Elder Johnson's E-mail - March 7, 2011

Hi Mom,

Thanks for the funny letter. The screen door stories were funny.*

Speaking of baptisms: we do have a baptism--two actually--this weekend. Lisa Lehrman-Bon and Michael, the son are getting baptized. It was funny how it worked out.  Two weeks ago, I extended an invitation for Lisa to be baptized--we call it a conditional baptismal invitation: "Lisa, as you come to know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, will you be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?"

It's a reasonable question, so most answer in the affirmative, as did Lisa at that time. Then after she said yes so willingly, I thought it appropriate to extend a specific date. I said: "Lisa, we will be holding a baptismal service on March 12, will you prepare yourself for baptism on that date?"

She said no, no I'm not ready for a specific date. Sorry, she said, don't mean to shut you down, but I don't like dates.

Usually, we would then pry a little and try to find her concern--why she feels she's not ready to accept a specific date--and then resolve it. But I felt prompted to not do that. So I just said, "Okay, no problem. This is a big decision; baptism is a serious step of faith, and we want you to feel comfortable--we want to go at your own pace." And then we left it at that.

The next week, we watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration with her and her family. Afterwards she said: Okay, I'm ready to be baptized and so is Michael--how soon can we do it?

Lisa's pretty cool. She's a very smart lady. Got her master's degree in some ancient historical study. She's studied many different religions. Was formerly Lutheran but left because she was unsatisfied with their doctrine. But she's 100% pleased with the Book of Mormon, says it totally makes sense. We still have to teach her the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing, so we'll see how she responds. But I feel good about it. If God wills it, her and Michael's baptism will take place this weekend at 5:30 PM.

I don't really care about P-days. It's the worst day of the week. It's long and boring, no teaching, nothing, so I usually just do whatever my companion wants to do.  Elder Bird likes to be around other missionaries, so we usually play sports. And now its getting to be lighter outside, usually light from 7 AM to 6:30/7 PM. It's extremely noticable, compared to what it was. And it's changed quickly. Each day we gain about 5 minutes of daylight. It hasn't been too cold lately, but the wind has been killer. 30+ MPH for 7 days straight--today's the first day without much. Makes it tough to do missionary work, though. At least the finding aspect. People don't want to talk on their doorstep when the wind's kicking, so they tell you to come back later, or simply just go away, preferrably somewhere inside.

Here's an e-mail that President Dance sent me. He doesn't usually respond to weeklies, so I thought it was pretty cool.

Dear Elder Johnson,

 

Exceptional letter as always - exceptional missionary.  We are so blessed to have you!!

 

I loved your comments about Mormon.org.  You have really amplified its early use in your area and we will all learn from your good example.

 

There must be a baptism around the corner in Colony.  I can feel it!

 

Much love,

 

Pres. Dance

I HAVE ANOTHER NEED: TO DAD

My watch sucks. Sucks majorly. It hasn't worked since I got to the MTC. I haven't mentioned it, because I've too busy to think about it. But I'm fed up. I wear it every day, only for looks, because it can't keep time to save my life. I have to reset it every hour if I wanted it to stay on time. Will you please send me another watch? I don't care what kind, as long as it has a leather band and can keep time. Or you can send me money sufficient to buy a decent watch up here, which is $50. But I think it'd be cheaper if you sent me one. If you want to take a look at the one I have, take it back or whatever, then I'll be happy to send it home.

Let me know what you want to do.

Love,

Elder Johnson 

*(from my letter to Brad) So, yesterday, Dad is walking though the kitchen and he grabbed a bag of trash and BOOM walked right through the screen door!  Pulled it off its tracks and everything.  We had to take the handle off to get it back into the track and get it pulling open and closed again.  If it had to happen, I'm glad it happened to Dad first.  That way, he can't be mad at us if we do it!  Wow.  But it is great to have a screen door open and no bugs coming in.  Oh yea, Sugar ran into the door too, but she just bounced off of it.  Then she wouldn't go out when I tried to show her that it was ok.  Poor Suggie.

 

MTC celebrates 50th anniversary - ksl.com

MTC celebrates 50th anniversary - ksl.com

E-Mail, Monday, February 21, 2011 - Finally, some pictures!!!

The Musk Ox Farm

The Musk Oxen

Elder Johnson, the Musk Ox Farmer

Dear Mom:

Thanks for the e-mail. I'll do that thing with the pictures next Monday. I'm running late already and need to finish this project for the Musk-Ox Farm, which President Dance gave me exclusive permission to do. But you will be happy to know that I did take some pictures at the Musk-Ox Farm and am being a little more picture conscious now.

Those D&C movies are good. Watched them all on a P-day a couple P-days ago.

All that stuff is cool about Coach Roach and the Wall's.

Thanks for the V-Day package. It was a nice thought. But I'll be honest: Sweets don't do a thing for me. We get fed like crazy up here. I appreciate the thought, though.  I'm sorry but I'm on a diet and trying to stay fit. If I don't shun sweets like the plague, I'll blow up again.

But, I do know what you can do for me during holidays. This would help me greatly. Whatever the holiday is, you can create something that is in keeping with the holiday, but at the same time has a spiritual message, and then make 20 of them, send them in the mail, and then I can give those to investigators and potentials.

For example, this is what I did for Valentine's Day. I bought a bunch of Whitman's Sampler V-Day heart boxes, wrapped them in red wrapping paper, then I wrote on a little heart stationary note-paper the verse from John 15: As I have loved you, love one another . . . something like that. And then we went to all of our investigators and gave it to them. That type of thing really helps me. You and the girls could do that for every holiday, and it would be a wonderful gift to me and do a lot more for me than candy. Will you do that for now on?

Thank you for everything you do, Mom. I love you.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Hi Dad,

I wish we had more home teachers like you out here. We might be able to activate more of these less-actives. But we do have some solid members with resources and skills. We just had Brother Lentz and his two boys tow an investigator of ours. I'm not afraid to ask members for help--but I try to spread the
service opportunities.

That's really been my focus this past couple of weeks--working with members,
getting them to help spread the Gospel and serving. I've started a lot of
finding programs that I hope will garner more member referrals.

As for your questions:

So how the heck are you doing?

I'm doing great. Feeling great. Man, I wake up every morning at 5:45 AM,
then I get to freaking work, and I don't stop until 10:30 PM. Been losing
weight, playing B-Ball on P-days, which, by the way, I need my B-Ball shoes.
I want to wait and see if they transfer me though first, so don't send them
yet.

We're killing it right now, we are teaching up a storm. I was talking to the Assistants the other day at Zone Conference--we've got the best numbers in the mission right now.  So I'm as happy as can be.

What have you been studying lately?

The New Testament--read through the Pauline Epistles in chronological order
(which I'd recommend you do when you get there) this past week. I'll be done
in three days with the NT, and then I'll re-read Jesus The Christ, and then
D&C.

What book would you be reading right now if you were able to read anything
you wanted and why?

I'd be all over those Finance books, particularly the CFA study manuals and
the modeling books. I really miss finance and numbers. I also miss fiction,
but mainly finance--the scriptures sooth my need for fiction as of now.

But surprisingly enough, I've been working on Excel a lot. President Dance
has given me permission to work on Excel to create forms, models, etc. that
benefit the area. He also gave me permission to create a model for the
Musk-Ox Farm. Oh, and that recording system I created--President Dance loved
it, and he's going to send it to all the missionaries in the mission.

Have a great week. Thanks for the letter. Talk to you later. Tell Marcus I
said Hi, and tell him to write me a letter when he gets a chance.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Elder Johnson's e-mail - February 14, 2011 "P-Days"

Hi Mom,

 For your questions - Tell me what you do on your p-days. 

P-Days we bring our laundry to the Atkinson's, who then make sure it gets changed over (only two loads: whites and others); then we go to the Mat-Su college, small, community college like, and e-mail and write our weeklies electronically to President Dance. Then we go to Walmart and do our shopping, and then we eat lunch--sometimes we eat out, sometimes just make something back at home. Then we are free to do whatever until it's time for dinner. During that free time, we will usually go to the stake center and play sports with the other missionaries--mostly basketball. I'm trying to find some cheap b-ball shoes locally, but if I can't this week, I will request that dad send my Nikes from home. But that'll be next week. With Elder Luke we'd go to Hatcher Pass and sled--it's a pretty intense mountain and you drive to the top, sled down, and then drive up again. Got to have two cars to do that with so we do it with the Harman boys usually.

What do you wear?

 We wear our prosyliting clothes (white shirt, suit) in the morning, and then if we're doing an activity that requires gym clothes, etc. then we change.

Where do you go?

See top answer.

Are you brushing your teeth well?

Silly question. I'm 23 years old. I can take of myself by now I hope. But to answer your silly question. Yes, I am brushing and flossing every night and morning.

Are you still comfortable in your clothes or do you wish you had time to get some exercise in?

Oddly stated question. Seems like it has two parts. First part: Yes, I'm comfortable in my clothes. I'll probably need new white shirts and shoes, maybe suit, by my year mark, but so far so good. And I've got the necessary clothing to do everything I'm required--for now. I'll request if needed. 

Part two: No, I don't wish I had time to get some exercise in--because I do have time to get exercise in, and I do exercise daily. I do push-ups and abs every morning, in between my studies--usually hit 300 push-ups. The Zone Leaders have an olympic bench, and I haven't lost my bench much I found out this week. Put up 245 3 times, which ain't too shabby. So I've maintained my strength pretty good. And I look forward to summer so I can do a little running, besides the running I get in on P-day. But I'm eating healthy and feel healthy and have lost weight. I'm at 220 now, compared to 240 when I left. The last half of my mission I'll focus more on working out in the morning, rather than studying. But for now, I've really benefitted from the additional study I've done. My teaching skills are otherworldly. I bring the heat when I teach now.

Sincerely,

Elder Johnson 

Just realized I ended my letter Sincerely to you. Force of habit with my weeklies. Consider this my revised ending.

 

Love,

Elder Johnson

 

Elder Johnson's Letter to the Primary Children - January 31, 2011

Dear Sister Green and the Del Rio 1st Primary Children,

Thank you so much for you letters of love and encouragement. It was very nice of you to think of me; it brought a little warmth to my heart--eventhough it was negative 10 outside.

Given your letters of encouragement, it is clear that you want me to: not be homesick, keep working hard, know that I am thought of, and baptize some people. I have taken this advice and council to heart, and hopefully, I will, as the Lord wills it, have some success that I can write home about.

I love you all for your wonderful examples, and I pray that I can be the kind of missionary such a wonderful home-ward could be proud of.

With Love,

Elder Bradley Johnson

P.S. I saw a moose the other day. Awesome.

Elder Johnson's e-mail, Monday December 24, 2011

Hi Mom,

Thanks for the update and the package. I did get all of those letters from the kids. Sorry, I don't know who to send a Thank You letter to. Please send me an address of the person I should thank, and I'll write one.

My companion Elder Bird is a good Elder. I see why they sent him to me; they knew I'd keep him in line and working hard. He's hilarious and probably the weirdest dude I've met but way nice and willing to work hard when motivated. We're really teaching a ton right now. We will have a baptism soon.

We had our quarterly interview with President Dance. I met with President, and we talked about my goals and such. I finally got to show him the template I made on Excel, which tracks all of the teaching that we do and the frequency with which we teach. He asked me to send him a copy of that and a split calendar I made up and Active-Member Critique Sheet I made. He said he thinks this will greatly benefit the missionaries and provide them a better way to keep track of their visits throughout the transfer.

I've got to hurry. Here's a copy of my letter to President Dance. It is attached to this e-mail.

Oh, by the way, call Isaiah and Marcus and tell them to write me back. Thank you for all that
you do. I love you.

Love,

Elder Johnson

NOTE FROM ELDER JOHNSON'S MOM:

The missionaries in Alaska send a weekly letter to the Mission President to update him on the people that they are teaching.  Here are a few excerpts from that letter:

Dear President Dance,

Progressing Investigators:

This Sunday we saw Elizabeth Coleman and David Huycke at church, both of whom we met with during the week.

Elizabeth is progressing beautifully: she’s reading her scriptures, going to church and making friends in her Primary class; we can also tell that she has been praying each night, because her prayers have improved dramatically: before she was timid, short of words, but now she offers to pray and prays at length.

David is progressing, albeit at a geologic pace. He’s reading his scriptures, studying in-depth—tracking the Book of Mormon authorship and geography as he goes. He still smokes. He says he quite likes smoking but knows he should give it up.

We knew that Danielle Davis would not be at church because she was in Anchorage on a work trip; we expect her there this next Sunday; we also hope to extend an invitation to be baptized on February 12.

The members are very pleased with our RCLA work. Home teachers and visiting teachers call us and ask us how to best approach certain less-active families on their teaching routes. We’ve just a few families in the ward who we have not yet met, and we expect to have a chance to meet them this week.

Elder Bird and I have done as much role playing as possible in our companionship study sessions. We want to teach with fluidity and unity. We also taught seven active-member lessons (26 total lessons) to improve our teaching skills.

Sincerely,

Elder Bradley Johnson

Elder Johnson's E-Mail - Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Hi Dad.  (Sorry Mom. We ran out of time. I'll write you a long one next week),

I wake up every morning at 6 AM, sometimes before the alarm even rings. And when I'm up, I'm up and ready to go. I think I'll be like you after my mission; I won't be able to sleep past 8 AM.

We got transfer calls yesterday (Monday). Today is our P-day, and today we will have our transfer. My new companion's name is Elder Bird. He will be the Senior companion.

This past week was our most successful week in Colony--an ideal week to send off Elder Luke; he truly worked all the way up to his departure, never slowed down once. We had the opportunity to teach 22 total lessons, not including active member lessons.

We have been blessed with a strong investigator pool. We meet weekly with Elizabeth Coleman. She has come to church about five weeks in a row; she reads and prays daily; she knows the Book of Mormon is true and has accepted an invitation for baptism and confirmation for receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Speaking with her mother, Sister Coleman, Elizabeth's baptism will take place in the month of May; we have been unable to arrange a specific date because Sister Coleman does not know which week of May she will return from the Slope. We will continue to meet with Elizabeth regularly and stress church attendance.

Danielle Davis went to church this past week. She enjoyed herself. She will be in Anchorage this next week for work, but we have planned to meet with her the beginning of next week to find our more of her church experience. We have had two wonderful lessons with her: the last one, this past week, covered the first half of lesson two. She continues to read and pray; she says she believes that God would call modern-day prophets because he has done so in the past--this point of doctrine she brought up in our review of the first lesson. She has accepted a conditional baptism invitation; we hope to get her on date in our next meeting.

I have focused my studies this past week on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, reading all the scriptures listed in the Topical Guide and a number of conference talks on the subject. I know that as I strengthen my testimony and understanding of the Atonement, I will be a more effective teacher; I desire to teach the Atonement with power and conviction. The Atonement is the Gospel.; it is the most important event that has occurred in the entire history of created things; its significance is made clear in the works of Joseph Smith: "All things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."

Love,

Your Son

Elder Johnson's e-mail for Monday, January 10, 2011

Hi, this is Brad's mom.  The pictures he talks about in this blog are on http://matsonamission.blogspot.com/

This is Elder Matt Squires' blog, who is the Assistant to the President who helped pick Brad up at the airport.  The pictures (scroll down the blog a bit) show transfer day (which is the picture Brad is in), a picture of President and Sister Dance and some other AAM pictures!  Here is Brad's e-mail ...

Hi Mom,

That is definitely me in the picture, and that is Elder Wallace's head covering my face. I have been taking pictures, and you will get some. Here's the problem, though. The computers here are very, very slow. And the pixels on my camera are many, making for a large file. The process of converting them to a smaller file takes about 10 minutes per picture. So, in effort to be highly efficient, I have purchased a jump drive; I have been downloading pictures onto the drive, and I will send you the jump drive in the mail with like 100 pictures for you to move to your computer and then send me the jump drive back. This is a risk-free way of doing things: if the drive gets stolen, I still have all the pictures saved on my camera. You will get a jump drive sent to you in a few weeks. I'm going sledding today at Hatcher Pass, so I'll be sure to take more.

I'm not sad that Elder Luke is leaving. I'm very happy for him. He's served an honorable mission. He's got so many new family members to meet (Both his parents remarried). He deserves to go home and meet them all. I will miss him, though. He's been a tremendous companion. I am looking forward to see who my next companion will be. I do know Elder Squires and Elder Gledhill, and I know it won't be either of them. But they're great missionaries, and I wouldn't mind serving with them.

I have not been to the Anchorage Temple and don't anticipate going for a while. Only Anchorage missionaries are allowed to go, and only once every quarter. We're here for missionary work, not Temple work--Temple work is reserved for you, so get going more often! And get Dad out there, too. I know it's been closed, though--heard that somewhere but forgot.

For your Restoration question: I would like you to read pages 31 through 45 in Preach My Gospel. Will you do that for me? By next week, okay? But to answer your question, which was a similar question I had the other day. Why did there have to be the Great Apostasy? Answer: There didn't. There shouldn't have been. But there was. Why? Because we all have our free agency on earth. That was the design before we ever got here--we were to choose our way.

Throughout time, God has called prophets in each dispensation. And throughout time, as recorded in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price and D&C, we read of people rejecting prophets, sometimes on a large scale, which times we call apostasies. The Great Apostasy occurred because people rejected the Apostles. Read D&C 136:36-38; Amos 8:11-12; 2 Thes. 2:1-3.

But we know that God loves all His children. And when the time was right, he called another prophet on the earth-- Joseph Smith, the Prophet to restore the Kingdom of God on earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Savior.

As for Joseph Smith: Read 3 Nephi 14:15-18. The Book of Mormon is literally a fruit of Joseph Smith. Now, you tell me--it's for you to decide--is the Book of Mormon good fruit or bad fruit? If it's good fruit, if you decide from the witness you receive through prayer from the power of the Holy Ghost that it's good fruit, then you've received your answer about Joseph Smith. That's what we teach people. Any problems or issues they have about Joseph Smith, the early Church, the Pre-existence, the Godhead, the Atonement--any of the doctrine that we preach--any problem they have comes down to their testimony and faith on the Book of Mormon. That's why it is the keystone of our religion. It's either true, or it's not. 

Thank you so much for sending me the package. I haven't received it yet, but I'm sure I'll get it shortly.

I love you. Thank you for everything you do.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Elder Johnson's First Letter of the New Year! Jan.3, 2011

Hi Mom,

 

Thanks for the update.

 

That's right: 40 in Wasilla, 40 in Phoenix. I'm experiencing much the same weather you are I guess. But I've been warned explicitly: Winter's not over--the beginning of Winter starts now and goes till May. It's not uncommon for weather to change abruptly like it has: it literally went from -10 to 45 in one night. They say to expect negative temperatures again. But, for the time being, it's been nice. I only need my suit jacket to stay perfectly warm.

 

This past week, with the close of holidays, made for a tough time doing missionary work. But we were able to stay busy and teach lessons and find two new investigators. We have a pool of 30 potential investigators to go through this next two weeks before Elder Luke leaves. It will be interesting to see who my next companion is. Elder Luke thinks that I will either train a new missionary or become senior companion; I was also told by one of our Zone Leaders that he was going to recommend me as a trainer. This is not very common. Very rarely do missionaries only two transfers become trainers or senior companions. I'm not expecting anything and will strive to be humble and accept whatever the Lord calls me to do. It would, however, be nice to be able to run the show. I feel like I'm ready, but if President Dance keeps me at Junior companion, I will continue to work hard and focus on my purpose.

 

I enjoyed talking to everyone on Christmas. I'm sorry it was so short. I feel like they make that 45 minute rule as to not allow for home-sickness to set in. 45 minutes is just enough time to express our love for each other and hear how things are--enough time to strengthen our resolve to continue to work hard for the Lord. I miss you all. But I am so happy to be out here. I feel so blessed with this opportunity; I'm growing in knowledge and character--my testimony is strengthening greatly.

 

Last week, we found two Sky Lanterns in our closet, left from past missionaries. These are like mini hot-air ballons. You light a small strip of cardboard at the bottom and the heat sends these paper balloons up, up, up. So for New Year's Eve, we took these balloons to Brother and Sister Castleman, an old corky couple who love the missionaries. Reluctantly, complaining the whole way, they helped us light the cardboard--Brother Castleman thought we were going to burn the neighborhood down. And once the hot-air collected in the balloon, we released them and watched the white and purple balloons mosey up into the sky, slithering side-to-side in a somber dance of grace and freedom. And just when they were about to hit the treeline in the Castleman's yard, a gust of wind pushed them up, up, and we watched their slow, peaceful ascent to the clouds. Then Brother Castleman goes: Is two all you brought? Let's light su'more!

 

Love,

 

Elder Johnson

Christmas Phone Call - Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. (12:00 AK time)

Elder Johnson called us at 2:00 just like planned.  All four of us were on the phone with him.  We were in all different parts of the house so the phones wouldn't echo.  He sounded great!  He was having Christmas with the Farnsworth family.  They have family here in Arizona.  In fact, Sister Farnsworth's father, Brother Wittle, works in the Arizona Temple!  Small world!  Elder Luke will be leaving in 3 weeks.  He enjoyed Moose Spagetti recently and people in Alaska eat Bear meat!!!

The Farnsworths gave Brad and Elder Luke some lovely gifts (gift cards) and they are going back later for dinner.  Thank you to the Farnsworth Family from the Johnson Family!!!

Published by Donna Johnson