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