Dear ครอบครัาที่รักของผม

How are you guys? Another week down here in Surin. We are approaching the halfway point in this transfer. Crazy how time truly does fly! We are truly having such great times here and the responsibility keeps coming from the mission and from the branch as well. I LOVE it! I LOVE being busy, especially for the Lord. I hope and pray that Heavenly Father will continue to use what He can out of me to help His work progress. I'm not sure if I can offer alot, but I'll certainly try.

I'm so excited for conference! I'm amazed at the many strides the Church is taking to help all of it's members understand and more fully come unto Jesus Christ. If you have any extra time, you should check out this URL: https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/to-sweep-the-earth-as-with-a-flood?lang=eng  It's Elder Bednar sharing exactly what and how we can share things on social media. The work is making HUGE strides.

This week has been a crazy experience to say the least. Last week we had planned to see a less active who works at a hospital as the person who preps people who died at the hospital for burial and things like that. The second time that we went and met with him at his work, we met and started talking with him briefly in his work room. I then glanced over and noticed that there was a dead body next to us that was covered by a blanket. I asked Brother Manoon if that was a real body, and he said it was and he lifted up the blanket to reveal that it truly was a dead body. I was stunned. We didn't really stick around all that much longer after that, but we were able to meet with him again and have some really great lessons. It was a pretty crazy experience, to say the least.

There was another crazy experience this last week as well. Elder Reid and I got done with studies, we started riding our bikes to the church. As soon as I turned a corner from a street by our house, I saw two people run out of a side street up ahead a little ways. One man was chasing after another. I thought to myself, "Oh, they are playing tag." Then I realized that they were both grown men. And then I also realized that one of them was a police officer and he was chasing after a thief. The man ran and ran and almost made it away from the cop, but he tripped and face planted it on some gravel and two police officers ran to him and started kicking him and slapping him on the head. Everyone came out of their houses to watch and the two police officers handcuffed him. I couldn't believe what we had witnessed hahah. Needless to say we had a crazy week. 

We had a week full of miracles as well! One of our investigators is preparing to get baptized This upcoming Sunday. His name is Brother Mo and is 17 years old. He is really a funny and smart kid. Keep him in your prayers as the adversary might try to thwart him this week. We also had someone randomly call us on Friday who wanted to come to the church, but told us he would come on Sunday. We called him again to come and he showed up. His name is Brother Joe, who is a sailor but wants to know about Jesus Christ and wants to get baptized. Please keep him in your prayers too. He is truly prepared by Heavenly Father. Apparently he was invited a couple months ago by the sister who were here then but didn't have time to come until now. God works in mysterious wondrous ways:) 

That's about it for this week. I love you all! Thanks again for the package, I'm sad to say that alot of the candy has been consumed hahah.

I love you guys,

Elder Tanner

PS - This picture is of our Ugly Thai Day at district meeting last Tuesday. I hope you enjoy:)

Hello Family!

It is so awesome to see pictures of little Finn and Sean and Jaimie. It is just SO exciting to see all these changes going on in the family! 

I heard that Hayley had a bit of a fall at a gas station the other day. What happened? It sounds like she is doing okay now.

Regarding the Thai girls, the APs texted us last Tuesday and told us that they talked with President Senior and they all agreed that it would be best if Elder Tamang and I follow up taught them and help them get baptized. So yesterday around 6:00 pm we were able to Skype with Sister Nalin. She is SUPER NICE! She showed me a picture of something that you guys sent her with dad and mom and finn in the picture. It was the first picture I had seen of him outside the hospital. She loves you guys so much! We got talking about you guys and she started crying alittle bit. She misses you guys alot. She told us that she didn't have alot of time on Sunday to go to church. In Asoke, the meetings for Thais start1:00 pm and that's when she special tutors, but we told her about the farang ward that starts at 9:00 am and that she could go to that ward when she's not free to goat 1:00 for the time being. She was super happy again. She said she loved going to church every week with you guys and she said that she still really wants to get baptized. Keep praying for her. We are going to Skype her again thisnext Thursday.

This week we were able to see a baptism! There was Sister Mapang and Brother Manat who were baptized. We saw so many miracles with these two, especially Bro. Manat. Bro. Manat has been a Buddhist teacher for over 40 years. He first met with us because he wanted to learn english at first. As we started reviewing the commandments, he started realizing that he must repent. Over the course of the three weeks that we knew him, he was able to repent of sins that he had done and turn to know Jesus Christ. It was SO amazing watching this man who had taught religion alot of his years, come to know and accept that Jesus is the Christ and that he can really be cleansed from his sins -- every single one of them. We all can have experiences like this, we just need to open our mouths and share what we know:) I love being a missionary!

I hope everything is going well work and with the family. I love you guys alot!

Love,

Elder Tanner

Hello hello,

It sure sounds like this week has been a great one! BASEcamp is BOOMING and blessing lives of many! How are we almost in August?? Where has the time gone?

I am glad to hear that you got to meet up with the Santana's again as well. How I love them. I remember all the times where we would go over to their house for parties and how they were just family to us. They also gave us those great Root Beer mugs that we always used for Root Beer floats. Haha great memories. 

Happy happy Birthday Dad!!! What have you guys done for it? Eat any chocolate cake? I had an opportunity to talk with Nalin this past week on Facebook and she said she misses your chocolate cake the most! Hahaha I told her that I felt the same way:) They miss you guys alot.

Transfers are coming up again! I have a friend who is coming into the mission this upcoming transfer. I don't know if you remember Tessa Hermann or not, but she will be coming in with the Elders and Sisters this transfer and there will be another friend coming in December. We are being blessed.

This week we had a new investigator come in to the church. We were starting to teach her and she said something really interesting. She said she was given a Bible about 10 years ago, loved reading it and wanted to change, wanted to follow Jesus Christ, but when she went to go investigate churches, she found a lot of different sects all saying that they had the truth and they were the right church. She was very very confused. (Does this sound familiar? Like Joseph Smith?) But instead of prayer for an answer like Joseph Smith, she forgot about the whole thing and dismissed it as just a different feeling. As we were teaching her the whole time I was silently praying to Heavenly Father, thanking Him for the fullness of the gospel that we now have on Earth. She then asked, "What really is Christianity? Where is the truth?" I was overjoyed and humbled as I said, "We have the answer that you are looking for." My companion Elder Tamang bore a beautiful testimony about the apostasy and about the Book of Mormon. It just strikes me how interesting it is that how clearly you can see the Lord's hand in people's lives. She has been clearly prepared since 10 years ago and beyond that to come and find the truthfulness about Joseph Smith, The First Vision and about the Book of Mormon. I know these things are true, not because I believe other people, but because I've prayed personally about them. Anyone can receive an answer. That's the best part about it:)

How is Sean and Jaimie and Finn doing? Have you gotten to go see them?

Love you all so much! 

Elder Tanner

สวสดีครับ

I almost fell out of my seat here in at the internet cafe when I got news that Sean and Jaimie and baby Finn are all together now. Hahaha I can't even believe that! When I get back, he's going to be already so old! That's incredible! How is Jaimie doing? I hope they are all so great! It's so crazy to welcome a new member into our family:) Hahah I remember Drew would talk about this time when he was on his mission, and now I'm now on mine and it's happened. I'm just thankful I didn't have to wait til a skype or phone call to find out that they had a baby like Sean was planning for Drew when Drew was on his mission;) 

I'm super excited for BASEcamp as well. It sounds like it has turned it to a family operatoin -- the whole family is putting their ideas to make it the best it can be. I'm super excited to hear about what happens this next couple of weeks. I am also very excited for Jane and Nalin. I followed up with Elder Wilson again and he said that they had planned to go to church, but at the last minute called and said they couldn't go this week. I feel this is just another way Heavenly Father is allowing us to show our faith in Him:) He definitely has a plan for the two of them, and I was able to find them on Facebook. Elder Wilson told me he would be striving to pay closer attention to them this next week:) Please continue to pray for the missionaries, the members and Sister Jane and Sister Nalin. I'm very excited for them.

We have been seeing more and more miracles from Heavenly Father as well. About 2 weeks ago we were inviting at Big C. We ran into a boy about 19 years old who immediately expressed interest in coming into the church and learning about Jesus Christ. He said he had been smoking and wanted to stop smoking. The first time we met with him we talked with him about smoking, about the healing power of the Atonement and the power that it had in our own lives. He really took it to heart and pondered the things which we talked about. The spirit touched him deeply that he didn't want to leave the church. The next time we met he told us that he cut down on smoking from 4-5 cigarettes to about 1 or 2 a day and soon quick before his baptism. This last Sunday we were able to see him get baptized, and right before the program was about to start he told me he wanted to give me something. He pulled out from his pocket the last box of cigarettes that he had at his house. He told me that he would never buy a pack of those things ever again. That is what I call true repentance and humility. How blessed are we to get front row seats to see the hand of God! I know without a doubt in my mind that it was Heavenly Father who helped this boy turn from a rugged life into a chance to have a clean slate. The power of the Atonement is real. No 19/20 year old boys could change someone like that. It is solely that power of our Heavenly Father who loves each of His children. How blessed are we!

I hope all is well with the family, which it certainly sounds like. I love this mission! I'm thankful for our Heavenly Father.

I love you all!

Elder Tanner

Dear Awesome Family of Mine,

I love love love all of the things that are happening at home and for BASEcamp. You all have me SO excited for BASEcamp even though I haven't been able to attend or even see how it goes. I know it's got to be great and I know that it is inspired of God as well. I love you all. 

I also have some very exciting news. I have seen in the past couple of months how much the Lord has blessed our family with having Jane and Nalin come to our house and grow closer to you all and to come unto Jesus Christ even more. Last week you were able to send me their telephone numbers and addresses. I was able to print those out and hold on to them. You told me in last weeks email that they would be getting back to Thailand about last Tuesday, so I held onto their names and telephone numbers with the intent to send them as referals to the Elders in Bangkok.Tuesday evening came and I had almost forgotten about sending their information until a thought, which I can testify was not my own, reminded me to send their names to the Elders in Bangkok. I was able to send Jane and Nalin's names and telephone numbers to the AP's at our office in Bangkok, in which area Jane and Nalin's houses are both located. I told the APs about the story about these girls kind of coming surprisingly into our house, and coming to know about the gospel. I told them how much they have progressed and basically related to them everything that you guys have told me over these last couple of months. Elder Wilson (Nephew to Elder Wilson who is serving in the 2nd quorum of the Seventy) was the AP that I talked with and said that he would put these two on top priority. This all took place last Tuesday night (7/9). I was able to follow up with Elder Wilson yesterday night (7/13), to see what had happened. Last Thursday (7/10), these two Thai girls were able to meet with the members and missionaries at the Asoke Building in Bangkok for an appointment, they were able to see that the church does not differ from that in America. They made friends with members there and were taught more about Jesus Christ. Apparently they are of similar age to many of the members in the Asoke Ward. They weren't able to come to church this last Sunday but said that next Sundaythey will be able to go to church and are most definitely learning more with the Elders this upcoming week. WHAT EXCITING NEWS! I hope you all know that your work with them has not been lost. They have not lost any fire, and will soon be baptized. I sit here just amazed and grateful beyond measure for a family who opened their mouths to share the gospel, and for a loving Heavenly Father who knows and loves each and every single one of His children, no matter where they live on this planet. I hope that sometime while I'm still a missionary I'll be able to meet them and maybe serve in their area. Please don't stop praying for Jane and Nalin, and the members and missionaries. Miracles will continue to be done on their behalf. 

As a side note, could you send me the names of them on Facebook? I got approval from President Senior that I could facebook with them every once in a while to help them continue on their journey. If you could send that, that would be great!

The Lord is just pouring out his blessings upon us. Yesterday we were able to see two baptisms of 2 16 year old girls. S. Ging and S. Glass are their names and how great are they. Sister Ging has a testimony of Jesus Christ even before she had met with us. She said one day she had a rough time with family, I'm not sure if it was arguing or other things but she just felt so sad. So she decided to go onto YouTube and search about Jesus Christ. What she saw and felt just brought her to tears and she said that she literally felt someone hug her. 5 days after that my companion walked up randomly to them as he had been inviting and asked them if they wanted to go to church. She said, "YES PLEASE!" And the rest is history. Sister Glass was able to bring her two Buddhist parents to her baptism service yesterday and we overheard her father, as we finished singing, "Abide With Me" in the hymn book, he said, "I could sing two more verses of that song!" He really enjoyed it. There was just a special spirit at church yesterday and it was all made possible by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

How I love this work so much! How I love you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Tanner 

Hello ครอบครัวที่รัก,

It sounds like everything is going so great. I love hearing about the struggles and the success with BASEcamp. Without opposition there is no way we could be successful:) I'm glad the Thai girls got to go to the rodeo. Haha I don't think they have anything quite like that here. 

This week I have been learning alot about the role that members really do play in missionary work. If you think about it, even the work that the President of the United States does doesn't even compare to how crucial and important missionary work is. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints puts on us a huge responsibility, because we hold the keys and the knowledge to help others wake up out of their spiritual fog. I have seen it many times on my mission. Some people didn't even know they were searching for Jesus Christ until they had these simple truths explained to them and then they acted upon it. In our Branch here in Thailand I have seen many examples of how important the members are to the work. I'll give you an example. 

We have a member of about 4 months who is named Brother Champion. He helps us teach all of our investigators. We had one particular investigator, Sister D who was having some troubles feeling guilty about past things she had done in her life. Before we had a lesson with this wonderful investigator, I felt prompted to ask Bro. Champion to help us teach her. As the lesson went by and as we talked about the pure power of the Atonement, a sweet spirit fell over the room and soon we were in tears. Bro. Champion shared that he had a friend who had the same problem as Sister D and shared how she came to know, trust and let Jesus Christ help his friend in her life so that she could overcome those problems. We were able to lay our hands upon our investigators head and give her a blessing of comfort and strength. You could literally feel the presence of angels in that room that day. Because of this member, Bro. Champion, a 17 year old, living a worthy life, wanting to share what he knew with others and trusting in the Savior, our investigator Sister D was able to fight, beat and overcome her hardships and temptations and be baptized the next week. That's the power of members in God's work. Heavenly Father needs his members helping in this work. A few days after this miraculous lesson, Champion told me of what the gospel did for him. He said when he was younger he wanted to go get alot of tatoos. His mom told him not to, but he told all his friends that when he was 19, he would get one for sure. And then he met the missionaries and turned his life all around. When we choose to help in the Lord's work, the people we help are blessed, but more often than not, we are the true benefactors of God's work, for our faith, our testimonies and our eyes are cleared to see the real vision of Heavenly Father's plan and work. Sister D, who was baptized soon changed as well. She has helped us teach in lessons with other investigators and has helped others know that the repentance process is REAL. Before she came into our Church, she said she tried all the other churches she could to get the guilt feelings out of her. She said everywhere she went, it didn't help. She felt guilty and in turn went back to her old ways. But when we had that lesson with Champion, everything changed and she became baptized. Just 3 days ago we had a lesson with her and she told us that she had prayed about being a missionary, and she said, "Elder I got an answer, God said I could do it!". Because of Jesus Christ, Sister D went from a person strung with darkness, guilt and shame, to a humble follower of our Savior Jesus Christ who is pure and whole and will serve a mission in the future. I promise there are stories like that for all of us. I promise you that if you help in this work, your life will have more peace, you will see the lives of others change, but most importantly, I testify that you will see your own life change and mold into what Heavenly Father would have you be. "For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) I know He lives! And I know that this is His work.

I love you all so much! This week is transfers, I don't know if I will be moving or not, but I really do love P-Log. I'll let you guys know what happens this next week!

Love ya,

Elder Tanner 

Dear sweet sweet family,

It's good to hear from you all again, and feel of your love. I always get so excited to hear about Jane and Nalin and all the progress that is happening. I'm am praying for them as well. 

It's good to hear that Chris Pratt came over! How was he doing? I hear he is working at the temple as well! That's so great! As always I am so grateful for such a great, loving family.

This week has been a harder week for me dealing with problems with investigators. We are teaching two 17 year old investigators who's names are Brother Ice and Sister Smile. They are both extraordinary people who has seen and received answers that the Church is true through prayer. But the only thing is that their parents don't agree with it yet. We were hoping for them to be able to get baptized this last Saturday, but things fell through. I was crushed because I felt like we had prayed, expected miracles and did all we could, yet we still could not help them get baptized. I don't want them to wait years down the road because the desire might get lost in the world or something like that. So much potential will be lost if they don't get baptized. We are hoping and praying that their parents will open their hearts to the gospel. 

We are also helping an investigator repent of some serious things. We recently found some things out which made my heart drop to the ground. It's incredible what the gospel of Jesus Christ can do, about helping people realize sin, and want to throw it all away. But by also trying to help them, we must help bare the burden which is taxing both spiritually and emotionally. I think of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If it's this hard for me to help someone repent and see their sorrow and pain as they go through it, I can't even imagine what it must have been like for Jesus Christ to take the sin of billions and billions of people who have ever lived on Himself. I just stand in awe as I think about how Jesus Christ loves us so much. I am baffled about why he loves us this much. I have seen more than ever now that this world is a fallen one. The only way we can have hope is through our Savior Jesus Christ.

I love you all, and I hope you have a great next week!

Love,

Elder Tanner

Dearest Family of mine:)

Hello and sorry about writing a day late to you all. I'm hoping I didn't cause any concern or alarm. This pastSunday night we received a call from our Zone Leaders and told us that my companion was transfering to a different area and that we would need to ride the bus down to Bangkok (a 6 hour bus ride) the following day (monday) to be able to make it. So yesterday I spent all day on a bus going to Bangkok and traveling back to Pitsanulok with a new companion arriving here in the middle of the night at like 3 am. It was an interesting adventure, but all is well! My new companion is Elder Tamang from Alpine, Utah. He's a great Elder!

I'm glad you all are not worried about the happenings here in Thailand. There is nothing to worry about. We have been hoping that this turn of events will be able to humble and help people more further come unto Jesus Christ. Nothing major is happening here in Pitsanulok, but it's just interesting to see soldiers with rifles out in the streets and things. I think that this will further help the work of the Lord. Like it says in the scriptures, men's hearts will fail them, but charity never faileth. The work of Jesus Christ will never fail either. 

We a very special blessing last Sunday. There is an Elder currently serving his mission here in Thailand from our branch. Last mother's day he was able to talk with his mother who was not a member on that day. Afterwards, he messaged the Sisters serving here to help get his mother baptized. Through the tender mercies of the Lord, she was able to learn everything to get baptized this last week. But what was even more amazing is that, her son, the elder currently serving came all the way from Roi-Et to baptize her in their home branch. President Senior allowed Elder Oh to come and baptize his mother last Sunday. She had no idea that he was coming until the morning of last Sunday. She came in to church about 5 minutes after the meeting had started and sat in the back. Elder Oh was sitting in the congregation and his mother didn't see him. The second councilor announced to the branch that we would be having a baptism and that we have a very special guest here too that he would like to invite to come bare his testimony. Elder Oh went up to the stand and his mother was just in shock and overjoyed. She is not a woman who usually shows her emotions, but as she was baptized and came out of the water, tears just filled her eyes. It was such a special special baptism. 

I'm so thankful for all of you and for our wonderful family. How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which allows me to have second chances and to feel clean. I am thankful a loving Heavenly Father who loved us so much that He said His Son to die for us so that Elder Oh and his mother could cherish a baptism together. This work is so true. 

I love you all so much!

Elder Tanner

Dear Family,

I LOVED your emails this week! It seems like all is happy and well in Utah! It is very interesting to hear about the events in Russia and Ukraine as well. 

I may have to make this email shorter than usual because my district wants to go to SukoThai today. I'm sorry if it seems a bit rushed. 

This week we had announced to us that we can now start using Facebook! But we are only be able to be friends with members and people here in our Mission boundary. It just goes to show that Heavenly Father is using all resources in preaching the gospel. 

We had MIRACLES here in Pitsanulok. We were able to see 4 baptisms yesterday total as a district. One of which was a Burmese man we have been teaching. He speaks some Thai, but most of our teaching dealt with pictures and drawing on whiteboards to get some of the things across. It was such a spiritual day and this week I have really been understanding more about the word "hope". Alot of the time we have no idea what is going to happen in the future, like for me, I have no idea what I'm going to be in the future or where I'm going to go to college, but the greatest part about the gospel is that we can hope:) We can hope for a better future and leave behind all the rubble and scars from our past because of Him. Hope has helped me overcome some harder things in my life. Sometimes I feel like the only thing I have left is hope. A hope for greener pastures up ahead and a hope for a better life. I think we all naturally have that. And I have seen first hand how hope in Jesus Christ can change us:)

Anyways I'm sorry that this email is rushed. Our bus leaves in 10 minutes. I love you all SO much! Please keep praying for the people in Thailand!

Love,

Elder Tanner

Dear sweet sweet family of mine,

Reading your emails have made me SO excited! You are all so amazing! I am SO excited for these Thai girls and whenever you get those addresses to their houses, I will give them to the missionaires serving there! I'm so excited for them! They are catching it! They are tasting of the fruit like Lehi said. They will soon thirst more and more for it. I am happy to hear that Elder Wright was able to come and help teach as well. He will be very good in knowing about Thai culture and helping them understand more. Heavenly Father is blessing us so much. There is no coincidence that these two Thai girls came to the Tanner home:) I love you guys.

It's crazy to hear that Josh and Kurt are already back home from their missions! Time is flying! Josh was always a super nice person. I remember being fairly new in the priest quorum and him helping me and making me feel welcome, something that the Savior would do. I am also saddened to hear about Nolan and PJ. Do you have Nolan's email address or do you think you could send it to me? I'm not sure if he uses email alot, or if he even remembers me, but I know the Lord could help him out with whatever he is facing. And as for PJ, I remember meeting him in the MTC, he is such an amazing person full of the spirit. I noticed that right off the bat. Mexico needs him for sure. 

I'm glad you all had a great Easter! Songkran was the most crazy thing I have ever experienced. Loud music and tons of people just driving around in trucks and things like that just dumping cold cold water on you. What they do (dad you will most likely remember this) is they put huge backs of ice in big barrels and they drive around the streets and dump it on you. At first I thought you were suppose to avoid the water like in a normal water fight, but here it is the more you get wet, the more it is better for you haha. Very interesting. I'm thinking of bringing that tradition home to the Tanner Family every April;) 

This week we went into Big C, a super market kinda like Walmart here in Thailand. We were drinking some water when a farang guy (foreigner) approached us alittle bit and so we struck up a conversation with him. We started talking to him and found out that he was from Sweden. He then told us that he recognized who we were because he was a former member in our church. We began inquiring more, trying to figure out how much he really knew. He had received the Melchizedek Priesthood, and gotten married in the temple. He had been a clerk for the district over in Sweden. He said that he would work 10 hours a day driving the missionaries around the city and helping them. We asked him how he met the missionaries and he said that his neighbors were members and they had them over for dinner. One night the missionaries came over to his house and he let them in the door. He started learning and read the Book of Mormon in 7 days! We then asked him what had happened and why he stopped going to church. He said that everything just turned upside down. He got wornout and had a mental brakedown at work and soon his marriage failed. He had since gotten a Thai girlfriend who was there with him, but you could just see a light that was out in his face. We told him that he was important to this work and that he needed to go back. We told him that it's not as hard as he thinks it is. We continued talking with him and asked him if he would pray tonight. He said he promised he would and that he told us that he had 3 crates full of priesthood manuals and things in his attic that he couldn't bring himself to throw away. He said he would call and talk with some members so he could return those books. I truly believe that he will return back to church. He first approached us and wanted to let us know who he was. So many people want to come back, they just need a friend to come back to church with. Someone who can lead them through the rough process and answer their questions. I have faith that he when he calls his ward, they will send help for him to return to church. The Lord never forgets about anyone.

Anyways, I will continue to pray for your safety and success and happiness! The Lord is blessing us so much! I love you!

Love love love,

Elder Tanner

Dear Multicultural Family:)

I am so thrilled at the progress of Jane and Nalin! I'm am excited for them to find our churches here in Thailand when they return. It turns out my last area (Pakkred) was pretty close to where they are from, but I'm not sure if they are close to the Asoke Ward or the Pakkred Branch. Either way, they would have missionaries who would love to go and see their families and them when they come back. When are they scheduled to return home?

I'm glad you all are having such a great time. I am so glad Drew had a great birthday as well! I can't believe Ben and Josh are back from their missions already. Thanks mom, for the Grayson's mission address! I have been meaning to write him. 

We are in full fledged Songkran right now here in Thailand. It is so crazy and so fun! Yesterday the holiday started, but we couldn't play because it was Sunday. After watching the first session of conference, we decided to return to our apartment briefly to get some books of Mormon. What a wrong choice that was! Literally everyone and their dog was lined up on the streets with big huge buckets of water, and people were driving around with buckets in the back of trucks and things just drenching everyone. They showed no mercy for us in suits, and by the time we went to our apartment and back to the church, we were dripping wet. So soaked. Today we get to play with the people here which should be fun! Everyone buys these shirts that remind me alot of when we would go to the Lou-ows with the Santanas. They are flowery button-up shirts and are so awesome. We bought some with some water guns and are ready for a splash after we get down emailing here. I'll try sending a picture today or next week to show you the fun!

I LOVED this conference, once again! It's hard to believe that 6 months have gone by since the last one. Where is the time going? I loved the Priesthood session, especially when President Eyring spoke as well. President Eyring talked about being a hero to others. I want to do exactly what he said. I also loved President Monson's talks. I LOVE him. I want to lead my life and be just like him. I can't remember if this story of his was in the Priesthood Session, but he told a story of a plane taking off with 150 people from Alaska going to Washington. When they were in flight the pilot received a message that a small boy had cut his arm and severed an artery in his arm and was bleeding very bad. He was in a small town in Alaska and they would need to have the aircraft carry him to a better hospital. So all the people decided to go and help this boy. When they touched down in this small city, the paramedics told him that he would bleed out before he got to Washington, so they went to a bigger city in Alaska. But what was so wonderful is that not one person on that plane ride ever complained even though many had missed appointments to help this young boy. The boy was taken to the hospital and the plane returned back on it's normal path to Washington. Before they touched down in Washington, the pilot came on and said that they had received word that the little boy had made it and was going to be okay. Everyone on the airplane erupted in cheers of joy. That is PURE charity in it's finest.

Thanks for being such great family to you! I love you all so much and I pray for you! Keep praying for Thailand and a temple here, I feel it's not long before one will be announced:)

กับรักมากๆ

Elder Tanner

Dear family of mine:)

First of all I LOVE LOVE LOVE that missionary plan. That plan is amazing! I loved everything about it! It had both learning, studying and going out and testifying and sharing. I want to be apart of it as well! I'm so thankful for you guys to be able to catch the wave!

We have new Thai family members at the house! It looks like things are going great there! I wanted to include something for them in this email:

สวัสดีครับครอบครัวสองคนใหม่นะครับ  ยีนดิต้อนรับที่บา้นผม  ผมช่อเอ็ลเดอร์แทนเนอร์  ตอนนี้ผมรับไข้พระผู้เป็นเจ้าที่ประเทศใทย  ขอโทษที่เราไม่มีข้าวเหนียวที่บา้น  แต่ว่าผมขอให้สองคนมีดวามสุขและลองคำสอนของพระเยซุคริศต์นะครับ  ผมรู้ว่ากับพระเยซุคริศต์สองคนและเพื่อนจะมีชีวิตที่สมบูรณ์นะครับ

Typing that seriously took me like four hours haha. But I'm super excited for them to come and learn about Jesus Christ! They are in no better hands then you guys!:)

This week has been crazy! We have seen seriously so many miracles and have been so blessed from the Lord. I truly feel that we are working with angels from the other side of the veil as well. I don't know if you remember the story about Brother Mang last week, but his story continues this week:) We had been teaching this man whose name is Mang, and he has been into illegal drugs and other stuff that have really damaged his brain. He was fully into Buddhism and everything and would always take the teachings of the Savior and pull them back into what Buddhists think. Anyways, we had no idea really how to teach him, but we soon realized that we aren't the teachers. As we continued to meet with him, he continued to change. His mind became more firm and retained more information. He lost his Buddhist ideals. We lost contact with him all last week, and were worried about him because his phone was off and only knew around where he lived. So we prayed and faith that we could find him. This last Saturday we started looking for him, and after about 1 hour, we were kind of getting down. My companion then had an impression to go back to this house that he had invited like 2 or 3 months ago and ask if they knew of a Brother Mang. We went over to this house, and out came our investigator, Brother Mang! He was able to get baptized yesterday and I just sat in aww as I looked at how much Jesus Christ had literally changed him. He had gone from smoking 10 times a day and being Buddhist, to loving the Savior and being clean. It just goes to show the church is so true! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real beings, and although we can't see them right now, we know they live. This world has so many obstacles, so many things wanted and yelling for our attention, but I have learned that only by directing our full attention on our Savior Jesus Christ and on his teachings and commandments, can we have the MOST happiness. Jesus Christ can literally change ANY person, if they will but trust in him.

We were able to also see two other younger girls ages 17 get baptized. One named Sister Pen was struggling to know if this was really the right thing for her to do. One day, her family had run out of work, and so she decided she wanted to pray and ask Heavenly Father to help her parents find work. She said not 5 minutes later her parents found work and that was her answer. She is so great! 

I testify that the Lord is in the work with us. Please continue to not feel hesitant in sharing the gospel and helping these Thai sisters come to the waters of baptism. This is the most important thing in their lives. There is nothing that we can say or do to mess up the Lord's work:) I love you all so much! Thank you for all your prayers and righteousness. I know through God, all things are possible.

Love,

Elder Tanner 

Dear Tan Fam,

I'm SUPER glad mom and Sean had great birthdays last week, I was sure thinking alot about them and how grateful and blessed I am to be in such a great family. I love you all so much!

March is more than half way over! Where does the time fly! I loved hearing the story that dad sent about Sister Parcia about her relative on facebook. People have so many questions, they just don't know where to find it. If we can be the beacons of light that it talks about in the scriptures through social media, through examples at work and play, we can/will see blessings that come from it. People are now flocking into the church with little or no help from the missionaries. The work is truly hastening, and we are seeing it first hand. If you want some more ideas on missionary work, and what you can expect from the Lord in His work, you guys could read "The Challenging and Testifying Missionary" talk by Elder Alvin R. Dyer. Our mission has required all missionaries to read and reread that talk to better get acquainted with the work we are now seeing been done. The Lord is truly preparing people and there's not much we can do to mess that up. He just requires a willing hand so that he can work miracles through all of us:) It's so great!

I saw Sean and Jaimie's house they are closing on, what an amazing beaut it is! I'm so excited for them! And you are now adding to the family by getting two new Thai daughters as well:) Please do tell me where they come from and how more about them. I could maybe send some pamphlets in Thai or something to help them study the gospel more in depth if necessary. Also dad, could you send Brother Rogerson's email (the man you spoke of last week that you saw in the temple who had been a missionary with his wife in Burma)? President Senior wrote back and said that as of right now they are not allowed to proselyte, (sorry I told you wrong) but they are allowed to come together and build branches and things like that. President Senior said that he would be happy to receive any additional information.

This week I have truly seen that there is opposition in all things. We have an investigator named Mang who is currently ready to get baptized, but is still addicted to smoking. He is alittle brain dead because of illegal drugs he had done in the past, but he has changed SO much since we first taught him. He had been smoking about 10 times a day to about 2 times a day, then went 3 days without smoking and relapsed. He had set a baptismal date for this last Sunday, but had smoked before he came to church. So we are working with him for this next week to help him quit that. We have faith he can quit. Come to find out as well that he lives with an older sister of his who abuses him emotionally, which is the main reason of why he smokes. It relieves him, he says, but it's interesting to see Jesus Christ work with him and he now is striving to read the Book of Mormon to get those temptations to go away. There have been more than a couple times this week that I have truly felt pure joy because of being a member of this church. No other job or occupation can compare! 

I love you all so much! Thank you all for your righteous examples and prayers on my behalf. I need them.

much much love,

Elder Tanner

Dear Family,

I'm sorry I don't have alot of time today to write, but I want to thank you all for your prayers in support of Chay Yay. He got baptized yesterday!!! He is such a great person, and will be so great for this branch here in Thailand. We met with him on Saturday, and he was facing alot of opposition from his mother. I think it's exactly what mom had said in her email - she just doesn't see the big picture. We taught him on Saturday and he told us that normally his mom gives him money to support him at school, but since he told her he was going to get baptized, she didn't approve and she stopped giving him money. He showed us his wallet which only had 20 baht, which is equivalent to about 66 cents. A member gave him some money so he could go home and come back to the church in the morning to get baptized. But in spite of his mother and no money, he was able to get baptized yesterday and cleansed from all his sins. If that isn't faith, I don't know what is haha. He is just such a great person. 

We are seeing miracles everywhere. The Lord is blessing us so much and I really truly believe it's because of the prayers of those at home, largely. Thank you so much for all of your prayers!! You don't know how much you are helping this work!

I had a funny thing happen this week. I was inviting at a park here in Sakon and alot of people are active and usually exercising at this park. One of the activities that they provide at this park is Salsa Dancing lessons or something like that, but only old women and old men usually participate. We were inviting close to that area was, and I was talking to some grandmas who were sitting around that area. All of the sudden I look up and see this 50ish year old lady say, "HEY! Come here and dance with me..." and pointed at the ground next to her. I had no idea what to say, and I was kinda in shock. So I just raised my baptism sign and said, "Do you want to get baptized?". Needless to say she wasn't interested in baptism haha.     

Thanks again for all your prayers and support and keep it coming. I found out that one of my friends from OHS got her mission call to Thailand as well! Her name is Tessa Herrmann and she was on Student Council with me. She'll be joining the ranks here in Thailand in a few short months:)

Love you all!

Elder Tanner

Hello family and swollen knee Hayley;)

I'm super happy that everything turned out okay with that situation! That had to be a crazy experience, Hayley! I'm super glad you are okay. Maybe we should invest in that "Life Alert" buttom. "Help, I have fallen and I can't get up";) haha that would have been a perfect time to use it. haha just kidding, but in all seriousness I'm glad you are doing well. Keep me updated with the situation.

I'm also glad to hear that the dinner with the lady from Home Depot went great as well! I have a feeling that you guys will be of great benefit to her on her way back to Jesus Christ. I'm so glad you guys are catching the Spirit! We have been directed when dealing with Less actives that we could provide them with an opportunity to do service and feel of the Savior's love through that as well to help them come back.. Maybe this lady could come to a ward service activity as well to help her come unto Christ. 

This last month was amazing! We had 165 people get baptized in the Great Kingdom of Thailand! The Lord poured out his blessings upon us and now it's time for us to beat that number in the month of February. We are receiving more instruction from the Zone Leaders about it tomorrow. I absolutely love working for the Lord and for his servants like Pres. Senior. We have been working with a new investigator named Chay Yay (means Big Brother) who is about 25 years old and who has studied many religions. He has read parts of the Koran and other holy scripture, but when we showed him the Book of Mormon, it completely changed him. We shared with him about Enos, his praying and being forgiven for his sins. He told us the next day when he came to church that he went home and read that whole chapter and he said he has never felt a feeling like he got when he read it. After that, this last week, he has read everyday and can't put it down. He says when he reads normal books, he doesn't get the feeling like when he reads the Book of Mormon. He says that although he doesn't understand all of his feelings, he wants to be baptized because for the first time, he knows how he can change his life for the better. That's the power of the Book of Mormon. It's so true! There couldn't possibly be any book like that, not made by the Hand of God, that could draw Chay Yay in like that. Please pray for him, he has a mother who does not approve of his decision to get baptized, but he has said that he knows it's true, and he must do it. This next week will try him alot, but we have faith that he will overcome it all, because God is on his side:)

This past weekend was Chinese New Year! I'll be sending you guys pictures, it's pretty crazy:)

Love you all - Hayley, have a speedy recovery!

Elder Tanner

Dear Family!

I'm glad you are having a great January! Haha I can only imagine all those pictures from the times of yester-year haha. And now Sean is going to be able to take pictures of when he is a new father. I still can't get over the fact that we are adding to our family! The next email I'll get will be that Hayley is getting married or something haha. Oh boy, let's hope that doesn't happen for at least 5 to 15 more years;)

This week the Sakon Nakhon Branch had another baptism! The other 2 Elders in our district found a lady about 30 years old and began to teach her. She is an only child and didn't have any problems with the commandments. We still don't know the exact number for baptisms this month, but when I find out, I'll let you know. We have faith that it's 200+:)

This morning I was reading in Mosiah 28 and 29 about the Sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger as well. I love that story because it's easy to compare with our lives and the lives of investigators as well. In the chapters it says that after their experience with the angel, being converted, repenting and learning of their true mission in life, they were desirest to go and teach the Lamanites. Many people thought it foolish of them to even try, but they remembered what they had felt from our Savior. It says that they wanted to go and help the Lamanites come to a realization of the truth because they could not stand to bear that one person would perish and be damned. What desire they have! They had that desire because they were the "most vilest of sinners" before but with the infinite mercies of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, were aloud to come back and start over. As I read that, I started thinking about mercy. I can't comprehend His mercy for us. If it had been me, I would be done with myself along time ago, because I make the same mistakes over and over. But Jesus Christ is so different than us. He sees us how we can become and when we think of the times in our lives where he has really been there for us, when we have felt his presence close, our hearts can be filled with gratitude and our desire to go and visit that less active member we have been meaning to go see, or act on that prompting from the spirit the first time we hear. I love this gospel because it's a "pay it forward" mentality. We receive, then we want to help others feel the same as well:) I'm so far away from being good at this, but I have felt mercy from Jesus Christ in my life and know it makes me want to share this message with others:)

I love you all so much! I hope you guys have a great week and continue to be happy, because you all deserves to be happy!:)

love love love you all!

Elder Tanner

Hello Family all the way from the Great Kingdom of Thailand,

Well today I about fell out of my chair when I got an email and picture from Sean saying they are expecting!!!!!! I at first thought it was all a huge joke, that he somehow photoshopped something haha, but now I know it's for reals! Can you believe it! So many things are changing it feels like! I'm going to come home and have an additional member to the family. How crazy is that! I gave Sean some advice about names, I heard Jameson was a really good one;) I'm so excited for them. Mom and Dad will now be grandparents, and we will be uncles and Hayley will be an Aunt! How crazy is that!

I'm glad to hear that everything is going great for the family. Hahah even after having some mix ups on Sunday haha. Thank you all for your wonderful emails!

This month is going great! We just had a baptism yesterday. His name is Brother Egg about 22 years old and he was a man we met inviting at the park. We went up and asked him if he wanted to get baptized and he told us that he actually was thinking about changing religions like 2 weeks previous so he said he was really interested. We met him about two weeks ago. We inviting him to a branch activity night at the church, and first he said he couldn't go because he had work, but miraculously he showed up, talked and played with the members and was so accepted. That was three Saturdays ago. We invited him to church, but he said he couldn't go because he was working. The following Monday he called us (which is very very very rare for somebody to do) and asked if there was any other branch activities going on that night. We told him that we wanted to teach him more about the church and he agreed. And the rest is basically history. He came last Sunday to church (1/12) and felt the Spirit so strongly. He began praying and reading the scriptures daily. In one of the final lessons, we asked him about his reading in the Book of Mormon and he told us that he LOVED it. He opened up to 1 Nephi and told us that when he read a verse about the Lord providing an opportunity for Nephi to do what needed to be done, he felt that the Lord was really giving him a chance to finally get it right this time. We taught him about the Word of Wisdom, he was pretty addicted. But when he made up his mind to not drink one day, he said it cleared his mind and he could feel the Spirit and he didn't drink anymore after that. He was baptized yesterday and shared the most beautiful testimony I have heard.  He began to cry as he told the congregation that when he prayed he really truly knew that Heavenly Father loved him. And he hadn't been the best of people in his life, but he felt that he had really been forgiven for everything and that he was ready to follow the Lord through everything. It touched me so deeply to know that there are people that are so ready for baptism. We met him two or three weeks previous and now he has a strong testimony and it's building. After church was over, he helped us teach another investigator and bore a great testimony about the Word of Wisdom and was looking up scriptures in his Book of Mormon that he had. He has only read to 1 Nephi 10, but something sparked his mind to search through the scriptures and find something that he read before. Heavenly Father has BIG plans for Brother Egg in the future. Whether it be a mission, or a Stake President, he has tasted of the love of the Savior. I know he's a day old convert, but I want to be more like him. I want recommit myself to our Savior. 

Our mission has 102 baptisms as of 1/19 for the month of January. And next week we have 110 people more as a goal to hit 200+. We cannot do it without Heavenly Father. That I know to be true. My fear is that I will become prideful and trust in my own strength and lose it all. I know I am nothing, but when we the instruments, are in the Hands of the Master, each of us can play as beautifully as he needs us to be. Please continue to pray for us, Thailand and our investigators. How humbled we are to know that our Heavenly Father knows us, sees us here in a little town in Thailand and loves us. I love this work so much!!!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and faith. The Thailand temple isn't that far off. The Thailand people need it so bad to return to Heavenly Father. This is His work and it's moving forward. We can help in many ways! I love you all so much!

Much Love,

Elder (soon to be uncle) Tanner

Dear Family,

First, if you could give Grandma and Grandpa a big squeeze for more for that Christmas present, that would be awesome. I am for sure sending them a thank you letter, as well as for Brent too. He did not have to do that either. How my life is just full of good people and good examples. It's awesome to hear of that Elder who came home from Thailand. I think I know who it was. I've seen him before but hadn't had an opportunity to talk with him. He was one of the first missionaries to open up the Laos area there. It's definitely an amazing opportunity for him. Even though they couldn't preach the gospel out in the streets, the branch there still flourished and there are converts each month in Laos, which goes to show that no country or land can stop this work from progressing. It's inevitable.

You're guys Sunday sounded quite eventful! I'm so grateful for my friends who come to waffles! How is Jake doing? I haven't heard from him in a long time! Wyatt soon leaves on his mission to Taiwan in March too! Mom, thank you for that email, that's exactly what we are focusing on our mission now. Obedience so that we can see miracles and I'll touch on that later on. But thank you for sharing your thoughts. And dad, President Senior actually had us read about the Israelites and the Midianites to see the miracles that happened to them when they repented and showed faith. I am so grateful for our latter day Prophets. When I read their words I feel so safe and I know that this plan of Heavenly Father's will lead us straight home. It's in our behalf, we can't fail:)

This month, President Senior has set a goal to have 200 baptisms here in Thailand in the month of January. That's something that has never been done, but we know we can do it, because the Lord has helped us in the past. He has told us to pray and expect miracles and they will happen. He also told us something I thought was very interesting. He said before these miracles come, we can expect to see some MAJOR opposition from Satan. And we are starting to see that here in our area. Some people are now fighting back with words and anger when we explain about baptism. Our investigators all have a slight problem that delays their progression or makes it so they can't be baptized quite yet. We had an investigator set for yesterday to get baptized but hadn't gotten his marriage papers signed yet, so he couldn't get baptized yet. Just things like that that we all have never seen such crazy opposition before. Which means at the end of this month we are going to be seeing miracles left and right. Please continue to pray for the Thailand Bangkok Mission. We cannot do this without the Lord and His mercy.

I also had an embarrassing experience while I was inviting. I was talking to these two women, but first only talked with one. The one on the left was not interested, and so I asked if this was her mom (the lady on the right) and suddenly she looked offended and said, "THIS IS MY FRIEND" haha they were both the same age, I just guess I am super bad at telling ages here. They both looked really similar so I thought that they might have been mother and daughter but boy was I wrong haha.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Please keep them coming. Send your faith our way, because we need all the help we can get this month:)

Love,

Elder Tanner