Elder Johnson's e-mail dated March 28, 2011 - Questions and Answers

Hi Mom,

Thanks for the e-mail.

Can you buy me Religous Truths Defined by Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. off of Amazon and send it to me, ASAP?

What service projects? where?

Monday - P-day: e-mails, shopping, laundry

Tuesday - District Meeting

Wednesday - Food Pantry

Thursday - Musk-Ox Farm

Friday - Weekly Planning Session

Saturday - Various, hopefully lessons or tracting

Sunday - Church

Are you and Elder Bird doing these service projects together?

Of course, we have to stay within sight and sound of one another at all times. So, if I'm working on the computer at the Musk-Ox Farm, Elder Bird's chopping wood just outside the office--where I can hear and see him.

Are there other missionaries there?

Yes, most often times there are other missionaries--mainly from our district.

When you go on splits, who are the other missionaries that you trade off with or do you do splits with members?

Splits are with other members, and we only do splits on Wednesday evenings. Priest-age young men or priesthood holders take us out, and we have to companionships working the area at once. Exchanges are with other missionaries, and we only usually do it once a transfer, where our district leader will go on exchanges with the senior companion--a way to check up and oversee how things are going. Elder Luke was District Leader my first two transfers, so I went on exchanges four times a transfer (one for each companionship in our district), but now we don't do that.

What are their names?

I went on exchanges with Elder Flynn this past transfer. Elder Flynn, from Arkansas, I think.

Who are those other missionaries? 

Every missionary in our district or zone will usually play basketball at the stake center. Other missionaries include: Elders Flynn, Williams, Christenson, Benage, Woratyla, Anderson, Goodwin, Rarig, amongst others. 

What do you feel about them? 

Most of them are a bunch of goobers. But some of them like to work hard--and are here for the right reasons--and some of them don't and are not.

Anything funny ever happen when you are around those guys?

Sure. Just the random you-had-to-be-there-to-think-it's-funny kind of funny.

Are you prepared for a transfer? 

I need to stay one more, and we'll have six baptisms here in Colony.

Transfers are next week, right?

Wrong. Transfers are the week after next--April 11.

Where in Alaska would you like to be transferred to eventually?

I don't care. But I'd prefer somewhere in a city, like Fairbanks or Juneau or Anchorage. Missionaires in the bush don't teach much. Honestly, I don't care where I go. I like reading, teaching, and talking to people. When you're on your mission, all that other stuff doesn't matter because you don't get to take advantage of it. I don't care about fishing or anything outdoors. I just want a heavily populated area where I can talk to as many people as possible.

What was your most recent spiritual experience. 

Blessed a sick, non-member with the Stake Patriarch.

Are you writing these down in a journal?

No. I'm too busy reading and recording. But I have detailed records of everyone that we're teaching, so that's journal-like.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Elder Johnson's e-mail, March 21, 2011

Hi Dad,

Yeah, I've heard a little about BYU's b-ball success. That's pretty cool.

I should be just fine in my bank account. I've had to spend a little bit of
money from it recently. But I don't anticipate spending anymore for a while.
Thank you for keeping me up-to-date on it; I'm being frugal and am budgeting
my expenses. But I've had a couple unexpected expenditures.

*I was going to ask you if have been able to keep up your work out schedule each morning and continuing eat a pretty healthy diet?  *

I am. I eat a bowl of Cherios every morning.  Then for lunch I have a sandwich or

salad--and then whatever is made for me at dinner. But right now I'm 220, down

from 243, when I left. I imagine I'll lose even more weight once I start running

this summer--whether I have a companion who wants to run or not, I'll make him.

*Did you get your new watch yet?*

I did. It's working wonderfully. Thank you. I'll send the old watch ASAP.

*Are the basketball shoes working out ok? Do you need any other gear?***

They are. Thank you for them. I do not need any other gear as of now.

Thank you so much for everything.

Love,
Elder Johnson

***************************************************** 

Hi Mom,

I did not receive your e-mail last week while I was on the computer. For whatever reason--but I have the letters now. This letter, however, is in response to your most recent one.

I haven't seen the Northern Lights yet. They come out pretty late, and we go to bed early, so it's tough to catch them. But I'm sure I'll get a chance to see them sometime in the next year-and-a-half. Year-and-a-half . . . can you believe I've been out nearly half a year? I just realized that. Time's going by SOOOOO quickly. I'm in no rush, though. A lot more work to be done.

We have been teaching a lot people. That's what we do in the Colony ward. We teach more lessons than any missionaries in Alaska. We taught 38 total lessons last week, nine of which were with members present. We teach all day, every day. In the mornings, though, from 10 to 12, we usually will do service or have district meetings. And we tract a little bit. Haven't had much time to tract yet. But in the four doors I knocked last week, we found four new people who are interested in having us come back and teach them. My tracting success rate is almost 50%--for every two doors I knock, I find one potential investigator.

  

You asked about the rule of three.  I don't know what the rule of three means. If it was you, Lauren and Brittany--we'd be able to come into your house. The Missionary Handbook, however, advises that missionaries have a member when they are visiting with a single woman. But the language says, "When possible;" sometimes it's just not possible. So missionaries must go by the spirit. But we'd walk into the house with three women, without reserve--that wouldn't be a problem.

The mission has emergency evacuation proceedures in the event of a major natural disaster. Don't fear, my dear Mother.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Elder Johnson's e-mail March 14, 2011 - FIRST BAPTISM!!!

 Elder Bird, Michael, Lisa and Elder Johnson

Same folks with Patriarch McNair

Hi Dad,

 Oh yeah, I know Elder Macpherson* very well. He's very sharp for a new
 missionary--one of the most impressive missionaries I've been around. I
 loved the guy. We did an exchange not too long ago for a day. I'd love to
 serve with him.

Thank you for sending me a working watch. I'll send you the broken one ASAP.

I hope you start feeling better.

Please check my account regularly. Sorry I had a few miscellaneous
 expenditures this week that added up. I do not forsee using my personal card
 anytime soon. Please make sure that I didn't overdraw.

We had a wonderful baptism on Saturday. Michael Kulowiyi and Lisa
 Lehrman-Bon. Here's a picture. In it you will also see our Stake Patriarch,
 Brother McNair, who, by the way, absolutely loves me. He's asked me to come
 back and marry his daughter when she gets back from Med school, so that he
 and I can spend more time together. Never seen the daughter--not even a
 picture--don't even know her age--but I told him I would anyways, because
 he's way cool. Reads a lot, knows a lot. Most of our lessons with Lisa and
 Roger and Michael were me and him making fun of each other. Patriarch McNair
 performed the ordinances for Lisa and Elder Bird for Michael. I wanted Elder
 Bird to get a chance to perform the baptismal ordinance for Michael. I
 thought that'd cheer him up, so I recommended it to work the way that it
 did.

We had the McNairs at every lesson with Roger and Lisa. I knew right from
 the beginning that they'd all love each other. That's the way it worked out.
 Lisa's already got a calling. Michael's already got the Aaronic Priesthood.
 The family is solid. A solid conversion--it's been a blessing to be a part
 of.

Love,

Elder Johnson

*Steve wrote this to Brad in his e-mail, "We had a visiter (high priest) from Utah in our ward yesterday who said he has a newphew who has been serving in Alaska (the Valdez area) for about two months now--Elder Macpherson.

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