And the green grass grows all around. . .

Apparently I'm stressed!

You would think I would know for certain if I was stressed or not. But apparently I don't. I don't feel stressed out at all. Yeah I'm always busy, but it rarely feels overwhelming. But apparently my body feels differently, as every time I look in a mirror they're new zits for poppin, and every time one of my mouth sores closes, another one opens. But despite the apparent miscommunication between my brain and my body, the work goes forth.

This week was a good week. We found a lot of new people that the lord has humbled enough to hear our words. A lot of people are so willing to listen, it's amazing. It is truly important to remain humble before the lord. To often we get caught up in quite the pride cycle. Which looks a little like this: (I hope this translates well...)



This is a cycle that you see repeat itself over and over again in the scriptures, and in life today. It is so important to never let yourself fall into this cycle. The only way to truly prevent this from happening is to show your gratitude. If you understand that nothing you have has truly come from your strength alone, and you recognize the Lord's hand in all your blessings, and thank him for those, you will prevent yourself from becoming prideful, and eliminate half the cycle. If we all truly did this, we would never have any trouble. We would recognize the Lord in all things, and although it wouldn't eliminate trials, they would be so much easier to bear.

I invite all of you to do your best to show your gratitude to the Lord and to each other. Swallow your pride, and realize that nothing you have is because of your own efforts. Pray and thank him for EVERYTHING!

I love you all

Elder Keenan Monnett

Silly Me

Federal Holidays are anti missionary holidays I've decided. Its the one day we're actually able to do things (Mondays) and it's the one day everything is closed. So I wasn't able to go the library (among other places) this Monday, hence the late email.

SO this one is going to be rather short. In my haste to have everyone email me, I failed to anticipate the time it would take for me to read said emails, and since my time was already short, I have very little time to email.

So among some of the first news, apparently I have a new temporary nephew? I've only been gone for 2 months, right? It doesn't seem like that long, at all really.

I had my first baptism on Sunday! A 20 year old girl named Toni, who has decided to take that step to come closer to our Heavenly Father. It was a wonderful wonderful day, now we're working on her friends.

I am officially one chapter away from finishing the Book of Mormon for the first time in a long time (and then starting right over again). Not to sound like a broken record, but it's an amazingly good book, just so you know.

I appreciate everything that you guys have done for me so far. Its so nice to know I have people that actually read what I send home. I'm out of time, but let me just tell you guys that I know this is where I am supposed to be. No doubts in my mind whatsoever. Time seems to be flying, which worries me, because its only supposed to get faster from here. I just have to try to do the best I can in this short period of time.

I love you all

Elder Keenan Monnett

Happy one month!!

Bike Odometer: 71.05

So I wrongfully assumed that my first few weeks in the mission field would go slow, boy was I wrong. The odd time warp that existed in the MTC has seemed to carry out into the field. This last week has just flown by. Its amazing how out of the loop you are once you enter the mission field. For example, I didn't remember the super bowl until somebody mentioned something like 2 days before, and I didn't even know who was playing until the day before. Congratulations Saints on your first Super Bowl appearance and win.

Anyhow, onto more spiritual things. I really wish I had known how much the Book of Mormon means to me sometime before I left on my mission and only had less than an hour a day to read it. If you're not reading it READ IT NOW! I have tried to maximize my time, and have gotten through most of it in the last two weeks, but I've been sacrificing my study time to do so. So that won't be going on much longer. I attended a baptism last week. Not for one of my investigators, but for another companionship's investigators. They had asked us to speak after the baptism, so we taught most of the 1st lesson. I cannot recall another time in my life when I have been able to teach by the power of the spirit as well as I did then. It was truly a remarkable experience. After that baptism, I was more eager to teach than ever. For all of my Non Member friends reading this, you better be wary for my return, cause I'm going to be a baptizing machine.

Speaking of, I have my first Baptism coming up this Sunday. I'm super excited for it. The spirit is so strong at Convert Baptisms. Oh that reminds me! I had my first dog chase me yesterday evening, It was so exciting! Elder Asay and I were on our bikes riding down the road, and we passed this farm, and as we were riding by, these Dogs started barking at us, and one of them took off after us. There was no fence on this farm. The dog quickly fell in step behind our bikes while continuing to bark. I barked back (anybody who knows me should not be surprised by this fact). It was an exciting moment in my mission.

I'll tell you one thing I'm not used to seeing, and that's palm trees and fruit trees everywhere! I had Oranges straight from a tree the other day, and I threw a lemon straight from a tree down my disposal (apparently that's supposed to make it smell better, though I'm not sure that's possible for our disposal). So, the exciting work continues!

I am truly glad to be here in Turlock, California, and the members here are great. And so is my companion! Elder Asay is just a huge goof. I hope when he gets home he gets online and reads this. You hear that Elder Asay? You're a freaking goof! He is a great teacher though, but he doesn't think so.


So as of February 6th I've been on my mission for one month. I bought sparkling cider to celebrate. Only 1 year and 11 months left to do the Lords work. I better make it count. One thing I didn't touch on last week was Church Tours. Its a program that was piloted by the Washington Tacoma mission, and has since spread forth to select few other missions. California Fresno is one of them, and as of right now we're going through training and plan on taking non members through as of March 1st.

Here is what a Church Tour consists of: First, we meet the participant of the church tour outside the church building and tell them about how the world is a noisy place, and as they go in the building they may notice a change, because the building is a place that has been dedicated to Christ. Then we take them in, and we talk to them about how Jesus Christ is the center of our church, and how he is in almost every single painting you'll see in one of our church buildings. Then we take them to a picture of the robed Christ, and we ask them what comes to their mind when they look into the eyes of the savior. Then we teach them about Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end. Then we take them into the chapel, we tell them about the different size benches and the importance of bringing your whole family to the service, small children and all, then we tell them about the Bishop, about how he's not paid, and we tell them about how all the talks are done by members of the congregation called upon in advance, and not just the Bishop. Then we take them to the sacrament table, and explain to them about the importance of it. About how Jesus did it with his apostles, and about how take it to remember him, and to remember and renew our baptismal covenants. Then we take them into the hall and show them a picture of Jesus and his Apostles, then We show them a picture of Jesus coming to the Americas, then we show them a picture of Jesus being baptized, then we show them the baptismal font. Then we sit down and teach them the rest of the first lesson. Through out the whole thing we commit them to come to church, come to a baptism, pray to know that the Book of Mormon is true (it is), and then we wrap it all up by committing them to be baptized. And now you know more about church tours then you ever cared to know. But yeah, that's what we'll be doing in a few weeks. Sorry to go into so much detail, but they said that in areas where they started church tours, baptisms tripled, so you can see why I might be exciting.

The Church is true. I can now say that without a shadow of a doubt. The words I teach are true, the book I read is true, the prophet I follow is true. The work I am doing is ordained of God. For those of you who question the sincerity of my message, or the religion that I preach, I exhort you to find out for yourselves. Read the Book of Mormon, talk to missionaries, and most importantly, pray to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, and ask him if it is true. I can promise each and everyone of you, that if you are sincere in your desire to know, if you truly want to know, then God will testify to you of the truthfulness of this Gospel, through the power of the Holy Ghost. What could you possibly have to lose? I bear to you my testimony, In the name of our savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

I am a Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I love you all.

Elder Keenan Monnett

Turlock!

Where do I even begin? SO much has happened since the last time I emailed home.

So my last day at the MTC was exciting, we drove out to the airport, boarded a tiny plane and flew into an even tinier airport in Fresno, CA. We passed missionaries who where heading home on our way to meet the mission president. Once we met with President and Sister Gonzalez they took us to the mission office, gave us each a temporary companion, and told us to get to work!

It doesn't really dawn on you how grossly unprepared you are to teach until you walk up to your first street contact. Luckily, one, the lord provides, and two, Elder Hancock, my temporary companion for the day, knew what he was doing, and led most of the conversation with people we talked to. So that night I stayed in an apartment with 15 other new missionaries, and then we headed back to the mission office to get our new companions.

So, I got to say hello to my new companion for the next six weeks (or longer), Elder Asay (pronounced A-C, just so you know) and we where sent to the Turlock 2nd ward area. Never heard of Turlock before? Neither had I! But its about an hour and a half north of Fresno. And let me tell you, we've been freezing our butts off in this 50 and 60 degree sunny weather. (Jealous? You should be.)

So, fun fact about Turlock. It used to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most religions per capita. Let me tell you, that makes tracting so much fun. It is a lot easier for people who don't have religion, or aren't strong in it, to hear the truth than it is for people who are already strong in their own faith. Let the door slamming begin. I can at least take solace in the fact that despite how many people yell at me, or slam doors in my face, or try to confound me in my words, that Alma and Abinadi and Ammon and so many other ancient prophets and missionaries went through much harder trials and tribulations than I probably ever will, and they where still successful.

So, despite my area's name of Turlock 2nd ward, very little of our area actually covers Turlock. We cover small towns nearby, like Delhi, and Hilmar. Did you know that Hilmar is home to the largest cheese factory in the world? See? We're all learning! Let me tell you something else, you know what it smells like on a farm? That's what all of Delhi and Hilmar smell like, all the time! Mmm mmm good.

But despite the religiously intolerant people, and the faint aroma of animal dung in the air, the people of Turlock and surrounding areas are actually good people, and the work has been progressing well. We have a goal of 12 baptisms in this ward this year, and we already have one scheduled for 2 weeks from now! Through no help of my own, but I count it regardless.

Here are more fun facts about the California Fresno mission. The average mission baptizes about 450 people a year. Last year the Fresno mission baptized 936 people. Why so successful? Obedience. The missionaries in this mission are some of the most obedient missionaries you will find anywhere, including Elder Asay, who has done wonders to help show me the ropes.

I know I am where I am supposed to be, and know that what I teach is true. I encourage all of you, whether you've done it or not, whether you are a member of the church or not, to read or reread through the Book of Mormon, and pray to know if its true. It has been promised that God will testify to you that it is, and that promise never expires no matter how many times you use it. The work shall progress. Should we not go on in so great a cause?

I love you all,
Elder Keenan Monnett

The time is far spent. . . .

Thank you so much for everyone that has sent me letters. It really does encourage a missionary to get letters. To anyone who hasn't sent me letters; shame on you. To anyone who has; I promise I'll write you back eventually, its just that the time is far spent, there is little remaining. I only have 2 full days left here at the MTC. I can't believe that time has gone as quickly as it has. I guess when your brain is working as hard as it has been here, time just seems like a menial thing that your brain stops keeping track of.

I can't believe that in 2 days, I'll be in the field, with a companion, talking to real investigators. I'm so excited. Don't get me wrong, the MTC is amazing. I'm not sure of any other place where you can learn this much, surrounded by so many worthy priesthood holders, and a gym so nice to work out in. Seriously, I've lost 4 pounds, even though I've been stuffing my face everyday. So leaving the MTC, and all the missionaries in my district, and my teachers, will be hard, but its almost completely overshadowed by the fact that I'm about to do what I set out to do. Be a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. To help bring the restored gospel to thousands of people who need it. "Should we not go on in such great a cause?" I really love that Joseph Smith movie.

So, the spiritual thought I will share with you today is about the power of prayer. "Pray always, that ye may come off conqueror, yea, that you may conquer Satan..." Prayer can help every aspect of your life. Everyone of you should be praying the minute you wake up, right before bed, over every meal (even if you're in public! In fact, especially if your in public!) You see, God tends to like when we tell him we're thankful for things he has blessed us with, just like a parent likes hearing that from a child, and He is more likely to bless us with more if we show him that we're thankful for what we have.

One of the apostles said that the power of miracles is brought on through the power of prayer. It couldn't be more true. I wouldn't have made it through these last few weeks if it weren't through the power of prayer, and our Heavenly Father's grace. He truly loves everyone of us, and wants to bless us, we just need to ask for it before he will, because he won't pour out his blessings upon people that don't show appreciation for what he's already done. So keep that in mind, and pray right now!

I love you all,
Elder Keenan Monnett

MTC- Week 2

Has it really only been a week since my last letter? That shocks me, in that it both seems like it was only a few days a go, while at the same time seeming like it was months ago. That's the weird way that time works here at the MTC. As of tomorrow, my district will be the senior district in my zone. That seems crazy to me, though I guess I'm only here for 3 weeks total...

So, The other day my district had the opportunity to work in the Referral Center, or the RC. Ever wondered who you're calling when you call those numbers on the back of Mormon pass-a-long cards, or Mormon TV Ads? You're calling the RC! Where many young missionaries are working hard to answer your calls and help you with your needs. We where working on calling people back to confirm deliveries of things like movies and DVD's. You get a fair share of people who seem to not like you... its crazy! But I suppose that's life, and how it will definitely be when I'm out in the field.

On Wednesday we'll get the opportunity to be hosts to newcomer missionaries. Normally this invitation isn't extended to English speaking missionaries, but I'm pretty tight with Brother Jarman, the head of hiring services here at the MTC, so he pulled some strings for us. So I'll be bringing in new missionaries who are scared out of their minds, sort of like I was just a few weeks ago.

So I'm happy to say that I haven't gained any weight yet. Haven't lost any, but I'm still counting it as a win.

On a completely different note, the spirit here is simply amazing. I have nothing to compare to, because it blows everything else out of the water. We get the chance to go to the temple once a week, and that is amazing too! It is simply wonderful how much love our Heavenly Father has for us, and how much he blesses us, even though we truly don't deserve it. I simply cannot wait to go out to the field to help people understand that.

Until next time,
Elder Keenan Monnett

MTC- Day 5

So, Day 5 at the MTC and it has been quite an amazing experience so far. It truly is amazing how much my testimony has grown just in these last few days alone! The MTC grounds are a place where the spirit is constantly residing. So, I'm special here at the MTC, in that instead of just one companion, I get two! It can make things pretty complicated, when you want to go somewhere you have to have all 3 of you go at the same time. But I imagine it will be a pretty good learning experience for later in the field. My companions are Elder Anderson, and Elder Dicky (I'll send some pictures home when I have the chance.)

So they feed you here, ALL THE TIME. No joke, the food is delicious, and you can have as much as you want. I've been cutting myself back down to one plate a meal as of recently. See, I've started working out for the first time in months, and I don't want to counteract all that muscleness with fat.

So my district is probably the coolest district to ever roam the halls of this wonderful institute, and I was made District Leader over them! I was pretty shocked when I found out, but its been a pretty good learning experience so far. Its amazing how much more in tune I am with spiritual things since ariving here. Even just singing hymns sometimes I have to choke back tears. In a manly way of course. I've joined the choir here, and on tuesday we're going to be singing "Jesus, once of humble birth" for all the other MTC's.

We had an MTC fireside last night, and the MTC Director spoke to us. I am partially certain it was broadcasted on BYU tv. So on Sunday and Tuesday nights, look for MTC broadcasts on. I may be singing in one of them if Elder Nielson and I have our way.

Last night I had the oppurotunity to watch the Joseph Smith film again. If any of you haven't seen it, I implore you to find a temple or visitors center now an watch it! Theres a qoute at the end, and this isn't verbatim, but it says "Joseph Smith lived and died for this work, and now is being spread all over the world. Should we not go on with such a great work?" I am now part of that work. Nothing has hit me so hard before. I have never been more proud of any work I've ever done than what I'm doing now. The good kind of pride that is. For the last three years I've been doing the same thing, wondering if I living the way I should. But here, there is no question, I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

Write ME!

Elder Keenan Monnett