Home

Well words cannot describe the mix of emotions that are going through me right now, being home these past couple of days I am at times overwhelmed and awed at the many new things that were at one point commonplace to me. 

Saturday the 19th I received a call from my mission president, informing me that he had received a phone call from Elder Utchdorf of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Elder Utchdorf's instructions were simple, " All missionaries that would have left in June or July of this year were to be sent home" this was caused by the rising contention in the country. Whisperings of war had turned into shouts. 

Initially I was in shock when I heard that news from Presidente Poncio, then it sunk in and I cried. I didn't want to leave this country sooner than I should, I had so many goals for my new area, a new companion, but then in an answer to a heart filled prayer, I was comforted. I sustained just a little over a month ago, ElderUtchdorf as a prophet seer and revelator. I knew this was the Lord's will, my time in that part of his vineyard was over. So Tuesday morning I boarded the plane with peace knowing that I was in accordance with God's will, that I was safe and sound and that I was going HOME.

In Atlanta I had a few moments in the airport alone, since I was the only missionary going to PDX. In the terminal I read the Savoir's words in Matthew 25, where He speaks of 2 powerful parables and teaches profoundly on service to our fellowman.

1st Parable: The ten virgins and their lamps 

 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

I felt the confirmation of the Spirit tell me that I was as one of the wise virgins, I had not left the mission with a lamp half full, and yes the "Bridegroom", or final day, did come unannounced, like a thief in the night. But I was ready, I gave my all to the Lord and was ready to go home, not a day did I give less than my best effort in bringing the power of the Atonement to the lives of the Nicaraguans.

2nd Parable:  ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

I felt once more through the power of The Holy Ghost and through self reflection that I had increased my personal "talents" on the mission I had increased and magnified my office to the max. I felt peace knowing that I did give a offering  worthy of all acceptation.

The last part the Lord instructed  Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Once more I knew that I had served my Master and King. In the Book of Mormon I remembered and proved true the word's For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

The greatest gift I have received from my mission is that I have known my Master. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Great I AM, I know He did come to earth and did complete an infinite and eternal sacrifice to atone for each and every one of us. He is my Lord, my God, and My King. I love Him and have been honored to labor with Him in His vineyard. His gospel is perfect for us, to have peace and happiness. I testify and know that that gospel was restored to the boy prophet Joseph Smith. All of this I know through God's powerful word found in the Book of Mormon, it is true. Y testifico de estas cosas en el Santo nombre de Jesucristo Amen.

Stay Sweet Elder Morrison

Chambiando en la obra del Señor

This week was really interesting to say the least, I only got 1 day in my area because we had to do a mix of tasks this week, including but not limited to Brazilian embassies, multi zone conferences, being stuck in the house because of rioting, etc etc.

But we baptized!! That was cool, sadly the family was too scared to leave the house so the guy couldn't get confirmed but si Dios quiere he will get confirmed this week. Things are nuts here in Managua truth be told, the president of the country is in Cuba half avoiding getting assassinated, half trying to fight a terminal illness. The citizens are mad and tearing down monuments, burning buses, etc etc.

I personally I am not afraid for my personal well being or the Lord´s work. I know that even though all these things are happening, yet God is in control. He will set things in place based off of these events that will be beneficial in preparing the Saints and citizens here in Nicaragua to receive a temple. And as for the missionaries we have so much protection there is no need for us to worry at all. I have no doubt that we will be able to overcome these hard times and the country will receive a temple.

So please just pray for this country, it is such a wonderful and blessed place and I just want the best for this country, and I hope that the peace comes sooner rather than later.

As for me I am just happy to be here and blessed by every chance I get to preach this amazing gospel and help these amazing people!!

Hope you are all doing well Love you and Have a Wonderful Week!!

Elder Morrison

10, 9, 8, 7...

My first week in Managua, and it was a change. In the North I could get into any house I wanted to get into. Here the first day even the members wouldn't let us in the house. I got into 2 houses the whole entire first day, it was rough. BUT... I have learned that just as to Moses in Egypt, though it appeared to be pretty big, it is not that big. Managua is not that big.

To be frank I was a little shocked at the way things were going here. But I remember Coach Stanley's words in the weight room countless times "If it does not challenge you, it will not change you", I gotta change. One night in particular I was mad, so I knelt down, and offered up a sincere prayer, asking for a change of heart and direction as to what I should do. He has answered, and He has touched my corazoncito. I trust in Him that He is putting in the work from on high.

I thought of a couple of verses that gave me comfort, D&C 84:88 and Moses 6:32-34. I realized what I already knew, that He is there.

Teaching in Managua is a treat, they are intelligent here, so lessons are more difficult, which I LOVE. I love trying to just simplify complex things so that they cannot possibly deny what we are saying. Likewise, the members put in work, I just gotta get their trust and motivate them along.

My companion is so cool, I love that guy to death. He is going to be a great leader in the mission!

Likewise, we had leader council this week. WE BROKE THE RECORD AS A MISSION! Finally most of us ZLs have been leaders for over a year now, and we have been planning to do this forever, and we did it! Sadly it was the last council I will have with some great friends of mine like Elder Rush, Ward, Wilkes and Mower. They gave some powerful last testimonies in the council. Next council will be strange without them.

Love you all
Love, Elder Morrison

Managua

Well this week were the changes, they came a week late due to the political distress, but all that seems to be calming down, which is wonderful. With the changes I was carried on over to Managua, the capitol. What a place. Very big and noisy with a lot of people. I am going to miss my beloved city Matagalpa very much. I love that place with all my heart.

Change is a scary thing at times, not gonna lie, I hadn't realized how at ease and relaxed I was in the environment in Matagalpa. That place was just perfect for me. However, with the change comes growth, so obviously I am going to grow, it may be somewhat uncomfortable but I will be able to grow if I can just "not shrink", if I can just square my shoulders and get to work my last 11 weeks. It will be a blast!!

Today I had Little Ceasers pizza for lunch, who can't tell that it´s not gonna be a good time? I am super pumped to be here in Managua though, I have heard all of my mission of how the members in Managua are just the best and that you can have a lot of success here, so I am thrilled to be here and throw some fire!!

I realize how my days are numbered here in Nicaragua, just 11 weeks and I am home. I wish to make every second of these remaining days and go ham for the Lord this last little bit so that I may be able to give Him an offering worthy of all acceptation before the God I have grown to know and love so deeply.

I am super pumped to be with my new Comp Elder Goncalves, he is from Brazil and I feel like the guy is my long lost brother, he is so cool. I am pumped to work my tail off and learn a lot from him. He is starting his mission and I am finishing, but all new missionaries come with such a new way of looking at things that can really help us out in the Lord´s work. I am pumped to be with him!

Love you all Love Elder Morrison

Pray for Nicaragua

This was a wild week here in the NIC. A government reform in the social security system brought some heavy resistance including looting, arson, rioting, etc. So please pray for Nicaragua. Here in Matagalpa though things are calm and the situation in general has been deescalating, so that is good news. None of the missionaries have been harmed in any way here, the Lord is protecting us, our amazing Presidente Poncio is a wise and inspired man and has taken effective measures to ensure the safety of the missionaries, he calls us his hijitos.

It was a week of highs and lows. Wednesday we committed a family of 4 to be baptized on Friday, right after that lesson I got a phone call from the AP's that they were coming to help us out in the interviews in the Zone, because we had quite a few to do for this weekend. So Wednesday was a thrilling day because with those 4 it meant we had 6 baptisms lined up for Friday afternoon.

Thursday came and the AP's rolled up and we got a lot of interviews done, sadly that is when in the capitol things got a little rowdy.  So Friday morning happens and the family of 4 let us know that the father of one of the daughters that was going to get baptized came trying to get away from the capitol. He is a member of a different denomination and drunk when we got there and he had already convinced them all not to get baptized. Which was a heart breaker to say the least. We have hope though that the family will be baptized soon, just once that guy has left.

Normally baptisms are done on Saturday, however my companion and I received some good revelation that we should baptize on Friday. So on Friday we baptized a brother and his sister, the baptismal service was really special, it was one of the better services I have had in the mission.

Saturday we were not allowed to leave the house from the escalating government resistance, so we played a couple of games of monopoly. But luckily Elder Smith and I had gotten the idea to not baptize on Saturday, which was apparently not going to happen. Revelation from on high baby!!

Other than that life is good, I am safe and sound, bored as all get out being locked up in the house, but luckily we are four normal gringos that keep each other entertained!

Love Elder Morrison

Cuatro Cheles

This week brought a delightful change to the house of the missionaries in Matagalpa. An elder got sick in Puerto Cabezas and was sent home, so emergency changes happened and now in the house we are four United State citizens, aka it has been a good time with a lot of BBQing, guitar playing, free style rapping roasts, alter egos coming out as motivational speeches, and wrestling moves taught. It has been a lot of fun.

As for Elder Smith and I, we are quite enthusiastic about this upcoming week, it should be a good time. We will see if I, at the end of the week, am changed out in transfers. Or if I am here to stay in Matagalpa. In total I have a long time here, and it has been wonderful.

We were guided a couple of weeks ago to a really awesome family, they are so kind and sincere with us. The other day the mother of the family stopped us on the street and introduced us to her friend and told her friend to go to church, adding onto her invitation she said ¨We went last Sunday and that is where we are going to stay.¨ Those moments and comments just make the work so worth it.

Truthfully it has been a bit of a trial lately, frustrating to give everything you got and feel you have come up short. But when you truly consider it all in the grand scheme of things, those moments of success lacking are big fat blessings that the Lord has given you. They are times where you truly learn who you are. The Lord truly does bless us and watch over us.

Elder D Todd Christofferson said once, "In times of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer. He will sustain you as you work and watch. In His own time and way He will stretch forth his hand to you, saying, “Here am I.”"

He is there, He does listen and He is in charge. We are blessed to be able to know Him. The power of the covenants we make within the church is truly the power of godliness, they allow us to have heaven´s aid whenever we need it. They provide us the perspective necessary to endure and the power sufficient to save us.

Personally I am excited to enter into the gauntlet of my last 12 weeks in the mission. I am really excited for what is to come following the mission as well. ¨Have your head in the stars but keep your feet firmly planted on the ground¨

Love you all
Love Elder Morrison

TEMPLES!!

Funny story, so after a quite incredible general conference where our new beloved Prophet Russell M. Nelson, stepped in and hit the ground running! And it was awesome. Including the many changes made one was of particular importance in Nicaragua, a temple was announced in Managua Nicaragua, likewise in Salta Argentina, where my dad served his mission! The news was amazing here!

Unfortunately I was not present to hear the announcement live. I was in a taxi traveling to a small community outside of the city to interview some people for baptism. During the ride I received phone calls from two missionaries telling me that they announced the Temple. I told them to call me Thomas, but I will not believe it til I see it. 

And I saw it when I arrived to the small chapel in the community and I cried out of joy. Knowing that figuratively I have helped lay one brick out of millions here to get a temple, I feel very happy to know that there will be a temple in Nicaragua.

There were many embraces and tears shared in the chapels all around the country. People literally jumped for joy when they heard that there would be a House of The Lord put in their country. Personally I was bummed to have missed the big moment but the joy was felt the same.

Likewise, two new apostles were announced and ordained, only a week and a half ago I did meet Elder Gong, one of those two new apostles. I was happy to sustain him.

The interviews Sunday afternoon turned into a quite exciting trip. After closing the baptism we grabbed one of the last buses out to Matagalpa, but the bus was so full I was hanging out the door with my companion, when a rope from the bus grabbed his missionary plaque and flipped it off his shirt. Quickly he jumped off the bus while it was in motion, I grabbed a 20 cord bill from my wallet and gave it to the chauffeur, and jumped off as well. Unfortunately I jumped off facing backward and was almost unable to keep the momentum from making me fall over backward, luckily I switched into free safety Elder Morrison, and was able to back pedal out of it smoothly. We quickly recovered the plaque. But that being the last bus meant we were stuck in the middle of nowhere. So ssshhhhh, don´t tell anyone but we had to hitch hike home in time to assist in the baptism and confirmation for another companionship in Matagalpa. Luckily the culture in Nicaragua is that hitch hiking is normal and safe. Truthfully Nicaragua is a safe place, even the drunk people are super friendly.

Just living the dream in Nicaragua!

Today as a Zone we had a BBQ, and I treated the whole Zone to classic American Hamburgers. Most of the Latino missionaries complimented me saying it was better than McDonald´s which is about as close as it gets for them here. A couple of weeks ago we decided to buy a grill and I have been making some mean meats lately, steak, chicken, burgers you name it. We have been grubbing here in Matagalpa.

Love you all

Love Elder Morrison

Maldito March

Well the title sums it up, March is cursed for me. I have never been able to help someone get baptized in the two months of March on my mission. It has become my least favorite month, but April last year was fantastic so I am pumped to tackle this month. The whole mission is really excited now that the majority of the mission is hitting their home stretch, their senior year, or fourth quarter, call it what you will, it is the time to separate the boys from the men.

So now we just gotta trust in the Lord and know that in the end His will will be done and not ours. It will be in my best interest to keep in mind that I can trust Him completely, that He is my Father and I am His son.

As far as the work goes, it has just been a gauntlet right now. Which is funny, in most things with more time the more effective you are, but I have realized that this is not our work, but the Lord's, and His work is my progress, and the progress of everyone. On the mission I have adapted the mindset that when times are hard and success is scant, those are times to self evaluate and adapt and overcome.

We do have a handful of people that are progressing and will be baptized unto repentance! One family lives quite close to us, which makes it easy, all of the neighbors know us now! We have talked with the majority of the people in our neighborhood. One family has made huge sacrifices to be able to go to church, and they are being blessed greatly for it!!

Love you guys so much hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Morrison

Matagalpa baby!

Well, good news is that I am loving life. Bad news is that I am the oldest missionary in the Zone. Which is just shocking to me.

As for this past week we had a multi-zone conference and Presidente Poncio called us to repentance. And it was quite the awakening experience, something we needed, not that I am being rebellious or disobedient, but having a motivation to self reflect and repent is wonderful, truly the call to repentance is a great manifestation of love.

Elder Smith and I had a good heart to heart where we were able to discuss what we were lacking as a companionship, given that we have had a difficult time lately. What came of our self evaluation was very precious council directly from the Lord in what we need to do to improve. I continue to marvel at how wonderfully and completely dependent we are upon the Lord, despite me being the oldest missionary, I really need to depend upon guidance from the Lord always because I can always learn more and improve more. Being a leader I have seen many things in young missionaries that remind me of myself how that after having some success, immediately we consider we know so much!

This Sunday we had a miracle! We left the house way early to get investigators to church, and we saw a wonderful miracle with a family we have been teaching, they came to church on their own and we were freaking out because we didn't find them at their house. They are preparing to be baptized on the first week of April! And they loved church!!

I really love this work and seeing little miracles like that just keep us going with a little extra spark and enthusiasm.

Love you guys
Love Elder Morrison

Here to stay

The transfers came and went and I am pleased to say that I am staying in the wonderful land of Matagalpa. I already have in total about 7 months here, and I am really pumped to stay here. Not to say that it is all roses, we have a lot of work to do, my companionship was the only companionship to not have changes in all the zone, and for a very wise reason. Some missionaries don't love Matagalpa as much as I do I guess. Elder Smith is staying with me to run a muck in Matagalpa for at least 6 more weeks.

Elder Ward, one of my best friends on the mission, got sent out to die (he will go home from there) in Managua, it was bittersweet to see him leave. Bitter because we only had 2 weeks living in the same house, not that we didn't take full advantage of those 2 weeks, we had a lot of fun! But it is pretty sweet because Elder Deere is coming to live with us, he was my foster child in Leon. He worked with Elder Rush and I for a week in Leon and he is super cool, he is becoming a quite excellent missionary. And so I am pumped for that, because last change was my most favorite change of my mission, which is really cool because the one before that one is now my second favorite, so needless to say the mission just gets better and better every week. Every day I love leaving the house just hoping and waiting to find one of the elect of God to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Other news is this Saturday I got to meet another Apostle, Elder Quentin L Cook. He came to speak to the two missions in Nicaragua, and that was an intensely spiritual experience, his testimony was quite powerful and simple as well as was his message. In fact at first I was shocked at how simple his message was, but it was exactly what we needed to hear and apply to our work here in Nicaragua. In his remarks he spoke of commitments and using commitments to guide people to repentance. Very simple and true things. He shared a fun fact that him and Elder Holland were companions in the mission. I came to that conference with him with some questions and one by one they were all answered, quite directly I might add. I wanted to learn how to develop unshakable faith that is much firmer and steadfast, and the answer was clear. Keep it simple. Read, pray, fast, have the spirit with you always and you can't go wrong.

I loved my interview with him, the Apostles really can see your very soul,  and no matter what you cannot walk away sad from meeting one of them. All the missionaries walked away from shaking his hand smiling. You can feel the pure love of Christ through them, it is a delight meeting them, shaking their hand and looking into their eyes, and through a smile say "Elder Cook it's an honor to meet you."

I love this Church and the opportunities within it to draw so close to the Savoir and to truly come to know him. I know he lives and directs this church personally, I have no doubt of this. This is His work, and I am so privileged to be a part of it!

Love you all
Love, Elder Morrison

Clase Machetazo!!

In the stake of Matagalpa we had the privilege of having a stake conference presided by Elder Arredondo, of the Seventy. And it was so wonderful. I am shocked and impressed as always at the simple and powerful way the general authorities teach. They don't try to reinvent the wheel, instead they trust that what the Lord has already put in place.

And Elder Arredondo taught that to the Matagalpinos that they simply needed to trust in the Lord's system, let's just say that they haven't been doing that here. It was such a wonderful message that he gave, it was seriously so inspired, because his message was seriously perfect, and so simple.

Transfers are coming soon, next week actually, and I have about 4 months left on the mission, so I am pretty sure I am gone. Which is a bummer because we just moved into a wonderful house with another companionship, it has been a good time. Including last night when I got really sick, because we had large lower part of the large intestine of a chicken. It was like eating a tire and with the worst flavor.

Anyway I got a fat fever and stomach cramps right away. Upon getting home I asked for a blessing from my comp and one of the other Elders that is living with us, and let's just say today I was able to work up on some fools in soccer. I am really not that good at soccer, but as Elder Taulapapa says. "I may not be good at certain sports, but I am good at winning and that is a sport. Winning is a sport"

Other than that it has just been business as usual.

Love you all Love Elder Morrison

3 Yaks

This was a really good week, as a Zone we had a really good end of the month, and it was the best month the Zone has had in a LONG TIME. I am really pumped. Likewise our companionship had a really great month and we are super pumped to get prepared for March and the Big One in April!

We were able to finish up and baptize 3 people this week, two sisters and their cousin! It was really cool, they were super nervous in the water but coming up out of the water they were all smiles! The Nicaraguans are not good at smiling for pictures, but they do light up with a smile often.

Elder Smith and I entered into a new community this week, it was hard as expected, which is fine I am just so pumped to start seeing miracles and bring the light of the gospel to them. In Sacrament meeting I went in with a two questions, What lack I yet? and What will be the key to success in Yaule? (the community where we are working) and the answers came by the Spirit, to the first question was REVERENCE, I hadn't realized that amidst the good times laughing and joking with Elder Smith I was being irreverent, but I will change that. And to the second question LIGHT. The light of the Gospel and my life is Christ.

Truthfully our mission is unique, we teach the Gospel, about Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, waaaayyyyy more than Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It is so cool really, I feel like Peter, James and John, or Lehi and Nephi telling people to repent, and get baptized. Because that is what people really need most, they need the light of the Gospel in their lives. Not that I don't like teaching about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon, but... in the end I have been called to preach repentance and baptize converts.

I really love this work, it is the Lord's work, I know this with all my heart might mind and soul!

Love you all!! Love Elder Morrison

White Waterfall

This was just a fantastic week, we just put in a bunch of work as a Zone and we were able to baptize a lot of people this week. Elder Smith and I baptized a young man, whose family is part member/less active/recently turned active. His name is Esteban, he is really polite and obedient and a really cool convert of the Lord.

I was able to work in 3 different areas this week, it was a lot of fun being able to meet so many new people. The missionaries here are increasing their faith and did not give up in the midst of trials. We had a lot of times of low success, but now we are starting to see the success that we have been striving for for such a long time! And it is nice that the Lord is definitely blessing us with just the biggest miracles.

I love to do fasts together as a Zone, we feel such a powerful connection as we work, and the Lord blesses us so richly for such a small sacrifice. Truthfully the mission is like a big fast, we abstain from all worldly entertainment, all selfish pursuits like jobs, education, dating, etc etc. And truly I have been blessed greatly and I still haven't finished this little 2 year fast of mine!

This week we have a sweet little family lined up to be baptized. They have been keeping all commitments and are ready to get dunked. Also, I am super pumped because this past week Elder Smith and I have received the revelation to open up a new area in our area!!

Love you all,
Stay sweet!
Elder Morrison

The Conversion of Conversion

So this was one of the most satisfying weeks of my mission, the Zona as a whole just improved a ton, and I am pumped it has come with a lot of fast prayer faith and work! And in our personal area we had some miraculous things happen, which just makes me pumped and makes me want to work harder!

We baptized Conversion this week (in Spanish pronounced Conver-see-on) and it was one of the biggest and most satisfying moments of my life! As many, if not all you may know, I am in Matagalpa the very place where I began my life as a missionary. In my first six weeks I walked up and down the same mountains where I am now, and in those journeys I met Hermana Rosa and her family, including her husband Conversion. At that time only Rosa and her son were baptized, and Conversion was very anti-Mormon, for he was a member of another church and a leader of that church at that!

When I returned he had strayed from that church and was traveling throughout the country because he hated his family. But he fell and broke his wrist forcing him to return home. While he was gone my companion and I baptized one of his daughters and activated his wife. Two days after her baptism he came back in a cast and on bed rest.

I would like to add that a year ago he was also in a cast at that time because of a broken leg. That time too I tried with all my might to get him to join the church, but he worked me over with some different belief apostasy.

Fast forward to the same man and same missionary, one year later, I began to teach him again, this time with way more experience, so I did not try to convince him with knowledge of the scriptures and doctrine, but we taught him with a different approach, using the spirit to persuade him to repent. And it worked, from there he was humble enough to ask us with a sincere heart and real intent about the church, and we were able to teach him and explain to him the true doctrine of Christ, Faith, Repentance, Baptism by Immersion for the remission of sins, Laying on of hands for the gift of The Holy Ghost by those who hold the priesthood authority of God.

About two months ago I was going through a tough time because I was failing, I thought, and I was confused as to why God would send me here again, just to have me fail! So I asked him, "Why did you send me here again?" And He did answer.

Hermana Rosa´s family had lost all contact with missionaries and the church in between the time I left and the time I came back, no one visited them, so had God not been so wise and merciful to send me back, Conversion would have been prepared by God in vain. For God prepared him to receive the gospel, just as much as He prepared me to bring it to him.

I have taught Conversion with all 5 companions with whom I have shared this area. Once more I realize that try as we might in the end, God does the work and we are but the instruments in His hands, or as King Benjamin said  "if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be  unprofitable servants." I am grateful to be the unprofitable servant of the Lord, because it is not my work but His work.

Love you all so much!!
Love Elder Morrison

Jump Man

Well this was quite the tiring week, because Thursday I had to go renew my residency here in Nicaragua, which meant I had to spend a couple of hours in a trashy hot building. But it also meant I was a couple of minutes away from a shopping mall, where I got caught up with some old friends, namely, Carl's Jr. American burgers and Beaverton Oregon based Nike shoes. Then that night I spent the night in the secretary´s house because we had leadership council on Friday, which is always a very edifying experience.

Unfortunately that meant that I had two whole days outside of my area, and generally I lose about 1 day normally because I have to travel to other areas to interview people for baptism. But we were still able to put in work and see many miracles. We had a very successful Sunday, we brought many investigators to church that are preparing to be baptized, the next step is to get them off coffee and then YEET they are all getting dunked.

In our church building there are two wards, so before priesthood class started the sister missionaries pulled me aside asking me to help them in the baptismal service they were holding. After finishing up that I go into the priesthood class and one of the coolest miracles from my mission happened, all the members in the priesthood class had convinced our investigator to get baptized next Saturday! Fasting works guys! I have gone a couple weeks too many with out stepping into a baptismal font! We are going to try and convince his son to get baptized, so we might get two baptisms this week which is very exciting!

Sorry for the lack of pictures, my camera is broken, so hopefully I can get a new one soon, but don't y'all worry, I am still as handsome as ever! Just a little skinnier! Still incredibly humble too!

Love Elder Morrison

Viva Las Vegas

Changes came and went, and I am in Matagalpa, I just have another new companion, my boy Elder Melenciano done left me. He returned to the blessed land of Ocotal, and I received today Elder Smith, who is from Las Vegas. He was in Zona Leon when I was there, he is a really cool guy that has a genuine love for the people and is really outgoing!

As for the last week with Elder Melenciano, we put in work and got a lot done, still didn't have the quantity of fruits we would have liked, but we did have the quality of fruits nevertheless. We had a cool lesson with a man who has been through quite the ringer in his life. A month and a half ago I baptized his daughter, and his wife we reactivated. He fell a couple of weeks ago and broke his arm, so we came and gave him a blessing. We were inspired to bless him with health, and that he will be in a position spiritually to receive the gospel. After that he started feeling better, and even more miraculously his heart has been softening and he has been progressing very well (he is not a member... yet). The following day after the blessing we had a very powerful lesson where we literally told him to REPENT.

Two days later we pass by and he is dressed and ready for church at 6:30 in the morning. We will keep on working and striving with him and I know that he will get baptized soon. I learned something from him, very simple but powerful. I learned that living and loving the gospel make us happy. He is a very hardened and crusty man, hardness and crustiness no doubt caused by his difficult life that he has lead. He was very opposed to us and the church, but thanks to the Spirit that softened his heart he is accepting the gospel in his life and coming to church. And in church I saw him do something I had never seen him do before, he smiled.

Not only a little bit but a lot. It was really fulfilling to see him smile from ear to ear, as he listened to the hymns, listened to the gospel doctrine class and priesthood class. He was happy, the joy of the gospel is so stinking real in its effect and blessings in the lives of those who live it! It is awesome!!

I seriously am loving the mission right now, I don´t know why or how I have been blessed so immensely to have been born into this wonderful gospel, where families are together forever, and they are happy to be together! And being a missionary has seriously been the best experience of my life! I am so pumped to work my tail off these last couple of months on the mission! I want to make the most out of it!  I love you all so much, I hope you have just the best week, all of you!

Love Elder Morrison

Welcome President Nelson

Well this was quite the week if I do say so myself. We found over 40 new investigators, we worked like horses, but we had nothing to show for it Sunday. For the first time in months on Sunday I came up empty handed! Such a frustrating feeling, to have set a high goal that you know you can reach and then fall short. 

Not to say that setting goals are pointless, in fact I am grateful that I fell short, REALLY short, because it meant that I am capable of more, the goal I set to bring 15 investigators to church was never achieved, but in striving to accomplish it I was able to find and teach many new people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance. And that is a far more noble accomplishment than almost any other in this world! 

And I know that it will all get better soon, next week I will work smarter and more effectively in order to have better results, that is life! And I love it! 

We had a very different experience this week. We have been teaching a family and two of the sons were ready and pumped to get baptized, so we went to the father to get his permission, he consented but... he asked that we wait, so that he could get baptized with his wife and sons! I was really surprised when he said it because he had never shown any desire to get dunked, but now he does. We have helped him quit drinking he has been sober 2 weeks now, but now we got to work some magic,  because he smokes. BUT HE CAN DO IT!! I know he can and I hope he knows that. So we got a family of 5 getting ready for next month! It is gonna be quite the fight to get them dunked there is no doubt about that, but they are willing and really motivated to get it done. It is a family of seven, with 5 kids, so they have a special place in my heart, I kinda like families of 7;)

A lot of prayer fast and powerful lessons ahead to get them dunked,  but it can be done!

Love you all so much

Love,

Elder Morrison

6 MONTHS TO SEXY

Yeah tomorrow hits and I am home in six months, yikes! I seriously can´t begin to explain how intensely bittersweet that is to me! The mission keeps getting BETTER every day, every experience just seems sweeter and more real, back in Nam´when I was beginning it seemed like I was in a dream when crazy strange or insanely awesome things happened! Now it seems so real and I love it. 

I don´t like to bash on other churches, but one church, The Jehovah´s Witness, believe that we live in hell here on earth due to the transgression of Adam. That is so sad to me, I absolutely love my existence on earth! Yes it is not all easy, it is a grind, but contrast that belief to the message found in the Book of Mormon "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have JOY." (2 Nephi 2:25) Just reading that I feel hope, true hope that I CAN BE HAPPY. The mission has been no less of the best, I have been tried, big time, and it has really been so difficult, but I realized this week that I smile a lot more, just walking down the street I smile! When I teach I smile, I love teaching, I get so wrapped up into the lessons I have with people. I feel genuine joy when I have a killer lesson. When the investigator literally says "Wow I needed to hear that, thank you so much!" 

This week we taught a family and when we taught them that families can be together forever the wife's jaw dropped and she teared up and her husband, who is a hardened man, cracked into the biggest smile! 

Or to a youth this week, we taught from Ezekiel 33:14-16   14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.  

The hope and the joy that ALL of our sins can become as though we had never committed them, is a reason for joy. And such forgiveness is only possible through my Master, Jesus Christ, and His all powerful Atonement. Our Joy is through Him. That young lady was impacted and happy to know she had hope to be better and have a future! and she has a baptismal date for February 3rd!

Love you all Love Elder Morrison

We Love President Monson

I am sure many of you heard that the beloved prophet of the world, Thomas S. Monson, passed away. Such a wonderful example of what a man should be! He will be missed, but it as always will be alright, God's work is one eternal round, it won't stop or slow down, it just keeps on plugging along! My vueltita here in Nicaragua is about to enter into the 4th Quarter, holy junk!

This Sunday before church we were able to baptize Marvin, he is a super cool guy, his family are recent converts and are super cool! They are working hard to get to the temple ASAP. Marvin changed the most out of almost any convert of the Lord I have taught on the mission. I was speaking briefly with the missionary that baptized his family and he was shocked when I told him we were gonna dunk Marvin! Truthfully, it was not the missionaries that caused the change of heart, the two most powerful people in a young man's life caused the change in him, his Father in heaven, and his mother on earth!

I love my mother so much just so you all know!

It was super cool to be a a part of his conversion, we fought (worked) and prayed and fasted a lot with him, spending many hours throwing la casaka trying to help him. And it paid off! He is a converted man to the Lord Jesus Christ with a firm testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in this dispensation!

We live in such a cool time in history! We have the Bible  in hundreds of languages, the Book of Mormon in over 120, over 150 holy temples through out the world, thousands of missionaries which are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ preaching repentance to this earth, and the majority are young adults 18-24 years old!! And I AM ONE OF THOSE MISSIONARIES, I love it so much, we are so blessed to be living in this time! Not to mention a college football playoff!

Such a wonderful time we live in!!

Love you all Love Elder Morrison

Call me cashew cuz I look like a peanut

Well this week was a good time, we were able to find  a lot of really cool people in our area and bring a handful of them to church which was awesome, and this week I am pumped because Marvin is getting dunked!!

Marvin is a son of some recent converts that are super cool and nice, he hasn't been able to get baptized because he hasn't fully repented, but he is repenting and so pumped to get baptized! We have been working a ton with him and he has changed so much! We have worked a lot with him. He has a ton of potential to become a good solid member, a leader even in the Church here which is something that we always need!

I was pretty frustrated one night because of some stinkers that just fell through and what not, and that day I was pretty sick too, had junk coming out both ends, haha, and things just didn't go our way. I was on a comp exchange in another area, and at night Elder Ward called me after interviewing Marvin for baptism, and he told me that Marvin asked that I baptize him, because of how much I have worked with him (because I have had 3 comps in the same area) which surprised me because his step dad is a worthy priesthood holder and could totally baptize him. But I felt super honored and it really helped me because, darn sometimes this work kicks ya and you feel no gratification for all the efforts that you put in!

Sometimes though God sends you a little ray of sunlight that makes you feel good and that what you are doing is most definitely worth every drop of blood sweat, tears, diarrhea and vomit! (sorry if that is tmi for anyone).

New years day was nice, we worked up on some members in soccer which was a good time! I did good as goalie which was nice.

Love you all have a stellar year and Stay Classy,
Elder Morrison