First baptisms!

Another incredible week!!! I just can't believe all the stuff that can
happen in 7 days! So I had my first 2 baptisms this weekend!!! She
 has been wanting to get baptized for 8 and a half months now but
had to wait for her husband to finally give her permission. Anyway
through prayer and fasting that happened and she was baptized!!! She
is in her 50's, looks way younger, blonde, prissy, cute and hilarious,
and crazy enough she LOVES to hunt!!! If you met her you'd be shocked
that she's an avid hunter. For example, she grew up in Las Vegas and
started a career in professional ice skating and traveled the world
for 20 years doing that! Now she breeds and shows horses. She cooks us
Elk "backstrap" meat every sunday for lunch. As soon as she was
baptized and came up out of the water she raised her hands and shouted
"I DID IT!!!!" Everyone just loves her and we all clapped. The spirit
was so strong at her baptism. She is so wonderful!! Her testimony is
so strong and she has a trip planned to the temple 1 year from now.
Elder Chambers and I stood in when she was confirmed and given the
gift of the Holy Ghost. That was probably the only baptism that i'll
see people clap. It was funny.

So after that we had another baptism, stake baptisms, and last sunday
a grandma in the ward asked me to baptize her little grandson who was
9 years old. It was so cool. And considererd a convert baptism because
he was older than 8. I loved being able to dress in white and baptize
him in the font. I asked him how he felt after and he said in his
little voice "I feel weird. I just feel really clean!" It was so cute!
The only people in his family that are active are his grandma and
great grandma. They take care of him and bring him to primary every
week and he just loves it. His favorite primary song is "I love to see
the temple."

So we have 5 other people that should be baptized within the next 6
weeks. We'll see. Heavenly Father has been blessing us so much. He
really has been leading us to his elect. From day one I asked the AP
Elder Smith was the secret was to finding the right people. He said
"Hard work." and "Talk to everyone." So that's what we do!!! The
harder you work, the more the members trust you and want to help by
being part of the missionary experience and refering their friends and
family for you to teach.

Elder Chambers told me that we are unbelievably blessed right now
because normally there are not this many people progressing toward
baptism. Elder Chambers and I could very possibly have 7 people join
the church while we're together. And it's not us. It's just how
amazing the people are that the Lord has led us to. You wouldn't
believe how prepared these people are. Every day we see multiple
miracles!!!

My favorite thing to do is "Campus contacting!" we go to the college
campus and just talk to all of the students on campus and invite them to
come on tours of our church building. It's just so fun because we get to teach
people our age! And man we are finding so many amazing people!! It's funny
because we have been teaching this girl who is progressing so much. She texted
us last night and said "So do you guys ever hang out without the missionary
title?" haha my first thought was uh-oh! We just replied "No we do
this every day for two years, but sometimes we go to the young single
adult activities on monday nights" So maybe she'll come to those
activities. Which i'm sure she would anyway.

It's SO funny when we are campus contacting whenever it's a gorgeous
girl I have to do the talking because Elder Chambers can't breathe and
get's tongue tied. He's so funny! He grew up in the Utah bubble, but
he's completely aware of it. I love him so much. We are so close. I
wish everyone could meet him. You'd love him.

I love you family!!!! I have a great idea. Every sunday you all should
write me!!! And send the letters on monday!!! how cool would that be?!
Just an idea! ha! Well I sure love you guys. Don't worry about me,
just being blessed by the Lord every second. No big deal.

Be safe,

Elder Whiting

Word.

Testimony

In case it is not clear I would like to let everyone to know: I love the the Book of Mormon!!! I know with all my heart that IT IS TRUE. I have been studying the Book of Mormon every chance I get. I study it for the full hour of my personal study. During every meal time I hurry and eat really fast so that I can read my Book of Mormon for the rest of the hour. And whenever we're waiting for an appointment to show up I pull it out. I know that our Savior LIVES! We talk about all the time that we will live with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father again but do we really, really take the time to think about that we will SEE Jesus Christ and hear his voice? Just as it says in D&C 50:40-46 "And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am." I know that I will see Jesus Christ some day and that He loves me. I feel his love. It burns in my heart. I am so thankful for the Plan that Heavenly Father has for our families. I know that I have eternity with my family and to see my investigators follow Jesus Christ and take steps toward the temple makes me happier than anything ever could. I am more than thankful for a young 14 year-old boy, Joseph Smith, who had a simple question, which church was true and I know that He got an answer. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in that grove of trees. And do you know how I know that?! Because the Book of Mormon is proof of it. The Book of Mormon, if read and sincerely prayed about will be the confirming witness through the Holy Ghost that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church. This is the same church that Jesus Christ set up on the Earth and we have a real Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who guides the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. I know that Heavenly Father hears each of our prayers and that he will answer each one if we ask in faith, which means that we are willing to act on the answer we receive even if the answer is not what we want. I love my Father in Heaven. He is continually throwing things in our path to bring us closer to him and His Son, Jesus Christ. As said in Philippians 4:13 "[We] can do all things through Christ which stengtheneth [us]." I know that two people can do ANYTHING, if one of them is the Lord. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6) I know that if we build our foundation upon the Rock of our Redeemer then we will not fall (Helaman 5:12) It is the only foundation whereon if men build they cannnot fall.  I am a Child of God and He has sent me here.
Elder Whiting

Recent Pictures & Letter

Hey Hey Hey!
So basically my life ROCKS!!! 2 days ago Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came to Spokane and spoke to us. More like Roared. He is amazing!!!! I just couldn't believe I was in his presence! The best part is, I got to shake his hand!!! I asked him if he would tell Kristen and Elder Oaks I said I love them. He said he will. It's so amazing, when Elder Holland chastizes you it feels like he's saying I love you over and over again. I wish I had the gift of calling someone to repentance and they say afterward thank you so much!!! That was so loving of you. haha On top of that we have a new man on date for Baptism!!! I just can't believe how elect this man is!! So the Zone Leaders in Clarkston were teaching one of their recent converts about faith and her friend, who just went through a divorce (He's in his 60's) sat in on the lesson. The Elders directed the lesson to him and he just soaked it all up. They invited him to go to church on sunday and he excitedly said he would. So after church that sunday he stayed for 30 minutes and asked the Gospel Principles teacher a million questions. The Zone Leaders called us and said hey we found a man in your area who is super interested and so we are going to do an emergency exchange to hand him over to you. So I went with Elder Neeley and taught him in his home. Keep in mind that this is his second lesson, and second time ever hearing about the church. We asked him what he thought about church. (His family has recently disowned him through the divorce) and he said it didn't feel like a church but more like a family. I just felt so loved there. We gave him the First Lesson and after we gave Joseph Smith's account of the first vision we asked him "how do you feel after hearing Joseph Smith's experience?" He said "I don't see why a 14 year old boy couldn't receive an answer to a prayer and also the 1800s seems like the perfect time for the church to be restored. If it was nowadays people would never believe a 14 year old boy because of all the drugs" His Faith is so strong. We taught him how to pray and invited him to pray for the first time and ask Heavenly Father if the things we talked about and the Book of Mormon are true. His prayer was this: "Heavenly Father, I just want to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Thank you so much for bringing these people into my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." I asked him how he felt after he prayed and he said "I just feel like jello! It's the same exact feeling I get when I do something good for someone" We explained how the Holy Ghost works and testifies of truth and he knew he had received an answer. He is excited to read the Book of Mormon. We invited him to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority of God and he wants to be baptized on February 4th. We promised him that we are here for him every step of the way to help him prepare for that date. He said "What is there to prepare?" Heavenly Father has truly prepared him to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I feel so blessed to be an instrument in the Lord's hands in bringing closer to Christ. What a miracle. He came to church and loved it once again yesterday. We're seeing him tonight and also Wednesday. So Elder Holland told us that we are not nearly as bold as missionaries. So that's what I am working on. Being more bold. I could NOT sleep all night last night because I kept waking up thinking about my investigators. We met this wonderful family and we are taking them on a Tour of the Church this week and they were on my mind all night. I just can't wait to tell them that their family can be together forever. So Elder Chambers told me I talked in my sleep last night and said "I'm going to knock okay?" haha I guess I was dreaming about tracting. He also thought it was hilarious that the first thing I said when I woke up (half asleep) "I'm just trying to figure out how I can be more bold" I just want you to know that I love my mission. Every second of it. I hate the fact that everytime the sun goes down I'm one day closer to leaving these amazing people. The members here are so wonderful!!! We finally have gained their trust and the work is increasing big time every week. It feels so good because we are breaking out goals!!! I want you all to remember that Jesus Christ's atonement has two parts to it. The redeeming power and the enabling power. Not only can we be forgiven for our sins (the redeeming power) but we can be given the strength to accomplish anything and get through any hardship we face through the enabling power of the atonement. I love what Elder Holland said to us 2 days ago and I stand right by him when he said it: "I can more easily be told that all of you are a mirage or a fantasy before me than that this isn't the True Church and Kingdom of God on the Earth and that it will succeed."
Elder Whiting
 p.s. I am so excited that today Elder Whiting and Sister Whiting (Grandpa and Grandma) have started their mission to the Philippines!!! I need their mission email.

Being brave and Hearding cattle!

I think i'll get a little closer..

Our heater broke, so we kept warm with the oven!

Lets just say, dogs don't like missionaries..

"Men Working"

Playing darts on P day.

Coolest Picture!

Doing service!

1.9.12

Dear world (the small amount of people who may read this letter), I HAVE A NEW COUSIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah baby!!! Get it?! Yeah baby!! Anyway I'm so happy for Tommy and Holly! I can't wait to meet him.DRUM ROLL PLEASE..................................................... THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 14th ALL THE MISSIONARIES IN THE WASHINGTON SPOKANE MISSION ARE GATHERING IN SPOKANE TO HEAR FROM A SPECIAL GUEST...................... ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man we are so excited!!!! We got that text and we were going nuts! The lion is here to ROAR! His enthusiasm and boldness for missionary work will fire up this mission more than anything! And I get to shake his hand!Man the mission is the best thing in the world. I never want to leave. I'm dying that one and a half months have already gone by... I want to stay here for the rest of my life. I'll have you know that I got chased off someone's property for the first time yesterday. We knocked on a door and it took about 5 minutes of us hearing little kids on the other side of the door saying "Listen I think I know who it is..." and another little boy said "I KNOW!!! IT'S SANTA!!!!!" we were laughing so hard. Finally we realized that no one was coming to the door and we walked toward the street and about 5 feet in front of us there was a man in the dark with his hands on his hips just waiting for us. (He snuck out side through the back door and around to the front instead of answering the door) He said "WHAT are you doing on my property?" "Get out!" and i kindly and boldly said "We're sorry sir, before we go, Is there anyone you know that may be having a hard time that we could help or any one who needs a visit?" He said "Get off my property NOW! THERE'S THE STREET! (as he pointed off his property. So we left. He yelled "I told the last ones the same, DON'T COME BACK!" Funny thing was is Elder Chambers said hey let's knock on this door, I've always wanted to. haha good times.So we have another person on date for BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!! She is so excited!!!! She is getting baptized on January 28th!!! She is amazing! She already wants to do visiting teaching even though she's not a member yet. Oh man we're so happy for her. Not because she's just getting baptized but because she will receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost!!!Man everything is going perfectly!!! I kind of think it's unfair because Heavenly Father is just blessing and blessing and blessing us every second. All we see is miracles and blessings all over the place. Lately everyone we meet is really excited to see us. All of our appointments have held strong. All of the people we are teaching are progressing and we are gaining so much trust and friendship from the members. Everyone is sending us to see their friends and family to teach because they trust us. I've really been striving to get to know the members. I gave a talk in the Young Single Adult Branch and that went great. It was so funny because after I shared the story in my talk: "When I was 3 years old I took my Book of Mormon and put it in the back of my tricycle and said "Bye Mom I'm going on a mission!" The Branch President stood up and said "Elder Whiting has been on his mission since he was 3 years old. We're lucky to have him." What made me feel so good is that while I was giving my talk I could see a few of the students in the branch taking notes."For the past two weeks I've asked Bishop of the Lewiston 2nd ward to let me give a talk so that the members can get to know me better. He promised me I could sometime this month!I loved the letter you sent me about having Dallin H. Oaks and Kristen for dinner!!!! They are so awesome! I really hope they come to Spokane so I get to see them! I'm going to tell Elder Holland to tell Elder Oaks I said hi! It sounds like you have had the craziest week. The Oaks over for dinner, Jake's wisdom teeth, Holly's baby, Snowboarding, man what else?! Last night we went over to a less active families house. They come to church very frequently but not all three hours. For a while they were preparing to go to the temple but then they stopped. We gave them a lesson on temples and the spirit was so strong. It was the most peaceful and powerful lesson we have ever given. I showed a picture of Laurisa and Grafton in front of the Temple in her Wedding dress and our family picture and talked about each one of you and how important my family is to me and that I know that because of the temple I will live with my family forever. As I talked about the feeling in the celestial room I shared the story of Uncle Jeff (Nana's Brother): When Jeff turned around his life he joined the church and he went through the temple. When he went into the celestial room he said "I feel like I've been here before." As soon as I said that I started crying. I couldn't hold it in because I know that the celestial room is the closest thing to heaven. It's home. (I'm tearing up while I'm just typing this, gosh!)Family, I love you with ALL of my heart. I am so thankful that I have eternity with you. I just can't imagine how happy we will all be when we are in Heaven together and we all know that we passed the test of Earth Life together. And then we have Eternity together! I can't put in words the feeling that brings my heart. I want everyone to be able to go through the temple and be sealed to their families forever. So that's why I'm out here on my mission. To invite others to come unto Christ so that they can make it home, to the closest thing to Heaven, then home to their Heavenly Father. Families are Forever.
Love,
Elder Whiting

1.2.12

First of all, I SPANKED A BULL!!!!! So I went on exchanges with one of
our Zone Leaders, Elder Grenko (Elder Austin Randall's last companion)
and we spanked the bull that is part of the ranch they live on. I also
herded all the cows, in a suit. Booya!!!

Let me tell you, as a missionary I get to see Miracles every single
day. And let me tell you somethin' else, IT'S AMAZING!!!!!

At the same time sometimes it's hard. The only trial I face on my
mission so far is realizing that people have their own Agency. We
taught a man and we totally has a testimony. He knows that
this is the true church and that he needs to be baptized and follow
Christ's example. He told us all that! Then he said "BUT... I'm too
comfortable where I'm at. It's just up to me to get off my lazy butt
and change my life, but I don't want to do it" That broke my heart. It
just made me so sad I couldn't stand it. He said "It's almost like I'm
in jail and everyone is saying come out here it's so much better out
here, but in reality I'm comfortable sitting in jail"

Elder Grenko gave me a talk by Elder Holland about "Why missionary
work is so hard" and it talked about the same exact feelings that I
was feeling. The reason it's so hard is because in a sense I've had to
go through a little bit of my own Gethsemane. Now I dont' want to
compare my pain for others choices to the infinite sacrifice of the
Savior but I felt just a glimpse of what the Savior feels. When He has
given us everything we need to return and live with our Heavenly
Father and we choose not to use His atonement. Man it seriously kills
me to see that. And to imagine how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
feel?

I now understand how hard it would be for Heavenly Father to give all
of his children Agency because he knew how much pain it would bring
them but ALSO how much happiness once they have faith in Jesus Christ
and His atonement, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost, and endure to the end by keeping the commandments and going to
the Temple to be sealed to their families for eternity.

As far as Miracles, We've been teaching this family. The Mom is a
member but she has been less active for years and she has two kids;
one girl, 11 years old and one boy, 5 years old. She met a man and
they moved in together and he is awesome. Some missionaries Tracted
into him and we have been teaching him and he has brought the Mom, his
girlfriend, back into the church and he and her daughter are getting
baptized this month, January 21st!!! They are getting married this
month too so that they can be baptized!!!

And guess what! He wanted to pay tithing before we even taught him
about it! And they went to the church store called Families are
Forever and bought a book of Family Home Evening ideas for FHE every
week. (without us telling them to) They've been coming to church and
here's the best part, He went out on his own and bought his OWN QUAD
of SCRIPTURES WITH HIS NAME ON IT!!! Man we were so excited!!! And his
soon to be wife asked us where she could get a calender with picutres
of the Temple on it. They are on FIRE! Families like them make it all
worth it. Seeing the change even in their countenance is amazing. They
feel like family. I love them so much!

Funny story: Elder Chambers and I got kissed by a 4 foot 8, 95 year
old lady. hahaha we were like oh crap that's not good! She grabbed me
on the back of my neck and kissed my cheek. Then Elder Chambers knew
he was done for and she did the same to him. haha Elder Chambers was
like "Ah dang it I just got my first kiss from a 95 year old woman!" I
was laughing so hard.

I met a girl named Tia Smecker. She was one of Jennifer Rollender's
roommates at BYU-I. That was kinda fun.

So we have another lady who has wanted to be baptized since May but
her husband won't give permission. But they are legally separated now
so we are trying to see if she can get permission. I fasted for her so
I know it'll work out.

Our heater broke in our apartment so we've had to use the oven to warm
us up! it's so funny in the morning Elder Chambers and I huddle up
next to the oven together and hold our hands out in front of us till
we're warm.

Dad, will you send me some more magic tricks, the people LOVE THEM!!!
I have the one with the tissues and also the lights. but they want
more!!! haha I teach the Plan of Salvation with it.

I bore my testimony in church the last two sundays and this next week
I'm giving a talk. I hope the ward will start to feel that they can
trust me with teaching their friends!

Oh yeah our apartment got sprayed by a skunk. haha It was terrible.
The crazy dog downstairs must have scared it.

I wish I could tell you all the amazing things that are happening but
I haven't got time. I love you everyone. Hey don't be afraid to share
the gospel!!! Oh yeah and send me letters.... and pictures if you can
;)

Loves,

Elder Whiting

Pictures of my first area

Stinky Paper Factory in Lewiston

 My Dad carried this coin in his pocket his entire mission 28 years ago and has given it to me as a token to remember my commitment.

"I show unto you a more excellent way." 1 Cor. 12:31





My bedroom all decked out for Christmas with lights and all.

 My mom made me this missionary stocking and my family filled it with Christmas presents and all my favorite goodies.  I even got my favorite chocolate Christmas orange.

My family sent me our traditional matching Christmas P.J's so I could match all the way in Lewiston.

Christmas day with a part member family.

They took us to dinner on Christmas Eve.  My comp-Elder Chambers.