Entry Forty Six: Sore Afflictions

December 01, 2025

Entry Forty Six: Sore Afflictions

Woah this week didn’t feel real. But how are you doing today? There wasn’t a whole lot from this week, but let’s get into it.

So remember how my companion promised curses to a basher at the park? Yeahhh, I don’t think he had authority to do such a thing. The very thing he promised got cast on himself, so we had a sick week. Yay! I myself didn’t get sick like at all, but Elder Hales has been absolutely cooked all week. I had to drag him around town to at least get some missionary work. It felt a little like training a missionary who doesn’t know how to do anything yet. Foreshadowing???

To add to the training foreshadowing I guess, I went on exchanges with another greenie, Elder Mortensen! He is an absolute big dawg and it doesn’t even feel like he just came out. Also turns out we sang in a choir together back in Utah, so that was hype to find out. We found this really awesome couple while knocking, and they literally had no resistance at the door. Super humble and ready to learn… until they texted us the next day saying they are no longer interested 😂😭

Still a great exchange though.

Lastly, we had some surprise service this last P-Day for a family that was moving into the other ward in Lebanon. I love doing service, and plus they fed us Little Caesar’s for sacrificing 2 hours of our P-Day.

I’ve been reading in the book of Ether in The Book of Mormon this past week, and I have been exceedingly astonished by the faith of the Brother of Jared. Moroni tells us:

“And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.

“And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept from the veil.” (Ether 12:20-21)

This level of faith, even a level sufficient to burst through the veil, isn’t reserved for prophets. It is a gift we all have access to as children of a loving Heavenly Father. I was reading a YA Weekly article this morning (I’ll link it below) about how to access greater faith like that. The main point the author was making was to change the focus of our faith from outcomes to the one who provides the outcomes, that being the Lord, Jesus Christ.

I testify that faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement is the catalyst for spiritual momentum. By this specific focus of faith we are able to do the impossible, because He did the impossible first. He took on the whole world’s burdens, pains, and sicknesses to give us hope for a better world. He is the Savior. I say these things in his name, Jesus Christ’s, amen.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Oh yeah, it’s Christmas time baby! Have a wonderful week. Love,

-Elder Clayton

A Thousand Words