Zone Conference with Elder Ochoa

Hola Hola! 

This week was great! We had the opportunity to listen to Elder Ochoa. He came on Thursday for our zone conference. He spoke on how there are chosen people who have been prepared to receive the gospel, it is these people we need to be looking for. He told us that we need to do a better job of helping people understand and realize who it was that sent us to talk to them. It was exactly what I needed to hear! 

This week we have been focusing on our investigator Xiomara and her family--Alejandro, Nelly and Ashli. I love them so much. We gave them a promise last week that if they would read the Book of Mormon every day and come to church that they would be able to receive an answer to know if this is the only true church. They kept their part of the promise, they read every day. And they came to church! I really am hoping and expecting three baptisms very soon! Please pray for them this week.

We went to this sweet waterfall this week..but my camera is missing again..this is like my fourth camera of my mission. Jaja, so I don't have any pictures but it was amazing! I really like my zone.

WOW! It's crazy that you already have my flight information! If you wanted to share that with me I would like to know. I'm super proud that Stefanie is going to mission prep! And Mom, I'm happy you accepted my scripture challenge. Thank you for your insights! 

I feel like my emails are getting shorter and shorter! But know that I love you and that I am growing and becoming who the Lord needs me to be. I hope you are too!

Love your son, 

Elder Smith

Roller Coaster of Emotions

Hola Hola!

Well, I'm with a new companion. Elder Pearson from American Fork, Utah! He's a really good guy and we are going to work hard. It's crazy that he could very well be my last companion. Our zone had a bunch of changes too. There are now more Hermanas in our zone than Elders. It should be a good change! 

It is always exciting the morning of changes! We wake up and start the day as normal, pretending that it isn't killing us not knowing what is going to happen. Then at about eight o'clock the Assistants call to tell us the changes. We then call everyone in our zone to let them know. And the rest of the day is bittersweet. We go out and say goodbye to everyone, which is very sad, but there are always very nice things said, and usually a lot of food! The worst part is that night when we start packing. That's when it hits you the hardest. You might not ever see that place again. But you are also very excited to see your new area! It's a roller coaster of emotions. But it's very good because it gives you a great chance to progress.

Mom, thanks for all the news and updates. I can't believe that the school year is almost over for you guys! Life just keeps going, time just keeps sliding past. Mom, I'm glad you have so many fun activities planned for your first graders. And I'm glad Dad's track team is doing so well! I'm proud of Stefanie for being so pilas. Go Lehi soccer! And that is the craziest thing I've ever heard that Rylie and Josh have two kids! Congratulations to Nate Hancock, and Amanda McHenry too. She better not get married before I get home! And way to go Trevor and Haley for your graduations! 

This week we have Zone Conference. Elder Ochoa from the Quorum of the Seventy is coming to talk to us. We have a meeting with him on Thursday, and then a meeting for leaders of the mission on Friday. I'm very excited for that.

Well that's all from me this week. I love you all!  Keep reading and praying as a family.

-Elder Smith

The Spirit Was Felt

Hola Hola! 

Arches National Park looks awesome! I'm glad you guys had such a good time. I can't believe spring break is already past! And you guys can now say that you have been to the  place on your license plates!

This week was awesome for us, Consejo was great as always. We saw a bunch of progress in our investigators and we had a lot of them in church yesterday! I'll attach a picture we took.

Hermana Xiomara and all her kids came, as well as Consuelo and her WHOLE FAMILY, including the guy who took us to mass! We were super happy! It was the first time that the whole family had come to church together. It was also ward conference, so the bishop and the stake president both spoke. The spirit was felt! 

We also felt super guided to go to this guy's house in a part of our area where we had never really worked that much. His name is Freddy, We started teaching him and he said he didn't want to join any church because the faith of the people in churches isn't really faith. That no one who goes to church would be willing to die for what they believe in. We shared Doctrine & Covenants section 135 with him, the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The spirit was very strong and I was able to tell him about the time our family stood in that very room. How I saw the holes in the wall where the bullets entered. How I have felt the spirit of Joseph Smith's testimony that he sealed with his blood. And how the church was restored! He said he would pray about it, so we´ll see what happens when we go back!

Well that was pretty much our week! On Wednesday we have changes. I will probably stay here in this area, but I might get a new companion! I'll let you know next Monday!

Love you all, 

-Elder Smith

Easter and General Conference

Hola Hola!

Happy Easter and Conference to each and every one of you! I hope you had a great week full of the spirit and remembering the Savior and his sacrifice. General Conference probably helped you to do that. It was so great this year! I have grown such a love for Conference while out here on my mission. But did you notice that Elder Scott didn't speak? I wonder why? My favorite talks were given by President Eyring in the Priesthood session, Elder Bednar, and Elder Holland. Can't wait for the Liahona to get here next month! 

This week was pretty slow. Everyone went on vacation, even the public transportation people. We were unable to get to the half our area where we have most of our investigators. And most of the ones we have here close by were gone. So we had a week full of member visits! It was fun, but it was not a very productive week. 

That's really cool that Carter got his mission call!  Atta kid, Carter! My MTC companion is serving in San Antonio,Texas! It sucks that I won´t be able to see him before he leaves. But I am really proud of him!  

Its also pretty cool that you signed my National letter of Intent! Its official, I'm going to be playing college soccer! I'm pretty excited about that! Thanks for all your help.

This week coming up we have Consejo! I'm excited, it's always a great spiritual experience. I´ll keep you posted on that.

Well that's all from me today. I hope you all have a great week, and that you apply what we learned in Conference. Love you!

-Elder Smith