Fire and Miracles

CRAZY THINGS HAPPENED THIS WEEK! Here's a brief rundown!1 Zone Conference 2 Exchanges with Elder Werner3 HUGE FIRE IN OUR AREA4 Chis Hammond has a baptismal date!


So this week was a ton of fun and some really good things happened! 
We had zone conference this week! Usually one of the assistants conducts the meeting, but President Chesnut asked me to do it instead this week. I was so terrified of doing that! Our zone conference was with the Sparks zone which is the second largest zone in the mission. So a lot of people that I know and love. And for some reason that terrified me. Which was not good. Fortunately the second training of the conference was about how Faith and Fear cannot exist together. That really helped me get over my nerves! Our training that we gave about effective planning seemed to go well! We told them essentially that "when you aren't there, Satan is. So make sure your plans keep him away!"
I got to go on exchanges with Elder Werner out here in his area. We served around each other in Spring Creek. He is a super good elder and he goes home next transfer. But he isn't showing signs of cracking! 


On our exchange our comps called us about a raging wildfire in the middle of our area....They were trapped in the cold springs Valley because it blocked the free way... So we got to hurry up and see if we could do anything from the stead valley. It was on the mountain between these two valleys. We couldn't really do anything to help. miraculously no one got hurt and no houses got burned down. But it was super close! It was about 2 miles from our house. now the mountain is black... It got super smokey and ash started to fall from the sky. It was really odd and I think it gave us an idea of the second coming. The Sun changed colors and we couldn't see much around us because of the smoke

And Chris Hammond now has a baptismal date! August 5! He has come to church 3 weeks in a row now, and reads the Book of Mormon every single day!! So cool to see him take steps in his life toward a better world. We taught him the restoration on Monday in a very similar way to how we taught Natalie. He used to worship pagan gods..... but now he knows the truth, and is pushing forward! 


Well I love all y'all and each y'all! 


Elder Miner 

A miracle from our exchange:We got to teach a non-member who had attended girls camp with her friend. Her name is Natalie. The whole day leading up to this, Elder Werner and I had been talking about the Vision to Baptize and what that meant. We were super pumped to go and teach this girl the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The whole time we just focused on the fact that you cannot be saved unless you follow the Gospel. Focusing even more heavily on the fact that our sins make us unclean, and baptism is the only way to fix that problem. We said the word baptism, or baptize over a dozen times in about a 25 minute lesson. When we recited the First vision to her, her face lit up and she said "That's so cool!" She actually understood it. That was the crazy part! We testified of restored priesthood power and committed her to be baptized. She was so excited to say yes! her friend couldn't believe that she said yes. When we gave Natalie her own copy of the Book of Mormon she just about freaked out because she was so excited to find out if this is all true. She wants it to be true. She has been wanting to be baptized for a long time now. All we had to do was extend the invitation. The vision is real, and is coming alive in the Holy High Deserts. 

Reno North Zone

Elder Miner and Elder Jensen

Great Week!

So some cool things happened this week! We saw some HUGE miracles! The biggest one probably was the McBrides. They are former investigators. We decided to stop by them this week. We went by on Wednesday, and caught the oldest son Matt. He was happy to see and told us that everyone would be home at about 8. So we went by at 8 and met the Dad: Pat. We talked with him. Got to know him. Found out that he almost died and was pretty miraculously saved. And also helped him to change a fuel injector in a truck. Matt got home and we talked a little and we got a return appointment for the next night. So the next night we went by and were able to teach the whole family. Mom, Dad, and two teenagers. It was a simple restoration. But they understood. They made the connection that after the Apostles died that there was no more priesthood upon the earth. They understand why we need a restoration! They have committed to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to know if it is true. So we will find out this week how that went.

We are seeing miracles in our area. tomorrow we are meeting with a man named Chris. His friend brought him to church last week, and this week he came by himself! He wants to be baptized, but he has some things to overcome first.

Reno!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week has been super great! I really love my new area and my new companion! Elder Jensen is a super good missionary, and I feel like because of that, I have learned more about how to apply my purpose in the past week, than I have in the past 17 months. Probably not a good thing, but I am slowly getting it. On top of the revelation I figured out last transfer about "having an eye single to the glory of God", I am learning how to practically apply that. I am learning how to be as bold as we possibly can, without being overbearing. I am growing to love the people here so quickly, and also learning what I still need to work on. Talking to people in the streets is definitely something that I can improve on. And Elder Jensen, is crazy good at that! Like he is super good! He can talk to anyone! So I am taking lots of notes. 


In this area, with us covering both the Cold Springs ward, and the Silver Lake ward, We have our work cut out for us. We have a lot to do in a short amount of time. Because of how far away Cold Springs is, we can only make it out there a few times a week. But those few times have been really good so far! We have spent a lot of the week trying to organize the area, and rebuild the traveling area books. We also now have maps of the area. So if any of you want to know where we are, think north. Really really north! Like, there is nothing in the mission more north than our area. We hit the California boarder and then go straight up all the way to Oregon... They call this area the North Valleys. Because it is a bunch of Valleys in the north. But it is still Reno..kinda...sorta?
Elder Jensen and I think along the same lines, so we have been getting along pretty well. And our ideas really click with the other person as well. In teaching situations we work pretty well together. We follow the guidelines of "Preach My Gospel", and do things the way we are supposed to do. He is by far my boldest companion, which is something I really need. I need to learn how to be better at that. Might be a little late, but better late than never. I would even probably say that Elder Jensen is the best missionary in the mission. I have served around some of the best our mission has to offer. I was even trained by two of them, but Elder Jensen takes the cake I think. And to top that, back home we were pretty similar people. Like really really similar! Which has been cool to FINALLY have a companion like that. I think it is helping us to get along. Because of that, we pretty much accept what the other person says right away. But I have to say, he is my FIRST companion to do things the way that "Preach My Gospel" Says to do things. I can't tell you how much that means to me. And for him Obedience is paramount. Which is super important considering Obedience is the first law of everything! 


The Zone so far seems to be doing well. We got to train Elder Clark in the Summit Ridge ward on how to be a district leader. I am so excited for him! He has seen the difference between obedience and disobedience on his mission. He knows what each feels like, and knows which one is better. He will be a huge asset to his district, the zone, and the mission. I am excited to see how his first training will go. I remember my first training I ever gave. It did not go very well at all... But you live and you learn. 
I am so excited to be here and to serve in Reno! We are going to see some huge miracles these next few transfers!!

I love all y'all and each y'all! 

Elder Miner 

Perfect Sign

Elder Jensen and Elder Miner

New Area

Reno North!

Well, I don't even know what to say. i'm kinda sad about how things are right now. But I stand all amazed at the wisdom and the knowledge of God. In humility as we pondered what has happened, we have accepted this as God's will. It makes sense. And we think that Miracles will come in abundance. The members aren't too happy about it, nor are they excited for what is coming. We are going to smooth it out as much as we possibly can. We spent the morning at our ward mission leaders home in the 4th ward essentially consoling him and trying to cheer him, his family, and our investigator up. We know and accept that this is for the best and that God's hand is in this. Once the hammer came down we were really in shock. But after the initial shock, we have both accepted this! But can I just say, I really really really don't like packing. Like packing stinks. Trying to make everything fit is the worst!! But I am so excited for what will come!!! 

I love Fallon. The people here are soooooo good and so cool! They are some of the nicest folk i've ever met. There are definitely people I will be coming back here to visit. Within the next two transfers, there are 4 potential baptisms that could happen within these wards. Two of them will require some effort. Another will happen regardless. And the fourth shouldn't be that hard to encourage. The Elders will see a lot of miracles as they come into this area. Fallon will always have a special place in my heart. 

So if ya haven't figured it out yet, I'm being transfered. And not just me, but Elder Ramirez too! We are being DT'd out. Elder Thomas and Elder Judd will be taking our spots. Yes, that Elder Judd! I am really excited to see what will come!! I am going to RENO!!!! Reno North zone. My next companion is Elder Jensen from California. I am so excited to continue to serve in whatever way the Lord asks me to.

The Lord is preparing this area. Miracles will happen here for these two new Elders 

I love all y'all and each y'all

Elder Miner 

New address:

#9G 7350 Silver Lake Rd.

Reno, Nv 89506

Happy Fathers Day

It is starting to get really warm out here! 

But this week was super cool! We were able to go on splits with three members from each ward this week! Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We were able to go out and try to visit less-actives! It was super sweet!! We saw some really good experiences, and the members were able to report on those in Priesthood, and that has inspired the rest of the ward to give us more trust. We really got a glowing review and the member was really excited, and we had two members ask to go on splits with us! While visiting a part-member family with a member on splits, we met the non-member husband first. His name is Gary. He opened the door, saw two white shirts and said "what are you selling?". So happily, I said "SALVATION". He said "Not interested" And started to shut the door! So I quickly asked for his wife and he went and got her. Now this situation is really funny, because from their front door, you can see the church.... It is about 30 feet away....... So she appologized for not going. We told her how we weren't here to specifically get her back to church, but to come and practice teaching with her. She lit up and said "I would really love that!". We got to talk about setting it up, and it was really neat. We had just about finished talking and I asked if we could help in anyway, she said she could ask her husband. So she got him to come on out and we talked with him for about 20 minutes. We ended up getting a short synopsis of his life, offered help multiple times, and invited him to participate in our lessons. Once we explained the practicing, he really opened up to us about his religious beliefs. It was super cool! He agreed to take part in the lessons as well!! 

So we are seeing things move forward here. Beyond the splits, we were able to meet with so many less-actives on top of that. We are getting more and more appointments every week. It's kinda strange though, every appointment with investigators canceled this week? And they all ended up being either sick, or out of town for church? So really odd with that. But Fallon is a good place. People are still worried about it flooding here. We were able to go to a dairy today and feed some cows! I really love this place and I love this gospel. 

We got to give the message of the Restoration at another missionaries baptism, and it was so cool to be able to testify of the truth it. That we have a living prophet. That God loves us today just as much as he loved the people 2000 years ago. That The Savior has helped us to overcome the grave and sin. In that environment, just after a baptism was performed, the spirit was so strong. I love this work with all my heart. 

Happy Fathers Day!

I love all y'all and each y'all!

Elder Miner 

Fun Service

Good Week!

How's it going? This week was a lot of fun! We were able to see some good things happen this week! It was a lot of fun! We had a really good lesson with our investigator named Kevin! He is  good guy. He is a married to an active member and is really trying to find out if this is the truth and if he needs to join the church. So this week at the lesson with him, his wife wasn't there, so it was just us and him. It ended up being a really good thing, because he was a lot more open with us We were teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we were talking about how it is a restoration. He was confused because he has heard about all those things before. He thinks he has faith. He feels like he has repented. He thinks he was baptized and he thinks he feels the Holy Ghost. So we explained that the things were still lost. And that the impact of those specific things was lost. I started talking about how the modes of baptism was lost. And then Elder Ramirez talked about how baptism for the dead was lost too, even though it talks about it in the Bible. A few minutes later he asked about that. He wanted to see where it was at. And so we opened to it. Gave him a solid IRA and then he was stunned. He was shocked. And then a comment something like "and the kingdoms of glory are mentioned on the next page". We got him. He said that it was undeniable. They had the proof about it. it was crazy! He was stuck on it for about 20 minutes. He thought it was seriously the coolest thing ever. "you guys make so many bold claims, and here is some proof! No one else does this. And it's right here." We were able to help him that much of the Restoration was the changing the wrong interpretation to the correct one. The right way to baptize. The right way to go to church. The right way to help with the salvation of the dead. He actually understand the Restoration now. And he is beginning to see why it was needed! It was a super great lesson! The most sidetracked Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson ever, but possibly the most inspired as well. When we were talking about Enduring to the End with him, he hit it on the head when we asked him what it was. And then we talked about church attendance and why it was important. He said "LDS people are the most active and committed to church. It isn't just Sunday, it's every day of the week! I think that is really cool. I grew up Catholic and it was like 'go to church twice and year and that's it' And now you're telling me that I have a plan and a role for me! This is crazy" And by Crazy, he meant cool. He is a good man and we are excited to see where this man goes. 

In my personal study this week I made a crazy cool connection. In Doctrine and Covenants it talks about "having an eye single to the glory of God" Well what is God's glory? It is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" So when we are told to have an eye single to God's glory, it means we must have "an eye single to [bringing] to pass the immortality and eternal life of Man." Making this connection this week really changed me I am a different person now versus last Tuesday. 

I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Hiatt this week. I was with him in his area. It was cool because I have served with him in two  zones prior to now. But I was never able to get to know him very well. So we had a ton of fun doing that on this exchange. He is a really good teacher, and our teaching styles really blended together well. We had a super cool lesson with some less-actives. We were going to visit the parents, but they weren't home. The teenage kids said that they would be back soon. So sat down, and the 17 year old son said that his 15 year old sister "needed Jesus". So we talked with her and we were kinda like, what the (slang term) is going on? So we didn't take it seriously. But then we did. She was asking why do bad things happen to people. She doesn't believe in God because of this. So we did end up taking it seriously and I used the analogy about trees that Sister Chesnut shared at zone conference. About only the ones that take the wind and have a tough life make it in the end. And in my head I was thinking "we should watch refiner's fire" Then Elder Hiatt asked her, "do you know what a refiner's fire is?" we watched the video and then talked some more. Then the older brother came and she left and we helped him to overcome his concerns. It was so cool! We were able to build upon what he already believed about how drugs are bad to explain why God gives us "rules". It was so powerful! And then their two friends talked to us one by one. We explained why God doesn't want us to drink beer. Because he wants us to feel that he loves us and also feel the spirit. It worked for the friend. And then we talked to the last one about going to church. I had actually met him before at a recent converts house on our area, and he lives in our area and we invited him to come to church. So we will see! After that we left, because it was 9 and no parents. We got out of there and we were both just kinda like "woah". Super Chaotic because the person we were teaching and the topic we were teaching kept changing, but the spirit was there and it was really amazing! The spirit smoothed out the Chaos. 

I love this mission! It's the best!!

I love all y'all and each y'all

Elder Miner 

Fallon Zone

Zone Conference

This past week has been great! We have seen a lot of good things! We had ZONE CONFERENCE!! It was super weird to be there with all the different missionaries. I had 5 companions there! Elders Lyman, Latham, Anderson, Rivers, and Ramirez. It was super neat to have all of them there and to talk to them. I really enjoyed the training's we got at zone conference A lot of "how to do things". I love it. I fear that in the church we focus on the doctrine too much, and then we saw "go and do" But we don't teach how to do it. Like studying the scriptures. We are always told to do it, but we, for the most part, aren't taught how to do it. I love this new approach to giving training's. It resonates well with my soul to explain how to do things. I have fully made this a part of the training's which I give weekly. These "step by step" "how to's" have made a big difference in our missions. 

But zone conference was super cool to be able to talk to old companions and hear updates on their missions and also on old areas and people I care about. Elder Latham is covering part of my first area where we served together, and we were able to talk about how those people are doing! Elder Rivers and I talked about ELY! People are dead, dying and doing great out there!!! It was so cool to be able to see everyone!!!! 

So a funny story that happened recently: We have this investigator named Jessie. His step dad is a member. His step dad speaks spanish, so Elder Ramirez talks to him, and I talk to Jessie. So him and I were talking about why he doesn't come to church, and he said that when he came last he got made fun of because of his scriptures. So he wanted to know which ones we use. So I asked to see his. And he pulls a Jehovah's Witness bible... So I told him he could have the Book of Mormon I was using and that we would get him a new bible. And then he said he was going to tear apart the JW bible, so I told him to not tear apart scripture and said we would take it, so now we have a JW bible? He is doing much better now! we got him a bible too!

Yesterday at church a woman from Tonga bore her testimony and was talked about sand crabs. She said that when you put one sand crab into a box, it will try and try to find a way to escape and usually will. But when you put two or three in the box, they latch onto each other and don't try to escape. She was using this for our lives. When we are alone then our lives aren't the best and we try to escape. But when we have our families we stick together and take care of each other and we don't let people fall through the cracks. 

I was able to go on exchanges with 1st ward and I was with Elder Ruiz. I love Elder Ruiz!! He is super cool and awesome! I have loved going on exchanges with him these three transfers! He is a good Elder and he knows what he is doing. Their area is really seeing a lot of success! And it is because of the hard work they are putting in! 

I love Fallon and the people here. They are good people and they take care of themselves and each other. 

I love all y'all and each y'all!

Elder Miner 

Josh and a friend

The District

Elder Rivers!!!!

Elder Latham

The old Ely gang

Elder Ruiz and Chandler after service