Elder Conner Brown

State College, PA - Week 16

Hello there!

 

We had a busy week with Zone Conference and other meetings, but still had time for some cool miracles.

 

Our friend, A, read a LOT more from the Book of Mormon than we expected, and he's understanding it a whole lot better as well. He's asking great questions and we're excited to see where he goes.

 

J is still doing good, we talked a lot about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking, how we need to act in faith to know whether something is true from the Holy Ghost. We're excited next time to talk more about what that answer looks like in Alma 32.

 

The streets have still been a bit scarcer than usual, but we still had some fun interactions. For instance, we met a nice woman who had a friend who converted to the church. She wasn't too interested, but we were able to share a quick scripture with her. Later that day, we got a message from a convert we knew who happened to be that woman's friend! They were able to have a nice conversation about the missionaries and what we do.

 

Sorry this one's a bit short, but may the spirit be with you all this week until next time!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

2 Nephi 4:34 - "cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. (AKA, Elder Brown's ability to hold on to things)"

Back story -- Elder Brown returned from Japan in March 2020 and sometime that summer his passport went missing. He got a new one and in 2021 he applied for a Visa to Japan as part of preparations to return to the mission field.  That Visa application, along with his passport, was sent to the missionary department in Salt Lake City.  He was informed a few months ago that the window for returning to Japan has closed for him, and now that he is nearing the end of his 24 months of service the church mailed that passport back to him.  So, this photo is an admittance by Elder Brown that the ONLY reason the passport is in his hands at this moment is the fact that someone ELSE was holding onto it for the past 12 months. He just can't keep track of things!

State College, 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

State College, 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

State College, 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

 

State College, 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).