Tuesday:
We had a Zone meeting in the morning. (All of the companionships serving in
Riverton and Herriman) The Zone leaders asked if I could give a training on our
purpose as missionaries because it seems to be a problem in our Zone. I talked
about how when we put on our name tags in the morning is it something we just
do, is it just a $4 or $5 piece of plastic, Or does it mean a little more? I
played a Mormon message called, "Your potential your privilege" it's
about a man who went on a cruise but didn't want to spend much money. He
brought beans, crackers, and powdered lemonade, and that is what he ate the
entirety of the cruise. On the last day of the cruise he realized that everything
on the ship the food the entertainment was all included with the ticket. He was
living beneath his privileges. As missionaries we do not fully comprehend how
much of a privilege it is to serve the Lord full time. To be set apart to
represent our Savior Jesus Christ and do the work he would be doing if he were
here. At night we went to go visit one of our investigators Brandy, we taught
her the plan of salvation or in other words the plan of happiness or Gods plan
for us. She was so amazed at the knowledge we know about where we came from,
why are we here, and we're we are going. We can come to know these things
through the scriptures and modern day revelation. We changed her baptismal date
to her Birthday, July 10th. The concern is that she hasn't been able to come to
church or read the assignments we gave her. She is so willing to sit down and
meet with us and will say yes to everything, but the commitment isn't there
fully.
Wednesday:
We had our home inspected in the afternoon to make sure we are clean. The
senior missionary who inspected our house had so many cool stories to tell us
about his mission and how they had an all Elder basketball team and how they
played some Olympic teams. He told us how he sank a 30 foot game winning shot.
(He's really old so not sure what to believe and what not to believe haha) Our
lesson with Brandy fell through. At night we talked and correlated with our
Ward mission leader about Jaylees baptism and got him all on board.
Thursday:
Nothing too exciting or worth writing. A lot of phone calls to discuss some
things about the missionaries in our district.
Friday:
We had the Zone leaders come and interview Jaylee for her baptism. Elder Gehrett
was very impressed with how mature she is. She has been going to church for a
year and a half now by herself, with nobody in the family to support her
really. She has gone to different stakes with her friends and she wanted to
start going to her Ward. She is a 9 year old girl who WANTS to go to church and
is devastated when she can't go. She would read her scriptures all by herself.
Jaylee has taught me so much and it has been a blessing for me to have the
opportunity to teach her about the restored gospel. I look up to her in so many
ways. Elder Gehrett claims he is the only missionary in the mission without a
fidget spinners so Jaylee gave him one of hers! She is so amazing! Elder
Gehrett gave her some Japanese carbonated gum. And got a funny video of it. (It
is some of the weirdest gum I have ever had in my life!)
Saturday:
We printed off the programs for Jaylees baptism in the morning and went to fill
up the font. After we filled up the font, we went over to the Pecks home to eat
lunch with them. They had all the friends and family over for a lunch/ party
before the baptism. Then headed over for the baptismal service. It was a great
service and I was a little nervous because our mission president and his wife
showed up to it without telling us. Jaylees great grandpa who is 89 years old
was the one to baptize her. He had a hard time saying all the necessary words
for the ordinance, and by the 4th time he realized there is a little piece of
paper in the font that tells him what to say. All went well though! During the
time they were changing, in our mission the missionaries have taught the
restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but has been recently changed in our
mission. It is now up to our discretion to do what we feel is best for the
spirit to be present. We played a video called "The Savior understands
me." (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-03-0021-the-savior-understands-me?category=diversity&lang=eng)
it is one of my favorite videos because our Savior Jesus Christ does understand
us, he has suffered and died for us. He went to Calvary and Gethsemane for each
and every one of us. The atonement of Christ was done so we could be forgiven
of our sins, through baptism by proper authority we receive a remission of our
sins and be fully cleansed through the Atonement of Christ. It was a powerful
meeting and the spirit was there to testify of the truthfulness of our
message.
Sunday:
We went to the Meadows Ward where Jaylee goes and she received the gift of the
Holy Ghost and was confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints. Since it is the first Sunday of the month it was fast and testimony
meeting. So instead of having assigned speakers from the ward it is open for
anyone to get up to the pulpit and to bare their testimony. Half of the
testimonies that were shared were about how proud they are of Jaylee and how
good of an example she is to them. I got up and bore my testimony of missionary
work and how it is one of the best blessings I've had in my life and how the
Peck family, Jaylee in particular has changed me. I also had the chance to
finish the Book of Mormon again for my second time and I give you all my solid
testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, it is Christ's dealings
with the peoples in the Americas and it was written by ancient prophets and was
translated by Jospeh Smith for us in our day. If the Book of Mormon is
truly the word of God we know that God continues to love us and watch over us
by giving us further guidance. We will also know that we have a prophet
here on the earth today to lead and guide us to do Gods will. The promise is
real, if you read the Book of Mormon with a sincere heart and real intent, you
will know that it is true by the power of the Holy Ghost. I invite all to come
unto Christ and to read the Book of Mormon or reread it, and ask God if it is
true. I have received my answer and I don't want you to take my word for it, do
it for yourself, it will be the best decision of your life I promise.
Love you all,
Elder Ashby
Picture
and video descriptions:
The
fidget spinner Jaylee got me, her eating the Japanese bubble gum, pictures from
the baptism, Jaylee at church in primary being "Nephi" and singing
the song Nephi's courage one of my personal favorite primary songs 
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