Dear Parents of missionaries in the Utah Orem Mission,
We want to send you a quick note to tell you of your marvelous missionaries. Yesterday, we had the amazing privilege to be taught for 3 hours by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We invited your missionaries to come prepared to have a spiritual experience with an Apostle. They fasted, prayed, read selected talks from Elder Bednar, pondered about questions they could ask and came reverently and humbling to receive. It is hard to express what happened and we are sure you will hear individual details tomorrow in your calls and emails with your missionaries. These wonderful men and women came in the Spirit and the windows of Heaven were opened to revelation. Elder Bednar invited them to participate by asking them questions and answering their questions. We felt like very proud parents as these inspired men and women engaged in a profound spiritual discussion with Elder Bednar. Time just flew by and we wished we could have stayed longer. Elder Bednar explained at one point that the Spirit can feel like it almost suspends time and that we felt a glimpse of eternity in that meeting. He asked each missionary to encapsulate in 5 words what they would now do as a missionary because of what they experienced in this meeting - please ask them about their 5 word commitment.
This is the first time we have gathered together as an entire mission. (We can only do that when invited by an Apostle.) We were emotional the entire meeting as our hearts were overcome with love for these men and women who consecrate so much to be here serving. We are seeing miracles in the mission. Last month we found more new people to teach than ever - almost 1000! This month we have over 80 committed to enter the waters of baptism. Your missionaries are performing miracles, responding to the Spirit and changing lives - especially their own. WE LOVE THEM!
Thank you for your support and prayers. Please join us in daily prayer that miracles will continue and that we can reach our goal of 100 baptisms each month.
Much Love,
President and Sister Evanson
Note from Mom: When Jacob called yesterday, he said that it really was an amazing experience to be with Elder Bednar. He said that his 5 words are; Pray for strength to act. He said that Elder Bednar encouraged them to just choose one thing to work on. He said, “In the temple film, we see that the Lord never asked Jehovah to do more than one thing at a time. If that is good enough for God, it’s good enough for me.” He also encouraged them to make sure when taking notes or writing in your journal that you write like in the small plates – what the spirit tells you, not the historical events or every word.
He taught them the importance of bearing a short sincere testimony – void of stories. He said to testify of the doctrine you know to be true, in under a minute and sit down. He also told them about a culture in the church that he really dislikes. It is the habit of teachers asking questions that make the students guess what is in their minds. He said that makes the students objects. A command is an objectification. God gave us agency to act. God will not act upon us. He said Adam and Eve had basic agency in the beginning, and then they were given a higher level of moral agency. Once we are baptized, we have representational agency, meaning our agency is tied to Christ through our covenants.
When missionaries asked him questions, he would often respond with, “Tell me what you already know about . . . . so I don’t waste your time.” Jacob loved the questions he asked and how he answered theirs. It was a special experience!
As for his area, Jacob said that Nadia is going to be baptized this Saturday. And, that they found a new investigator, Kaylee, that they will be meeting with on Friday.
