Growth of the Lord’s Work in South Africa

As I reflect on the growth of the Lord’s work in South Africa, my heart is filled with gratitude and awe. We are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy as more missionaries are called to labor in this part of the Lord’s vineyard. In the coming months, the South Africa Pretoria Mission will welcome more than 50 additional missionaries, a clear sign that the Lord is hastening His work.

This increase is more than numbers—it reflects the Lord’s awareness of His children and His desire to send servants to invite them to come unto Christ.

Spiritual Hunger Across the Land

Across townships, villages, and informal settlements, we have seen a deep interest in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Many are eager to learn of the Savior, often gathering with softened hearts and sincere faith. Their desire to know truth has been both humbling and inspiring.

This spiritual hunger is evident throughout South Africa. Individuals and families are searching for hope in Jesus Christ and are ready to receive His gospel. Their openness has led us into new areas where many are prepared to hear the message of the Restoration.

Scriptural Reflections on the Work

These experiences have caused me to ponder the Lord’s declaration in Doctrine and Covenants 65:2:

“The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.”

As we travel, teach, and welcome new missionaries, I see this prophecy unfolding. The Lord is preparing hearts and sending laborers into a field that is truly ready to harvest.

Amos 8:11 has also taken on new meaning:

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land… of hearing the words of the Lord.”

This scripture depicts what we see daily—many are searching for truth and are ready to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Witnessing Lives Changed

I have seen the gospel of Jesus Christ transform lives. Hearts are softened, families are strengthened, and individuals find lasting peace through the Savior and His Atonement. These experiences confirm my testimony that this is the Lord’s work and that He is gathering Israel, one soul at a time.

I am deeply grateful for the people of South Africa. Their faith, kindness, and love for the Savior has strengthened my own discipleship. This land will always hold a special place in my heart.

I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is our Redeemer and Savior, and He leads His Church through living prophets and apostles. I have seen His gospel change lives and felt its power in my own.

I know the Restoration is true and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to witness the fulfillment of prophecy as His work moves forward across the earth.

I invite all to come unto Christ. As you turn to Him, He will strengthen your faith, bring personal peace, and change your life. I know this because I have seen His hand throughout South Africa and felt His love personally. This is His work, and I am grateful to be one of His witnesses.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Every day someone asks, “How are you?” Most of us instinctively reply, “I’m fine.” But what if we’re not?

It’s okay to not be okay. And it’s okay to tell someone you aren’t okay.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to recognize the unique challenges many racial and ethnic minorities face in accessing mental health care. Stigma, limited access to treatment, lack of insurance, and cultural expectations often prevent people from seeking help. As a result, far too many suffer in silence.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. It affects how we think, feel, respond to stress, and interact with others. There should never be shame in caring for our minds and emotions.

Grief is one of life’s greatest emotional burdens and can significantly impact our mental health. The loss of a spouse, parent, child, or close friend can leave us feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, or hopeless. While grief is a natural response to loss, it can also contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

I have learned that grief doesn’t follow a schedule. Some days we feel strong. Other days, a simple memory can bring us to tears.

That doesn’t mean we’re failing.

It means we’re human.

If you have noticed changes in your mood, sleep, appetite, energy, or desire to be around others, don’t ignore them. Reach out to your healthcare provider, a licensed mental health professional, a trusted friend, or a faith leader.

Seeking help is not a sign of weakness.

It is an act of courage.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we never walk through our storms alone.

Isaiah testified of the Savior:

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” — Isaiah 53:4

The Book of Mormon teaches that Christ suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind… that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people.” (Alma 7:11–12)

Because of His infinite Atonement, Jesus Christ understands every sorrow, every fear, every anxious thought, and every grief. His empathy is perfect because He has experienced it all.

When the disciples feared for their lives in a storm, Jesus simply said:

“Peace, be still.” — Mark 4:39

Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes He calms us. Either way, He is always in the boat and He never leaves us.

His promise remains:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee… I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.” — Isaiah 41:10

If today you’re struggling, remember this:

You are not weak.

You are not alone.

You are deeply loved.

Sometimes the bravest words we can say are, “I’m not okay.”

Healing often begins there.

With the help of caring professionals, supportive family and friends, and the healing power of Jesus Christ, there is hope.

There is healing.

And there is always light beyond the storm.

Perhaps the bravest prayer we will ever offer is not, “Lord, take this burden away,” but rather, “Lord, help me carry it today.”

The beautiful promise of the gospel is that we never carry our burdens alone. Because of His infinite love, His perfect empathy, and His infinite Atonement, Jesus Christ walks beside us through every trial, every storm, and every season of grief.

He is our peace.

He is our strength.

He is our hope.

And with Him, there is always light beyond the storm.

While reading Matthew 9, I was struck by the power of other people’s faith—the kind of faith that carries someone when they don’t have the strength to move forward on their own.

In June 2020, that became deeply personal. Around June 20th, Tisa entered hospice care. Everything about that moment felt final—heavy, still, and beyond anything we could fix. In the middle of that uncertainty, I invited her to choose a date—and if she woke up on that day, she would figuratively roll up her mat.

The next day, she opened her eyes.

With quiet resolve, she said, quoting The Shawshank Redemption, “I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

From that moment, something shifted.

She didn’t walk this road alone. Like the paralyzed man in Matthew 9, Tisa was carried—lifted by the faith of others. Friends, family, and loved ones surrounded her with prayers, fasting, and unwavering belief. And just as the Savior responded when He saw their faith, we began to see His hand move in ways we could not deny.

Tisa got busy. The scriptures had always been a source of comfort and peace for her, and in this season she leaned into them even more deeply. As she strengthened her spirit, she worked, little by little, to regain her physical strength. What began as small, almost imperceptible progress grew steadily. Day by day, hope returned. Strength followed.

Then, on August 31, 2020, we witnessed something sacred. Tisa stood. She walked. And she escorted Peyton to the airport, sending him off on his mission to New York City.

I cannot look back on that season without recognizing the hand of God. This was more than recovery—it was a living witness of what happens when faith becomes collective, when people carry one another, and when Christ honors that faith with a miracle.

“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ … But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. —Matthew 9:2, 6–7

Sometimes miracles come not because one person is strong enough, but because they are surrounded by people who believe when they cannot.

I know with all my heart that miracles still happen. I have seen what God can do when faith is not just personal, but collective—when people choose to carry one another.

So don’t stop praying. Don’t stop fasting. Don’t stop believing for someone else—especially when they may not have the strength to believe for themselves.

Your faith might be the very thing that helps carry someone to their miracle and their personal testimony that Jesus is the Christ and He Lives.

Finding faith, purpose, and answered prayers in the midst of uncertainty

There’s a powerful moment in the Book of Isaiah where the prophet delivers a message to King Hezekiah: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.” —Isaiah 38:5

And later: “Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.” —Isaiah 38:16

Hezekiah’s story is one of desperation, faith, and remarkably more time. Time he wasn’t expecting. Time he pleaded for. Time God granted.

My family and I understand that story in a deeply personal way.

In October 2012, Tisa was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer. At the time, we were provided the survivability odds— a five percent chance of surviving five years. If treatments like chemotherapy and radiation were successful, we were told we might have two to three years of good quality life.

Those numbers are based on statistical averages. They are clinical and detached. They don’t account for faith, for community, or for the quiet, persistent hope that rises when everything else feels uncertain.

Tisa was a young mother to our three children. Naturally, we prayed—for healing, for strength, for a miracle. And we weren’t alone. Family, friends, and members of our church from around the world joined us. There were countless prayers offered and many tears shed—echoing Hezekiah’s plea before the Lord.

And God answered. Not by removing the trial entirely, but by giving us something incredibly sacred: more time.

Tisa had specific hopes. She wanted to see our oldest son, Tyson, graduate from high school in 2017. She wanted more time to help guide Peyton and Rīsa—teaching them the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and leading them by example as they prepared for their own walks of faith. These weren’t just wishes; they were deeply held desires that gave purpose to every step forward.

Those milestones became anchors for us—something we held onto through every treatment, every setback, and every miracle.

And she didn’t just make it to that graduation.

She was there to see Tyson return from his mission and witness his wedding. She lived to see Peyton return from his mission. And she fought with all her heart, mind, and strength to see Rīsa cross the graduation stage.

These weren’t small moments—they were sacred chapters in our family’s story. Like Hezekiah, we were given time we didn’t expect.

That doesn’t mean the ending was easy. Tisa eventually passed after developing pneumonia following a successful but high-risk brain surgery. Even in that, there was complexity—hope intertwined with grief, gratitude alongside loss.

But I can say this with certainty: God hears prayers. He sees tears. And He answers.

Sometimes the miracle isn’t the removal of suffering—it’s the extension of time. Time to witness milestones. Time to say what needs to be said. Time to love more fully.

Hezekiah was given fifteen extra years. We weren’t promised a number. But we were given enough time to experience what mattered most.

Those added years—those unexpected moments—weren’t just time. They were life. They were evidence of a Savior who is aware of us, who walks with us, and who is intimately involved in the details of our lives.

I don’t pretend to understand why some prayers are answered this way and others differently. But I do know this: Our prayers were heard. And in ways that matter eternally, they were answered.

And like so many who trust in Christ, I’ve learned to hold on to this truth—especially when the outcome is uncertain: “If ye have faith, ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” —Alma 32:21

If you are in a season of waiting, pleading, or wondering if heaven hears you—don’t stop praying.

Trust that Jesus Christ sees you.
Trust that He understands what matters most to your heart. Trust that even when the miracle looks different than you expected, He is still working in your life.

Hold on to faith. Cherish the time you are given. And look for the quiet ways God is already answering your prayers.

Because He is.

Happy Easter!

Well… today’s run turned into a full-on reenactment of the Good Samaritan 😅 — and honestly, a pretty powerful Easter reminder about love, compassion, and how we’re never left alone on the side of the road.

I was out enjoying a beautiful Saturday morning, feeling strong—checked my watch and got a little too excited about cruising at a 9:19 pace at 14.69 miles… next thing I know, I’m on the ground negotiating with my Apple Watch while it’s threatening to call my family via SOS and 911.

Enter: a real-life Good Samaritan and his family 🚙✨ They literally turned around, patched me up, gave me a protein bar and water, and got me home. So yes—angels apparently drive BMW SUVs now.

After that little adventure, I showered called a friend and went to the hospital for stitches, and during X-rays for cracked ribs, I passed out—just to keep things exciting for the technician😳. They checked my blood sugar and immediately ordered me lunch (gourmet meal: grated cheddar cheese on bread 🤔). Good news: no cracked ribs, hand stitched up, and I’ve since refueled with spaghetti and chocolate milk like a true weekend warrior.

But honestly, it hit me today—Easter is all about Christ lifting us when we fall, sometimes quite literally. And today, He did it through a kind family who stopped.

“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.” — Luke 10:33

Today I was definitely that guy on the side of the road suffering and disoriented… and I’m incredibly grateful someone stopped. I’m okay, stitched up, slightly humbled—but after a nap, spaghetti, and chocolate milk, I’m obviously ready for my next run 🏃🏾‍♂️

Praying you will have a blessed and joyous Easter.

On that first Easter morning, the angel declared: “He is not here: for he is risen.” Matthew 28:6

Those words not only changed the world. They also changed my life.

When Tisa passed away from cancer, Easter stopped being symbolic hope and became living hope. I didn’t just lose my wife of 28 years — Tyson, Peyton, and Risa lost their mother. Our home grew quieter and at times, heavier.

There were nights I prayed to know how we could go through life without her. Over time, I have come to understand something sacred: we are not asked to walk this road alone.

Following the Resurrection, two disciples walked the road to Emmaus, grieving and confused. They did not recognize that the risen Savior was walking beside them (Luke 24:13-35). Only later did they realize He had been with them all along.

Like them, we each walk our own road to Emmaus. For some, that road includes poor health, difficulty finding employment, divorce, wayward children or unexpected change. For me, it included hospital rooms, whispered prayers, and learning to move forward without the woman I love beside me.

But the message of Easter is this: Jesus Christ walks with us. The Book of Mormon teaches that He suffered “pains and afflictions of every kind” so He would know how to succor His people (Alma 7:11–12). He understands grief. He understands sorrow. He understands us.

The Atonement did not remove our heartbreak but it strengthened us inside it. His grace has met us in quiet moments. His peace has come when we needed it most.

The Lord has promised: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (Corinthians 12:9)

I have learned that weakness is not a sign that we are failing — it is often the place where Christ’s power becomes most visible. And Easter means even more than strength for today.

The Savior declared: “I am the resurrection, and the life.” (John 11:25)

Because He lives, Tisa lives.

Because He lives, cancer does not win.

Because He lives, the grave is temporary and families are eternal.

The Book of Mormon promises that the body and spirit will be reunited in perfect form (Alma 11:43). That promise fills our future with light.

On our personal road to Emmaus, we can ask Him, as the disciples did, “Abide with us.” And when we do, our hearts begin to burn within us. We begin to recognize His hand. We see that He has been walking beside us all along.

Because He lives, we never walk alone.

Hope is stronger than grief.

Light is stronger than darkness.

Life is stronger than death.

Praying you will always feel the Savior walking beside you.

During Stake Conference, our mission leader Sister Holmes gave a talk about redwoods which I felt impressed to share.

She spoke about the magnificent California Redwood — trees that soar over 300 feet into the sky, standing as some of the tallest living things on earth. What struck me most wasn’t their height, their age, or even their beauty.

It was their roots.

Redwoods do not have deep taproots. In fact, their roots are surprisingly shallow — often only six to twelve feet deep. By themselves, that wouldn’t seem sufficient to hold up something so massive. And yet, these giants withstand coastal storms, heavy winds, flooding, and even earthquakes.

How?

Their roots grow outward — sometimes extending over a hundred feet — and they intertwine with the roots of other redwoods. Beneath the surface, unseen to the casual observer, there is a vast network of connection. They literally lock together. Their strength is collective.

A redwood does not stand alone.

As I listened, I couldn’t help but think of the Lord’s description of Zion in Moses 7:18: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind…”

Zion is not simply a place. It is a people — spiritually intertwined, united in Christ, and committed to lifting one another.

During Tisa’s valiant battle with cancer, I came to understand this in a way I never could have otherwise. It was our family, friends, and church community — disciples centered on Jesus Christ — who surrounded us. They brought meals. They sat quietly in hospital rooms. They prayed when we were too exhausted to form words. They lived the Savior’s teaching to lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. They mourned with us when we mourned.

There were days when our roots felt shallow. Days when faith felt fragile.

But we did not stand alone.

The strength of our church family, focused on Christ and bound by sacred covenants, held us steady through a long and sacred journey. I learned that enduring faith is rarely an individual achievement. It is often a collective one.

Serving now as a missionary, I see that same divine pattern unfolding here in South Africa. In humble garages, beneath simple canopies, and inside repurposed buildings, Saints gather because the Savior taught in 3 Nephi 18:22: “Ye shall meet together oft…”

They meet together to pray. They meet together to partake of the sacrament. They meet together to strengthen one another and to praise and learn of Christ.

The buildings may be simple. The congregations may be small. But every time the Saints gather, roots intertwine. Faith deepens. Zion grows.

That realization has caused me to reflect on my own root structure.

Am I nourishing it daily through sincere prayer?

Am I strengthening it through consistent scripture study?

Am I consciously utilizing the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to repent, refine, and move closer to Him and to Heavenly Father?

Am I providing Christlike service that binds my roots to others?

Am I thoughtfully partaking of the sacrament each week, renewing covenants that anchor me to the Savior?

These quiet, consistent practices are the unseen roots of discipleship. They are not flashy. They are not dramatic. But they are what allow us to stand tall when storms come.

The Lord is growing His people here — one heart, one mind, one covenant at a time.

Redwoods grow tall because their roots grow together.

As we examine our roots daily, nourish them intentionally, gather often, and anchor ourselves in Jesus Christ, we too will stand tall like the majestic redwoods.

Tisa—

Today would have been our 30th wedding anniversary.

February 17, 1996.

Marrying you, loving you, and raising a family with you has been the greatest blessing of my life. You noticed the overlooked, cheered for the struggling, and showed what Christlike love and service looked like in everyday life.

You were fierce in the truest sense of the word—fierce in faith, fierce in loyalty, fierce in love.

When cancer entered our story, you refused to let it write the ending. You chose faith over fear and hope over despair. The words of your personal mission statement still echo in my heart:

“I have faith in Him. I have hope through Him. I have fight in me.”

And you lived every word.

You fought—not just for yourself, but for our children, for me, and for so many others who found strength because you stood beside them. Even when you knew you might never ring the victory over cancer bell yourself, you celebrated every person who did. That was you—always lifting, always giving, always inspiring.

One of your favorite hymns I Will Follow God’s Plan reads, “My life is a gift; my life has a plan; My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began..” Tisa, your life was a gift—to our family, to your friends, and to everyone who felt your warmth and your laughter.

Though I miss you deeply, I am not without hope. I have faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. I know Heavenly Father has a divine plan for you, for our family, and for me. Jesus Christ carried us through the hardest seasons of life, and He continues to carry me and our family.

Through His Atonement, and through the Restoration of the gospel and priesthood keys, I know that families are eternal—and that our temple covenants did not end with death.

God be with you until we meet again, my love.

I recently heard a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball that caused me to ponder. He taught that we must not only leave Babylon, but also “give up the summer cottage there.” Babylon is often easy to recognize when it is loud and obvious. A summer cottage, however, suggests something quieter—something we do not live in, but return to because it feels comfortable, familiar, or safe.

A cottage is not rebellion; it is retreat.

President Kimball’s counsel reminded me that prophetic warnings are rarely meant to shame. They are loving invitations to examine our hearts and gently realign our lives with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Often, the greatest spiritual obstacles are not major transgressions, but small attachments that slowly compete for our attention.

This led me to think about the Book of Mormon distinction between the large plates and the small plates. The large plates recorded history, wars, and the outward affairs of a nation. The small plates were reserved for “the more part of the ministry”—testimony, doctrine, and the workings of God in individual hearts (1 Nephi 9:4).

Both were important, but only the small plates were focused entirely on Christ.

In many ways, Babylon and Zion present a similar contrast. Much of life requires attention to the “large plates”—daily family responsibilities, ambitions, work routines, and demands. But when those things begin to crowd out the “small plates” of our lives—quiet worship, prayer, scripture study, repentance, covenant keeping, and attentiveness to the Spirit—we may find ourselves spiritually malnourished.

President Russell M. Nelson posed several questions that feel especially relevant in this context:

Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let your will be swallowed up in His?

These questions are not about perfection. They are about priority—about whether we are making space for God to prevail and for the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion.

Our modern “summer cottages” may look like small compromises, distractions, or habits we justify because they seem harmless. Nephi warned that some are not led away dramatically, but are instead “lulled… into carnal security” (2 Nephi 28:21). Like the large plates, these things may not be sinful in themselves, but they can quietly eclipse what matters most.

The Savior’s invitation is always toward exaltation. As we center our lives more deliberately on Him, love for others grows, service becomes more natural, and the Spirit becomes easier to recognize. Mormon taught, “Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48).

I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He is the perfect example of a life wholly consecrated to Heavenly Father. As we choose Him more completely and let go of anything that pulls our hearts away, He blesses us with peace, direction, and the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. In Him, Zion becomes not just our destination, but our way of life.

What small but familiar “summer cottage” might the Lord be inviting me to release so I can feel His Spirit more fully?

Today, I had the opportunity to attend Rudy’s baptism, and I left feeling deeply moved—not just by the ordinance itself, but by the quiet acts of faith that led him there.

Rudy’s journey began long before entering the waters of baptism. It began with a gentle thought.

His neighbor, Amina, felt a simple impression to invite him to a youth activity. There was nothing dramatic about it. No grand speech. Just a generous thought—and the courage to act on it. Sister Camilla E. Kimball once taught, “Never suppress a generous thought.” Watching Rudy enter the waters of baptism, I realized how powerful that counsel truly is. One small, loving invitation created space for Heavenly Father to work in the life of a beloved son.

Before Rudy was baptized, Amina was invited to speak about the gift of the Holy Ghost. As she spoke, it became clear that her words were not just doctrine—they were testimony shaped by experience. She described the Holy Ghost as God’s promise to walk with us, reminding Rudy—and all of us—that the Lord never intended for His children to face life alone.

She testified that the Spirit often speaks quietly, through peace, clarity, and gentle reassurance. Not in dramatic moments, but in the stillness of the heart. As she spoke, I couldn’t help but see the connection: the same quiet Spirit that comforts and guides is the Spirit that prompts us to love, to share, and to invite.

Amina followed that quiet prompting. She didn’t know where it would lead. She didn’t know how Rudy would respond. She simply trusted the feeling that came with light and peace—and acted. That choice opened the door for Rudy to learn, to believe, and ultimately to make sacred covenants with God.

What stood out most to me was the truth that the Holy Ghost doesn’t just guide those who are preparing for baptism—it guides those who are willing to help others come unto Christ. The Spirit is just as active in the life of the inviter as it is in the life of the one being invited.

Rudy’s baptism was a powerful reminder that God works through ordinary people who listen to quiet impressions. Love doesn’t have to be loud. Sharing doesn’t have to be complicated. Inviting doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be sincere.

As I watched Rudy enter the covenant path, I felt gratitude for a Heavenly Father who speaks softly, for a Savior who keeps His promise to never leave us comfortless, and for the truth that when we act on generous thoughts, heaven multiplies them.

Sometimes the most life-changing moments begin with something as simple as an invitation—and the willingness to listen to the Spirit when it whispers, “Ask them.”