I finally attended Stake Conference!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

This last Sunday, I attended my first stake conference of my mission!!! In all of my areas, I have been transferred into an area right after stake conference or I have been transferred out of an area right before stake conference. I really enjoyed the meeting. It was really good. 

This week was a pretty good week even if it was slow. 

We had a worldwide missionary conference with the missionary executive council. I loved what Elder Bednar said in the broadcast about how Heavenly Father is the one who gives us success, it isn't anything that we do. That I think has helped me to realize that just because we aren't seeing success right now doesn't mean that Heavenly Father doesn't want to grant it to us, it just means that we have to continue in faith and pray for the success because as we do, we see that success. That was something that I already knew but I think it is interesting to see that we really do need reminders from our Heavenly Father. Many times, those reminders come as calls to repentance. I think that recognizing that success does come from Heavenly Father and relying on Him and his son is a great way to repent. 

Another call to repentance that I received from the broadcast was the fact that I do not have to know that something is revelation or inspiration to act on something. I just have to know that it something good and then I must do it. I think that is something that I have been struggling with for a while. I have desired to know that something was revelation before I went and did it when that is not necessary. I look forward to implementing that in this work. 

The last call to repentance that I thought was noteworthy happened when I was writing in my journal one night. I was thinking about what I was going to write about and I remembered a general authority talking about writing about how we see the hand of God in our day. I thought that is what I would right about. I thought that was an interesting connection to how the thought to see the hand of God in my day was a call to repentance. It is a good reminder that a call to repentance can be just as simple as to look for the Hand of God in my day or to go and do good or to ask for and look to God for success. I look forward to making these changes and seeing how I draw closer to my Heavenly Father. 

Thank you!!! I love you!!!

Elder Hayden Cannon

Culture is what makes changes.

Hello!!!

Things have been going well here in Eastgate. It has been really fun here with Elder Burton. We have had some really cool experiences. 

Elder Burton and I went on exchanges with the Assistants this week and it was really fun. I stayed in Eastgate and was with Elder Verdoni. I have to admit that I was a little stressed out by the exchange because I have had some rather stressful exchanges when I have lead the area in the past, but this one was really good. At one point, we were looking through the area book wondering what to next and Elder Verdoni made the suggestion to pray and ask what we should do. I had already made the decision but wanted to make sure that it was the right one by praying about it. So we prayed and we went off. We went to go see this less active member, but outside his apartment was this man on his phone, so we started talking to him. We were able to talk about God's plan for him and even though there were some unfortunate things that happened, they will all be for his good. We are really excited to see how he does. 

We had a meeting with the stake president and President Welch. President Welch made a comment that I really liked. He said that if we really want people to be doing things like missionary work, or temple and family history work we have to develop a culture of doing those things. That made me think about the cultures that I want to have around me. I really want to have a righteous, Godly, culture to be able to maintain the same spirituality that I have been able to experience on my mission. 

Thank you for everything! I love you!!!

Elder Hayden Cannon 

We have a baptism this weekend!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

Things have been going well! Elder Manning and I have a baptism this weekend. Unfortunately, Elder Manning is getting transferred though. That is a big bummer. We have been able to do some really good work together and we got along really well. It will be fun with my new companion Elder Burton. I don't really know him but it should be fun. 

I had this thought during the week. We all know the scripture "Wickedness never was happiness," but sometimes, neither is righteousness in the eyes of some people. Why do these people fail to see the blessings and joy that come from righteousness? The only thing that is keeping them from seeing the happiness is their own attitude. If we are able to look at the big picture of what we need to do as something that is going to make us closer to our Heavenly Father and not as a restrictive list of dos and don'ts then we are able to see the light of the gospel illuminate our lives in a greater fashion. 

Thank you! I love you!

Elder Hayden Cannon