Entry Twenty Four: The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected
6/30/25
Hello hello hello! I hope y’all had a fantastic week! This week was a great week here in Forest City! Literally by God’s grace, and His grace alone, we were able to get FOUR friends at church this week! That is literally unheard of (at least as long as I’ve been here). The thing with being a missionary is that a lot of work goes on behind the scenes for not a lot of immediate reward, so I’ll take any win where I can take it 😂
But, also in terms of successes, our mission surpassed our baptism goal of 50 in the month of June and we got 57! This is incredible, not only for the fact that we surpassed our goal, but for the fact that we actually reached our goal (for the first time in a fat minute), and that this goal was a good bit higher than last month’s goal. The work is at the boiling point here in our mission! We’re now striving for the goal of 69 baptisms in the month of July. I’d like to invite you all in joining us in praying for this goal (as well as any other goals you might have in your mission if you’re currently serving), because to quote the bible dictionary,
“The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them.”
The only other thing of note this week was that it was the anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith this past Friday, and so my mission got to hear from the former church historian, Brother Turley, about a new biography the church is commissioning to be written about the Prophet Joseph Smith. We also got to study a bunch of talks about Joseph Smith in the week leading up to that devotional, which was very awesome. I love Joseph Smith, he truly is the greatest prophet of all time.
In light of talking about Joseph Smith all week, one of the motifs of his life that stuck out to me is how Joseph grew into his role as the prophet of this dispensation. Before the first vision, he was just a weak 14-year-old boy. He was frankly a bit of an anxious soul (which I relate to) worried about how he’s gonna turn out. However, he very quickly learned of this eternal truth, which the prophet Moroni teaches in his final words:
Moroni 10:32 - Yea, come unto Christ, and be perected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
I want to testify to you all that we are here on this earth because God loves us. We truly have the best opportunity ever presented to learn and grow so we can become perfect, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect. He loves us so much that he even paid the price by sending His Only Begotten. Jesus Christ is the way, and I am so grateful for prophets in these days that direct us toward Him. I say these things in His holy name, Jesus Christ, amen.
Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven; earth must atone for the blood of that man. Wake up the world for the conflict of justice. Millions shall know “Brother Joseph” again.
Bring back the word “calumny” for me,
-Elder Clayton
Pics if I took any 😬
Took inspiration from Elder Hooper
SPIDER SQUIRREL
I’ve been asked for an address so here’s my mission office: 9145 Cross Park Dr Ste. 104
Knoxville TN 37923
United States
Email List if anyone wants to join! (You have permission to edit) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_YNCAT_KrJyAaHBghczy4CQemItSvbeQrKAfOYxAkws/edit?usp=sharing
Email Archive (if pictures don’t work, they’re always on here):
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