6/27/16 - 10th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: FILL THE FONT!!!

“Ron! How do you feel?” Elder Meline asked the elderly First Nations man as he came up out of the water, baptized by priesthood authority.

There was a silence, as the Spirit bore witness to us all that the baptism had been performed properly to provide a remission of his sins.

“I feel like stayin’ in the water a little more…I feel clean…” he said.

Wow. I couldn’t have had a better week in the mission field. We have worked with Ron for a little less than a month now, and he has progressed in leaps and bounds. Conversion truly is a miracle. I’m so grateful that this gospel is true, and that the Holy Ghost truly teaches and testifies of it with actual Godly power. As we were teaching Ron, he would always remark that he felt a strength building within him that helped him to keep God’s commandments and repent in preparation for his covenant at baptism.

The Spirit that was there at the baptism was so strong. You could feel of God’s love for him. I love this work, and I love the absolute privilege it is to be a part of it, and to be able to feel a fraction of our Father in heaven’s love for each and every one of His children.

We had some incredible experiences this week. Teaching our investigator, Earnest, is just insane. He is so solid and studies the teachings of all the latter-day prophets on his own. He is eating the gospel up like the feast of the Restoration that it is!

We are teaching a man named Carlton, as well, and he is so faith-filled! It’s incredible to me to see what you can learn from the people you teach on your mission. I have been privileged to have met some stellar people here in British Columbia so far, and how grateful I am for all of their examples to me! To those who are reading this and who are some of those people, I commend you for your faith and your devotion to this gospel. I also testify to you that you are on the right path, that the choices you made to be baptized and confirmed a member of the Lord’s true Church is good and right. This is the work of salvation. No matter what trials or challenges we go through, no matter what persecutions arise or doubts surface, just know that this is His work. And “I [the Lord] will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil” (D&C 10:43).

I’ve learned this week just how important it is to always remember the “why” of missionary work and the gospel. To recognize the true purpose behind everything; to bring us unto Christ. I’ve learned the importance of giving everything to the Savior as you do His work. As Bruce R. McConkie said, “We are not as other men. We are the Saints of God and have the revelations of heaven. Where much is given much is expected. We are to put first in our lives the things of His kingdom”. I know that if we give all we have to Him, our will, our desires, our inadequacies, that He will make us into something great. We can all be instruments in His perfect hands to change the lives of those around us. As we nurture our faith, let it mature into charity. Let us turn outward. For “pure Christ-like love flowing from true righteousness can change the world” (Jeffrey R. Holland).

Thank you for your support and devotion to the Master and His gospel.

I know that He lives, and loves each and every one of us, and that He has restored His truth to the earth today. Draw near unto Him, and He will draw near unto you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have an epic week!

Elder Stock

Ron Felix’s baptism!!!

 From left: Elder Stock, Elder Meline, Elder Nakale, and Elder Scully

 #SMS2016

(Stock-Meline-Scully AKA Save-Many-Souls)

The perfect tri-force!!!

(They are standing in this order: Scully, Stock and Meline)

6/20/16 - 9th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: VERN-TASTIC…

“Please bless him to know if these things are really true,” Elder Scully said as he finished his prayer at the beginning of their lesson with Earnest. After he said amen, there was a silence as the Spirit distilled upon them all.

“Well, it’s not an issue of ‘if it’s true’…rather, it’s an issue of, ‘if you’re ready for a long-haired guy to join your group’…” he said in response…

To which Elder Stock grinned from ear to ear.

This is the work of salvation! My week has been fantastic. My testimony that God lives and leads His work today grows deeper and stronger each day. Can I just say that I am grateful to be a missionary and for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ that is available to us all?! Someone told me that what we teach was too good to be true this week. To which I replied, “Yes! It is too good to be true. But that’s the remarkable thing: it is true! In fact, it’s even more than just true, it is life!” At this point on my mission, everything’s going to sound cliché, but that’s the beauty of it, everyone: the gospel is true, our Heavenly Father lives and loves us, and we have the fullness of truth restored to the earth today. You can find it in the pages of the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets of God today!!!

This week, we’ve hit the ground running doing our absolute best to follow the Spirit, be exactly obedient to the commandments and mission rules, and worked with ALL of the time we have in the day. As a result, the Lord is guiding us to people whom He has prepared to receive this restored gospel. It is incredible to see how that works. Our friend, Ron, is planning on getting baptized this weekend and is excited for his big day to make a covenant with God. We are so grateful for him and for God’s hand in his progression. With it being Father’s Day yesterday, I’ve reflected a little on the father figures I’ve had in my life. I’m grateful for my missionary trainer, for my mission president, for my earthly father, and especially for my Heavenly Father, and how they all have helped me in different ways to progress and really grow here on earth and on my mission.

I want to give a shout out to my dad, Anthony Stock! He is incredible, and is such an example to me of hard work, of selfless service, and of perseverance. I’ll never forget the lessons he has taught me, and the gospel conversations we had throughout my life. They’ve helped mold me. Thank you, dad, for everything! And happy Father’s Day!

I know that this work is the Lord’s work, and that there is nothing that is going to stop it. We just need to give of everything we have, and He will show forth His power through us.

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life, that Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness is perfect, that it has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that His infinite and eternal sacrifice can rescue us all. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

Have an awesome week!

Elder Stock

Cherry pickin’…the Okanagan Valley bares fruit at last!

6/13/16 - 8th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: KINGS OF VERNON…

“All right, well we’ve got a dinner appointment out there in Armstrong, so maybe we can just tract on some roads on the way out there?” Elder Stock brainstormed with his companion, Elder Meline as they loaded up their scriptures into the Nissan Rogue.

Elder Meline grabbed the map, and pointed to a street. “What about this one?” he asked, pointing to a road out in Armstrong.

“Um…sure, if you’re feeling it.” The two started the drive out to Armstrong, and drove to the street they had picked. Looking around, there was nobody outside the very few houses. “Well, here we are,” Elder Stock sighed.

Elder Meline smiled. “We’re going to find the reason why we were sent here,” he said, and they both walked onto the empty street. After talking to a few people at their door with no luck, they began to wonder if this really was a smart idea to come out on this random street. And then, they saw someone walking their dog along the sidewalk, and immediately came over to her and started talking to her.

Her name was Irene, and she had been going through some hard times with the deaths of some loved ones, and had a lot of questions weighing on her about the life after this one. We were able to testify of the plan of happiness and of the Restoration of Christ’s gospel that allows us to see our loved ones again and to live with them in Heavenly Father’s presence. While she was hesitant to believe in a modern-day prophet, she accepted the invitation to learn more and really wants to know if what we are teaching is true. She’s going to meet with us this week, and as we left her that day, we couldn’t help but realize that that was the reason why God sent us out to Armstrong. He leads His work. He knows His children. We, as His missionaries, are His spiritual search and rescue team.

I’ve learned a lot this week about true charity, and how to really develop that gift from God within ourselves, how to really have a Christ-like love for the people around us. As a missionary, it’s so key. Because the only way to do the Lord’s work is to do it in His way. With love, patience and faith. As a companionship, we have really been focusing this week on giving our hearts to the Lord, and being so exactly obedient, that we receive the blessings of having more people to teach the gospel to. It’s worked. Because it’s a law of heaven. Obey His commandments, and you receive His blessings.

It’s an absolute honor and thrill to teach people the gospel of Jesus Christ. A certain scripture we’ve all heard comes to life when you do. As King Benjamin taught that, “the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man”. I see that as people accept our message and begin to repent and to change their view of God and of themselves and of the world, and truly “becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3:19). I know that this is true. That the gospel of Jesus Christ will change us. He can heal us and redeem us and strengthen us in ways that we didn’t even know were possible.

He lives. I know it. And He wants us to come unto Him. Every day, every hour, just forever… He loves us and will do anything for us, and has done everything for us. This is His Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is at the helm of it, and leads through His prophet, Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon testifies of Him and is the only way that we can truly come to know Him and to know that His kingdom has been restored. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great week!

Elder Stock

My “deep-in-thought-writing-emails” face…

That’s what you get when I neglect my camera for a week.

6/6/16 - 7th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: “MERRITT” BADGE…

“What’s your name, sir? Is this your first time here?” the first counselor in the bishopric asked our new investigator, Ron, as he sat in the priesthood opening exercises for the first time in his life.

“The name’s Ron Felix. And yep, it’s my first time here…” the old man answered in his gray cardigan.

“And why did you end up coming?”

“I don’t know!” he joked. Everyone laughed.

“One of those three young men convinced you, eh?” the bishopric member retorted.

It got quiet after some nervous laughing. Then, Ron turned to everyone, his already crinkled copy of the Book of Mormon clutched in his hands.  “I came here to start to change my life… And it’s working.” 

The Spirit entered the room, and everyone was reminded of the purpose of this Work.

Vernon is incredible. It’s been getting super hot here, lately, but it’s been nice! (I just checked Vernon’s temps and they got up to 97 degrees Fahrenheit – which is pretty hot for them. It’s still hard to feel sorry when we had 117 degrees Fahrenheit in Gilbert!) We had a ward luau this weekend and got to devour two spit-roasted pigs… Talk about feeding a multitude! We have had the opportunity to teach so many of our friends and investigators here this week, and it’s been so great! Elder Scully and I got a new companion this week, and his name is Elder Meline. He’s from Pleasant Grove, UT and is practically a perfect human being. Like the Holy Ghost, he has a cleansing, purifying effect on those around him…so, it’s nice to have him around. He is such a hard worker and is fiercely obedient. So, we get along quite well! We are seeing so many miracles together as a tri and the ward is just so supportive of missionary work here. It’s incredible to see the excitement continuing to build in this great cause that we are a part of.

I love this Work! It all comes down to an invitation that Christ has given us, for He has said, “O all ye that were spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:13).

That’s what it’s all about. Continually coming unto Christ, and being converted to Him and His gospel. Right now, I’m hanging out in Merritt, a super small town by Vernon and Kamloops, with one of my favorite missionaries, Elder McGaughey. It’s been fun…we went by the city hall, and grabbed a city pin to remember the place…I call it my “Merritt” badge… So, if someone could report that to the Boy Scouts organization? I’ll take a silver palm or something in the mail…thanks…

I know that this is the Lord’s work, and that our purpose as missionaries is truly God’s purpose for all of us. He is ever at the helm of His great work, and He is there for us. In our sorrows and in our triumphs, I know He lives, and that He guides His Church today through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. That He speaks to us today through modern revelation. That He has revealed more of His word. As we draw closer to Him through prayerful study of the Book of Mormon, He will draw closer to us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great week!

Elder Stock

My “Merritt” badge….a city pin! :D

 The new tri…with the perfect Elder Meline on the right…

 A creatively decorated map of Vernon…

 Elder McGaughey and I…from the same stake back home in AZ!!!

5/30/16 - 6th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON CAN VAN MISH LYFE: VERN-TASTIC...

"You think we'll get one?" Elder Jenkins asked, staring at the Rugby III flip phone sitting on the elder's dresser. The time was 10:24 pm, 6 minutes 'til bed time.

"Well, all I am saying is that 'tri's' rarely last a transfer, man..." Elder Stock said, writing a whole three lines in his journal and tossing it on the dresser.

"I'm going to Haida Gwaii..." Elder Scully announced...with no authority to do so whatsoever...

A minute passed. The phone lay motionless on the dresser. No noise, no ring, no nothing...

"Well, this is awesome! We defeated the transfer cycle! No more must we suffer under the reign of sudden moving news, no more must we--" Elder Stock's speech was silenced by the ringing of the phone. The room went silent.

And with that, they discovered that Elder Jenkins was going to Abbotsford, and Elder Stock and Elder Scully (the dynamic duo of all time) were staying in Vernon with a new guy. Elder Meline, coming in to help them in their fight for the cause of Christ.

The week's been great. Too many miracles to record in an email, but I have just been struck this week by both the simplicity and power of the doctrine of Christ, His gospel. And how it is truly the only way to salvation through His infinite Atonement. Over my mission thus far, I have felt the power of His gospel affect my life. Having faith in Him and His sacrifice for us, choosing to repent and improve each day, keeping the covenants I have made at baptism and serving others, and enjoying the Spirit's guidance and comfort have truly become a pattern of living for me. 

It's my goal to have the doctrine of Christ written within my heart, infused in the very marrow of my bones, to be my very nature. And I am here on a mission to help others do the same, it is not enough to do this once. We need to be continually partaking of this gospel. And as we do, we will find eternal blessings!

My companions are great and I am excited for a new companion to be with and to be able to do this great work continually. This mission is on fire!!!! This work will roll forth. There ain't no stopping it. I know that God is our Heavenly Father, that He lives and loves us personally and more than we can comprehend. That His plan for us, centered on His Son, Jesus Christ is perfect. And I know that by the power of the Holy Ghost. And I know that even through hard times. He is there for me. And that is why I serve, that is why I do anything in the gospel. To show my love and gratitude to my Savior. This is it, people. This is the truth. The way. The life. We found it and what a blessing that is!

Never forget the Lord's promises to you, for "God is powerful to the fulfilling of all His words. For He will fulfill all His promises which He shall make unto you, for He has fulfilled His promises which He has made unto our fathers" (Alma 37:16-17). He is there. Of this, I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great week!

Elder Stock

"I'M BATMAN, YOU HOSER!"

An antique smart car?

That lazy p-day selfie though!!!

5/25/16 - 5th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: SLAYIN' IN SALMON ARM...

"What is that?" Elder Nelson asked his companion, Elder Pradhan, as they stared into the stormy Okanagan sky. An orange light descended from the clouds. Growing as it came closer towards them...

"Run!" Elder Pradhan yelled, realizing what it was. The two leaped out of the way, and an explosion of fire happened right where they stood. The object that had descended from the sky had landed. In the smoke and rubble stood a mysterious figure. His MEC shoulder bag equipped with extreme proselyting equipment glimmered from the heat of the blast. He slowly turned his head toward them, the hiss of smoke and the crackle of fire was the only noise heard for a mile. 

The elders were stunned. "Who...who are you?" Elder Nelson managed to croak as he crawled away in fear.

The mysterious man smiled coldly. "Stock. Elder Stock."

Alright, alright, this is getting out of hand....I just went on an exchange this week. I thought it would be cooler if I phrased it like that. Instead, it exposed my weirdness. 

Anyways, this week was a blast! So, we have taught some incredible lessons in the last week. Seriously, the Okanagan is so fun! I love being a missionary. It just simply never gets old. We taught a man named Brendon, and during the lesson, my inspired companion Elder Scully just laid out the doctrine of God being our loving Heavenly Father so beautifully and the Spirit was so strong! The Spirit truly is the teacher! Brendon wants to be baptized, now, and is loving what he is learning. 

We taught a woman named Debbie who seriously has been so prepared by God to receive the restored gospel. She told us that she really wants to come closer to Jesus Christ in her life and feels that the Book of Mormon can do that, and is willing to try it out. Golden!

We also found a Russian family that we are teaching now. So, that's incredible. Go ye therefore and teach all nations? Check!

On Sunday, I came up to Salmon Arm to work with and learn from the elders up here in this prime area. We have seen so many miracles! We decided to start calling and texting everyone we could who was saved in their phone or in the area book, and to just see if we couldn't drop by and visit some people and start teaching more! As a result, Heavenly Father blessed us with four new people to teach in that one day. It was insane! 

We did some service for a woman named Dorothy, and taught her about the Book of Mormon and how it can build her faith in Christ. We'll be seeing her again soon. We tracted into a man named Justin who has a huge collection of action figures and movies and video games and is a super fanboy of King Kong... It was a blast getting to know him and to be able to help him understand the message of the Restoration of the gospel. He wants to continue to learn with us!

We also met a man named John out in downtown Salmon Arm. He has been struggling in his life and has done some church hopping, but he just isn't sure where to go. He was interested in meeting with us, and once he found out that there are apostles today led by Jesus Christ just like in the past, he was hooked! And he found the principle of repentance so hopeful. He is praying about the Book of Mormon, and we are going to see him Thursday!

But the miracle of the day came as we felt prompted to go and drop by a less active member of the ward. We went by her home, and her daughter informed us that she wasn't available to meet up. So, instead of running away like chickens with our heads cut off, we decided to find the reason why God had sent us to that area. We started walking toward an apartment complex, and began knocking on its doors. No one was home, and it didn't feel quite right. But we looked behind us and felt strongly that we should knock on the left side of the complex. As we did, we were led to a woman named Nan. She immediately wanted us to teach her, and as we listened to her concerns in life and what she needed and wanted to do. As we did, the Spirit gave us what to say. We testified to her that God is her loving Heavenly Father. That He weeps with her when she suffers and is rejoicing when she does what is right. That we as missionaries were His messengers. That He sent us to her to help her feel of His love. The Spirit testified of that truth so powerfully. She is meeting with us tomorrow to learn how she can come closer to Heavenly Father through His restored gospel.

I'm just astounded that missionary work is so epic. As we do the Lord's work in His way, He will help to see His success. And that is bringing His children unto Him. Helping them to experience His love. 

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, lives and loves each and every one of us. "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for He loveth the world, even that He layeth down His own life that He may draw all men unto Him. Wherefore, He commandeth none that they shall not partake of His salvation..." (2 Nephi 26:24). I know that this is true. That everything He does is for us. They, our Father and His Son, love us. This is Their work. And all They ask of us is to come unto Them and partake of salvation. As missionaries, we come unto Christ, receive His strength and increase in our faith in Him so we can go and do the same to others. 

Be evidence of God's love to someone else this week. The opportunities are there, and He will guide you. You just have to say, "Show me where to go." I know that this Church and this Work are true and everlasting with every fibre of my being. The Restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith is true. The Book of Mormon will guide you to Christ. Can't wait for another great week!!!

Until next time,

Elder Stock

The baptism of Merlina West out in Kamloops! She is so solid!!!

 Canadian hockey legends collection... That's just impressive...

 Me and my boys, Elder Nelson and Elder Pradhan eatin' like kings at a fancy place called Bradbury's... Yum!

5/16/16 - 4th LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: KOOL KIDS IN KAM CITY...

"What is this place?" Elder Stock asked in the back seat of a Nissan Rogue, Carl's Jr. wrappers sprawled across his seat (he cleaned them up later, don't worry). The three missionaries stared out over a vast expanse of desert flavored mountains. In the midst of a valley of them lie a huge city, hidden from the world and the mission. "Is this......?"

"Kamloops...." they all said in unison, stunned at the mystical sight. Smoke curled from chimney-tops and the skyline erupted over a sluggish river called the Thompson that cut through the valley effortlessly. The team descended into the city, soon thrown into the pits of the city centre and fighting through crowds of cars and pedestrians. Their adventure continued as they drove through a labyrinth of suburbia to reach the Church building. There, they found a Frenchman and a supermodel from Las Vegas who also happened to be missionaries like them. Elder Stock burst out of the car, his Carl's Jr. wrappers falling at his feet. The imaginary spurs on his slip-on dress shoes clicked as he swiveled to face the two elders in the parking lot. A rogue street-born bible basher flew toward him. In one punch, he was on the ground with John 3:5 stamped to his forehead. "What's your name, boy?" he asked the supermodel missionary. The sound of wind filled the air in the intense silence. A tumbleweed must have rolled by.
"Elder Anderson.." he spoke back.
"You ready to see miracles?" asked Elder Stock.
"Born ready..."
And with that they were conveyed in the Spirit and teleported from multitude to multitude in the city of Kamloops and preached the gospel to every creature that they could. Needless to say, it was incredible.

In reality, we went on exchange out to Kamloops. It was truly awesome. I absolutely love being a missionary with every fibre of my being. We have been seeing so many miracles here in the Vernon Zone and are grateful each and every day to the Lord for allowing us to be His representatives. This is the Lord's work, and He is ever at the helm of it.

This week, I was interviewed by my beloved mission president, President Burt. It was such a revelatory experience and caused me to rethink my life in a very good way. Needless to say, that man is inspired of God and is called of Him to lead this mission. I know that by the power of the Holy Ghost.

We also had the opportunity to have our zone meeting combined with the Kelowna zone. It was so Spirit-led and I feel that each and every missionary in that chapel could feel the direction that their Father in Heaven wanted them to go in. And that our missionary purpose was more fully engraved upon our hearts as a result of the meeting. We talked a lot about how true conversion is our purpose. How if we are really, truly converted to Jesus Christ and His gospel, then we will fulfill His commission to do His work in His way.

I've learned a lot in my studies this week about personal revelation, as I have literally been given lesson plans from the Holy Ghost himself to deliver to my investigators. I have also learned a lot about the Lord and being a truly converted disciple of Him. And I am always drawn back to Peter, and his example.

In Christ's ministry, He taught that He was the bread of life, that only through Him could we return to the Father. After this sermon, some of His disciples left Him--perhaps not understanding the majesty of His mission, perhaps offended by his boldness--and He turned to the twelve whom He had chosen, and asked, "Will ye also go away?" And then, in a moment of faith and conviction, one of many in Peter's apostolic ministry, he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:67-69).

Are there times in our lives where we are faced with that harrowing question from the Lord? "Will ye also go away?" Does the crowd from the tree of life surging to the great and spacious building ever get to your head? If it does, then turn around. And say with Peter, "thou hast the words of eternal life", and then follow Him. I know that being His disciple is hard, awkward, uncomfortable, and taxing on every part of our heart and soul. But I also know that it is worth it. I know that this Work is eternal, and that our Savior, Jesus Christ lives and loves each of us. That His Atonement is real and can help you. I know that the sacrament is sacred, and that we can find peace with that ordinance each week. This is the Lord's kingdom once again restored to the earth! This is the truth! Let's go proclaim it!

Have a great week, everyone!

Elder Stock

Lazy p-day selfie 'cuz you have no pictures in the week...

 The accounting board at the zone meeting. Let's go baptize!!!