Elder Conner Brown

State College, 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

 

 

State College, 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!

 

State College, 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

State College, 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

District

 

New assignment

State College, PA - Week 5

Hello there!

 

Well, we have successfully survived spring break! The students are returning, the streets are getting busier, and our friends are back in town, ready to meet.

 

All in all, the break was a bit slow, but we were able to keep busy. We took the chance to visit members who were staying in town and share messages with them. Also got to do service by shoveling snow when the storms came in midweek.

 

Even with our friends gone, we committed them to read the Book of Mormon from the beginning over break. We were super excited when we followed up recently and learned they were keeping their commitments. Reading from the Book of Mormon daily may seem like such a small thing to some, but doing so is vital and empowering for our Earthly progression.

 

President Gordon B. Hinckley once said

“Those who have read [the Book of Mormon] prayerfully, be they rich or poor, learned or unlearned, have grown under its power. … Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts … the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God”

 

When you're able to look back after a period of time and see the spiritual growth that comes from reading the Book of Mormon, you can feel even more deeply that it really is God's word. With that comes a testimony of the Restoration, of God's prophet here on the earth, and most importantly of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the elder

 

State College, PA - Week 4

Spring Break Incoming!

Hello there! 

 

We've been doing pretty good in State College this past week. Mainly stuff in preparation for spring break this week.

 

So in my area, we focus on the student population and investigators, but most of that population will be gone over the break. So, we'll still be streeting each day per usual, but we'll put a bit more focus on member lessons and social media and so forth. We did meet with C and M last week, committing them to read from the Book of Mormon over the break, so we get to follow up on that.

 

We also tried another finding approach with the University Sisters last week. We set up a table on campus with a poster, some Book of Mormons, Bibles, pamphlets, etc. Waved down people as they came by and got some good work done, lots of Book of Mormons handed out and numbers received. 

 

Probably the absolute highlight of the week was when I got to join on zoom to watch DJ be baptized! It is so cool to see how far he's come and to know all the blessings that lie ahead of him. 

 

Nothing in particular to share this week in regards to studies, just that if an angel comes and wants to wrestle, even if you know you'll lose, do it!

 

Hope you all have a fantastic rest of your week! 

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the elder

 

 

 

 

Facebook Post 3/2/22

I love the parable comparing a follower of Christ to a wise man building a house.

Luke 6:48 - "He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."

When building a house, it's so necessary to have a firm foundation so that the house will outlast time and the elements. Isn't it even more important to have a firm foundation to build your life and choices on?

I testify that Christ is that firm foundation. Get in touch with the missionaries to learn how to build on him and his teachings!

State College, PA - Week 3

Hello there!

 

The big event dominating this week was Elder Bassett from the missionary department coming for a Mission Tour! Basically, for three days Elder and Sister Bassett went to a different area of the mission with President and Sister Wright. From there, Elder Bassett spoke to the entire mission for a couple hours each day, on zoom or in person depending on where you were. After the mission wide meeting, the missionaries in the area would have zone conference with them for a couple of hours. Elder Bassett spoke mainly on the importance of the Book of Mormon, the Restoration, and the spirit in this work, three things that are also unique to the message we share. 

 

 

 

In preparation for the event, we had four other Elders stay the night at our apartment. The group included the Assistants to the President, Elder Walker and Elder Speakman, as well as Elder Rushton and his companion. Got a little tight in the apartment, but it was super fun.

 

As far as the work in University goes, we recently started teaching a new friend named M. He met missionaries on the street late last year and we hadn't really gotten in contact since, but he seems super ready. Elder Walker and I had a quick phone lesson with him Tuesday night, Elder Taniguchi and I had another the next night, and we had a quick in person meeting on Sunday to get him his copy of the Book of Mormon. He's keeping commitments so far and is super open and willing to learn, so we'll be super excited to see how he progresses.

 

I love how Elder Bassett stressed how if the Book of Mormon is true, then nothing really matters as much as that. As the intro to the Book of Mormon says, if it's true, Jesus Christ lives, Joseph Smith is his prophet, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. If you take the time and effort to really come to know that, so many questions and issues become easier.

 

Keep building your testimony of Christ and his word through the Book of Mormon!

 

Hope you have a fantastic week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the Elder

 

State College, PA - Week 2

Hello there!

Sorry this will be kind of a short one today, it's been a busy day.

The week has been great so far! Starting to get to know the investigators and the members of the branch. We are meeting with a young man named C who is interested in learning more about the church, but not sure whether he wants to really know if it's true. We take it as a given sometimes that since the church is true we need to be a part of it. It's been interesting on a mission to see that some people don't understand why being part of God's church is so important.

 

Another person we're meeting with named V is super interested in growing closer to God. He works two jobs, but comes to institute and FHE when he can. He wants the peace that comes from that relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

 

I invite all who read to ponder why the Church is so important, not just for the world, but yourself personally as well.

 

Also, fun insight from the Come Follow Me last week:

 

In Hebrews chapter 11, Paul talks about when Abraham offered up his son Isaac.

 

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

 

Whether this is based on scripture they had, or whether it was Paul's personal interpretation, I don't know, but it's cool to think this may have been Abraham's reasoning when he came to sacrifice Isaac. 'God promised me though Isaac would come my descendants. God also told me to sacrifice him. We'll, if God is all-powerful, maybe he will raise Isaac from the dead"

 

This to me shows such powerful faith in the Lord's Commandments, incredible hope in his promises, and yet still a great love for God and his son. 

 

I hope you all have a blessed rest of your week! 

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the elder

 

P-day district activity

 

State College, PA - Week 1

Hello there!

 

Well, I officially got transferred to the University Bus area! That happened on Thursday, so quick report on the time before that.

 

B. is on date! He is so ready and has such a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel. I'm sad I won't be there in person to witness it, but I trust Elder Charles will do great helping him along. We also got back in touch and met with the P's, who will keep meeting with the missionaries while I'm away. Sad to leave them, but the Lord's got great plans for them.

 

So University Bus covers the YSA branch next to Penn State! First time serving in an all YSA area, and the members all seem super cool, so it should be a great transfer. Here we do a LOT of streeting compared to all the other areas I've been in here in the PPM. Takes me back to my time in Japan when that was half of all we did. 

 

Speaking of which, it has been awesome speaking Japanese with Elder Taniguchi a ton. I've often said the best way to learn a language is use it so much so you can get the feel for it. And Elder Taniguchi has a real good handle on it. 

 

 

A favorite scripture from Come Follow Me this past week, Abraham 2:12-13

 

12 Now, after the Lord had withdrawn from speaking to me, and withdrawn his face from me, I said in my heart: Thy servant has sought thee earnestly; now I have found thee;

13 Thou didst send thine angel to deliver me from the gods of Elkenah, and I will do well to hearken unto thy voice, therefore let thy servant rise up and depart in peace.

 

Abraham had sought for the priesthood and promises of the Lord for so long. When he found the true God and his gospel, he clung to it and knew that the best thing he could do was listen to God's voice. The fact hasn't changed that the best thing we can do for ourselves and our family is listen to God's voice, which will lead any honest seeker back home.

 

Have a great rest of your week!

Sincerely,

Elder Brown

 

Hershey, PA - Week 18

Hello there!

I'm getting transferred! I'm gonna miss this area a lot, and all the wonderful people I've been able to meet. My companion, Elder Charles is staying, though, and I trust him to keep the good work moving! (This will be his 5th transfer here, so he knows the place pretty well 😄)

 

I don't know if I mentioned in prior emails, but I've been serving as the DL (district leader) for last transfer. Gonna miss serving with the wonderful missionaries in our district who have been so hard working and so patient with me as I've learned how to be a DL.

 

 

 

Soon I'll be moving to "University Bus" where I will be serving the same calling, and my new companion will be Elder Taniguchi. He is also learning Japanese, so we'll be using that a lot around the apartment. 

 

As far as the work goes, this past week has been great! 

 

We received a media referral from a guy named T.. Started our first lesson with him and we felt prompted to start with the Plan of Salvation. Everything we taught just blew his mind, like how Christ knows every single one of us, the reason the fall was important. Even gave him a Book of Mormon to read and he accepted it. Super awesome guy looking to draw closer to God.

 

Also had a nice lesson with R., someone we haven't been able to meet in forever. Since it's been so long, we decided to go over the Articles of Faith, and it was cool to see going down the list he agreed with pretty much all of them. We have a reoccurring appointment happening now, so fingers crossed we can meet more often with him.🤞

 

Really sad to be leaving people like B, DJ, and the P's, but I know they'll be in good hands and I'll try and keep in touch as much as I can. 

 

During personal Study one day this past week, I was pondering Hebrews 11:1, what it might mean by "substance" 

 

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

Then I read the footnotes where both the GR and JST change the word "substance" to "assurance", which I felt to mean assurance or confirmation by the spirit. Reading on from that point in the context of that word, it was cool to see each verse fit in how we understand the spirit speaks.

 

The spirit testifies when we hear truth that the world really was framed by Jesus Christ under the Father's direction. The Spirit assures us when our sacrifices and actions are acceptable before the Lord, as it did to Abel as well as Enoch. Anyone who comes before God must believe that he is and that he gives the assurances of his spirit to those who diligently seek him, or the action is vain.

 

Faith is a gift from God to all those who diligently seek it and believe they shall receive. It is given by the manifestations of his spirit as we try the experiment of the word and we tell by the spirit that "this is a good seed." (Alma 32:28-29) "Now behold, would not this increase your faith?"

 

Keep growing your faith and have a great week!

 

愛しています！

Sincerely,

Elder Brown the elder