Elder Bednar

Hello Everyone! Thank you for the E-mails and especially for the amazing photo
albums of the ‘Andertons’ wedding (I still can’t believe that they are married
but most importantly I am glad that they both look so ridiculously happy) and
for the cardboard cut out (Timette you did an amazing job with it) it really
seemed like good times were had by all!

Well, things back home are amazing, as usual. The St. George McKenna’s are
housing two Japanese students Gaku and Sho, destroying the football pitches,
writing amazing, uplifting, influential, and patriotic literature, and Meghan
has been accepted to go on a student exchange to Japan this coming November!
Mom and dad have retreated to the safety of the cabin to avoid the massive heat
wave that is melting Las Vegas, More people are returning home from missions and
are starting their lives (CRAZY), And Britain has now officially moved from
summer to fall (and the falls in Britain are so cold they’re basically20winters).
In answer to some questions… yes, Elder Bednar was amazing… No, I didn’t know
that mountain dew had 10 new flavours and that the Osmond’s had a show in Vegas
(but my companion Elder Larson probably does because his family use to hang out
with the Osmond’s regularly). Overall like always the Lord is pouring his
blessings out upon me in a way that I am surely not worthy of.

Alright, so this week is going to be pretty easy to know what to write about…
Elder Bednar. But before I get into that I want you to know that Phil and
Rachel are doing really well, Louis Villing is dated now for the 17th of
October, and Yestinn Freddie (the Indian man back in Wrexham) is now baptized
and is a kingdom builder! Now, onto the most mission/life changing experience
that I have had this year… When I think of Elder Bednar I always imagined a man
who was; intimidating, to the line, tough, business like, but incredibly
spiritual and I have to say that even though he may incorporate some of these
features he is also funny, personable, and an amazing teacher (he is basically
nothing like I expected)! He started off the conference by explaining what was
going to happen, the idea that all of us were going to be involved by asking
questions, giving answers, and relying on the Spirit to teach us rather then
what he said. This was something that almost everybody20says and yet it never
seems to make much of a difference because the audience usually just sits there
in silent admiration and fear while the speaker gives his 2 to 3 hour long
lecture (which isn’t a bad thing), but Elder Bednar was different. Somehow he
was able to create an environment were all of us felt comfortable to ask
questions and to offer comments; even though he was involved extensively in the
process, by giving revelatory comments and would control were the conversations
were going, he allowed us to prepare ourselves to ‘seek learning by faith’ and
by our actions we were able to be taught through the Spirit rather than the
words which were spoken. I can’t truly describe how he did it but the Spirit
was truly the teacher as I sat in awe of this mans ability to command a crowd.
The things he said were apostolic, the atmosphere was electric, and the Spirit
was most certainly present. I realized then that my understanding of how to
help someone understand the teachings of the Savoir and how to really help
another to come to an understanding of the Gospel were pitiful in comparison to
what they could be. I have come to the horrible realization that I have so much
more to grow and I am terrified by the short amount of time I have to accomplish
it. It’s moments like that; when I feel the Spirit so strong, when I realize
how caring, loving, and patient the Lord is with me that I am truly brought down
into the depths of humility! How POWERFUL the Spirit is! How truly wonderful
the peace it brings! And how glorious of a teacher it is! If there is one
thing that I took away from listening to Elder Bednar is that I have so much
more to understand about the Spirit. I am aware that I will have an eternity to
learn more, but the two year time to serve a mission (aka: boot camp for
spiritual understanding) is just too short! The church is true! And I thank
the Lord for every second I have to be a full time missionary! I love you all
so much and I pray for you every night in my prayers! May we all learn to
recognize the Spirit and act on its promptings!

An incredibly weak servant of a most empowering God
Elder McKenna