Toasty at BYU GAMES!

Kevin went to BYU's homecoming game! One of Steve's hardest thing on his mission is waiting to see if BYU wins their game that week!~

Birthday P-day ( He's 19)

Oct 24, 2016 (Steve's 19th Birthday!1)


This week I got to go on my first exchange to a differetn area. I went to London chinese with 2 chinese Elders, Elder Chu and Elder Mak. Elder Lee came to Tillsonburg with Elder Brand. It was super fun and we got to talk to a bunch of people! They don't have a car so we rode the bus everytwhere and bus contacting is now my new favorite thing in the world! People are totally trapped! and they know they are trapped! I got to have some legitamate religious discussions and share real testimony and experiences with people! It was soooo sweet! and there were a lot of people that were interested! I could see how it would be easy to get frustrated as a language missionary though, because everyone we found outside of 1 person we passed onto other missionaries who will teach them in English. Anyway, it was an absolute blast and I had such a good time! "wo ei jeshu jidu" means I love Jesus Christ and "ni how ma? wo han pang" means hi how are you, I am fat. Both crucial statements to know in mandrin.

     I did have one day I think on Saturday where I was feeling pretty down, and Elder Brand asked me if I was doing okay in companion study and I broke down and started crying and whatnot. Being a missionary is not easy! However, I have been comforted and brought incredible peace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that I could be comforted no other way. I could simply not be a missionary on my own, I just couldn't. But with God I can do all things, I believe in miracles more than ever before.

     We are being led to those who are ready to accept Jesus Christ to any certain extent, adn they are being led to us. I have felt those on the other side of the veil nearer out here than ever before in my life. I know they are involved with this work, and the Holy Ghost is involved with every single aspect of this work.

     I've seen lives changed, I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ truly transforms. I know anyone who truly seeks will eventually be led to the Gospel and thereby the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Today I read in Jesus the Christ where it talks about the great apostacy and how honeslty clear it is that this church is Jesus's church restored to the earth. However, no logical or clear proof would or could ever be more powerful or influential than the truth I know by the power of the Holy Ghost. I love being a missionary!

     Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else doing anything else on my birthday!

#7 P-day in Toronto (Tillsonburg)

October 11, 2016

Steve's p-day was on Tuesday because Toronto's Thanksgiving was on Monday the October 10,2016.
Steve said his knee is doing great. Almost all the swelling is gone, he is till wearing his knee brace. The medical guy there doesn't think Steve needs to see the doctor, so we will keep praying nothing is really wrong!!

The guy on the far right of the picture is Steve's new companion Elder Brand

Thanks for all your prayers for Elder Dixon!!

This week has been another fantastic week!

     We had what's called skills and interviews this week, which is basically zone council, but President and Sister Shields come, give some instruction, and do quarterly interviews with each missionary in the zone! It was sweet! In my interview we talked a lot about BYU football to start ahah. President Shields is a big BYU football fan so that was very fun! He asked if I had any questions, and I had a list so we went through those, and that was pretty much the rest of the interview haha. 

     We're still led to lots of people and are seeing miracles left and right. One of my favorites from this week was we were in an area(I believe by revelation) doing some things and contacting some potentials, ended up staying and knocking some more doors. When we were walking to our car we saw someone in their garage and went and talked to him. He said he had been looking everywhere for a Book of Mormon, bookstores, etc.. He said that his previous boss had said that she based most of the principles of the business off what she had learned from the Book of Mormon and her religion. The business was very successful so he wanted to read the Book! Unfortunetly he works on a boat and is gone for months at a time so I may not see him again, but he is going to read the Book of Mormon and has the missionaries number for when he gets backand I'm sure will want to be baptized!

     Also Reg totally changed and has decided to repent and stop judging others, big change we saw was when we taught the importatnece of the sacrament and invited them to take one thing to church they wanted to "sacrifice" and leave behind. Reg said he would leave behind judging others. President Fisher said he came in early on Sunday and asked if he and President Fisher could start over! It was incredible and my testimony was greatly stregnthened of the power of this message leading unto repentance! We saw him yesterday and he did get a bit offended at church haha, but there is still incredible progress!

     Because it was Thanksgiving we went and said we were "hymning for Thanksgiving" going door to door haha. We said we were singing a hymn of grattitude. I was suprised how many people wouldn't even let us sing them a song! There were some that did though and the spirit was super strong!

     I love being a missionary! I know this message that I am sharing is the most joyous that anyone could be sharing and offering! I know lives change as they turn to Christ, and that any honest seeker who continues seeking will eventually be led to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and thye will want to be baptized and become a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I hope all is still going well! I love and miss you all!

6th P-day (Tillsonburg) New Comp Elder Brand

Monday October 3, 2016



Steve's knee is doing so well they have cancelled his doctor appointment!

He still hasn't played on it so keep praying for him!!

Good bye Elder Johnson, Good luck getting back into life and going home !!

Letter from Steve.....

This week has been incredible. I cannot put into words my love and complete admiration for Elder Brand. The difference in the spirit has been unmistakable and powerful.\

     Tough to say goodbye to Elder Johnson to be sure. He will do great things back home for his family and future family.

     I got to see elder Ward at transfers! Guess why? elder Brand was his trainer!!!! How sweet is that!! I think its' pretty incredible! I also got to see Elder Thiem there which was sweet! Elder Ward is in YSA in Kitchener if I haven't said that before and doing well! Super jealous of the fact that I see cows all the time though haha. 

     District meeting was powerful with elder Brand, like I said, he's incredible.

     Also going to the temple was sweet this week, we got to go for the "Conference trip" but we were out of boundaries so we only got to go since I am being trained and I'm not complaining haha. We got the Saratov approach devil video which was awesome because I have only seen that one one other time. and its' my favorite creation video of all of them.Elder Brand is super spiritual and has some beautiful insights from the Temple and from everything else! I love talking with him about that and we have had many incredible discussions!

     We have seen many miracles, but honestly for me they all come back to Elder Brand and how he lives and works. He exemplifies exact obedience, and always seeking to find ways to live a higher spirit of the law of obedience. For example, we always set new goals and when we read from the white handbook or preach my gospel, we are always setting new ways of applying so that we can become more obedient. Also whenever we are in the apartment eating or at night or in the morning, he makes sure "the district" is always on our DVD player I believe to always keep our minds on the work. He listens so well to me and always tries to incorporate thoughts I have into action as a priority over his own thoughts.

     There is more that he does, but I think that hopefully gives a basic idea, he basically does EVERYTHING that he possibly knows how to do the very best that he knows how to do it. I think he understands what I learned, That we have been given so many resources to missionaries to be successful, and if we just actually do it to the best we can we will find incredible success.

     We have found incredible success. The spirit we carry and I feel throughout the day is undeniable, and very different than before. When we talk to people I can see in their eyes that they feel it like they didn't before. When we seek inspiration on where to go and what to do IT IS ACTUALLY TANGIBLE AND CLEAR. We are actually being led to people that are ready. We have found SO MANY MORE people that are prepared. Initially I was simply amazed at what was happening and thought it was just luck, now I am absolutely completely convinced it is not. Elder Brand is also super loving AND bold in lessons, and contrary to what I thought might happen, people are NEVER offended. In fact, they want to change! I could go on all day, but I won't. I completely believe in obedience like I never have before. I honestly have learned more in this last week from serving with Elder Brand then my first 6 weeks in the field combined.

     Part of the reason I think we have had so much more success, is because Heavenly Father knows that if He sends us to those that are ready they will feel that spirit now. As Elder Arnold said they should feel it on their doorstep just from your fire, I feel that now. He knows that we are ready to actually help those that are ready. Everything has completely changed.

     Conference was incredible. One thing I was really taught by the spirit was how much more I need to use the Book of Mormon and how much I am failing to have total confidence in it. Elder Brand is super big on the Book of Mormon so that won't be a problem and I am super excited! I loved Uchtdorf's opening address, Elder Oak's was one of my favorite's he had ever given, Holland's brought me emotion as usual. This conference though I think I was shedding tears through almost the entirety of every session. We missed a good chunk of Bednar's which was a dagger. But from what we caught I could tell we really missed out. My testimony is stronger than ever that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and He stands at the head. One idea I just remembered that I loved was that people should be invited to be converted to Christ's Gospel, not His church, that will come naturally as they desire to live His Gospel.

      I know that God simply wants us to obey His laws and His commandments the best that we can. And that doesn't mean we can't do that better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today. I know He is so happy with all progress and loves us so much, even when we choose to knowingly disobey. I would write more, this has been my favorite week of my mission, but I just don't have time haha!

Poor Elder Johnson dying at his funeral

So lucky getting to go to the temple with some member of the Branch!

5th P-day Toronto (Tillsonburg)

Steve Said his knee is much better and it will be checked out at the doctor on Oct 7th!
I am scared to death for socialized medicine to diagnose this wrong, but my knee was diagnosed wrong when I was 14 here so maybe not much better. Pray for a miracle that nothing will be seriously wrong with it.

He will be getting a new companion on Wednesday, because Elder Johnson is heading home. His new companion is 6'4, so that should be an interesting combination. Can't wait to see pictures!!;)

Here is the letter from Steve....

This week has been great.

Reg and Margarett have taken to showing us everything they own which is awesome and Reg is softening up a bunch and is not ready to come back to church yet but I bet he will soon.

A picture of some of Reg's stuff he likes to collect

    With Sherry this week was awesome. She is still scared to commit to a baptismal date but totally knows she should and is receiving incredible fellowship from the branch. She even told us in a lesson that we had saved her life, and she knows that it really is God who sent us there. She still thinks a lot of it is just getting her out and being social. But obviously we know that there is a lot more happening than that. She is changing so much! Her daughter had a mental breakdown and is in the hospital which I think will be huge for her, she prayed to be closer to her family and she is getting it! Also we have prayed a bunch and think Conference is going to be where she gets a solid answer. 

    We also met this guy on the street and he was super nice. Homeless with nothing but insisted on buying us Tim Hortons and wanted to know his purpose in life. We told him a bit while walking around town and set up a return appointment which was hard since he's homeless and he didn't show which was too bad, but he was super awesome.

    Also Elder Johnson had his departing interview which from what he said was pretty intense. Elder Bakker was there though cause he has a companion who is dying.(Elder Bakker MTC Farsi speaking). So it was way cool cause I got to talk with him for like 30 minutes. Also I got to talk to Sister Shields a bunch and we talked about traveling and Israel and stuff and it was way fun. I also got to go teaching with one of the Brampton Zone leaders named Elder Taylor, he is super sweet. Unfortunately it fell though but we tracked into some sweet Indian people in Brampton that I'm way excited for him to teach. We slept over at the mansion that night and got to see how that works when not many people are there. The assistants(Elder Holt and Carrol) and the Brampton zone leaders(Elder Flake and Elder Taylor) are the two companion ships who live there. I got to talk with all them a bunch and ask what they would do if they were starting again differently. It was sweet and you can just feel their power just like with Elder Johnson that you can tell comes from their commitment to their service.

     The temple with Brother Gary Pidgon was phenomenal, and I get to go again for the 6 week  newbies next week before conference which will be awesome! We got the video that I see almost every time and the spirit was so strong. My testimony was greatly strengthened as to how real this Gospel is and that what I am doing has real consequence in these peoples lives and how much I want all of God's family to be in the temple together.

     In church we sang 159 "Now the day is Over" as the final hymn of Elder Johnson's mission church experience. I of course was so happy they chose that classic hymn!

    I know everyone Jesus Christ. I know His restored Gospel is the best way and only way to fully access Him and His Atonement. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary and be offering Jesus Christ as a representative of Jesus Christ every day. I know Him so much better and my relationship with Him and my Heavenly Father is beyond so much deeper than I ever knew it could be. I know God knows me. I know he loves me. I know he loves ALL of His children and has a plan for all of them.

Emailing back and Forth on September 19, 2016

Sorry to hear about the knee still giving you problems. It sounds like you now have the right brace which is great. I would suggest taking it real easy for a while (as long as your medical guy recommended) and not playing sports and give it time to really heal. Certainly, it sounds like walking is good, but just make sure to wear your brace. I know you hate not being able to play and this is a significant trial so remember President Uchtdorf's counsel to "slow down" and don't try to just speed up and get through it. You don't have to be perfectly humble in order to warrant the Lord's blessings or be a successful missionary. None of us are perfect anything so I hope you don't believe you have to be completely humble before being loved and blessed. Just try your best. Can't wait to hear your recordings. Have you got to attend the temple yet in Toronto? If so, did you work in the baptistry or receive an endowment?

I have not gone to the Temple, but this week I get to go to go twice. Once for the 6-week training and temple trip that all missionaries in their first 6 weeks get to go to. And we have a returning member who is receiving his endowment on Saturday and we get to go with him for that. We don't get to participate in any ordinances in the font because water, could do other stuff though. I think that both the trips this week will be recieving enddowment ordinances .

Ok I'm not liking this medical guy very much, did your knee feel like if popped again? I would really like you to go have it checked by a real orthopedic doctor , didn't he come and see you and look at your knee and brace and see if you have torn the ligament? Is it al swelled up again


Haha, you can call to get all the details if you want, this is the first time he had seen my knee brace though.
He had me on Tylonol extra strength but I rarely take that now because it doesn't really hurt, not too swollen but the swelling has never really went away, which he said is because it is healing so that's normal. He did look at it after you talked to him but I couldn't find my brace that morning cause their was loads of comotion at "The mansion" because of Elder Arnold. Anyway he got me a great brace now and you should probably like him because he is a super nice guy.

4th P-day in Toronto (Tillsonburg)

This week has been pretty sweet!

     I'm bummed to hear about BYU. It's probably good i'm here and not there being infinetly frustrated with the decision to play Taysom rather than Tanner. I of course have thought since Taysom's announcement of playing this year that Tanner would probably be the better option. Oh well. I'm glad Kalani is saying the right things I guess, I'd rather have him play the right players. Like I said, probably good that I'm out here instead of back there.

     At sports last week I messed up my knee again. That was great. The next day we went to Brampton and Elder Cannon looked at the brace I had and said that's not what he meant at all. That was fun. We went shopping with him and he got me a hefty brace and says, "Be wise, what can I say more?" about what to do on it. I won't be playing sports on it for at least 3 weeks to be safe. Anyways that has been fun.

     We have had some pretty great Branch involvement and our investigators are really starting to feel very welcomed and loved at church and at other activities that they are being invited to and coming to.

     I was pretty emotionally and physically tired at the start of the week and I'm crediting my knee for that.

     We did some service on Thursday for some members which was fun.

     We had my first zone council this week! It was super sweet! The spirit was super strong and I think the individual preparations of the zone. One piece of personal revelation I recieved was that I can be obedient with the right spirit and attitude of love for God while still not being absolutely enthusiastic and bursting with optimism, as well as even thinking that I don't want to do it. The perfect example of this of course is Jesus Christ, who was outwardly weighed down by sorrow through different parts of His ministry and especially while performing the Atoning sacrifice, and He even asked to have the cup removed, he didn't want to do it. Yet He did, and of course we know He did it out of a perfect love for us and for our Heavenly Father. It brings me great comfort to know that it is okay if I don't absolutely want to do this work everyday, and that I can still serve for the right reasons in the right way.

     There was lots of great instruction given, and I felt the spirit very strongly throughout the entire 3 hours. Probably my favorite part was testimonies though at the end of the meeting. Elder Johnson bore a very simple, short, yet powerful testimony. It was wonderful. Elder Wehi who I have also grown a great respect for(one of the zone leaders, going home with Elder Johnson and is from Austrailia), gave a beautiful testimony to finish the meeting and said somehting that has really stuck with me. He said that those out in the world without this Gospel are so much more tired than we are. They are tired of not having the truth, tired of not accessing the Atonement, tired of not knowing Jesus Christ, and that we cannot afford to let our tiredness get in the way of them recieving the gift that will stop their tiredness forever. He said he knew that our missions were intended to prepare us to raise an Eternal Family. They were beautiful thoughts in a beautiful testimony.

     I think our talks in Sacrament meeting went well and hopefully will provide some motivation and inspiration to come join this labor of love.

     Something that I have really thought about this week was how I don't know of any other work where there are so many resources available and specific instrustion given than to missionaries to carry out missionary work. On one hand it shows how important missionary work is the Jesus Christ, on the other it shows and tells me that I don't have to re-invent the wheel. I think often times I think that I am the exception or those that we are working with are the exception. This simply isn't true, if we will just follow the pattern that has been so clearly established we will have the most success possible.

     In my studies I have also tried to apply a similar principle. Often studies feel like review because I lack the true humble searching spirit and think that I know enough about these and there isn't much more to find besides small insignificant details. Obviously this is very untrue. to help with this I have been applying one thing from studies each day to do during that day, so far it has been a wonderful experience.

     I know that Jesus Christ is the leader of this church and this work. All of God's children were His and are still His long before and during and after my interactions with them, and He will take care of them. This Gospel becomes very simple if we will honestly trust in God. Trust Him enough to obey without full knowledge, trust Him with our friends, trust Him in difficulties. I know as we trust in God he DELIVERS. Always.