There ain't no room for sadness.

Elder Tanner with Elder S.

This (the subject of my letter) is a choice, just like happiness. I think this helps make being happy much easier though. We, or at least I, so often leave sadness so much room to fill whenever it pleases. For why? It's so silly. Why not, instead, make that room for happiness? Then it can and will flow freely into us and fill us with LIGHT. (Good, eh Mama? Light!) I'm working on making room for that light and happiness. I want it to fill me. What are you making room for? HMMM??

This week has been wild. Elder H is now home in Dallas, but Elder S is now here in Seminole! I was having real trunky feelings for the first time Wednesday night. Never felt the real deal before...never want it again. Thinking about E. H being home prompted it, I think. I chose to change the way I felt though. The mind is powerful, but we have to use it correctly, eh? Turns out, Elder S has this transfer and then 2 more before he goes home....another nearly-dead one. I guess Pres. Walkenhorst liked how it went with E. H, or he feels like I still have more to learn in that way. Probably the latter. I have SO much to learn, and I love it. I love learning more than I ever have before. It isn't fun a lot of the time while it's happening (the growth and learning), but it's so very worth it.

Quick side note: I told all the other Birfday boysies for this week Happy Birthday, but I don't have John Schouten's email....so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHNNY-KINS! Oh, one of my Zone Leaders looks and acts like a mix between you and Jordan, your bro. Wild, eh? It is, just in case you didn't know. It was wild. Let me tell you. Good times though, serving with both of y'all. Wish I could for real. We'd be unstoppable. Make it a great week and day commemorating your birth! And don't forget what day that is....ya know...the Day o' LOVE! Go date someone, or something:) Love you, busco.

Elder S is from Loomis, Cali. So right near Rocklin, eh Kev? He was in Rocklin First Ward, I believe. I was telling E. S about how we visited for the wedding reception and went four-wheeling with Mike McGuire and had those crazy good pancake cups and all that good stuff. He's not sure if he knows the McGuires or not. I even tried to spark a memory with a reference to Kev's street name back in High School: Kevin "The Fire" McGuire. Nothing still. We'll see.

I'm excited for this transfer! Elder T, my mission best friend, is our District Leader! It rocks. He's such a great missionary. Love him.

We have some Part-Member families we're working with that are interested, so we're pretty dang excited about that...of course. One named Whitney Keltch (daughter of Sis. Keltch) had some worries about messing up after baptism, and we were able to resolve those through testimony of the Atonement and the cleansing power of the Holy Ghost (see BD: Holy Ghost). I love these people we're teaching. They really are His elect. A tell-tale sign of the elect: they accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God and another testament of Jesus Christ. That tool is more powerful than...well, almost anything. Love it, use it, live it, share it. For realsies.

Sorry if my emails are hard to follow...I'm easily distracted, eh? Plus, I write in my journal, then sometimes forget to write those things in emails. Whoops:) Worth it to have a journal, sorry.

I love y'all so much. I'll keep praying daily for all y'all if you'd like....or even if you don't like:) I love to pray for everyone, so too bad. Make room for happiness and light this week!

Love,
Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-

Elder Tanner and Elder H

Short, but sweet action.

Joshua Randall Underwood was baptized by Elder "Bill" Tanner this past Saturday. It's such a cool experience every time I get to baptize or confirm someone. Unfortunately, church was cancelled yesterday and he was not confirmed, yet. He will be next Sunday. He's great and already wants to come out with us. Even bought a bike so he could.

 

It snowed 4 whole inches yesterday, shutting down all of Oklahoma. Yup...4 inches. It's so funny to me. It is really icy though. Especially today. The cold really cuts through you here. It's amazing what it'll go through...everything, basically. I'll send pictures of the snow another day.

 

Elder H is still going home this week. I found out I'm...........staying. Surprise! But I'm super excited. My new companion will be Elder S! He's been an office Elder for the past few transfers, so he's just getting back to the proselyting stuff now. That'll be exciting. And like the rest of my comps so far, he's been out for quite a while. Elder T is the new DL and his comp, Elder B, is staying too. Sister B is leaving, but Sister W is getting a newbie, who will be going home at the same time as me. Crazy, eh? I guess that means I've been out 6 months then...don't know if it seems incredibly fast or not. Probably.

 

Sorry this is so short. I'm loving this and working Elder H to his death...mission-death, that is. Glad to have served with him.

 

I love y'all so dang much, and continue to pray for y'all daily.

 

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

That's the Stuff.

The stuff that makes things better is scripture. That's the stuff that's been my support. Whether it be modern scripture (as Papala would say - i.e. Ensign, General Conference addresses, etc. - Like how I even italicized Ensign? Nice touch, eh?), ancient "scrippa" (as Shelle says), or revelations I've received (don't know if they actually count, but they sure are scripture to me). The Lord has blessed us with so much, we can't not take advantage of it. If we do....well, let's not go into all the everlasting chains and stuff. That is most definitely NOT the stuff.

We're still helping Josh Underwood work towards his baptism this Saturday. He's super excited and invites everyone he sees. He's 25 and his fiancé is planning on coming to the baptism too. She came to church yesterday and is coming, hopefully with her dad too, this next week, when Josh gets the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She's a new investigator for the Elders in Shawnee. She lives over there. We're still working on the rest of Josh's family, but found out that they may not be coming to the baptism anymore. At least, his mom isn't. His sister still might and we're trying to get his dad there too.

One of the recent converts here in Seminole, the daughter of Deborah Harrington, recently had a miraculous change of heart. The changes she's making are so inspiring. I know that she has had a lot of divine help. This gospel changes people's natures. There's nothing like it.

I read the article in this month's Ensign about forgiveness today. If you haven't read it, read it...duh. If you have, re-read it. For why not? It actually talks about a lot of the stuff I've been working on...like, all of it. Isn't it miraculous, the way the Lord works? Yes, yes it is. I love it. That article really confirmed my beliefs and changes I'm working on making.

Random fun fact: The video Jord, Zach, and I made to the song Startropics by the Hoot Hoots that was later announced, by the Hoot Hoots, to be the official video for the song, is now in memes and vines. Some members here told me they've seen them. Crazy, no? We're pretty big deals, pretty worldwide, I guess. As Scott would say, we're on a biscuit. Just so y'all know.

I really am reaping the blessings of the prayers of my righteous family and friends. Like Alma the Younger and his father's prayers. I hope I can be as stalwart a missionary as he and the sons of Mosiah were and are in the spirit world, I'm sure. Maybe they're comp's with Gpa Tanner! Talk about an intimidating comp...both them and Grandpa. So much missionary power. Comes from the scriptures.

Those who accept the BofM are prepared. It is our most powerful tool. The earth is experiencing the BofM flood mentioned in Moses, and we're the ones making that happen. Every one who has a testimony of it's truthfulness.

I've gained an unshakeable testimony of the Book of Mormon and especially the Plan of Salvation. The latter has been mine and Elder H's secret weapon. Not on purpose, but whenever we share it, hearts are changed. Bro. Grier, Ladybug's daughter (the one who had a mighty change of heart through forgiveness and answers to prayer), a few less-active recent converts, and a new family we're teaching especially. It is so powerful. I cannot and will not ever deny it. Ever.

Love y'all. Thanks for your support.

Love,
Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-

"But wait, there's more!" (RIP Billy Mays)

Fruity Pebbles comes in big bags now....not just Fruity Dyno Bites, no no no...Fruity Pebbles! Miracles do happen. I'm so grateful for that.

I've realized, as I was emailing Scotter just now, that gratitude is going to be the key to success for my Year of Happiness. I realized this because of a lot of different things that have happened.

First, could you, Mama, try to find my father's blessing that mentions Captain Moroni? I remembered it this past week and I need to work on what it told me to do. "But wait, there's more!" It seems there always is...in those infomercials and in real life, but especially in the scriptures.

In Alma 48, it talks about the mighty Capt. Moroni. Alma 48:11-13, 17 describe him with things like "perfect understanding", "a man who did labor exceedingly", "firm in the faith of Christ", and then probably one of the coolest things that could be said of a person, "the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men" if we all were more like him. But why did he have such amazing things said about him? How does he do it? See verse 12. It says he was "a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God." Kaboom. So, how he does it, aka how we can do it, is by working to have our hearts "swell with thanksgiving to [our] God. That's not something that just comes to us, necessarily. We have to work at it, actively searching for things, however small, to be thankful for. As my man Josh Groban put it so well, "There's so much to be thankful for." Isn't there? Listen to that song again and think about it.

What can we do to show more gratitude to God? That includes showing gratitude to those around us because as He said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40) Anyone who reads this, I would like your ideas of how you show gratitude. I want to be so full of gratitude to God that I become like Moroni. Why not? I pray for it (along with happiness) every day in the morning and throughout the day, then I thank Him (gratitude) for His help throughout the day in my evening prayer. Keeping Him involved is so important, in everything.

Some of the things I'm grateful for from this past week: 1. I got to go running for about 45 min a week ago, on Monday. (Even with the shin splints. They're gone now.) 2. This Monday (yesterday) we got to be outside and play some sand volleyball. It was actually kinda warm/hot outside...and it's January. Crazy. 3. Our investigator with a baptismal date for Feb. 1 is still on track and improving. 4. His family members are almost all investigating now too. 5. The Lord sent me to Oklahoma. These people are the best. 6. The desires of my heart are recognized by the Lord, even when I don't show it as well through my actions. So I can be forgiven. 7. I'm understanding the stories of the Book of Mormon stories better than I ever have before, this time through it. (Just finished Mosiah today.) 8. The work is picking up again here in Seminole. 9. We got a referral from an investigator in the OTM (Hear that Al?) whose Mama lives in our area and we have an appointment with her Thursday. 10. Our Recent Converts are doing well (Ladybug and Bro. Grier). 11. My family always has my back. No matter what.

Those are just a few. So many more. There really is "so much to be thankful for".

I love y'all. Make it a HAPPY and THANKS-FILLED week.

Love,
Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-

Miracles for being OK

Elder H and I were both sick this week. He was barfing and I just felt like poop all the time. I've been using Mama's tricks though. Meds, fruit, and water...lots of water. Why is that the cure for everything? I do not know. Mama knows what's up though. I never got barfy though, thank goulash. Huge blessing. Haven't had that for a while, and that's okay with me. We tried to go out and work, but we got even more sick. We had to stay inside for most of Wednesday, and it was terrible. I don't like it. Nope. This was especially rough since we need new investigators badly, having baptized or dropped or been dropped by most of ours.

Then we started feeling better and got to get some work done. We found 2 new investigators, and 2 potentials in that same family. One of them, so far, has a baptismal date for February 1 and is super excited about it. He called this morning to ask us what he needed to bring to it. A little early, but I don't hate his enthusiasm. He commented a ton in church yesterday too. He's funny.

"that's Bob West in the front. He's a funny li'l recent RM in the Clinton Ward. getting married soon"

Along with that, I had a huge testimony builder this week. I was praying before personal study one day and I felt impressed to ask a specific question for my studies. So I did. Immediately after my prayer I always read the quote of the day from Annette's Conference Calendar. In that quote by Pres. Packer was a direct answer to my specific question. I don't remember having a prayer like that answered so immediately and directly before. It was incredible. I felt Heavenly Father's love for me personally so abundantly. I also felt Grandpa Tanner's presence. That's always such a sacred experience for me. I know he's watching over me too. I think this was all to help me realize that I did receive personal revelation and now I can never deny His answering prayers. I know He does and will. He loves to.

The baptism in Clinton for Zenaida G (that is how you spell it) was a hugely spiritual experience. Zenaida is her real name, but she used to go by Cindy. She informed me that now she's going back to Zenaida. She's Hispanic, so it's said with a Spanish pronunciation. Pops should know, and probably Kev too. Anyway, it was incredible. I've never felt the spirit so strongly at a baptism. Elder T and I went with our new Branch Mission Leader, Bro. White. There were around 10-14 missionaries there. It was so good to meet new missionaries and see some old friend ones too. I felt almost overwhelmingly happy there. So much good happening. My song went miraculously well too, thanks to a lot of prayer previous. I was still SUPER stuffed up and starting to get a cough, but God blessed me. I prayed to be able to bring the spirit, and that happened. It wasn't perfect or necessarily all that great, but it brought the spirit. That's what matters. Another cool answer to prayer.

At Zenaida's baptism

I've started to write down my revelation in my Li'l Book o' Revelation. It is so helpful. I recognize my own revelation so much more often. I recommend it for anyone and everyone. It has changed and strengthened my confidence in my ability to receive revelation, and it can do that for you too. I love it.

The Lord is really blessing me.

Year of Happiness Update: It's working. Like I told some of y'all, it's really changing my nature, not just my behavior. I'm becoming a happy person. There are times that I'm so tempted to not be, but I can't let that happen. Miraculous, eh? If you knew me at all before, you'd say yes:)

Thank y'all for everything. I love y'all and pray daily for y'all.

Love,
Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-

2014 - The Year of Happiness

 

Turns out, I start out quite a few letters with that, no? But also turns out, I'm gonna be happy every day of 2014. Even if I get down sometimes, I'm gonna catch myself and look up. I'm gonna do it, and it's gonna be hard, and I'm willing to accept that challenge. Bring it, Satan.

 

So we've had a few investigators drop us and we had to drop one, all in the past week or week and a half. Crazy, yeah? We're praying for miracles for them, especially this girl named Mercedes. She's so solid. We were so sad to see her go. BUT "hope is never lost", as Elder Holland says. And when he says something...you don't refute it. Is refute a word? Did I use it correctly? Oh well. I digress. Is that used correctly..? Anyways!

 

Elder T and I found a ride to Cindy's baptism in Clinton!! Huge miracle! Turns out (there it is again), I'm singing at the baptism. Cindy wants me to. I just got a letter from her that said she was losing hope for getting baptized. This was obviously before she found a way to be able to be baptized, so more miracles! Cindy in general is a miracle/miracle-worker for me. She's such a good example. I'm honored to sing at her baptism. I'm singing I Love the Lord, but to the tune of Be Still, My Soul the way it's written in the Hymnal (Sounds like Dad, no? Hymnal, rather than Hymnbook). Just hoping I don't start to bawl like a wee babila.

 

I'm starting a new thing today. I'm gonna get a little notebook so I can write down revelation every time I receive some. I call it my Li'l Book o' Revelation. Catchy, eh? I'm excited. My District Leader promised me blessings of being able to recognize revelation more if I do this. I'm a huge promised blessings believer, like Shelle has said she is. We kindred spirits, Shellster. How do you feel about that? We both got the unsolicited faces down too! Ann dog has those too though...and really most of our family. Even Mamasita has her "Tiger face", which I do sometimes, not actually to relieve stress, though it does anyway. I just think it's funny.

 

Been struggling lately sometimes, but Satan's got nothing on me. Silly Satan. It's not worth it to get down, ya know? Satan will drag us down to Hell from even the smallest of negative feelings. It can lead to lots of sorrow and gloom. Why let it? Silly natural man.

 

That's not a very happy note to end on, now is it? So I'm crazy excited to start a new year, with a brand new start. It's gonna be wonderous, am I right? It's up to us. "Water what you want to have grow", right Mama? I share that with lots of people. I've......learned to love it.....#missionaryprobs Thanks Mama.

 

I love all y'all so muchly much. Don't you forget it. Pray for y'all daily too. Nice of me, I guess. Y'all deserve it.

 

Love,

Elder Tanner "Bill"

-I Love the Lord-

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Best. Year. Yet.

I've decided that 2014 is gonna be the best year yet. I'm gonna make it that way. Why not, right? Right.

 

It was SO good to talk to y'all on Christmas! I really gain a lot of strength from talking to and writing y'all. I think it's hard for a lot of missionaries, but for me it's helpful. Really helpful. So motivating too. I think that's because of the family and friends I have. Aren't we blessed. I may have mentioned this all before, but it's so dang true! Couldn't be more grateful for my family and friends.

 

We got to talk in church yesterday, all 6 missionaries. It was really good. Good to be able to talk to everyone. This branch is so awesome. They love us so much and I really love them.

 

Mama and Papa Choate had their 50th Anniversary Celebration this week. That's the Grandparents of the whole Choate fam. They are such good people. Even more Choates than normal were here, so it was a crazy week. We also had lunch at Choate Ranch (Mama and Papa Choate's land) on Sunday after church. There were so many people in that little house. I got to have some really great conversations with both Mama and Papa Choate. Talking to them each made me miss and appreciate my grandparents even more. I miss all of them a lot. All four of them. Though I know Grandpa Tanner is always with me. In D&C, where it says that angels will be round about us to bear us up, Grandpa's one of those angels for me. I know it. I've felt his help, guidance, and love very often. It's amazing. His missionary spirit is contagious. I love it. Such a blessing.

 

We've been struggling to find new investigators and to meet with our current investigators. They're all sick, out of town, or causing problems. Such is missionary life though, eh? Everything works out for our good in the end, if we're obedient. Obedient and Kind, and we're OK.

 

We did the Haka this morning. Elder T taught us how they did it on his island before track meets. It was pretty fun. We're starting Insanity again, I think. It's gonna be....well, insane. It'll be good for me though. I'm just a li'l guy, ya know. Not after Insanity though. It's out of control.

 

Well, the work is working, as Sister Beckstead says.

 

Love y'all tons,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

Merry CHRISTmas!!! "And that's what it's all about!" (Copyright Hokey Pokey Industries 1987)

"So this is Christmas, and what have you doooooone?" (I think those are the words.)

Wild that Christmas is here, no? It's wild, wild stuff to me. I tell you what. It's so different on the mission, but so good. 

I don't have tons of time, but it's okay...for reasons that will be revealed to y'all sometime this week.

So, we've been trying to get new investigators, after our baptisms. They took up a lot of our time, and still kind of do, since now missionaries teach the new member lessons. It's crazy. My goal now is to ask for referrals from everyone. Literally everyone. We're supposed to be doing that already, but I haven't been too good at it. Another thing we've been focusing on is OYM'ing everyone. We did with a guy the other day and he said he wanted us to stop and talk to him and had been wanting to change his life. He proceeded to tell us basically his whole life story...Okie talker. He's a great guy though. "There can be miracles, if you believe."

I'm so glad to have this special time of year to reflect on the Savior's birth, life, death, suffering, His names (thanks to y'all), and his resurrection. One thing I loved in the Christmas Program in Sacrament Meeting this week was that they talked about the Millennium being like an ongoing Christmas season for 1000 years. Doesn't that sound amazing? It's that song come true..."If every day could be Christmas". Every day will be, and for 1000 years! What a blessing, eh?

We, the Seminole Missionaries, sang in the Branch Choir for the Christmas Program yesterday. It was...interesting. Actually, the actual meeting went well. There were definitely angels singing with us. I prayed so hard that we would be able to bring the spirit into the meeting. I also have missed singing in choirs...odd, I know. It was fun to do that again. 

The basses from Mads have an email chain, and we've been talking about that recently. We had some fun times, wild times. I miss singing with The BIG4 a lot too. I've been so blessed to be a part of such great things. 

So, I'm getting rather excited to talk to y'all. I don't get homesick thinking about y'all...it's like the opposite. I get super duper motivated! It rocks. It's because I've been blessed with such great friends and family! There's no reason to be sad about stuff. Just be happy, why not?

I love y'all so muchly tons. For realsies. Thank you. For it all.

Love, 

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

Here again...

So I'm staying in Seminole for another transfer....and Elder H is staying here with me! First time I get to keep a comp for 2 transfers in a row! And this is his last transfer so I'll be his last comp. I'm stoked.

I'm super excited to stay here for Christmas! The members here are so awesome. They love the missionaries and are starting to do more missionary work!

pictures from the Christmas social in Seminole

Sorry for a kinda short letter...last P day as a district.
 
DH was baptized this past Saturday and I got to perform the baptism! Really cool experience! Elder H confirmed her on Sunday, and the new Stake Pres was there. Reminded me of Pops.

I got to go on exchanges this past Thursday and Friday. We did them back to back because of the shortened transfer and the crazy weather. I was in Shawnee for two days. It's hard being away from your area for that long, but I had a ton of fun, learned so much and had some incredible miracles/experiences. I've never not been District Leader's comp, so I've done a lot of exchanges. This next transfer, E. Hernandez will no longer be DL, so I'll only do probably 2....so weird.

Our mission goal of 50 baptisms is going well. Still needs work though. We're working on one or two more, we hope!
 

Thank y'all so much for all you do! Anything and everything makes a huge difference!

I'm not sure exactly when I'll be calling. Let me know what would be best for y'all! Don't know how to feel about talking to y'all...but it'll be good:)

 Love,
 Elder Tanner
 -I Love the Lord-

Helping us get to 50

DG was baptized on Saturday, and I had the opportunity to confirm him. We ended up doing it then, on Saturday, because church was cancelled due to FREEZING cold weather and, despite the "fact" that "it doesn't snow in Oklahoma", snow. But quite a few missionaries were able to come to the baptism. It was really cool. He's had a lot of missionaries teach him. This was a huge testimony builder for me that I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. I love the Gs almost like grandparents. They love us too. We have lots of fun and really spiritual times together. Bro. G is gonna be an amazing contribution to the Branch. I thought he was a member already my first week here. He's one of those people...super solid. Love that guy.

"Bro. G. said he felt like the jumpsuit was from a jail. I told him it must be a pretty nice jail....all white and stuff"

 The snow....the stuff that comes every year to Utah, but not Oklahoma...not much at least. It's here. And it's below freezing every day. We have been grounded a couple of days this past week, which is rough. We still walked to visit one potential family and turns out, they've met with missionaries before. Had a cool lesson though. They're so nice. Their kids love me too. What can I say? It's just the way I be.

Our two baptisms set for this Saturday dropped. One for sure, one maybe...probably. Church was just the 6 Seminole Missionaries yesterday, so we didn't have any investigators there. Too freezy out. So E can't be baptized this week, having only been to church twice. He will be eventually though. He's still pretty hesitant and can be difficult sometimes, but we're working on it, of course. Still love him. Lady Bug has been in Shawnee this week, trying to stay out of the cold, with some of her friends. Hopefully she'll come back soon, like today, so we can teach he more. She's been to church enough, just need to finish the lessons with her. It all depends on if she can come back to Seminole yet. Don't want her to freeze. She's awesome though. Love her too.

Church yesterday was sweet action. Rough because it was just the 6 missionaries, but awesome cause we had a powerful testimony meeting where we all bore testimony, and we watched "Israel, Israel God is Calling", a CES Devotional by Elder Holland....So, of course it was amazing. If y'all haven't seen it, watch it. I dig it...so much. It's the one where he tells us not to check our religion at the door...ever. I get the chills just thinking about it! Whoo! Then we figured out some things we need to work on in this Branch. It's gonna be good! We're already doing The Games, a competition between all the families in the Branch, doing missionary work and other church-related things, but also funner things like making a Mormon Harlem Shake and other FHE activities. They seem excited about it.

We introduced a fam to The Games last night, after we had dinner and watched the Christmas Devotional with them. It was our Branch Mission Leader's fam. The Mom and Grandma are Filipino, so we had amazing Filipino food! They also had some nastysag rice gelatin dessert thing....tasted like raw eggs and was like Jello, but thicker...so I gagged a li'l bit. Like, an actual gag. But I finished it. We all tried it and none of us liked it....pretty funny though. They're a great family. Turns out, I forgot it was Christmas-time... Even with all the snow and freezy-ness and christmas decorations and even Christmas gifts from the G's...still forgot. But the Devotional reminded me. Really great Devo. too. I loved the question of What happens next? That's a good question for everything, including Christmas. Always good to hear from the prophet too. Love that guy. I almost felt sad missing the Fast Sunday deal with caroling and all, but I was fine, actually. I thought it would be harder. Thought of y'all though. Felt some love vibes too, sent some back. Hopefully y'all feel them too. 

Fun at the K's home

 Speaking of...I'll be only calling on Christmas, no Skype. But it's all good with me. I really want to talk to everyone, if possible. I wanna talk to Ann too. But especially Tato. Tato must be there. We need to talk, bro. No offense to y'all, but I miss him probably most. Turns out, my whole life has been spent with him by my side, no matter what. Despite all I do to bug him. I don't have a closer friend. So....he's gotta be there:) Ya hear, Tato?? Good.

I love y'all so dang much. Don't have too much fun without me. Jk, have tons of fun!

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

The Lord's hand is in everything we do. Did ya know?

SO...turns out we have 2, maybe 3, baptisms these next two weekends. Talk about miracles.

 

I don't have much time to write, cause we have a Zone P day today. But here it goes.

 

Bro. G, a member's husband is getting baptized this Saturday, the 7th. DH "Lady Bug" is going to be baptized the next week, the 14th. Super exciting. E might be getting baptized that day too.

 

Did exchanges with the ZL's this friday. Elder C and I were here in Seminole, and we ended up teaching all three of our baptismal dates lessons Friday. It was some of the best lessons I've had my whole mission. Really. I learned so much from Elder C. He's a great missionary and an awesome leader.

 

E fasted with us on Sunday. He made me go up with him to bear his testimony, but he did it! It was so cool. He told us he wants to stop smoking now, since his fasting. HUGE miracle. We were kind of losing hope (I know we shouldn't), but I've really been trying to focus on the fact that each and every one of God's children need this gospel. No matter what.

 

We had a mission-wide fast for 50 baptisms in December, as a stepping stone for 100 baptisms in a month, our mission vision. Vision 100, as Pres. Walkenhorst calls it. We're going to do it this month. I know it.

 

The Lord has been extra quick and/or specific at answering my prayers lately. It's amazing. He knows us each so personally and wants to bless us. He's just waiting for us to ask and act.

 

We had a Turkey Bowl Thursday morning, and we ate dinner at the G's that night. It was so good to play football again.

 

Also, I found a cool scripture that goes along with Bishop Linton's turning to Christ, rather than turning from past sins. It's in Alma 39:12-13. There are some other cool verses in that chapter as well about not letting the sins of others be an excuse for our transgressions. Good reminders. (If you could share that with Bishop and tell him I share that with a lot of people and it really helps, I'd appreciate it.)

 

It's nice to see some outward success, after not having much, if any, the rest of my mission so far. But I've also learned to really appreciate the inward, smaller miracles and successes. I love Him for both.

 

I know the Lord has a personal plan for every single one of His children, our brothers and sisters, no matter how we've treated Him in the past, or will in the future.

 

Thank you for all you do. I'm so grateful for you. (HEY, I rhymed.)

 

Love y'all,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

He knows me.

This was an insane week. It has seemed so fast, yet so much has happened. I have never felt so spiritually high and low in such a short time...besides some other times previously in my life. But this one was pretty intense, don't get me wrong.

 

Elder Craig A. Cardon of the Seventy came for a Mission Tour on Friday and he shared some incredible things, including a pretty straightforward rebuke of a certain aspect of teaching as a missionary. It was sweetness though. I dig rebuking...I guess I need it a lot. He IS a special witness, E. Cardon. He told us some things about their meetings with the First Presidency, which revamped my testimony of them as well, especially as I was reading about following the prophet in PMG in my studies. He told us to think of up to three questions at the beginning of the day, and promised they would be answered throughout the day. So, naturally, I thought of three questions, being greedy with divine promises. Sue me. I felt kinda bad about choosing three pretty personal questions, but found later that my answers to them can help those around me too. The Lord's sneaky sometimes. Good sneaky. Anyways, all three of my questions got answered partially throughout the day, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! In E. Cardon's final testimony, he shared an answer to each of my questions...in order. So, turns out, the Lord knows me. Pretty dang stinkin' well. Huge testimony builder, and it would be uncanny...if we weren't talking about the Lord. I don't know about y'all, but I love the Lord. He never ceases to amaze me and bless me, despite stupidity on my part.

 

That brings me to the rough part of the weekend...the muddy part. We got stuck in the mud on the way to an appointment, and we couldn't get the car out before we had to be at the church to go to the adult session of Stake Conference. We went with muddy feet and pants. The members were so loving and kind about it though. Many offered to help us out....of the mud. We ended up getting it out at about 12:30 am. Super freezing and tired, but we got it out. All six of the Seminole missionaries came that night to help. We all froze together, along with Bro. B. We definitely bonded. And I found out that staying up late is definitely not worth it. We get up way too early for that. I still got up at 6:30 though. Wildly sleepy.

 

We got grounded on Sunday cause of the cold and ice. It was/is SO cold. It's crazy. The humidity makes it super fun too... We spent the day at the K's house. They're so awesome. They fed us Lunch and Dinner. And S, their daughter, is the one that texted Tato. They are so good to us missionaries.

 

The Norman Stake got a new Stake Pres. yesterday...which brought back a flood of memories of Dad's getting called and released as Stake Pres. I felt an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude for his and all church leaders' service and sacrifice. They go through a lot. More than we know. I know they're called of God, including Dad.

 

Another miracle to go along with my stupidity with the car, showing the Lord's constant awareness. I was feeling down about the whole thing yesterday morning, when I noticed I was a few days behind on my Conference Calendar. The one from Sunday morning, if you remember, was about putting aside past guilt....that's what I struggle with probably the most. It's so hard to forgive myself. I know I've repented, but Satan, like the quote says, uses that to lure us back in and tries to drag us "carefully down to Hell." I don't know about y'all, but that's not so desirable to me. "I choose life [eternal]." (Sid, on Ice Age) I may have added that last word there...but you get the picture. This all showed me the Lord's remembrance of me. He will NEVER forsake us. He leaves us with peace. His peace. MUCH better than the world's short-lived peace.

 

Remind me to tell y'all about Remember the CHANGES. Something I made up at my last Clinton District Meeting. It's in relation to one of the greatest movies of all time, Remember the Titans. I find relations to that with missionary work rather often...sweetness, I know. "Attitude reflec' leadership" being on of them. Think about it.

 

We are one, y'all. That's what I got from Stake Conference. Heavenly Father said so Himself in General Conf. through Pres. Monson. Invite friends over for dinner, not even relating anything to the Gospel, unless it's brought up. Invite them to FHE alone or with the missionaries. It's powerful. We do that here a lot, FHE with members. We have one tonight with the K's. It works, and it brings the missionaries and members together.

 

We're still teaching Bro. G...I think I told y'all about him. He's a member's husband. He's basically a member, coming to church and all. He just isn't baptized. He's awesome.

 

During this Holiday Season, it makes me so grateful for y'all. Beyond what I can say in mere words. In eternity, I'll be able to express it to y'all, I hope. Know that I love and pray daily for y'all. Thank you for everything.

 

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

Seminole to the Maximum

I'm in Seminole now. I'm with Elder H now. I like it now. I think I'll stay for a time. Elder H has 2 transfers left, but he doesn't seem too trunky...yet;) He's awesome though, no worries. He is just a li'l lazy with some things. Missionary work is repetitive...imagine that. It's also a pretty big deal. In one of my many studies over the past few days (scholarly of me, I know), I read in Jacob about how we're going to have to answer for the welfare of the souls around us that we did, should have, could have helped and tried to bring to the Gospel. It's up to us to share what we have with them. We best not blow it.

 

I love Seminole. A lot. The branch here is awesome, and there are 6 missionaries here. We have two other sets of Elders in Shawnee, in our District. One being the ZLs. Our District is Me and Elder H in Seminole Central, Elders M and B (fresh out of Provo) who live next door to us, they cover Seminole East, Sisters A and B (basically sisters by blood, it seems; also in Seminole, just down the road from our place) they cover Seminole West and just opened that area last transfer...first Sisters in Seminole, Elders B and W (in Shawnee South), and the ZLs, Elders M and C (also in Shawnee). The Seminole Missionaries have tons of fun together. We get up at 5:45 to play sports in the mornings (or do Hip Hop Abs, or Insanity which is like P90X...We did Hip Hop Abs this morning...it's fun/funny...or funn, as Jord and I used to say). I'm in Seminole Central with E. Hernandez, which is....wait for it...wait for iiiiit...A BIKE AREA. Woot. I like it though. And we get rides from the Elders next door a lot. We, the Sem. Miss. have dinner together most nights. Members actually feed us here...like every night. It's pretty awesome...I'm gonna be FAT by the end of this transfer/week/day...sometime soon. Except not as fat as the other missionaries with cars! ...suckers..;) I just kid.

"Posterity (mission families are weird)."

 I love this Branch. It's made up of mostly Choates. They're all super strong members, besides a child or two. They call it the Choate Branch. We have an investigator here that reminds me and Elder H a lot of F, back in Clinton! oh, p.s. Elder. H served in Clinton too! So we have a lot of similar stories:)

 

I'm excited to see what the Lord's errand is for me here in Seminole.

 

Pres. Walkenhorst gave us a goal. He calls it Vision 100, or 100 baptisms in a month. We're going for a "stepping stone" in December, trying for just 50. That'll still be a mission record though. We're gonna make 100. But first we have to work with our Recent Converts. The Lord isn't gonna give us more when we aren't even taking care of the ones we have. That's what our area authority told us. Elder H says he's been feeling like this is "the transfer". Whatever that means, i'm ready. And excited. We're already seeing miracles. We just need to work a li'l harder...that's our only real problem. We will though.

"tie I found for 25 cents"

Elder Cardon of the Seventy comes this Friday for the missionaries and then he'll be presiding at the Norman Stake Conference, that we're a part of. We've been asked to go to the Adult Session Saturday and the regular one Sunday. I'm so excited. I want a good rebuking. "I wanna know. Can you show me?" -Tarzan. I just thought of that...kinda just came out as I was typing. That's how I feel though. I wanna know what I can do to improve and progress. What I can do now. I'm willing to do it. I know the Lord will show me.

 

I love y'all so much. The Lord's work truly is hastening, and "We're all in this together", right? I know what y'all are thinking...."You're crazy, Wildcat!" But really, "what-e'er thou art, act well thy part". I'm trying my best to do so.

 

Love y'all,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

 

p.s. the picture is of my signature on the Clinton board, in the Clinton apartment.

 

SEMINOLE

I'm going to Seminole this Wednesday, and my new comp's name is Elder H! He's from Texas, 25 years old, and a convert of 3 yrs. It's gonna be a good transfer! I've heard interesting things about him, honestly. Mostly from members here, he served here too. But I've decided I'm gonna love the heck out of him and the people of Seminole! No matter how they feel about me. It's gonna be one of those awesome growing transfers...I LOVE them. But seriously, aren't they all? Seminole is the eastern-most area in the mission I believe. So it's as close as I'll get to Al's mission.

 

Elder W and I had a awesome week! Interesting, but great! On Tues, it rained harder than ever before here! It wasn't rainy at first, and we were in a truck with TA, who leaves for San Diego on a mission on Wednesday. Right after he left, it started to pour...hard core. So we walked around in the downpour for the rest of the day..from like 4 on. It was AWESOME! I felt super legit. Kinda like Ann dog talked about sweating like crazy and feeling legit for that, that's how i felt being wet literally to the core. It was a LOT of rain. One of the roads was literally a river...it was wild. I was skipping rocks in it. We had a lot of fun that day. We also saw red and blue lightning, which is super cool! It was wild, wild stuff.

 

I've really been trying to show my love for our investigators, LA's, and members here. I do love them a ton, and I need to show and say it more. I'm gonna miss them, but, like I said, I'm gonna love the heck out of Seminole! Maybe I'll be in a car...that'd be weird. And my super-solid biking muscles will go back to the gelatin state they used to be in...oh well. 

 

I'm at an interesting point in my mission. It's like the post-training, pre-leadership portion. I don't know what that'll mean exactly for me, but it feels like a kind of transitioning period. It'll be super good though, no worries. Everything about the mission is. I LOVE being a missionary! "Eees da beeest!" (Nacho)

 

Have you ever felt like you're not sure what to write in a letter home? That's kinda how I feel at this instant. I want to help y'all feel the joy I feel and "catch the wave" of missionary work and all...I just don't know. We talked about it in EQ yesterday. We, as the missionaries here, asked what the members expect of us. They gave us some things that were good, but only after we called on people specifically. They may not have many expectations for us here. I guess maybe I'm supposed to encourage y'all to set expectations for the missionaries in your ward. Even in Utah, where we don't see ours often. But have them over for dinner, and let them know that you want them to help you with your finding efforts. Study Preach My Gospel whenever you can. That's to everyone. There's a 10-yr-old girl member here who's studying it, so...just think about that;) I'm really not trying to sound forceful or mean or anything. I just love the proactiveness of a family or two here. It's so helpful to us. And really, we're here to help the members with their efforts, not the other way around.

 

Another thing mentioned was that scripture Mama shared with me a few weeks ago, about our divine errand. Pray for Heavenly Father to let you know what your divine errand is right now. He'll let you know. He wants to let us know what we can do. And when we obey commandments, He BLESSES us with more, so keep asking for more I guess you could say. Even if you feel you've found yours. Ask Him what else you can do. There's so much to do in this hastening of the work. That's something else each family could immensely benefit from, watching the video on LDS.org about Hastening the Work of Salvation. As an FHE thing or personally or both! It's really amazing, what's being done in these days. Just look at the annual reports in Gen. Conf. from past years compared to this year's. Even just 2011. It's amazing what's happened. Elder W and I were looking at that this morn. INCREDIBLE, really.

 

I love hearing from everyone! I'm SOOO blessed. Especially with my friends and fam. There are quite a few missionaries that go a month without hearing from family. That hasn't happened to me yet ever. Not that it won't in the future. It's okay, life is busy. But I really do gain so much from y'all. It's amazing. Especially thank y'all for all the bday wishes! I had an amazing birthday!

 

I love y'all bundles...BIG bundles.

 

Elder David (Bill) Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

 

ps. i'm thinking about going by Bill when i get home...;) But really...it would be cool, but we'll see!

#crazyweek

We had a great, but crazy week this week! We helped two families move three different days, taught some solid lessons to solid investigators, built a smarties pyramid (over 1100 smarties, and we had tons left over), found out I'm probably leaving soon, and had a Birthday! It was kinda insane!

So pray for M and K, B, C still, and A, D, and C still. They really need some prayer power. They're so solid but a little non-committal. They are SUPER awesome, kind, loving, accepting people too! I really, really love the people here a ton. Especially in Clinton.

Which brings me to transfers coming up...Elder W found out he's training next transfer, so I'll most likely be leaving Clinton. There's been a threesome here before, but I'm thinking it probably won't happen. I completely trust the Lord though. He will direct my paths for good! There's no way I won't be put in the perfect place for me to be for the next 6 weeks. Working on my faith, especially by following Elder T's example. He has SO much faith, it's crazy. He's training for the first time next transfer and he told us he's not nervous because he "came here to serve, so [he's] gonna serve." I say to that, "Wow. I tell you what, wow!"

Thank y'all again SO much for the incredible package!! I can't describe what that meant to me! Everything in there was perfect! Plus Megee sent me one and it was amazing too! She gave me fox socks..:) If you're reading this Megs, thank you:) You knew just what I needed! Y'all did too, family!

We had a Trunk-or-Treat in the Ward here on Wednesday! It was SO fun! I love this ward so much! I'm gonna miss it, whenever I leave..:) We had an investigator come too!

 I also had a moth fly into my eyeball the other night...right into it. Luckily, my reflexes are still more than lightning fast and I blinked just in time! 

 I was listening to I Love the Lord, sung by the Big4 the other day and my iPod was on shuffle. The next thing that came on was 2 Nephi 4, the chapter that song comes from! Uncanny, I know! Turns out I needed to read that chapter that day, so I did and it was super beneficial. Plus a verse in a chapter nearby that I saw while reading it was just what an investigator needed to hear later that day! The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Ice Age was on in the car next to us, on the way home from the Trunk-or-Treat...I've never been so tempted in my entire life...Okay, maybe that's a little exaggerated...but it was rough, let me tell you.

Elder W and I have been trying out new ways to ride our bikes (pretty safe, don't worry, Mom). Our recent favorite is side-saddle. It's not all that comfortable, but it looks real good.

I heard that one song "Cantando Llores" or whatever it's called at a Mexican Restaurant the other day and I couldn't help but sing my lyrics, which include something about enchiladas. I know my Español pretty well, needless to say.

I'm 19, they say. Word on the street. The Hermanas made me cookies in the shape of "Happy Bday!" for District Meeting, and bought me a bag of goodies (Butterfinger, splat ball, and Batman toy).Elder G  got me a candy bar too. Yeah, I have an awesome District. Plus we had the ZLs there that day. Elder T, my favorite Elder ever probably, stayed here in Clinton with Elder W and I, while Elder Z went to Elk City. It was so fun being with both Elder W and Elder T! The really are some of the coolest people ever. 

 

Halloween "Costumes"

Turns out, the Lord really knows me...so well. He has shown that in even little ways every day out here. I know He lives and loves us. He wants us to come to Him. Why would we ever do otherwise? It's crazy and insulting to His Atonement if we don't. So, shall we? Yes, let's. I know He knows all of us more individually than we may even know ourselves. Isn't that amazing. Think about that for a while. It blows my mind, maybe that's just me though. I hope not. I've been thinking, what can I do to show my love for Him more today? There are so many opportunities to do so. I love that.

I'm old. "It's time to begin, isn't it? I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was. Don't you understand? I'm never changing who I am." Unless the Lord and I feel it necessary.

I love y'all so dang much. Can't even explain it. Pray for y'all daily, by name.

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

 

Elder Tanner by his apartment

The Joy of Missionary Work: A Novel by Elder Tanman

So, I felt and noticed sincere missionary joy last night, after having quite a rough day, feeling pretty much like poop from church until around 8:30. There wasn't much reason for it, but that's how it was, nonetheless (big word...booyah). The joy came while we were talking to JCADS... They all live together at the place where C, A, and D live. They're also all moving on Friday...MY BIRTHDAY!! But they need to, cause right now they're in a SUPER sketchy Inn across the street from our apartments...like there are police there every day, at least once a day. But anyhowzers, I was bummed cause G dropped us last night. We just had a spirit-less lesson and it was rough...but it's all good. One day. After, we went to visit JCADS and set up an appointment to show them the John Tanner movie, cause I told them the story, per the Holy Ghost's request. They wanted to see the movie, so we're gonna show it to them. They always cheer me up, but I felt more sincere joy this time than other times. 

 

Friday was Zone Conference!! It was awesome! Pres. talked about Obedience vs. Disobedience, and it was awesome! We have a lot of really good missionaries here, and we just need to get rid of our little disobediences. We all have some, but without them we can reach our goal of 100 baptisms per month. I know it can happen.

 

Before my interview with Pres, we (the missionaries from the few areas who were getting interviewed) were waiting out in the foyer and he came up behind my chair and gave me a head massage for a minute or two. It was super random, but super awesome too! I love that guy, he's so great.

 

We are having tons of fun together, Elder W and I. I love serving with him. We started a smartie pyramid, like Al's on his mission. We have to buy more smarties today though to finish it. We're gonna work on it Thurs. night, Halloween. We have to be in by 5pm...cause it's sketchy here all the time, but esp. on that night.

 

We have gotten some SOLID new investigators recently and have had some awesome miracles. A couple named M and K who have had tons of cool experiences and a lady named B who sees spirits! They're awesome and interested!

 

We also gave C a baptismal date! It's gonna take a lot of faith...but it can happen!

 

Love y'all tons.

 

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

 

Sorry this is late. the internet at the church stopped working, so i'm just sending the draft i had saved today. Love y'all tons

It's partay time!!!

I don't know why, but it feels like it's time to party. I guess that's good.

Church yesterday was wild...wild stuff. BW got home from the Idaho Nampa Mission (weird and odd to see someone come home from a mission...seems like that'll never be me). He came out to a lesson with C Friday. It was sweet, like being in a threesome, i assume. Elder T was with me, cause we had exchanges. Anyway, the BW and his parents all spoke in Sac. Mtg...so kind of a W family sac. mtg...but it was good. Bro. W sang three verses of a song in his talk from the pulpit...and then, Bro. M sang two verses of a song in the Elder's quorum lesson...it was uncanny. I've heard of things like this, but now i've seen it live:)

Speaking of exchanges (i know i did somewhere in that paragraph), Elder T and I had an AWESOME exchange! We've grown pretty tight  and we had tons of fun, plus tons of success together! I had scriptures come to me in lessons, like never before! It was miraculous! And we got 2, basically 3, new investigators on Saturday! Elder T prayed 1/2 in english 1/2 in Kiribati ("kirabes"). He taught me a lot about promising our invest.'s blessings for keeping commitments. It'll help them tons cause they have troubles with that here in OK. They're chill and laid back, but non-committal to the maximillion (maximum). We also froze on our bikes both nights he was here...we kept yelling, "it's too cold!" the way he says it, with his accent:) I'm pretty dang good at accents..or so i've heard. Elder W told me that this morn.

C's determined to get baptized, and she's going to. I know it. Pray for her. She told us she's gonna defy the odds to be baptized. She wants and needs it, so she's gonna do it. 

A guy named G, a former member of the blood gang, who's super buff and black, and legit....anyways, he's progressing well. He's so awesome. 

Elder W's bike broke Wednesday...and it was freezing...and we had to walk home from the opposite side of town...and it started to rain...and we froze...BUT we chose to be SUPER happy and have tons of fun! I did at least, and Elder W caught on and joined in. It was a good day. The next day, we had to walk all over...tired feet. I might need arch supports for my shoes...they hurt pretty often. 

Elder W decide we would Real Play for ourselves this week...it was SO cool and insightful. I'm grateful for him. We hope to be together next transfer too:) But His (Heavenly Father's) will be done. No worries. 

Well, gotta go. It's been a good, freezing cold week! I've used my coat a lot! I love it. I like the Freezing.

Love y'all tons,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

NO TIME!!!

We had to email at the Clinton Public Library this week...yeah. So I don't have like any time at all.

I had an awesome week, with amazing miracles. The ZL's were here Friday for an exchange, doubling our area again. Had some amazing miracles with them. The new ZL, Elder T, is super funny and gives haircuts, so I hopefully will be able to get one from him this Transfer. Booyah. Sad that Elder G went home though...weird that that time will someday come for me too... Anyway, I was with Elder Z again, and we had a good time together, talking to drunk people and an investigator's husband who just got bailed out of jail, etc.

Also, we helped the sisters move on Friday. It was a little stressful, cause they had to move back cause the new place was a li'l sketch, but it was good and we made it fun! After we moved them back to the old apartment, we found a potential investigator for them in the apartment across the way from them! After all that, Sister L asked me for a blessing of comfort. We all, the ZL's and Elder W and I, participated. It was cool to be able to do that for her. The Hermanas in our District are so awesome. I love our District.

Last night, we taught a family that we found through just talking to a guy on the street. We ended up teaching his WHOLE family! The dad is from Nigeria, but speaks English. They are all SUPER nice. We even had a member with us...AH, it was amazing! This is such an awesome work we are all, or all should be, involved in and called to. It's so rewarding to see people accept our message and progress! Y'all get involved.

Thanks to all who tried their best to invite someone to Conference this last week. I won't tell you what we need to do, cause the Brethren told us all pretty well. "Now is the time for members and full-time missionaries to work together"...yeah, it's time. It's so awesome! Elder Ballard's challenge to invite someone to a church activity, FHE, chruch, etc. before Christmas, the importance of members emphasized by so many, praying for FTM's in your area and their investigators..BY NAME, praying together with them to rid yourself of any fears about missionary work....all so good. Y'all are amazing. Keep it up! I read again this morning the scripture in D&C 18 about the worth of souls and the joy we receive from missionary work and bringing souls to God. I love those verses. I feel that joy every day, why shouldn't everyone?

We had a movie night this past Wednesday too! We watched 17 Miracles, and the C family came! Even though we watched it in English. They're so awesome!

I finished my first zebra pen this past week...yeah, sad day. I also got a jammed finger and a new foam mini soccer ball. There are Nerf hoops in our room...:)

In Shelle's letter last week, she accidentally said "serving the web" instead of "surfing", but, like a missionary, I made a connection with it. I thought about how maybe I did too much serving the web back home. I know I spent too much time on social networks, rather than reading from the scriptures. It's so sad to me, esp. now. I think social networks are awesome and i love them. but they shouldn't make us distracted from what matters most. Shelle really gets this concept, as she told me in the letter. Thanks for your example Shelle! Oh and shelle...me and my ZL, Elder T, want some moccs. He's willing to pay $30:) I'm willing to be awesome...and have mama pay you. But it's okay if you're too busy relaxing in the big UT;)

I got another flat...

A and D (C's dad) have a Baptismal date!! Woot! They seem to be doing really well! C doesn't yet, but he'll be baptized sometime!

I love hearing from y'all so much! It's amazing, how blessed we all are to be in this family! Think about it. Read, ponder, pray, act, repeat. (I think sometimes we forget those last parts, to repeat, and keep showing our faith through our actions.)

Also, E said the exact quote mama gave me that I keep on my desk! "Prayer changes things" Super sweetness. She has so much faith. We asked her what role religion has played in her life, and she just stopped and looked at us, then said that religion IS her life. Is it OUR lives too? I think it should be.

I love y'all SO DANG MUCH. Thank you again for everything. No greater examples than y'all.

Love,

Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-

6' 6"- Elder W!!

That's my new comp, Elder W. He hails (always wanted to use that) from So. Cal. That's Southern California, Dad. He's from the LA area too! And knows South Pasadena! He's from Agoura Hills. Goodness...this is gonna be such an awesome transfer!! We already changed and rearranged some things. I cleaned the apartment mostly. Elder White likes cleanliness too, and is super organized. We organized our investigators whiteboard, and it already is helping me feels more calm and I love it. He has tons of ideas and he's super willing to share them. It's gonna improve this area a lot. Not that it was bad before, but it's gonna improve! I love this Elder! We're super tight already, and he got here Wednesday!

Man... Kev and Shelle... Magyarorszag was stuck in my head all day on Tuesday! "A vir mon irden me Schnieder, Mgyarorszag!" All day....

Well, Elder P and I said bye and taught a couple more times together Tuesday, then he left Wednesday morning with Elder G (cause they have the truck). So Elder T and I worked here in good ol' Clinton. Then Elder W came back with Elder G!

Elder Tanner with Elder P

I can't tell you how amazing Conference was for me... I only wish I had appreciated it more back home. It was so incredible. I prayed to receive revelation for investigators and had some in mind, but during conference I ended up receiving things for different investigators and some Less-Actives too! Craziness.  The Lord is a mysterious ways worker. I love it.

C came to Conference Sunday morning! Pray for her. She needs to find a way to get baptized. I have faith she can be this transfer or the next. She needs it.

Sorry this is so short...I don't have much time, but basically all you need to know is that missionary work rocks! Just do it. God said so.

I love y'all SO stinkin' much! And this church is SO stinkin' true! Think about what that means, that this church is true. Real mind-boggler. At least for me.

Love,
Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-

Transfer Numero Uno: Completed

As the sun is setting on my first transfer, here in beautiful Oklahoma, I would like to say, I love the Lord. I really, really do. More than I can express in words. The way I try to express my love for Him is through everything I do, especially, but not exclusively, as a missionary.

This has been an interesting week, full of wild events. I will try to tell most of them.

First off, I got a haircut on Monday! Kev...you'd dig this barber. Yeah, it was at a legit barber shop, here in Clintonian. There were a couple barbers. The one used a vacuum, like the MTC, but of course I got the other barber. It's all good though, cause they both give you a massage after they're done cutting your locks! They have these heated, vibrating machines and they rub your back and shoulders with them while you're sitting there in the chair, legit barber chairs. It was an incredible experience, and if I wasn't a missionary and being money careful, I would've gotten a hot shave...I really wanted to. I even forgot to shave that morn! So tempting. But he did a little bit of a hot shave when he trimmed the edges of my hair. He did it the same way they do the hot shave, with cream and a knife blade razor, or whatever those old-fashioned razors are called. It was dulce acciones.

Also, Al and Dad and Shelle and Mama, thanks for the amazing advice! Y'all's letters are so inspired, I can feel it. Everyone's.

Al, I'm sure you know and feel this already, but help your seminary students appreciate seminary and treat it as basically the MTC. It really is, esp. nowadays. It's crazy how short the MTC is, even though it feels long sometimes. I regret not taking seminary seriously enough, and paying more attention to the girls in my class, than on the lesson. I was a good seminary student, don't get me wrong. I just could've engaged myself more and learned a WHOLE LOT more. Tato, don't blow it, like I did. TAKE IT ALL IN! It's sooo important, esp. for your future missionary service and life. Also, all who do not already, STUDY Preach My Gospel. As a couple, a family, personally, etc. It is an incredible, inspired, and, unfortunately, under-appreciated/utilized resource. IT IS AMAZING. I was told all of this so many times before the mission, and even on the mission, at first...yet I did nothing, really. Not nearly enough. Learn the lessons, so you can focus on teaching people, not lessons when you get out here, rather than focusing on the lessons cause you're still learning them. It would really help a ton.

I had an incredible experience with teaching by the spirit on Tuesday, with a guy we tracted into in an apartment complex, named Jonathan. He's a religious guy and super nice. I felt a lot of love for him, as he told us his story. He's been through some rough things, but trusted God through it all. Pretty incredible. As we taught him, I felt like I was really teaching by the spirit! I even had something from Seminary come back to me, which doesn't happen much to me. It was so cool!

Random sidenotes:

 A guy in the ward here calls me Buddy Holly cause apparently I look like Buddy to him..:)

The RS Pres's kids were singing "I love the mountains" song we used to sing in the car! I didn't know anyone else knew that! At least not in that generation!

El bailarin Español antes conocido como el whisperer mariposa AKA muchacho joven ridículo (you know who you are).

Praying to see the bits of awesome has really helped me. There have been some rough times, and focusing on those has been super good!
 There was a picture of Anndog in the De Los Santos (members) house...yup, a unicorn! 

Had a huge bits of awesome Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday: We were at the church, taking a survey Pres. Walkenhorst asked us to take (cause we're having a Gen. Authority come in November!), and a guy walked right in, saw us in the Family History Center, right inside the front door, and asked us if there was any service he could do. I immediately, after getting over the initial shock, stood up and told him I wasn't sure about any service he could do, then asked if he was a member of the church. He said he wasn't. (At this point I'm freaking out on the inside.) So I asked if he would like to learn more about the church, he said yes! So we set up an appointment with him and gave him a Book of Mormon, which he was super excited about and said he would study it. He seems super solid! Our appointment was for this past Friday, and he ended up not being able to have us come then, but he texted us and let us know, which is good. I was on exchanges in Elk City with Elder G at that time, but Elder P told me about it. We're gonna visit him tonight though!

Thursday: We went to see C and A and D (C's dad), cause we finally found them, after we tried their old apartment a lot. Finally found them at the Trade Winds Inn across the street from our apartments! A told us at the store on Monday, cause we saw her there! At our visit (only A and D were there), we found out all their things were stolen at the old place, even the Book of Mormon (that thief will feel bad if he reads and understands that book....), except for a few things. They found a job, through prayer, and it pays for them to live at that Inn. Pretty incredible. They told us that we had changed C's life, and that losing the BofM was devastating to him. They seem so sincere. They have trouble coming to church, and keeping some commitments. So sad. We visited them last night and C and A were fighting, so we're not sure what's gonna happen now...but hopefully things will work out. I want so much to help them.

Tato: read Galatians 5:7 and share it with the XC team, if you still are doing that. Unless you pansied out of it. Then just tell Scott to tell them:)

Exchanges were awesome in Elk City from Friday(after Dist. Meeting)-Sunday(before church)! Elder G and I walked around all day and it was pretty dang fun. It's crazy how much they get food and get fed there! Super awesome. But then I forgot my suitcase at their apartment...thankfully I got it this morning cause they came up for our last P day as a District.

I have a challenge for y'all...I know what you're thinking, cause i used to think the same back home..."OH NO! Not a missionary challenge!" Too bad, it'll bless you. Just do it. Here it is: Invite a nonmember/LA member to watch Conference with you. Make goals, plans, etc, and God will put people in your path for you to invite and bless. Then invite them, as they watch with y'all, to hear the missionary lessons, if nonmember, or to come to church, if LA. This can be individually, as a fam, or whatever you choose. It can also be just one total, or one per session, etc. Invite them to one or all of the sessions. Just do it, fam. Do it. Pray for questions to be answered during Conference and suggest these people you invite to do the same. Huge testimony-builder of answers to prayer, prophets, the restoration, this restored gospel, etc.

Thank you all for the incredible love and support!

Love y'all so muchly,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

P.S. Elder G and Elder T are staying in Elk City, and Hermana L and Hermana O are staying in Weatherford. I'm leading out my area starting this Wednesday. The transfer is ending and Elder P is leaving. Hermana C is opening an area in Norman! I'm staying here in Clinton with a new comp, Elder W, who's huge and funny, or so i hear from Elder T. Also, a former ZL. Pretty excited...and nervous, since it's only my second transfer... But faith will get me through it. I will trust in the Lord and move forward in faith. Y'all please pray for me. Don't worry, I pray for y'all.