Brad's Mission

You guys!!!!

What's up!?

This week changed my life and here's why...

 

We had a mission conference on friday. they kept it in the dark about who was going to be the speaker, but to prepare for this event, each companionship was given 2 talks by Elder Bednar(Asking in Faith, and Seek Learning by Faith). Amazing talks, I strongly suggest that each of you puruze the Seek learning by Faith talk. So we each studied and prepared. We go to the Bonita Canyon building right across the street from the NPB Temple, and the assistants inform me that we are having an apostle of the Lord coming to speek to us... ELDER BEDNAR!!! He came and instructed us for 3 hours!!! It was unlike enything I've ever experienced in this life! That's the most intense I've ever felt the spirit of the Lord for that long a period.

He started out by shaking all of our hands then the meeting began. It turns out that the Bednars and the Bowens(My mission president + wife) have been friends for a long time, because sister Bednar and Sister Bowen are cousins! They grew up together and have stayed close through the years. Super cool! Haha a funny experience happened. I was sitting on the end of the row very close to the front and Elder Bednar totally threw me in the spotlight! It was soo funny! He said,"In the culture of Latter day saints you'd expect me to come here and give a long talk of instruction and you're going to take detailed notes on as much as you can...How stupid is that!! Haha. You're not going to remember a thing you wrote down! Rather right down the thoughts and impressions of the Holy Ghost that come to your heart. (then went on to say) For the pattern of learning here today, it's going to be very interactive. I'm going to ask questions and I'll ask for volunteers to answer them. I'm NOT going to put you on the spot, for instance I"m going to pick on this Elder here,(And points right at me!) I'm NOt going to call on this Elder and say Stand up and Give me the 3 steps of baptism! He knows the answer, but because he just got called out by a member of the quorum of the 12 apostles he's completely flustered, so much he can't think straight and he's going to turn beat red and now I"ve just embarrassed him in front of the whole mission!!" hahaha it was sooo funny! I turned soooo red you guys!! haha everyone was laughing so hard!! then he just sat there and looked at me and laughed! It was awesome!! He's such an amazing man. The meeting was incredible. I may not remember everything he said, but I will forever remember how I felt. I cannot deny that I felt yet another confirmation from the Holy Ghost that he was truly called of God and he holds all the keys of HIs kingdom. He actually told us some amazing things. I took some great notes and I don't want to waste my time and type them all and recite everything I can remember about what he said, but I just want you all to know that there isn't a doubt in my mind that he's a true prophet of God. He talked a lot about the talks we were given, opened it up for a Q&A session, then closed the meeting with a powerful powerful testimony. Haha it was funny, to start the Q&A he said,"Now let me give you an example of a good question you could ask, that might however be completely stupid and ineffective, like, "Elder Bednar, where's the sword of Laban?" Because the answer will be I don't know and I don't care!!" He's such a funny guy! He told us an amazing story about when the 1st Presidency and Quorum of the 12 were in the Temple after President Hinckley died deciding who should fill the roll of the President and Prophet of the church. He talked about how we all felt it was right for President Monson to be sustained as the Prohphet and he said take that spirit you felt when you knew he should be and "multiply it by a billion and that's what we felt in the Temple that day." Such an inspired man. What an amazing experience that was. I will never forget that!

 

So it's been a pretty spiritual week. Temple + Bednar in one week! It's been incredible! Now it's officially week 6! we find out on Saturday about transfers! I know I"m probably staying here, but who knows about Elder Bartholomew? Hopefully he stays, but we'll see! He's been here for 4 transfers so the odds are he's outa here, if not this transfers then for sure next transfer.

 

We had 2 really amazing lessons this week. Remember ther Minors? Their son Brice? We taught him last night and it was a super powerful lesson! The spirit was really strong! It's the first time I"ve actually taught him. He's an awesome kid. He wants to do good so bad, but just has so many wrong influences in his life. He knows that and he really wants to be better so we're helping him. Actually when we told him, we're there to help him and we let him know we cared about him, he just started to cry a little bit. It really meant alot to him. He concluded by telling us how bad he needed that lesson and invited us over anytime. He's a must see when we come back to Cali in 2013.

 

We also got a text from Brandon Ford. He's like the coolest black guy i've ever met. 6"7, built, just always keeps his cool and is soo down to earth, but he's also the most honest poilte, real dude ever. He kind of sort of dropped us 2 weeks ago, but really just said, I'm just very non commital, but I'm still interested. So we were plannin on just going over like once every 2 weeks, but he texted us at like 2 in the morning telling us he needs some questions answered about death. We went over on saturday and he was so relieved to see us! We had a very powerful lesson in which he pretty much admitted that he got his confirmation that he knows this is true, then came to church with us yesterday. I don't know why, but me and him really hit it off. We were just talking all inbetween classes and stuff. He loves the same type of music I do. Super cool, then he stayed for all of linger longer! So awesome!

 

It's been an amazing week you guys! I'm sorry that I take all of my e-mail time just telling you random stories, but I just can't contain all the excitement that I have at this time in my life!! This work is incredible!! I see the hand of the Lord every single day!! It's amazing!

I love you all so much! Thanks for your e-mails! I'm so excited for mothers day to talk to you!

I miss you!

Elder Keyes