Elder Chris Miner: An epistle: the travels of Elder Miner in the land of Mannheim

1 And now, I elder Miner, do make a record of the week with mine own hand, after the manner of the language of my father's, for such writing is after the manner of the English.

2 yea, in the commencement of the 17th week of the mission, we traveled unto the land of Frankfurt. For behold, all the elders and sisters in all the lands round about did gather together to administer and to be administered to by a special witness of the lord. And thus we did travel in the day of Thurs up unto the land and did gather with our brothers and sisters in the gospel

3 and verily there was much rejoicing as to the gathering of the mission, and we were received with open hearts by the people of Frankfurt. For we did gather with our mtc group and there was much celebration, yea even unto the shedding of tears so great was our joy.

4 and behold I say unto you that the apostle elder uchtdorf did minister unto us and did soothe our souls with the words of the lord. For behold we did converse with great diligence over the work of the lord and over the service in this land.

5 and now behold after we had gathered together we did depart from the land of Frankfurt and did travel again into the land of Babylon. And we did rest from our labors as it was the appointed hour of rest. And thus we did rise the next morn and did prepare ourselves diligently for 8 hours of finding. Yet by the great wisdom and mercy of God we did recieve a call from the family broo.

6 And thus they did remind us the ward hike and offered to drive us, and verily I say unto you that our hearts were given to much prayers of gratitude unto the lord. And thus we did hike with the ward and did build much unity with the members therein. And we rested from our labors with ice cream of the Italian nation.

7 we then commenced back home when we were immediately called upon by the handler family to enter into their home and preach unto them the words of eternal life, and yea our efforts were rewarded by pizza and ice cream. And there was much rejoicing among the land.

8 and thus ended the Friday of our labors. As the day of satur thus began we did arise and labor diligently with all our might, proclaiming the words of living life unto this people, yea unto the convincing of men. Nevertheless the people did harden their hearts and sought not to turn unto the lord, and wo be unto the inhabitants thereof for unless one hearkens unto the words of his gospel they shall be utterly cast out at the last day. Notwithstanding the great mercy of the lord, for his grace is among all men unto the condition of repentance. For behold the people in all the lands round about did also reject our message of the gospel, and thus we did end our preaching unto the people on Saturday.

9 and on the morrow we did rise and did gather together with the ward unto the breaking of bread and singing praises unto the lord, for behold, his holy day was among us and we did worship with great fervor, yea so much so that the walls of the buildings did rent and tear (sadly twas not so due to the lack of enthusiasm among the saints in Germany) nevertheless we did depart from the meeting and did work continuously unto the preaching of the gospel unto his children. However due to the stiffneckedness of his people, none desired among themselves to be partakers of his goodness.

10 And thus ended Sunday.

11 And behold Monday we arose and did preach the gospel unto the people of Mannheim. And behold, the leaders of the zone did travel down unto the land of Mannheim From The land of Kaiserslautern. And there was much rejoicing, for behold we saw that their fervor in preaching the gospel did lead to a baptism in the land of Kaiserslautern. And thus after this manner did we seek to preach.

12 and now behold as the zone leaders continued in their preaching elder frost and I desired greatly after döner. And to our great delight we saw one of our favorite Africans also in the pursuit of döner. And there was much rejoicing in our unity for behold he had been reading in the book of Mormon. And behold as we sat together he recounted the tale of the death of his father and sister, and the most bitter message of his heart

13 and thus being moved upon by the spirit we did preach unto him the plan of Salvation and the spirit of the lord did enter his heart and he knew that the words we spoke were true, for thus he spoke unto us "I doth know that that which thou speakest is true" and now his heart did long greatly for the sealing of the family of which we did preach, and he did ask unto us by what means these things could be done.

14 and thus we did speak unto him the message of the priesthood and of baptism, and verily he cried out unto us "now I know that these things are from God, for they have been spoken by his servants, now verily I ask unto you, when may I partake of his baptism, and join myself unto the flock of the lamb?"

15 and our hearts were filled with much

rejoicing over his desire to be numbered among the saints and we did set a baptismal date with him.

16 and lo I say unto you, never had there been so much rejoicing among the elders in Mannheim since the world began. And thus on the next day while elder frost and elder Whitney began in their preachings unto the people they did set another baptismal date with a man named jalloh. For behold the spirit was poured out among his children, and tho he was Muslim his heart was softened to the accepting of a baptismal date.

17 and thus endeth Tuesday. And on Wednesday we did awake and behold because of the traditions of his fathers and because of the craftiness of man jalloh did Text unto us and did speak many hard things unto us. For behold he no longer desired the baptism of water and fire. Nevertheless we did speak unto him with great boldness and planned to meet with him notwithstanding the traditions of his fathers. And Wednesday there was much preaching of the gospel. For we did cry unto the people all the day long and behold only one person did hear our message and thus she would not trade phone numbers but did take a flyer for english course. Nevertheless our joy was exceedingly full.

18 and yea, we did discover that elder frost did lose his wallet. And there was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. And we did embark the whole night long to find it, nevertheless it was lost.

19 and now behold the morning of Thursday we did commence in the playing of sport, and my fahr card did fall from. My phone, and it was lost. For behold both of us did lose our fahrcards and we began to panic. Nevertheless according to the goodness of God we did stand firm in the faith notwithstanding our great losses.

20 and thus ended the 17th week of the mission.

21 and thus we see that the lord cannot protect the stupid, for behold we truly had lost that which was most precious.

22 yet nevertheless we knoweth that his grace is over all men regardless of their intelligence. And do not forget my brethren that the lord is mindful of you, and doth desire the goodness of his grace over all of you

23 and verily verily I say unto you that there is no other means other than the grace of God that can save us from lucifer, that old serpent, for behold his grace is sufficient unto the forgiveness of sins. And his mercy is over all. For behold I was the most vilest of sinners, yet his grace had transformed me and now I do proceed with the preaching of his freedom to the captive, and his grace to the sinner. Yea and his healing to the sick, and his hope to the hopeless. For behold his love can conquer all opposition in our life.

24 and I would exhort you my brethren to turn unto that same God, the God of Abraham and Issac and Jacob. Yea turn unto him and find peace in his kingdom. For behold his transforming power is over all who turn unto him, and his glory is that of the glory of God.

25 and I maketh an end of my record of the week, for I must go and breaketh the ankles of my companion. And now my brethren, I bid thee adieu.