Genesis member Elder Nicholas Frandsen and his companion, Elder Philip Ross, taught and converted a Methodist minister who read the Book of Mormon, prayed about its truthfulness, and desired to be baptized. Elder Frandsen shared a little of his emotions surrounding the baptism."We asked Elder Taggart to speak at the baptism, but he is on assignment with President Boyd K. Packer in Kirtland, Ohio. So I told him to give President Packer our best. He said that 'he could not wait to tell him about the two missionaries in his ward who worked so closely with the Spirit that they are going to baptize a Methodist Minister. Wow, what a testament of faith.' So that’s cool. It’s nice to know that Elder Ross and I are still the subject of polite conversation.
"Oh, my word, this weekend was sooooooooo wonderful. The baptism was the coolest thing ever. Elder Ross did the baptism on Saturday, and I did the confirmation in sacrament meeting on Sunday. When he went into the water, it was the coolest moment. It’s like every time I wanted to run away to the airport and go home never even happened, and all the hard times became so worth it.
"I totally know how Ammon felt. How the Lord just puts words into your mouth, and how somehow it’s exactly what that person needs to hear. And you don't even know it, because it’s the Spirit talking. Oh, this rocks. I love it so much. It really is the most amazing, random thing I have ever done. It’s just nuts to think about, and it really does slowly become your entire life. I mean, you know you’re a missionary when you’re rocking out to the Mo Tabs. It’s such a blast out here!
"Oh, and guess what!? We called a lady who ordered a Finding Faith in Christ DVD to set up a time to drop it by and have a short discussion. When we called she asked, 'Now, do you guys baptize people? Because I want my kids baptized.' I think our response was something like this: '. . .Yes. . . .Yes, I think that can be arranged.' Anyway, her name is Lisa Overby and she has three kids: one nine, one twelve, and one seven. So we are going to visit her on Wednesday."
December 17, 2006
Elder Frandsen and his companion, Elder Jeffrey Fletcher, learned the importance of following the Spirit as they got back in touch with an investigator . . .
"This week has been so awesome. First of all we have gotten five new investigators, and that’s been really cool. Right now, Elder Fletcher and I are the highest teaching companionship in the mission!
"We met this really cool guy named Matt, and everything we said to him he was like, 'WOW!' He loved the Joseph Smith story, and the restoration made a lot of sense to him. We met him knocking doors. It rocks!
"We had one investigator that I was really upset about; his name is Jeff, and he dropped us. He told us not to come back until he had gotten an answer to his prayers. I just couldn’t forget about him, so I dragged Elder Fletcher back to his house to see how he was coming. He told us he was just about to call us because he had gotten his answer and he wants to continue the discussions. That was so cool!
"Today I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the fourth time on my mission so far. . . ."
January 8, 2007
Elder Frandsen has been transferred to a new area—Kinston, North Carolina—where he's learning new (but delightful!) things about being "in the country" . . ."Kinston is crazy. It’s a small country town and the people here are just like the ones in Steel Magnolias. It’s so funny. I love the ward and I have already charmed their socks off. Elder Harms is really jealous that people like me more.
It’s a hoot here. The ward is going to have a Pig Picking. Yes, you read right: PIG PICKING! They BBQ the whole pig and pull the skin off and then pick the meat right off the corpse. I’m told it’s lots of fun."
January 29, 2007
During this last week, Elder Frandsen witnessed the sweet fruits of conversion . . .
"Oh, my word, this week has been so great! I was on exchanges with a kid in my ward named Justin Hale. We went to go teach Jay Ward, while Elder Harms went to go home teaching with Brother Henderson, our new ward mission leader. Anyway, we were teaching the third lesson, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, about faith, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end. At repentance I turned to Justin and said, 'Would you like to talk about repentance?'
"He started out good, and then said, 'I don’t know what to say.' I said that was fine and read about Alma the Younger's conversion. Then Justin said, 'That’s right; that is how it feels to repent.' And he just went off! He was on fire, and the Spirit was so strong, and it was so awesome! It rocked! He really connected with Jay, and now they are good friends, and I think we are going to make Justin his fellowshipper, at least until . . . .
"Justin was speaking on Sunday and gave a talk in sacrament meeting directed to the Young Men (he is the secretary in the YM). He told them how cool the gospel was and how he EXPECTED them to all serve missions and to go. But he said he could not expect them to do anything that he was not willing to do. He said, 'The Spirit is always with the missionaries, Elder Frandsen and Elder Harms. All you have to do is look at them, and you can see the Spirit in their eyes.' And, of course, I was bawling my eyes out. He announced to the ward that after teaching with me, he wants to go on a mission. And he announced that he had talked with Julie (his fiance), and she is willing to wait so he can go. So he is putting his papers in ASAP, and he has done everything to get ready in less than a week. The only other thing he has to do is have his wisdom teeth pulled. It was the coolest thing ever. It was awesome!"
February 12, 2007
Elder Frandsen and his companion, Elder Harms, took on kitchen duty at the Kinston 1st Ward Valentine's Day dance (see photo). Elder Frandsen expresses his excitement about his companion not being transferred . . ."Elder Harms is staying! He was made district leader. That comes as both good news and bad. Good because he'll still be here. Bad because I'll be the new senior elder in the district after this transfer. Elder Harms will leave and Elder Nelson will go home. And the three other elders are all leaving tomorrow. So the chances of me being district leader are slightly higher. But we can hope someone will be transferred in and get the job!"
Elder Frandsen is gearing up for three baptisms in the next two weeks!
February 19, 2007
"We went to New Bern today with the Sees and Sister Robinson. It was so stunning. It was like Colonial Williamsburg, only more modern. New Bern was the capital of North Carolina in the 1700s. We are going to go back and make a special trip to go see Triton Palace, the old governor’s home. Today all we had time for was the aquarium and the beach. We had so much fun!
"Jay Ward's baptism was great! It was amazing. His family came and everything. He is all set to baptize his daughter Mia next Sunday, and everything is ready for that. Dusty Davis's baptism is next Saturday, and we are all set for that.
"Sister Cade in our ward is having us teach her kids, Taylor and Dillon; we will baptize them in mid-March. And we are working with a new investigator named Linda, who wants us to baptize her daughter, so we’ll see how that goes."
February 26, 2007
"The baptisms were great. Dusty was so happy, and is now faced with a dilemma of his own: whether to go to college after he graduates or go on a mission. Who knows what he’ll do, but I do hope he chooses the mission. His baptism was on Saturday, and it was really great. Brother Howard did the baptism, and Elder Harms and I stood in the confirmation circle. It was really fun. And the Spirit was so strong. It was great.
"Mia's baptism was so great! Jay Ward, her father (who was just baptized a week ago Saturday) did the ordinance flawlessly. His father-in-law, Brother Basden, is another story: He had to do the confirmation three times. It was quite entertaining (and a journal entry for Mia, I’m sure).
"We are still working with the Cade children, Taylor and Dillon. They are going to be baptized in March. They are coming along just fine.
"We finally have a BLACK investigator! YEAH! Her name is Jackie Cox, and she is a pistol. We are going to start teaching her this week. We are also teaching Linda Linninger; she is the one who wants us to baptize her daughter."
March 19, 2007
"Things here are going well. Jackie Cox, our Black investigator, got moved to the other ward. So we are no longer teaching her. Dang! Maybe I'll find another Black investigator soon.
"I would like to bear my testimony for all the members of the Genesis Group. I am enjoying my mission immensely. Bringing the gospel to people who have been looking for it all their lives is so amazing. And the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is indescribable. Although my mission to North Carolina has been the hardest time in my life, I have also found it to be the most enjoyable and educational. I am so glad I was able to go to a place state-side. When I first got here, someone told me, 'When you go foreign, you learn a language. When you go state-side, you learn the gospel.' That could not be any more true. I have never grown so much spiritually and scripturally in my life.
"Coming here I have grown such an appreciation for the Church, and my love for it has grown ten-fold. I know the Church of Jesus Christ that was originally organized fell due to persecution and extreme hardship and also lack of communication. Therefore, there was need for a restoration. Joseph Smith, the Prophet of God, was the instrument God used to restore His gospel and His church. Groomed by angels and by Christ Himself, that wonderful man translated and brought forth The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the divine evidence that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet; that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Father; and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one true and valid church of Christ.
"I implore all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon and to feel its goodness. And if you have already read it, read it again and again and again. Never stop reading it. Never give up or lose the blessings that come from reading its sacred pages. I promise you that as you do, you will feel in your lives a greater increase of the Spirit, as President Hinckley said. I know—I have felt it. And I continue to feel it. I know it's true.
"As you come to a knowledge of the truthfulness of this gospel—or are reminded of the truthfulness of it—I implore you to seek missionary opportunities and to share the glorious news of the restoration with everyone. I know it is true; I cannot deny it.
"My friends, be faithful in Christ, and may the grace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you in all things and abide with you forever. With all the love that I possess, I thank you truly and deeply for your support. Thank you! In the sacred name of the Lord Omnipotent, even Jesus Christ, amen."
March 26, 2007
"Things here are great. We met this really awesome guy named Robert Comacho. He's from New York, and has been living here for two years. He got a house in Kinston and has been restoring it. He is way awesome. We went to take him a Book of Mormon, and he invited us in and we talked and taught the first lesson for an hour. He is sooo cool, and he wants us to teach his family. So that will be awesome. I started to teach him about the first vision, and he said he had been in prison in Palmyra State Penitentiary. So that was awkward. But he met elders in New York and had been looking for them ever since. We are way jazzed about him and his family."We started working with the McCall family. They are a family Elder Harms and Elder Diamond were working with reactivating. We baptized the kids shortly after I got here, but the father, a really great guy named Rusty McCall, is having some trouble with drugs and alcohol. He's in AA and is working on not smoking anymore. He came to us, and has asked us to help him. So we are going to start giving him the lessons. He has been coming to church and is really looking forward to General Conference. So helping him heal the wounds of their family has been a major blessing."
April 9, 2007
"Taylor and Dillon Cade had their baptism on Saturday. Taylor is really shy and she didn't want anyone other than family there. So it was Elder Rowley and me, Brother Applewhite, Sister Weatherington, and the Cade crew. That’s all that was there. But it was good! Elder Rowley and I both stood in the ordination circle, so that was fun. Taylor and Dillon are my 11th and 12th baptisms; isn’t that crazy? I can’t believe it.
"Other than that, we are still working with Rusty McCall. Elder Harms and I baptized his twins back in January. We’re going to go over the Plan of Salvation this week and give him a stop smoking workshop. Pray for us that the workshop goes well. He is a really good guy. It’s just a lot of change very fast."
April 23, 2007
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| Elder Frandsen with his companion, Elder Matthew Rowley. |
"We also live right in the center of our area. So we are equal distance from the three towns we cover—Kinston, La Grange, and Snow Hill—which are all about ten miles from the apartment. And since my bike has been down we have been on the ankle express. So this week has been new for him, because things are slow, and in his last area, Jacksonville, he flew from appointment to appointment.
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| The Kinston missionaries: right to left, Elder Rowley, Elder Frandsen, Elder Moyle, Elder Lapin. |
"Here’s a good example: we went with Bishop Jarman yesterday after church to go visit less-active people in the ward. Right after we pulled away from the church, the bishop saw some guys flying remote-control airplanes. The bishop pulled over, and we watched them for like half an hour. Elder Rowley was completely floored that the bishop would stop and waste prime proselyting time.
"Zone conference is on Thursday, so I promised Elder Rowley if he chilled out, I would, too. And since we had our talk things have been better. I know the Lord is with me and He is still trying to teach me patience. So I am going with the flow and staying positive.
"Yesterday was awesome. The sacrament meeting program was on missionary work, and Elder Rowley and I and the ward mission leader were the speakers. Elder Rowley did a good job. And I talked about why I decided to serve a mission and my feelings about my mission, as well as bearing my testimony."
April 30, 2007
"Elder Rowley and I are doing great. A mission certainly prepares you for marriage. This I am sure of. It really teaches you to get along with people, to sacrifice what you want and to sacrifice times when you know you are right—for peace."Zone Conference was great. It was Activity Zone Conference, which the mission does once a year. We had all the talks and stuff, then we had a testimony meeting. And at noon we went to a park and played games. It was a blast.
"Stake conference was Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday session was in Kinston, and the Sunday session was in New Bern. They were really good. The guest speaker was Elder H. Ross Workman. He was really great, and gave some wonderful talks. Afterward we went across the street and had a picnic with the Edges. Oh, and we ordained their son Eric to the Melchizedek priesthood; that was really cool. Brother Edge did the blessing and we stood in; I was honored to have been asked to join in. It was a really wonderful day."
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| Elder Frandsen and Elder Rowley after their star-studded performance as the Blues Brothers in the Kinston 1st Ward "American Bandstand Night." |
"BOOOO Yeah!!! I got transferred to Chapel Hill, so I will be a Tarheel for the next couple of months. The University of North Carolina rocks! It is the most beautiful campus I have ever been to in my entire life. I LOVE IT. A guy in my last ward that I really loved pretty much talked me into going to BYU. So I've decided (at least for the moment) to go there and do political science, and do Jerusalem and Nauvoo study abroad, and then come back and get my law degree. But if UNC is as good as it looks, then I might just come here. It’s really beautiful!
"My new companion is Elder Kennah. He is a really nice guy. We are getting along. I’m in a four-man now, so that’s cool. [Four elders share the apartment.] Elder Kennah and I are in the singles ward, which is apparently dwindling away because school is getting out this week and everyone is going home for the summer. But we’ll work as hard as we can and I’m sure there will be some people who will be here for school during the summer. We’ll just have to do everything we can and have the Lord take care of the rest."
May 28, 2007
"I was reading Preach My Gospel this week, and came across this section on recognizing the Holy Spirit. It said that you have been promised that you will have the Spirit to be with you as you teach, so your investigators will be able to see truth. It says the same thing in my patriarchal blessing and in my setting-apart blessing as a missionary. Then I was reading in D&C where Joseph was in Liberty Jail, Section 121, where he asks, 'O God where art thou, and where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?' The Lord says, 'My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.' I love that.
"Heavenly Father really does love us. But I think sometimes He loves us so much that He lets us figure things out for ourselves sometimes. And in doing that we are able to grow. I have been in some tough situations in my life. But this has got to be the most trying, tiring, and spiritually draining. But somehow I find myself still here. Still in North Carolina, doing what I know to be right. I think the Lord helps me out a lot more than I give Him credit for. Every time I truly need Him He is there. And I know that’s the only way I am able to do this."
June 11, 2007
"We taught a young man this week named Wiley. He's studying music [at the University of North Carolina] and is Methodist. He’s a really great kid. We taught him on Monday and met again on Thursday to see how his praying went. He said he felt nothing and he didn't think Joseph Smith was a prophet. Thankfully we had a member with us named Chris. He just finished his degree in American Religious Thought as his undergraduate degree to prepare for law school. He was invaluable in showing how John Wesley’s Methodist thought fit hand-in-hand with the Mormon belief of Apostolic authority. Wesley’s only problem was that he couldn’t get it without going through the Catholic Church. He talked about how Wesley and others paved the way for the Restoration of the gospel, and said that if Wesley were alive today, he would be Mormon! It was awesome, honestly the coolest lesson.
"Then Wiley asked how the Book of Mormon fit into all of this. And I bore the most powerful testimony I think I have ever given about anything in my entire life. I read him part of 3 Nephi 11 where the Savior comes to the Nephites. I pointed out that in that part the Savior says, 'I am the God of the whole earth' three times. I explained how that was true, and how the Book of Mormon was part of that. I testified that the Book of Mormon was living evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that this it the Lord’s church. I promised Wiley that if he continued to pray, he would get an answer. It was so cool. The Church is TRUE."
July 9, 2007
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| Elder Frandsen in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, kneeling in a pillar of light. |
The spiritual thoughts journals you asked about are just normal ones, like the one you sent me in the MTC. All I write in that big journal are the monumental things that have happened to me on the mission: baptisms, how we found people, visions, inspired dreams, whisperings of the Spirit at key points in time, the ministering of angels, answered prayers, quotes from the Apostles and Prophets that really touch my heart, things like that. . . . Spiritual thoughts journals are great, because you can look at them and see all of the good times on your mission all at once. And it gives you such a boost on life. And it helps when you are looking for something specific: you don’t have to go trudging through like ten journals just to find one really important entry. And then you use the regular journal for day-to-day stuff."
July 16, 2007
"Well, this week has been good. Elder Nelson and I went to this great street on Saturday and found HALF A DOZEN NEW INVESTIGATORS! I hope some of them will work out.
"We met this really cool guy named Johnny. He was really interested in the Book of Mormon, so we are going to take him one later this week. Ada's baptism is still on for July 29.
"Oh, I met the coolest lady this week. She called to the Church to order a Book of Mormon, and we went to drop it off and to teach her. She was a hoot. Her name is Edna Wiley. She is this OLD Black lady who lives in this 80-year-old house in a very old neighborhood. She loved the Book of Mormon. We read a little with her and she said she loves to read. But she was so thankful that we would come and visit with her, it was great. She said something that I just loved. She has this saying that she has kept all of her life: "I’m too Blessed to be Stressed!" She said she may be old, but the Lord has given her so many blessings, she can’t ever get down because she looks on the bright side. I thought that was way awesome.
"And we started teaching this guy named Mike Dubois. His wife and her grown children are the members of the Church, but Mike is not. He has been through dozens of Elders and is a really great guy. He owns a car dealership and is way awesome. He has been investigating the Church for like nine years. And so he said he would take the lessons, but he had no time. The only day he normally has off is Sunday, and even that can be packed. But he comes to church all three hours, so I said we were more than willing to teach him during Sunday School. He agreed to that, so we taught him the Restoration yesterday. It was really good. It was one of those times when the Spirit speaks through you and two seconds later you have no clue what you just said, but the others are all in tears. It was awesome.
"Afterwards Elder Nelson said to me, 'I know why you came to Goldsboro.' I said, 'Okay, why?' He said, 'You’re here to teach Mike Dubois, I just KNOW it. You just put that lesson in words that he could totally relate to. That’s something I don’t think I could have ever done.' I thought that was a wonderful compliment."
July 30, 2007
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| Elder Frandsen at his shirt-burning ceremony in Goldsboro, North Carolina, celebrating his one-year mark as a missionary. (He assured his mother that no lighter fluid was harmed in the burning of the shirt; "it was 100 percent cotton, and it just burns like that!") |
"Our meeting went amazing. At the end we committed everyone to seek more opportunities to share their testimonies. And I promised them in the name of Jesus Christ that they would have angels on their right hand and on their left hand and that the face of God would go before them. I also promised them in the name of Jesus Christ that the voice of the Spirit would flow from their lips like they have never experienced before. I have never had the Spirit pour out of my mouth so abundantly on my entire mission."
August 27, 2007
"This weekend was awesome. The temple was so cool. We went through with President and Sister Wallis. They then spent the whole rest of the day in the Celestial Room receiving missionaries. The temple was grand, as always, and the Spirit was so strong. Elder Chivers and Elder Ballentine and I stayed for a while in the Celestial Room discussing the secrets of the Kingdom. And President came up and answered all of our questions, and we got to talk about some really amazing things."This week was stake conference. One of the newest members of the Presidency of the Seventy, Claudio R. M. Costa, came to reorganize the stake. The Spirit emanated from him like no one I have ever seen. He was so cool. He spoke on tithing and on how important it was, and how by the generosity of the American Church members the Church is able to bless thousands of people around the world. He also spoke on the importance of going to the temple. North Carolina has more people going up to the Washington DC Temple than going the average hour and a half that it takes to get to Raleigh. The only time the Raleigh Temple has had a full endowment session is on Mission temple days.
"Sunday Elder Costa spoke on the same thing. President and Sister Wallis spoke on—what else—missionary work. And after the meeting, all of us elders gathered around Elder Costas, and he spoke just to us. He said that if we did our very best on the mission that the Lord would bless us with a testimony that we never thought we could have. He said that we would be like Nephi and the great men of the Book of Mormon. It was so awesome. He said that in his meeting in the Salt Lake Temple last Thursday that President Hinckley said, "Missionaries are the best people in the world." And he said that every General Authority in the Church prays for us at least twice a day, if not more. It was so amazing. I love that man. He was so cool. He was a real-life Alma the Younger."
September 11, 2007
"This week was a trip. There is a single sister in my ward named Misha Marshal. She’s a teacher, and last school year the Elders volunteered to work in her classroom. So we went on Tuesday and also on Thursday. The kids are hilarious! They’re all Black. Misha is the only white person in the room besides Elder Chivers. It is such a blast."This one kid in the class—Xjrayjon (pronounced “Ray-Shawn”)—was listening to me read him a book. He stopped me and asked if I liked to wrestle. I said, 'Yeah, I do.' He told me he does, too. I pointed at Elder Chivers, and Xjrayjon said (keep in mind this kid is five), 'You mean that silly-looking white kid over there? That’s crazy!' I laughed so hard I thought I was going to die. It was great.
"On Friday we went on exchanges with Brother West and went to deliver a DVD called Finding Faith in Christ. The people who ordered it were awesome. The wife’s name is Yvonne Pitman; she has such a good spirit. We were able to teach the restoration, and the Spirit was so strong you could cut it with a knife. Then she started asking about where people go when they die. So we went over the plan of salvation with her very briefly.
"Yvonne then told us that she had an uncle who passed away. She had a dream that he was being taught the gospel by people who knew the Bible. So I read to her the 2 Peter scriptures where he talked about Christ going to the spirit world, and I read her part of D&C 138. It was so cool. We said we would love to come back and teach them the entire plan of salvation. So we’re going back this week to teach that. They are so cool!"
September 24, 2007
"I’m going to share one of my missionary stories—an experience from my spiritual thoughts journal:
“I was in Raleigh at the time, at the very beginning of my mission. I was with Elder Ross at the time. We had biked to Elder Taggart’s house to give him something, and we were biking back up Raven Ridge Road to the apartment. Raven Ridge was a really long, steep road. It was a really cold, wet afternoon, which was wreaking havoc on my asthma, and we had already biked a ton that day.
“I started having an asthma attack on the bike ride. Elder Ross was like a mile ahead of me, and I thought I was going to pass out. I started to have tears in my eyes because I could feel my throat closing off. And I started to pour my heart out to Heavenly Father, and I asked Him for His help to get me home. After my prayer, without me peddling it at all, the bike went right up Raven Ridge Road with me on it, all by itself. It took me all the way home.
"I have never had anything like that happen to me in my life. Nor do I believe I ever will again. But it was amazing. I made it to the top of Raven Ridge Road and home without major trouble and without getting sick. In recalling this experience, it makes me think of the handcart pioneers who, when they could not go any further pushing their carts, their carts began to push them. It was one of the most amazing days of my life.”
October 8, 2007
"The beginning of my mission was really difficult for me. I was still in Falls Lake (the wealthiest part of North Carolina) and was in a ward that had not seen missionaries in some years. Getting the work going and being new to the mission was certainly a refining experience for me.
"Until that time, you were a very big reason why I stayed on my mission. But I want you to know that very soon after that, I received an answer to my fervent prayers. My Father in Heaven knew I could not go on without His help and blessing. And His blessing came ('Sunday came'). That day remains one of the most amazing of my life. I wish I could tell you about it, but I feel it would be entirely inappropriate to tell you through email. The sacred nature of that day is something I must recall to you in person.
"But I will say that on that afternoon, my Heavenly Father heard the pleas of His son, begging for help and strength to do what he thought was right. And when He stretched His almighty hand across the vast eternities to pour His matchless love upon my soul, the veil was very thin.
"I want you to know that I KNOW that God lives! I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. And that it is in and through Him only that we may re-enter the presence of our loving Father.
"I know that throughout all time He has called Prophets to lead and guide His people because He loves them. I know that the Savior came to this earth. He was born in the most humble of circumstances. He went forth to heal and to love in ways this world has never seen. He taught us to love our Father in Heaven and to love one another. And on these two principles lie all the laws and all the prophets.
"I know that it is on this principle of selfless, merciful, and eternal LOVE that He willingly gave Himself to those who did not know love. And He gave His life upon a cross, a cruel and inhumane device designed to destroy the body as well as the soul. And once again He triumphed over all with the infinite love He possessed, saying, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'
"I know that after that heartbreaking day, 'Sunday came,' and on that glorious morning, He broke the bands of death. He went forth again, on this continent and on the Old, giving the commandment to love and to help others—the same call He gave to His Apostles: 'Go ye therefore and teach all nations.'
"I know that after this great outpouring of love, the world rejected it because they could not understand it. The Emperors of Rome who lusted for bloodshed decimated the people of God and His church. The Nephites threw themselves into a downward spiral that was to ensure their destruction, leaving them only to 'whisper from the dust.' I know that after such revilement and abomination that our Father in Heaven promised Himself, His prophets, His priesthood, and His Church to come forth in some future time, when the truth would not dwindle quietly into the night.
"That day came in the early days of spring 1820, when a young boy would go and ask a simple question and receive a miraculous answer. When God our Father and His Holy Son Jesus Christ came in power and glory, they ushered in the dispensation of the fullness of times. This time it would fill the earth. This time it would go unto all the world. And this time the kingdom of God on earth would be ready and willing to welcome the Son of God. He will go to His temple and proclaim to all that this is His Church. He is at the head of it. And it is by His royal command it shall sweep the nations of the earth.
"And as our beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said yesterday, 'This is only the beginning.'
"Mom, yes—in the beginning, your love and memory was what kept me going. But the experiences I have had while on my mission, however hard it has been, have been too sacred and too numerous to discuss at this time, and have given me the strength and the determination to stay. I love you so much. I know this is His Church."
December 24, 2007
"I’m a Frandsen, and we love Christmas with or without presents! Because this is the time when the world as a whole—all true believers—can come together and commemorate and celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. Is it any wonder that at this time giving and families are most often in our hearts? I agree with President Hinckley. Instead of saying 'Merry Christmas,' we should be saying, 'What can I do to help you?' Or, even more appropriate would be to ask yourself the question, 'What can I do to help another person feel the love of the Savior even more?' That is what I believe the true spirit of the season is."I feel beyond blessed to be where I am and to be doing what I am doing. Because I know the joy and love the gospel brings is the greatest gift anyone could ever give. I love you. I pray the Lord's Spirit be with you and bring you happiness in this most joyous of seasons. 'Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King,' forever and ever.
"JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!"
January 14, 2008
Elder Frandsen has had a very trying time with a difficult companion, and was hoping to be transferred this week. . . ."Well, transfers are tomorrow, and I’m staying with Elder Warenski. I’ve felt this outcome for quite some time. And I think I am okay with that. I was talking with my district leader, Elder Hinde, and he told me the news. Elder Barney asked our Zone Leader, Elder Christenson, how in the world we were staying together. Elder Hinde said that President Wallis prayed about us and said that basically it's more for the good of future relationships rather than the one between Elder Warenski and me.
"It's been kind of strange. At first I wanted to go and plead with President Wallis to reconsider, and to think it over. But the more I think about it and the more I have prayed about it, I feel this is what the Lord wants. I don’t know why. But I’m positive that is why President Wallis has made the decision that he has. And as badly as I wanted to pull a Martin Harris, that’s not what faith is. Faith is not finding what you want and willing that into reality. Faith—to me, anyway—is finding out what the Lord wants and being happy with whatever He sees fit for you.
"To be honest, as emotional and hot-headed as I am, I’m finding it kind of creepy that I’ve been able to take this so well.
"Things here are going slow right now, but hopefully we'll have some good investigators soon. The ward is doing a forty-day fast to kick off the year's missionary work. They are way hard-core on member missionary work. So I hope we can see some fruits before too long."
February 18, 2008
"Elder Warenski and I were downtown, and we were walking around the capitol and the legislature building. We decided to take a short break at the North Carolina Museum of State History. On the third story there was an exhibit of North Carolina in the American Revolution. So I was going around looking at all the things that they had. I was looking at Nathaniel Hawthorn’s sword and George Washington’s cloche that were on loan from the Smithsonian. And it was really fascinating."So I said out loud, 'Wow, that is so cool.' And a man who was standing right next to me—in a suit and tie, upper in age and really nice—said, 'Do you enjoy history?' I told him I did, especially American history, and how I found the people of the American Revolution really fascinating. He asked me where I was from, because he said I had a western accent. I told him I was from Utah, and I was on a mission in North Carolina for the Church. And I told him that as members of the Church we hold special regard for American history because of the Restoration. He said he had some friends who were Mormon and that he had enjoyed the members of the Church he was acquainted with very much.
"Then all of a sudden this rather attractive woman in a gray suit came into the exhibit and said, 'Excuse me, Governor Easley, the meeting is about to start.' He told me it was a pleasure to meet me and told me to have fun in 'OUR STATE.' And then he left.
"I sat there and chatted with the Governor of North Carolina for like 15 minutes and didn’t even know it was Michael Easley! What a trip!"
April 4, 2008
"The baptism of Dorcus was AWESOME! The Spirit was so strong and it really could not have been any better. We had a lot of support from the ward. President and Sister Wallis showed up. We had President Wallis be a witness. It really was just wonderful. Sister Evans gave a great talk on baptism, which really was conference-worthy. She was great. And Dr. Lahood gave one on the Holy Ghost. The Relief Society president did a great welcome to the Church. It was just wonderful.
"We had fast and testimony meeting on Sunday, and we confirmed Dorcus there. It was really lovely. And Dorcus was the very last testimony. She got up and said what a very blessed woman she was and thanked the ward for all of their kindness. She said she felt especially blessed to have become friends with Elder Warenski and me, and that this has been the best thing that has happened to her in a long time. She was so awesome. Everyone was in tears. It was nuts. We were all absolutely breathless. She is planning to come to Utah with Rachel next summer on vacation. I think she would really like it. Out of all the amazing things to see in Utah, Rachel’s #1 is East High School in Salt Lake where they filmed High School Musical. She is such a trip.
"Well about the family Elder Louis and I found—the ones that were moving in—they are out of our area. So we gave the address to Elder Wright and Elder Rowley. I’ll ask them if they ever went back. We did start teaching this really cool guy named Bernard Cooper. He is way awesome. He had ordered a Finding Faith in Christ DVD. And we stopped by the day before Easter to deliver it. He is way nice. And we went by earlier this week with Brother Kemer (AJ Millet’s favorite companion’s dad), and we had a great lesson. Brother Kemer pretty much gave him a baptismal commitment. It was great. He is one awesome guy. We had a wonderful lesson with him.
"We’re still teaching Dorcus’s daughter Rebecca. She is really opening up to us. And after the baptism she set up an appointment with us to come and teach her. I would not be surprised if she were to join the Church. But I think it will take some time."
April 28, 2008
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| Elder Frandsen with the family of Jay Ward, who was sealed for all eternity in the Raleigh North Carolina Temple on April 26, 2008. |
"I remember trying to decide whether to even go on a mission at all. And I thought to myself, man, if there was even one person who I could share my testimony with that might just take it seriously enough to believe it, that would be the most wonderful day of my entire life. I think that up until this moment, Saturday is the most exhilarating moment of my life. And all the pain and heartbreak of a mission were washed away in one simple afternoon.
"The words of one of my favorite hymns comes to mind:
“Oh how glorious from the throne above,
Shines the gospel light of truth and love,
Bright as the sun this heavenly ray,
Lights every land today. . . .
"I could not have asked for anything more beautiful and wonderful than that moment was for me. And also for my dear friends."
More photos from Elder Frandsen's day at the temple:
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| Elder Frandsen with the Applewhite family, who came to the temple to attend the sealing of Jay Ward and his family. |
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| Elder Frandsen with his new companion, Elder Regnier, a football player for the University of Arizona, who has been on his mission fewer than two months. |
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| Elder Frandsen on the grounds of the Raleigh North Carolina Temple on April 26, 2008. |
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| A jubilant Elder Frandsen on the grounds of the Raleigh North Carolina Temple on April 26, 2008. |
July 1, 2008
"Sunday was awesome. We had a sacrament meeting all about how the American gGovernment was set up for the Restoration. Both talks were great, but Brother Butler's was awesome. He spoke on how the Constitution was a divine document, and he quoted portions of it that sounded like scripture. It was so awesome. I felt the Spirit (which is also the spirit of freedom) so strong. Then he spoke on how wonderful it was to live in a country where we have the freedom to worship almighty God as we want to. The spirit of freedom was boiling in our souls. Then at the very climax of the meeting, we all stood and sang the national anthem. There was not a dry eye in the room.
"I really do feel that law is what I need to study. There need to be honorable people to uphold the Constitution in the power and glory for which it was created. It was a great meeting."