Elder Tanner Brown: Finding peace in all the change. (March 3-10)

Song of the week "Peace in Christ" (youth theme 2018)

There is peace in christ

When we learn of Him.

Sunday was an incredible day for me. Since it was fast Sunday we had the opportunity to bear our testimonies. I shared my testimony that Jesus Christ is really our savior and redeemer. Sometimes I wonder why I tried to go about my struggles alone. Reaching to Christ is the only way we can make it through this ever changing world. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and all of you. When I ask for his spirit to reside with me, the veil seems to wave a little and I get a glimpse of how he sees all of you. I love all of you so much. To all my brothers and sisters who are struggling, you don't have to go through it alone.

Feel the love He felt for us

When He bore our sins.

Jesus Christ is our brother and wants to help us. All we have to do is extend out our hand and reach out to him. Christ calls to us by name and pleads us to come and follow in his father's way. Satan knows our name but he calls us by our weakness. He wants to call us to himself and drag us all down to his level, so that he will not be alone to eat dust, all the days of his miserable evil life. I have partaken of such dust and it never leads to happiness. I know that it is never to late to turn around and go and follow Christ.

Listen to His words.

Let them come alive.

Monday was hard. I had to say goodbye to brother Huber. The guy is such a spiritual beast. He is a better missionary than us and he has been off his for 6 months. He had dinner with us on Monday night, almost like a last supper. The dude grabbed so much food though. I thought he wouldn't eat so much cause he's a small guy but he ate more than everyone else. After dinner that night we had our last time playing basketball with each other too. So many last times doing stuff as a district. Honestly I think it's harder leaving them than it was saying bye to my family at home. It's hard to leave, but at the same time I have halted spiritual progression here by a lot. I know I must go out and bring others unto Christ. Also we had a zone movie night and watched the Safety Zone. They are these new super corny safety videos for missionaries. I encourage you to watch them if you have spare time. They are really cringey but that's why they are so entertaining.

If we know Him as He is,

There peace in Christ.

Tuesday was good but hard as well. I packed all of my stuff up and cleaned our residence up a bit. It's crazy how much it feels like home at the MTC. I love my district so much and I miss them greatly. I hope to talk to all of them in person after the mission. We had a devotional Tuesday as well that was really good. Carl B. Cook spoke about humility, and how it's the most defining attribute of the savior. Those who are the most humble are the most powerful and blessed. Humility isn't a lack of self-confidence but rather showing we are so confident that we are willing to change ourselves and to allow others their agency.

He gives us hope

When hope is gone.

Wednesday was a long day. We dropped off Elder Casey and some of the sisters at 6 in the morning. We had our goodbyes and it was so hard. I had to leave at 10 am with elder Kowallis and elder Matua. We got on the train, only to find out that another train had blocked our way, so we had to go to Orem, Utah, catch a bus there and then drive to the airport instead. Just 10 minutes into our trip we had to switch buses due to a check engine safety light. We finally made it to the airport and elder Matua's family was there by "accident". His dad bought us lunch and was super kind to us. We were able to make it in time for our flight despite all of the hassle and change of plans.

He gives us strength

When we can't go on.

Also I saw my cousin Cheyenne Campbell at the airport. What a miracle that she happened to be really close to where I was in this huge super busy airport! It was good to see her, and to know that she is doing great! Thursday was great! I met my new trainer Elder Harris. He is a 6'7 Half-Tongan beast! He has been out for 19 months, been a zone leader, and now he's back to district leader and training me. He is pretty much the most likable guy ever! He is obviously athletic and loves basketball and wants to go professionally into it, after the mission. He loves reading too and wants to be an English teacher once he retires from the NBA. He is a total nerd/geek like me as well. Overall this dude can get along with anyone and can relate to everyone. We both got whitewashed into Brainerd and the previous missionaries didn't write anything down, so we don't have anything to go on. We didn't even know what apartment number we lived in so we had to call a bunch of missionaries to see if they remembered which one it was.

He gives us shelter

In the storms of life.

We texted/called a lot of the members here and set up lessons with them, so that we can increase their faith and better know the area. While considering our circumstances we should be frustrated, but I almost like it better. We are gonna turn this area into a baptizing machine. We have already done a lot of updating to the area book and contacts, so that future missionaries will be able to be more successful. Since we were new we decided to call some of the people who received the missionaries last year who hadn't been contacted since. We have had a decent amount of success doing so. My first meal with Elder Harris was a nice big piece of blueberry bread with fresh blueberries and whipped cream. It was so delicious, and my piece looked way more delicious. Elder Harris shared with me that while we are here together to support each other, ultimately Jesus Christ is our best companion to rely on.

When there's no peace on earth,

There is peace in Christ.

On Saturday we had a storm come in and it got chilly. We were tracting for a few hours and stopped right when the storm got bad. We had dinner with the Jemmetts and they are a really great family. They feed the missionaries once a week so I know I will be able to get to know them better. We had to head home instead of going and tracting some more because we thought it would be a good idea to not get stuck in a storm. Sunday was good. We just had sacrament because there were so few people there. We were able to bear our testimonies because one of the speakers got snowed in. I spoke about how like in Ether 6 we to are like the boats being tossed around in the storms of life. The question "why do bad things things happen to good people" is a tough one. Our sacrament meeting really focused on that topic, which is great because I really needed to know that answer. When good people have trials it gives them an opportunity to increase their charity and to grow faith in God. We have weaknesses so that we can better understand God's grace and learn of Christ's atonement. Without certain experiences in my life I know that I wouldn't be able to see some people in a loving way, and truly understand God's immense love for us. He wants nothing, but us to come back to him. He sent Jesus Christ, his only begotten son. He knew that through him we could be given a chance to overcome physical and spiritual death. His atonement and suffering covers our sins and mistakes if we just reach out for help. His sacrifice on the cross allows us to be RESURRECTED with PERFECT bodies so that we can live in eternal happiness with them some day. I am so incredibly grateful for my savior, and I know that you too can gain that testimony if you haven't already.

When there's no peace on earth,

There is peace in Christ.

I love all of you so much and I hope all y'all have a great week!

-Elder Brown