Five Minutes Was Plenty of Time

Written by Elder Farnsworth

I can remember a day, back when I was still pretty new at being a missionary.  My companion and I were out knocking on doors around an appointment because we had come about twenty minutes early to an appointment we had with some members nearby.  I can remember it was really hot and muggy weather, and no one would listen to our message and I was starting to get really discouraged.

My companion and I talked about giving up and just going on to the next appointment, but my companion felt that five minutes was plenty of time to knock on several more doors.  As I knocked on that last door I remember hearing a big deep voice yelling from inside.  As I heard the voice coming closer and closer to the door, I was preparing myself to receive the biggest kekko (rejection) of my short mission life. 

When the door opened there was an older man standing there with a huge friendly smile.  I was surprised, and said the only Japanese I knew at the time.  I introduced us as missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The next thing I knew we were inside his house and sharing a short message about the restoration.  He kindly accepted our invitation to hear our message on the following day, since we had an appointment at that time.  So we said we would come back the next day.

The next time we went, again we had about ten minutes to knock on a few more doors.  I thought there was no way we could get two investigators from the same apartment complex.  My companion, however, was undeterred.  We started on the same floor that we ended on before.  Only this time from the opposite side and worked our way back.

When we got to the last door before our investigator’s door, we knocked.  The man came out and talked to us as if he had been expecting us.  “Hey, the missionaries, come in.”  I double checked the door number to make sure it wasn’t the same person.  For sure, these two next door neighbors became investigators one day after the other, and both were eventually baptized.

I will never forget that day and the lesson I learned from my companion about humbly following the spirit.  Miracles follow faith.

Transfers, February 2013, New Missionaries

For anyone who is regularly at the international gate of the airport,
 here (above) is the sure sign that it's transfer day.  Eight carts,
awaiting luggage.  Won't it be fun in July, when we are expecting
at least 20 new missionaries!  President Baird gets so excited when these great new missionaries come walking through that gate:

Sister Leah Hodson, United States

Elder Samuel Richard, Australia

Elder Victor Lazaro, Brazil

Can't forget the group picture and the Hoiza Shout--YOSH!

From left:  Elder Milder, Elder Mikkola, Elder Lazaro, President and Sister Baird
Sister Hart, Sister Hodson, Elder Chiba, Elder Richard, and Elder Tano

Yosh!

Then they are off!  On to a train from the airport to the Nagoya Station, where they make a quick stop for photos at the Golden Clock, and then transfer to their final leg.  They will arrive at the Kamiyashiro Eki and be picked up to ride the last few blocks to the honbu.

From left:  Elder Clark, Recorder, Elder Hara, Commissarian, Elder Richard, Elder Chiba,
Elder Mikkola, Elder Milder, Elder Tano, Elder Lazaro,
Sister Hart, Sister Hodson, Elder Ellsworth and Elder Schade, AP's

At last, the next morning after some training, they get to meet their first companion and find out where they will be going.

Elder Yoshifumi Chiba

Elder Chiba, left, with Elder Harada are going to Nonami.

Elder Yoshifumi Chiba is from Sendai, Japan.  He was baptized first in the family, and his mother followed.  He has an older and a younger brother.  He wants to work hard on his mission so his family will receive blessings.  He enjoys volleyball.  He is a person who never gives up.  The experience he had when he prayed to know if the Church was true also caused him to want to serve a mission.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ has helped him forgive others and find great peace in his life.

Elder Harada really appreciates his knoweldge of the Gospel and finds resolution of 
problems through it. He feels peace and joy at church.  He feels confident that 
his mission will help him decide what to do for the rest of his life.

Sister Saya Hart

Off to Fukutoku are Sister Hart (left) and Sister Ishihara

From St. George, Utah, Sister Saya Hart comes from a family of five.  Her mother is from Shizuoka and she has a grandmother who lives there currently.  Sister Hart loves the fine arts and visual arts and plays violin and piano. She enjoys photography and would like to study that and film eventually. She is warm and friendly, kind and positive.  She has a great motto for her mission:  Loyalty to the Lord.

Sister Ishihara loves to listen to good music and she enjoys performing as well.  Music brings her joy, especially if she is the one bringing it to others.  She has received comfort, encouragement, courage and power from God through prayer.  She knows that He loves her.

Sister Leah Hodson

Sister Hodson, left, will join Sister Rogers in Yokkaichi.

From Indianapolis, Indiana, Sister Leah Hodson has two sisters, one of whom is her twin.  Sister Hodson was majoring in acting and linguistics before her mission.  She would love to visit every Disneyland in the world and win every cooking competition she enters.  She enjoys crafts, reading science fiction, and listening to classical music.  She is cheerful and humorous. Sister Rogers studied Japanese before her mission, so she entered the mission running. She is an excellent trainer and while this is the second person to be blessed by her training, there will be more.  She wants to give 18 great months of her life to her Heavenly Father because He has given her everything.

Elder Victor Lazaro

Elder Lazaro (left) and Elder Romero will be headed to Ina.

Elder Victor Lazaro hails from Curitiba, Brazil.  He is the youngest in his family, and his older sister and brother both have degrees.  After his mission, Elder Lazaro will go to BYU Provo and major in economics.  He loves math and engineering, too.  He likes talking to people, learning languages, and making people laugh.  Elder Lazaro also plays guitar, and likes movies and learning.

Elder Romero says he loves doing things.  He is a very hands-on person.  He has
had many wonderful spiritual experiences and has felt the Lord's hand guiding him.
His life hasn't always been easy, but he has come through smiling,
and he thanks family, friends and the Lord for help in doing that.

Elder Pontus Mikkola

Elder Wilcox will train Elder Mikkola (left) in Tsu.

Elder Pontus Mikkola is from Espoo, Finland.  He is the middle child, with a brother on either side. He loves art and chemistry and studied chemistry for a year before his mission.  He also has an interest in Japan and its culture, so was glad to get called to Japan.  Elder Milder likes Japanese Indie music and trying out new cooking recipes.  He says he is patient and warm-hearted, taking others into consideration in everything he does. Elder Wilcox loves and wants to travel.  He is outgoing and loves meeting new people and always seems to be happy.  He is excited to have kids and raise a family.  And he is best friends with his own siblings and loves his family "a ton!"  Elder Wilcox plays drums and has even played a show in Hollywood.

Elder Eduardo Milder

Fujieda will be home to Elder Milder (left) and Elder Matsunaga

From Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Elder Eduardo Milder has an older brother and sister, and a younger sister.  He lost his mother to cancer in 2010.  Elder Milder studied in psychology in college for one year before his mission and loves getting to know people.  He gets along well with everyone and is patient with himself and others.  He is always in a good mood. He was a professional soccer player for a while.  Elder Milder has had a special friend since he was 10 years old, and hopes to marry her when he gets home. Elder Matsunaga uses sign language and speaks English.  Some day, he would like to make a movie that changes peoples' minds about God.  He would also like to use movies to tell about our church's doctrine.  He enjoys talking with both children and adults.  He is loving and open to feeling the spirit.  He is a hard worker and kind, and doesn't like being in a bad atmosphere.

Elder Samuel Richard

Elder Richard (left) and Elder Ludlow will enjoy being in Okazaki.

Elder Samuel Richard is from Perth, Western Australia.  He is the oldest of 7 children and has four sisters.  His family is very close.  He is thinking about being a pilot, a teacher, a lawyer or an engineer after his mission.  Reading, swimming, strategy games and sports of all kinds are what he enjoys, and he also loves to meet new people.  He calls himself funny, outgoing, and focused and he works well under stress and perseveres through challenges.  He is also a good teacher.

Elder Ludlow is hard working, organized and determined.  His testimony is
another one of his strengths.  He is serving a mission because he knows
how happy the Gospel will make people, and he wants to set
a good example for his little brothers.

and Elder Jarem Tano

Kanazawa will be blessed to have Elder Tano (left) and Elder Kaneko.

From Pearl City, Hawaii, Elder Tano hopes to become an aeronautical engineer and work on planes in the Air Force.  His parents and a brother all served missions in Japan, and one of his three sisters served in Thailand.  Elder Tano gained his testimony through prayer, fasting, and scripture study over a period of time.  Part of that testimony is that he was called to be a missionary before he even came to earth.

Elder Kaneko uses sign language and speaks English.  Some day, he would like 

to make a movie that changes peoples' minds about God.  He would also 

like to use movies to tell about our church's doctrine.  He enjoys talking 

with both children and adults.  He is loving and open to feeling the spirit.  

He is a hard worker and kind, and doesn't like being in a bad atmosphere.  

Transfers, February 12, 2013, Finishers

Wouldn't you know it. Time marched on and we had transfers again.  Our finishers have become a part of our heart.   As you anticipated the great joy of seeing your son or daughter walk off that plane, we were saying goodbye to the following amazing and wonderful missionaries, who we have grown to love with all our hearts. Is there some way we could just keep them, AND keep getting the new ones?  Oh, but I'm asking their parents that question.  I guess you want your wonderful, testimony filled, matured and inspired children back.  I guess we'll just have to keep having transfers.

We sadly said goodbye to:

 

Elder Broderick Danielson

From left, Elder Roney, ward member, Elder Danielson

Missionaries are Elder Larkin, and Elder Danielson on right. 

According to missionaries who know Elder Danielson, he 

is outgoing and gets along well with others. He is musically talented  

and people like to be with him.  He is very excited to teach 

what he has known to be true his entire life.

Elder Peter Farnsworth

This is one of my favorite pictures.  The essence of "missionary."
And the "SHINKO" in the background?  "FAITH"

Service and Smiles
Elder Burnett and Elder Farnsworth

Elder Farnsworth is a hard worker and according 

to other elders, he never complains.  He also loves 

to tell stories and is very good at it.

Elder Zachary Gish

Elder Gish (left) and Elder Hara with two darling
Matsumoto princesses.

Elder Gauthier and Elder Gish

Elder Gish loves to break dance, and even managed to get 

himself in a mission video doing a bit of it.  He loves his companions, 

and for that matter, he just seems to love everyone.

Elder Chad Hilyard

Just a little kick to the soccer ball.

From left:  Elder Farnsworth, Elder Ito, Elder Hilyard, and Elder Matson

Elder Hilyard said at the beginning of his mission that he was shy until he 

got to know people.  He must have overcome that on his mission, because 

other missionaries describe him as someone who loves talking to people and 

who is very good at it.  He is friendly and positive and funny.

Sister Mariah Hunt

Sister Saito, Sister Yamada, and Sister Hunt

Beautiful inside and out.  Sister Fujisawa, and Sister Hunt on right.

Sister Hunt is a good writer.  But what people love most about her is 

that she gets along well with everyone.  She is easy to talk to and warm-hearted.  

Elder Axel Kerksiek

Elder Adachi, and Elder Kerksiek on right.
Doing what missionaries do best.

Elder Wakamatsu and Elder Kerksiek on right, at Suwa Castle.

Elder Kerksiek is easy going with a good sense of humor.  

He can find humor in about anything, so he makes missionary 

work fun.  He is very easy to get along with.

Elder Joshua Matson

Elder Matson on left, with Elder Dunn and two genuine, bonafide Samurai Warriors.
Actually, it's the other way around.  Two genuine, bonafide missionaries.

Elder Ahuna and Elder Matson.  Don't you think
missionaries look more handsome
when they are serving?

Elder Matson gets kudos from other missionaries for being 

hard working and obedient.  He loves to learn and seems to want 

to know everything he can.  He is also very good at Japanese.  When he gets 
home, he will be working on dance and taekwando.

Sister Chalese West

Sister West on left, with Sister Adachi and Sister Hunt.

Darling workers.  From left, Sister West, Sister Masuda, Sister Adachi, Sister Nishimuro

Sister West stands out as being FAST.  She loves to run and 

can do it well.  But she also has great spiritual gifts--she is kind, 

patient, has good knowledge of the scriptures, and a sweet testimony of the Gospel.

and Sister Maori Takatsu

Sister Takatsu loves the Book of Mormon!

Sister Takatsu and Sister Stott

Sister Takatsu has a wonderful knowledge of the scriptures.  

You can tell that by just looking at her scriptures; they are well loved!  

She also has good English and loves to smile and laugh.

What Is A Miracle?

Ogaki, the Miracle Area, by Elder Axel Kerksiek

What is a miracle?  To me a miracle is a personal recognition of God’s power which results in greater testimony, faith, and learning.  Well, let me tell you about a story of a missionary who had such a miracle:

I had only been in Gokiso for two transfers; my companion had been there longer than me.  I thought for sure I wasn’t going to transfer.  We were seeing great success in Gokiso and I was growing old as a missionary.  Transferring was not what I thought I wanted.  Well, as you can guess, transfer calls came and I was being transferred to an area that I knew was having little to no success and was basically broken.  It was hard to leave.  I was sad, angry and lost all motivation.  However, I pressed forward hoping something good would happen.

I got to Ogaki and tons of great things did happen!  I want to tell you about one unforgettable miracle that didn’t end with people in white clothes getting ready to go into baptismal font water, but remember that a miracle is meant to teach and inspire you.

During my first Eikaiwa class in Ogaki a new student came to our class.  He called before and asked to join.  Of course, we said yes!  During his first time in our class, we did an Eikaiwa interview with him.  We found out a little bit about him.  His name is Sato, Toshiki.  He is 18 years old and has a dream to be a fire fighter in Washington D.C.!  We asked if he wanted to know more about the Church and he said yes.  He told us that he just got back from visiting his friend and her family who live in Washington, D.C.  He told us that his friend is a member of our church, and while he was in D.C. for one week, he went to church, prayed, read scriptures, and had FHE with his friend and her family.  WAY TO GO, MEMBER FRIEND!  He told us that he felt good and wanted to feel those same feelings again.

We set up meeting with him two times a week every week.  Teaching him was as easy as pie.  We taught him and committed him to be baptized within the first two weeks of meeting.  He said yes to everything.

We set up a time to meet with his whole family (6 people).  Our first visit with them went so well!  Toshiki’s member friend’s non-member mom was there and she was backing us up on everything.  The whole family became investigators after that night.

I remember on the drive home that night I felt so much joy and happiness.  I could see the potential for them as a family and I could see God working His miracles.

Well, as I said before, this isn’t the perfect story.  We hit some obstacles trying to get permission for Toshiki to be baptized.  We met with the family again.  We did an FHE and had a great time.  Even Toshiki’s member friend’s non-member mom was there and again she was backing us up on everything.  However, Toshiki’s parents still wanted him to wait.

Instead of giving up or weakening in commitment, Toshiki told us that he wanted to continue learning until he gets permission.  He wasn’t giving up.

So for about four months we kept meeting him and reviewing with him all the lessons.  We helped him start reading the book of Mormon on his own. (He is at the end of Mosiah right now).  Of course, he had some challenges, but he got over them and his desire to be baptized increases every time we meet.  One of our members said this about his situation, “When you tell someone they can’t do something, they resolve to do it even more.”

From December to February we were trying so hard to meet with Toshiki’s parents again and make a goal together when he could be baptized.  However, for two months they eluded us with all sorts of excuses from their bag of excuses for missionaries.  But I had a powerful card.  So I used it.  I used the “I-am-going-home-to-America-and-I-really-want-to-meet” card.  It worked.

We were able to meet with Toshiki’s mom last week (last week of my mission.)  My hope was to see Toshiki be baptized before I went home.  He is so ready.  He can be baptized any day if he just gets permission.  However, my hope was not realized.  I don’t know why, but I trust God and His timing.

We met with Toshiki’s mom, but after dinner and before we could talk to her she ran away to go to another appointment.  It was sad.  I wasn’t going to be able to see one of my best friends in Japan be baptized.

However, I learned a lot.  I learned that it is not about me, it’s about him.  I am confident that some day he will be baptized, and I will be just as happy.  I am so grateful to have met him and have been able to teach him and share my testimony with him. My appreciation for this two-year opportunity increased and my love for others has increased also.

Right now Toshiki is doing great.  He is doing what he can to be worthy to be baptized.  He has made some hard choices, especially for an 18 year old, but it has resulted in his strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is not the only miracle that I have seen in Ogaki.  There are tons more.  Every day here has been joyful, every day an adventure.  I am grateful that God knows me and prepared all of these blessings for me, hidden in my last area, Ogaki.  It is my miracle area.  I have made lifelong friendships here, I have overcome challenges, I have seen people grow so strong as a result of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

Maybe my miracle stories are not miracles to others, but God knows us individually and give us individual teachings and experiences so that we can develop our individual talents and overcome our individual weaknesses.

I can never forget Ogaki and I hope I never will.  I came here with all odds against me for any success, but God had planned and is still doing a mighty work here.  He is working miracles.

Three Mission Experiences

Written by Elder Joshua Matson

One day my companion and I were on our way to an appointment when we began to run into some problems.  The member who was going to pick us up went straight to the investigators house and our phone died. It was a train wreck!  My companion and I ran home, plugged our phone in and called our investigator to cancel, but something didn’t feel right.  I talked to my companion and we decided that there was something we needed to do at the train station.

The next thing we knew, we were on a trail back to the station.  When we arrived, I turned to my junior companion and told him to point at the first person he thought looked remotely like someone we should talk to. 

Within three seconds, he pointed to a man in a blue shirt.  We talked to him for a few minutes and we were able to make great friends.  We even got his phone number and he became an investigator the next day.  This experience has been a testimony builder for me of the power of the spirit.

Written by Sister Chalese West

I think the experience that stands out to me as the most miraculous experience, and one that I’m deeply grateful for is the experience I’ve had working with Kajita Yuuji san.  We (Sister Ishihara and I) had been really trying to find new investigators, but weren’t able to find anyone.  So we fasted the next Fast Sunday to be able to find people we could teach.  

That Sunday as we were just finishing the missionary coordination meeting, a ward member rushed down to get us to tell us there was a new face at church that day.

We hurried upstairs with him to see who it was.  That’s when we first met Kajita san.  He explained that he’d gone to church in the Philippines, but 7 months ago when he moved to Japan he thought the Church wasn’t established here.  But he did a search on the internet and found the Church and where the closest ward was.  He then came by himself to church that Sunday.

After Sunday School we talked with him a little more and made an appointment to meet again.  The next Saturday we reviewed the message of the Restoration with him.  We asked him if when he met the missionaries before, if they had asked him to pray to know if it was true.  He said they had.  We asked if he’d done as the missionaries asked.  He said that he had.  So we asked how he felt when he prayed to know if it was true.  He paused and then said, “I feel it is true.  I don’t know how to describe it.  I just feel it’s true.  I don’t have any doubt.”

I was so blown away I didn’t know what to say.  But then I felt I needed to ask him right then if he would be baptized.  However, the member who came with us was a little faster than me and said, “So what then?  You are saying you want to be baptized then, right?”  He said, “Yes, I want to be baptized.”

I was and still am so amazed at his faith.  He is an example to me.  He had a beautiful baptism service on Feb. 9^th and bore a strong spiritual testimony of his faith.  He was confirmed on Feb. 10^th.

Written by Elder Zachary Gish

The last day as a missionary is one of the craziest feelings ever!  As soon as this day came, a reflection of my entire mission flowed through my mind.  All of the amazing people I have met!  All of the areas I went to! And all of the people I taught and shared my testimony about the Restoration of the Gospel!  It’s crazy to think how fast time actually flew.  Everyone said it would, but I never thought it could happen.  It’s truly the best definition of feeling of a bitter sweet feeling. 

I’m super excited to see my family, but I will miss Japan SO MUCH!  I always knew one day I would return to my family back home.  But when will I have the chance to come back to Japan and see all the wonderful people I met?  My heart is filled with joy like Ammon to have served Japanese people.  I can never forget them.  I will miss them dearly.  But I am grateful for these two years and I will forever be grateful for my God who gave me this opportunity to be called to Japan Nagoya Mission.  HOIZA! HOIZA! HOIZA!

Inochi no Michi, January, 2013

Click on a picture to increase size.

Inochi no Michi

B13

The confessions haven’t been abundant but they have been consistent. “Key Chain? Umm…nice??..” , seems to have been the most common response to one of the small Christmas gifts to our missionaries. “An extra bag of Skittles or a candy bar would have been, “NIICE!”. A Key Chain??? Perhaps a little bit of explanation will help reconcile ambivalence and imbue the gift with a small measure of value.

Your new key chain (hope you haven’t disposed of it already), has three elements that may stimulate a sense of value. The first element is our mission: The Japan Nagoya Mission. The second element is HOIZA and the third is a symbol that may look like the letter B, it may look like the number 13. It is both. Let’s talk about each of the symbols in turn.

The Japan Nagoya Mission: This is the place. It is here that we found Christ. We found him in the extremity of our service—cold nights and early mornings, summer days hot enough to evaporate body fluids clear to our core and still we rode on in hopes of finding just one person that would listen to the greatest message in the world. That message is simple. A man who once was dead lives again and brings the promise of life after death to all the human family. Despite rejection we opened our mouths again. The challenge of a foreign tongue did not dissuade us—we tried, failed and tried again. In all of that, our afflictions, we were sustained by the Holy Ghost and the great sign of its presence—a pervading sense that our Heavenly Father loves us and His Son is well pleased. Just like missionaries in the scriptures we face affliction and find “incomprehensible joy” (Alma 28:8). Just like those who found Christ at the waters of Mormon have a fondness for the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon (Mosiah 18:30), we who found Christ here, in our extremity, say with them, “the streets of Nagoya, the cherry blossoms of Nagoya, the people of Nagoya, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer…” Use your new key chain in that spirit. Each time you feel it in your pocket, remember the sweetness of the waters of Nagoya and how you came to know your Redeemer more intimately here. Throughout your life when you get an apartment key at school your new car key, a key to the church—use this key chain so that each time you insert a key the memory of the sweetness of the Love of God will flood over you. The Japan Nagoya Mission. This is the place!

HOIZA: A battle cry unique to the Japan Nagoya Mission. A reminder that YOU are the Hope of Israel, YOU are a member of Zion’s Army. “Hope Of Israel Zion’s Army”, proclaims the hymn by Joseph L. Townsend and William Clayson (Hymns E259, J159). It is a reminder of our purpose as missionaries; to bring others to Christ by helping to cultivate faith in Him and His atonement. It reminds us that ours is the errand of angels and that by our ministering men and women in Japan began to exercise faith in Christ (Moroni 7:25). Some of those we help to repent, receive baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and we encourage them to endure to the end. We continue to be the Hope of Israel and Zion’s Army even after we leave this place. We are the Hope of Israel to friends and family, future spouse and children. In all future callings and church service we are the Hope of Israel and faithful members of Zion’s Army. Wherever any one of us serves let us do so with “power” and with “testimony”, “rising up and coming forth…clear as the moon, fair as the sun, and TERRIBLE as an army with banners” (D&C 5:14). As a new bishop or Relief Society President when you insert your key to the church for the very first time—remember that—remember your charge to serve with power and testimony and terrible as an army with banners. Let your key chain bring that to your remembrance. HOIZA!

B-13: Japan is a country rich in tradition of family honor. Let the letter B on your key chain represent your commitment to honor all of your ancestors. Though the letter B was chosen because it represents my surname Baird, the ancestors this symbol represents are not all named Baird. Whether it be Orton or Watkins, Ito or Wakamatsu, it is all the same. Even if your surname does not begin with the letter B, let that symbol represent them. They sacrificed much—everything, in fact, so that you could enjoy this time in earth’s history. We have greater opportunities for learning and education, opportunities for rewarding jobs and careers, opportunities to serve other people and most importantly we have the opportunity to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ restored in its fullness. We have the ordinances of salvation. We have the scriptures and prophets. We have it all and we owe it to those who went before us, those who paved the way, those who sacrificed so that we could have and create a better world. We owe them. We pay our debt by honoring their name—never engaging in any behavior that would bring dishonor or stain to their name.

I invite you to embrace the B. It is not intended to supplant your own good name of Wilkinson or Roney or Sambongi. Let the B represent them too. In addition, Sister Baird and I invite you to make a little place in your heart that you stamp with the name of Baird. You are ours—given to us out of the world by assignment of prophets. Each time Sister Baird and I have been instructed in our role of Mission President and Wife, by a member of the twelve, they underscore that our relationship with you, the missionaries assigned to the Japan Nagoya Mission in 2010-2013 are our responsibility until the day we die. Ours is not a three year assignment, it continues at least as long as we draw breath in this tabernacle of clay. In 3 Nephi 19:29, Christ prays for those of the Nephites that were with him in these words, “Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world…”. In that same way, Sister Baird and I pray for you who have been given to us out of the world. My own feelings of paternal love toward my Mission President, Harrison Ted Price, do not in any way diminish my love for my mortal father or other ancestors. My love toward Sister Price is deep and enduring. These two shaped my life. They were in deed, to me, father and mother and there is a part of my heart that is stamped with the name of Price. I strive to honor that name and their lives too. Embrace the B.

13: There are at least three meanings to the 13 symbol on your key chain: One is the 13^th Article of Faith, the second is 13 Christlike attributes and the third is 13 steps to help us cleanse our lives on a regular basis and to cultivate in place of the sins we sweep away, attributes of Jesus Christ.

Of the 13 Articles of Faith, the 13^th reads like a Creed, a commitment a life-style. It speaks of pursuing virtues, it delineates some of them. The connection between the 13^th Article of Faith and the Christlike attribute of Charity is boldly proclaimed. Studying the connections between the 13^th Article of Faith and other Christlike attributes will be a rewarding quest.

The scriptures are rich with the teachings of Christ and they proclaim His attributes. Famously, these attributes are summarized in at least three key places; Preach My Gospel chapter 6, 2 Peter 1, and Doctrine and Covenants section 4. Preach My Gospel lists 9 attributes, 2 Peter 1 also lists 9 attributes. Though there is significant overlap, the lists are not exactly the same. Doctrine and Covenants section 4 lists 12 attributes and captures all of the attributes on the other two lists with the exception of one, obedience. Obedience, clearly an important attribute of the Savior, does not appear in D&C 4. If we take the attributes listed in D&C 4 and add to it the attribute of obedience, we have a total of 13 attributes and a complete list of all those listed in all three places. The list includes, Faith, Hope, Charity and Love, Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence, Obedience, Eye Single to the Glory of God, Temperance, Godliness and Brotherly Kindness. 13 Christlike Virtues!

Peter promises that by these things we make our calling and election sure—he promises that we will never fall if we cultivate these attributes so that they abound in us. So important is the promise that Peter commits that he will not be negligent to put us always in remembrance of these things (2 Peter 1:12). He underscores his intent in verse 13, “as long as I am in this tabernacle..” he intends to put us in remembrance. He goes even further in verse 15, even “after my decease”, Peter makes it clear, he will endeavor to put these things in our remembrance. I am moved by Peter’s words and his commitment. When I read them and ponder my hopes for you, it is that you would have a place in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. That your calling and election to that place would be made sure, is my hope. The paraphrased charge of modern prophets rings in my ears… “President Baird, you are responsible for these missionaries, for their growth, progress and salvation until the day you die… and beyond”. In Peter’s words I find a hopeful path—a path that will bring you home to our Father, a path that will help me fulfill my responsibilities to you. As you use that key chain, now, you can think of those 13 attributes that will lead you back home. As you cultivate these 13 things in your own life you have the promise of virtue and glory. And when you and I are separated, this small gift, the one you might have traded for Skittles or a candy bar, can continue to stir you to remembrance of these 13 virtues. When you unlock your car door to go on your first date after your mission you will feel the key chain in your hand and be stirred to remembrance of virtues. When you unlock the doors of your business each morning you will be stirred to remembrance of Christ and His attributes. Some days, you will stop and just look at the key chain before you go through the door and you will smile as the spirit rushes over you and testifies and stirs and reminds. And even after my demise as you put your keys into the ignition of your car to come to the funeral, you will be stirred up to remembrance. Each time you are stirred to remembrance you may want to review the 13 steps of daily personal devotional and companionship study that will help you to grow together with an eternal companion as you work to stir yourselves and your children to remembrance of these things by which we become partakers of a divine nature.

Finally the symbol is also a 1 and a 3. The 1 reminds you that you are an individual with talents unique to you. It reminds you that God intended you to use your unique gifts as part of the orchestra of humanity—each person working in harmony with those around her or him to create the beautiful music that is the song of redeeming love. The 1 reminds you that as an individual you are responsible for your own choices. You are responsible for your own salvation. But the 3 reminds you that in the expression of your talents and gifts and in all your individual responsibilities, you are connected in very personal, intimate ways with each member of the Godhead. God the Eternal Father is the literal Father of your spirit. His DNA, His attributes are in you. You have in you the potential to become like Him (Acts 17:27-28; Romans 8:16-17). He loves you and cheers for you and yearns for your success and will do all within His considerable power to help—being limited only by your agency. You are born a son or a daughter of Jesus Christ because of His atoning sacrifice. King Benjamin teaches us that we become the offspring of Christ (Mosiah 5:7) as we embrace Him as our Savior and Redeemer. Finally, the Holy Ghost is your personal guide. You have been given the gift of the companionship of a member of the Godhead—the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will warn you against threat and danger, physically, temporally, spiritually. In quiet and subtle ways the Holy Ghost will suggest a path for you. Importantly the Holy Ghost will testify to you of truth—especially of the Father and the Son and your connection to them (3 Nephi 11:36). Any one of these three could be considered the most powerful being of the universe. All three stand ready to aid you in the expression of your talents, gifts and responsibilities. You are one, but you are not alone. Remember that when you use the keys on your key chain to unlock the door to a darkened home—empty because your family is away on a fun outing which work or church responsibilities prevented you from enjoying. Remember, when you open that door with keys on this key chain that you are not alone. They will be with you, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. They love you and so do President and Sister Baird.

May we be called to and claim Virtue and Glory through Remembrance is my prayer.

President Baird

First Impressions

When I arrived in Nagoya fresh from the MTC and first walked through the gate at the airport, I saw President and Sister Baird and the mission staff all there waiting for us.  Everyone was smiling, and I felt like I was meeting a part of my family for the first time.  Everyone was extremely friendly, loving and excited to meet us.  

After we got our luggage situated and President and Sister Baird had met everyone, President Baird talked with us about what would happen next.  We were going to go to the mission home on the train, and we were going to proselyte while on the train!  I was going to be talking to people for real!!  I was excited and nervous for the same reason.  I knew that the Lord would help me, so I felt more reassured that things would go well.

Once we got on the train, I was able to work with Whitney Baird, the Baird’s daughter who recently returned from a mission in Kobe, Japan.  It was fun to proselytize with her.  She knew exactly what to say and was easy to follow along with.  I loved getting to talk to the people for the first time, even though it was scary at first. 

I really enjoyed being able to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Japan.  Though many times I didn’t understand what Whitney or the other people said, I was happy to bear testimony of God and Jesus Christ.  It was a great experience, and I am so glad I got to do it that way. 

Sister Tianna Breck