Hello:) August 26, 2013
It's the last week
in August already?! Man that's crazy. I think time goes by faster when
you're wearing a name tag...
A lot of our
investigators couldn't meet and everyone is getting ready to go back to school.
Therefore, YSA people are really busy. But what else is
new :) We did a lot of finding and met some really cool people this
week! Rosalie was my favorite. (If I'm allowed to have favorites!) We had a
dinner appointment at a member's home and she fed us a delicious meal! We went
across the street to eat dessert with her non member neighbor, Rosalie.
She is probably one of the most incredible people I've ever met. We ate mile
high peanut butter pie and talked about faith in Jesus Christ. Her testimony of
prayer was amazing! I read her my favorite verse in the Book of Mormon, Moroni 7:48 about
praying with all the energy of heart. She LOVED it! Sister Crandall and I wrote
our testimonies in the front of the Book of Mormon and gave it to her. She was
really excited to read it! Before we left, she took our hands and prayed with
and for us. The spirit was so incredibly strong! She prayed for our safety, our
families, our health. It was one of those prayers where you know, that they
know who they are talking with. After she prayed, she had our member friend say
a prayer. She didn't let go of our hands when she finished her prayer. She
looked at our friend, and said, "These girls have a special spirit with
them. Just look at their eyes." She said another prayer for Sister
Crandall specifically and then another for me. We all left feeling uplifted. It
is experiences like this that show the goodness and love of God. In that
moment, I knew one hundred percent that my Heavenly Father knows and
loves me personally. He knows and loves Sister Crandall, Rosalie, and our
member friend each individually. He is aware of heartaches, sorrows, joy,
pain, doubts, fears. Everything. I am so grateful to have met Rosalie and to
have been able to feel God's love in her home. I'm confident she will be taught
and baptized. I just wish she was YSA so we could keep meeting with her!
We had another miracle
yesterday. As we walked into sacrament meeting the first counselor in the
Bishopric pulled us aside and pointed out a blonde girl sitting by herself on
one side of the chapel. He said she was a nonmember and asked us to go talk
with her. We went and sat down and began to talk with her. She said she
wanted to learn more about the church. We asked her how she came in
contact with the church and she said she was in a long distance relationship
with a Mormon and wanted to know and experience what his beliefs were! We
explained a little bit about our services and sat with her for sacrament
meeting then got her phone number and set up an appointment for this week! She
is so prepared to hear the gospel! She loved sacrament meeting and is really
excited to meet with us this week. She even texted us and said how nice it was
to meet us and said she was looking forward to learning more. Miracle. She is a
miracle. And an answered prayer. There were also two other nonmembers that just
showed up to church yesterday! I didn't meet them until Sunday school
though. They are from Russia and seemed really intrigued and interested in our
beliefs and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm really excited to meet with them
too! God is preparing so many people to receive His Gospel. It's incredible.
I studied a lot about
the tree of life this week. It is one of my favorite parts of the Book of
Mormon! The Oct 2011 Ensign was a special edition all about the Book of Mormon,
and I studied a talk by Elder Bednar that was in it. He talks about three kinds
of people that are pressing forward in the dream. The first started on the path
then got lost in the midst of darkness. When talking about this group of people
it doesn't even mention the iron rod. The second group of people were pressing
forward "clinging" to the rod of iron. They made it to the tree,
partook of the fruit, but then were ashamed when they were mocked by the people
in the great and spacious building. Elder Bednar said this about this group of
people. "Clinging to the rod of iron suggests to me only occasional bursts
of study or irregular dipping rather than consistent, ongoing immersion in the
word of God." The third group of people made it to the tree by
continuously holding fast to the rod of iron. Then when they made it to the
tree, they fell down. I think it's interesting that it mentions that they
fell down. I picture them falling to their knees in gratitude. Because they
recognized the tree. They recognized the fruit. They knew the value of the tree
because they paid the price to know it. They read and heeded the word of
God. They knew the price could only be paid because Christ paid the price
for their sins. And they recognized Him when they saw Him. I think we forget
about the small and simple things sometimes because they are just that. Small
and simple. But they are crucial, essential, and vital if we want to return to
live with our Heavenly Father.
I know Christ lives. I
know this Gospel is true. I am so grateful for the blessing it is to be able to
share this message with everyone. I know Joseph Smith was called of God that
through him the the Gospel, Church, and Authority of Jesus Christ are on the
earth. I have a testimony of the power of the priesthood. Everything I hold
dear in life, I have because the priesthood is on the earth. I love my Savior
Jesus Christ. I know He lives. That is why I am here.
Have a great week :)
Love and Prayers, B
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