Last Transfer

Selfie smackdown, part two! Elder Griffiths received a photo from his brother in response to last week's challenge to "up his selfie game." Elder Griffiths's response? "Oh, please. He's got nothing." #moresmolder  

It's always sad to find out that your companion is getting transferred. Especially when you have good things going on in your area, and your companionship unity is at its prime. Elder Wadsworth is leaving to Port Charlotte, the area that I left just before arriving to Winter Haven. I'll miss him. The hardest thing about missions is getting a new companion. You never know what they're going to be like. I'm at least glad that these last few weeks have been amazing and we were able to end the transfer with a bang! 

I'll be receiving a missionary named Elder Ashcraft. He was trained for a little while by my trainer. He's been out on his mission a few months less than me. It'll be interesting to have a missionary who's been out for a long time as my companion. I'm used to people who are significantly younger than me. 

Have a great week!

Great Things!

Selfie smackdown! Elder Griffiths challenging his brother, who is
serving in the U.S.Marine Corps, to "up his selfie game!" #smolder

We've got a lot of great things going on! This past Sunday almost every single person we teach came to church. That includes less-actives, investigators, and part-member families. It was probably one of the best Sundays of my mission. 

Something I've noticed as we've been teaching during this past week, is that our studies really make a difference in the spirituality of the lessons we have. Rarely do lessons go the way we plan them to, but I think Heavenly Father respects our efforts and blesses us for it. 

This past week Elder Wadsworth and I taught an investigator how to pray, and we studied hard on prayer. The obstacle we were facing is that this investigator already felt like she knew how to pray, but it wasn't the correct way that we are taught in the scriptures. We wanted to be bold but not overbearing. As we taught it was obvious that the Spirit had already confirmed to her that she could have greater power in her prayers by praying the way it is outlined in the scriptures. I'm absolutely sure that if we had not been prepared for that lesson, it would not have gone the way it did.

From My Soul

What a great smile!

Our mission president told us that as missionaries we should be quick to bear testimony. While all members of the church are held to that standard, he said that missionaries have a special responsibility to tell the world what they know is true. I would hate for anyone reading this blog to be unsure of what I know and believe to be true. 

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the Son of God. God, our Heavenly Father, loves us. He loves us more than we could possibly understand. I testify that Heavenly Father sent Christ to sacrifice himself for us because of the love that Heavenly Father has for us, His children. I know with all of my soul that Christ atoned for our sins. His Atonement is real. I know that God and Jesus Christ appeared to a boy, Joseph Smith, and called him to be a prophet. Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Lord. Jesus Christ directed Joseph in the restoration of His (Christ's) church back onto the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that salvation comes by living the principles taught in that book, because they are the teachings of Christ. I know that having faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repenting, entering the waters of baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end are the only way to lasting happiness and eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Prompted To...

Missionary Christmas decor - a tree decorated with favorite scripture reference
ornaments and a picture of the Savior who is the reason for the season. 

This past week we had a great experience with an investigator. She's got several obstacles that are making her wary of joining the church. None of them are her fault. 

During a lesson, the Spirit prompted us to read a scripture with her that we originally hadn't planned on sharing. When we acted on that prompting, the Spirit touched her heart and she opened up to us about a lot of the thoughts she's been having and about the struggles she'll have to go through from joining the church. She bore testimony to us that she knew God would help her to choose the right and be baptized. It was an incredible experience and it helped to solidify my testimony of the power that the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon, have to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ.

Zone Christmas activity...

...and holiday hijinks!

Q. What's that on his sweater?
A. A pug. It's a pug tribute.

Q. Why a pug tribute?
A. In remembrance of the family dog who passed away in late 2016.