October 2, 2017 – Week 53!

October 14, 2017

Wow, in 2 days I'll have one year in the mission!

But more importantly.... GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS SWEET!

I could spend so much time talking about what I liked about conference, but I don't have my notes with me, and it would take forever! But, as a misisonary, I think that talk that stood out most was the one about the Book of Mormon. As already said, there is absolutely and positively NO WAY that the Book of Mormon is false. Science has tried to destroy it. People with great knowledge have tried to say it isn't true. The Book of Mormon IS true, and will stay true until the end of time. As President Nelson said "The Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel. Period." It's simple. And I love it!

This week was pretty great! As we were visiting families, a member named Angel came with us. Turns out that he is a great person to work with, because he recognizes things that sometimes us as missionaries from other parts of the world don't recognize! He was talking to one of our investigators named Sebastian, and ended up knowing some of his family! He recognized that Sebastian was part of the family he knew jsut because of his face! Later as we were contacting, he helped us get a connection to one of our contacts as he realized that her accent was that of the Selva, and he talked about where she was from, and it was awesome! He helped us share the gospel, like a member should! For all the members I know, that's my big invitation. ALWAYS share the gospel! It may be hard or awkward, but just do it! The blessings will be huge and eternal!

We also had a multi-zone conference this week! Wow, by the end of the week we were all jsut tired spiritually haha. The conference went well, and President focused on the tools we can use as misisonaries to share the gospel and to help our work as missionaries. There was a big focus on health and safety and how to use our money wisely, because it is sacred and it is money of the Lord. All this will help us be self sufficient in the future, which is great!

We also had intercambios with the zone leaders, and for these ones, we both went to the sector of the zone leaders to work. It was awesome! I worked with Elder Rosero, who has just over a year in the mission as well!

Another great part of conference weekend was that we were able to have investigators such as Leo and Sebastian come to church for the first time! What a great first experience General Conference is! I know that as we share the words of living Prophets and Apostols, we can show others that today we have servants called of God on the earth to guide us and tell us what God has revealed to them!

It is sad to hear that Elder Hales passed away, but I know for sure that he is in a state of peace now. That's the great thing about the gospel. True knowledge of the eternal plan that God has for us. Even though I have a year in the mission, I don't know everything about the gospel. I hope to learn lots more, so I can continue teaching and helping those even after the mission, both in English and Spanish and in whatever other way God finds necessary! My testimony grows every day thanks to the experiences here in the misison, and I hope that my testimony never shrivels.

The gospel is true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ here on the earth today. I belong to that church. I know that the authority of God can be found in the church. I love knowing that with this power and authority I can help others by performing sacred ordinances such as baptism. The blessings of the Priesthood (this power and authority) are available to everyone. I know it. I invite you all to know it for yourselves. Pray and ask God if these things are true!

I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Bruner