3/3/2013..Humility through trials

Indeed it was a great week. :) It was a little harder than
the past weeks have been. I feel like I am entering a phase of great spiritual growth
but that spiritual growth is also coupled with some pretty good lookin trials.
:) This past week we had three investigators drop us in a sense. Two of them
don't want to get baptized in March, which is when we had their baptismal dates
scheduled. The other one, I'm not so sure about because we haven't been able to
talk to but I don't think she will be baptized in March because she feels
really pressured and doesn't have a lot of support BUT we only talked to the
mom about this so hopefully when we get to talk to her we can at least keep
teaching her and having lessons over at her bishop's house. :) it was kinda
rough. But, Dad's email really tied into what this week has given me.
Sometimes, when you pray for humility and with a desire to grow, Heavenly
Father really lets you have the opportunities where that can be possible, AKA the
trials and tribulations. :) Overall though, it's ok. :) We are still getting by
and we still have another investigator. :) He came to church this past week
too! AND we got to watch Prophet of the Restoration with him and he was crying
a bunch. Tomorrow, we are gonna teach him the Plan of Salvation too. :) It was
kinda funny though because we came over about 30 min before church started and
he didn't know how to tie a tie so I got to help him. We tied the tie and got
all ready to go and it was such a good experience. It was fast and testimony
meeting so that was AWESOME. I really hope he felt the spirit. :) Other than
that, Sister Fica is doing SOOOOOO good. :) She is so happy and just has a new
light about her. :) Also, the Siler's cabin is coming along quite well. It is
really stressing them out but hopefully it will be finished soon. :) We got to
help them move out of their rental and now, they are staying with some member's
in their ward until their house is done. I cannot wait til they get to move in.
It will be such a wonderful relief for them. :) Other than that...... oh! We
had Zone Conference! It was a really really wonderful experience. Lots of good trainings,
lots of good talks and lots of inspiration. Something is out there, Elder
Wootten and I just have to go find it. :) Overall, the week went well. Elder
Wootten is doing awesome, learning more and more each day and I'm learning lots from him as well. :)

2/24/2014..A SPECIAL BAPTISM

Dear, EVERYONE!
My week in review: Alright, it's only fair that I start out the review with Sister Fica's baptism. I don't even know where to start. it was just SO special! We got there early and started filling up the font and then took care of a bunch of stuff THEN they arrived! Taking the pictures was so wonderful and so special! Then, the baptism started. Her granddaughter and daughter in law spoke and there were some musical numbers and THEN, they got ready to head in! Elder Wootton and I got to be the witnesses for the baptism which turned out to be such a tear jerking experience. The spirit was so strong as she entered the water and as she was baptized and came out of the water, it was like we could hear the angels singing in the background! Words cannot describe the joy that filled the room and what a wonderful experience that was. :)
After the baptism we got to go to the Fica's home for lunch as well which was super fun! And THEN, on Sunday, she was confirmed and we got to be in the circle! Man........ it was so good! Her grandson, Zach confirmed her and she told me afterward that it was like the spirit was just filling her up and every word he said rang true for her. It was an honor to be a part of. :) Her whole conversion and the process of her journey toward the church was such a privilege to be a part of and I will NEVER forget it. :) THAT is what the mission is all about. :)

Also, the next best thing is we got to take an incredible man on a Church Tour! If I haven't told you guys  about him already, I apologize! He is in his late 40s and is a teddy bear of a guy! He is 6 ft 3 in and at one point in his life was taking drugs and was drinking quite a bit of alcohol. BUT, since then, he has found God and given all of that up and dedicated himself to following the Savior. He is amazing! AND, he absolutely loves the church! We taught him the Restoration and he just ate it up! Then, we took him on a Church Tour with the Bishop and he told us multiple times about the peace and comfort he was feeling! If all goes well, he will be baptized on March 22nd! I am so excited to continue working with him and see his progress! Also, funny story: Because he is such a big guy and wanted actual church clothes for this coming Sunday, Elder Wooton and I got to go shopping for him at Deseret Industries with a Bishops Order for clothes. Man! It was hard but crazy fun! Turns out, the clothes didn't fit too well so we are going to get him some new stuff! ;) Overall though, he is absolutely amazing and such a good guy, very sensitive to the spirit and very sincere! :)

Overall for the whole week, it was very very incredible. :) A lot of exciting things are happening in the Pocatello 2 area from new people to teach, houses being built and my learning SO much from Elder Wooton. I love this area and I love all of you! Have a fantastic week!!!! :) Talk to ya soon!

Elder Merkley

2/17/2014...My question to Elder Bednar!!!!

2/17/2014
My week is review: Alright, so...... I want to talk about one event this week. :) Easily, one of the most incredible things I have experienced on my mission. :)
 Saturday morning when Elder Bednar came and spoke to the mission. :) Oh my goodness...... it was so incredible. First off, we got to take pictures with him, 5 Zones per picture and that was AWESOME! I can't wait to see that picture! :) Then, we, as reverently as we could, made our way to the Chapel to prepare to have our discussion with him. I read some of his talks that we were assigned to read and looked back and forth between the doors to see when he would walk in mostly. ;) Eventually, he came! It was amazing because we did the same thing the conference center does when the Prophet walks in, we all stood up as he walked up to the podium and then sat down.
We started the meeting off with a song, prayer and then a talk by Sister Brinkerhoff, Sister Bednar, and Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and then.... Elder Bednar spoke. Man of man, it was just amazing! He spoke to eloquently and with the spirit the ENTIRE time! Every single word he spoke kept you RIGHT on the edge of your seat and absolutely captivated you! Also, every phrase spoke right to your heart! Also, he is absolutely hilarious! There was so much laughing going on because he was just so down to earth and he knew how nervous and excited we were. ;) 
Basically, the entire thing as a discussion! He started by asking us questions and we answered em. That was nerve racking but very very good. ;) He expounded so incredibly on every answer too! The way he built and layered everything was a testimony to me that the spirit was guiding his words 100%. :) THEN came the best time of the whole meeting. WE got to ask HIM our questions. There were so many amazing questions asked. Everything from revelation regarding upcoming church events, what it is like to be a part of the preparation of the next president of the Church and how missionary's missions are selected. :)
 I didn't really have a question going in but one hit me while I was sitting down. I even got to ask Elder Bednar my question! When he asked, "What other questions do you have?" I raised my hand and AMAZINGLY, he picked me! He pointed right at me and with my heart racing I was handed the microphone in front of the whole mission and got to ask him, "Elder Bednar, knowing what you know, having learned  what you have learned, what should we do during our decisions right now and in the future to better lead this church, our families and our lives, not necessarily to make it to the quorum of the 12 apostles but to better ourselves?" After I choked my question out, I was able to enter into an incredibly spiritual experience. :) As I listened to Elder Bednar expound and answer my question with such incredible clarity and knowledge, it was as if, everything blurred around Elder Bednar and all I could see was him looking right at me. I'm not even sure if everyone else heard what I heard! He told me incredible things that entered right into my heart. I KNOW that he was speaking by the spirit and speaking things very personal and relevant to me. I KNOW that Elder Bednar is an Apostle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Those 3 to 4 hours last Saturday witnessed that knowledge unto me. We are leaded and guided by absolutely incredible and inspired men THIS DAY. As we heed their council and live in the light that Heavenly Father, through his servants, shines upon us, we will NEVER be lost.


Last Saturday rocked me to my very core and I am so glad that I had that opportunity. :) I love you all so much and hope that you have an absolutely amazing week! :) Talk to ya soon!

02/10/2014..Temple time

Brother and Sister Axline and I right after we did baptisms for the dead at the Idaho Falls Temples

2/10/2014...Happy Valentines Day from Elder Merkley

Happy Valentines Day everyone!! :) Just wanted to share this great
picture with you guys. I know with ALL my heart that when our Heavenly
Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are our own personal
lighthouses, we will never be lost. :) They will always light our way
back to Heaven and take us where we need to go. :) THEIR work is to
bring to pass our Salvation and Eternal Life and they will never fail,
as long as we walk the path we need to walk and follow our Savior. :)
Love you guys!
Elder Merkley

2/10/14..A treadmill and a little dog!!!!

My week in review:
 the weather here..... it was a little chilly for quite a while. It's actually really crazy! There as  crazy drought here and I guess it is still going on BUT 19 stakes across eastern Idaho prayed and fasted for appropriate moisture and we got pounded with snow! Then, we got a whole bunch of rain and now it's about 45-50 degrees outside! Crazy, I know! But, the moral is that fasting and prayer works. :) I know that Heavenly Father will always provide what
we need, we just have to learn to be on the same wavelength as him. :) I was at the Dodges for almost 4 and a half months! It was SO fun! Now I am staying with a family by the name of the Mannings. They have a tiny little black dog AND A TREDMILL!!!!! Oh man, I'm excited! Overall though, they are so nice! They both work in law enforcement and are fantastic.We got to set a baptismal date with a wonderful girl named Isabella! She is 11 I believe and she is really shy but we are going to keep working with her and we are SUPER excited to see where it leads! :)
We have been able to have some absolutely incredible visits with some people by the last name of Curzon. :) He is a wonderful and active member and his wife is a non-member.He is a fantastic man that has been through a lot but just keeps smiling. I know that that is what we need to do. We need to keep smiling even during the trials because we never know who is watching. :)

2/3/2014..Elder Bednar is coming!!!

 2/3/2014

I have a couple of awesome things for ya this week. 

We got to set a baptismal date with a wonderful lady by the name of Tami! Her baptism is scheduled for March 15th and we are so looking forward to working with her! We have an appointment to teach her again tomorrow and are really looking forward to introducing the Plan of Salvation to her. :) She has never before had religion in her life so she has NO pre-conceptions and is very humble. Her husband, who was raised catholic, said, when we invited the both of them to baptized, "I was already baptized." BUT, we are really hoping that through Tami's good example, Frank, her husband will become more interested. :)