Elder Eric Montgomery: Week 79: Return of the King

Monday, April 13, 2026 9:02pm

Eyy,

I had a lot of fun this week just doing missionary work generally, haha.

First thing to note, one of the elders in our district is having health issues that makes it hard to bike, so they have had our car this whole week. I really don't mind it though. I kinda like this area better on bike anyway.

Being back in the ward I started my mission in feels so weird. There's a lot of the area that I remember knocking with my trainer, and even people that I recognize that still don't want to baptized. The difference? I speak Spanish now, lol

We had a Ward Council on Sunday before church. When I walked in, Bishop saw me and recognized me, haha. He said, "You're back?!" I don't know if he was excited or possibly worried. It's odd to now be able to understand him when he speaks.

We've taught a few different people this week. All of them said they were going to come to church, one of them we visited right before church, and still, even he did not come, haha. The only person that came went to a different building even though she had already been to ours before. We talked with her afterward. She's hesitant about being baptized.

One of the couples we are teaching keep telling me I should be an actor. They're really funny, I like visiting them. But they're not keeping commitments. 😤

One story I really like from the New Testament is in Acts 9, verses 12-20. A dude named Simon is baptized, and sees Peter the apostle giving the Gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands. Simon offers money to Peter to 'purchase' the authority to give the Holy Ghost. Peter of course rebukes him for thinking a gift from God can be purchased.

I think it's a great reminder that a lot of the most important things can not be purchased. Gifts from God are earned through prayer, fasting, and diligence in obtaining the gift. I've seen this pattern in my personal growth on the mission.

It would have been a lot easier if I could have bought the ability to teach, speak Spanish, and any other gift or attribute that comes from God, but it is worth it to work to obtain these things. I am grateful that God has given me gifts to make me effective in His work when I ask for and seek them.

This is my wonderful companion Elder Sandoval. I love working with him.