2.21.12

Mothers Day is coming up and I have a gift. I am going to read the Book of Mormon by Mother's Day. I want to know if Mom will join me starting today! I started on the 17th!!!

Book of Mormon challenge
Highlight every time:
1) Christ's name is mentioned

2) Christ's attributes are mentioned: Faith, Hope, Charity and Love, Humility, Patience, Diligence, Obedience, Virtue, Courage, Trust, Honesty, etc.

3) Christ is quoted or his voice Ex) Thus saith the Lord...

4) Christ's Gospel: Faith, repentance, baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end

*Read by Mother's Day

I started this on the 17th and I have not stopped reading since. At the rate I am going I will probably be done with the Book of Mormon in about 8 days. I can't put it down. I have it in my hand 24/7 and I have to force myself to eat during my meal hours because all I want to do is read the mark the Book of Mormon. (I may read it twice before mother's day but Mom you only would do it once)

The Book of Mormon is changing me. I feel the spirit's presence more and more each day. I have a different perspective on everything. I have more charity for the people I teach and meet. I can't explain in words the power that the Book of Mormon has for me.

I AM SO PUMPED!!! I'm on a spiritual high!!! I had my first Zone Conference this week and the training was on the Book of Mormon. There are a few things that I learned that will CHANGE MY LIFE, and my mission!
1) "Get out of the way of the Book of Mormon in the conversion of others" -President Palmer

2) Use the Book of Mormon to respond to every objection (In my opinion Dad that is the most important thing you can teach any one for mission prep. That everything comes back to whether or not the investigator has read and prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true.

3) Become coverted more today than you were yesterday

4) Read the Book of Mormon with your investigator

The Book of Mormon is the most important thing that we have on the eart! It is proof that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind! It is proof that God still talks to us today through prophets and personal revelation. Because of the Book of Mormon I know that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are 3 separate beings because it proves that Joseph Smith truly saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the sacred grove. I know that the Priesthood authority of God is here on the Earth and that I have been baptized by that authority into the Kingdom of God. I know that with that Priesthood my family can be together forever. I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all people can be saved and return to the presence of our Loving Heavenly Father and know complete joy.

And all of that comes from knowing one thing. That the Book of Mormon is true.

I really wish I could tell you all of my experiences but they are just impossible to put in words in an email.
I probably won't be sending very many letters this week only because I can't stop reading the Book of Mormon and so I'll be reading it the entire day today (P-day) rather than writing. But I will write everyone soon that I haven't already written back to!!!

P-day was switched to Tuesday today since Monday was a National Holiday and was great for Proselyting since everyone was home!!!

2.12.12

BOOOOYA!!!!! Such an amazing week!!! So this weekend (Saturday) we had
two baptisms!!! Man it was the greatest day of my life! I was so excited!!! One asked
me to baptize Harlee and Steve asked Elder Chambers to baptize him and then
they asked the other to confirm them and give the Gift of the Holy
Ghost. So we each got to baptize and confirm! The priesthood power is
absolutely amazing. I could not stop smiling the entire baptism. I
smiled so much my cheeks were red. So when I was baptizing Harlee
(She's a cute little 13 year old girl) she started laughing as she
came out of the water. I asked her why she laughed and she told me
that she was smiling so big she couldn't help but laugh! She has the
strongest testimony! She really gets it. We asked her a while ago why
she wanted to be baptized and she said "because I want the constant
companionship of the Holy Ghost!" Her soon to be step-dad Mike
should be getting baptized really soon! I love them so much!!! I would
do absolutely anything for them.

Brother Osborne is so incredible too!!! He is so excited to be a home
teacher. It's like his highlight of the church! I just love the
enthusiasm and zeal of TRULY CONVERTED converts to the church. They
both really "get it" they understand that this isn't just a church but
it's a way of life and salvation.

There is no greater joy than bringing another soul to our Savior Jesus Christ!

Elder Whiting

2.5.12

I just finished my first transfer!!!! It's unbelievable how fast time
flies!!!! I love lewiston so much! So every six weeks we have
"transfer calls" and last night was my first one and the
results........... Elder Chambers and I are...... staying in Lewiston
together! uh-WOO-HOO!!!!! I'm so happy because we have a ton more work
to do here together before we leave.

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting and the 1st councilor of the
bishopric got up and bore his testimony on missionary work and bore
his testimony on "How blessed the ward is to have Elder Chambers and
Elder Whiting who work hard and follow all the mission rules exactly."
Then two other people mentioned us in their testimonies and said that
"it's easy to send these missionaries to your friends and family
because you can trust them."

Man I was so happy because the members are beginning to trust us more
and more so the work is moving forward!!! It made me feel like Ammon,
Aaron, Omner and Himni (sons of Mosiah) when the King of the Lamanites
converts to the church then he sends a decree to all the land and
basically says "Nobody harm the missionaries and listen to every word
they say" So then the sons of Mosiah go in and baptize thousands. Now
Elder Chambers and I aren't going to go out and baptize thousands (as
much as we'd like to) but when the 1st cousilor in the bishopric said
that everyone should refer their friends to us, it opened up a lot of
doors for us just like The king of the lamanites did for the sons of
Mosiah!

There were just so many miracles this week. We have two more people on
date for baptism for March 10th!!!! We also have 2 baptisms this
saturday! I'm so excited!!!! We have 3 students from the college that we are
teaching that are the elect!!! One girl is on fir,  she fasted
yesterday to help get an answer on the Book of Mormon. We had a lesson
saturday at 1 and she started her fast at 2 while working 8 hours at
Subway making subs, on her break she read 3 chapters of the Book of
Mormon and then she came to church and broke her fast at 2 on sunday!
She fasted for 24 hours!!! She keeps saying during our lessons, "I can
feel the answer coming!" She said that she can feel the Lord softening
her heart to this church.

As much as I love everyone outside of the Spokane Mission I never want
to come home. This is the best thing in the world being on a mission!

Loves,
Elder Whiting

Family,

You guys would be such incredible members to go on lessons with the
missionaries and you would be the best fellowshippers. The best thing
for spreading the gospel is to be a friend to the people the
missionaries are teaching. Go out with the missionaries as much as you
can! And really be friends with the people you teach with them. Don't
think of them as people you're teaching but rather friends that you
are bringing into the gospel. Life long friends.

ATTENTION blog readers: we are making this blog private . please comment and leave your email address so you can be invited .. or email jmariepattee@gmail.com
thank you.

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