Watch and read about our neighbors and friends in the stake as they share how they feel the Savior's love, what the restored gospel of Jesus Christ means to them, and how it's changed their lives.
Sister Ashlyn Peterson
Sand Springs Ward
My name is Ashlyn Peterson. And I just returned from serving in the Canada Toronto Mission. I wanted to share just one thing I have learned on my mission!! FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!!!
My mission has opened my eyes to see the hand of the Lord in my life more than ever!!! But it has also created opportunities for me to need to reach out for his hand more than ever! As I have prayed daily, I have seen the Lord literally work MIRACLES!!! EVERY DAY! I have seen Him move mountains through simple prayers of faith!!
One such prayer of faith prompted me last year to post a Facebook ad for a Book of Mormon. One new friend reached out!!! After teaching him a couple lessons, he came to stake conference and he LOVED it!! He also went to a baptism of one of the Elders’ friends, and he loved it too! He then prayed and decided to be baptized.
After he was baptized and received the Holy Ghost, he said with the biggest smile, "wow I feel like a whole new man!” Amen! As we walked out from the baptism, he looked at me and said, "If you ever look at your mission and question why you needed to be here... just know you helped this guy! You've changed my life by turning me to Jesus Christ's gospel!"
Since then, he has spoken at every single zone conference and testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon! He was only baptized last October, but he has now received his patriarchal blessing, the Melchizedek Priesthood, served in the ward with a calling, baptized his friend from work, and also baptized 9 others!!! All in only a few months!! He shared how the Book of Mormon changed his life, and was the foundation of his conversion!! The spirit is the true witness to us!! :))
One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 26:1, "And now, these are the words of Ammon to his brethren, which say thus: My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?"
I always knew that my mission was going to bless me. But I NEVER could have imagined that it would bless me THIS much!!! My mission has been everything to me!! And it has changed me forever :))
We are so grateful for Ashlyn’s faithful missionary service in the Canada Toronto Mission .Ashlyn will be speaking in the Sand Springs Ward at 9 AM on Sunday, June 23, 2024 in the Sand Springs building.
Sister Lucy Fellows
Evans Meadows Ward
“One thing I have loved about serving a mission is watching people change right before my very eyes. For example; This is my friend José María! A quirky short man from Peru that always shares the best lunches and Peruvian desserts with us. He looks tough on the outside but has the biggest and sweetest heart.
“He was involved in a gang for a large portion of his life. He had experienced a variety of impositions, one of them being severely wounded as a result of being jumped and brutally stabbed. He was in a few tough situations, made some mistakes. He wanted to change.
“So he found us! The missionaries! He expressed a sincere desire to change and move on from past mistakes. As he prepared for baptism, he read his scriptures even though it was still hard for him to understand them, went to church even though he worked all night the day before, quit smoking even though it was a habit he had for years. It took some time, faith, and diligent effort but in the end José was baptized and made his first covenant with God.
“I watched him transform and change right before my eyes. I was transformed and changed as I witnessed Christ's merciful atonement take place, cleaning, purifying, and healing my friend José María. Because through living the gospel of Christ, we are brought "into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation". We "are encircled about with the matchless bounty of His love" (Alma 26:15)
“I know Christ lives. I know His gospel is a gospel of transformation because God loves us too much to leave us as we are. I know this change is made possible by and through the atonement of Jesus Christ.”
Sister Lucy Fellows has recently concluded her full-time missionary service in the Uruguay Montevideo West Mission. We appreciate her dedication and efforts. She will be speaking at the Evans Meadows Ward on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Sand Springs building.
Elder Andrew Brown
Sand Springs Ward
“After about a year on my mission, I had an unexpected problem with my lung and had to get a couple of surgeries. It was definitely not the ideal situation being far from my family and in a foreign country. It took me a little bit to recover but through this experience I learned a few things. One, God is always watching over us; two, His plan is perfect; and three, He felt all of our pain and suffering and understands us perfectly. It would have been easy to complain about this and focus on the bad things, but that wouldn’t have gotten me anywhere.
“A year later during my last week as a missionary, I went to lunch with my mission President, his wife, and a few other missionaries. When we were about to leave I heard someone calling my name, I turned around and saw the two surgeons that operated on me a year back. I couldn’t believe it and was filled with so much joy to be healthy and able to give them both a big hug and thank you. God's timing is real and there is no such thing as a ‘coincidence’”. – Andrew Brown, Sand Springs Ward
Elder Andrew Brown recently completed his full-time missionary service in the Brazil Belém Mission. We are grateful for his dedication and service. He will be speaking in the Sand Springs Ward on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 9 AM at the Sand Springs Building.
Sister Nancy Horsley
Evans Meadows Ward
“The Lord needs helping hands in many places and under many circumstances.
“My name is Nancy Horsley. I had the privilege to serve as a Service Missionary for two years in the Bountiful Temple clothing department. I really didn’t know what to expect, other than I love being at the temple and I enjoy the peace and joy that always accompany me there.
“I spent most of my time in the baptismal area. My work consisted of distributing clothing to the patrons coming to do baptisms, restocking clothing and folding clothes. If it sounds tedious I can assure it was not.
“I learned so very much. I worked with wonderful, loving and kind individuals that love the Lord and love serving him. We shared many inspirational and uplifting experiences with each other while we worked. We also engaged in many gospel doctrine discussions.
“I love gospel music and it was always softly playing in the laundry area. It was always uplifting and comforting.
“I love the youth of the church. I got to serve the youth on my mission as the majority of patrons to the baptismal area are the youth. They are special. They really impressed me with their desire to serve. They are such an influence for good. They love the Lord. They love to serve. They serve with joy. Many of them come weekly. Many come with physical handicaps. Some of them are so short they need to stand on a footstool to keep their heads above the water. But they continue to express their gratitude to be able to come to the temple.
“My mission increased my gratitude for life and all I have and experienced. It also helped me understand the importance of expressing our gratitude to the Lord and all others. It has helped me develop patience and understanding. I more fully understand now, how much the Lord loves us and knows us individually and gives us the opportunity to grow if we will let Him.
“I will always be grateful for my opportunity to serve and plan to continue to serve where and when I can.”
Elder Kevin & Sister Cathy Tucker
Wheatfield Ward
“When we think about our time at the Layton Family History Center, there are two things that come to mind: First, the Center is staffed with amazing, dedicated volunteers, who are well versed in genealogical research. Some of the missionaries have done genealogy for over thirty years. The second experience has to do with the truthfulness of this work. While we were watching one of the many short films that are shown to individuals and groups visiting the Center, a very definitive impression came to our spirits, that this work is true. The research to find ancestors leading to temple work is a divine work.
“Anyone that has a desire to do genealogy research, no matter their level of expertise, can come to the Center and find answers.”
Kevin and Cathy Tucker recently concluded their mission at the Layton Family History Center. Their commitment to serving this mission is greatly appreciated. They will be speaking in the Wheatfield Ward on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 1:30 PM in the Sand Springs Building.
Elder Easton Knudson
Wild Horse Springs Ward
"My name is Easton Knudson and I have recently returned home from the Toronto Canada mission! There were many instances and experiences I had where my testimony was strengthened but I want to share an experience that will forever have a lasting impact on me!
"The story begins in downtown Toronto in July of 2022! Me and my companion at the time had been street contacting in this particular street corner a lot. Especially because it is the most effective and we find the most amount of Spanish speakers there. We wanted to be led by the spirit to someone who would listen to us and so we got together and said a prayer right there on that corner. We were guided to take the bus up north which we normally take to get home!
"We had talked to some people on the bus and when we got off we started talking to this guy named Angel. At first he was very timid but after a while he opened up and seemed to have a lot of questions. We met with him the next day and he had traveled an hour and a half on bus just to see us! In that lesson we set a baptism date for a month out and he was baptized a month later and now has the priesthood and is one of my best friends to this day! I’m grateful the Lord guided us to Angel and that he was ready and willing to accept our message!"
Sister McKenna Brough
Feathering Sands Ward
"Hey Y'all!! I'm Sister Brough from the Feathering Sands Ward, and I'm serving in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission! But at the end of this month I will be heading back to Utah! But I wanted to share a story from my mission that means a lot to me!
“This was back in September of 2023! Me and my companion were driving around seeing where we should go! We decided to stop by our friend Latonya's house! We have been meeting with her for a while but she was going through some hard things!
“So we stopped by just to check up on her and see how she was doing! So get over there and knock, she was home! So we talked to her, she was telling us all that she was going through! While she was talking I had the impression to share with her Helaman 5:12!
“It states" And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
“When I read this to her she started crying and said, "This is the answer to my prayers!" She knew that God loved her! A few days later she called us and said "I'm ready to be baptized!"
“I know that God hears our prayers! He loves each one of us! And knows exactly who we are and what we are going through!” – Sister (Kenna) Brough
Elder Carson Smith
Wild Horse Springs Ward
"As a full time representative of the Lord Jesus Christ I have been called to witness for His name! Throughout my mission I have come to learn that the greatest privilege is to "witness for His name."
"At first, I looked at this phrase as witnessing for His name through all things that I do and say. I have come to learn that is only part of the meaning of this phrase. I have come to learn that it is my privilege to be an instrument in God's hands by singing the song of redeeming love for all to hear! I get to witness Jesus Christ use His infinite power to change the lives of Heavenly Father's children. It is truly amazing to witness Him doing his great work while I'm an instrument that is being played by the master!
"I love my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Christ, the Living Son of the Living God!"
Elder Matias Rodriguez
Wheatfield Ward
"Paulo!"This is my friends Paulo and he is awesome! Paulo comes from a rougher background and at first couldn't come to church. We kept visiting him and then he got permission to go to church. Since that day he never missed! He didn't have permission to get baptized so we decided to fast and practice how he would ask for permission! By some miracle his father gave him permission and Paulo was Baptized! He goes to church every week by himself and is a baller member Missionary!
"Paulo has showed me that with perseverance and faith the Lord will provide a way! I am grateful for Paulo and the example that he is! I am grateful for the opportunity that I has to share the Gospel with Paulo and show him the path that God has for him! I know that God wants us to be happy and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will bring that to us! I love the Gospel and missionary work! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Elder Rodriguez has just arrived home after dedicated missionary service in the Argentina Salta Mission. He will be speaking this Sunday, February 11th at 1:30 PM in the Wheatfield Ward at the Sand Springs Building.
Sister Mayson Rollins
Willow Ridge Ward
"Hi! My name is Sister Mayson Rollins and I am from the Willow Ridge ward. For the past 18 months, I have been serving in Northern California in the California Roseville Mission and I LOVE it! I have seen SO MANY miracles on my mission that have shown to me that I have a testimony that GOD IS IN THE DETAILS!! Every single day there is something that screams "God is in this day".
"There was one transfer where I went Spanish speaking. It was the first weekend of the transfer and one day me and my companion were trying to deliver something to an inactive member, but on the way we went to the wrong house. We were walking out when this man, his name is Marco Antonio Del Rio, he saw us and asked "are you Jesus people?" We got really excited and nodded yes! He invited us in and he started crying. He told us that he was in a really hard place and he prayed that night before for help. We taught him almost every single day that whole transfer and after 2 weeks, he was put on date for baptism! He was so ready to hear the gospel and God literally put us in his path. If we didn't go to the wrong house, we wouldn't have ever met him.
"I have a strong testimony that God knows us personally! He wants us to turn the day over to him, and he will bless us with miracles! Things will go the way that's best for us! I am so grateful for my mission and all the experiences that I have seen and witnessed. I know that God is in the details and that THIS IS the church of Jesus Christ!"
Sister Rollins recently returned home from faithfully serving in the California Roseville Mission. She will be speaking this Sunday, February 11th at 12 Noon in the Willow Ridge Ward at the Layton Legacy Stake Center.