Sooooo.... I'm Living In Bismarck Now With Four Personal Trainers

HEEELLLLOOOOO EVERYONE!!!! The great weekly email apostasy is over- hallelujah! I really am so sorry for not writing any weekly emails in like 6 weeks, life in Fargo was so crazy fun and always seemed to run into overtime. But as a quick update for those of you who may be a little confused by the email caption, I was recently emergency transferred from my beloved area and home of Fargo, ND (I call it the Fargo curse) to come back to the Mission office becoming a Social Media Assistant to the President, working full-time in the office and overseeing all social media endeavors and assets. Not going to lie this came as a major shock because this made my companion, a brand new missionary, end his training early and take my place as District Leader and trainer of another new missionary, and mean I would miss the baptism of a dear friend I had been teaching since I first came out on the mission. My new companion was the vehicle coordinator who only had six weeks until he flew home.  I will openly admit that I was bitter about leaving my dream area and dream companionship which accredited to 65% of all sacrament attendance in the Fargo area to a dingy office cubicle with buzzing fluorescent lights that give me a headache after spending ten hours a day staring at my laptop or talking in Zoom meetings. Yet through all of this I recognized this as a prime opportunity for me to exercise my faith in going back to an area and service field that I had left exactly a year ago. Some days have been harder than others, but I have found joy once again in piloting and further refining a truly divine tool the Lord has given to all of his missionaries. With the lord's help and your own personal willingness you can find both joy and purpose no matter your circumstance or location. Your Heavenly Father has a divine plan for you with character building accents weaved into your mortal journey that are never designed to break you, but to build you up to something you could never become in the premortal life. 

 

 

So about the caption... I am literally a twig in a sea of protein pumping, mass gaining, gym rats. They have all made it their personal transfer goal to turn me from mildly attractive lanky Elder McMullin to Bachelor in paradise, billionaire level, Sir Elder Adam Richard McMullin. My personal workout is written in three workouts and includes 150 pushups a day, 30 pullups, and four five minute planks. To top it all off every morning I am expected to drink an entire blender of muscle and mass gaining shake featuring two raw eggs, 3 scoops of powder, 3 bananas, 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of oats, and milk as needed to make it thin enough to drink. The first night was rough and featured me throwing up half of the bulk shake which may I remind you is 1,000 calories and 60g of protein by itself. I am now constantly sore and drinking tons of water but have successfully gained 5lbs of muscle in a week. So yeah I'll give you future updates about Elder McMullin's glow up and keep me in your prayers that I don't die through the process :)

 

 

I fell in love this week. The one massive perk of being companions with the vehicle coordinator is you get the best vehicles in the mission and have the opportunity to pick out and deliver all of the new vehicles. That is when she came into my life: Ruby Roxanne, a 2022 Toyota Tacoma in ruby red with black rims, lifted, TRD V8 engine, with a odometer reading of 2 miles. I love my life. She is now my personal vehicle and the supermodel of the NDBM automotive fleet. I have purposely written emails and hosted Zoom meetings in Ruby simply so I can enjoy the new car smell. It may sound like I'm over hyping her, but trust me she's that fantastic. 

 

 

Well dear friends that about wraps up the last couple of weeks of NDBM life. Know that I miss you all so much and feel your prayers in my life everyday. Please pray for me especially as I work on preparing the entire Light the World program for the mission, a tri-facebook page merge, advertising platform renovation, and Instagram renovation and sponsorship. So yah, I'm super busy but I absolutely love my mission and all of the memories I have the privilege of making here. Love you all so much and excited to see you in just eight months!!!!

 

 

Your favorite McM in the NDBM,

Elder McMullin :)

 

 

Photos!!!!

The End Of The Great Weekly Apostasy

HEEEEELLLLLLOOOOOOO AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!!!!!!! First off let me apologize for not having written a weekly update in (and I did the math here) five weeks!!! I really have no excuses except that Jamestown was rough, but that's in the past and we are looking forward with anticipation for the future!!! For those that are curious, yes transfer calls did come this week and..... Elder McMullin is going back to his birthplace of FARGO NORTH DAKOTA AND training a new missionary as well as continuing to be district leader in the Fargo Zone. In all honesty, I'm super excited because I've always wanted to train but also very nervous because white washing and training at the same time seem a little daunting, but as our good friend Matthew says "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). As for this week's spiritual thought with Elder McMullin I want to talk about a very intense experience that I was involved with and a very important lesson I learned from it. It was about 11:45pm and I was asleep when I got a phone call from a Elder who had been involved with pornography and was being black mailed by a pornstar threating to tell everyone what they did together to all 985 of his friends on Facebook. I had to force shut down and delete his entire Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram in roughly fifteen minutes. Luckily the Lord blessed us both and no content was sent out, yet for two weeks after I sat with this Elder through grueling interviews and even had to be interviewed by the area Presidency about the incident and my involvement. I learned through this entire experience the nuclear capacity that pornography in any shape or form has to decimate a life while radiating harmful after affets on those you so dearly love. Do not allow yourself to be even loosely connected with pornographic material. Any allowance of it at all is a breach of the law of chastity and a wedge of self destruction patiently waiting to split you in half. I boldy and lovingly invite you all, whether you're activity using pornography or have distanced yourself from it to revamp your dedication to remaining pure not in the world's standards but in the eternal exhalting standards of our Heavenly Father. At the same time, if you are actively struggling with pornography I invite you to reach out, grab hold of the atoning arm of Jesus Christ and begin making your way back to a life of reality and light rather than a color corrected, sound amplified, hormonal provoking, fake world. Know that I love you all so much and that you can always talk to me or your local priesthood leaders and find a friend that will be along your side as you overcome this extremely addicting challenge. 

 

 

TIFFANEY!!!! Okay, do you all want to hear the coolest story ever! About two weeks ago Elder Austin, Kinikini, Tonga and myself went to a joint community block party for Jamestown and Valley City. Not going to ngl we had SO much fun! We were able to go into a photo booth sponsored by the local baptist Church and take eighteen photos with the baptist pastor who was definitely surprised by how social, young, and effective the missionaries are for the "lds church". But towards the end of the party we were walking back to our cars when we got a prompting to talk to a group of people next to us. We tried talking to them and they actually flipped us off and told us to "keep walking you cultists". Trust me Elder McMullin was this close to throwing some serious hands until a lady yelled at me and asked if we were church people. Looking around I saw a lady with electric purple hair staring at me with a cold stare. I explained that we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that we are the restored Church of Jesus Christ. She gave us her number and said she has been looking for a church since her church was literally arsoned with a flaming bible (got to love North Dakota and their passion for all things religious) and would like to know more about our Church. The next day when we met with her she excitedly told us that she had the best sleep she has ever had since she was diagnosed with insomnia in 2012. She explained that she thought we were Jehova Witnesses and didn't want to be contacted until a person next to her told her that she needed to hear what we had to say and that we were good people that would lead her to true and lasting happiness. Immediately she looked behind her and said no one was there and knew that it was an angel from God. Sweet Tiffany is now on date for baptism for October second and wants over twenty of her friends to come and eventually join the Church as well. The Lord works in mysterious ways filled with miracles for those who open their mouths and act on spiritual promptings.

 

 

JOHN!!! Okay so John was a super nice guy we met at volleyball who said he would be down to meet with us and hear a message about Jesus Christ. Let me just say it was a total bait and switch. He whipped out a binder of notes of why our Church was false and every single Book of Mormon verse that seemed to contradict the bible or history itself. ***Que sarcastic Elder McMullin voice in my head***  "Wow, this is so Christlike to bash fellow followers of Jesus Christ and say I will burn in hell for my sins because Jesus Christs doesn't apply to people 'like me'. ***Back to our somewhat regularly scheduled letter*** This train of thought got me thinking about what Christ would do in this situation. Rather than fight back or get mad I simply took it, thanked him for his opinion, bore testimony and left. I don't know why but I felt so unsatisfied after that experience yet peaceful at the same time. Four days later John sent an essay of a text deeply apologizing for his actions and stating that we were extreme examples of Christ-like love and charity which he spit in the face. Immediately I felt satisfaction and was humbled to learn first hand that the spirit and God are far more influential and powerful than any raging storm of words and slurs that dissipate as we choose to follow his divine example. 

 

 

Speaking of Volleyball.... I had the amazing opportunity to play mud volleyball with a bunch of new friends we made in sand volleyball. The only funny part was that we were told it was going to be an all boy team, but when we arrived it was just us and our home girls, Brooke, Amelia, Angel, and Liz. Not only was it an amazing fun filled time but we took third, thereby winning $40 and some killer photos. AND IT GETS EVEN BETTER! One of our teammates (Brooke) started asking questions about our Church and asked if we could do a bible study together sometime, and that she always loved learning new things and finding truth on her own through prayer. If that's not the most elect thing you have ever heard then I don't know what is.

 

 

Well amazing friends and family I hope you know how much I love you and that I feel your support each and every day! Remember that you always have four friends; God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and Elder McMullin. Love you all so much and am looking forward to writing to you next week from Fargo!!!!

 

 

Love your favorite McM in the NDBM,

Elder McMullin ;)

 

 

Pictures!!! 

McMuffin Goes Boating With The Devil

HELLLLOOOOO AMMMAAAZZZINNNNG FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!! Shoot the fruit. It has been a week for the records! However, to stick to tradition, let's get this email started off right with a spiritual thought from none other than Elder McMullin!!! One of the great highlights of this week was being able to attend the baptism as well as the confirmation of my now best friend Blake Peterson. Blake comes from a less-active-part-member family and the changes that the gospel has brought into his home were amazing. Our lessons with him and his less active father started out mildly tense and forced, but through kindness and love a relationship was built creating a gateway letting Blake now become one of the newest members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Recently in my personal studies I have searched and studied the topic of baptism for the deep meanings and promises that are connected with this amazing ceremony. Mosiah 18:8-10 in the Book of Mormon lists the requirements and promises you make for the rest of your life sealed with the action of baptism. Some of the promises made include to "mourn with those that mourn '', "comfort those that stand in need of comfort", and "to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places' '. This creates a question that we all can and should ask ourselves. "Am I doing the very best I can to be true to the promises I made at my baptism"? Regardless of the answer, know that as you magnify these promises you make at baptism and renew on Sunday the Lord will abundantly bless in ways and areas you can only imagine and hope for. Brothers and Sisters let us follow the example of our savior as well as our newest member Blake in taking upon us the name of Christ as standing as a witness to Him in everything we do.

 

 

BLAKES BAPTISM!!! So Blake's baptism was absolutely amazing and featured more than twenty supportive non-member relatives as well as close to twenty active member families. Upon request I had baked two Blueberry Cheesecakes with chocolate art of the Savior and Blake for decoration and let me just say everyone was deeply impressed and now have four requests for the recipe and techniques I used to make a "stunning cake that would make Paul Hollywood Jealous" (Sister Peterson). Unfortunately the water heater in the Church went out while we were filling up the font making it so that the top was boiling hot, middle lukewarm, and bottom frostbite inducing. I swear every baptism I have had on the mission so far has had water temperature or alligator issues! Following the baptism the Petersons invited us over to a fish fry with the family which was actually a ton of fun and featured a hour long nerf gun hide and go shoot battle that lasted for nearly an hour and a half with all of Blakes cousins and siblings. Needless to say I look forward to continuing nurturing this sweet family and inviting even more members of their family to begin walking the path of Jesus Christ!

 

 

Don't be too alarmed by the caption! This week I had the truly amazing opportunity to travel up to Devils Lake, ND and film a video for Elder Bevell, a new missionary that I ironically drove to Devils Lake in the first place. Both Elder Stilwell and Elder Bevell are spiritual giants and have miraculous conversion stories that need to be shared to everyone in the world. Just to give you a brief idea, right out of Highschool Elder Bevell started working for a sales and credit boosting company, of which he excelled and ended up becoming one of the top sellers in the entire Arizona area. Consequently the company invited him to stay in a 8,975 square feet Penthouse in Tempe,AZ with three other top sellers for the company. Unfortunately as time went on, his lifestyle changed and in his own words he acknowledges that he "did every sin possible, except murder, five different ways", however he was able to change through the Atonement of Christ and now proudly testifies of Christ as a missionary at twenty-two. At the end of this exchange we all agreed that we are all now best friends and have to be companions before Elder Bevell leaves for the Netherlands (luckily Elder Stilwell and I are permanently assigned here). Seriously grew so close to these guys over such a short time and have now promised to be roommates with them at BYU and start a company together. Also as a huge bonus, they are both major bodybuilders and have made an oath that they are going to make me jacked before I go home on my mission. Love these Elders!

 

 

TRANSFER CALLS!!!! I can hardly believe that it has been six weeks since we last waited for transfer calls, but sweet mercy here we are again. Drum roll please.... Elder McMullin is..... staying in Jamestown with Elder Austin while Elder Brown leaves for South Africa. I guess the Lord has more planned for me in Jamestown so hopefully in future emails I will be able to tell you even more miracles from Jamestown. Speaking of miracles... PATTI CAME TO CHURCH and really seemed to like it, except for the fact that we don't have very many crosses in our buildings. I love Patti (I now call her Grandma Patti) so much and hope that maybe with this transfer we will be able to baptize her into the true Church of Christ.

 

 

Well amazing friends and family, I don't really know what else to say except for I love and miss you all every passing transfer!!! Your sweet and thoughtful notes really do go such a long way and I hope that I can partially portray the extreme love I have for each one of you!!! Love ya!

 

 

Your favorite McM in the NDBM

Elder McMullin :-)

 

 

Pictures!!!!

1-5) Devils Lake Pictures (A taste of what the video will hopefully look like)

The rest: Blakes Baptism!!!

McMuffin Attends A Baptism, Becomes A Salesman For Family Search, And Ward Chef

HELLLOOOO EVERYONE!!!!!! Hahahaha this is soooooooo embarrassing because it's almost been an eternity since I've written y'all and know that it's not because I don't love you, but simply because I keep losing track of time. Regardless, let's keep the past in the past and focus on the other various and exciting developments in Jamestown, but first.... A SPIRITUAL THOUGHT FROM ELDER MCMULLIN!!!! I recently heard quote that has really resonated with me points out that "you can't have a million dollar dream on a minimum wage work ethic". This principle of determination and grit can be applied to both the spiritual aspects of our life as well as the income based physical attributes. 1 Corinthians 3:8 agrees as well as reemphasizes stating: "Every man [and woman] shall receive his own reward according to his own labor". It simply doesn't matter how talented, persuasive, or even charismatic you are, no success or exhalation will occur unless you have a foundation of effort and determination. Physically this means, you get up everyday with a desire to make the very best of the day the Lord has blessed you with for the betterment of yourself and those around you. Being a missionary I have seen so many people who are depressed/discouraged because they simply don't work or put themselves out in the character building field of life. Spiritually we magnify our callings to the very fiber and assist in anyway we can in helping others get through and endure the refining fire of this life. To put this simply you don't get what you wish for, but rather you get what you work for. Do you want to be a better spouse, teacher, missionary, employee, sibling, or friend? Don't aimlessly wish upon a star hoping with all your heart things will work out. Put some skin in the game, put your head down, and work. I promise you both as a missionary as well as a fellow passenger in life, work is a catalyst for change and miracles. 

 

 

So about the caption... our sweet friend Melissa Shclect was baptized!!! Let me tell you there is no greater joy in this world than seeing someone you love so deeply enter the water of baptisms and make changes in their life to walk the path of peace and joy. Melissa's baptism was absolutely beautiful with the crown jewel of her baptism being the Bridgeton River where her grandfather baptized her. Following the beautiful baptismal ceremony we had a wonderful ward gathering featuring hot dogs, crazy golf, and a special coconut dark chocolate raspberry cake baked by yours truly as a gift for sweet Melissa. Let's just say the beauty of baptism and sweetness of the cake will go down in history for the Jamestown ward. 

 

 

As for being a sales rep for familysearch.org we need to start at the very beginning. Every year in Fargo there is the massive Red River Carnival that lasts for two weeks and has roughly 48,000 attendants. The mission was able to book a booth location at the fair where we as missionaries could introduce others to the best genealogy tool in the industry. Unfortunately looking at the statistics for people interested it wasn't too successful. On average each companionship would get into about thirteen conversations about Family Search in a four hour span. Disappointed and mildly frustrated we received the call that they wanted us to run the booth one more time as a tester to see if it would be more resourceful if we just closed the booth. Let me just say I was absolutely in my element. As mentioned, each missionary averaged thirteen contacts where as we successfully contacted one hundred and sixty seven people, found ten people who would be interested in hearing a message about Jesus Christ and gave away two copies of the Book of Mormon. The Zone Leaders were dumbfounded and immediately called President Camp asking if I could leave my area for a week and permanently run the booth in Fargo. Unfortunately he said no, but jokingly commented that I need to be careful after my mission because 23 and Me or Ancestry.com might kidnap me to improve product sales.

 

 

Finally, I am excited to announce that we will also be having the baptism of Blake Peterson this week and that Elder McMullin will be baking two Blueberry Cheesecakes in honor of the event. However, after the incident with Melissa's cake at her baptism, I am now receiving requests from members in the ward for cake decorating tips, recipes, and even custom orders for desserts for birthday parties. Of course and unfortunately I am too busy with more pressing matters such as preaching repentance and baptizing converts, but it's still fun and super cool to know that I have made an impact in the ward. 

 

 

Well sweet friends and family I am so delighted that I could update you on the happenings of the Dakotas and know that I love you all so much and am always thinking about you! It's hard to believe that this time next year I will be home and living it up again with you all, but for now stay strong, keep working hard, and stay close to God! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!

 

 

Your favorite McM in the NDBM,

Elder McMullin

 

 

Pictures!!!

1-2) Zone Pday Pics of us brushing our teeth and smiling 

3-5) Red River Fair and Fam History!

6-10) Melissa's Baptism

11) Lunch with my favorite senior couple (We worked together in the office for seven months)

12) The Cutest dog ever named Jesse James!

Leadership Assignment To District Leader

05 July 2021

Elder Adam McMullin 

800 12TH AVE NE APT 205

JAMESTOWN, ND  58401-6543



 

Dear Elder McMullin:

You are hereby assigned to serve as a District Leader. Your area will be the Jamestown District. The purpose of this letter is both to offer congratulations and to identify your responsibilities.

Your major responsibility is to be an example.  Other missionaries will observe your actions and from that example, pattern their own behavior.  You will interview candidates for baptism who have been taught by missionaries within your district.  Zone Leaders or another District Leader will interview those whom you teach. I suggest you review pages 205 through 208 in P.M.G. for direction in relation to conducting interviews.

Other duties of the District Leaders are:

1.)  Set an example for missionaries through study of the scriptures and the gospel, obedience, hard work, proselyting skills, and other aspects of missionary work.

2.)  Carry a full proselyting load and maintain a model area as you pursue your purpose of a missionary.

3.)  Supervise, teach, and inspire other missionaries, strengthen their faith, and help them receive the blessing of the Holy Ghost.

4.)  Plan and conduct regular District meetings (see P.M.G. pg. IX). Note: With permission of Zone Leaders, face-to-face meetings can be replaced by telephone conferences.

5.)  Conduct exchanges with missionaries in your District.

6.)  Look after the well-being of missionaries.

7.)  Demonstrate effective planning, including vehicle use.

8.)  Work in harmony with Zone Leaders. Report concerns to Zone Leaders or the Mission President.

9.) In your weekly letter to the President, report on exchanges and update the status of the companionships and areas!

Elder McMullin, thank you very much for your willingness in accepting this responsibility. As you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

 

 

Scott L. Howell

Mission President

SLH:rn

 

 

P.S. – President Howell is the one who issued your call to serve as a district leader.

I apologize for getting this email out so late.  You will now be serving under the direction of President Camp.

OOOOOHHHHH WERE HALF WAY THERE...

OOOOHHHHHH LIVING ON A PRAYER!!! 

 

 

HELLO AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!! I know I can hardly believe it either, but I have passed a year mark on my mission which is so out of this world crazy because it feels like literally yesterday I put on this name tag! I guess what they say is true when you're doing something you love, time really does fly by. For my spiritual thought today I would like to talk about something that has been taught to me ever since I was a wee little lad and that is the power and need for strong finishers. "There has always been a need for those persons who could be called finishers. Their ranks are few, their opportunities many, their contributions great" (Thomas S. Monson). What prevents us all from being finishers? Is it fear? Lack of determination maybe? I personally think that it is a lack of self worth, meaning the individual that is giving up fails to see their potential and exercise the needed effort in completing the task at hand. Do you all know how amazing you are, the things you've seen and done, both before this life and currently? You all choose the Plan of God, the very same plan that would allow you to receive a physical body and experience pain emotional, physical, and mental. You unflinchingly choose this path because you knew the inheritance it brought, the ability to have eternal life with a family you could love for forever. Yes, you and everyone else on the planet made that decision. Now I beg the question, with knowing this divine inheritance why do we give up half-way? You forget who you are. My dear brothers and sisters don't start something that you don't intend to finish or in the words of Jedi Master Yoda: "Do or Do Not. There is no try". This valuable principle has applicability to all aspects of your life. If you're currently in school, work hard and graduate strong. If you're on a mission, put aside thoughts of home or pending relationships and throw your whole heart into the work. If you're living and breathing (which should be all of you) roll your shoulders back and finish nobly your test for eternal happiness and peace. I hope to see you all with me at the finish line.

 

 

I have gained international missionary status! This week the Fargo Elders (Elders Kinikini, Nuguyen, Gleason, Morrill, Leonard, and Higginson) and I (Elder McMullin) were able to go and do service at the International Peace Gardens in Canada! We literally drove for twelve hours and got literally no sleep because we were up too late each night, oops, but I'll tell you it was a couple of the funnest days of my mission. My group (Elder Gleason, Leonard, and the Senior Missionaries Cook and Clark) was in charge of repainting a bathroom out in the middle of nowhere as well as finishing the entrance sign into the peace gardens while the other group power washed out an old gazebo. We were also able to take a two hour tour of the peace gardens and visit some of the pretty cool sights like the international peace chapel, where we all sang "I believe in Christ" and "Ye Elders of Israel". Let's just say some tears were shed from everyone in that sweet chapel. All in all it was an amazing trip, but I was even more excited to go back to work in my area.

 

 

MIRACLES!!! Even with our amazing Canada trip we were still able to see some amazing miracles including the finding of Quantia and Richard. We are currently teaching this sweet lady named Patti who we are currently helping restore her garden while helping her find the true Church of Christ. Well, completely out of the blue she said she wanted to start feeding us twice a week and invite her friends over to also participate in our studies before we go work in the Garden. This week she brought Quanitia and Richard who both want to be more active in finding a Church and coming closer to Jesus Christ and would like to learn more about our beliefs and why we are the true and restored Church of Jesus Christ. Love them both so much and am so grateful to be able to teach them! We also were able to meet this super cool guy named Trevor who invited us over to his 4th of July Karaoke party which we more than happily showed up to. Let me just say that he was so happy to see us, especially since there were only like four other people there and was able to convince us to do one Karaoke song each. Elder Austin, who did choir and theater in high school, sang "Can't help falling in love with you" by Elvis Presley while Elder Brown sang Umbrella by Rhianna. Then it was my turn. Before the music even started I dedicated my song to the Church and invited everyone to learn more about why it was the true and Restored Church of Jesus Christ... and then the lovely synth noises of "Take on me" by A-ha came raging over the speakers. The "crowd" started clapping... and then I whipped out my dance moves and started dancing all over the stage while singing at the top of my lungs. Let's just say the "crowd" went wild and I am now currently being circulated across multiple Karaoke forums. At the end of my performance Trevor said we all brought the Holy Spirit and that he would love to learn more about our Church and the message that we share. KARAOKE CONVERTS.

 

 

Well sweet family and friends, this about wraps it up for this week and the excitement of Elder McMullin in Jamestown and Canada. Know that I love you all so much and see the potential of eternal life in each and everyone of you! Finish strong my friends and have fun while doing it!

 

 

Love your favorite McM in the NDBM

- Elder McMullin

 

 

Pictures!!!!

1) Meet the new mission President of the NDBM: President and Sister Camp

2-7) Canada!!!