Entry Thirty One: From out of the blue to into the blue

August 18, 2025

Entry Thirty One: From out of the blue to into the blue

Hello again lovely folks! I hope y’all are having a week that’s as good as your haircut (you good lookin’ 😁). This week not a whole lot happened, but we had one of the biggest miracles I’ve seen so far on the mission. Let’s get into it!

So allow me to introduce our dear friend SJ. He’s 11 going on like 22, he’s the most mature and awesome kid I’ve ever met. The missionaries had been somewhat meeting with his family before I got here, and they were able to make it to church one week, but had a bad experience (or at least the mom did). However, SJ really loved it, and so one day after I got here we stopped by and had a good talk with him about baptism; he said it was something he’d want to work towards.

Fast forward to pioneer day and SJ really wants to come. We’re able to get him a ride, and he meets the bishop’s son, who he actually met previously at a dirt biking event. They hit it off so fast, and from then on he started coming to church regularly with the Bishop’s family. Literally the only thing that prevented us from setting a baptismal date for him was actually meeting with his parents for permission (they’re always either busy or “busy” 😴)

But, literally this past Sunday we finally got to meet with them and got the green light! So literally all this past week was spent teaching him the lessons (he retains it so well by the way) and we had the interview. Then, yesterday we had his baptismal service and it was incredibly sweet. He was so happy to finally be baptized!

So yeah, that’s basically what I spent the past week doing. It was a lot of fun, but so exhausting lol. In other news, we had interviews this past week, which was great. It’s also transfers this week, so we’ll see where I end up next p-day (bro if I get shafted 😭)

Spiritual Thought:

Alma 37:6 teaches us:

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

I’m learning more about this truth every day as I do the small and simple things. Repeatedly doing the essentials (such as reading scriptures and praying) both requires and builds faith. As President Nelson invited us,

“Think of what your life would look like if you had more faith. Think about it; write about it. Then do something that requires more faith.”

Small and simple things do bring miracles! We couldn’t have helped SJ get baptized if we weren’t trusting in the Lord and doing the small yet essential things he’s asked us to do. So I want to invite you all to do the same. What’s one simple item you can add to your routine? Will you commit to doing it? I promise all that you will see miracles. I testify that God loved us enough to give us his Only Begotten, and through faith in Him we do move mountains. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.

Love y’all!

-Elder Clayton

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