Week 102 - Perth, Western Australia - August 7, 2017 - Final letter

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; 2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; 3 And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one—4 The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men. 5 I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest .6 And John saw and bore record of the fulness of my glory, and the fulness of John’s record is hereafter to be revealed. 7 And he bore record, saying: I saw his glory, that he was in the beginning, before the world was; 8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation—9 The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men. 10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him. 11 And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. 12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; 13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; 14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first. 15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son. 16 And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; 17 And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him. 18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John. 19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. 20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace. 21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; 22 And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn. 23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth; 24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;

D&C 93: 1-24

As my mission Comes to a close my Heart is filled with Gratitude to my Family, Friends, and My loving Father in heaven. I just wish to leave my Testimony with you in the effort to build Your Faith in some small way.

If you had the patience to read Those verses pasted above you became a witness to one of the greatest Revelations given to man in the History of this world. I have found few places in scripture where so much absolutely essential  truth is packed into a few paragraphs...

I love the whole Section, But I want to focus our attention on the first verse.Without drawing attention to myself and in an effort to build Faith I want you all to know In my own small and weak way I have Forsaken all these past two years to come unto Christ...all of my sins, hobbies, family, and life. I have called on His name day and night in effort to bless these people. I have been called to serve...and in a desperation to receive more of his strength in my life to change, grow, and become who He needs me to become. I have tried my best to Obey his voice in all things, there has been no companionship I have treasured more than the constant presence of the Holy Ghost. I have studied the scriptures to Learn God's every command and it has been the greatest desire of my heart to obey his commandments. In weakness I pursued this every day for 2 years...

As a result, in Humility I Bear Witness Of The Redeemer of the World, Jesus Christ The Son of God. I am A Witness of Him and His Reality. I know for a surety that He lives, He is the Light of my life, He is my support and my strength, He is my master, Savior, and King. There is no greater desire in my heart than to submit my life, my will, my desires, and my strength to Him. This is his work, This is His church.

How could I know such things??? Why would I give my life serving some imaginary being who lived 2,000 years ago? Why do I feel this way? Why am I so sure? Could anyone really know these things? Maybe you could believe them, but knowing is a whole different story right?

I witness of The reality of the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost. He who has given me utterance in the face of evil. He who in the quiet darkness of the night has filled my heart with a peace that truly surpasses all understanding. He who has has been sent by the Father to fill the hearts of these people that I have taught for 2 years. His Role is to witness of all Truth, and fundamentally to testify of the Reality of the Father and the Son. There is no other way...anyone who forsakes all and comes unto Christ will be filled with the Holy Ghost. Their doubts and questions will be like smoke in the wind. There are no secrets, there are no shortcuts...I know of these things...

Lastly I testify of God the Father, He who is the great Author of the Plan of Salvation...It was by His power that His son Jesus Christ accomplished the Atonement although it was Christ alone who shouldered our Salvation. I know of his Forgiveness, endless compassion and mercy...His Love is perfect. Those who are begotten through Christ will be partakers of his incomprehensible Glory. I stand assured that God has heard my every prayer and that my faith in every case cannot go unanswered. He never gives up on us, He sees the entirety of our eternities and he desires to lead and guide our lives to the extent that we will let Him. He is my Father, I am his Son. These simple statements are the foundation of my Testimony. Within each one of us is planted the seed of Godhood....Our life has a direct purpose We are children of the King of the universe, joint heirs with Christ promised if we will obey all that the Father has. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith is one of my mortal heros. I will relentlessly defend his name and thank God for his life and all that he gave. The Book of Mormon is truer than true...I do not know how anyone could deny that book after careful study and prayer...

I am a weak Son of God, but in His strength I Know I can do all things. 

Serving the Savior Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father for 2 years has been a great start! I am determined to continue to accomplish Their will. I have loved being a missionary, the best decision I have made thus far...It has truly been in the furnace of affliction that my testimony has been built. 

I love you all! See you very soon!

-Elder Cordner

Week 101 - Perth, Western Australia - August 1, 2017 - Malo

HI:) I'll just write a short little email today since i'll write a little bit of a longer one on Monday for my last...Crazy it still hasn't sunk in at all....

Well this week has been really good just still smashing it out. Idk if i told you about R who came to church last week? The 29 year old??? Well she is doing really good. She came to church again and we are seeing her tonight with a young couple in our ward. It's gonna be really good....Probably gonna put her on date...

We've also just been doing a few things to get ready for the next assistant and I am trying to teach Elder Tahere everything about the complexities of transfers before he has to deal with it on his own. haha! It's pretty hectic here on transfers because we have a lot of missionaries coming in on planes, trains, and buses from all around WA....which is like 3/4 the size of Brazil haha!

I'm soaking it in out here!!! I love you all! Talk to you again on Monday! 

Elder Cordner

Week 100 - Perth, Western Australia - July 24, 2017 - Utter Miracles

This week was SICKKKK! as in super cool! We did a lot of contacting in the city this week and it paid off...We had a 29 year old girl just walk up to church yesterday...We were quite surprised because she came in a super nice car and she looked like she was quite wealthy ha! I have never seen such a thing on my mission! She just walked up to us and said "Ya i was just looking at the card you gave me with this address and I just decided I would come". haha I'll be honest I was so baffled I didn't really know what to say but we quickly got her some fellowship and she went in and sat down...Such a miracle...She is going with some YSA girls to some event in the city and we are meeting with her to teach! 

J, the University student, is on date to be baptized....I can't even begin to explain to you over email the change that has occurred in this man's heart....When we first met him there could not be a more cynical, Logical, Scientifiically minded person on the planet! He thought Religion was utter Baffunity! Kid you not....He was no where near interested....And now....He is a CONVERTED MAN! When the spirit testifies to people in very personal ways it can be utterly undeniable... Witnessing this change occur so quickly in him has been so incredible...I will never doubt again that God can change ANY heart.

Well I got summoned to the pulpit yesterday to Give a little bit of a farewell talk/testimony...The spirit was so powerful as I looked out on these people I have grown to absolutely love....I just expressed my love for them and who they are...I shared some things that I have learned from The people in WA and how much it has impacted my life...And of course being a missionary I took the opportunity to Teach our investigators over the pulpit...and leave my testimony of this restored Gospel and of the Savior Jesus Christ. It hasn't sunk in at all that this is all quickly coming to a close. It still feels like I have ages to go out here....I'm just gonna really enjoy these last few weeks and try to help each person I meet and talk to- to feel the Love of Christ through me.

We are also teaching this man named V..IDK if I've told you about him...Anyways his story is too long to share over email but he wants to be baptized in Utah soon...Ask me about him when I see you guys in person haha!

I have never seen so many Miracles on my mission....I know it hasn't been because of something I have done...or somehow earned...But God in his infinite wisdom, Love, and compassion has allowed me to play a small part in helping a few of his children to feel of His great love.

I absolutely know that this work is true as true can be. Everything else in my life is sporadic and inconsistent...Nothing but the Gospel can bring Lasting peace, confidence, and fulfillment. I testify of the Power of the Holy Ghost, each on of us can Grow in the companionship of the Holy Ghost until we can live in its Fullness. We are so blessed to have these truths! Just begin to think of what is expected of us! My overarching purpose of my life is to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to stand as a witness of Him at all times, in all things, and in all places until death.This isn't blind following, This is a higher level of understanding...If each one of us could see at this moment what God wants to eventually give us....and then to think that at times we prefer the things of the world, sin, and appeasing our natural man in the short term over what He is pleading for us to accept. Lets set our eyes a little higher, Let us choose the Harder right instead of the easier wrong...For  it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

Always remember-

19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

When we are not choosing to actively draw nearer to the Savior we are unconsciously choosing to walk away from Him. 

I am so weak. The mission will bring right to the surface all of your weaknesses...But I choose daily to repent, to put off the natural man and little by little to become more like Christ through the power only He possesses. The Lord is the constant in my Life! I love Him. 

Elder Cordner 

Week 99 - Perth, Western Australia - July 17, 2017 - My Family!

I love reading all about what's going on over in your new home! I'm sorry my letters aren't as exciting! 

M got baptized this week! It was really good - pretty good member support. It was a good service! We invited one of the members from Zimbabwe to speak on the Holy Ghost and it was powerful...He talked about a tragic car accident in his family that killed several of his siblings, but that He Knew he felt the comfort and strength given by the Holy Ghost...It was powerful. 

Several of the converts I have had on my mission have come from just the most difficult circumstances...M has Lost several children due to the Civil war in Sudan...She has had countless tragedies in her life. Things that could easily justify just giving up and forsaking her Faith...It's very inspiring and humbling to witness the pure Faith of these people!

It's been cool teaching this University student that the members have invited us to teach...When we first met with him he was soooo cynical and against Religion...Pretty much the only reason he met with us is because of the respect and love he had for these members....The spirit has utterly softened his heart...While we have been teaching him the spirit has spoken things through me that I didn't even know...He is now very seriously considering being baptized....When the Holy Ghost prompts us to reach out to someone we should never judge them based off our limited knowledge of them...We are not the ones who decide whether or not they are ready...God knows their hearts...And he can work with them more powerfully when we choose to exercise our Faith in their behalf....

I am so grateful for all the unearned and undeserved blessings of my life...As we finished our last zone conference trainings this week and I gave my final testimony i was just overcome with Gratitude...I have so much Love for President and Sister Fife...They have left an engraving in my heart of what a true Disciple of Christ should be...I love them HEAPS! 

President Fife has Raised my expectations for myself and my life...I now understand what God really does expect of us, and That we are here on earth to become like our Father in Heaven...There are  millions and millions of 1 day or one week or one month disciples of Christ around the world...The Greatness of Discipleship is consistency... It also happens to be the only way we can be molded and shaped into who God needs us to become in our lifetime...

Read the previous verses to put it into context:)

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Remember the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a check list, Tick the box experience...The ordinances of the Gospel mean nothing if we are not actively engaged in changing, growing, and becoming...We are here to develop within ourselves the attributes of Christ...Remember Serving others and getting outside ourselves is not something to be begrudgingly endured while in this life till we can at once reside in peace in the celestial Kingdom....Service is the very Work and Glory of God it is the essence and fullness of the Life and Existence He lives...If we are to return to His presence and become like Him then we must Through the Power of The Living Christ change our very Natures till we have become LIKE HIM....that is the purpose of life...and isn't it great to know we don't have to do it alone, because we can't. 

I testify Life has a purpose. God speaks to me every day through the Holy Ghost, He is in the details of our life. What the world around us says or chooses to believe does not change the Truth of God. I am no where near perfect but I do know who I look to for my support, my strength, and my Light. I am nothing without Him, I wouldn't be here without him, I love HIM! 

Have an awesome week!

Elder Cordner 

M's baptism and her son attended.

Week 98 - Perth, Western Australia - July 10, 2017 - Chur Bro

Service Project

I loved seeing the pics of the fam with all the missionaries. It looks like heaps of fun! 

This week was super busy with all the new missionaries coming in...So we were picking up and dropping off and hauling every ones gear in our Trailer....It was alright...Then we did our trainings which went well....This week we'll get to work our area for a few days then we have Zone conferences...my last one:( 

M, from South Sudan is getting baptized on Saturday...She is doing so solid. She has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Prophet Joseph Smith. It's been so fun teaching her. She is so hilarious....She calls us her Children...She had to be interviewed by one of President's Counselors because after she got married her husband decided to have a few more wives....The Interview went good tho so it's on for Saturday!

I love Alma chapter 31...It contains Alma's prayer to the Lord after the attempt to reclaim the Apostate Zoramites...Sometimes our prayers can become quite selfish and self centered but if we make a little change in our words which Alma shows us it makes all the difference. 

35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.

We Plead for strength and help to change and grow. We plead for power and wisdom SO THAT, we can serve and lift and strengthen those around us....

I have found that when my prayers become too self centered that communion with God seems to be distant  and I struggle to discern His voice, but when i have made this small change, it has made all the difference...

God hears and answers our prayers. There is no doubt in my mind...

I love you guys:) Have fun this week:)

Elder CORDNER 

M, getting baptized Saturday!!

Week 97 - Perth, Western Australia - July 3, 2017 - Tree of Life

YO! It's been "cool as" seeing all the pics and hearing from my Missionary Family!!! What an adventure! I loved the vid of the monkeys Kenzie sent! What a new Existence! And King Louie was telling me how hectic it is..flipppppp crazy....

This week we have seen the Lord's hand in the work big time....Well I guess first off I'll tell you about the guy with the Tree of life dream...So we are working with this member in our area and we got him to go and talk to one of his friends who is Islam about our church....Which he did, several times...He taught him about the restoration and about the Book of Mormon...Not in detail tho...and his friend who's name is S never accepted a Book of Mormon...Keep in mind all the while this member's family and us have been praying for S....So Brother Martin goes over to S's house to see what he is up to and S just pulls him aside and real serious says "Do you believe in visions?" and Brother Martins says "Of Course we believe. God can speak to us in that way" well S then describes this full blown vision he had the day before which perfectly described the Tree of Life....We met with Brother Martin and S the other day to teach him...He was very intrigued with the Book of Mormon and the Story of Lehi's dream but he wasn't just fully on the spot ready to abandon his Muslim Faith....We are still working with him...super cool miracle tho....

We also had this guy referred from one of President Fife's friends back home who used to be a Mission President in Brisbane. His name is V and he is From Chile...anyways this guy came to church yesterday, Apparently he already knows the church is true...it's a super long story about random scenarios that lead him to Utah where he attended church and gained a Testimony. For some reason, ever since he has been in Aussie he hasn't come to church. Tonight we are having dinner at Pres Fife's House and teaching him so that should be a power house lesson....

I got 6 more weeks to Burn the Gas tanks...I am finishing as assistant, which I think will be good. I will still have to give heaps of trainings and all that stuff so I think it will keep me focused!

What a blessing to serve our Master...All at the same time - just in different ways! 

Love you guys!

Elder Cordner

Elder Tahere 

Elder Cordner holding a jellyfish.

Week 96 - Perth, Western Australia - June 22, 2017 - All Glory to The Father

HELLO FAMILY! I don't think I can share anything more exciting than all the things I am hearing about back home! I can't wait to hear a little about the MTC experience this next week. I imagine it will be a few days packed with the Power of the Spirit and hearing the testimonies of General Authorities and Apostles? And what an amazing experience - the whole family gets to go into Elder Christofferson's office and witness Dad getting set apart...What a blessing!

This week has been packed with miracles! Do you remember the part member family from New Zealand we have been teaching?? Well A the 18 year old girl is getting baptized Saturday...She is so solid and ready. Her family has been a really good support and they are all back active in the church and working back towards the Temple as a result....And to think all of this has happened because 2 months ago we chose to follow the very still small voice of the spirit to visit this particular family on the ward list that we had never heard of before....This is God's work. 

And 2 weeks later on the 8th of July we have 2 more baptisms....One of them is named P from Malaysia. He has been praying in front of the LDS temple here in Perth every morning for 10 years....Well he has recently hit a rough patch in life and was searching for God....An old Samoan man in our ward followed the Spirit and offered to help this man....This has led to us having lessons with him and P coming to church this last week...The spirit can change peoples thoughts, opinions, and Hearts in the blink of an eye....P felt the Spirit at church and is now keen city!! 

And of course, M is still doing well. She loved church and is looking forward to her baptism! 

We are seeing the blessings of God in the work....I know that this is the work of God and not of man....In the process of saving His children, God is also building us! I love the mission! I love Australia!!! 

My prayers will be with you this week mum and dad...But I guess I'll get to email you guys on Monday before you ship out! 

Love you all!

PS. Pray for me! A asked me to baptize her and her full name is literally the longest, hardest thing in the world to pronounce...It takes like 15 seconds to say it even if you know all the proper pronunciation lol! and it's a huge thing in their culture to say all the names properly because each name represents something or someone really important! haha! So hopefully I can get it down and not bring dishonor to her ancestors! 

ELDER CORDNER