General Conference!

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week was pretty busy with Zone Conference and General Conference, and we're pumped for this coming week!

Monday night we had a lesson with Laura and Ruby. Ruby told us that she is excited for baptism now which is super exciting! We taught them about obeying and honoring the law of the land which was interesting because Laura strongly dislikes the government and our english to spanish translation was creating some confusion as well. But towards the end we were finally able to clearly communicate the principle which was good :)

Tuesday we had zone conference in the city for most of the day which was fun and very instructive. In the evening we ended up going to the church to help set up for a funeral and then afterwards we visited Carl. He's doing a lot better and the only thing holding him back from receiving the priesthood is coffee but he's meeting with his doctor today in order to find an alternative :)

Wednesday was pretty slow. We went to a funeral in the afternoon for a less-active member who lived out by Elk City. I knew him pretty well because we helped him move his daughter to her new home my first week in Clinton. I also visited him in his house a couple of times on exchanges. It was sad to see him go but he lived in a lot of pain and is now at rest. After the funeral we had our last official lesson with Bessie. She has decided not to be baptized. But it was still a really cool and spiritual lesson, one of the best I've had on my mission. Many tears were shed on both sides and I hope and pray that someday she will come to the waters of baptism so that she can receive the full blessings of the gospel and priesthood into her life. In the evening we visited Laura and Ruby and planned out their baptismal service.

Thursday was awesome! We taught one of our new investigators the plan of salvation and set a baptismal date with her! After that we had another lesson with Laura's friend Maria. We read 1 Nephi 1 and she is now a lot more committed and interested in reading and praying more about the Book of Mormon. In the evening we had a member come out teaching with us. Earlier in the day when we were doing weekly planning we felt prompted to change our nightly plans and go visit one of our media referrals who we have had a hard time contacting. So we went there with the member and they invited us in. We were able to teach the whole family the restoration and they seem pretty interested and open :) They were asking some really good questions and so we will see what ends up happening with them.

Friday afternoon was pretty slow. In the evening we visited Bradley and Shyanne and taught them more about the priesthood. After the lesson, Bradley gave us a ride down to Cordell so we could teach Beth. We had a 2 hour lesson in which we covered most of lesson 4, went over the baptismal interview questions, and planned out the baptismal service. Bradley was a super solid member present even though he's not technically a member yet :)

Saturday we were at the church all day watching conference with the other missionaries. The one family who did come to the church made us lunch in between the morning and afternoon sessions which was really nice of them :) Before the priesthood session we had a chili dinner with all the men in the ward, which included a Jalepeno eating contest. So much fun!

Sunday evening we visited Carl and made the programs for Laura, Ruby, and Beth's baptisms :)

Yesterday we went to the city for a zone pday and standard training meeting which was a blast as usual! :) (Hence why I'm finishing emailing on a Tuesday)

So if everything goes as planned, Beth, Laura, and Ruby will all be baptized this Saturday!! So excited for them :)

General Conference was super awesome (as always) and one of my favorite talks was the one by Bonnie L. Oscarson. As missionaries, it's pretty easy to know the gospel. We spend hours studying and teaching it every day. But when we face opposition we're forced to ask ourselves, "I know it but do I really believe it?" Strengthening our conviction, conversion, faith, and testimony is a daily process. We are never safe from opposition until our trial here on Earth is complete. We must choose everyday to believe the gospel and to draw nearer to Christ because if we aren't drawing nearer, we falling farther and farther away (2 Nephi 28:30). This gospel is so true and I don't know what I would do without the fruits of it in my life :)

Well I've got to get going now but I hope y'all have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Larsen

2 Nephi 31:19-20

P.S. We have transfers on April 20 (and I'll probably be leaving Clinton) so if you're going to send me mail, make sure it gets here before that date. The mission office address is

416 SW 79th St Ste 210
Oklahoma City, OK 73139