Elder Merrill: Online Missionary

I have never been very tech savvy but I do know how to use a computer. Before coming on a mission I knew that my ties in the cyber-world would be cut off, things such as facebook and other social networks. After I had been on my mission for about 16 months our mission was selected to do a pilot program which would include missionaries using Facebook and writing blogs. I didn't really know what to think of it at first but I was definitely pretty excited.

Elder Joshua Wood: Online LDS Missionary Work

My name is Elder Joshua Wood, and I'm currently serving in the Michigan Lansing Mission.  A few months ago, our mission president informed us that in addition to serving as full-time missionaries in our proselyting areas, a few missionaries would become part of a pilot program for missionaries, using Facebook and other internet services as a proselyting tool.  I was a little skeptical at first, admittedly, but I have since found the internet to be a very valuable contacting tool for missionary work.

Determined: Sister King LDS Online Missionary

I never thought that I would one day be a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day saints. It was something that I never planned on or had in store for myself but I am so happy that Heavenly Father had it in store for me. I instantly loved being a missionary the day I entered the MTC (missionary training center). I was nervous to be one of the Lord's missionaries because I was just young girl who I thought for sure no one would listen too. An amazing thing began to happen though, I began to understand more and more the importance of this church being that this is truly Jesus Christ's church. I began to understand how important it is that all must hear this message and that here in his church is where anyone can find the most happiness that our Father in heaven has for us. That was it, I was determined to continue on and serve the Lord and his children.

Sister Webb: LDS Online Missionary

I would be lying if I didn't say I was happy--my life is soooooooo good. I am spreading the good (best) word here in the Lansing Michigan Mission. I am a missionary of Christ's church. Sometimes I wonder; how did I get to be here? This is how: I grew up in Highland, Utah where my parents taught me about Jesus Christ; they taught me unconditional love, laughter, happiness, and especially peace through Christ. From a really early age I learned that I could actually have a personal relationship with God. As life goes, I had (and still have) trials--and when I do, Christ has always been there to pull me through. That is why I am here. I believe in Christ and I know that it is only through Him can we have true happiness, how could I keep that for myself? I once heard a saying that goes something like this, "those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." My family has been my greatest support through their examples to serves missions.

My mission here in Michigan is only a short time, my life can and will always be a mission to share the best thing I could--my testimony of Jesus Christ. What could be better?

With love,

Sister Webb

Lansing Michigan Mission

blog ...enjoy the journey

Elder Meldrum: LDS Online Missionary

I am Elder Meldrum. In 1990 I was born in the state of California to goodly parents. Now I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Michigan. I am currently serving in Grand Rapids. Being able to be a missionary has taught me so much and the experiences that I have are priceless. It usually is not easy, but that makes me grow. I hope that sharing some of these experiences will bless the lives of all those who partake. 

Second Wave of Approved Blogging LDS Missions: A Call to Help

Earlier I wrote about the New York Rochester Mission being the first to pilot LDS missionaries officially blogging. This week a second wave of missionaries from five other mission the California Santa Rosa Mission, Connecticut Hartford Mission, Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission, Michigan Lansing Mission, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission, and a special branch of the   Referral Center Mission (RC) Provo MTC  joined the approved blogging network.

Seven mission groups in total have come on board under the new blogging czar Michael Hemmingway.The RC missionaries are not an official mission yet so there are six missions participating and one branch of the MTC. There are about a dozen missionaries anticipated from each mission blogging or soon to be blogging and Facebooking.   The missions are in various stages from just beginning to having blogs and Facebook.  They are used a variety of methods from general Facebook pages to Facebook notes to single person blogs to group blogs. The blogs are mostly Blogspot but there are a few Word Press blogs. One mission the California Santa Rosa hasn't had time to put up any blogs. The California Santa Rosa Mission only has the mission president on Facebook so far.

LDS Online Missionaries: Michigan Lansing Mission

There were twenty-five missionaries involved in the LDS Online missionary pilot.  On December 13, 2010 President Marc Jones decided to reduce the missionaries down to six.  He left the ones on the university campuses which consists of six elders still using social media. The missionaries are Elder David Adams, Elder Jonathon Curley, Elder Tyler Merrill, Elder Ky Ransley, Elder Ryan Swapp, and Elder Joshua Wood. The other nineteen missionaries took down their Facebook pages and discontinued blogging.  I left the links to Facebook  and their blogs so you could see their involvement who actually participated.

As far as I can tell about nineteen of the twenty-four Michigan Lansing Mission missionaries had blogs.  Only six are active:

• Elder David Adams *
•  Sister Sara Barras
• Elder Hayden Ballard
• Sister Nicole Evelyn Bartley
• Elder Jonathan Curley *
• Sister Mary Beth Davies
•  Elder Nick Fugleberg
• Elder Chadd Johnson
• Elder A. David Meldrum 
• Elder Tyler Merrill *
• Sister Stephanie Miner
• Elder Spencer Riley
• Sister Elise Smith
• Elder Lloyd Sutton *
• Elder Ryan Swapp *
•  Sister Ashley Webb
• Elder Arrin Wray 
•  Elder Joshua Wood * 

*active blogs

 The following Michigan Lansing mission persons used social media:

President Marc Jones (Facebook)