Entry Twenty Six: Dead Area

July 14, 2025

Entry Twenty Six: Dead Area

7/14/25

Well hello again! How are you lovely people this week? This week was transfer week, but despite how hectic things have been, I’d say it went really well!

To begin, I can now say without a doubt that I’ve seen an area die. AKA, missionary work goes kaput. So yeah, Forest City is unfortunately closed for the foreseeable future. I’m a little distraught, but I know that both Elder Bergeson and I were needed elsewhere this transfer, and missionaries will eventually return to Forest City. It’s actually one of the better areas in the mission for missionary work, but there’s just not enough missionaries to support it and it’s incredibly far from Knoxville (3 hours, yeah I was literally banished for 4 months haha). Also, it was super sad to have to text both progressing friends and members that missionaries are gonna be gone for at least 6 weeks, but everyone wished us well.

After the long drive to Knoxville, I got paired up with my new companion, Elder Staker, and we were off! So where’d I end up? A tiny little town called Jamestown, TN! It’s about 40 minutes north of Crossville, which is about 30 minutes east of Cookeville, which that is about halfway between Knoxville and Nashville, and if you’re still confused, those two cities are in the eastern half of the state of Tennessee in the southeastern US, which is on the North American continent, which is on the western hemisphere of earth, and by now you should get the gist of it lol.

But, Jamestown is awesome! The ward is incredibly active and willing to help with missionary work. Our church has prime real estate in the “downtown” area. It’s just an incredibly boony area. Yesterday we had to drive out 40 minutes into the mountains for a member meal, and then 40 minutes back, most of that drive without service. Lit meal though, we had rattatouile 😋

My third day here, we did a service project with the Elders in my new district moving hay bales. Nothing much of note here, we just had a good time doing farm things and had a very delicious breakfast cooked by the Laws family.

Lastly, I lucked into another baptism like I did back in Forest City. However, this baptism needed quite the fight in the final down to make it (I hope I used the football terminology correctly). But, despite all the pushback from the adversary, our dear friend, Bridgett, made it, and was baptized and confirmed a member of the church yesterday! Also, the Barlows pulled up to the baptism, which was just super awesome! There was a lot of power having us two missionaries, a bishop, and a mission president confirming Bridgett. Also, a side note, there is something HUGE taking place in our mission. We got 23 baptisms this week as a whole, which to missionaries in this mission a year ago would’ve been unfathomable. I can truly testify that the Lord is hastening his work, not only here in Tennessee, but in the world as a whole. Actually the church put out an article (I’ll link below) about that very thing, go check it out, it is awesome!

Ok, remember how I said there was a lot of power in that confirmation circle? Yeah, I wanna talk a little more about that for my spiritual thought. There’s a verse in the Doctrine and Covenants that we talked about in institute this week:

“Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.” (D&C 84:20)

This is referencing priesthood ordinances. Our institute teacher, Brother Rambo, focused on that word godliness when we went over this verse. The word godliness means “to be like God.” If we know anything from the scriptures, we know that God has “all power, both in heaven and in earth.” (Mosiah 4:9)

So, when we use our priesthood (or even just act in the authority of our church callings) we end up with a power you cannot find anywhere else. The best thing about this power is that it is selfless. It is meant for us to use to help each other, similar to how Christ bears record of the Father, and the Father bears record of him. (3 Nephi 11:32) The priesthood helps build others up, and in turn helps us to develop so many Christlike attributes that better our own lives.

It may seem strange that God is willing to give 12 year olds this level of power, but I know that it is necessary for us in these last days. The adversary is getting a stronger grip on the world, and so we need access to the priesthood as quickly as we can. In the priesthood we find the power of Jesus Christ, and it will sanctify us. We can truly overcome the world and make it back to our Heavenly Father. The priesthood is such a great gift! I know that God loves us, and so he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to give us the power of his atonement. The priesthood unlocks a whole other level of the atonement that helps us to be more like God. Please do not take this gift for granted. Take the sacrament as often as you can, and attend the temple likewise. I love you all, and am praying for you! I say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

As now we take the sacrament, our thoughts are turned to thee, thou Son of God, who lived for us, then died on Calvary. We contemplate thy lasting grace, thy boundless charity; To us the gift of life was given for all eternity.

Yappin away again,

Elder Clayton

Amazing photography by yours truly

Final district photo