Elder Jonah Dorrance's Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mission: WEEK TWO WHAT THE

WHOA TIME FLIES

My experience at the mtc is coming to an end and honestly I could not be more excited hahaha. I love my district family and everything but there is also quite a bit that I don't love. Nothing has really changed since my last email. CONFERENCE WAS SO COOL. It was such a different change of perspective to watch conference being a missionary. Even though no news was geared specifically toward missionaries it was still so awesome to see all the changes President Nelson is making. He really is a prophet of God and gets revelation from him every single day. 2 hour church. What? I have dreamed of that since I was like 2! Just kidding it will be cool to have more gospel oriented homes throughout the church. I really liked the analogy that Elder Bednar used in one of his talks of the door. We can't get far in this church relying on just one of the aspects of it. We have to continually use all of them to stay fully converted in his church. That's all I'm gonna say about conference. Mtc food is getting kind of old haha. I got my travel plans I leave the mtc at 5:15 AM on Wednesday the 17th and get to Philadelphia at around 4:23 (two hour difference) it's gonna be so much fun and I'll be able to ride on my first airplane! That will be so fun. I have so much less to talk about this week because so much less has happened. I'll still be in the mtc next Tuesday but I'll be that much closer to leaving!! Yay! Much love and send me mail!

-Elder Dorrance

Elder Jonah Martin Dorrance

Oct 17 PA-PHIL

2005 N 900 E unit 218

Provo IT 84602

The following two pictures are important to our family, the story is in an email Martin sent to Jonah this week. (below)

Martin and JD Brown

Justin Brown

Elder Dorrance,

Background - JD Brown is one of my best friends from high school. Julie Gerrard I have known since the 4th grade at JA Taylor. JD married Julie. Mike Parker, another best friend from HS, married Andrea (Julie's younger sister) I have history with these families. Justin Brown, JD and Julie's son is at the MTC with Jonah. I asked him to stalk Elder Brown and get a picture. attached

Jonah,

I have been thinking back to my baptism and your meeting with JD and Julie's son at the MTC.

You need to understand the importance of the Brown and Gerrard family in my conversion. Yes Elder Brown's dad baptized me and was my escort through the Temple 2 years later and was at my sealing with Mom, but there is more. As a convert to the Church you come in knowing the basics but not everything. A testimony is built of faith and learning. Through your experience you gain a growing testimony of Heavenly Fathers influence in your life and your ability to rely on the Spirit grows. Children use their parents testimony as they grow and rely on their parents testimony that they are doing the right things. Converts with no family in the Church have to go it alone. I had Elder Brown's parents and grand parents (on both sides) to help me when I was first baptized.

Being a convert is hard. You look around at people in Sacrament and wonder how they know it is all true and you still have questions. The Elders in the picture at my baptism were great elders (Smith and Kaufman) but they had to go find others looking for the truth in the gospel and I was by myself at Church. I was on my own and Elder Brown's family was a great part of my success to stay in the Church. My family was not supportive of my decision and I had to decide why I was there after I was baptized and if I should stay.

Would I have fallen away if Elder Brown's family were not there for me? I don't know that would have happened but I was able to grow and become truly converted to the gospel with their help.

Seeing my children go on missions and change the lives of God's children is truly one of life's sweetest blessings. Seeing my life change from my decision to be baptized many years ago and now you are there with Elder Brown adds a sweet symmetry to life and how planting a seed now in your missionary work can really change generations.

The work you are doing is true and worthy of your time and all your efforts. Know Heavenly Father has some of his sweetest blessings for you as you lead out in Missionary work that hopefully someday I can follow you.

Love,

-Dad