Back to me

June 1st 2026

"This is more than just a moment" - ¥$

I hope everyone had a great May, it's good to be back! Somehow this transfer is almost over, tomorrow night I'll find out if I'm staying or going. I wouldn't mind staying at all, I like my companion and the pueblo of Guayama needs all the help it can get (se llama el "Pueblo de las Brujas" por una razón, there is darkness here). We also get a new mission president this transfer, he's also from Fairfax, VA so he'll probably be really cool.

This was the highest number of baptisms in one week we have EVER seen in this mission. The work is hastening!

A couple weeks back Elder Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited our mission! 

2/12 collected

Hightlight of the month is when I was formally invited to a freemasonry event (!!) We went to the Masonry Lodge, talked with several members and got to tour the upstairs ritual room or whatever you call it (I was only slightly worried I would be sacrficed). It was surreal. And we had a 17yo Jehovas Witness with us who was playing Fortnite mobile and almost tripped over some of the symbolic props. He was embarassing us in front of the wizards.

Oh, bats.

I love bats, and I have loved bats since before I can remember. To this day, when I see them flying around at night I get super excited. We were exploring a cave and there were dozens of them, it was so cool. They're so weird, just tiny flying dogs that sleep upside down. 

So the other day, when we were talking with some construction workers "fixing" an abandoned building, and one of them came over holding a bat in his gloves, I was thrilled. Then, as I went to pull out my phone to take a video, BOOM he CHUCKS it at the ground and STOMPS it like a bug. So messed up. That night I had to pray extra hard to have love for Borricuas. 

I really do love this place, everyone here is crazy. 

Herb is a new yorican that has mentioned 1. how he was at the world financial center during 9/11 2. how he was a exotic fish smuggler for 30 years, and 3. various interactions he's had with Muslims, every time we talk to him. 

Raymond has no money (he donates plasma 2x a week and thats the extent of his income) but he was telling us how he's gonna buy a $400 Jetski on temu. 

Dali... well, she's crazy too but she crocheted me a tie so I can't complain. Walking areas are so fun, we have so many recurring characters.

Everyday on the mission, my love for the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ grows. This book is the keystone of our religion, meaning the church collapses without it. It's simple: Joseph Smith claimed an angel revealed a ancient record that he translated through the gift and power of God. If he is telling the truth, this is the most important message in the world and this church is the way people gain eternal salvation. 

If Joseph Smith was lying, it's an elobrate hoax and worthless, or worse, satanic in nature. Luckily, Jesus Christ gave some teachings on how to determine if something is demonic. In Matthew 12:24-26, we read of Jesus casting out demons and then being accused of doing so in the name Beelzebub (a title for Satan). 

Jesus responds simply: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation... And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?"

Satan cannot be against himself. The Son of the Living God informs us of this. With that in mind, can a book with quotes such as these possibly be satanic in nature? 

3 Nephi 11: 10-11 "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning."

2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation... a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. God loves us and He has not stopped communicating with us. I'm so grateful to be serving the Lord here in Puerto Rico, helping His children have joy in this life and be able to return to His presence worthily in the next life. I'm also so grateful for the "marvellous work and a wonder" (Isaiah 29:14) of the Book of Mormon and the evidence it provides of Joseph Smith's calling as a prophet of God.

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt” - Shakespeare

Élder Smith