Norges Arbeidernes Dag (Norwegian Labor Day!)

Location of Mo i Rana. 

Near the Arctic Circle-

The Arctic Circle is the invisible circle of latitude on the earth's surface at 66°33' north, marking the southern limit of the area where the sun does not rise on the winter solstice or set on the summer solstice - a geographic ring crowning the globe. It is approximately 1,650 miles from the North Pole. Scientists say the Arctic Circle "wanders". Click that last link to find out more!

The Arctic Circle is also the outermost parallel circle counted from the North Pole where we cannot see the sun rise over the horizon in the winter solstice. This phenomena is called polarnight, or midwinter darkness, and occurs around December 21.

Hallo!

Elder Farnsworth and I were extremely surprised last Tuesday when ALL of the shops were closed, and we were without people to find! After a few hours, we had Norwegian flags over everything, a live band, a huge crowd bustling in the city, and many old, delicious cars driving around! Porsche 911s, Stingray Corvettes, Dodge Chargers, Chevelle SS, 1940 Chevy pickup, etc etc. Farnsworth just helped me with the names - haha! So that was a little rain on our parade of finding - but a neat day nonetheless. I just wish I took pictures!

 

Our member took us to Svartisen - but it was closed :(

It has been way cold this past week - it's snowed twice, and the wind just won't stop blowing. But if there is one thing Satan can't do - it is hindering the Spirit while on the street. It is always edifying and personally cleansing to share the Book of Mormon with people. Frustrating and tiring? You bet your life! Worth it? Well, have you seen the Lord bless your life? The Lord, through a missionary, contacted my great great grandparents and shared the Restored Gospel with them. Because of that - hundreds, thousands, millions then eternities of lives are changed because of that missionary. If I can just find one person - one person! - to be a faithful, life-long convert to the Gospel of Jesus Christ - all of my efforts will have been worth it.

Our church activity on Wednesdays have been pretty cool too. We've had the opportunity to see some old old seminary videos - man I love these things! Spiritual Crocodiles, The Mediator - I love how the Church keeps up with technology in order to better create personal spiritual experiences to the people of the world. Even to today we have General Conference, Mormon Messages, and mormon.org filled with wonderful, uplifting messages about how the Lord can personally bless your life. Ahh - the Gospel rocks!

Bodø (the other city in my district) has had two baptisms this past week - and I absolutely love the reactions of these new converts. "I just feel like a huge weight is lifted! I feel light and happy." 

- that is evidence of sin's burden being lifted by our Savior Jesus Christ. This IS Christ's true gospel - administered, proved and supported by HIS authority. The restored priesthood of God directly given to Joseph Smith by the hands of Peter, James and John, as well as John the Baptist. Isn't it wonderful??

Recently I've reflected on how incredibly blessed we are in this church - especially in California and Utah. We have opportunities such as Especially For Youth, Education Week, Seminary, Institute, Church Activities and BYU Classes all aimed at opening up the scriptures and personally applying the truths of the gospel to our lives. My life has forever been changed by these things.

We've made a goal to see the Lord's hand in our everyday life. One big one I've realized is that I can understand the Northern Norwegian dialect really really well now. After 6 months, I should have it down - but it is still a miracle to see how the Lord can shape and use our minds to bring forth the word! Our members really help too. "Eg hæl ikkje" directly transcribes to "I heel not" which translates to "I can't manage it." Whodathunk?? There's some American dialect for ya as well :P

The Lord IS preparing the minds and the hearts of the people to receive the message of the Restored Gospel. As Alma says - there are angels going about RIGHT NOW among the people preparing them!! (Alma 13:24). We've just got a load of unprepared people to file through in order to find the prepared.

Keep 'em comin'!!

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

Svartiskongen! (The Black Ice King) - do you behold those legit shades and grimace!?!

P.S. happy birfday on the tenth, guuuuurl ;)

Real Norwegian Food - White fish (torsk) with butter and cream and potatoes. Baha.

Russ har begynt! (Russ has begun)‏

Free rose from our library

Heiya!

Whew, I am so tired all the time. I suppose that means I'm a good missionary :P

Norway's huge high school graduation party began this week: the "Russ". (*note* Do not look up pictures for Russ, they are more

The local carnival in time for Russ!

than likely extremely inappropriate). Russ is a 3 week time after graduation, before 17. Mai (Norway's independence day), for all of the graduating class to get drunk, break the law of chastity and sass their moms like nobody's business. And security doesn't do a thing about it - it's Russ! Normally you'll find huge red, blue or black buses driving around with ginormous sound systems, filled with people doing crazy stuff. There is a specified list of activities, accomplishments and 

rewards for the Russ. The appropriate (and quite fun!) activities include: eating breakfast in a roundabout, sleeping in a roundabout, sleeping in your teacher's tree for one night, squirting random people with water-guns, don't brush your teeth or shower for the whole 3 weeks, wear the same Russ attire the whole 3 weeks etc etc. The Russ seems like a really cool idea - as long as it held within the commandments of God! However! The Russ attire is awesome - bright red overalls and Norwegian flag shoes. We found some really cheap pairs - so I'm stoked!

Other than that, our wonderful member also took us to Nesna this week. Nesna is a very small

On the way to Nesna!

Norwegian community out on the coast that is simply beautiful! To explain Norway's community style: simply beautiful. I love it! She also took us to her hytte (summer cabin). She spoils us all too much. We always tell her: "Du snilleste, hvorfor er du alt for snill??" (You kindest, why are you way too kind?) And she says "Å være med misjonærene gjør meg kjempe glad! Det er det minst jeg kan gjøre." (Being with the missionaries

that wind was blowin' my tie off!

makes me super happy - it's the least I can do!). She is so salty - and by that I mean the salt of the earth ;). (Matthew 5:13)

 

Eldste and Søster Pedersen came down this week to strengthen the Mo i Rana branch. It was a wonderful visit - such a strength to us and our members! It was also extremely refreshing to sit in the congregation for once :P. You can really tell your leaders are inspired of God when you can feel their love, respect and care for you and your work. I hope I can do the same in my future callings in the church :).

One huge thing I learned this week: the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel are really the only two books you need to keep your testimony going while on your mission. Ken Kenworthy told me this a long time ago, but I just gained a testimony of it :P. As my buddy Elder Hazen over 

in Hong Kong is experiencing, there are certainly many people who are just not willing to try the message. And even those who do try it don't get an immediate answer, simply because their heart's

not in the right place, or they don't listen for an answer. "Well, will you try to find out He's there? It just takes prayer." "nope." "We're talking about the greatest, most powerful being in the universe that has, does, and always will exist - and that wouldn't mean anything to you that He is there?" "Nope." That has been way hard. But, as our call letter states: As you read the scriptures, your motivation to be obedient and to work hard will increase. BoM and PMG are the key to that promise :).

This gospel is true! It is wonderful. It gives us the opportunity to reach beyond our natural capacities and abilities to comprehend, think, speak, act, work and so much more.

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

 Me and our member's cat
(talk about allergies!!)

The world ends when this bottle of vitamin bears expires!!

  (The end date of Mayan Calendar, thus end of world.)

Oslo Konferanse!

Hallo!

Sunset in Bodø

This week was very busy and all over the country for a simple Mo i Rana missionary! The week began in Bodø for a baptismal interview, then ended with a huge conference in Oslo for the establishment of Norway's second stake!

One of our members here has been incredibly charitable and decided to take us on a tour of the sites here in Mo i Rana! We finally saw the Arctic Circle! It was, of course, covered in snow, but

Trip to the Arctic Circle

Us with our awesome member!

lots of snow!!

fascinating to see. We were also able to see Hemnesberget - a beautifully quaint fishing town near Mo i Rana.

Hemnesberget

The Swedish border is also very close to Mo i Rana - and that was really neat as well.

Swedish Border :)

Norway really is one of themost beautiful placeson earth :)

Our mission conference began on Friday, where Elder Teixeira of the Seventy came and spoke to us regarding the importance of gaining the trust of the members. "All members LOVE the missionaries - but not all of them trust the missionaries!" He then went on to describe specific areas for us to improve in order to gain the trust of our members! The next step of missionary work here in Norway is to work through the members! Without members, missionary work is extremely ineffective! We love you, members!! This helps me realize how important it is to be a great example to my neighbors and friends back home, and also to simply invite them to learn about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through His prophet Joseph

Oslo Conference in Romerike

Smith. On Saturday, us missionaries were let loose on the town of Oslo to go and teach people. The city of Oslo is so beautiful! I hadn't realized it before. What a wonderful area to serve in! On Sunday we heard from Elders Teixeira and Kopischke of the Seventy as they established the Drammen Stake (in addition to the Oslo Stake). One thing I learned was that stakes are established in order to bring up Zion - a shelter from the burdens and depressing influences of the world. We are incredibly blessed with a church organization, empowered by God's authority, to establish a refuge for our families, beginning in the home.

This gospel is beautifully simple, yet incredibly deep in a personal, practical sense. Even though the world seems to fall down on all sides, Christ has provided a way for you and me to become whole from the inside out. He has a plan for each one of us.

Be still, and know that He is God!

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

Oslo Konferance!  Elder Fransworth 5^th from right- back row- Elder Johnson 4^th from right

Jesu Kristi Forsoningens Styrkende Kraft (The Enabling Power)

Heiyo! (all of these 10 year olds have begun saying that to us - hmm!)

I'll just be honest in saying I don't know where to begin!

Our rockin' investigators are still awesome and pushing forward in their grasp for eternal truth, but have been held back by personal, family and health issues! Aww, it just breaks our heart to have an appointment canceled - especially when there was nothing in their power to stop it. But the work of the Lord presses on :).

Writing in the journ-journ with a Calvin & Hobbes shirt

 I would like to thank you all for the absolutely heaven-sent packages and letters that have built me up this week. I feel so much more empowered knowing there is more than Elder Farnsworth and I out in this work. It is something I treasure - so I thank you all for that!

Earlier this week our Zone Leader from Trondheim came up to visit ol' Mo i Rana for the day. It is at times hilarious to see how other missionaries encounter the Mo i Rana experience. Our Mission President for example describes my first area (Bergen) to be heaven in terms of aesthetics, and my

 Poor choice of socks ><*

second area (Mo i Rana) to be quite the opposite. Elder Sessions (the zone leader) had a good, willing attitude about it though! And it is also hilarious to see how "big-city" missionaries who are on the street all day with thousands of people surrounding them, approach the little cities where you're on the street with the same 50-100 people the whole day, everyday. Talking with people and sharing the gospel is just done differently when you're in a more intimate evironment! But Elder Sessions provided wonderful tools to improve our work here :).

One of which was our focus on baptism as the focal point of our work. It's true, baptism is how we can literally bring people closer to their Savior. There is a difference in the degree of access to the Atonement of Jesus 

Christ before and after the ordinance of baptism. In our district meeting this past week (with Bodø over skype), we discussed the importance of baptism. However, one of the greatest issues we have with baptism here in Norway is helping others recognize the need for being baptized again. Authority in performing the Lord's ordinances is KEY. As Ezra 2:62 says (paraphrased), those who do not have their priesthood line of authority are considered unworthy for performing ordinances. Priesthood holders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can trace their restored priesthood line of authority directly back to the Savior Jesus Christ - we are so blessed! We, along with Bodø, performed practicals teaching this vital, and often extremely sensitive, point of doctrine! We in no way desire to offend others by saying their baptisms are incomplete. 

The greatest thing I have learned this week was from the April 2012 Liahona magazine, where Elder David A. Bednar shared his insights on the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. All too often, us humans think we have to buckle down, grit our teeth and make the journey back to God alone, which in reality that is impossible without Jesus Christ. "We may mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves, through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities . . . . Individual willpower, personal determination and motivation, effective planning and goal setting are necessary but ultimately insufficient for us to triumphantly complete this mortal journey." Jesus Christ is requisite to help us with our journey to become a saint. Our daily frustrations and struggles can be enveloped in Christ's love as we rely on Him, and push forward to improve. The more I learn about this Gospel, the more I am so grateful we are not alone in this journey!

Another thing that has been on my mind is the ever-increasing availability, and unreliability, of knowledge by means of technology. The complexity and rapid acceleration of all forms of information make it difficult to find what is true or not. It seems to me that many are led to believe untrue things just because it's in a book, or on the internet. Reliable sources are collapsing left and right to truly discern between truth from falsehood. However, from the scriptures we have a clear, defining frame of reference from which we can discern all things. (See Moroni 7:12-19). And if that isn't enough to help you find the truth, you can always turn to God in prayer to know the answers (See Moroni 10:5). Notice how the verse says "all things." Not "only spiritual things" or "only secular things" but ALL things. Both secular and spiritual, all that is necessary for you, and that crucially affects you, to return back to your Heavenly Father. And another thing I've realized on my mission: most of the time the Spirit speaks through common sense. God gave you the ability to reason for yourself for a purpose! Use it wisely.

 Waitin' in the bus stop!

Right now I'm in Bodø on splits, which is why this email was late. They had a baptismal interview, which went wonderfully. The Lord truly does prepare the people, and us, in order to bring His children into His fold! We are extraordinarily blessed to have the knowledge of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through God's prophets and apostles in our day and time. We can deal with life's problems with faith and hope knowing that Christ's atoning sacrifice will set right any and all unfairness we can and could possibly encounter in this life. 

Just exercise faith!

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

 Exotic Fanta and Solo - Norske sodas MMM.

p.s. Sis. H. the jerky was inCREDIBLE. Meat's extremely expensive here, so thank you soooo much!!

Overlevelsen av Påske (Survival of Easter)

Heiya!

Let it be known to the world that Elders Farnsworth and Johnson survived Påske. We saw more than our fair share of Norwegian tumbleweeds on the streets of Mo i Rana this past week.

 I've acquired the terrible habit of walking in the middle of the road when nobody's around!

It's rather surprising: over Christmas there are two days where everything is closed, and no mail running. Over Easter though, we have a whole week where everything is closed and no mail running. Easter > Christmas, apparently!

 :]

This week rocked for a few reasons. The first of which is that the sun is up a LOT. Little did I know from my Californian youngster knowledge, that the further north you go, the quicker the transition between light and dark. Svalbard (Norway's

Ladder to the top of our roof - awesome!

northernmost island) for example goes immediately from winter to summer or summer to winter, no transition seasons of spring or fall. Mo i Rana has a touch of that feeling - light is noticeable until 9 pmalready.

Since no body was around, Farnsworth and I decided to get some sunglasses to sport around during the week! BD

Buses were shut down the whole week as well. We got our walking, pinecone-kicking legs back in shape to say the least.

 General Conference!!!

We were invited over to watch General Conference this week too! I encourage everyone to go on a mission just so they can experience General Conference from the missionary perspective. The Spirit is always so strong. I've also picked up the very same tactic Elder Matthew Putnam uses for General Conference. After watching the talk, I write one action I will implement into my life because of that talk.

The greatest thing I got out of General Conference was also a product of the past Zone Conference which has been prodding me to make an organized study journal. Instead of just writing down promptings, ideas and questions as I read arbitrarily chosen topics I study a specific subject with an index to refer to in future date. Therefore, if any one comes to me with the same issue I've faced before, I just look up what answers I received before! Now I can have an organized, referenceable book of revelation all to little ol' me! This is especially exciting because I can place Conference talks, ideas and questions and personal experiences all under these topics. I'll have a library of possible church talks to give. The mission just keeps on giving, doesn't it?!

We busted out the bikes this morning . . . 
gotta love those helmets :P

One thing that has pleased me more beyond all else is hearing from my friends on their missions :). The joy in this gospel is true, it is real, and it is good because it is discernable! It is also lasting - more lasting than any other joy on this earth. 

Ælsk livet! (Love the life! - in Northern Norsk :])

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

P.S. Gurt ol' pal, plenty of letters have made it to Norway with only one First Class stamp on it. I'll pray for it to come if not :P

 Ramen w/ veggies

Påske! (Easter!)

Jo hallo!

Well I hope everyone enjoyed General Conference! We, to our uttermost disfortune, have not yet had the capability to see General Conference. Due to lack of technological accessibility, we are starving from revelations and direction necessary for our lives! Ahh, but maybe something will work out this week so we can watch them. I sort of feel like the members back in Peter and Paul's time who did not have the necessary technology to sufficiently uphold the church's doctrines, and consequently became "so soon removed" from the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-8). And look, signs of apostasy in our own Bible! *gasp*! But to be honest, we're doing actually great!

Better than great, actually. This week has been one filled with miracles. Our new finding techniques, along with looking for the "little miracles" when our appointments end up falling through, and already having planned and prepared what we will do, has provided a rich quantity of people ready to receive the message of the restored Gospel! As Elder Crookshank up in Ukraine so perfectly stated: "If you want Heavenly Father to laugh, tell Him YOUR plans." This is all too true; seeking the will of the Lord is the only way we can perform this work right!

In the middle of the week we went around bonking on doors, and we just needed one more lesson and one more Book of Mormon given away to reach our goal for the day. When we bonked on one door, a man with a frazzled black beard said "Nope, I'm not interested. I'm a heathen. But she might be 

interested!" gesturing to this woman who snuck up behind him. As we invited her to learn, she beamed as she walked into her room and brought out a little, beige book "I have treasured this book for the past 11 years - I have read it over and over again!" Elder Farnsworth and I were rather doubtful that the book was of credible source. Turns out it was "Who are the Mormons?" by President Gordon B. Hinckley! Yup - credible indeed! Absolutely stunned that this woman had never come into contact with the missionaries, we gave her a wonderful lesson and commitment to read and pray - what a wonderful, divinely hand-crafted blessing!

A little bit later, we were bonking late into the night, when we came up with no ideas of what to do. We had recently tried a certain street, with completely empty houses and no luck, and we attributed that to the Easter vacation. Reluctant to try it again, I mentioned it to Elder Farnsworth and suddenly felt overcome by that warm Spirit! (the ultimate "warm-fuzzy," no doubt :]). The very first door we tried, immediately opened, and this woman was simply prepared to hear the message of the restored Gospel! Wow! I just wish it happened that way more often!

The October 2011 General Conference talked a lot about "Be thou an example of the believers . . ." (1 Timothy 4:12). As we met a middle-eastern family this week, I have seen the power of that scripture! They are absolutely blown away by our example - that we are so young, yet we still have wholesome standards! They have expressed to us: "I want my son to be just like you two!" "Please, come and sit with us - just be with us!" This invitation is extremely tempting as missionaries to take a few hours to relax - but we are sharing our message with all, to the very best of our abilities and opportunities, effectively. I am now even MORE intrigued by the middle-eastern culture, just by meeting this family. I'm really hoping that when I serve my senior couples' mission when I am old, it will be safe enough in those countries to serve there!

I remember clearly the first words I learned in Norwegian, back in February 2011, from a Norwegian couple in my New Testament class: "God Påske!" which means "Happy Easter!" I was a little surprised that this, of all phrases, was the first thing they would teach me. Now I know why. The Easter holiday in Norway is HUGE! A whole week off of school, and most jobs, while everyone travels to their hytte (cabin up in the mountains) to go and enjoy the sun, kvikk lunsj's (Norwegian kit-kats) and solo drinks (orange soda). This is all fine and great for all Norwegians, but unnerving for us missionaries - no body is home! Our Mission President has challenged us to work through this week like nothing else - "we don't need a lot of people, just the prepared ones!" So we'll see what turns out!

Have a wonderful Easter season, celebrating the resurrection, the brilliant defeat of sin and death, by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God Påske!

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

p.s. it snowed two and a half feet yesterday!

A cloud-break while on the Selfors bridge.