It Ends with Peanut Butter Pie

Hi Family!

We had a pretty good week with a couple of companion exchanges and a bunch of good lessons.

We've taught Daniel and Alex a bunch this week in preparation for their baptism. They have accepted all of the commandments and are striving to live them. It's incredible to see the great faith they have developed as they have experimented on the word and come to trust that obedience to God leads to happiness, peace, and a bright hope. We were planning on having their baptism this next Saturday (the 24th) but will be rescheduling it with them tonight because they didn't make it to church yesterday. Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise that we will be able to spend another week or so helping them fully understand the covenant they will soon be making.

Wednesday and Friday we had exchanges. Wednesday I spent at WMU with Elder Merritt, which was a lot of fun. We had several lessons with members I have taught before while on exchanges. I always enjoy spending time with Elder Merritt; he's a great leader and a great missionary. Friday I got to spend at MSU with Elder Wray. We had some really good lessons (one with a couple of Chinese students we had never taught before - Xiaofeng and Chengru). Elder Wray served at MSU for six months last fall, so it was really fun for him to be able to see some of his old friends. You can really tell the impact a person has had when you see the love that others have for them because of their service. Elder Wray was definitely loved by many of the ward members here.

My birthday was fun. We went to the Lansing Church of God in Christ in the morning - we're teaching an MSU student, Russell, who is a minister there (he gave the invocation this week). The church was very different from any I had ever attended so it was really good to understand better where Russell is coming from. The service was very focused on music, praise, and worship and the people were about as welcoming as any I've ever met. (They had us stand so they could all sing to us while everybody came up and shook our hands.) Afterward, we attended our ward, which was great. Half of the ward went on a quick trip to Palmyra this weekend and got back late Saturday night. Several who went shared testimony - one of whom was a recent convert, Elissa. What a neat experience for her to have been able to have! Kate Johnson also gave a fantastic talk about miracles in our day and in her life. She is a PhD student at MSU and was a professed (and somewhat defiant) atheist until last year when she was baptized. She has an incredible testimony and incredible faith.

After our church meetings,
President and Sister Jones had us over for dinner. President Jones grilled salmon, which was amazing (!), and Sister Jones made a peanut butter pie from Sister Longcore's recipe (the Relief Society President in Hart). It was amazing! A picture, compliments of Elder Taylor, is included.

I love you all!

Have a great week!

Elder Cloward

Corned Beef and Sauerkraut = The Nature of Happiness

Hi Family!

We've had a pretty good week here at MSU. It's been pretty warm this week (highs in the 90s with high humidity) and a little bit rainy. Daniel and Alex are still progressing and doing well. We were able to have several lessons with them and got together with several members from the ward (our ward mission leader set things up for us) to watch the Restoration DVD. I think it helped them better understand our message through a visual representation. Alex had a hard time understanding; I think because the language used in the video matches Joseph Smith-History and not a modern English vernacular. Daniel seemed to understand just fine; I think it helps that he has been reading the Book of Mormon in English, while Alex prefers to read in Chinese.

Zone leader council on Tuesday was fun. We presented the adjustments Salt Lake is making to missions worldwide in order to implement the Simplified Curriculum. I'm really excited for what will take place in the coming year in sharpening missionaries' teaching skills. All the training is focused on clearing away the clutter and making our teaching a better environment for the Spirit to testify of truth. I'm a little sad I won't be able to receive/help with all this training myself, but I'm excited to work as a member with missionaries who are better trained and prepared than I have been. The Spirit made it clear to me that these adjustments and changes are led by the spirit of revelation, which is the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ. He is at the head of this church and this great redemptive work.

We blitzed Traverse City last Friday, which was a lot of fun. I don't know if I told you about the Silver Swan restaurant we ate at the last time we were there, but they serve the best Reuben Sandwich I've eaten. (To be fair, it probably ties with the Reuben I had when mom and I were in Connecticut visiting Yale.) President Jones recommended the place (and specifically the Reuben) and we ate there the last two times we've been up to Traverse City. In addition to a delicious sandwich, I got to spend the day with Elder Riley, which was really fun. They've a lot of great member missionary work happening in the Traverse City branch and it means they're teaching a ton of investigators. We taught a man who was the husband of a recent convert, a 16-year old adopted son of less-active parents, a member family's neighbor, and a less-active brother with a desire to return to the temple and be sealed to his wife, who is not a member. And Elder Taylor and Elder Johnson were busy teaching the whole day too. It was great!

I love you! Thanks for all your support!

Elder Cloward

Zone Conference and Fireworks

Hi Family!

Sorry, it's been a crazy day, so we just squeezed some time in for email. President Jones called us this morning as we were driving to email and had us come to the office for a meeting instead. The church is introducing a "simplified curriculum" for missionary training based on what they have identified as the most important principles of effective teaching taught in Preach My Gospel. There will be some changes throughout the coming year to facilitate the sort of training they want. In any case, we had to figure out what they're wanting us to do during a morning meeting because we have zone leader council tomorrow and it will be good to present it to the zone leaders right away since most changes will take place immediately.

Our week was great. We had zone conferences Wednesday and Friday in Mt. Pleasant and Grand Rapids, respectively. Elder Taylor and I gave more instruction than I have been used to, which was fun, if a little draining. I especially enjoyed speaking in our district leader / zone leader training meeting. President Jones told us to discuss whatever subjects we felt impressed to and I chose to teach about "joy". This subject has pressed itself upon my mind and my feelings lately and I loved studying in preparation for zone conference. I walked away from the experience with heightened conviction that lasting joy comes only through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

In preparation for zone conference, President Jones had asked the mission to read and ponder four talks by Elder Maxwell centered on a theme of consecration. As missionaries came prepared it was wonderful to see the things that the Spirit taught us. It is so exciting to see our mission grow in faith and commitment to the Lord.

The Lord blessed us this week by bringing us many successes in our finding! We set up ten return appointments for this coming week, which is the "standard of excellence" set by President Jones. (It has been reached only occasionally and never by one of my companionships).



Daniel and Alex are both doing well. We rescheduled Alex' baptism for July 24th because he was out of town this weekend and needs a little more time to prepare. I think he and Daniel are excited to be baptized on the same day.

I love you all!

Thanks for all your support,
Elder Cloward

P.S. President Jones gave us permission to stay up a little late to watch fireworks and I've attached a couple of photos.

There is an Earwig Somewhere in the Library...

Hello Family!

We had some fun companion exchanges and good work this week!

Wednesday we had an exchange with the Portland elders. Elder Taylor and Elder Valentine worked in the Portland area (and actually had a lesson with Lindsey, who lives in their area but was recently baptized in our singles ward). Elder Andersen came to MSU with me. We had some really great finding on campus and talked with a girl named Felicia from Muskegon, who allowed us to sit down with her and share the message of the Restoration. The lesson was great and the Spirit was strong. Unfortunately, this is finals week for the first summer semester (MSU has two sessions) so she wasn't sure when she could meet again, but she did say that even if we were never able to talk again she would remember our meeting for the rest of her life. We had a similar lesson with a Chinese student named Ray, who really enjoyed our visit but returns to China tomorrow. He said he'd meet back up with missionaries in the fall. (It's a little sad to know I won't be one of those missionaries.) It was also fun to spend a day with Elder Andersen, who was in my MTC district and in the Hart district with me almost a year ago.

Friday we had an exchange with Grandville Spanish. I got to spend the day in Grand Rapids with Elder Morales while Elder Patino came to MSU with Elder Taylor. My Spanish was extremely rusty but Elder Morales was very generously complimentary. We had one lesson in Spanglish, which was nice, but Elder Morales had me teach how Dios revela su evangelio en cada dispensacion (or something like that) in a couple other lessons and he had me quote from Joseph Smith - History as well. Thankfully, in a lesson with Andres, a new investigator they found knocking doors a few days before, it didn't matter that I messed up the quotation a little bit. Andres realized he already knew the Joseph Smith story; he ordered the Restoration DVD from the church a few years ago but never requested missionaries. We had a great lesson; he said he felt that we were sent by God in answer to his prayers. The whole day made me wish I had been called as a Spanish-speaking missionary. But ...


I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction (Alma 29:3-4).

It was also fun to spend the day with Elder Morales, whom I hadn't seen too much since we served together in Bay City. "And what added more to [my] joy, [he was] still [my brother] in the Lord" (Alma 17:2). (I'm not sure it's good that I've developed a habit of quoting the Book of Mormon in every other breath. Elder Barney once pointed out that weird missionary jokes would probably not be impressive on post-mission dates and Book of Mormon quotes might fit in that category.)

Overall, the week was great. We taught seven new people this week. Three became new investigators (meaning, we'll meet with them again), one moved to Tennessee the day after our lesson, two move back to China this week, and one has finals (hopefully we'll meet again with her afterward). Daniel, who we've taught for several weeks, decided in our lesson this week that he would like to be baptized and we set a date with him for July 24th. Alex, who is scheduled to be baptized July 10th is still progressing and doing really well.

I love you and I'm so grateful for all your love, prayers, and support. I am blessed by your faith and by the goodness of your lives!

Love,
Elder Cloward

Driving is Only My Part-time Job

Hi Family,

I think Elder Taylor and I spent just under 30 hours driving this week. So it only qualifies as part-time work. Serving as a missionary makes me laugh that we call a 40-hour work week "full-time". Somehow, our 24/7 job with no pay seems to qualify more readily as a "full-time" assignment. And I suppose it's not a nonpaying job either. The earnest of the Spirit is far more desirable than a weekly paycheck (although not always as useful for paying the rent - thanks for working so I can serve, Dad!) Let me give you the run-down on our week.

Monday: Day 1 of transfers, so we toured the Southern portion of the mission. Compared to other transfers, this one was relatively small since we only had one departing missionary and six incoming missionaries. Monday, especially, the transfer van never had more than eight people on board. After a hot dog barbecue with the elders spending the night in Lansing we even had time to go to Family Home Evening. Alex, whom we've been teaching, brought Daniel, whom we have also been teaching, which was cool since we didn't know that they knew each other. They do live in the same apartment building, though.

Tuesday: Day 2 of transfers. We ran up to Mt. Pleasant and back and then ran the Southern loop again. Elder Stayner, who went home on Wednesday, rode the transfer van all the way around with us so he could say goodbye to everyone. I think it was a longer ride than he expected. Departing activities at the mission home were nice. President Jones grilled us some delicious steaks because it was a smaller group than normal.

Wednesday: We got to sleep in until 6 am! (Normally, the Wednesday of transfers we have to get up at 3 or 4 am but Elder Stayner's flight didn't leave until 10:30). Elder Stayner told me he'd say hi to Emerson Ave for me (he lives up the street a mile or so). We taught a couple quick lessons in between trips to the airport and then picked up the missionaries and started some orientation with them. As the missionaries came down the hall in the airport and we saw them for the first time, I received an undeniable spiritual impression that they had been called of God and sent to us by Him. I love orientation with the new missionaries; they epitomize the scriptural admonition to give the Lord "the heart and a willing mind" (D&C 64:34). President Jones let us slip out a little early so that we could fit in another lesson.

Thursday: After orientation with the new missionaries and their trainers, we drove three companionships up to Mt. Pleasant so they could then drive to their areas. We then had a crazy evening of teaching eight lessons in five hours.

Friday: Our morning was taken up by a meeting with President Jones to plan for our trip to Ann Arbor the next day and talk about zone conference and other mission issues. We had to leave by 7 that evening to begin our trip North so we could take the Traverse City zone down to Ann Arbor. We had 1:30 to 7 to try to squeeze in some more lessons but due to some cancellations and two lessons combining to become one lesson (we had set appointments with two separate students on campus for 4 and 4:30 - it turned out they were friends and we just met together in one lesson) we only ended up with three lessons. The two guys we started teaching Friday are really active in an apostolic church and know the Bible really well. It was really fun to talk with them and for them to have a strong Christian background. MSU definitely has a wide array of religious ideologies.

Saturday: We spent Friday night in Houghton Lake and then woke up at 2:30 am to get ready and drive the rest of the way to Gaylord, where we met the Traverse City zone and left for Ann Arbor at 4:30 am. We arrived a little after 8:00. We had a three-hour meeting (from 9 to noon) with Elder and Sister Bednar; Elder Hallstrom, of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Uceda, a new member of the First Quorum of the Seventy; and Elder Seldon, who I believe is an Area Seventy. It was incredible. Elder Bednar taught in a very interactive, familiar style. He gave no prepared talk; rather, he asked us what we had learned from the two talks he had us read in preparation for the meeting, expounded on certain principles we discussed, and then allowed us to ask whatever questions we wanted of him or the other brethren. One of the ground rules he outlined was that we were not to write down anything someone at the pulpit said; we could only make notes if they were dictated by the Holy Ghost.

What struck me most was the in some ways unexceptional nature of the meeting. True, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ was present and I did receive a strong spiritual confirmation that Elder Bednar is an Apostle; yet, I was taught by the Spirit just as I am in Sacrament Meetings or Zone Conferences or lessons. It was comforting to recognize that our lives can be a constant classroom with the Teacher of all Truth. Although we must have the priesthood keys held by the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency, the presence of this or that man or even instruction from this or that man is far less significant than the presence of the Holy Ghost, if we are choosing to learn by faith through the influence of the Spirit. (If you're interested, he had us read two great talks he has given, Seek Learning by Faith and Ask in Faith.)

Sorry for the ultra-long email. Attached is a picture of the incoming missionaries with their trainers.

I love you!

Elder Cloward

Super Delux Double Plus

Dear Family,

We've had a good week. We had a lot of transfer planning to do, so we met with President Jones on Tuesday and Thursday (we would have met Wednesday but we had our last temple trip) and even made some last minute changes Friday morning before transfer calls. Sister Jones told us afterward that she had never seen President Jones spend as much time deliberating over a transfer. More than in any previous transfer experience, I felt the assurance of the Holy Ghost that the decisions made were according to the will of God. It's always fun to be a part of transfers.

Me, Ashlie, and Elder Taylor after Ashlie's baptismal service.

Ashlie Beebe was baptized on Saturday (by Elder Taylor) and confirmed yesterday (by me). She bore her testimony at the baptism, which was awesome! She talked about her experience in the lesson in which she asked us why she always felt so happy when we were over for a lesson. I had recognized it as a big step for her as we explained that these feelings came from the Holy Ghost but I think I still underestimated the significance of that experience in her conversion. She said that when Elder Valentine and I (we were on a companion exchange) testified that her good feelings came from the Holy Ghost she was totally taken back. Although we had taught and talked about the Holy Ghost previously, the thought had never crossed her mind that she was feeling the Spirit of God communicate to her. I think that may have been the moment in which she came to a full recognition of the reality of God. (She is a very scientifically-minded person and had always felt previously that she could never know for sure if there was such a being as God.) It was really cool to hear her share her testimony.

We had a couple of good lessons with other investigators this week. Alex, whom we have taught for about three weeks, has decided he would like to be baptized as well and he's now preparing to be baptized on July 10. I hope and pray that we can continue to be led by the Lord to those whom He has prepared to receive the message of the restored gospel.

I feel like the Lord has taught me a lot this week about the righteous use of agency to determine our personal perspective and attitude. Inasmuch as repentance is a change from a state contrary to the nature of God to a state in line with His will, intellectual/mental repentance (i.e., changing our patterns of thought, shifting our paradigm) is as much a necessity as behavioral repentance. I think that's part of what the Lord means when He commands us to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. The Spirit has specifically directed me this week to changes I need to make in my mind and my heart in order to see things as He sees them - as they really are.

I love you! Thanks for your prayers, your emails and letters, and all your support! Thanks for being a family focused on Christ!

Have a great week!

Elder Cloward

P.S. The pictures are ...
Elder Sodenkamp, me, and Elder Valentine at the temple last Wednesday.


- You wish you could go through the Employee Entrance.

The Good News

"The good news is that Jesus Christ has made a perfect atonement for mankind that will redeem all mankind from the grave and reward each individual according to his/her works" ( Bible Dictionary, Gospels).

The other good news is I'll be staying at MSU with Elder Taylor for the rest of my mission. While I'm not sure I like the finality of that statement (mostly the idea that my mission will eventually come to an end), I'm excited to be able to continue to learn and grow as Elder Taylor teaches me how to be amazing, as we work closely with President and Sister Jones, through serving the mission, and by staying in the same ward for the rest of the summer. President Jones and I talked several times about what I might like for my remaining transfer-and-a-half and after some thought and prayer he made his decision on Friday. I'm grateful to know that my assignments have come and will continue to come through inspiration.



We had a fantastic week. Two temple trips definitely didn't hurt! I could get used to going every week. Over the last transfer I feel I've learned a lot about how to approach the temple ceremony by patiently listening for the whispering of the Spirit and allowing the Lord to teach me according to His will. Our last temple trip will be this Wednesday. (Not that this trip will bring an end to especially spiritual experiences for the mission - did I mention we're going to Ann Arbor for a meeting with Elder Bednar on the 19th?)!
(Insert:Elder Weaver and I at the temple last Wednesday.)

Ashlie is doing really well and is excited for her baptism on Saturday (as are we). She informally bore her testimony in our Gospel Principles class yesterday. Elissa Konkol, who was baptized in December, bore her testimony during Sacrament Meeting. There are few things that bring me greater joy than hearing the sincere testimonies of recent converts.

It's exciting to see the mission improve over time. Although we're currently struggling significantly with finding new investigators, we've taken a step in the right direction as more and more companionships consistently teach twenty lessons each week. Several of the zones are teaching twenty lessons in virtually every area. Now that we have the desired quantity we're working on improving quality so that they will produce referrals and new people to teach. It's always reassuring to recognize progress.

I hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Elder Cloward

P.S. I thought I'd send a few pictures from our trip last Monday to the MSU Gardens.

- the rose garden



- the pond