Monday, 26 December 2016

Week 7 Happy New Year

Merry Christmas I hope you all had a great one!

It has definitely been a crazy one here in Gloucester. It really
didn't feel like Christmas like we did Christmas things and we ate
Christmas foods but it just felt very different. 

One thing I loved is that my ward here in Gloucester does an annual 
Christmas concert on Christmas Eve and they get together for 1 hour and 
sang Christmas carols it's awesome. And then I realised English people 
are my people because they all watch the muppet Christmas carol every 
Christmas Eve, it's awesome! Obviously I didn't get to watch it but it was so 
awesome seeing all these people doing my absolute favourite Christmas
tradition! 

My companion and I built a fort in our living room and
slept in there throughout the Christmas weekend it was awesome we also
watched meet the Mormons which was great. I got to eat Christmas
pudding, trifle, mince pies and all other English foods. We got to go
be with a lot of different members during the week which was nice
being able to see different traditions and stuff and then Christmas
Day we woke up went to church and had an awesome Christmas dinner at a
members home and then we skyped our families which has become my new
favourite Christmas tradition. 

Life is going good out in the mission field! I'm coming to the end of my 
first transfer and my firstChristmas away from home is over so lots of 
milestones are crossed off this month! Oh also I got to ride on my first 
English train! Yes they do have platforms!

I hope you all have fun this New Years! Love you!






Week 6 - Merry Christmas

Merry Freaking Christmas!
Well this week has been just so good! I can't really think of anything
super spiritual that happened but there was definitely blessings but
mostly just sad and hilarious things. So because of the holiday there
has been a lot of drunk white men on the street and I think they are
becoming my favourite people cause they are absolutely hilarious. 

So Sister Vousden and I were walking down the street and this group of
drunk white men were just leaving a pub (it's about 3:00pm on a
Wednesday but you know Christmas) and there was this group of girls
leaning against a building talking and one of the drunks slapped the
girls butt and she screamed I'm 14 you pedo! Now to be fair she was
dressed in a way that a 14 year old should never dress but anyway the
man almost ran for the hills because he was just so horrified by what
he had just done to a little girl. (That's why we don't drink kids!)


Alright my next favourite drunk white man story! So we are on the bus
and it's probably 1:00pm And this man with a very festive Christmas
jumper and Christmas tree hat (with lights and all) yells from the
other side of the bus HEY! I awkwardly waved back! So of course that
means come right over. So we had a nice discussion about life and the
plan of salvation and he gave us his rendition of how life came to be.
Which was definitely a lot more theatrical then our version but hey
each to there own.


So I have been getting fed a lot of English Christmas treats like
mince meat pies (there's no meat by the way) so many non alcoholic
drinks because even Mormons need boozie drink during the holidays even
if there's no booze. We have been having a great time getting to know
Gloucester and just seeing all the different cultures I love it. Even
talking to super random people, I love hearing there stories and even
hearing more about there beliefs. 

So in Gloucester there is a cathedral and guess what movie uses it as the 
set....... Harry Freaking Potter! It was so flipping cool! So today I went to Hogwarts
and literally walked where Harry and the whole gang have walked! So I
can die now! 

Also besides really cool corridors the stain glass is
amazing! So before we went we were told by a senior missionary couple
that there is a part of the stain glass that people don't understand
what it means. But an apostle went there and said it is the baptismal
font with the 12 oxen around it so it's just so cool that we have that
knowledge and that so many people don't understand and it's in there
own church building so ya the priesthood is awesome that we are able
to receive that revelation and to have the interpretation.


Also on Sunday we though hey you know what would be a great idea
carolling! So we found a nice Christmasy neighbourhood and started
knocking doors we did about four doors and three doors slammed shut
and then 1 said come back when it's closer to the holidays! It's a
week away?? Ok England were sorry you hate Christmas! Haha


So ya life is going great here in Gloucester Christmas is coming and
life is exciting we have found an awesome family that we are going to
start teaching and we have other people we have found and have been
working with.


So ya merry Christmas! Lots of love! Peace be unto you!

Saturday, 17 December 2016

Week 5

Well I have hit my month date! woo-hoo! Ha ha really sad but we got fish and chips to celebrate so that was exciting!

We have been walking our butts off tracting and GQing trying to talk with everyone and we have been doing lots with the members and with the LA's so we've been trying to build up the kingdom here in Gloucester! which is in England for those who were asking. 

So we've been having some dinner appointments and been taken out to dinner and Ive eaten some interesting things first off after the mission I don't think I will ever touch a roast or potatoes ever again because those are like the staples here. Also I tried this thing called crackling so basically its pig skin (not bacon) cut into strips and fried up and I'm pretty sure its called crackling because you crack your teeth every bite you take. But actually Im understanding why all these people are missing teeth. 

Also everything here is Roasted vegetables roast meat roast this, roast that and holy cow they use gravy like white people use mayo like dang I had a member tell me I was missing gravy on my food (I had it on my potatoes) then proceeded to pour half of it all over everything on my plate haha. Also they do drinking right they have cordyl which is super flipping fancy stuff that you combine with water super posh!

Sister Vousden and I had a cool moment this week, we had just come in from a long day in the rain (my month mark) had fish and chips and are heavy wet clothes  (they weren't completely soaked yet) and were about to sit down and have diner but as soon as we opened the door we got a phone call from a women saying she had found the elders phone and that we should meet her down town to pick it up. 

We dropped everything including our umbrellas (stupid) and raced down town as fast as we could, once we got to Poundland we called her back and then she told us oh sorry I meant tomorrow but we knew the elders would need it so we offered to go to her home and get it so then we had to cross town again and find this woman's house and get the phone but along the way a man came and sat behind us on the bus, he poked me and said hey I like your ear rings I smiled and went back to looking at the map then he poked me again and said are you a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? ( oh ya I just about jumped out of my seat) we started talking to him about how he used to meet with the missionaries and then we gave him our number so hopefully he's going to contact us soon but it was really nice to have someone talk to us and know who we are. 

Any ways we found the women and the elders phone and were able to answer there worried prayers so that was awesome anyways at the end of that long night we were literally soaked to the bone and my Garments turned blue from my clothes I was wearing haha but any ways it was nice to be able to help some one and do some good! Life is going good here though mission life is hard but I know this is where I need to be.

Saturday, 10 December 2016

Weeks 3 & 4

Ok so I'm in Gloucester England! My companion is Sister Vousden shes great! So we've been white washed into our area which is crazy cause we have to basically start from the begining and figure everything out on our own which is crazy but it's all good!
My last week in preston was awesome we went on a church history tour which was super cool we gotta see where the first saints were baptised in england in the river ribble and we gotta see where Gordon B. Hinkley's house was when he got the letter from his dad telling him to forget himself and go to work. The weather has been super nice here thank goodness so that's been nice for all the tracting we've been doing. A couple high lights of the week!
-A random guy asked me if Im from
Ireland! made my day!
-Realizing that pedestrians do not have the right of way here!
-English choclate is the greatest thing Im pretty sure there's crack in it!
-Smashing my I-pad screen on the streets of Gloucester on day 1
-Becoming a master of navigation
-Failing at becoming a master of navigation
-Riding double decker buses every day
-Cleaning the crap out of our apartment and finding things that expired in 2014
-Thinking that I could speak english and now realizing I cant even english
-Harry Potter is life here in the UK so glad I took the patroness test before I left because Ive been asked like fifty times what house I'm in and what is my patroness

Love you guys thanks for the emails!

Sunday, 27 November 2016

Week Two

Wow I cant believe I've been here for two weeks It has been such an amazing week. Tuesday we went to the temple which is such a beautiful one! Then we went to Chorley and it looked like  walked in to a scene out of Pride and Prejudice!

On Wednesday all of us 2nd weekers were taken to downtown Manchester for a crash course on street contacting. We were there for two hours and there was an absolute down pour  of rain for about 90 of those minutes! I absolutely Loved it! It was such a cool experience we talked to whoever would give Sis Romero and I the time of day haha.

One person who stuck out to me was a girl named Katie she is a student going to school for microbiology somethin somethin. We waited with her until her train came, we talked about rain, life and God. We gave her a pass along card and I've been kicking myself ever since for not giving her a Book of Mormon, after her train came she said good bye and then she was gone.

Sister Romero and I just felt so much unbelievable love for her after wards which was so strange because she was a complete stranger but we are going with it being Heavenly Fathers love for her even thought we didn't teach her everything in those minutes we shared I hope we planted a seed and then maybe one day someone else can help it grow.

That Night Sister Romero and I had the best lesson with out investigator buddy the spirit was so strong it was such an honour to have the holy ghost present even if it was just a mock lesson. I feel so blessed to have Sister Romero as my Compy we've only known each other for 2 weeks now and it's like I've known her all my life she has this thing now where she likes to hangout in my bed I'm not sure why but we are all about bunk bed life there is something so fun about it.

She also showed me her Canadian shirts she has because her love for Canada is so real it's hilarious. we have this thing where we walk every where with linked arms but it's starting to get us into trouble with door ways because we keep smacking each other into them trust me we have the bruises to prove it. Also one of the first things sister Romero told me is that she has never seen snow.. so a morning this week I was eating breakfast and glanced out the window and saw some patches of SNOW!

I grabbed sister Romero told her to close her eyes and follow me I guided her through all the table and missionary's it was kind of a scene of laughing and tripping when we got to the window I told her to open her eyes she was so she started at a minute not understand what she was look at until I sang to her "Do you wanna build a snowman? it doesn't have to be a snow man!" then she screamed and we ran out side and had a snow ball fight.

Another thing that happened last night we taught one of our Investigators Roxanne about the plan of salvation it was such a game changer lesson for me because by the end of the lesson we were all in tears because the spirit had been so strong I have loved being able to have spiritual experiences so often it has helped grow my testimony in so many ways I just feel so thankful!

There is so much that has happened this week so many amazing devotionals so many fits of laughter so much rain, snow and hail! so many powerful moments I have absolutely loved every second here I cant believe I leave in one week!

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Week One

Well I did it I've been in the MTC for 1 whole week! I realize the MTC is way different then the mission field but I can honestly say I freaking love it! I'm feeling super blessed right now because flying went off without a hitch, and I have the most amazing companion sister Romero from Australia! 
She is 20 from Sydney a foot shorter then me and she is such a power house in the gospel we only met a week ago but it feels like we have been friends for years! soooo cool! And thank goodness she feels the same about me! when she found out I was Canadian she got so excited because she is obsessed with all things Canada and has always wanted to go and I've always wanted to go to Australia so needless to say we have a trip planned after the mission where we spend a week with each other in each others home lands!
 My other mates are Sister Rippley from Edmonton AB and Sister Howland from Utah they are super nice and both serving in the London South mission. I haven't been outside a whole lot but we have gone on walks on the grounds and from what I can see England is freaking gorgeous! My hair is loving the English humidity!
 The food is super good and I've been sleeping on bunk beds which is seriously the best thing ever I dunno why but I'm really digging sleeping 6ft in the air! In the MTC we learn, learn, learn and then we teach, teach, teach! I honestly feel embarrassed by how much I love it all! even getting up early in the morning is super awesome, I was only Jet lagged for like 2 days and now I'm good to go! 
On Sunday we got to hear from a seventy, Brother Homer he was super cool and he talked to us personally and it was just so awesome to hear him speak! I got some letter's and a package which were so awesome! Today we are going to take on the town and then latter we are gonna do a session at the temple so I'm super pumped for that! 
We also watched a devotional on Sunday by Elder Holland! in it he said (while slamming his fist) the Saviour didn't have it easy so why would you think you should have it easy! Amen! I feel like so often I used to think this is so hard but now I feel like an idiot because my life is a dream compared to what Jesus Christ went through for us! 
I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for providing me with a way that I could gain a body and have this earthly experiences and have Joy! and if I mess up it's not over I can work hard and repent my life would be a mess with out the atonement and for that I'm so grateful. I feel like everyone should have an MTC experience because I have never felt so immersed in the Gospel before! 
It is such an honour and a blessing to eat sleep and drink the gospel at all times! I also realized how cool our gospel is! I have been meeting people all over this amazing world and they know the church just as I do because the gospel is the same whether it's in Dutch, French, Mandarin, Hungarian or English we are still on the same page! I love the MTC I love being a missionary for this church God is Good life is Good!

Saturday, 5 November 2016

2 whole days left











Monday night I get set apart as a missionary. Tuesday morning I start the Journey to England. Wednesday I spend my first day in the MTC. Then it's nothing but hard work, accents and fish and chips for the next 18 months! and I am so Excited for all that to start!
It's been real Canada!


Saturday, 1 October 2016

Farewell

Good Morning Brothers and Sisters for those of you who don’t know me I’m Talia Brown, Today I've been asked to give my farewell talk and to share with you how we can heed the Prophet's word. Now I have to tell you all I haven't given a talk in three years and Brother Buttler told me that I have to give a big girl talk now which is 15 min so I'm going to apologize in advance.

In 51 days I will be reporting to the Preston MTC to serve a full time mission in England Birmingham. My purpose as a missionary will be to invite others unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and then enduring to the end.


You have no idea how lucky I feel that I was able to be born into my family that I have been raised in, where I know that I am loved, where the gospel of Jesus Christ has been taught, and where we can pray together. I am going to miss them, very much, over the next 18 months.


I am also so lucky for my ward family and for the love and support I have been given by past and present Bishops, Achievement day leaders Young women's leaders and just friends that I have made who have helped shape me into the person I am becoming thank you for your love and support.


Today, I can tell you without a doubt that serving a mission is something I feel strongly about, and feel like it is something that I am definitely supposed to do.  But I struggled for a bit with the decision of going on a mission.  I’ve always known that I had a desire to go, but I was worried that I didn't want to go for the right reasons, or if I was even worthy to go. One night a few months ago I was struggling with making a decision on what I needed to do I asked my dad for a father’s blessing, It was full of words of love and comfort from my father in heaven, at one point in the blessing I was told that I didn’t need to fear anymore and that I just needed to take a leap and trust that heavenly father knows what is best for me and to know that in 18 months I wasn’t going to be missing as much if I didn’t choose to serve a mission at all.


I would like to share an entry from the diary of Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith. She writes, “I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am lifted up in prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed, will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presences of the adversary, negotiate at the table with the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up and paid up for the case of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me and when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.” end quote


The strength in her voice, and the vigor in the words has such a powerful effect. She has a firm testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and it’s evident. She will not give up or deny the power of Christ which she knows to be real. I pray to speak with such fervor and grace so that the people of the Birmingham area will know of my testimony and have the truthfulness of the gospel confirmed in their own hearts.


For those of you who don’t know much about the England Birmingham mission join the club. I had to spend some long nights consulting google about that part of the world. Having grown up up with a mother that made me watch Pride and Prejudice with her almost twice a month I feel like I am a bit Ill prepared with what the English culture actually is. Im sure they have finally gotten to the 21st century by now.


My mission covers The Midlands and Wales. A couple of the cities are Birmingham which is the second most populous metropolitan area in the UK with a population of 3.8 million. This also makes Birmingham the 9th most populous metropolitan area in Europe. Another city in my Mission is Nottingham and yes I’m talking thee Nottingham with Robin Hood and his merry men. Who stole from the rich to give to the poor. I’m a bit excited about that one.


Out of all the Historic sites in my mission there is one in particular called the Gadfield Elm Chapel, in Worcestershire, it was of great significance in the early history of The Church in the British Isles, acting as the focal point of Church activity for thousands of Latter-day Saints until the majority emigrated to the U.S. In 1840 President Brigham Young preached at Gadfield Elm which, at the time, was the only Latter-day Saint chapel in the world.


The chapel was built in 1836 by a fundamentalist Christian group, the United Brethren, and was deeded to Wilford Woodruff, on behalf of The Church in 1840. Almost the entire congregation of the United Brethren joined the church by baptism.  As the new converts heeded the call to gather to Zion the building became redundant and was sold, with the proceeds being used to assist with the emigration of the Saints.


It stands as a reminder of one of the greatest Latter-day Saint missionary experiences in the British Isles.The events associated with the building in the history of Church missionary work are powerful and inspiring. In its beautiful setting it provides us with a charming yet a thoughtful reminder of the humble and simple beginnings of this world-wide Church we have today.


The historic Gadfield Elm Chapel was received by President Gordon B. Hinckley on behalf of the Church in May 2004. This marked a new chapter in the story of this historic chapel building. Today it is the oldest Mormon chapel in the world still standing as the last surviving memorial to the United Brethren.


This rich history of the church in England, was made possible because of Wilford woodruff and the other missionaries, who listened to the voice of a prophet.


Our Father in Heaven loves all of His children and desires that they know and understand His plan of happiness. Therefore, he calls prophets, those who have been ordained with power and
authority to act in God's name for the salvation of His children. To be in harmony with heaven's divine purposes, we sustain the prophet and choose to live according to his words.

Here are 14 fundamentals in following the Prophet as given by President Ezra Taft Benson


First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
In section 21, verses 4–6, the Lord states: Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
Second:The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
President Wilford Woodruff tells of an interesting incident that occurred in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith: At an early conference of the church certain remarks were made about living oracles and that more emphasis should be placed on the written word of God.
At the conclusion of those remarks, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and said, “Brother Brigham, I want you to take the stand and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God.” Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: “There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now,” he said, “when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.” That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation: “Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.” [In Conference Report, October 1897, pp. 18–19]
Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
The living prophet has the power of TNT. By that I mean “Today’s News Today.” God’s revelations to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore, the most important prophet, so far as you and I are concerned, is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us. Beware of those who would pit the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.


Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.
President Wilford Woodruff stated: “I say to Israel, The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of the Church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God.”
President Marion G. Romney tells of this incident which happened to him: I remember years ago when I was a Bishop I had President [Heber J.] Grant talk to our ward. After the meeting I drove him home. . . .Standing by me, he put his arm over my shoulder and said: “My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church, and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, you do it, the Lord will bless you for it.” Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, “But you don’t need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.”
Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
Sometimes there are those who feel their earthly knowledge on a certain subject is superior to the heavenly knowledge which God gives to His prophet on the same subject. They feel the prophet must have the same earthly credentials or training which they have had before they will accept anything the prophet has to say that might contradict their earthly schooling. How much earthly schooling did Joseph Smith have? Yet he gave revelations on all kinds of subjects. We encourage earthly knowledge in many areas, but remember, if there is ever a conflict between earthly knowledge and the words of the prophet, you stand with the prophet, and you’ll be blessed and time will vindicate you.
Sixth: The prophet does not have to say “Thus saith the Lord” to give us scripture.
Sometimes there are those who haggle over words. They might say the prophet gave us counsel but that we are not obligated to follow it unless he says it is a commandment. But the Lord says of the Prophet Joseph, “Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you” (D&C 21:4; italics added).
Brigham Young said “I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call it scripture”
Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
President Harold B. Lee taught: “Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear,” complained Nephi’s brethren. But Nephi answered by saying, “the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center”  You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. . . . Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow. . . . Let’s keep our eye on the President of the Church. [In Conference Report, October 1970, p. 152-153]
Eighth: The prophet is not limited by man's reasoning.
There are going to be times when we have to choose between the revelations of God and the reasoning of men
Would it seem reasonable to an eye doctor to be told to heal a blind man by spitting in the dirt, making clay, and applying it to the man’s eyes and then telling him to wash in a dirty pool? Yet this is precisely the course that Jesus took with one man, and he was healed. (See John 9:6-7.) Does it seem reasonable to cure leprosy by telling a man to wash seven times in a particular river? Yet this is precisely what the prophet Elisha told a leper to do, and he was healed. (See 2 Kings 5.)
Just because we can’t understand it does not mean it’s not from God.
Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter—temporal or spiritual.
Brigham Young said:
Some of the leading men in Kirtland were much opposed to Joseph the Prophet, meddling with temporal affairs. . . . In a public meeting of the Saints, I said, “Ye Elders of Israel, . . . will some of you draw the line of demarcation, between the spiritual and temporal in the Kingdom of God, so that I may understand it?” Not one of them could do it. . . . I defy any man on earth to point out the path a Prophet of God should walk in, or point out his duty, and just how far he must go, in dictating temporal or spiritual things. Temporal and spiritual things are inseparably connected, and ever will be.
Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters.
When a people are righteous they want the best to lead them in government. Alma was the head of the Church and of the government in the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith was mayor of Nauvoo, and Brigham Young was governor of Utah. Isaiah was deeply involved in giving counsel on political matters and of his words the Lord Himself said, “Great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1). Those who would remove prophets from politics would take God out of government.


Eleven: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
The learned may feel the prophet is only inspired when he agrees with them; otherwise, the prophet is just giving his opinion—speaking as a man. The rich may feel they have no need to take counsel of a lowly prophet.
In the Book of Mormon we read: O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
As a prophet reveals the truth it divides the people. The honest in heart heed his words, but the unrighteous either ignore the prophet or fight him. When the prophet points out the sins of the world, the worldly either want to close the mouth of the prophet, or else act as if the prophet didn’t exist, rather than repent of their sins. Popularity is never a test of truth. Many a prophet has been killed or cast out. As we come closer to the Lord’s second coming, you can expect that as the people of the world become more wicked, the prophet will be less popular with them.
Thirteen: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord refers to the First Presidency as “the highest council of the Church” (107:80) and says, “whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent” (112:20).
Fourteen: Follow the  prophet and the presidency—follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.
President Harold B. Lee tells a story of an event that took place in Kirtland: some of the leading brethren in the presiding councils of the Church met secretly and tried to scheme as to how they could get rid of the Prophet Joseph’s leadership. They made the mistake of inviting Brigham Young to one of these secret meetings. He rebuked them, after he had heard the purpose of their meeting. This is part of what he said: “You cannot destroy the appointment of a prophet of God, but you can cut the thread that binds you to the prophet of God and sink yourselves to hell.” [In Conference Report, April 1963, p. 81]
It is far easier for us too listen to the council of the Prophet then for us to try and figure it out for ourselves.
I believe in a living Prophet, I know that our Heavenly father has given us Prophets to give us guidance and counsel in this day and age. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God because I have read it. I know that my Saviour Atoned for mine and your sins so that we can get back to our Heavenly Father's presence. I love the temple and i am so grateful for the work that we can do at the temple to seal families together for time and eternity and to go there and learn more about our Heavenly Father and the plan of happiness. I am so grateful for the many experiences and people in my life that have helped prepare me for missionary work. I am so grateful for my Mom and Dad and my grandparents who have helped raise me. I am so grateful for my two amazing Brothers who I know are both going to be incredible missionaries. I am grateful to my friends and family who have supported me and loved me through everything I am so grateful for these blessings in my life and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.