December Mission Meetings - Lebanon, Tennessee

Five Weeks in Tennessee - Lebanon, Tennessee

Hello everyone! 

I have now been in Tennessee for almost 5 weeks and time is passing faster and faster. And this area is doing really well right now. 3 weeks ago the ward split in half, creating a Lebanon 1st ward and a Lebanon 3rd ward (Lebanon 2nd is the spanish branch). So Elder Wakefield and I have cut our boundaries in half and are now just focusing on the Lebanon 3rd ward. It was sad to not see a lot of the 1st ward members as often as we did, but this change is for the best, and the members in the 3rd ward are incredible! 

We started having car problems 2 weeks ago, so we got bikes and were on bikes for a few days until the car was fixed. But then, when we got the car, it started having the same problem again just 4 days later. We turned it in again and were on bikes for almost another week. Cars are much more effective for missionary work, and much safer. But I actually loved the bikes! It felt like I was cheating and getting more exercise time each day and it was awesome. We now have a loaner car until transfers (which are next week).

We had zone conference on Wednesday and it was fantastic! President Graham is an incredible leader. There are more people on date for a November baptism than any other month in the history of the mission. After President Graham told us this, he started talking about the need for a temple. They have officially marked a spot for the Knoxville temple and it is going to be incredible! This part of the world is ready to better help people on the other side of the vail. Exciting times in the Tennessee Knoxville mission!

On Saturday, Elder Wakefield, a member friend of ours, and I went to visit a house of someone who had met with missionaries in the past, but due to lack of contact, it was tough to keep teaching her. It had been a few months since anyone had tried so we decided to stop by unexpectedly. The lady we were looking for was not there, but her son in law was. He seemed fairly set in his ways, and while we did tell him about our Church and the Book of Mormon, he felt the need to try and teach us as well. He said that with his non denominational beliefs, and listening to different pastors throughout his life, he has come to the conclusion that we must become 1% better each day. Really nice fellow. As we walked back to the car, we just kept realizing the similarities in the principles he taught and the principles we believe. There are a whole lot of Christians here, and they are such great people. But like President Hinckley said, we are just trying to add to their knowledge. There are a lot of great people everywhere. But this gospel is the next step. And the only way by which we can enter the gate. Everyone can be a great and happy version of themselves. But as I've come to learn, only this gospel, the true and restored gospel, can each individual become the greatest and happiest version of themselves. 

I hope everyone is doing well! I love being a missionary!

Elder McConkie

hyrum.mcconkie@missionary.org

New Missionary Follow-up Meeting - Knoxville, Tennesee

 

October 17, 2022 - Lebanon, Tennessee

First, because this is my first email since the MTC, I gotta start by wrapping that up. I just wanna say thanks to my teachers, my group (both Vietnamese districts) and my comp Elder Crotty. Fantastic people and I love them all. I’m really excited to see everyone again in Vietnam.

I have now been in Lebanon Tennessee for almost 2 weeks and I feel really blessed to be here. To start, I have an amazing trainer named Elder Wakefield. He has only been here 1 transfer and is already training. And due to my super long Vietnamese MTC, he has only been on his mission for 2 weeks longer than me. But let it be known, he is absolutely ready to train and is the best trainer I could’ve asked for and he has a lot to teach me. He knows a bunch about missionary work in Lebanon and missionary work in general. He is super motivated. Really glad I got a great trainer! We had a baptism on Saturday for a lady named Kristine. She has been fully committed and on date since I got here and is wonderful. She seems so happy and has great friends in the ward. Her 2 best friends in the ward are Brother Fowler and Sister Alack. They found Kristine initially and have been in every lesson with her. Us missionaries have come over to teach, but it’s really those 2 friends that taught and helped convert Kristine. This ward is incredibly missionary minded and it helps us out a ton. It has made me more motivated to be more involved with local missionary work for the rest of my life even after the mission. Member missionary work can have a great powerful influence on Gathering Israel. It was a great baptismal service and I’m really happy for Kristine! There are churches EVERYWHERE. And they are all different. Everyone loves Jesus. Everyone loves the Bible. Everyone loves to pray. Everyone loves to go to church. I love the people here. But being around them has strengthened my testimony of the importance of the Book of Mormon. Just the fact that it is true makes the decision of what church to follow so much easier. Being from SLC I didn’t see many other churches. But I can see why in other places of the world like this it is such a common question of what church should I join? Just like Joseph Smith asked. The answer is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Book of Mormon is why. It really is a missionaries best tool for conversion. Our doctrine is what sets us apart from all these churches I have seen here in Lebanon alone and the Book of Mormon is what proves us right. -Elder McConkie

The Vietnam group

Chrysanthimum's baptism

Me with President and Sister Graham

Right after I met Elder Wakefield and found out I was going to Lebanon

Kristines baptism, with Brother Fowler and Sister Alack

Driving down the highway, there are a lot more trees here

How about the Vols! EVERYONE here loves the Vols and so do I. And, clearly, so does this member of the bishopric

Arrival in Tennessee

 

Last Email from Utah - Provo MTC

September 26th, 2022

Hello all!

So, I have been here at the MTC for a good 7 weeks now and don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved my time at the MTC, but it is definitely time to get outta here. I have 1 more week until I go to my new temporary reassignment while I wait for my VISA. Knoxville Tennessee here I come! The VISAs for Vietnamese missionaries are really slow and it’s looking like a 4-6 month wait. I love Vietnam and still feel like that is my place. But a few months in Tennessee will be awesome. I’m really excited to meet the Grahams (mission leaders) and be in the field!

Due to the extended stay at the MTC with the reassignments we will not have our Vietnamese teachers for the last week. GREAT TEACHERS! Sister Burden and Brother Richards have done a fantastic job getting us all as ready for the field as we could be.I’m gonna miss them. The only way I can repay them and all of you that I love is to go serve with all I’ve got.

Conference this week, lets goooooooooooooo! conference is 10x more exciting as a missionary. I’m excited for everyone to speak but I got a couple that I’m really pumped for. I call it my conference mount rushmore. The 4 speakers I’m really excited to hear: President Nelson, President Eyering, Elder Morrison, and of course, Elder McConkie. What a blessing it is to be able to hear from these legendary servants!

I hope yours all doing well, I am praying for everyone. And I can feel your prayers too! I am happy and learning lots. Something to pray for: All VISAs of every Vietnamese missionary waiting to go to Vietnam.

I love being a missionary!

-Elder McConkie