Elliot's September 12 email

Here's the latest message from Elliot.  He's staying in Wichita Falls for at least six more weeks and loving it.

Hi!

Transfers! I'm staying! This'll be my first 3 transfer area and 2 transfer companion. I'll be staying in Wichita Falls South with Elder Jacobson, Elder Lang will be opening a new area, Wichita Falls Central and will still be in my district. We're gonna have the youngest, largest, and according to President Taylor, the most solid district in the mission. There will be 8 Elders and 2 senior couples. We're gonna have 2 greenies, a missionary on his second transfer, and 2 missionaries on their third, me and Lang who have been out for 13 months, and Elder Duke, 18 months. In a lot of missions this would be 2 districts and therefore a zone, but I'm excited. I have a lot cut out for me but that's a good thing. I'm so glad to be staying in Texas. I love this area. We have good work going and should see great things happen here these next 3 weeks.

This past week was hectic. I went on exchanges with the Wichita Falls North Elders, Duke and Jacobs on Wednesday, exchanges in Burkburnett with Elders Guinto and Heyland from Friday to Saturday, and then went to Lawton with the APs (Elder Frampton and Elder Timoteo), Elder Kimber and Elder Duke from Saturday to Sunday to teach soldiers at Ft. Sill. It was so busy but pretty awesome. I was able to make some visits with the North and had some good lessons. I conducted a baptismal interview for a 12 year old investigator in Burk and was able to go to the baptism which was awesome. And then I taught the message of the Restoration to a group of 15 soldiers by myself at Ft. Sill on Sunday. It was way intense and tough, but a good experience. I felt the Spirit very strongly as I taught them and hopefully it sunk in for them too. I committed a few of them to baptism, though not with a specific date. Our investigators back in my own area are doing well too. We had an awesome Family Home Evening with Adrinne and her son came to church for the first time with her this past Sunday (though I wasn't there for it). But things are going really well. I'm excited for the work and am grateful for the opportunity to be here. 

I love y'all!

Elder Elliot Adair

Mormon Messages: "Finding Hope - 10th Anniversary of 9/11"

On this tenth anniversary of 9/11, take a few minutes for this video account of a survivor, a member of the church who describes the events of the day and the effect they had on his life.

President Thomas S. Monson reflects on 9/11

The Washington Post has published a series of "On Faith" commentaries, featuring columns written by prominent religious figures as they share their thoughts and reflections on the tenth anniversary of September 11.  One of the columns, "9/11 destruction allowed us to spiritually rebuild," was authored by President Thomas S. Monson.  He wrote:

If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.

The rest of his column can be found here, and here is a Church news release about the column.

Other "On Faith" columns featured in the Washington Post have been authored by Desmond Tutu, T.D. Jakes, Feisal Abdul Rauf, Donald Wuerl, Katharine Jefferts Schori, Mark Driscoll, Karen Armstrong, Deepak Chopra, and Yasir Qadhi.

Elliot's September 6 email and pictures

Here's the latest email from Elliot, a day late due to Labor Day.  There's also two pictures after the jump.

Hola!

It's not 110 outside! It doesn't even feel real, but it's awesome. Now we just need rain. I haven't really been affected by the fires. We can see some smoke though from the one near Lawton, but it's all pretty far away from what I can tell.

I really am enjoying being in a 3-some. In some ways it's challenging, and doing some things takes longer than if it was just 2 of us. It's so fun though. We'll be together until at least next Wednesday, when we have transfers. I really hope I don't get transferred again, but judging by my track record there's a good chance. I love Texas.

This past week was tough but good. Quite a few things fell through and quite a few tires got flat, but that happens. We have finished teaching Adrinne all of the lessons now, and she seems pretty excited about all of it. She's so awesome. It's been so cool to work with her, see her faith grow, and just have a good time about it. We're planning on going bowling for family home evening sometime this week. We have a few other investigators that are going pretty well right now too. We have 3 appointments tonight with investigators so it should be cool. I'm excited for the work and just trying to stay strong during this middle stretch of my mission.

This past week we went to an investigator's house on the far northeast side of Wichita Falls, which isn't the best area. We knew there was a path next to the Wichita River so we tried to find it instead of riding back on the streets. We ended up getting on a mountain bike trail on the wrong side of the river, but it was so sweet. We were still able to talk to a few people and had a super fun time, but it made me think about how you always go biking, dad. It was pretty cool. We can go ride in 11 months.

Love yall!

Elder Elliot Adair

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Merisa Hicks, Kyle Hill, Ian Loveland, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!  Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

9/11 Memorial Performance Featuring Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Tom Brokaw

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will present a special 9/11 memorial performance of Music & the Spoken Word on Sunday, September 11th. Celebrated news anchor Tom Brokaw will join the Choir as a guest narrator. The program will highlight how Americans have risen above the loss and grief of 9/11/2001.

The program will present, in music and word, how that tragedy—and other challenges faced by everyday Americans—have bound our nation together, and inspired us to lead lives of deeper understanding, appreciation and purpose.

Mack Wilberg, music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, said:

As much sorrow and grief as came from 9/11, there have also come positives. In this program, we wanted to show how the indomitable American spirit turned a tragedy into a triumph of coming together and caring and serving. The message of this show is that—as individuals and as a nation—we can find healing and strength in adversity, and literally rise above all the negatives.

"9/11: Rising Above" will be broadcast on Sunday, September 11th on approximately 750 stations and networks in the US and Canada. A large number of these (including many NBC network affiliates) will be carrying a Music & the Spoken Word program for the first time. Airtimes and station information can be found here. The program will be streamed live on the internet on BYU-TV, BYU-Radio, and KSL and can be heard on SiriusXM Radio channel 143.

More details may be found here and here.

Mormon Messages: "The Book of Mormon: A Book with a Promise"

We have featured stories about the Book of Mormon on Elliot's blog a couple of times (here and here).  Here is another video about the Book of Mormon from Mormon Messages, featuring an address by Elder Craig C. Christensen, "A Book with a Promise."  Enjoy the video, and read the excerpted portions of his address after the jump.