Family and Friends,

To start off our week this week we were able to go to Yosemite National Park. We hiked a trail that was called the "Mist Trail" and went up to Vernal Falls. It was a beautiful hike! I was dying though...missionary shape is not good shape at all. My legs felt like jelly all week this week. As we drove into the park we were able to see "Half Dome," a well-known hike that brings in a lot of tourists. It looked awesome. It was massive. I remember my ward mission leader in Stockton wanted me to go with him on that hike after my return home. It was definitely good to go into the mountains and get some fresh air. As all of you know I hate hiking, but that was definitely needed. I enjoyed every minute of it. Something that was really interesting was that people actually live up there. I don't know how they get groceries or anything, but they do it!

I studied two hymns this week that really touched my heart and have kept me pondering on them daily. The first one that I studied was "Lead, Kindly Light." This hymn is pretty cool. Recently I have been going through hymns and any of the words that I don't know I look them up in the dictionary. President Uchtdorf gave an amazing talk this past General Conference on our journey home. There is a line in this hymn that resparked those thoughts..."The night is dark, and I am far from home;

Lead thou me on!" Sometimes this world is very dark and we cannot see where we are going, but the Savior can be our Light. Some words in this hymn that I looked up in the dictionary were: moor, fen, crag, torrent, and garish. I thought it was very interesting because beforehand I did not know what any of these meant. And those words really can be symbolic for how the world is today. I also studied the hymnal "Do What Is Right." I thought this hymn really exemplified the principle that if we are doing what is right we are free from the bonds of the adversary. We really can find freedom in being obedient.

Following some counsel from President Palmer, Elder Stewart and I have been spending a lot more time on the college campus trying to find new investigators. We haven't had very much success if you look at it numbers wise. But we have been giving out a lot more Book of Mormons and having so many more positive gospel conversations. These touch points can lead to so much in the future. Giving someone a Book of Mormon is such a great accomplishment because if they read it they are going to feel the spirit. It is more meaningful for me to being able to help those in the same generation. These young single adults are at a point in their life that is critical for them to make positive choices. And I am very happy to be set apart to help them find peace. I have found that a lot of these youth have not ever recognized or felt the spirit. They are open to it, but they have never had a serious knowledge of what the Savior has done for them. It is very sad. But that is why we are here!(:

In recent studies I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 88 and there were some verses that had special meaning to me. We are all striving to have an eye single to the glory of God. There is a promise that we will see Him if we do!

67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.

I think that this really shows our potential and also shows that God is very much alive. He is there for us and He loves us. I know that He lives and that He will help us when we need it. If we strive to be pure and clean we will recognize God in our lives. I love Him and I know that he helps me so much.

Just an update on our investigators. Tyler is doing super well and he is progressing towards baptism on November 4. We are super excited for him. Tyler definitely has changed so much in these 2 weeks that I have known him and he is making the sacrifices to come closer to our Savior. Alexis is doing so good too! She is progressing towards baptism on November 11. Both of these investigators have been doing everything they need to do to progress and we are so happy for them. It definitely hasn't been a perfect journey for them, but they are trying and I think that is all that the Lord expects. To tell you a little bit more about Alexis...She investigated when she was 16 years old and her father would not allow her to be baptized. Now she is 18 and ready to make that change in her life. We are lucky to guide her through this experience. I love the YSA work and the success we are seeing is a bonus.

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

-- 

Love,

Elder Willden

Family and Friends,

Our week this week was super good! We started off the week with an exchange in the assistants area. We had a really good time. I was able to be with Elder Wray who is actually a really good friend with Cam Mortensen so that was kind of cool. He knows a few people from Weber and spent a lot of time there in high school. We had a really funny experience. We knocked on a door and this guy opened the door and was like "WHAT'S UP BROS?!?!" He went off for a minute and it turned out Elder Wray had met this guy awhile back. Well he let us in (this is both Elder Wray and I's first time in this house) and he asked if we wanted to grub. We said sure we'll eat. So he sat us down and he said I got this pesole that is super good and it has pig foot in it! I was SO scared haha. He dished us up two big bowls and gave us a ton of soda. Then he told us to grub and he went in the other room to watch a movie. Like I said this is the first time in his house haha. We sat there for 15 minutes trying to eat this really disgusting soup stuff. I was DYING. haha. I couldn't do the pig foot....no way. Then we finally got to the point where we could tell him we were full. We were able to share a message with him and it turns out he had a lot of problems going on in his life. We taught him how to pray and invited him to pray and then got out of there. My stomach was MESSED up after that haha.

I wanted to share something cool I started to do this week in my studies that I highly recommend. I have always wondered why the prophecies of Isaiah are so important. Why would Nephi decide to quote them in several chapters of the Book of Mormon? So I have started to compare the chapters in Isaiah to the chapters in 2 Nephi. I have recorded words that were changed/missed in translation/footnotes from both KJV and BoM...And it has helped me to understand so much more. Some meanings are completely changed. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet because of everything that he did. The spirit tells me that all of this is true. I highly urge you to do this if Isaiah confuses you. It has helped me so much. People always ask me why 2 Nephi is my favorite book of scripture...I didn't know how to answer that, but I guess I would say that I love Nephi and his example. I want to be like that guy.

Just a little update on all the work that is going on here. We have two more investigators who have decided to set a date for baptism. Tyler, being the first will be baptized on November 4. We are excited for him. He is struggling with the Word of Wisdom a little bit, but we know he can get over that stumbling block. Please pray for him. We are also working with Alexis who has decided to get baptized on November 11. She is awesome. Very spiritually sound. We hope that she sees the importance of coming to church so that she can always renew the covenants she is going to make at baptism. We are experiencing a lot of success and we are enjoying all of the work we are being trusted with.

We worked with Josh, our recent convert, on his family history. I LOVE family history haha. I feel like a nerd, but we were able to help him get his fan chart basically full. It took some work, but now he already has 5 names to take to the temple. Paige, his girlfriend, is also taking some of his female names to the temple as well. We are so excited for him. He is a pioneer in his family and he is really being such a great example. I am very excited to go to the temple once again and feel the spirit that comes from being there. I actually found another family on our family tree. If you take our direct line down the Adair side I found a whole other family that needs their work done so I will be taking them to the temple. The Lord is really hastening His work.

Juan is doing good as well. He has now shown interest in coming out and doing missionary work with us. It is a prime example of what happened in Lehi's dream. Juan has tasted the fruit and now he wants to help others find the peace that comes from the gospel. He is such a solid convert. I am one lucky guy.

I love the work!

-- 

Love,

Elder Willden

Monday, October 9, 2017

Family and Friends,

This week has been one of the best weeks so far in my mission. It was also one of the busiest weeks in the mission due to everything that we had to prepare for. A little overview of my week includes: Mission leadership council, zone interviews with President Palmer, Family history, Temple trip with the branch, and then a baptism and confirmation of Josh Nardini! I wish every week could be this good.

Mission leadership council went very good. We talked a lot about the way that the Savior learned. A lot of general conference was based upon the scriptures and how even Jesus Christ did not receive all from the beginning. He learned grace for grace. We counselled a lot about how the scriptures can be used well in teaching and learning situations. Also, that in the scriptures the Savior asked INSPIRED questions to teach others sacred principles. It was a great meeting. President also announced that the new Christmas initiative will be Light the World pt. 2! It is going to be a great opportunity for us missionaries to use proselyting.

This week I was able to do some family history and then was able to take the names I discovered to the Temple! It was a great experience that really showed me how amazing family history work is. I was able to find the furthest ancestor back in the Willden line. His name was Edward Wheeldon. I could really feel the spirit as my companion was able to baptize me in behalf of this ancestor. This Temple trip was very spiritual. Juan, our recent convert, was also able to take a family name to the Temple. It was his great great great grandfather. As Elder Stewart and I confirmed him for his ancestor tears filled his eyes. Juan told us he wanted to go back to the Temple as soon as possible. It was so cool. We told Juan he was able to go back and he asked, "And go inside??" haha. We told him he now had a recommend so he could go whenever he wanted! It was so funny!

We have been finding a lot of success finding lately. God is blessing this area and allowing us to teach. Just yesterday we were able to set up an appointment with Garrett, one of our potentials. We went over and we were surprised that he was living with a girlfriend. Her name is Ashley. So we asked about both of their religious backgrounds. Garrett had been to the Mormon church a lot when he was in the military. He was actually at Hill Air Force base and went to the church a lot. He said he liked how nice everyone was. We asked if he was familiar with the Book of Mormon and he pulled a copy out haha. Ashley's religious background was interesting. She told us she was from the Church of Christ...It didn't click in my head for a minute until she told us it was a branch off from our church. She used to attend the RLDS church. That is where she was raised. She told us she was also familiar with the Book of Mormon. We were able to share the message of the Restoration. We asked if they would be willing to be baptized if they found out it was true. Garret said, "No." And Ashley said, "I have already been baptized...so no." Haha Elder Stewart and I were stunned! We asked why Garrett wouldn't and he said that he did not feel the need. We did our best to address these issues out of the Book of Mormon. It was so good! We talked to Garrett about the necessity of being baptized and shared 2 Nephi 31. After all of the scriptures and the spirit guiding us they both agreed to take the lessons and give it a shot. And if they found it was true they would be baptized! It was such an amazing experience.

Josh's Baptism went soooo good! His testimony was so powerful. He talked about his experience growing up agnostic and how he was always wondering if something was out there. He related the happiness he felt as he attended church and learned about the gospel. He started tearing up as he talked about how he appreciated the support from everyone at church because he didn't have a lot of support or kindness at home. And then he bore a powerful witness of Jesus Christ being our Savior. And how the Book of Mormon is true. It was an amazing service. I have thoroughly enjoyed helping Juan and Josh on their journey to salvation. They are two very solid converts.

I love this work so much!

-- 

Love,

Elder Willden

Us with Branch President Falke

Monday, October 2, 2017

Family and Friends,

Well I officially hit my 15 month mark this past week! Time has been blowing by. I have really been pondering on the missionary service that I have been able to participate in and it has been such a blessing. When you are out on a mission you lose track of days, time, and worldly cares because you are giving your all to The Lord. When I look back to when I was in the MTC it feels like it was just yesterday. But it is amazing to see the growth that has gone on the past several months. There is nothing more rewarding than serving our Master and Redeemer.

This week we were able to really work with Juan on his family history. We have found him some names and cannot wait to go to Oakland with him on Friday. He is such an amazing convert. There is no better feeling than walking someone through their conversion. I hope that he continues to use his agency righteously and endures to the end.

We have another baptism coming up on Saturday. Josh is going to be baptized. He has a girlfriend that is in the branch and he has been coming to church for several weeks. As we have taught him we have had some super cool spiritual experiences. We are so happy for him and his decision to be baptized. I think I mentioned before, but before we were teaching Josh he was totally agnostic...Now his faith has grown and he has a testimony of Jesus Christ. Seeing this growth in someone reminds me of when Alma talks about faith being a seed. Over the past several weeks Josh has had immense growth and conversion as he has exercised his faith and read the Book of Mormon.

This takes me right into General Conference. I thoroughly enjoyed conference. There were messages shared that I needed as a missionary and I felt like I was literally spiritually fed. The message I got most out of it was that none of us are perfect, but we can keep "striving" to be like our Savior. I really enjoyed Elder Holland's talk. I will be listening to all of the talks over the upcoming week to see what other insights I can get out of conference.

Funny story for the week. We were knocking doors and we knocked on this guys door and it was smelling like some major skunk up in there. Well he opened his door and asked us immediately if he could smoke weed. We told him he had his agency and he went and grabbed his weed, sat down, and told us to share a message. lol. We gave him a Book of Mormon and it seemed like he was very happy about it. It was really interesting when we started to share our message. We could totally tell he was high as a kite, but it was entertaining. When we left he told me I was his friend...I pointed to him and told him that God loved him and with enthusiasm in his eyes he pointed back to me and said the same thing. It was a great experience hahah. The weed is out of control here though.

I had a great week and I hope you all have a good one as well!

-- 

Love,

Elder Willden

At YSA Monday night Activity