Sept 30, 2019

Here is Elder Trezise's letter:

Hello family! This week was another great one! I had two exchanges, one with Elder Stowell, and one with Elder Smith. Both went amazing! The one with Elder Stowell we had a lesson with a girl we are teaching and we talked to her a lot about baptism. She struggles a little bit with knowing that it is true for herself, but we had an awesome conversation about being baptized. She opened up a ton, and accepted a date. But we don't want to force her into anything, so we made sure to have commit her to pray, REALLY pray to know that this is the right decision, and then to flip open to a random page in the Book of Mormon and read. If she does that, she WILL get the answer that she needs to be baptized. 

Then of course my exchange with Elder Smith was awesome. We get along so well and work hard. It was fun. I've been pretty stressed out since my exchange with Elder Stowell, and we stayed up until about midnight counseling together. It's a long story, but I'm doing okay. Just scared for transfers. 

 

This week flew by though. I'm sorry I don't have a spiritual message prepared. Truth is, I'm pretty nervous right now. I should have typed this email this morning. It would be a lot better. But basically what's been going on is Elder Stowell is one of the Assistants to the President. Their life sucks. Big time. I went on exchanges with him on Wednesday, because I'm a Zone Leader. Anyway, we got a call from President. And he was basically like, "Hey, how's it going Elders. I was just calling cuz I have a problem." So I responded, "What's wrong President." He answered, "It's Elder Stowell. I just don't know what to do with him." So, I asked, "Yeah, he's getting pretty trunky. Have you prayed about it?" He answered, "Oh yes. I've prayed about it long and hard. I've prayed a lot. And I think I finally know what to do... Extend Elder Stowell's mission for 2 years. Haha, no, I was just calling to check up on y'all. Wanted to make sure you're doing good." And then he hung up. That call scared me a good bit. Then, later in the day, Elder Stowell gave me "the advice Elder Legas and Elder Norman gave him when he was called as an Assistant." Which wasn't fun. But I let it go. Until now. We just got a call from Elder Legas, and I need to go to President's house tonight to help the AP's out with a lesson. You don't just go to President's house randomly. So I'm kind of freaking out and praying that it's just for a lesson. So yeah. Not fun. It's not that I don't think I would be able to do the things Assistants do, it's just that I'm not the most qualified, and I'm definitely not ready. I haven't even been out for 13 months yet. I have so much longer to go. And being AP, especially in a mission with single ZL's and no office elders is a ridiculous amount of work. I can't handle that much work. It's the work of 3 companionships in one. And they only get about an hour of proselyting in their area each week. That's such a waste of my mission. I could be out doing so much more. So I'm freaking out. 

 

Anyway, enough of my problems. We had to give talks this week in church, that were supposed to be 5-7 minutes. Now, as a missionary, when someone tells you to give a 6 minute talk, it basically means, "bear testimony." Cuz it's actually that easy to speak for 6 minutes. So I didn't write anything. We showed up and had more time than we were supposed to. So, without any material, I got up, and spoke for 11 minutes. It went surprisingly well. I don't remember most of what was said, but the talk was about missionary work and general conference. I quoted Elder Uchtdorf's talk in the last conference. And, knowing I wouldn't have much time to email, I also wrote down some stuff I remember saying. 

 

"Today we wanted to talk about missionary work. Obviously. But we wanted to relate missionary work to General Conference because that's coming up just this next weekend. Now, when missionaries come up to speak about missionary work I feel like everyone hides behind the person in front of them, afraid to be rebuked. But the reason some of us are afraid to do the work is because we have the wrong definition of missionary work. Many of us think of missionary work as, "converting my friends." That's not what missionary work is. Missionary work isn't trying to convert people to the Gospel. It's not trying to get people to change their religion. It's trying to get people to gain a closer and more personal connection with their Savior. It's trying to get people to feel the peace and joy that this Gospel brings. 

 

In the last general conference Elder Uchtdorf gave a talk about missionary work that is now one of my favorite talks ever. He outlines how to be a missionary perfectly. And at one point he says,
"In whatever ways seem natural and normal to you, share with people why Jesus Christ and His Church are important to you. Invite them to “come and see.” Then encourage them to come and help. There are numerous opportunities for people to help in our Church.
Pray not only for the missionaries to find the elect. Pray daily with all your heart that YOU will find those who will come and see, come and help, and come and stay." 

Brothers and Sisters, the opportunity to watch Prophets and Apostles of God speak to us doesn't happen often. This is the perfect opportunity to invite those you know to, as Elder Uchtdorf said, "come and see." Invite them to see what our church leaders have to say. They will feel the Spirit touch their hearts as they hear from the amazing men and women that will speak to us at conference.
I wanted to read a scripture with you all. The scripture is found in Mosiah chapter 18. The verses I'm going to read with you are when Alma is at the waters of Mormon, baptizing people into the church. These verses are the covenant that we make with God when we are baptized. 

"Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"

Those verses speak of standing as witnesses of God at ALL times, in ALL things, and in ALL places you're in. Not sometimes. Not most of the time. This is the covenant that we make with God when we are baptized. This is something each and every member of the church has promised to do. So go out there and stand as a witness of God. Invite others to see what you believe about Him. Invite them to do so by inviting them to watch conference."

And then I bore my testimony to them. In the Spirit of missionary work and conference, I would like to bear testimony to you all. 
I promise each of you that as you try to make missionary work more of a priority in your life, you will feel the Spirit touch your heart, and the hearts of those you invite to come closer to their Savior. I promise you that you will feel the joy that this great gathering brings. I have felt so much peace and joy out here on my mission from simply inviting others to come and see what the church is all about. God blesses us for our efforts. Each of us. So please put forth more of an effort, and watch as He, in turn, pours down more blessings upon you. I testify that this work is true. That this church is true. I know that without the shadow of a doubt. I testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world, and that He stands at the front of this church. His church. And I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.   

-Elder Trezise