Ian Kyger: 6 Month Tribute

This is Ian Kyger:

At 19 years old he decided to meet with the LDS Missionaries.  All his life he made fun of Mormons even though he had friends that were members of the LDS church.  The first time he met with us he just wanted to Bible Bash.  He had no real intentions of wanting to know the truth at that time.  He brought his missionary friend from his church and an entire BINDER full of anti-Mormon literature. Intellectually we would lose this battle if we tried to "Bash."   I was a new Senior Companion and had only been out about 7 months; my companion was only out about 4 months.  

We didn't know the Bible nearly as well as he did.  But a testimony does not come from intellectually convincing someone or "Bible Bashing."  In fact, we didn't read a single scripture because the Spirit directed us otherwise.  Instead, we testified and brought all his branch questions back to roots of a testimony. Which is, if the Book of Mormon is true then “Jesus is the Christ; Joseph Smith is the prophet, seer, and revelator in these last days; and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is the Lord's Kingdom once again established on the Earth today preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.”  

We committed Ian Kyger to read the Book of Mormon... all research aside.  He said he would contact us if he wanted to meet again which most returned missionaries can attest that that usually means they won't ever contact the missionaries.  Months later everything was falling through.  The week was hard, but at the end of the night I prayed and specifically asked God for a miracle.  Not even 10 minutes later we got a call... from Ian Kyger.  

He wanted to meet with us the next day.  To make a long story short... he started to go to Young Single Adult activities and Institute... and most importantly he started gaining "real intent."  He was almost disowned by his family and kicked out of his house.  He lost many friends.

He was not only baptized...

but Ian Kyger is now Elder Kyger serving in the Colorado Denver North Mission.

What are you willing to sacrifice to come closer to God?  How do you remain a disciple of Christ when you are hated and persecuted by others?


Ian Kyger began serving his mission on November 16th.  Here's to over 6 months of service!

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

So I have this really awesome nephew... his name is Jayden... and he is 6 years old.

I never fully realized the impact I had in his life as "Uncle Chad" until experiences that have happened lately.

It started with the experience of helping him to try new things like wheat bread.  He said, "I don't like it."  I said, "You've never tried it."  He said, "It's gross."  I said, "I eat wheat bread, and that's how I got my mus-culls (as I flex)."  Now I don't have very big muscles but to a small 6 year old boy the little definition that I do have made his eyes light up real big.  Ever since then he ALWAYS wants a PB&J with what?... you guessed it... WHEAT bread!

Now this was only the beginning... It turned into something much greater.
One day we were driving in my car, just Jayden and I.  I think it was the day I picked him up for preschool.  I taught him to sing the song, "I Hope They Call Me On A Mission"... which he now loves to sing with me.

My fiance, Ally Best, and I sang some hymns with him and his little sister Kaylie Jo the other day and he had so much fun singing "I Hope They Call Me On A Mission"... in addition to beat boxing (another thing I taught him) while I sang that song as well.  He is the greatest little kid.

But here's the real miracle.  Every day since I have been back from my mission I have read the Book of Mormon with Ally Best.  Yesterday, Jayden saw his uncle and future aunt about to read in the scriptures and do you know what he said, "Can I read too?"  Of course we had him read with us!  I don't think he wanted to stop.  When we finally did he said, "Ok.  I remember where we stopped so we can read here tomorrow!"  The next day came and not only did Jayden come up to Ally and I and say, "Chad, can we read the scriptures?"... but his little sister Kaylie Jo wanted to have "Aunt Ally" help her to read a verse too.  I have never seen them as well behaved as they were when reading the Book of Mormon with us.  Though they may not have understood anything that was going on... the Spirit of God was there... and though they may not know what it was... Jayden and Kaylie Jo could feel it!