October 15, 2012

It feels so great being a missionary. This really is the greatest time to be in the Lord's service. In whatever way I serve, I am happy just to be a part of the lord's work. President Durrant often sings "I feel so blessed, I feel so blessed, I feel so blessed, because I’ve got the best."   I feel so blessed just to be a missionary, and I feel like I have got the best calling in the world. 

The miracle of this week was a man named Maurice. He takes his son to karate where President Grisel, in the stake presidency is the teacher. The first time Maurice met President Grisel, he could just tell that he was a Christian man that really lived his religion. Just in the first contact with him, Maurice knew there was something different about President Grisel. After talking with him over the course of multiple karate classes, President Grisel talked to him a little about the church and invited him to come a Sunday. President Grisel felt like he scared him away a little, but shortly after that lesson Maurice went online and found mormon.org. He did some studies on that website about the church and requested a missionary visit and a book of Mormon. We went by and taught him Saturday night, him and his wife. What a great family! They are humble, and ready to be taught. After we told President Grisel that we had visited with him he told us that he had been planning on giving Maurice a mormon.org card that week. Maurice beat him to the punch. That is just a powerful lesson that you should always be on top of your game, you never know who it will be, or when it will happen. As members of the church of Jesus Christ, we have a potential to stand as a light in this ever-so-dark world, don't compromise your ability to be a beacon to those who are ready and prepared for the gospel! 

Love, 
Riley Layton

October 8, 2012

What a great opportunity we had this weekend to hear from the prophets, apostles, and other church leaders! Nobody could have watched that conference and not gain a testimony of the reality and truthfulness of the restored gospel. I especially loved how the whole conference was seemingly focused on simple gospel principles; Faith, Repentance, Endurance, Gospel preparation, following spiritual promptings, sharing the gospel. It is a great time now to look back and check ourselves on the gospel principles. Are we going through the motions? Are we distracted by the church activities and caught up in our callings that we have forgotten the real purpose for the church- The atonement of Jesus Christ. This morning in my personal study I was reading in Alma Chapter 25, and in verse 16 it mentions how the law of Moses was not what saved god's children during it's time, but the law of Moses helped produce the faith sufficient for salvation. We may not follow the Law of Moses today, but an underlying theme of that verse still applies. It is not the activities, our callings, or even the church itself that produces salvation, but as we fellowship with the fellow saints, as we give of our time and talents in callings, and as we go to church and renew our covenants that we obtain the faith sufficient to be saved. I thought President Packer's comment was very insightful "Those who have not sinned do not need the atonement." well, who has not sinned? Is there anyone other than Christ? We all need the atonement, and it is through keeping the commandments and church activity that we learn how to have the faith to apply the atonement in our lives. Our savior is mighty and his grace is sufficient. 

After this general conference is a good time to look at ourselves and think of how we can better ourselves in the basics. How can we better build our foundation on the savior and strengthen our faith in him. 
This week has been one that I have truly enjoyed. On Thursday evening, we ate dinner with the Rodgers family. Sister Rodgers son has been somewhat less than active in the church lately, and he is dating a nonmember Charlotte. They both came to church last week, and we invited ourselves to dinner to meet with them. (You can only get away with that as a missionary, ha-ha). At the end of dinner we invited charlotte to take the lessons and she accepted. We are so excited to start teaching her.

Yesterday Brother Davis called us to ask us about our meal calendar. After solidifying a day to feed us at the end of the month, he asked us to pray for their family that they will be able to have someone in their home for us to teach on that day. That is amazing faith, and I know the lord will bless him for his faith and desire to share the gospel.

Life has just been a blast, and I am loving being a missionary, and I am excited for all the 18 year olds (and 19 year olds) that now have the opportunity to go a little younger. It is inspired for sure, and to be honest, I am not sure why it wasn't done sooner; it makes so much more sense! The missionary force in the world is going to receive great growth! 

I love y'all, 
Elder Layton

October 1, 2012

Well, the big news of the week would have to be Elder Christensen's transfer. Late Thursday evening, we were knocking doors and we were walking up the walkway to the last door on the street when one of the president's assistants called, telling Elder Christensen he would be getting transferred to Allen, TX. So the next day at specialized training I bid a sad farewell to Elder Christensen, but a warm welcome to Elder Payne. He is from Las Vegas, Nevada. Elder Christensen and Elder Payne as it turns out were MTC companions. Being with a new companion will bring some new adventures, but I am up for whatever is in store :).

So during the week, before the transfer, Elder Christensen and I were led to about 9 potential investigators. Making our current potential investigator pool about... 22. We are practically spending all our time trying to keep up with all the potential investigators. 

On Wednesday we gave service to a lady that buys properties and rents them out (Billy Rose). She asked us to come by one of her properties to help get it ready for someone to move in. We went by and there was a man that she had hired there (Andre). He told us Miss Rose wanted us to clean the cabinets and make them look presentable. He mixed together some chemicals with water and gave us some rags and set us to work. For about an hour and a half Elder Christensen and I were scrubbing cabinets. Every once in a while we would make a comment about the fumes from the chemicals and how strong they were, and laugh about it. Just as we were finishing up we found out why the fumes were so potent. He had mixed bleach and ammonia. All day we had headaches. We were lucky to not have more than that. Lol.

Sunday at church my testimony of sincere prayer grew. Saturday night I fervently prayed and pleaded with Heavenly Father to guide a nonmember to church. Well, by his good grace a less active member came to church, and guess what! He brought his nonmember girlfriend. Who knows if anything will come of it, but I testify that God does hear and answer prayers. 

Things are going great here in Lufkin, we will be spending much time this week contacting 22 people that showed some interest in the gospel, and hopefully a few of them will progress towards baptism. 
Today, right after we finish emailing, we will be headed to play cards with brother young again. Only this week, he told us he is going to bring his nonmember friend "cowboy". We will pray that all goes well there! 

Hope y'all have a great week!
Elder Riley Layton

June 23, 2012

So this week has been a whirlwind, it went by SO fast!  It was transfer week.  During transfer week, there are always a lot of things to do!  Transfers are a wonderful opportunity to see the Lord's hand in this work. The Lord knows exactly where each missionary needs to get moved to, and who needs to be whose companion, and everything!  As we saw some of the missionaries meet their new companions for the first time, you could see some of them just light up and build a connection right away.  We also got to meet the new missionaries that came into the mission.  What a great group of new missionaries!  We couldn't be more excited for the missionaries that came into the Texas Dallas Mission this week.  It is funny how you can tell right off the bat who of the new missionaries are going to be leaders, who is going to be exactly obedient and who is here in the mission field to serve with all their heart, might, mind and strength.  All of these missionaries that came in could potentially be leaders of the mission and one day will be church leaders.  We are excited to see their growth.  Unfortunately this week we also lost 21 wonderful missionaries.  Three of them are my former companions; Elder McOmber, Elder Johnson and Elder Duke.  They will be missed greatly! 

Last night, Elder Flitton and I had a few minutes before our dinner appointment so we went to knock a street, and before we got out of the car we said a prayer and fervently asked Heavenly Father to lead us to someone who would get baptized, and the second person we talked to, who didn't even live at the house he was at, he was just there re-doing the flooring in the home.  He has been struggling in his life with different things and asked for us to help him.  Was that an answer to our prayers?  I think so!

This week has been so amazing!  We are seeing miracles EVERYDAY! 

Elder Riley J. Layton

Mom, 

So I wanted to tell you that I have been thinking about it, and even if President Durrant asks me to extend, I probably won't accept.  I would much rather go home right on time, when I am supposed to go.  It is weird talking about all this, I still feel like it is forever away, but whenever transfers come and we drive departing missionaries to the airport it kind of sinks in how fast time is flying.  I can't believe this last week I drove Elder McOmber, Elder Johnson, and Elder Duke all to the airport.  It was hard to see them go.  I really am going to miss Elder Duke; he is the best friend I have had in Texas. 

Talking of friends, last night President Durrant called and told us he wanted to go teaching with some missionaries at about seven if any missionaries in the area had teaching appointments.  One of the areas I called was Lake Highlands and Garland 1^st Ward, where I spent about eight months of my mission.  At that moment, they were in the car with Andrew Lucio.  Andrew got baptized right before I got to the area, then Elder Duke and I taught his wife Tiffany.  Well, he got the number from those missionaries and called me while I was still on the phone with them. I was caught a little off guard to hear his voice again on the phone, but he and his wife are going to go through the temple and be sealed in August.  HOW EXCITING!!  I can hardly wait for it.

Well, everything here is great, Elder Flitton and I are loving life and working hard! 
Have you been in touch with any of my friends?  Do you know if kaj got his mission call?  Or if you have any other updates on my friends? 

Hope you have a wonderful week mother, I love you!
-Riley

June 18, 2012

Hey Y'all!

This week has been great!  We were able to be a part of the process of transfers, and that was a very spiritual experience.  We sat in the office with President Durrant, and looked at the transfer board.  First we prayed, and then talked about where missionaries needed to be moved.  As a part of this transfer, some big changes were made in the structure of the mission.  The way things are laid out right now there are 12 stakes in the mission and 15 zones.  There are 30 zone leaders, and 29 district leaders. To put that in perspective, that would be like having 30 stake presidents and 29 bishops.  The issue is that some of the greatest missionaries are currently with other great missionaries, where it would be better to have them out working as district leaders and trainers.  We will be cutting the number of zones in the mission down to 9 so there will be 18 zone leaders and 2-4 district leaders per zone leader companionship.  This is such an exciting change, and President Durrant has been talking about doing it for about 6 months now, and it is great to see it finally in action.  I think this will give the mission a lot of excitement and drive to go out and find the elect children of God who are ready to accept the gospel.  It will be a big change, but definitely for the benefit of all those in the Texas Dallas Mission.  It certainly was a great experience to see the spirit work through President Durrant as he prepared to make these changes.  Along with the transfer changes, Elder Seager, my companion will be getting transferred to Frisco.  He will bless the lives of those around him.  I may have to put him on speed dial so that, undoubtedly, WHEN I get myself in a bind, I can get his advice.  He is a wise missionary, and I have appreciated being his companion.  My new companion is Elder Flitton.  I had the pleasure of going on an exchange with him last week and was very impressed by his work ethic and leadership abilities.  I am excited to be his companion!

This week, we had two potential investigators come to family home evening for the singles ward.  Both of them have come to a few church functions now, and hopefully will come to church tomorrow so we can invite them to take the lessons.  Last night, we got to teach Diane.  Let me tell you what, Diane is a miracle.  She is from china, and has lived in America for 3 years.  Since coming to America she has been introduced to Christianity and is a new Christian.  She moved in with a member of the YSA who has only been a member for 2 months.  So, in her earnest to learn more about Christ, Diane came to church with Katie and has come two weeks in a row now.  Last week when Katie was out of town, Diane called us and asked us to find her a ride to church.  We taught her last night, and it was a wonderful lesson!  The spirit was so strong, and she was very receptive.  She has such a sweet, humble spirit; it will be great to continue teaching her!

Hope Y'all have a wonderful week!
Love,

Riley Layton 

June 9, 2012

We are so fortunate to have a baptism tonight!  We have been looking forward to it all week long!  Jennifer Ramirez has been attending the Dallas YSA 1st ward and is going to be baptized tonight.  What a blessing it will be for her to make a covenant with our Heavenly Father. It is amazing seeing the change in her life and watching her countenance change. 

This past Wednesday we went out to East Texas for specialized training. What was so wonderful about that experience, was how the agenda that had been set got completely changed around.  You could see The Spirit working through President Durrant to teach to the needs of the missionaries in East Texas. We have such a wonderful Mission President and it is great to work with him. 

Love,
Riley Layton

June 2, 2012

Hello Family and Friends,
Another great week in the Texas Dallas mission!  We see miracles everyday! Tuesday a new missionary came into the mission.  His name is Elder Gregersen.  He was somewhat unexpected, but we are glad to have him nonetheless!  We enjoyed an addition to the mission, and we can already tell that he is a born leader.  He came with us to our leadership training on Wednesday, and there he received his companion, Elder Stead.  The leadership training was great; I really do enjoy getting to go to mission meetings and being around the different elders.

So to explain this next picture, early on this week we arrive at home for the evening, and we realize that we have something blocking our door.  A GIANT BOUNCEHOUSE!  Someone had blown up a big bounce house not only in the middle of our apartment complex, but right in front of our door.  Luckily we could get in, but there was something going on all night long.  We are guessing it was a party for a little child in the apartment next to ours, but that is just speculation.  Let’s just say it was not something we expected.  

We are looking forward to this coming week.  Having a baptism is always a highlight.  Jennifer Ramirez in the Dallas YSA 1st Ward is getting baptized next Saturday.  We can hardly wait to see this wonderful ordinance take place!

Elder Layton

Mom, 

I am glad to hear that you had a fairly eventful week. I always enjoy hearing about all of the changes and exciting things happening.

My week was somewhat exciting.  It is just interesting how nothing is EVER boring in the office.  We have always got something interesting going on.  Last week we got information that we would be getting a new missionary in a week’s time, so we picked him up on Tuesday. Then we found out a few days ago that we will be getting another unexpected missionary this coming Tuesday.  We had leadership training this week, and I always enjoy getting to see other missionaries.  I have learned that I am fed energy when I am around big groups of missionaries. It is always a blast, and I really enjoy that! 

I know after years and years of eating junk, you may not believe this, but I have been trying to eat a little healthier.  I had been drinking fruit smoothies every day, but our blender started leaking blackened fruit juice out the bottom.  I feel so much better and cleaner when I eat healthy.  It is great!  I love it.

This coming week I will be having specialized training.  By the way, I have been on my mission for so long and have never been able to distinguish the difference between specialized training and zone conferences.  I just know that zone conference means that lunch is provided. 

 It will be fun heading out to east Texas next week and seeing all of the missionaries there.
Love you mom, hope you have a wonderful week!
Elder Layton