01/29/2018 - Through Christ We Will Overcome Our Imperfect Season in Mortality

Well another good week. They are all good when you are serving the Lord. But nonetheless I will get right down to it. Our investigator is doing well. She wants what we are teaching and she has such real intent, probably more than anyone I have ever taught. The hard part right now is we’ve got to slow down a bit so she gets things. But she said yesterday she would love to be baptized. So we can absolutely work for that. Just no date yet, it didn't seem quite right. But it will come I know it. She is awesome though and loves the church!  It has been cool because the ward is equally excited. I think almost everyone asks about how she is doing when we go for lessons. It is great.

We have such solid leadership in Cardston.  Our bishops are literally the best and our ward mission leaders are awesome. So this week we were invited to the Priesthood leadership meeting. It was the bishops and ward mission leaders. We talked about ward mission plans and we have some great leaders. We were able to talk with one of our brand new bishops about it after the meeting and he expressed a great desire to get a good one. And we were able to build his trust in us too. We were also able to talk with another one, he too expressed similar desires, especially to get us someone to teach. Our other two are awesome as well. We had one bishop get so excited for our new investigator and asked if he could come to lessons. He came to two this week. It was great. And our other bishop is so awesome as well. He and the ward mission leader have set up a system for us to be in 2 members homes minimum each week in that ward. It is so awesome. I love our wards!

Other than that our week has nothing too spectacular. We are working hard, like always and we are going to be blessed. But I wanted to share some thoughts I have been thinking about this week. Since in Cardston I have kinda stressed a bit about things I just shouldn't stress about. Like me being a Zone Leader, I have been a wreck on making sure everything I do is perfect because people look up to me. But my thoughts were, I am trying to be something I am not. We, I, am not perfect. So I was reading Elder Holland’s talk this week: "be ye therefore perfect, eventually." And I wanted to point out a few thoughts I had. First was we cannot point our fingers at others. None are perfect. I know that I am not. That creates an environment that does not do well with leading (like in my case). Next was, we are not perfect. Everyone knows this, but most importantly, I think we should remember that our father in heaven knows this too. Let’s think about the plan of salvation. To anyone who served a mission I ask you, when you taught the lesson and talked about why we are here what did you say? Did you say we are here to be perfect? NO! Never was that any part of our fathers plan. We are not sent here to be perfect, that was the Adversaries plan. We, Children of our Heavenly Father, were sent her to REPENT. Let me repeat that, we are sent here to repent. That was the plan, to come here to learn about our Savior. So application, how is this knowledge going to bless us? Let it go. What ever it is. Whether it is you feel you never measure up, or that you have made mistakes that you feel you cannot feel forgiven for, the answer brothers and sisters, is to let it go and turn to the Savior. We should never strive to be perfect, it is simply not our purpose. What we should strive for is our Savior, and glory in the fact that through him we will overcome our imperfect season in mortality. I love my Savior Jesus Christ, I know that he lived and died for me and for you. I love him and as I strive to be like him, and represent him, I hope that you do too. I know that he helps and I know that we can turn to him in our daily situations. So my invitation this week is to spend a little time focusing on him, whether it be in the Temple, the scriptures, or on your knees. Draw closer to him. Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Ollis

In an email to mom: I love it here mom, the people are so awesome! Also I learned this week one cow could be worth up to 100,000 dollars. I might just move up here and open a ranch haha! Seems like it is pretty good money! Also I can crack a bullwhip now better than you would expect. Another Elder in our zone is going to show me how to make them and I am going to make one. It is cool!

01/27/2018 - More Good News from Canada!

This sweet sister reached out to Elder Ollis' dad on Facebook and left this nice message about Elder Ollis!  We just can't thank the wonderful people of Canada who send messages like these to let us know of the great work the missionaries are doing!

Sister Kristy Sims sent this picture via email with the following message: Elder Ollis and Elder Crockett were at our house tonight leaving a great message. We gave them a basket full of stuff and cereal from the 7th ward Activity days girls that they brought as part of a missionary activity. Awesome missionaries

Another text message and picture from Sister Gen Smith: Another awesome night with Elder Ollis and Elder Crockett! Pizza and a great message with the Smith's and Atwood's! We sure appreciate him!

How we love the amazing people of Canada that take good care of my son and the many missionaries who serve there!  Many blessings to you all!

01/23/2018 - We found a new investigator!!! First one in Cardston!!!

Hello Everyone. 

So this was an exciting week. We found a new investigator!!!! It was awesome. We had dinner a few weeks ago with our relief society president and she mentioned that there was a lady she invited to church who had just moved in. Well she ended up coming to church and so we set up a lesson to meet her. It was awesome. She is a single mom and has two kids. She has a lot of troubles she is going through but she gave up smoking recently and she loved church. She even went to the relief society activity during the week, came to church again this week (she said she was so excited for it) and went to the self reliance classes Sunday night too. It was really cool. We were able to teach her portions of everything. She is really hard to teach as she is really scattered in her thoughts but we are really excited to have an investigator. First one in Cardston!!!!

We also were able to visit a PM family last night out on the Reservation, in a town called moses lake. It was great.  The lady is a member and she seems open for us to come back and teach her and get her back to church and she has two boys that are unbaptized and a husband who could investigate. We are really excited. It was unfortunate though, we (ok it was me, I am the Driver) got stuck in the snow right in front of their house last night, so we had the boys in the family help us dig, and then drag our car out of the snow with their SUV. I felt so dumb, but to be honest is was a great time to talk with the boys in that family. Sometimes the lord works in mysterious ways. We are working hard here. We have some things going for us and we just need to get them. We are going to find one more investigator this week and are excited. 

01/22/2018 - Digging ourselves out of the snow

A couple more thoughts, we had MLC this week and I got to admit I am really excited for Smart phones! They have so many things that will help us do the work of the Lord. But that is a wrap.

Elder Ollis

01/17/2018 - Missionary Leadership Council

In an email to mom: Hey mom, I can't believe I hit a year too. It is crazy. Time is going way to fast. Our p-days are super boring to be honest. We are the only Elders in Cardston, the closest elders are about 45 minutes drive. So we really only see them once a month. But we usually shop, email, and then spend time at the church. Elder Crockett will play the piano and I just kinda listen. But that is mostly all we do because it's too cold to just be outside. Kinda lame but that is what it is. Thank you for sharing about the book of mormon reading. I am like that too. I can't get very far because it is just too good of a book. One thing I thought about this week that I had never realized. We know that Lehi was of the Tribe of Manasseh, and Ishmael was of Ephraim, both tribes were present, well the nephites find the city of Zarahemla and the people of Mulek. Mulek was the son of the king Zedekiah, and it is safe to say then that the people of Mulek were of the tribe of Judah, I had never thought of that but it makes sense. You learn something everyday. Thanks for the pictures of my dog. I miss him a ton. Also the weather has been so nice. It was like 3-5 degrees all week and will be all this week too. 

09/16/2017 - Ask Yourself, How Can I Apply This?

Hello everyone!!!!

Well it was a wonderful week but a tough one too. I was sick, I had a slight fever lots of the week and could barely breathe, but nothing stops the work of the Lord. So we continued regular and I am OK now mostly. But it was a good week. We were able to do a lot of great work and try and find as many people as possible. We have about 5-6 really solid potentials we are trying to get. The hold up is timing, such as they are working up north for a few more weeks. Or we have to go back with fellowship, or they are gone. So it will be an awesome week we have one lesson planned with a lady who really is ready for the gospel. She moved into the ward recently and our relief society president dropped by to visit her and invited her to church. She came and felt like this is what she needed.  So we are going back this week. Only hang up might be she could be a member, after all this is Cardston, so we are hoping she is an investigator but if not we will still teach her. Also update on that guy from last week, he is to be baptized on February 17th! And just wait I have one more half to come

Second Email:

Heyyyyo again everyone, sorry it is in two pieces but we were able to watch the announcement and the press conference and I didn't want to be distracted by emailing It is one extra opportunity to hear from the Prophet of God, and therefore from our Heavenly Father. But let me just let you all know about some thoughts I have had. First was I didn't say anything about President Monson last week and I have to say something. We were able to watch his funeral. President Miles felt it was important for us to watch it since President Monson called us on missions. But it was wonderful, I am so grateful for his service and for calling me on a mission. I won't ever forget President Monson, he is a wonderful man and he was the Lords servant, the Prophet of God. But remember that I whole-heartedly sustain and support President Neilson as the new Prophet, and his counselors. I will do all I can to support them in their callings (that is what a sustaining is for, right?) I loved what they said, particularly President Neilson’s remarks on him serving with all he has left. Similarly, I am here to serve the Lord, I love this Gospel and it is so wonderful to share.

But real quick I wanted to share something I have learned on my mission. I hope you think about it and apply it, because that is key. We were in Sunday school this Sunday and talked about the council in heaven. The teacher asked who was there and someone says we were all there. Of course we know this is true, and someone else remarked about how many there must have been. And up goes a hand of a very kind lady in the back. Her remark was along the lines of we must have had some technology we don't have now to be able to fit all of us in one area to hear the council. Now I am meaning no disrespect to her, so please follow me with this thought. But I am pointing out that her comment has absolutely no relevance to us in any way. That was my thought, and there is something so sweet and simple about it, in everything. Sometimes we get caught up in the details of things, such as technology in the pre earth life, or perhaps another one such as did Adam have a belly button. But that simply isn't important. What is important is understanding the principles we can live and use in our daily. Such as the words of Isaiah, many are confused about the hard language and comparisons he uses throughout. But it is easy to understand the purpose, that he is showing us that the Lord never forgets us. And when we apply that knowledge, by asking for help because he is there always, we will feel the spirit and receive strength through the Atonement. So this week, if you think about anything, ask yourself, how can I apply this? Love you all have a good one!

Elder Ollis

01/09/2018 - I Love the Lord. He Is Always There and Does Answer Our Most Humble Desires

Well hello everyone!!!

Well to update you on the week. To be honest this has been such a strange week. I am excited since the holidays are over to get back to some normal things. Stores will be open again and more people will be home. I am excited. But nonetheless we saw some cool experiences. During our weekly planning session this week, me and Elder Crockett felt we should set some better goals. Cardston is really hard because there isn't much work with non members. But there are people here to bring closer to Christ, through baptism. I know it. We don't have any investigators now, but we set a goal to have a baptism on the 24th of Febuary. Nearly 2 months away, enough time to find, teach, and baptize someone. So we have this goal in mind. 

We decided to fast for it and invited some members to join us in this fast. Well the lord works in mysterious ways. While at church a member approaches us before priesthood and says "Elders, my father in law wants to take the discussions, and has read the book of mormon and is currently trying to finish doctrine and covenants. He is excited to hear about the gospel!" It was so cool, the Lord really does provide! But haha, there was a catch. The man lives in a retirement center that we don't cover. So we aren't going to be able to teach him. Which is hard, but I do believe that was an answer to our fast and prayers. Whether it was with us or not, it is someone coming unto Christ. I just want you all to know that I love the Lord. He is always there and does answer our most humble desires. Love you all! 

Elder Ollis

In an email to Elder Ollis' dad: It is hard but we keep working. I love this work and I love the members, we are furthering the work in this area and that is the most important thing.  

Please also send this picture to Brother Sudweeks, I met Ryan Merkley and his family!  He grew up with Brother Sudweeks!  Small world!

01/05/2018 - Ryan Merkley and family, members who know Elder Ollis' bishopric counselor at home

01/02/2018 - Cardston Canadians are So Very Kind!

Post from mom:  I received two emails today from more Cardston Canadians who are watching out for my missionary son!  How grateful we are for these good people who send pictures and messages our way!

01/02/2017 - Elder Ollis and Elder Crockett with Wes & Nardene Neilson

Hi, just a quick note to let you know how wonderful it was to have your sons in our home.  They left us with a message on baptism and we felt the spirit so strongly.  I am sure you know as we know now what fine young men they are.  Have a great holiday season.  Take care.   Wes & Nardene Neilson

Just so you know, Mark Broadhead, your neighbour is my, Nardene's, first cousin.  His Dad and my Dad are brothers. They have both passed on but we have stayed close as a family and have spent many countless days staying with Mark and Karen who so generously gave us a place to stay when we took our 3 sons to the MTC as well as other times.  They have always spoke so highly of you so it didn't surprise us when we met your son which confirmed the goodness of your family through him.  Small world.   

Hello Sister Ollis,

We had the pleasure of having Elder Ollis in our home for dinner tonight and he shared a wonderful message and testimony. Thank you for sharing him with us. He mentioned that he was not very diligent about sending home pictures so I twisted his arm into letting me take a couple to send to you.

Happy New Year!

Carrie Little

01/01/2018 - Just Chillin' Up Here in the Norf.....Literally, at -37!!!

Well hello everyone.

Super weird this is monday and pday again. But its only for this one week so things will go back to normal. But we had a nice chilly week. So yesterday it was -37!!!!! It was a great drive to church, my hands nearly froze to the wheel haha! It was great too because we had tons of ice inside our car, especially on the floor mats. So elder Crockett pulls one out to get the ice off and the rubber just broke in half. it was pretty cold. It should warm up tomorrow. Today it is only -22 but the wind chill is supposed to be -40!!! So hope it doesn't pick up because it wasn't windy this morning.

But today is the new year, so I officially enter my dark year. It is the one full year in your mission where you don't see home. But I basically have two so its all fun. Today is also Elder Crockett’s birthday so happy birthday to him. I am super happy to be serving with him. he is a great Elder and we have done some awesome work. This week we had some cool stuff happening. We are really moving the work forward but we haven't found anyone to teach yet but we are close. I want this so bad!! We were on exchanges again this week and I was in Pincher Creek. It was cool, because we found a new investigator there. it is so easy, but really hard in cardston. It was funny though we had a fun experience while we were working off our part member families list and dropped by the house. A lady answers the door and we ask if she is the person we were looking for. She said no, they moved away over 25 years ago!!! Haha somehow that name has stayed on our list. But anyway that is about it for the week. Just Chillin’ up here in the Norf.

Elder Ollis

12/20/2017 - Elder Crockett, Elder Ollis' companion

In an email to mom when he was asked to explain “so easy, but really hard”: That was humor a little bit. It seems just easy else where but incredibly hard in Cardston. Let me explain our odds right now. And I am not discouraged I have the faith we can find but just listen. We have a ward map of one of our in town wards. I counted the non-member homes and it was around 12. So 12 people we have to try and get to accept the gospel. Now multiply that by 5. So 60 non-members roughly that we get to try and find. So that is what is difficult. Trying to get around the non-members. If you and the family have any ideas let me know.

Fun note from an email to dad: Fun connection to Bishop Bectell, the bishop of 4th ward. He served his mission in salt lake, his first area covered where our home is. Super cool. But the best part was he grew up in Calgary, 13th ward. Which was my first area. So cool. We lived in each other’s greenie areas!!!

Another note from Mom: We also received another text message on 12/31/2017.  They didn't share their name but we so appreciate the kind people who send us pictures of Elder Ollis!