Elder Seth Garner

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 13:18:56

I have gotta say, I am not quite sure what to write in this one... I have been sitting at the computer staring at a blank email for quite some time now, not knowing what to say. I hope that what I have to say may have a lasting impression on you, as this will be my last email home as a full time missionary. 

My initial thoughts over this last week have been very mixed. I'll admit, I began feeling somewhat bitter, feeling that it is so unfair that I have to leave. But, I know that it is completely fair, because I have had the amazing opportunity to serve the Lord for two years. That is what He gave me, and that is what I promised to do. These past two years have been the most rewarding years of my life. Nothing will ever compare to what I have done and the things I have witnessed. I have met many who have embraced the gospel, and it has brought me the greatest joy I have ever felt! I would never give that feeling away or the friendships I have made. My life has been changed forever because of the people of San Diego... I have also seen many reject the gospel, and it has brought me some of the worst pain I have ever felt. I knew that a mission was not going to be easy; there were going to be difficult things I would have to go through, difficult decisions I would have to make, trials I would have to face, and boy, did I face them all! But the most difficult thing I have had to do while on my mission is grow an unconditional love for people and have to watch them reject the gospel, throwing them back into the horrible habits that once dominated their lives, giving up happiness that I know they had felt, and ultimately giving back the gift of the Atonement that God has given them. My heart has been burdened with sadness because of the choices others have made. I have had many nights filled with prayer and tears because of these people. My mission has not been easy... Though my heart suffers because of these people, my heart also takes great courage, knowing that the love of God encompasses all, and that all are not lost. I know I have tried my best, and some have not come unto Christ, but I know that God loves them, and will ALWAYS be mindful of them. They are not lost, and I KNOW there will be many times where the Spirit will have an opportunity to enter their hearts again, and they WILL be changed! I do not doubt this. I feel that this is true from deep in my heart. I have seen God's love change men who have lost all hope, who have given up and have forgotten Him. I have seen God's love change men who are held captive by their addictions. I have seen God's love heal broken souls, fix any wound, and bring joy into other's lives that you could not even imagine. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all of this has been made possible. I have loved my mission! I have been honored to wear the name of my Savior on my chest for two years! I know He knows I wear His name, and I also know He knows the name just above His. This is my testimony as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ: I know that He lives!

Love,

         Elder Garner

                                                    Parting shots from San Diego

Elder Seth Garner returned home from the California, San Diego Mission on January 1, 2015 to his loving family and friends.   The time that he served there changed hearts, but most importantly of all, his own!!  

Welcome Home!!  Elder Garner!!

Elder Seth Garner

Tue, 9 Dec 2014 11:19

HEY!

Well, here we are, another week come and gone. It was a good week last week! We had Zach Shepherd's baptism this last Saturday. It is always such an incredible thing to be able to witness a baptism, which I was privileged to see many, especially serving at the MCRD. Zach was so grateful for the experience. He asked us that the baptismal service be small, with not too many people and fairly simple. It definitely was! There were about seven people there to see Zach get baptized. The Spirit was felt very powerfully. Every time I see a baptism, I tend to envy the person for the experience they have just had and what it means to them. Not in a bad way, I always just think about how pure they are and how they now have this fresh new start... And then I think, well hey! I get to feel that ALL THE TIME, because of the Atonement. Every time the Atonement is used fully, it brings a feeling of relief, joy, and a fresh new start. How lucky are we that we get to experience that on a daily basis? Though we have covenanted with God, some of us long ago, that we will strive our best to keep His commandments, the same thing applies to us today with sincere repentance and partaking of the sacrament at church. Zach received the Gift of The Holy Ghost the following Sunday. He is going to do so great! He has such great desires, and wants to learn so much more about the gospel. He will be leaving back to Missouri where his five kids are, and I am excited for him to share the gospel with them!

I have been trying to learn much more about the Atonement lately... It is difficult, and well, downright impossible to learn everything there is to know about Christ's sacrifice for us. It is unfathomable, incomprehensible, and unimaginable to think of what the Savior went through. But we can know what he went through us individually. Many of us think of the Atonement as something to be used when we make a mistake. But I think we often overlook the Enabling power of the Atonement. The Atonement not only helps us overcome sin and weakness, but it helps us become the best people we could possibly be. I am not a bad person, and I am certainly not a great person either, but I can use the Atonement in my life everyday to become an even better person. And it is almost guaranteed to have a heavy burden at any point in your life. That is necessary for us to grow and become better people. But the only way to do that well, is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement makes bad men good, and good men better.

Well, I know that the Lord has some awesome miracles in store for us this next week! It is going to be a blast! Have a great week!

Love,

        Elder Garner 

Elder Seth Garner

                                                          Christmas carols with the banjo!!
Tue, 2 Dec 2014 12:28:

Happy December!


Hello!

Well, I cannot believe that it is now the month of December... You would not believe the amount of Christmas lights that are already up! It is funny to me to see people's homes decorated with massive blow up Santa's, reindeer, and lights galore, accompanied with 70 degree weather and palm trees. Ohhh, good old Southern California.

Christmas decorations??

                                             Santa's reindeer???

Along with the wonderful holiday of Christmas (which is often very commercialized), we have been given a specific assignment for this month. I am sure that you all have already had an earful about it, but it is a Christmas initiative that the church has put on, which is hopefully going to be a very big deal. It is a video that helps us understand Christmas a little better, and that God gave us much more than just a few wrapped gifts that are temporal, but He gave us a gift that would effect us eternally. Jesus Christ was given to all, so that all may have everlasting life. What gift is better than that? I think I am privileged to be a missionary during this time of year, because I get to reflect on the birth (and life) of the Savior every day, and not only that, but I get to share this gift with all I come in contact with. Honestly, I have had the best Christmas experiences while on my mission, because I am not wrapped up in the worldly meaning of Christmas, and I have been able to focus on its true meaning... Sounds a bit cheesy, but it is true!

This past week was great! I have been doing well, and Elder Pimsuwan is doing fantastic! His English continues to blow me away, and not to mention everyone else who finds out he has only been speaking English for a month. We had an opportunity to participate in the baptism for a child of record in the ward. There were about fifteen non-members there, and we taught about Christ right after the ordinance. Elder Pimsuwan was a bit nervous before, but he did awesome! It has been so great to see him grow and step outside his comfort zone... It makes me think a lot about the beginning of my mission and how timid I must have been.

I SO look forward to this week because it is going to be GREAT! Our investigator Zach Sheperd should be getting baptized on Saturday. Man, he has been so amazing! I asked him a bit more about how he found the church and he told me his story, which is pretty amazing. While he was serving in Afghanistan, getting shot at and shooting back, rockets flying by every day, he felt the need to find a chaplain. For those of you who do not know what a chaplain is, it is somebody in a branch in the military who is there for any spiritual need. So, kind of like a church leader for a certain religion where there is no opportunity to attend church. Zach sat down with a Protestant chaplain, who told him "A, B, and C", and it just didn't sit well with him. He later became aware of a Mormon guy in the army who just had the best attitude ever. It impressed Zach very much, and he just thought that the guy was amazing, having the best attitude while in the worst situation. He decided to sit down with another chaplain, and lo and behold, it was a Mormon chaplain! Which, by the way, is very rare. The Mormon chaplain told him "A, B, and C", the exact same thing that the Protestant chaplain had said... But this time, it totally clicked with him! For some reason, it just sounded right coming from the LDS chaplain instead of the other guy, and with the image of the Mormon guy in the army, it gave him a totally different perspective. Upon arriving home and being stationed in Chicago, he got on LDS.org and ordered a Book of Mormon. He had been reading it for eighteen months, and finally decided to go to church when he got re stationed in San Diego. He has such a solid testimony, and is ready to get baptized! Zach Sheperd is the MAN!

Well, goodbye for now! I have to run, I hope that all went well for Thanksgiving, and I hope that all goes well for this Christmas season!

Love,

        Elder Garner

Elder Seth Garner

December 18, 2014

Hey!

Another whirlwind of a week has flown right by, filled with miracles and excitement!  Gee, I sure do love being a missionary. I have been doing great, and I feel better than ever, happy, healthy, and just SO excited!  Elder Pimsuwan is doing great, Spring Valley is rockin', and life is good!  Our apartment isn't filled with TOO many cockroaches and rats, which is nice... Hehe,  I saw a rat run out from under the fridge last night and I about screamed like a little girl.

Elder Pimsuwan has been doing great. His English is incredible! I see him improve daily, and it still blows my mind that he has only been speaking for about four weeks now.  After we taught a Restoration lesson, Elder Pimsuwan was so excited and told me that he had never imagined being able to convey the Spirit that well speaking English! Haha, it was a sweet moment. The Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues has been such a blessing in sharing the gospel.  I try to help out as much as I can to teach him and help him understand the English language, but I know that I am not the main teacher on that one.  He was itching to speak some Thai though, and luckily we got permission to go with the Laotian missionaries to visit a Thai family they were teaching.  Elder Pimsuwan was spouting out the Thai like none other, and after we left, the Lao elders were able to get them with baptismal dates.  So, that was an interesting experience!  Not the first time I have sat in a lesson where everyone is speaking an out of this world language and I am the only one that can't understand!

There has been a man coming to church for the past couple of weeks that we hadn't been able to begin teaching. He is from Missouri, he is in the Navy, and he has been reading the Book of Mormon on his own for the past year.  His name is Zachary Sheperd.  We had been trying to get over there to teach him, but he just couldn't find the time with his schedule.  He finally texted us back on Saturday, and apologized for brushing us off, but wanted to know if we could teach him about baptism.  We gladly accepted the invitation, and met with him after church on Sunday!  As we taught the Doctrine of Christ, Zach accepted everything that we taught.  He was raised Baptist, but just felt that there was something missing in his church.  I do have one confession, and that is that Elder Pimsuwan and I have THE biggest man crush on Zach, because he is the coolest, manliest man I have ever met!  Haha, it sounds stupid, but I think it is safe to say, that he is going to be the next James Bond.  He dresses very nice, he is very proper, very sharp, drives a nice Porcshe, sounds really manly when he talks, and has a super cool battle scar on the brim of his nose from his ten months in Afghanistan... Haha, he is just too cool.  Anyway, when we were talking about the Holy Ghost with him, he said that he had, for the first time, gotten on his knees and offered a verbal prayer the day before.  He described his prayer as being the most sincere he had ever prayed, and he felt the feeling that we were describing.  He said that he received such a powerful witness from the Holy Ghost.  Zach wants to be baptized within the next month, and we are so excited for him, because his life is going to change so much! Not to mention, he would be EVEN cooler if he was a Mormon!

I did have a great experience this last week that was another good confirmation of why I am here, and that the Lord was inspired in sending me to Spring Valley.  Long story short, I learned of a friend that I had back home who joined the Navy and got married, and is now living in San Diego.  He actually moved to Spring Valley about the time that I found out I would be assigned there around a month ago.  I was so excited to see him, which took a very long time to actually get in contact with him.  I know that I can help my friend.  When someone feels the Spirit in their life, they always want more.  Some decisions can draw people away from that feeling, but when it is brought back to their remembrance, it is a comforting memory that they forgot they were in search of.

I truly am happy, and I couldn't ask for more. Sheesh, I do wish I had some more time out here... But I am thankful for the time that the Lord gave to me to serve Him.  I don't think I have given the Lord two years,  I know that He has given ME two years.  It has and is such a blessing to know that!  It cannot be wasted.  I look forward to this next week and finding the miracles that have been prepared waiting for us to happen upon them. Giddy'up!

Love,

        Elder Garner

    Elder Garner in Spring Valley

Elder Seth Garner

Tue, 4 Nov 2014 16:11

Hello!

I know that it has been awhile since I have given a good detailed report of what is going on... I have been VERY busy! Life was a little bit crazy before the transfer with trying to get things all situated with Elder Myler and his new companion, all the new missionaries, and all of the wonderful things that come with transfers. Although it was very difficult having to leave my area (not being able to say goodbye to a lot of people you love is really hard) and leave my previous assignment, I was more than looking forward to embracing the next chapter of my mission. As I was called off the stand in transfer meeting to whitewash into a place called Spring Valley, I couldn't help but give my companion and President Schmitt big long hugs before I went to greet my new companion. President Schmitt has left such a big impression on my life; he is such an amazing example, always filled with charity, and is never one to get angry or mad. And believe me, there were plenty of times that if I were in his shoes, I would have tossed the tables over and exploded! I will miss he and his family dearly, seeing as how I will not constantly be with them in their home. 

With that being said, let me tell you a little bit about my new assignment! My new companion fresh from the MTC (and fresh from Thailand) is named Elder Pimsuwan. Elder Pimsuwan is incredible! This past week has been such a blast getting to know him and work side by side with him. He has only been speaking English for three weeks now, and I have received the wonderful opportunity of teaching him English. I have got to say, this has proven to be one of the most unique challenges I have faced on my mission! Haha, it has been SO AWESOME! If I were Elder Pimsuwan, I would hate me, because I feel like I have been throwing him under the bus a lot! Preach My Gospel says the best way to learn a language is for you as the trainer to not shelter the new missionary, and to give them plenty of opportunities to speak their mission language... And that is exactly what I have been doing! We have been having a good old time learning English! 

The area that we are in is called Spring Valley, which is just South of La Mesa where I was serving. It may very well be the most ghetto place I have served on my mission. Hehe, lots of shady people, drugs, and crime happen twenty-four seven here. It is not too surprising now to hear a cop yell into a megaphone to "come out with your hands up!" Oooooh that has just been TOO funny! The ward is very different from what I am used to. Our first Sunday there, I started to scratch my head while sitting in sacrament meeting wondering where everybody was. I wasn't sure if it were because of the holidays that there were hardly any people in attendance. I later asked one of the ward members if it were usual to have about sixty people at church, and I was surprised to hear a blunt, "yes". I won't lie, it has flooded back many memories of the beginning of my mission, where it was normal to have about thirty at sacrament meeting in Julian, and most of the people's screws are a bit loose. But boy, have we been welcomed here! This ward has actually been praying for a set of full time elders for many years. There was previously a set of sisters, and for some reason they wanted elders. Haven't quite figured out why, but I don't think I will do too much digging on that one. 

I am just grateful for the circumstances I am in right now, because I feel that I am growing so much. The Lord really has heard my prayers and blessed me, because this is exactly what I needed. Man, it has been one crazy week! We are still trying to get our feet on the ground with both being new in the area, so hopefully we will have met and taught a lot of people for me to report on next week! 

Anyway, thanks for the love and support! We are going to work our hearts out this week! 

Adios!

Elder Garner

Elder Seth Garner

                                            Elder Garner and President and Sister Schmitt



Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:20

Hello! It has been a good couple of weeks in San Diego, and I am sure that everyone is enjoying the lovely fall colors. Personally, I don't mind the constant sunshine, but it never hurts to get a few rain clouds here and there, which, has happened maybe four times this year. I am so sorry for the lack of an email last week! Repentance is possible though, right? Since I emailed last, there has been quite a bit packed into the days and not enough time it seems. This transfer is quickly coming to a close, which means preparations for the next transfer have already begun, taking a toll on our proselyting as usual. With that being said, I so look forward to these next two transfers, and unfortunately they will be my last. I have known what the outcome of the rest of my mission for several weeks now, as for what will be happening with me assignment wise. It is my pleasure to announce that I will be receiving a new assignment at the end of October, and will no longer be an assistant to the president. It has been one crazy ride, and I have learned so much over the past seven months since I was assigned to be an assistant... More has happened in these months than any other months in my mission! Unfortunately, hardly any of it is recorded in a journal, due to the lack of time and the abundance of exhaustion. So, it has all been a wild blur which I will always reflect and look back on. I will never forget the experience!

I know that these next months have much in store for me, and there is still a lot of room for growth. It is going to be great to be a "normal" missionary again, and focus everything that I have on my new area, as well as my new companion. I am going to replace a set of sisters in an area fairly close to La Mesa, where there is a ward that just needs a whole lot of love. I will also be training a new missionary who has, I think, entered the MTC... This week? Well, he will get here the end of October. Boy, it is going to be a blast! Before I knew that I was going to be getting a new assignment, I was praying for something to happen that would allow me to grow more before my mission is over. I was praying for that A LOT. When President Schmitt told me in an interview what was going to be happening, I knew that my prayers were answered. The Spirit confirmed that this is what I need to become the missionary that Heavenly Father wants me to be. I have had a vision of myself at the end of the mission and what kind of person I would be, and I am not there yet... These next few weeks are going to be dedicated to fulfilling my purpose, strengthening this ward, finding those that need to be found, giving this new missionary the best experience he could possibly have at the beginning of his mission, and becoming the missionary that I NEED to be. While serving as an assistant for these next two weeks, I am still going to dedicate myself to helping in anyway that I can. I have been blessed! I could not have asked for better situations and circumstances that a mission had to offer! And it's not over yet! I love the Lord! I love the council that He gave during this past General Conference through His chosen servants. My mind has been filled with questions and concerns, which I came away from conference having them all answered and cleared up. I am ready for the next chapter and what it has to offer, and I am willing to offer everything I've got to get it! I hope that you all have a fantastic week!

Love,

        Elder Garner

Happy October!

Happy Halloween from Elder Garner!!

Elder Seth Garner

                                          Elder Seth Garner and Private Michael Watts at Cake cutting 
                                     ceremony for graduation from the Marines!
                             


 Tue, 2 Sep 2014 12:08

I think that I can say I am at a good spot in my mission. Ever since I started, I know I have been blessed to see the hand of God work in the lives of many... But right now, I feel like it is more evident than ever! I cannot even describe the joy that I have because of the things I have seen and continue to see daily. I am trying to consecrate myself for this last big push, because I know that my time is running low. My life continues to change forever as I have been apart of the greatest work. And to think that God has privileged me to be apart of it? Holy smokes, I count my blessings everyday that I get to be His instrument!

Well, maybe some explanation of why I feel this way would be a help? I will recall a few miracles I have seen over these past days. Thursday the 28th we attended the MCRD cake cutting ceremony for the graduating Marines that the church hosts. Private Michael Watts was in attendance with his family, who are all not members. He hadn't told them of his experiences regarding church at the MCRD, and they were unaware of his baptism. As I stood there when he sprung the news on them right there at the ceremony, I was touched as Watts explained his story and bore his testimony to his family. He has an incredible conversion story that was able to touch the hearts of his family (especially his mother), who were grateful that he relied on God to get through such a rough situation. Watts didn't hesitate to share the story of the first vision either! Unfortunately, that was the last I saw of Watts and his family, but I know that he will be a great influence on those who are broken and need the power of the Atonement in their lives. That sweet eighteen year old kid has forever changed my life!

Over these past weeks I have been teaching another recruit at the MCRD, Recruit Winstead. When he came to our services awhile back, he immediately explained himself. He was a prayer leader for the Catholic church, which just means he was to lead the Catholics in his platoon in prayer at night and be a spiritual support for them. He asked if he could become an LDS prayer leader instead. Winstead explained that all his life he was raised Catholic, but knew deep down that there were things about the religion that weren't right and that there was something missing. He had found the LDS church just before leaving for boot camp, and said that as soon as he walked into the doors of the chapel, he felt what was missing at the Catholic church. He recognized the Spirit and knew that it was from God. He asked me when he could be baptized, we set the date, and he was baptized this last Sunday. I even had a similar situation this last Sunday with a new recruit, and overall there should be five young recruits entering into the waters of baptism this next Sunday.

Having the mission president and his family in your ward is a bit of a perk. Sister Schmitt invited a non-member over to dinner and had us teach her there. She is thirteen years old and has a very horrible family situation. There is no support at all and her family is not a good influence. Her name is Yamira and she has been living at a members home who took her in. We have been teaching her for about a week, and she has accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 27th of September. The Schmitts have been an incredible help, and they truly love and care for her. It is so cool how the standards of the gospel can help keep anybody safe from the harm that comes from the adversary.

                                                  Elder Garner at Anthony Merchison's Baptism

We had been teaching a fourteen year old boy, Anthony Merchison, who is one of the most smartest, sincere kids I know. He had been preparing to be baptized for quite some time, and he finally made it! It was crazy because we weren't in our area for that entire week, and didn't really know if he was going to get baptized that Saturday. While I was out of my area, I called him up, he said he was good to go, so I made a few more calls and got it all set up, then right when we got back, we got him baptized! Anthony is now the only member in his immediate family, but since his baptism, his parents have been to church twice, and Anthony has received the priesthood! Man, I love that kid!

                                        Elder Garner at Kidaysha Cook's surprise baptism 

President Schmitt gave us a call last Saturday morning, and asked us for some help. He had received word that there was a Marine who was a member of the church who had gone through the MCRD back in March, and had finished his training up North. His wife and family were coming into town to see him for a few days before he had to go back, and had requested permission for the wife to be baptized while they were in San Diego. The Marine had no idea that his wife had been meeting with missionaries and wanted to get baptized. President Schmitt asked us to piggy back off of a baptism in Santee, meet the family there, and get her baptized and confirmed... It was so cool to be apart of this families experience of the only nonmember in the family getting baptized, and what was even cooler was the Marine husband was totally overwhelmed by it! President Schmitt asked me to baptize her and Elder Myler to confirm her a member of the church. After that, they had to head home to Arizona while the Marine stayed in San Diego.

Last night we met a man named Josh Young. He was referred to us by the Spanish missionaries who contacted him. As soon as we met him, he whipped out his Book of Mormon and told us his story. While he was in jail for six years, he watched a program on KPBS about the Mormons and became interested. His rack mate happened to have a copy of the Book of Mormon and lent it to him. Josh decided to read a few pages that night, which soon turned into chapter after chapter, and over a span of three days, he had finished the book. At the very end of the book, he got on his hands and knees and told God that he wanted to follow his will, and asked that if the Book of Mormon was contrary to the Bible to let him know, so he could get on the right path. As soon as Josh prayed about it, he said that the Holy Ghost burned like fire inside of him, unlike anything he had ever felt. He had read the book three times after that, along with the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. He has been out of jail for about two years now, is married and has a son. He knew more about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon than I did, and he said all he had to study were those three books! He said that he just didn't know what to do next or where to go. He also said that he didn't want to do anything luke warm, and wanted to be in it 100 percent. We invited he and his wife to take the lessons and to learn more, and you could tell that when we talked about the healing power of the Atonement, it meant something to Josh. I cannot wait to get back there and show him what he has been waiting for for a long time!

I have seen so many miracles over these past days... It is unreal how much God cares about ALL of His children, and how well people are prepared. Once again, I can't believe that I get to be apart of it! Our mission wide training exchanges are over, and we will be doing transfers and zone conferences this next month. I love my mission, and I love the Lord!

Love,

       Elder Garner

Elder Seth Garner

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:55

 All is well in San Diego!

Alright! Time to get out of this awful spell of being the worst person at emailing! If you have emailed me or written me a letter, I apologize for being such a slacker and not responding in a timely manner.

Well, the only way I can think to treat this email is like a letter to the mission president. That way, I can get you somewhat up to speed with all of the things that are going on!

How is the mission?

The mission is in excellent shape! Although we have a new mission president, things haven't been turned upside down. Things just keep moving forward as they should! All of the rules are still the same, but I am sure that President Schmitt will change things over time. Maybe some trips to Sea World are in the future? Haha! We have been helping President Schmitt mostly with this upcoming transfer. We got a good head start on it yesterday. We will be losing twenty-five missionaries and getting eighteen new ones. So, Elder Myler and I have essentially been choosing trainers and zone leaders for this next transfer, since President Schmitt is not too aware of who is who yet... Kind of crazy for us! I'll tell you, it is cool to see the revelation flow from him, even though he has only been here just a few weeks. The more information he has though, the better the revelation comes, which is where Elder Myler and I step in. We know just about everything there is to know about every missionary. It has been one wild ride!

How is my area?

La Mesa is rocking it right now! The members here are incredible! They are super loving, they are doing some stellar missionary work... Pretty much if you were to serve a mission here in the California San Diego Mission, the La Mesa 1st ward would be where you want to serve. Man, it is great! As of right now, we have two investigators with baptismal dates: Tina Anderson and Anthony Merchison. Tina is a 90 year old lady who is the FUNNIEST person alive! Holy smokes, she is golden! She has been coming to church for awhile now with a friend, and is set to be baptized on the 26th of this month. She just needs to quit that coffee before she makes the plunge! Anthony is fourteen, his grandma is a member, and he is one of the smartest kids I know. He recently went on Trek with the stake and had a super good experience. He is stoked to be baptized! He basically teaches us every time we go over there just because he is so darn smart! His baptismal date is for the 16th of August. We also had a couple more investigators come to church last Sunday (HECK YES!). Jo Anne Brooder and her daughter Sarah came to church for the first time, which was a huge miracle since Jo Anne has been one of the most stubborn people to get to church. I think I mentioned her in a previous email, she is the one who had a daughter commit suicide a few years back. They are doing solid! The plan is to soon get them with dates to be baptized for the near future. Things are just moving right along!

How am I doing in my companionship?

We are doing great :) (By the way, I usually don't put smiley faces in my text, but this answer calls for one.) Elder Myler is one of my best buds! It's a good thing too, because he will be with me longer than any of my other companions have. I love being able to have somebody to laugh about something that would normally upset other people. This month has been pretty relaxed for us training wise, but we have managed to keep busy with training President Schmitt. So, we are mentally and spiritually preparing ourselves for this next month, which is going to involve quite a bit of training from us for the mission! As of right now, both Elder Myler and I are obsessed with Mexican candy, which comes in a wide variety of fruit flavors with chili powder... Man, it is the greatest stuff in the world! It is definitely an acquired taste. The first time I tried it, it was the worst thing in the world. Now I am so into it that we always have to stop on our road trips to buy some... I will most likely send some home soon, haha!

How am I doing personally?

FLIPPIN' FANTASTIC! My life could not be better right now! Everything is going so well, I could not ask for anything better than to be where I am at. I recently had my first interview with President Schmitt, which really helped me out and instilled a lot more drive in me to just "go go go" these upcoming months. That was something that I had decided to do even before I got in the mission field: work my very hardest every day, so that I could report to the Lord and say that I did my best. Trust me, that is a good feeling! And not being able to say that in my nightly prayers is quite the opposite feeling. I have been blessed to be with incredible companions and put in certain situations that have helped me fulfill my desire of pushing my very best. The place that I feel I have grown the most, which I admittedly wasn't specifically here to do, is my relationship with the Savior. Since even before my mission I had the desire to help people gain a relationship with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. Who would have thought that that is one of the best ways to gain that for yourself? I have never intended my mission to be for me, but if anyone has changed the most because of it, I believe it is safe to say that I would be put in that category. My mission has changed me forever!

I hope that this email gave you a nice mental view of what my life is like. If not, I am going to try better in the future. Anywho, I have gotta jet. Just know that all is well in San Diego!

Love,

       Elder Garner

Elder Garner....somewhere in San Diego?

All is well in San Diego!!

Elder Seth Garner

Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:45

Hello hello! I'm sure it has been awhile since you have heard from this guy. My apologies! Life tends to be a bit crazy. Especially the past couple of weeks. Transfers are tomorrow, which means we have been crazy busy getting missionaries on their way, orientating new missionaries, and figuring out who is going where and all of that jazz! It has also been a bit crazy because President and Sister Clayton are going home on Saturday, which means President and Sister Schmitt will arrive on the same day. That day is going to be WILD! Elder Myler and I will be meeting with him that day and he will come out with us for a few hours to do some good old missionary work! So, things are just nonstop insane, even as I write this email, so I don't have much time at all.

Just a little experience I had this past week: While at the MCRD there was a big group of new recruits that were brought in by a drill instructor. I was a little confused because we had already received a new company that day, and it didn't make sense that we were getting another one. The drill instructor quickly found out that he had led his recruits to the wrong place, when he was originally looking for the Buddhist service. He yelled at his recruits to file out of the auditorium, but there was one recruit who decided to stay. He came up to me and, very straight forward, asked me what "Mormonism" was. We sat down and I asked about his life. He had had a very rough family life; both parents are drug addicts and disregarded he and his sister when he was fifteen. He finally turned old enough to join the marines and he did! He had no religious background at all, only a belief in a higher power. Well, this recruit and I talked about the very basics of who God is, and eventually got down to the Restoration. Everything I told him he believed. There was nothing doubting his knowledge and testimony which was growing very quickly. He accepted a baptismal date for the 3rd of August when he gets back from Edson range. He is one of the most genuine sincere people I have ever met! His name is Recruit Watts. SO, besides the fact that he wants to get baptized, his story of how he walked into the LDS service was a huge miracle! While attending the Buddhist service, Recruit Watts walked out to go use the head. When he came out, there was a drill instructor who had a line of new recruits in front of where the Buddhist service met. The drill instructor immediately thought that Recruit Watts was apart of this new company, and tore into him, telling him to jump in line and to stay quiet (in a very impolite manner). Searching for the Buddhist service, the drill instructor shoved all of these recruits into our auditorium. When he found out that he had led them to the wrong place, he immediately corrected his mistake by making the recruits shuffle out again. Recruit Watts felt very impressed to stay. He asked the drill instructor if he could stay behind to come to our service. Recruit Watts had no idea where he was or what "LDS" was. He just had a feeling to stay. When he had told me that before I left the MCRD that morning, I knew that the Spirit had done quite a bit of micromanaging with Recruit Watts - he was in the right place at the right time, felt a strong impression to stay and not go back to what he had been doing in the past, and found what he didn't know he was looking for.

Woah, I am about to get booted off the computer to go do some more running around. I hope that I am able to send off a more detailed email next week, as I am sure I will have much to say!

Love,

        Elder Garner

Elder Seth Garner

I hope you are ready for this email, because it is 

going to blow your mind... Alright, well, maybe not, BUT! Some pretty cool stuff happened this past week! I see blessings and miracles non stop! Not a day goes by where that isn't expected. So, a few weeks ago, we were eating at a Mexican restaurant, and a bunch of these girls came up to us and asked us if we could talk to them when we were done eating. Not everyday to people approach the white shirt and tie! It must have been my companion's stunning good looks! Turns out that these girls were from a Christian Academy school and were in a world religions class where they had recently learned about "Mormonism". We answered their questions (most of them were anti junk their teacher had fed them), gave them our information, and that was that. Last week we got a call from the Christian Academy world religions teacher asking us if we could come to the school to answer questions that the students had.... FLIP YES WE CAN! Trust me, I am completely against bible bashing... It leads to nothing. But this was our chance to clear up confusion about the church and bear our testimonies to a good amount of people. We went in the Christian Academy yesterday and went to three different world religions classes to answer questions. Thank goodness for my knowledge of the scriptures and the power of the Spirit! Out of the 100 people we taught at the school yesterday, between questions about polygamy, blacks and the priesthood, "becoming Gods", and "holy underwear", there was not one question or concern we were not able to answer. I am so glad that I have been able to study the scriptures and grow my knowledge of the gospel EVERY DAY (with the exception of those days where there is just no time, being busy with taking care of missionaries and other responsibilities). And boy, am I glad that our church is true and that we have the Spirit to testify of that! The main purpose for us going there, as the teacher put it, was to get the students to be comfortable and confident with asking questions to people not of their own faith, so that they could defend theirs. I don't know if we helped out in that aspect, but we sure did help leave an impression on each of those students. Each one of them now has our information so that they can contact us to learn more. Now, whether or not one of them will eventually call us, I do not know. But I do know we planted a TRUCK LOAD of seeds yesterday! Haha, and I had tons of fun doing it! There is a nice little saying that floats around as a missionary... "We don't bash, we don't bash, we don't bash. But when we do, we win." There were a few students that you could tell were trying to "bash", but, there were many who you could tell were actually very curious about the truth. There was certainly more "searching" than "bashing". We were so blessed to have that opportunity fall in our laps.

I love being a missionary... I don't think I will ever have an opportunity quite like this again. I will always be sharing the gospel and sharing my testimony, but doing it all day, everyday, is one of the greatest blessings I have ever had. No wonder God is working through the prophet and apostles trying to get members of the church to share the gospel; it brings some of the greatest joys you could ever have in this life!

Love,

         Elder Garner

Pictures) Pelican @ La Jolla Cove and Zone Conference, SD North Zone

Elder Seth Garner

Elder Seth Garner's Letter:

I can't quite explain how I am feeling right now. There is something about being a missionary that never gets old. Sometimes I feel like things couldn't possibly get any better, but then they somehow do. The unforgettable feeling from the Spirit is the same for me every time, it's amazing and it just never gets old. I have been blessed to have this feeling multiple times on my mission, and it is the most indescribable feeling I have ever felt. It has got to be one of the best things about being a missionary! I thank the Lord for allowing me to feel this Spiritual witness time and time again, which only strengthens my testimony and gives me a greater desire to share what I know.

Anthony Mwereru was baptized on Saturday, December 28th, at 10:00. There were so many people at the service who were there to support him in his decision! Brother Lythgoe was able to baptize him. Elder New and I were the witnesses. As soon as he came back up out of the water, that same feeling that has resonated in my soul had returned, letting me know that Anthony's life had changed forever in the most positive way imaginable. I felt the same feeling as I helped Anthony be confirmed a member of the church and receive the Holy Ghost. When I first met Anthony, he was a very humble, happy man, with a bright countenance. When I saw him the day after his confirmation, his countenance had changed completely, going from happiness, to complete joy, which comes only from living the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Anthony's wife and two boys attended the baptism. I know that they felt the Spirit as they watched their dad be baptized. It was a very tender moment, especially for his wife Kim. We have plans to begin teaching her and the two boys soon, so that they can receive the same blessings as Anthony. God is good... Sometimes I wonder how I was so blessed to be here at this time, and help in the hastening of the work of Salvation. IT IS SO GREAT!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year! I still can't believe that it is 2014... Holy smokes, that makes me feel sick... Little too fast, if you ask me! Anyways, I will be having a wonderful New Year's Eve inside my apartment tonight! President asked all the missionaries to be in early. I don't even know if I could stay up until midnight anymore! 10:00 rolls around every night and I feel like a zombie.

Love,

       Elder Garner

PS) "Merry Christmas Mr. Potter!"

   "... And a happy New Year to you too... IN JAIL!"

Couldn't help but think about "It's a Wonderful Life" this past week.

Elder Seth Garner

Merry Christmas!!
This has been such an amazing Christmas season! I can't even describe all of the feelings I have felt as I have pondered on the true meaning of Christmas and felt my Savior's love by helping others come closer to him... It has been a very tender experience for me. I think the most amazing thing I have been able to experience this month all involves Anthony Mwereru. I am SO grateful to have met this man. Once again, I feel an overwhelming love for him just like I have felt for past investigators and recent converts. It has been my favorite thing about serving a mission so far. There is nothing quite like it!

SO, with that being said... Anthony will be getting baptized this Saturday! Oh man, I can't even put words into this pathetic email that describe how happy I am! It has been quite the trip for Anthony this past month, having gone from not knowing anything about the church to committing to be baptized within less than a month. Anthony and his family have felt the Spirit of Christ this Christmas season FOR SURE. So many ward members have willingly helped out in any way that they can, giving furniture, gifts, food, and so much more. I am grateful to be apart of Christ's church! The love of Christ has been shared with Anthony and his family through faithful members of this church, because they know what it truly means to be a saint and a disciple of Christ.

We committed Anthony to live the Word of Wisdom a little over a week ago. He had a smoking problem that he was a little worried about. We took his cigarettes, gave him a priesthood blessing, and continually prayed for him to have the strength to conquer his addiction. Satan is a pretty sneaky guy, because the day after we gave him the blessing, Anthony started having back problems, so he has been inside for a couple of days. Anthony usually only smokes when he has nothing else to do. BUT, he has been able to stay faithful to his commitments, and has held strong! He had his baptismal interview last night, and he is good to go! Brother Lythgoe in our ward will be performing the baptism, and THAT is going to be an experience that I will never forget. Holy smokes I am so blessed! Best Christmas gift in the world! Haha, I am so excited for Anthony, and for his family as well! They will be at the baptism, and that will be quite the experience for them. Anthony has received so many blessings from the Gospel already, but I don't think he knows just how blessed his life will become after he is baptized and continues to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for my Savior. I am eternally grateful for the sacrifice that He made for me. What a wonderful time of year we have to celebrate His coming into the world to perform the Atonement! I know that He did that for all of us, so that we can be forgiven of our sins, overcome our weaknesses, and feel God's love. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love,

       Elder Garner