Entry Nine: The Art of the Bash

March 17, 2025

Entry Nine: The Art of the Bash

3/17/25

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Apparently I’m just really lucky at getting P-days on holidays because this is the second time this has happened and I’m only 5 weeks into the mission! 😂

This was my first full week in the TKM and I must say that the work is thriving here (in spite of the title, don’t worry I’ll get to that later). The Asheville zone is “stacked” in the words of Sister Barlow, and “an embarrassment of riches” in the words of President Barlow (it’s definitely all because I’m here now). We had our zone conference this week, featuring Elder and Sister Buckner of the seventy! They were touring the TKM this past week and so they had the opportunity to teach us this zone conference. I got to shake Elder Buckner’s hand, plus he liked a comment I said. 😎

Here’s some cool yet shorter things from this past week!

The freeway exits around here are sparse, so one day we missed our exit and ended up a mile into South Carolina.
There were some bomb threats in the area this past Thursday at Walmart and Lowes. Luckily, Elder Driggs and I felt impressed to start our morning with knocking rather than the normal Walmart find. Listen to the spirit y’all!
We had some lessons with families this week, and I must say even though it’s far out into the future, I am so looking forward to being a father someday.
So we baptized Hayden last week, and now his wife, Jessica, is very desirous to be baptized as well! What’s crazy is she was almost baptized a few years back but unfortunately had to skip town. We’re so excited for Jessica though!
Y’all should listen to The Spirit of God by Nashville Tribute band. It is actually so fire!

Ok, now to explain the title. Last week we had someone come up to us to ask us a question about like philosophy and stuff. We chatted with him for a little bit before cutting it off and set up a time to meet and talk more. From this point we already knew he wasn’t willing to listen to us, so we went in to this meeting with clear expectations that we can only meet with him if he’s willing to keep commitments (aka read the B.O.M., come to church, etc.) Luckily, we didn’t go in alone, we had Brother Knowlden and Brother Sims with us (this was at the church immediately after an institute lesson). For a first “bible bash” it was surprisingly quiet and dare I say elegant. Now, I don’t want to pick fights with people, I’m here to invite others to come unto Christ, but I must say this event reminded me of Cabinet Battle #1 from Hamilton. Ok maybe that’s not the best comparison, but it was more like a formal debate rather than just insults.

Something important I learned from this is that my testimony is unshakeable. I love Helaman 5:12, and how it says the adversary can’t get you, “because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation wheron if men build they cannot fall.” Our friend may have had superior intellect over the majority of us in that room, but he had very little faith in Christ. Something I wrote in my journal that I really like is that, “testimony isn’t merely a knowledge of proof, it is an undeniable blessing that spawns from acting in true faith.” Our logic (which is a gift for us to use mind you) is by nature imperfect because we are mortal. However, pairing that imperfect logic with the Holy Ghost will let us, “know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:5) I hope this all makes sense, sorry if I overcomplicated it. I just want to stress the importance of having faith and trusting in God and not leaning to our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). (Dang I really do pull scriptures out of thin air 😂)

That is all for this week! I hope you all are doing amazing because you all are amazing to me! Also, if I’m not on your email list, please add me with zachary.clayton@missionary.org. (Double check for me 😁👍)

In each mistake there’s opportunity for growth. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

I.L.Y.A.L.C.L.Y.

Elder Clayton

Photos!