Hey y, all! This past week was crazy 🤪. I came down with COVID-19 on Wednesday, July 26th.

It all started Wednesday last week when I had a sore throat. Then once Thursday came around I started feeling severe congestion and a tremendous pain in my chest. I asked my companion Elder Carn for a priesthood blessing, which he gave to me. My symptoms continued through Friday evening until my roommates took me to Summit Regional Medical Center to the ER that late evening in Show Low, Arizona. While there, they performed an Echocardiogram test on my heart. Turns out the wall that was protecting my heart was being attacked. So the doctors kept me there for 2 days and 2 nights.

I am truly grateful for this learning experience because while at the hospital I had time to think and ponder. In April 2010, during General Conference, President Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the First Presidency gave a talk called HEALING THE SICK. I listened to this talk the second night I was in the hospital because I couldn’t sleep very well. It was a wonderful experience to hear what he had to say.

In his talk, he spoke about the powers of the priesthood and the blessings that come from keeping the Ten Commandments. He said:

“Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques. We use nutrition, exercise, and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health.

The use of medical science is not at odds with our prayers of faith and our reliance on priesthood blessings. When a person requested a priesthood blessing, Brigham Young would ask, “Have you used any remedies?” To those who said no because “we wish the Elders to lay hands upon us, and we have faith that we shall be healed,” President Young replied: “That is very inconsistent according to my faith. If we are sick and ask the Lord to heal us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the Gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge, and [then] to ask my Father in Heaven…to sanctify that application to the healing of my body.”

Of course, we don’t wait until all other methods are exhausted before we pray in faith or give priesthood blessings for healing. In emergencies, prayers and blessings come first. Most often we pursue all efforts simultaneously. This follows the scriptural teachings that we should “pray always” and that all things should be done in wisdom and order.”

Sunday came and I was told by my nurse that I was going to get discharged from the hospital that day around 12-1. And so I did. At the moment, I am quarantined back at the Sundance house in my study room away from my companion and roommates. 😃 😊

It’s been hard not being able to visit members and share our message. What’s crazy is that since I couldn’t go out to visit the members, the members brought me vitamins and groceries from Walmart. It’s just amazing how much missionaries are looked out for and loved here in Snowflake Arizona. It’s super tough though I am not going to lie. Being away from family for two years and getting Covid is super hard. But once we reached out to the members of the church, they care for you and bring you things that make you feel loved.  it’s just amazing!!!!  I can testify that we have some good members up here. I am grateful for these members and how much they help to further the work of the Lord.

I am so grateful for all the prayers that have been offered on my behalf. I am feeling 3x better than before thanks to all the care and support I received and will continue to receive.

Thank you all for being there for me. I did feel alone at times, but knowing that I was being thought of, really helped. I love you all and have a blessed, healthy, safe week.

✌️ ❤️ 😎

Elder Baldwin