Elder Tanner Brown: The Long Haul (May 6-15)

Song of the week "Footsteps" 2019 Youth Album

Words and music by Nik Day

Artist: Ari Miller and Seli Miller

You hear a voice inside your soul.

It beckons to you.

It echoes through you.

Monday was great! We were able to teach Micah the Restoration after FHE at a members house. He really liked it and wants us to keep teaching him. He has found that the church is uniting his family and that is the most important thing to him. I think it is so cool to see just how much a family can benefit from the gospel. From working with various non-members and less actives, I can see just how much the gospel brings to them and their families. Without the gospel and the knowledge of forgiveness and eternal life and exaltation, it would be extremely hard to stay positive in this life!

You’re scared to pass through the unknown.

Your strength is fading.

Your thoughts are racing.

Tuesday, we had a cool little miracle happen! I had been thinking about this one person we had met a long time ago, and just thought to reach out to him and see if we could come over to visit with him. He said that he would really love us to come over and that he needed some comfort. I know Heavenly Father lead him to us. The first time we met was in an Aldi's and we left the store after talking with him for a little bit, and we hadn't asked him if he would like to learn more or anything. We both felt like we should go back inside and ask him if he would like us to come over and teach him more. He said yes, but then that appointment he had to cancel on us. We honestly kind of forgot about him for a bit, but then on Tuesday a month and a half later, I kept getting reminded of him. So I contacted him via Facebook, and we talked to him just 15 minutes later!

But something,

Something pulls you forward.

There’s a light inside you

Yearning for more.

He has had a lot of hardships in his life recently, and has found much comfort from the message we shared with him. He posted on Facebook about us after our visit which was really cool. Also on Wednesday we were able to teach another nonmember and he asked us a lot of questions about how our religion is different from others. We taught about the plan of happiness and why Jesus Christ was so essential to that plan. Knowing that we have someone there to help us through anything is so comforting to me, as I am sure it is to you.

Step into the dark

And don’t be afraid.

On Wednesday it snowed! To top it off all but one of our appointments cancelled on us. The one that didn't was missionary preparation. Thursday was a very spiritually uplifting day for us. We were able to see a lot of inactive members that day and we had some really good lessons with them. At One of the lessons the woman we taught cried when we left. I never really realized the impact of having priesthood in the home can have! She knew that when we left, the priesthood power would too. That is why it is so important as a priesthood holder you need to live worthy of it. Not for yourself, but for others!

Every star in the heavens

Is lighting your way.

Friday we were able to do some service for a couple non-members. We first raked and cleaned out the gutters of a wheelchair bound lady. We weren't able to finish it but we will be back to finish it. She said she would like us to teach a lesson the next time. We were also able to help a nonmember move into their new home up in Backus. They live 5 minutes south of our mission boundaries, so they live really far (an hour and 15 minutes). We will help next week too when he gets another load of boxes. After he's allowed in, he wants to go to church, and possibly take lessons too. He will be spiritually moving as well I guess.

If you feel like you’re lost

You’re not alone.

Just follow His footsteps,

And He’ll lead you home.

On Saturday we stayed in Pine River (just south of Backus) and we visited 6 member or part member families. One of the members we visited has a brother in law living with them and he has never stayed around for missionaries. She said he wants to be there the next time we visit them! You should always be a friend before you are a teacher. That is just how the savior taught. Just this week in Come, Follow Me, we learned of the Ten Lepers. Christ didn't ask if they wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon, and then healed them. No, he gave freely and then one of them got to gain the spiritual blessings as well as the physical blessings he bestowed.

Your hope is stronger than your fear.

It’s growing brighter.

You’re getting stronger.

On Sunday (Mothers Day) we didn't want to knock on people's doors, because we knew people wouldn't answer or want anything to do with us on the day they were celebrating with there parents, so we made some M&M Brownies and went and visited a couple of the widowed and single sisters in our ward. I also thought to visit Steve, who we see at the food shelf every Thursday, and he really appreciated our visit. He has a very limited knowledge of the gospel, so we were able to share the knowledge of eternal families with him and gave him a treat, as he spent his mothers day alone. I hope that we can always remember those with less fortunate circumstances on days that we celebrate. Not everyone has a loving mother to call, and not every woman feels like a successful mother. Let all know they are loved, and why they are. Let them know something specific they have done, that has helped you become a better person.

You know now that you can’t stay here.

Your heart is burning

On Monday, we didn't have our P-day because we will be watching a Baseball game later on Wednesday!! Instead we visited a referral we got on Saturday. He is honestly, one of the most prepared people I have met for the gospel. He said he has always felt like there was more to be found every time he walked out of any other churches. He wants to read the Book of Mormon, and in the spirit of Joesph Smith, pray to know if it's true! Also one of the kids in the family we have been teaching wants to be baptized! He said he wants to be baptized that night!!! So excited right now, to see the efforts and miracles of the #35inMay happen. When the whole mission plus more are praying and working towards this goal, anything is possible, even if it seems out of reach.

A prayerful yearning

For something,

Something in the distance.

Tuesday we had Zone Conference, which lasted from 10AM to 4PM, and then we ran a 5k as a mission group! Right after our 5k we went to train with a person Elder Coombs found and taught in the Minnetonka area. He is a personal trainer and he took us to a gym and worked out with us for and hour and a half! My triceps are destroyed!! But he said he was honestly expecting one of us to throw up or give up, but we didn't. He has a really solid testimony too, and a great love for the members and missionaries. Honestly, he is one of the coolest people I have met. His name is Melvin Whern, if your wondering... he posted on facebook about how if you put God first, he will give you strength to keep going.

He will lift you up to

Where you belong.

And with ev’ry step

He will ease your pain.

Wednesday we watched the ball game at Target Field! The Twins played against the Angel's and it was a really good, close game. Probably one of the few times I will go to a baseball game. So I made sure to have a really good time. After the ball game we went to Wild Boar, and we got so many wings! A member took us out to eat there, and made sure we ate good. It's been really great being here with a lot of the missionaries, just to enjoy the company of each other. One last thing... it was so cool to see us from afar at the Baseball game. From the field you see a lot of faces and colors, but then in the section we sat in, it looked like the Tabernacle Choir was there to perform! A solid group of Elders in white.

With ev’ry heartbeat you’ll feel a change.

He’s beckoning to you, calling your name.

I love you all, and appreciate the letters you have sent me. Have a blessed week!

-Elder Brown