Moving to a bigger, better blog.

Jon (the brother-in-law) here.

Realizing that we're probably going to outgrow this blog really quick, we've moved everything over to a new home: www.elderwhite.com

From now on, everything new from Elder White will be posted there. Be sure and update your bookmarks folks.

New Mailing Address

Quick update, we've finally got a mailing address for Elder White at the MTC.

Elder White

MTC Mailbox #365

Nv-Lv 0213

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo Utah 84604-1793

Farewell

It was such a sweet experience to see so many of my family and friends come to listen to my last talk before my departure. I am so thankful for all the help I received in bringing together the musical number that I performed along with four male vocalists. It meant a lot to me that they were willing to participate so fully in a slightly unconventional arrangement of some of my favorite hymns. I don't know about the rest of the congregation, but music that is played with honest enthusiasm brings the spirit to me.

I asked the spirit to be present for the meeting, and it didn't disappoint in the slightest. I also asked that I would be able to feel the words I spoke, and the spirit delivered again. The only problem is this left me crying much more than I expected. I had to fight tears during the opening song, playing the piano in the musical number, and especially as I delivered my talk. I only hope that the meaning came through.

Of course, I realize that there may be some that could not attend the meeting that may still want to read my talk, so I will include it here. I hope that those who read it will be able to hear my voice, and feel even the slightest portion of the spirit that I felt while I wrote and delivered it.

 In many ways the feeling you get when you are about to leave on a mission is a lot like being on your deathbed. You’re making sure all of your finances are resolved, that you’ve said goodbye to everyone, and have left as small of a mess behind as possible. Little things that are usually insignificant become “the last time” monuments. I say to myself “this is the last time I’m going to reload this printer for two years” or “this is the last tank of gas I’m going to purchase from this station for 24 months.” Fortunately what I’m doing is a lot more exciting, and less final, than dying. Preparing to serve a mission in Las Vegas has been a great experience, and I know that it is only going to get better in the months and years to come.

          Today I am going to be reading portions of a talk by Elder David A. Bednar titled “Converted unto the Lord.” It gave me a chance to reflect on what a testimony is, and what conversion means.

          Elder Bednar explains a testimony as follows. “A testimony is a gift from God and is available to all of His children. Any honest seeker of truth can obtain a testimony by exercising the necessary “particle of faith” in Jesus Christ to “experiment upon” and “try the virtue of the word”, to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit”, and to awaken unto God. Testimony brings increased personal accountability and is a source of purpose, assurance, and joy.”

          As ‘True to the Faith’ explains in more easily understandable terms, “A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost.”

The first time I truly learned what a testimony was, I was seven years old. It was the night before my birthday and baptism. All that time, I had heard lessons in primary of Jesus Christ, and his teachings, and had enjoyed being in class. Especially if snacks were involved. However Church was mostly just a peaceful building we went to every week where I saw my friends and read scriptures. I had no special reason to believe what I’d heard so often, but I went along with it. This particular night, I sat at the window, wondering if this church I’d been to all my life was true. I didn’t have doubts, but I wanted to know. I said a sincere prayer to know if the church was true. Then I turned to the teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, a man I knew I could trust and always loved to hear from. As I read the words of the prophet, I was overcome by a powerful feeling of warmth and comfort. It spoke to my heart with reassurance and told me that by being baptized, I was doing the right thing. I had never felt anything like it before, a feeling so strong that it brought me to tears. But even my seven year old self could understand that this was unmistakably a witness from the Holy Spirit. That’s when my testimony began.

          Since that time, I have had many encounters with the Holy Spirit. None of them have been quite as clear and overwhelming. I learned later that such an event does not happen to everyone before their baptism. But because I received such an undeniable witness early in my life, I did not have to give a second thought to the matter. I knew the church was true.

          However, spiritual experiences, however miraculous, faded in my memory as years passed. I continued going to church, and I was pretty sure it was true.

          I think everyone here knows that I love music. Nothing can instill emotions right into the human soul as effectively as music does, unless it is by the Holy Spirit. And even if it is by the Holy Spirit, it’d probably be better with music. I like to use the term “gaining a testimony” somewhat incorrectly in regards to listening to a piece of music. I can hear a song, even a bunch of times, and know nothing more than words and a tune. But sometimes, you can listen to that same seemingly ordinary piece, and it speaks to you. You get all choked up just listening to its melody. You could sit down and play variations on it for hours into the night. I like to refer to that as “gaining a testimony of a song.” You suddenly realize its value, and its possible applications in your life. For example, I gained a testimony of the theme from “Back to the Future” and realized it could be applied to every time I was driving in a terrible hurry.

          Elder Bednar continues “The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.

Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence. Any honest seeker of truth can become converted by experiencing the mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God. As we honor the ordinances and covenants of salvation and exaltation, “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ”, and endure in faith to the end, we become new creatures in Christ. Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony.”

           So because I had become this ‘new creature’ so early on, I’m set right? I’ll always know the church is true and life is already spelled out for me. I was raised in the church, no conversion necessary. For better or for worse, I became unsatisfied with this simple answer as the questions of life became more and more complicated. Do I really want to be known as a ‘mormon?’ Do I want to life my entire life without ever smoking a cigarette, or swearing, or all of these things that more and more of my peers seem to be doing? By the end of middle school, even the nonmembers I respected the most were doing things that seemed harmless enough, and yet are dubbed as sinful by the church. Maybe that experience I had when I was seven was just an emotional fever?

          What I was feeling was the weakness of a testimony that started out strong, but had not been maintained. Once I’d received my witness, I was just going through the motions, following the herd. Blind obedience, even if it is obedience to good, can lead to confusion when confronted by any form of real resistance. So after a long series of unfortunate events of falling away, I finally made it back on the familiar path. At a week of EFY camp, I said a sincere prayer to know if the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and all of the teachings I had heard were true.

If you’ve seen any show with Goofy and his son Max, you’ll know that despite Max’s initial teenage rebellion and snarky additude, by the end of the movie, Max will discover that he is very lucky to have his dad, even if he’s a little goofy. However, by the beginning of the next installment, he’s back to complaining. It’s very annoying. Luckily the Lord is much more patient with us than I am with fictional characters. After I expressed my honest desire, he gave me another amazing witness. I knew that even though I had been doing the wrong thing for a long time, the Lord welcomed me back with open arms through the miracle of repentance. This time, I wrote my personal miracle down so that I could remember exactly what I knew and why I knew it. Combined with the strong testimony and brotherhood of my priest’s quorum, lead by Christian McOmber and Tanner Paxman, I was back in good shape. I think of this experience as my own conversion to the church. I may have been born in it, but at one point or another, every one needs to find out for themselves what they believe. Then when I hear irony of yet another person telling me that mormons are just blind followers, I can ask them what they know about mormons. When they can’t tell me anything, the truth manifests itself, and it’s a great chance to try and refresh their view.

          In high school, nobody wants to be told what to do. Even if they ask you what you think they should do, they just want you to tell them that they’re doing the right thing. It’s not an ideal setting for missionary work. Although the more mature students are trying to discover themselves and what they believe, the majority of them are very preoccupied.

          Seeing as how this was, I only brought up religion when it was natural. It may have been common knowledge that I was a member of the church, but it wasn’t because I chose to advertise it. Instead I decided that by simply being a good example, those who wanted to know more would come to me and ask. How awesome it would have been if that had worked. My decision did ensure that I made great friends that I continue to love and learn from. And when the honest seekers came, I was happy to share what I knew. I was even happier when it made a difference to them.

          “The Book of Mormon is filled with inspiring accounts of conversion… King Benjamin’s people responded to his teaching by exclaiming, “Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually”. Accepting the words spoken, gaining a testimony of their truthfulness, and exercising faith in Christ produced a mighty change of heart and a firm determination to improve and become better.”

          Many people consider being better, but hit the wall of “what would it matter?” and give up. New Years resolutions often end this way. But I know that even a lazy couch potato can become Logan Nielsen if he has this mighty change of heart that the Book of Mormon describes. But why is it that it often seems that this change of heart and testimony only come after hard work or tough times? God wants everyone to have the truth, but only those that seek it will find it. As we read in Ether 12, “…Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”

          In other words, you receive no testimony until the Lord knows you have worked at it and seek with real intent. When teaching my darling nine and ten year old primary students, I made the analogy of a motion detector light, out in the backyard at night.

          “You have to walk out in the darkness for a few steps before the light turns on” I explained. “It’s like putting yourself out there, and the Lord revealing his truths.” They wouldn’t have it! In fact, they tore it apart.

          “Our motion detector light usually doesn’t work.”

          “Why are you even walking around your yard at night?”

          “Why don’t you just use the light from your cell phone?”

          I guess if you’re trying to look for reasons to doubt, you’ll always find them, regardless of the point. Nevertheless, the Lord doesn’t run out of batteries. He is always mindful of our needs, and always seeks to bless us.

          Elder Bednar continues to teach of conversion. “For many of us, conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime event that results from a powerful or dramatic experience. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience.

Samuel the Lamanite identified five basic elements in becoming converted unto the Lord: (1) believing in the teachings and prophecies of the holy prophets as they are recorded in the scriptures, (2) exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, (3) repenting, (4) experiencing a mighty change of heart, and (5) becoming “firm and steadfast in the faith”. This is the pattern that leads to conversion.”

Note that he did not say this was the equation for conversion. It is indeed a pattern, that even those who have been members of the church for decades experience, seeking to become better followers of Jesus Christ.

 “Testimony is the beginning of and a prerequisite to continuing conversion. Testimony is a point of departure; it is not an ultimate destination. Strong testimony is the foundation upon which conversion is established.

Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter-day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living. Testimony is important and necessary but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we need. Some members of the Church with testimonies have wavered and fallen away. Their spiritual knowledge and commitment did not measure up to the challenges they faced.

…The Lamanites were not converted to the missionaries who taught them or to the excellent programs of the Church. They were not converted to the personalities of their leaders or to preserving a cultural heritage or the traditions of their fathers. They were converted unto the Lord—to Him as the Savior and to His divinity and doctrine—and they never did fall away.”

I have found many examples of people who were moved by the testimonies of a Latter-Day Saint, and end up joining the church. But when they find that the person they admired is flawed, and human, they fall away, having no sure foundation. This is why it is so important to gain your own testimony, building your foundation on Christ. A foundation wheron if men build, they cannot fall.

This will be my battle cry for the next 24 months. I am so thrilled for this chance I have been given, to serve the people of Nevada, Arizona, and California. The truth of the restored church of Christ is the only cause I would want to dedicate two uninterrupted years to, and I know that it will bring as much happiness to those who seek to know, as it has to me.

Elder Bednar ends his talk with something different. Most conference talks close after the words “I testify.” Instead, Elder Bednar says “I promise that as we come to a knowledge of the truth and are converted unto the Lord, we will remain firm and steadfast and never fall away…We will be blessed with bright light from our lamps of testimony and an ample supply of the oil of conversion. And as each of us becomes more fully converted, we will strengthen our families, our friends, and our associates.”

His bold words speak to me as evidence of a very loving Heavenly Father, who’s perfect plan of happiness can be lived to the fullest by those who truly seek Him.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Anyone who believes it is the invention of an uneducated boy either has not read it, or has not read it with their eyes open. It stands alongside the bible as true scripture, and as a powerful witness of Jesus Christ. I invite anyone who has ever wondered why they’re here, or what the meaning of life is to read and re-read this great testament.

I am so glad to be a member of a church  that knows life has a happy ending. I am so glad to share that hope with people that need to know what God has in store for them.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Tomorrow I will be set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I cannot imagine what the Lord has in store for me. I only hope that it will bless the lives of others, and bring to them the joy that I feel as I draw closer to Jesus Christ.

            Onward!

The Origin of the Fortress

Welcome!
With my mission less than two months away, I decided I'd get the ball rolling on this blog; a chronicle of photographs and stories of the adventures to come. I hope that through this, you will be able to read of my successes, struggles, learnings, yearnings, and experiences as I labor for two years in the field of Las Vegas, Nevada. I hope that you will also be able to read of my testimony as it grows and develops through my service.
There are two questions that I am frequently asked about my mission. Firstly, 'how do you feel about your call?'
How do I feel about my call? Well, initially I was just relieved that I would be speaking my first language, and in a country that I already know and love. I know that the language may be subject to change, and I probably just jinxed myself, but for now I am relieved. I will worry less about running water, medical treatment, or foreign dining than I otherwise might. I also know that most of my favorite cereals will be available locally, which warrants another sigh of relief. To some, this security may feel like a let-down. Being in the states is far less exotic than a distant location or another continent. My friends David Doty, who is serving in England, and Dylan Parry, who is serving in South Africa, were called to places that make you lift your eyebrows and say "wow!" I might actually want to listen to some mission stories from elders that visited these happening places, because I would love to visit them myself. I can just picture Elder Doty getting accidentally roped into an espionage mission by a secret british agency, or Elder Parry riding an elephant to a meeting with the mission president. I have no doubt that this is not what really happens when someone serves in one of these exciting locations, but they have that appeal because they're more unknown and exotic to us Americans. Or maybe they're just that way to me. Anyway, a call to Las Vegas by itself doesn't spark any of these images. I've been to Las Vegas before, so I know roughly what to expect. There won't be any quicksand, queens, or ancient booby-trap filled temples. Instead there will be gamblers, casinos, streets filled with sin, and a lot of heat. To me, this is a fantastic place to serve a mission. People go to Las Vegas hoping to enjoy themselves, maybe to get lucky, or simply to find something that they didn't have before. I am excited to have the opportunity to give those that are willing to listen a chance to have something great. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been the source of so much happiness in my life, and I know it will be a great source of happiness in the lives of converts.
Secondly, I am asked 'how's the mission prep going?" I'm never sure how to answer this question. I am rereading the Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, and various other books on top of general scripture study. I am learning a lot, and I am glad to be doing it. But I don't feel like I am prepared enough, or maybe will ever be prepared enough to confidently say I know every part of the Gospel, or how it works. Fortunately, I will mostly be teaching the basics, and I will have the Holy Spirit guiding me in what I say. That's all a bit of a mouthful though, so for those of you who ask, that's what my awkwardly shallow 'good?' means.
I am so excited to have this blessing and chance to act as a messenger for the Lord. It is one of my deepest aspirations to help other people find hope, and that's exactly what I get to do by sharing the teachings of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Please enjoy the blog!
-Derek