Zone Pic and Weather - 28 January 2019

Here is a group shot of missionaries serving in his zone in Southern California. Michael is also having to deal with bad weather since they were complaining that their car's air conditioner wasn't working well. How sad, rough life.

The Lord of Light's Path by Elder West - 28 January 2019

Michael wrote this poem and I thought it should be shared...

Testimony Power - 28 January 2019

Michael's mission president wanted to see how exchanges would work for longer periods of time with missionaries outside of their zone. I think this is in preparation for the restructuring of his mission which will be done this coming July.  This is Michael with his current companion Elder Walker (center) and Elder Kema who was with them for several days. Looks like they are showing off how strong their testimonies are.

Fruits of Service and Labor - 28 January 2019

The older gentleman on the left is Brother Hansen. He baptized his friend Gene and Michael had the opportunity to teach him.  Brother Hansen is also the one that made a "golden plate" of Michael's testimony. The missionary on the left was Michael's previous companion, Elder Martins.

Weekly Email - 28 January 2019

Hey everyone!

This week was amazing! We had an absolutely great week! We had an elder from a different zone with us for most of the week so that president could see how exchanges would go in between zones for a longer time. So he was with us tuesday, wednesday, and thursday. And we had the best time ever. Numbers aren't as important as people but they sure pump you up. We handed out 43 copies of the Book of Mormon to genuine people who were interested found 12 people we are going to start teaching about it and even set a person we found on date for baptism! This week really opened my eyes to how we can really be guided by the Holy Ghost in all things and we called this week the sons of mosiah week! Today Elder Walker and I went on a hike to the top of a small mountain and while we were working our way up I looked down and saw a rock covered with some dirt and for some reason I picked it up and started to smooth the dirt off, at the time not knowing why I was doing it. But once we got to the top we both took a little personal time and reflected. I brought a copy of The Book of Mormon with me to read and receive inspiration and I opened it to Alma chapter 24 this is the chapter where the Lamanites converted by the sons of mosiah now called the Anti-Nephi-Lehis buried their weapons and were blessed so much for putting something that was holding them back far far away. 

Even though 1005 of them were killed they knew that they were going to their God because they had repented of killing and would not fight their attackers. And because of their diligence to keep their promise with God many of their attackers repented and joined them. I was thinking about this and came up with some things that were holding me back from getting closer to God and being the missionary He wants and needs me to be. I wrote those things on a piece of paper and buried it in the ground on the top of that mountain, I put my "swords" in the ground never to be brought back up again. I invite each of you to do the same, it may seem weird but think about something that is holding you back. Maybe its being shy maybe its anger or whatever it is the important thing is that its between you and your Heavenly Father. Once you have found however many things, write them on a piece of paper and include this is my sword that I am going to bury, and then literally bury them in the ground. I know that this sounds weird but it is a great feeling to literally put things away t never see them again. Then after that I went and sat down on the table that is up there and looked and the rock I had picked up and realized that the rock is me. Jesus Christ picked me up off the ground and has been brushing the dirt of off me piece by piece. I know that Christ is our Savior and that He will brush the dirt of off us if we let Him. It won't happen all at once but it will happen. Thanks for all the support and I hope you all have a great week!

Love Elder West

Weekly Email - 21 January 2019

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all having a wonderful time wherever you are. This was one of those weeks where you worked hard and all you got was the satisfaction of it. but that's ok because we aren't planning on stopping any time soon! And since not much happened I would just like to bear my testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it's real. I know it's true. I know that it brings you closer to Jesus Christ than anything ever. Especially through the Book of Mormon. It's truly Another Testament of Jesus Christ. If you read it and pray you will receive confirmation that it's true and that Joseph Smith restored the Church and Gospel to the earth in preparation for the second coming of our Savior. I hope you have a great week!

Love Elder West

Weekly Email - 14 January 2019

Hey Everyone,

This week has been great I love every second of everyday even when it's hard, because of the chance that I get to serve the Lord. This week I have been able to really mature and grow spiritually. My studies have really improved and grown a lot. And 1 thing I was really pondering was a thing my mission president asked me to think about. I was asked to think about the 1st time I opened the Book of Mormon and gained a testimony. I thought about it all week and I finally figured out when and where I did. I gained a true testimony of this book when I read 1 Nephi 13:40-41 "40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast   seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the   twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious   things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal   Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or   they cannot be saved.

41 And they must come according to the words which shall be established by   the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in   the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God  and one Shepherd over all the earth."

The last record is the Book of Mormon and it WILL establish the truth of the first (the bible) and the Book of Mormon has and will make the plain and precious things known unto all of us that have been take out of the bible. The Book of Mormon testifies of the Christ and will tell you all things that you should do to make it back to our Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon is the restoration of the plain and precious things of scripture and the restoration of the priesthood and Christ's original church were restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. This is how I came to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon for myself and I know that every single person can if they try to. I love my Savior and I know He lives and because of that we all will too. Don't give up, don't give in the Lord is on your side. I know God has again revealed many great and marvelous things to the earth and will continue to through latter day prophets. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Love Elder West