Entry Thirty Four: Better than Penske

September 08, 2025

Entry Thirty Four: Better than Penske

What’s up gang? How has your week been? Mine was pretty aight! Not a lot happened missionary work wise, but it’s still been good. I don’t think the find grind will ever stop, but I am all for it. Bring it on!

So yeah, we had zone conference this week. We travelled far and wide to Ooltehwah, TN. Normally the long drive is a great time for me to study and journal a little, but I’m the designated driver this transfer (unfortunately (I mean I like driving, but I like being passenger princess more 💅)). Zone conference was great though! I was fortunate enough to see Elder Driggs in person one last time before he goes home, as well as my mission bro (Elder Caldwell (he was also trained by Elder Driggs)). I for sure had the best trainer. 😎

I gave a haircut to my companion this past week. I don’t think the world needs me as a barber 😅

This week we had a LOT of service. I know the standards say to limit your service to 5 hours a week, but honestly we didn’t have too much going on, plus, I almost never have service anyways, so I think we ended up with about 7 hours of service this week. It was very mentally refreshing! Also, I must say, now that I have my own experience moving things, it is so easy to be much better than Penske ever will be 😤

I don’t have much else to share, but something that stood out to me at zone conference. We’ve been talking a lot about getting people focused on baptism and how it fulfills our friends’ specific needs, and so we did a little exercise where we reflected on our own baptism. We spent about 10 minutes writing down what our baptism and confirmation has done for our lives. Before I write what baptism means to me, I’d like to invite you all to do the same. Will you take a minute, whether you’re active or not, to look back on your baptism and see how it has guided you throughout your life? With the authority I hold as a missionary, I can promise that remembering your testimony of baptism will drive you more to keep your baptismal covenants.

So now back to me :)

I definitely did not realize it at the time, but my baptism set my life on the right course. With the constant influence of the Holy Ghost, I was able to avoid making certain terrible choices that would’ve complicated my life. I wasn’t perfect, however, but I was able to find peace and comfort when I did make a bad choice, because I knew I had a Savior walking the path alongside me, ready to help me repent and return to him. I know that because of this covenant, I have full access to heaven’s powers, and I will be able to claim the best blessings for not only myself, but those I love. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

We’ll sing all hail to Jesus’ name, and praise and honor give! To him who bled on Calvary’s hill and died that we might live.

I love y’all so much! May your days be merry and bright! (shoot I pulled the trigger too early in the year 😭)

-Elder Clayton

Here’s a pic from four different angles: