 

The work's been moving forward, nonetheless! We did a lot of social media work and had a couple great finds on there. And lots of our appointments we were able to do virtually. I can only imagine getting sick before covid time and having pretty much nothing to do but call people while you're indoors. I feel very blessed that we're still able to keep busy no matter what!

 

Had some ups and downs in the work this past week. One of our investigators called us up this past week to say he doesn't want to meet anymore. He has a problem with organized religions not including all different types of ideas. Naturally, we respect the opinions, but at the end of the day, there's only one opinion that really matters, and that's our Heavenly Father's. The reason we go to church is to align our will with his, not justify or argue our own.

 

On the other side, we met this awesome high schooler who isn't a member, but came to church all by himself. Apparently he's read the Book of Mormon and had an awesome spiritual experience testifying that it is true. You can really tell he's hungering and thirsting after finding the truth and really knowing God. 

 

A brand new year and new beginning makes me think about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how it's a gospel of beginnings. As we repent and come closer to Christ and renew our covenants, we continuously strive to be turned into new creatures in Christ.

 

Mosiah 27:25-27

 

25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off

 

May we become converted anew every week, every day, and every moment as we start a new year in 2022!

 

Happy New Year! 愛しています！

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the elder

 

Snow - December 27 -- Haven't had much snow this year

 

Hershey, PA - Week 12

Merry Christmas!

 

This was my second Christmas here in the mission field, and was way different from my last one. Back in Japan, it was pretty much a normal proselyting day because not many people celebrate Christmas there. Lot's of door knocking and asking people if they want to know the meaning of Christmas.

 

Here, Christmas is a little tough since people are spending time with their families. So, if you aren't invited, you aren't wanted, lol. We did wish a LOT of people merry Christmas over text. 

 

Our mission president also had all the missionaries gather for a zoom Christmas devotional! It was a wonderful experience all watching "The Christ Child" and talking about the different names and titles of Jesus Christ. More on that below.

 

A definite highlight for the week was a Restoration lesson we had with an investigator named R. He's met with missionaries before Covid but kind of lost contact with them. As we were talking about Joseph Smith, R. told us "I don't know why people give him such a hard time since he did so many great things" and I was saying "Right?!" Anyway, he feels good about the Book of Mormon, so we invited him to keep reading a little bit daily. 

 

I think one of my favorite names for Christ comes from Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

 

I love this name, Emmanuel, because he really is "God with us", not just when he walked the Seas of Galilee, but at every moment of our lives. His hand is stretched out all the day long, and though we can't see him, we know and cannot deny that he is there. May we continue to invite his presence every day through our faith and efforts to become like him.

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Elder Conner Brown

 

Oh, also Elder Charles and I are staying in Hershey for another transfer. Yay!!!

 

We had dinner on Christmas Day at the home of Elder Charles' sister.  Because we didn't have any other invitations for Christmas dinner in our area, we got special permission from the Mission President to have dinner at her home.  She lives just 15 miles away -- outside of our District and Zone.

Hershey, PA - Week 11

subject:  Transfer 4.66?? and Christmas!

 

Hello there!

 

We got a lot of changes this week, since a lot of missionaries went home a couple weeks early for Christmas. 

 

One of the Elders who went home in our district was our district leader, Elder Carter, so that was the first change. That responsibility fell to me. Thankfully, President Wright gave me a couple weeks of warning that I would be District Leader soon, but it's still a big change. Should be a great experience, though, and the Lord will help when I stumble.

 

The next change was Elder Carter's companion, Elder Worthington, who is now our third companion here in Hershey. We were not expecting that change, and neither was our pantry. Lol, we got all the food we needed today, but we were a little confused the last couple meals what we were gonna do.

 

As far as the work goes, we had some awesome experiences as well. I went to Harrisburg Wednesday for exchanges with the zone leaders and we had dinner with a super nice member family. As we talked about their family and the area, I learned they were related to a returning member we had been trying to get in contact with for months now! We exchanged information and made plans to reach out them soon. 

 

We also had the ward Christmas program yesterday, which was a great experience for our investigator, B.! The night before, I learned one of the singers in a group performing in sacrament meeting was sick, so I got the music and learned it as best I could in a night and a morning so I could fill in. The song was a super cool arrangement of "O Come Emmanuel".

 

A scripture we've shared a lot with people this season has been Alma 7:10-12:

 

 10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

 

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

 

I think this is a perfect Christmas scripture because it describes not just how Christ was born, but why he was born. The nativity is a fantastic and inspiring story that fulfills and gives credit to all the prophets who have ever lived, but the true power of the story lies in that baby's destiny to provide us life, mercy, and strength.

 

So, I invite you all to watch The Christ Child with the mission of Jesus Christ in mind. I love the emotion you can see in the wise men's eyes because they know how important this child is. I also invite you to share the video with somebody you know and love. I know it will brighten their Christmas season, as well as yours.

 

 

 

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

 

Sincerely

Elder Brown the elder

 

A nice family took us out to dinner

My district

An older couple we are teaching offered us an old Santa suit, so we took it!  And used it in some photos for social media posts.

 

 

Hershey, PA - Week 10

Hello there!

 

Short email this week because of a busy p-day, but we had a wonderful week here in Hershey! 

 

One of our highlights this week was that 4 investigators came to the ward Christmas party! It was a good evening of food and getting to know ward members and watching the cute nativity skit the Youth had set up. 

 

Another highlight was zone conference this past Tuesday, where we talked about the Holy Ghost, the gifts of the spirit, and working better with members through Love, Share, Invite.

 

Third highlight was lots of appointments set up with brand new people we randomly met! The Christmas spirit softens people's hearts and invites them to focus on Christ during the holiday season.

 

The reason we're so busy today was District p-day. A lot of missionaries are going home this week just before the transfer ends so they get to go home before Christmas, so it'll be sad to see missionaries like our District Leader go.

 

Hope you all have a wonderful week and have a Merry Christmas!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

 

Weekly debate games with the District -- we were debating whether a tomato was a vegetable or a fruit and we won.  Vegetable.

Hershey, PA - Week 9

Hello there!

 

December is here, so Christmas music is officially legal! 

 

Besides that, this week showed a lot of blessings and miracles. We are still working with B. and getting into the commandments now. He expressed desire to be baptized next spring, so we are super excited to keep working with him!

 

We also recently got back in contact with H.! When we met last week we talked about how much darkness there is in the world right now and how we can Light the World with our simple, daily acts of kindness. It was funny because as we started talking about it, the power went out 😂. Great time for an object lesson as we used our individual phone lights to light up the room.

 

Another wonderful couple we met with shared with us their experiences with members of the church and missionaries in the past. They talked about the light that we seem to had and we explained that is because of the Holy Ghost and the hope we have in Christ. We also felt prompted to ask if that was something they wanted and they said yes, that they would work toward baptism!

 

A recurring scripture this past week was Mosiah 24:15-16

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

We shared this with a returning member really busy with his final exams coming up. The Lord doesn't just deliver us from our trials, he helps us push through them. As we rely on and trust him, he can make our burdens and our worries so light that we can barely feel them. 

 

Hope you have a great week!

愛しています！

Elder Brown the elder

 

Mission council at a member's home

 

 

 

Hershey, PA - Week 8

 

Hello there, and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Holiday weeks are always fun in the mission field, albeit a little interesting since door knocking isn't really an option. For Thanksgiving, President Wright set up a super cool devotional about the Pilgrims and how they focused on gratitude despite all the things they suffered. Later in the day, we went and did a little pie run for our investigators to wish them happy Thanksgiving and show our appreciation for them.

 

Also, this past Wednesday was my 21st birthday! In celebration of being old enough to drink, I went and got some root beer 😆. The real celebration was the long list of appointments we had that day. One was with a super nice family called the F., with whom we had a really nice discussion on faith and how it blesses our lives. We are super excited to continue meeting with them over time. 

 

Another lesson we were super grateful for was a super smooth pass-off lesson for a Spanish family we found. Only a couple people in the family spoke English, so we had the Spanish Elders join us for the lesson and to transition the family over to them. The family had to reschedule for 30 minutes later, but the timing worked perfectly where my companion and I had to leave just as we were getting into the Restoration part. We heard from the Spanish Elders later that night that the lesson went super well and they had a follow-up appointment! I can't wait to hear how they progress.

 

This week in the Bible I was reading in 2 Corinthians when I came across a few verses that I really love, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17 

 

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 

How grateful I am for the hope that comes from knowing that all things will turn together for our good. Paul certainly knew what persecution looked like, and yet he carried on and was not distressed, all because of the hope he had in Christ and the glory prepared for him.

 

Have a great rest of your week!

Sincerely,

Elder Conner Brown

 

Chatting with the family on Thanksgiving

 

Hershey, PA - Week 7

Hello there!

 

This was a super exciting week leading up to A's baptism! It was such a wonderful experience to see him make those special covenants and take these first steps on the covenant path! That was definitely the highlight of the week.

 

We are super excited for this transfer and for all the people we have lined up to teach. 

 

For instance, we have a lesson soon with a super sweet family who we met because of a prompting to knock a specific door. We recently did a Bible study with them about the story of Naaman and why we follow prophets. We invited them to hear a message we have about modern prophets and they seemed super interested! There's a bit of a language barrier, so we'll need to pass them off to other Elders, but still so cool to find and start teaching them!

 

We also met with a friend named R. who lost contact with the missionaries as covid was starting. He is super down with meeting and hearing the lessons and learning more about the Book of Mormon. A super cool guy who really wants to keep his relationship with Christ strong.

 

B. came to church this Sunday! He loved it and we are super excited to be meeting with him again this week. I'm so thankful for all the people the Lord places into our lives!

 

Thanksgiving is coming up soon! We had a discussion recently with a member about the importance of prayer in our lives. Prayer is one of the many ways we show our gratitude to Heavenly Father. The thought and intent we put into our prayers truly reflects how much he means to us.

 

2 Nephi 32:9 - But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

 

Make sure to offer thanks to our Heavenly Father this week!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Elder Brown the elder

 

 

Hershey, PA - Week 6

Hello there!

 

Transfer news came in! Thank goodness, I'm staying in Hershey with Elder Charles. There are some great people here I would love to keep working with.

 

A., for instance, is getting baptized this Saturday! We're all super excited for him to take this next step on the covenant path. B. is also progressing tremendously and loving the lessons, as well as the Book of Mormon. He's really such a cool guy who wants to be of use to God in his life, so he has awesome stories of how he's been able to help those around him. 

 

The one change that happened this transfer for us is I am no longer the Japanese District Leader. Another capable Elder will be taking care of that from now on.

 

Another fun thing this week was getting to go on exchanges with the zone leaders and then the district leader. While I was out and about with the zone leader, we were just getting ready to head back to the apartment. Of course we decided to do one more door and we prayed beforehand that we would find somebody who needed us. We knocked the door and a young man answered named G.. Elder Ranstrom shared a quick scripture with him. He said he wasn't very religious, but that scripture related exactly to what he was going through. We left him a Book of Mormon, a few other scriptures, and a promise to return and follow up!

 

A couple quotes before I close:

"Being blessed with hope, let us, as disciples, reach out to all who, for whatever reason, have ‘moved away from the hope of the gospel’ (Col. 1:23). Let us reach to lift hands which hang hopelessly down." - Neil A. Maxwell

 

"Hope is the anchor of our souls. …Hope is trust in God’s promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future." - James E. Faust

 

From the faith that we have in Christ, we have an unfailing source of hope that all things will work together for our good. Let us take every opportunity we can to share that hope with those around us who need it. 

 

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Conner Brown