8/15/16 - THE LAST LETTER!!!!!!!!!

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: SID CITY SEASON FINALE…

Well, this is it. I finished my last week of proselyting with a bang…well, actually a splash.

Kadyn and Kaleb Williams were baptized!!! It was such a special experience, and the Spirit was so strong as they made this covenant with their Father in Heaven. I love this Work!

I have done what God sent me to British Columbia to do. I have no regrets. This is the most confident I have been in my life. Not in myself, but in the fact that if we follow God, He will bless us. He has a plan for us. I know that my mission will not be the end of my discipleship. It’s the springboard into more. And I will do all that I can to serve Him and rely on Him.

This last week has been one of hard work and of reflection. But I can say that I have given it all to Him. And I’m tired. It’s a good tired. I can’t really explain it. But just know that I have fought the good fight.

I can say, as Alma the Younger (my Book of Mormon hero), that “I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste…and now behold…the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors…behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted…” (Alma 36:24-26).

God lives. He loves us. He puts us on this earth not to fail, but to succeed gloriously. Jesus Christ redeems us, and is our greatest Friend. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Stock

Kadyn and Kaleb with their grandma and their dad.

The boys!

Baptism in the ocean!!!

Me with…John Bytheway!

 My son sendin’ me off…

 The ocean…baptism….

8/8/16 - 4th LETTER IN SIDNEY

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: SID CITY…

The soft Vancouver Island summer breeze drifts across the Saanich Peninsula. On every bush near the roads and paths that we walk in the Lord’s service, blackberries grow plentifully. Good enough to literally pick and eat on the spot. In our hands is a crisp copy of the Book of Mormon. It’s blue and gold cover beckons to the world to follow the Savior and to accept the fullness of His gospel. Right underneath our Book of Mormon, we hold a pamphlet that teaches the message of the Restoration, that testifies of the appearance of God the Father and His Beloved Son to a boy named Joseph Smith.

I love this. I realize that more and more recently. I love this gospel, and I love this work. This is it. This is the truth. I know that with every fibre of my being. The Holy Spirit has borne witness to me of the divinity of this latter-day work. And has done so in a way that I cannot deny it. I will not deny it.

I know, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that He lives, that His Resurrection and Atonement are infinite. But more importantly, they are personal. I know that He guides His Church. He has chosen to do so through a modern prophet. I know that in the spring of 1820, a young, truth-seeking boy named Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. They did indeed speak to him. Through him, They have restored the fullness of the gospel to the earth. From this Restoration, we have the Book of Mormon, which testifies of the Lord Jesus Christ more powerfully than any other book. I know that it is true. I know that the only way to receive the fullest measure of peace and comfort in this world and to be truly converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is by reading the Book of Mormon daily and embracing its divinity. I know that we are children of our Heavenly Father, and that He did not put us on this earth to fail, but to succeed gloriously. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

This week, I was able to be in the Lord’s service. We are finding so many people to teach here in Sidney. We are teaching so much, we are seeing His miracles, and we recognize His hand in everything. A family that we are teaching touches my heart each time we see them. James and Alicia both are striving to change their lives and help their baby daughter to grow up in the atmosphere of the church. They are making changes in their lives to do this, and it is so incredible to see! Two kids we are teaching, Kaden and Kaleb, are understanding the importance of the covenant of baptism more and more.

Elder Whitney, my companion, is a beast. He is so good at following the Spirit and working diligently hard each day. He truly is an inspiration to me of how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. That’s what we are. Everyone of us who has ever made a covenant with the Father at baptism and later in the temple. We have all promised to BE a converted disciple of Jesus Christ. Whether we have a fancy black name badge or not, we have His name written on our hearts. Let’s represent Him, and be His followers. Let’s lift those around us, and be the ones who can help Him move this work forward. I am grateful for all of my blessings. Especially as the Lord’s missionary.

Have a great week!!!

Elder Stock

Elder Stock and Elder Whitney finishing up lunch on the road. #fathersonmoments

My old companion, Elder Marchand, came up to visit!!!!

NEXT WEEK ON MISH LYFE: SID CITY….

Next Monday at noon, don’t miss the series finale of “Mish Lyfe”. Watch as Elder Stock and Elder Whitney face a final battle of epic proportions! You won’t want to miss the epic triumph over evil and watch as Vancouver Island is changed forever….

To be continued……

8/2/16 - 3rd LETTER IN SIDNEY

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: SID CITY…

“Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding this priesthood authority of God?” Elder Whitney said as he invited an investigator to baptism whom he had found within that hour.

“Yes,” he said.

The two exited the home and continued on their way, following the Spirit and continuing to see miracles from on high. Suddenly, a giant spider burst forth out of the ground on the reserve. Hissing with massive fangs, it threatened to destroy the people these missionaries swore to protect…

I’m kidding, I’m kidding. But wouldn’t that be awesome?!

Well, I was just kidding about the giant spider thing. But the whole baptism stuff? That’s real life.

Anyways, this week has been one of diligence, faith and obedience. Just the way I like it! It’s a scriptural pattern of success, and one you can find everywhere in the Book of Mormon. Studying those three interlinked Christ-like attributes and then applying them yields eternal joy and the ability to bring others to Christ.

As I embark in these eleventh hour days of my mission, I feel a genuine love for these people, and am reminded of Christ’s life. As He was about to end His mission, we read that, “when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart…He loved them (His disciples, those He taught, those He served) unto the end” (John 13:1).

I reflected on that aspect of the Savior’s life this week. Am I truly loving those I serve, those around me, until the end of my mission? And more importantly, will I do so until the end of this life? Until the Master says Himself that the work is finished?

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a lifelong pursuit. I know that more than ever out here. I know that He is at the helm of this great work of salvation, leading all of us along, drawing all of us unto Him.

This week has been full of miracles. We are finding tons of people to teach, our teaching is effective and helping these people gain greater faith in Christ and follow Him more fully, and I know that the Spirit is with us.

I love being able to walk with purpose, holding a crisp pass-along Book of Mormon in my hand, and to be able to go and talk with everyone and help them understand the restored gospel and the uniqueness of what we are doing. Honestly, as cheesy as that sounds, I love it!!!

I love being able to study by the Spirit, and to be taught from the Holy Ghost. And then to go out and USE that to bless the lives of the people we teach and serve! I love this Church and this gospel. I know that this work is true. That Jesus Christ leads us, and that He loves us. I know that He is our greatest friend, and that He has restored this gospel through a living prophet. That He speaks through the Book of Mormon. I know He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great week,

Elder Stock

Doing what we call “12 Week” with my son. #fathersonmoments

 Vancouver Island.

Yeah, just TRY to find a prettier place.

 The collection of exotic, American imported Dew. Behold…

 Father and son pose in front of our epic board to keep track of our district… #legit2016

7/25/16 - 2nd LETTER IN SIDNEY

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: ATTACK ON SIDNEY…

“Yeah, and so district meeting will be an awesome time to receive revelation and then we need to actually apply what we learn in the work and see miracles,” Elder Stock said, trying to sagely teach his son Elder Whitney the finer doctrines of the kingdom. The duo walked by the kitchen in the stake centre of Victoria. A man was filling up glasses of water in there. He was shorter, kind of a stocky man, with a nice suit on. He turned to Elder Stock.

“You’ve gotten taller,” he said with a straight face. Elder Stock smiled.

“Will!!!!!! I can’t believe you are actually here! It’s been so long!” After an epic man hug, the duo turned to Elder Whitney.

“Well, let’s go do this district meeting,” Will said.

A year and a half ago, Will Wilson was baptized on Elder Stock’s last weekend of Duncan life. And now, he is a stake single adult representative in Victoria, owns a nice suit, and is extremely faithful to his calling and to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s why we serve. So people like Will can have a chance.

This week has been a blast! Elder Whitney and I have been really just focusing on having our “line in the water” as fishers of men. Making sure that we are always doing something that will help us find people to teach this restored gospel to. And we have been treated to Heavenly Father’s countless miracles. We have been journeying out onto reserves, trekking across towns, and preaching this gospel by the Spirit to all that we see.

Honestly, being a missionary is awesome. At this point in my mission, I literally have an aching urge to go and help others receive the restored gospel. Like, when I am not doing that, I am itching to go back out and work. I feel the Spirit. I feel God’s hand in my life, and receive His revelation for me. Specific, clear revelation that I use and that I become better with. I have my testimony and conversion strengthened each and every day, and I know that that is from God. What a blessing it is to serve! I never want to give this up!

So, funny story. My whole mission, I have always acted as “Lloyd” in my role plays of teaching. Literally because in the MTC, I did my first role play, they asked me who I was, and I thought of Dumb and Dumber being the unconsecrated weirdo I was, and said I was Lloyd. Anyways, Elder Whitney practiced as him every day and one day, we are tracting, and are led to this house at the bottom of a reserve right next to a lagoon. After we go all the way there, we find a man sitting in his chair. “Hey, there! We’re your missionaries! How are ya?!” I yell.

The man in the chair says, “Come in!” We do, and teach him the Restoration. He wants us back, and we find out that his name is…Lloyd. Two years of role playing and God finally led me to the man! So there you go!

Sidney is the best, the ward here is the greatest, Vancouver Island is the greatest place on earth, I love life, and yeah…I can’t say too much more. I feel like Elder Christensen on the District 2 Episode 1. Watch it and laugh after this email.

I know that this work is Christ’s cause. That He has commissioned all of us, as His followers, to go forth and to teach all nations, baptizing them in His name! I know that His gospel and priesthood authority has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I continue to know that each time I read and pray about it. It is the most correct book on earth, and will bring you closer to your Savior. I know He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

Have a great week,

Elder Stock

Me and Will Wilson, brothers in arms! 

We be preachin’…

My last study journal….it’s as deep as you can get! ;)

I mean, just look at that cosmos!!!  

7/18/16 - 1st LETTER IN SIDNEY

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: ATTACK ON SIDNEY…

“Elder Stock, can you stand?” President Burt commanded at a meeting full of new missionaries and their soon to be trainers. “Elder Stock is heading into new territory for him. On Vancouver Island. He’s going to an area called Sidney. Whitewashing. And his new companion is from Utah. His name is Elder Whitney!” The words rang in Elder Stock’s ears as he briskly walked up to join his “son” at the front of the chapel and gave him a big elder to elder hug.

A blur of trainings and pictures were taken. Soon, the duo found themselves tearing down the highway toward a giant ferry to the mystical Vancouver Island.

Elder Stock turned to his son. “Aw. Yeah,” he said. And thus began to most epic adventure of all time.

Elder Whitney Bio:

From Gunnison, UT. Loves the gospel and missionary work, has a strong testimony of the plan of salvation. Filled with energy and is excited to be here. Is exactly obedient and is adjusting to mission life at five days better than I was adjusted at my year mark, it seems like. Consensus: he’s a beast.

Being back on the Island feels so nice. The air is fresher here than anywhere in the world, the people are prepared, the church is strong and not complacent, and everything is just perfect. See, when the earth was created, there was a slice of perfect that fell out of heaven and landed in the ocean right next to British Columbia. That sliver of land that solidified afterward is known today as Vancouver Island.

Sidney borders my first area, Duncan. And I am thrilled to be here. We got right to work this week, wasting no time. Found some new investigators to teach, and are building up a teaching pool here in Sid City. The ward is on fire! Our bishop is a beast. He’s literally named John Carter. Yeah, like that one dude on Mars? Same concept only First Nations and extremely devoted to being a disciple of Jesus Christ. I learned a lot in this short week about the Spirit. How to follow and trust him in the work. Elder Whitney and I were driving toward our home at the end of our night, when suddenly Elder Whitney felt a prompting to go drop by a referral we received from a less active member. I spun around in the opposite direction immediately, and we went to go find the reason!

As we did, we realized that we did not have this referral’s address written down on anything in our car. We were kind of just running on pure faith juice at this point. So we did. We stopped on the road we assumed his house was on. We prayed for guidance and bolted out of our car, with fifteen minutes left of the night. If we didn’t find this guy and teach him a lesson, we were going to be way late…

Running on pure hope at this point, we knocked on the door of what we wanted to be his home. A man answered with a glass of wine and no shirt. Told us we got the wrong house. Ten minutes. A ray of hope shined forth. Wine glass man uttered, “Go up the road to the gas pump. He might be there…”

Chevy Cruze tires sped across the asphalt, and a gas pump soon loomed in the distance. As it got closer, we saw that there was a stretch of rez on the side of the road. “He’s got to be in there!” I said to Elder Whitney. We parked and ran to a home we felt impressed to knock on. A little girl answered, and her dad came up the stairs.

“We’re looking for a man named Bear!” we managed to say to him. “Do you know him at all?” Five minutes.

“Yeah,” he sighed, tired from a long day. “Follow me…” We did. Through bushes and a yard full of broken cars and glass. For what seemed like an eternity, we ended up in the back of a thicket of broken down houses and trees. A run down trailer sat before us. “This is it,” the man said as he knocked on it and then walked away.

Our guy answered the door. “Are you Bear?” we asked.

“Yes.” We then taught him how he can come closer to his Heavenly Father. We prayed with him, and he felt the Spirit. He prayed for us, and thanked his Creator for the blessing of meeting us. And we’re going to see him this week.

God provides. Get on your feet and see His miracles!

Have a great week,

Elder Stock

Leavin’ Vernon in good hands!

 Soarin’ over BC!

 Me, my son, and President and Sister Burt!

 That ferry, tho!

 KAIJU CRAB!!!!

 Crab smolder…

7/11/16 - 12th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: ADVENTURES IN KAM CITY…

Downtown Kamloops swirled on Saturday evening. Cars flew past on the road, and people crowded the streets. Two missionaries traveled among them all, talking with everyone they could. Suddenly, out of the crowds, a man appeared.

“Someone take my address and number! I need to get in touch with the Latter-day Saints!” he yelled above the sounds.

“Uh, sure!” Elder Stock responded, not knowing how to handle someone so solid.

“I can meet you tonight at seven, too!” he said.

That night, they met him in the park.

“So, what made you want to meet with us?” Elder Stock asked.

“I was praying. And I was asking God, ‘Where are your guides? Where are the guides to your kingdom?’ And when I woke up the next morning, I saw missionaries from your church. I knew it was a sign. But I was too scared to talk with them. So I built up the courage and found you today.”

There was a silence. “This is what you are looking for,” the missionaries said. He came to church the next day. Miracles have not ceased. Welcome to the Hastening!!!

This week has been insane! Elder Nakale and I have gone crazy in Kamloops, and it has been a blast! We are finding so much success. Let me just testify to you ALL: God is hastening His work. Let’s start keeping pace a little more. Because He’s been ready for a little bit.

This week I got a transfer call. I’m leaving the Vernon zone and I’m going out of the country. To Sydney, Australia!!!!!!!!!

Wait, what, President? Oh, ok….Oh, yeah. That makes more sense…

So, I’m actually going to SIDNEY, BC!!!!! It’s on Vancouver Island!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m going to be TRAINING A NEW MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY FIRST SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so pumped. This is going to be the best transfer of all time.

I am way too stoked for this. I’m geeking out. Van Island for life!!!!! So, yeah. My life is complete. Plan for this transfer: work harder than I can even work. So, run more than it is requisite basically. Leave it all on the field.  It’s the eleventh hour. It’s game time.

As our faith in Jesus Christ grows, our desire and ability to be like Him increases. We find ourselves turning outward, developing pure Christ like love. Charity. As this happens, we see God’s children as who they really are: His children. With the potential of becoming like Him and receiving the blessings of the gospel. And our desire to share this glorious truth of the Restoration burns brighter than anything we can imagine. As Holland says, “First and forever, fan the flame of your faith”, because as you do you will bring that light to the world.

I know that this Work is literally God’s work and His purpose. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, lives. They love us. And They have restored truth to the earth. I know that as we read the Book of Mormon every single day, that we will draw closer to Them more than we can imagine. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have an epic week!

Elder Stock

UP NEXT ON MISH LYFE: ATTACK ON SIDNEY…

Elder Stock and his greenie arrive in the city, only to find that their mission just got crazy…

To be continued…

Drowning in my tie collection… Perks of the mish!

 Rode a bike all day for the first time in my mission (I’ve just had cars)…feel like a champ!

 The Coquihalla at night…just waiting for a monster to attack, no big deal…

 Elder Meline and I at MLC! Can Van 4ever!!!

 Mexican food….chimichangas are a way of living, I’ve decided…

 Commander Helmet….I can’t imagine what people think as they see us.

7/4/2016 - 11th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: FILL THE FONT….AGAIN!!!!!!

The room was quiet as Elder Scully began his talk on the Holy Ghost, shortly after Earnest had been baptized by priesthood authority. “So, Earnest, how do you feel?” he began.

Earnest smiled and paused. “Amazing,” he replied. The Spirit filled the room.

He now is striving to receive the Aaronic Priesthood and progress in this great gospel. This is why we serve.

I have been thrilled this week to be able to be a part of the conversion process of Earnest, and to be able to seek the Lord’s help in His work. Vernon truly is such a miracle land. This is God’s work. He is preparing His children to receive this gospel. As long as we ACT in faith, He will allow us to be a part of His work and His glory. Here in the Vernon zone, we have been focusing on striving to “Remember the Why”. Why are we here, why we wake up in the morning, why we go out of our way to talk with everyone we can, why we teach the gospel.

What we did was we committed everyone in the zone, including ourselves, to read and pray about our call letters and to remember the feelings we had when we were first called to serve our missions. And then to seek God’s help in remembering why we are here and to act upon that. It was incredible. Kneeling in prayer, remembering the powerful adrenaline rush of opening my mission call, and then recommitting myself to His work was pure joy.

I know, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that I am called of God. Personally, He has sent me here, to British Columbia, from August 2014-2016, to bring souls to Him. I am literally a representative of the Savior Jesus Christ. And while I am far from perfect, He is with me. I know that. Powerfully.

If you have even a shred of a desire to serve God, you are literally called to His work. He needs us. We are fighting a war here against an adversary who is cunning and getting more powerful by the day. But we are promised that if we rely on the Lord, and go forward in faith, that we will be saved, and we will conquer. To do this work, we need to have faith. That comes through study, through learning, through seeking the Lord. As our faith grows, we develop a home in Him. A trust that His promises will be fulfilled and an expectation of His blessings as we are faithful to our promises to Him. And this leads us to become like Christ, to repent and change and have the Spirit to be with us. And when we have the Spirit, we have a desire to serve others. And then we have true charity. I have learned that faith transforms into charity. That while we may have a testimony, a faith in this gospel, we have nothing unless we share it. Unless we have true charity. That is how we become like Christ, by turning outward. As Paul declared, “though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). Let’s become more converted this week and look outside of ourselves! Let’s lift the brokenhearted and serve our brothers and sisters.

I know that this gospel is true. Jesus Christ lives and leads His Church through a living prophet. I know that this is His work. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great week!

Elder Stock

Earnest’s baptism!!!!!

 Elder Nakale and Elder Stock…dream team.

 British Columbia….what a place!

 Canada Day firework show….in Merritt!!!