This will most probably be the last post that I personally post myself for the next 2 years!

In about 5 hours, my Stake President will come to my house and set me apart as a Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to labour in the England Manchester Mission.
From then on, I will start to follow missionary rules as closely as possible. I will not be using my laptop or phone, I will have someone with me 99% of the time, and I will be representing the Lord.

To serve a Mission has been my dream since I was a little boy. Now, it is finally happening!
I will have the opportunity to serve the Lord and the people in Manchester. I will be able to share the Gospel and my testimony with all the people I meet!

While I am out in the field, my sister (Raquel) will be posting updates of how my mission is going. If she doesn’t post much, tell her off! If you’d like my address, ask her! :)

Also, feel free to follow my Mission Blog!

I just want to wish you all a great two years! I wish you the best of luck as you finish High School or University, get married, go on missions, get new jobs, etc! I love you all!
I cannot wait to get letters from many of you! And to finally speak to all of you again in two years! :)

I’d like to finish off my post by letting you know that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Restored Church of Jesus Christ and that it contains the Fullness of the Gospel. I know that my Saviour lives. That He suffered and died for me, but on the third day He rose again to deliver us from death. I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a man Called of God. That through him, the Priesthood and the Gospel were restored again. That through him, the Book of Mormon was translated into the English language. I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and another Testament of Jesus Christ, as well as the Bible.
I know that Heavenly Father has a Plan for us. That He wants us all to return to Him one day, and that He loves us.

That is my Testimony, as I have lived and applied the teachings that I have learnt at Church, and as I asked my Father in prayer.

I love this Gospel!

Don’t forget that we are all Missionaries! Spread the Word of God with everyone! Be examples of the believers!

See you in two years!

I love you all!

So, today was my last Sunday at home before leaving on my mission! How… WEIRD!

It was Ward Conference which is always different!

During Sacrament, I was released as a Ward Missionary and as a Sunday School Teacher. It’s so sad… I really enjoyed those callings! I remember one year ago when I was extended those callings being really scared and feeling like I wasn’t prepared. Especially when I was extended the Sunday School Teacher calling! But teaching the Gospel Principles class has given me such a great insight into the minds of investigators and new members, which has been a great preparation for my mission!
I will also miss my calling as a Ward Missionary and getting to work with the investigators and new members from my Ward! It was definitely a great calling in terms of preparation for my mission! I was able to teach the New Member Discussions with my best mate who was also a Ward Missionary before leaving on his mission, and to see what work goes on behind the scenes to help strengthen those new members’ testimonies :)

Both talks in Sacrament were about loving our neighbours and being kind to others. Both the Bishop and Stake Presidency spoke about Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk from the last General Conference where he spoke that if we have any unkind feelings towards anyone, then we should STOP IT. :)

Gospel Principles was great! It was the last lesson I taught! Which is quite sad… But I loved my class! And hopefully by the time I get back they will all still be active in the church :)
The lesson was about the Fall of Adam and Eve. It was such a good lesson.

“Adam fell that Man might be, and Man are that they might have joy”

Love it!

Priesthood was good too! It was soooooo hot in the room though! I was boiling! The lesson was about Prayer. Prayer is such a powerful tool that we have, and that we many times underestimate! Let’s use it more often, and more confidently! :)
Let’s have a conversation with our Heavenly Father instead of just rushing through our repetitive prayers. :)

I was also asked to go into Young Women briefly to tell them how they can help the Young Men to fulfill their Priesthood duties. When I got to the room, they were all Beehives and so it was pretty easy to speak :) haha

So yeah! Once the meetings were all done we had a little Munch and Mingle in the Cultural hall! :) Everyone went crazy over the food… 230 people, all attacking food is… HILARIOUS! xD haha
And once everyone had all the food they wanted, we went outside to take some pictures as so many people wanted to take pics with me :’) haha

But yeah! It was a good last Sunday at home! I will miss everyone for the next 2 years! :) <3

I am getting set apart as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday, May 15th 2012.

6 days until I report to the MTC.

I KNOW that this church is true. I have such a strong testimony of it. God answers our prayers, but for him to do that, we can’t forget to pray!

I love the Temple so, so much! I spent two days there with Elliot and another guy from our Stake who leaves on his mission in 3 weeks. I know that the work we do in the Temple is the work of the Lord. That as we attend the House of the Lord, he will bless us in many different ways, and will give us much knowledge!

The book of Mormon is true! The Prophet Joseph Smith was called of God. President Monson is the Prophet on the Earth today, he holds the keys of Authority on the Earth to Preside in the Priesthood and give guidance to God’s children.

I cannot wait to share my testimony with the people in Manchester! To find that One that Elder Bednar speaks so much about, and bring that One to Christ. I cannot wait to be a servant in the Lord’s work and bring as many as possible to knowledge of the Restored Gospel.

Stay true, faithful and strong! Get on your knees and pray. Pick up your scriptures and read them. Get to church and listen to what the Holy Ghost has to teach you! 

I love you all so much! And each and every one of you has helped me grow in the Gospel soooooo much! :) 

• 24 pairs of black socks
• 12 pairs of white socks
• 1 pair of Black Shoes
• 1 pair of trainers (tennis shoes- Translated it for you american folk!) ;)
• 9 white shirts

Still got A LOT to pack! :P 

2nd pair of shoes!! Wooo! :D

LOVE THIS!!!!!!! :”D

Aww you’re all so handsome with your matching ties and handsomeness.

:D It was Elder Hewitt’s mum who gave it to us, because we were going to speak together at a Fireside. But we have decided that we will all wear those ties on the first day of each month :) That way we will know that each one of ones is thinking about the other 5! :) And like the Sons of Mosiah, and Alma the Younger, when we all get back together we will rejoice because we are all still strong in our Faith! :’)

They are so comfy! And so light! :D 

And they are Gore-Tex which makes them Water Resistant :)

And right now they look so black and perfect.

<3

As some of you may know, I have an older sister. Her name is Carina and she is 21 years old.

2 weeks ago Carina was enjoying her holiday in Portugal, watching General Conference, when she felt the spirit strongly telling her that she should go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she has decided to act on that prompting of the Spirit!!!

She spoke with the Bishop yesterday, and told him her plans! They are meeting on Tuesday to start Carina’s Mission Application Proccess!

I will be serving a mission at the same time as my older sister! How awesome is that?! 

She will be putting her earliest leaving date down as early September! :D 

And guess what! If she goes to the Preston MTC, I will be able to go see her during my mission!!! :D

• Kingdoms of Glory
• The Plan of Salvation
• Free Will/Agency
• The Atonement

And turns out that no matter how much I try to learn about all of these things, I don’t think I will ever (in this life) be able to fully grasp it all!

Just the Atonement itself. It covers so much! And we probably dont even know a tenth about what it actually means, includes, covers, etc.

But what I love about talking with my dad about it is that I always hear the passion in his voice, and just makes me want to be an even greater person, and son.