Hey Hey Hey!
It has been quite the week. We were
dropped by a few of our investigators and we have somebody we think
may drop us soon. Saturday we had five lessons with investigators and
all but one canceled. The one who didn't cancel we came to a mutual
agreement to stop meeting. He is a super nice guy, but not really
willing to investigate, just curious. Anyway, none of the
disappointment from all that happened mattered by Sunday night
because HUNTER GOT BAPTIZED!!! :D
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| Jeff, Sister Record, Sister Freire, Sister Nelson and Hunter |
Hunter was baptized yesterday and it
was a wonderful experience. :) Hunter's parents were both there. His
dad is not a member and his mom is an inactive member. I loved being
able to meet them. They were so nice! It was also great to see Jeff
baptize Hunter. Jeff has come so far in the last three months. It is
amazing! At the beginning of the week Hunter was so happy and
excited to be baptized. He has faced a whole lot of opposition this
week as he made the decision to be baptized. It made us sad Hunter
stayed strong though and made it to Sunday. :) After Hunter was
baptized and confirmed we could tell he felt great! :) He even told
us later that he was at peace with the things that had been happening
throughout the week, something he hasn't felt before. We told him it
was because of the Spirit. :)
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| Jeff and Hunter |
Bishop Ellis welcomed Hunter into the
ward and told him that from the very first day he met him He knew
that Hunter was a great young man. Bishop Ellis said he could see
Hunter being like Captain Moroni one day. He assured Hunter that it
wouldn't be something that happened today or tomorrow, but something
that would take time.
I feel like with Jeff and with Hunter I
can see the potential each of them have to do great things for the
Lord and His kingdom. I know that neither one of them feels the same
way. As I have thought about Jeff and Hunter I wonder how the Lord
feels about each of us. I know there have been times when I don't
feel like I have a whole lot of potential. After working with Jeff
and Hunter and being able to see the potential each of them has, I
think of Heavenly Father and how he sees each of us. He sees the big
picture. He can see the potential we each have long after we pass
into the next life.
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| Sister Nelson with the Gecko. "We found a gecko in the baptismal font when we went to clean it before Hunter's baptism!" |
The baptism was definitely the
highlight of the week. The spirit was so strong and my testimony of
the gospel was strengthened. I love being a missionary! I love the
change that has come over people I have taught as well as the change
that has come over me. I am learning so much! I will forever be
thankful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission. It is the
best thing ever! :) I was reading Alma 24-26 this morning. I
especially love Alma 24:22,26-27.
22 And thus
without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of
them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell
with their God.
26 And it came to
pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the
number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were
righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they
were saved.
27 And there was
not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a
thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the
Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people.
I love this story. At first it seems
sad, and it is. Over 1000 people were slaughtered. However, the
Lamanites saw that thy would not fight and their hearts were softened
and they were converted to the Lord. Not just 2 or 3 either. It was
more than the number of people killed. It is a perfect example of
how the Lord's ways are not our ways and that his ways are higher
than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8)
Yesterday after the baptism we found
out about transfers. Sister Nelson is leaving (sad day) and Sister
Fraire and I will be training next transfer. It is going to be
different, and I am excited, but nervous about it. I have had a gut
feeling the last 2 or 3 weeks that I would be training this upcoming
transfer. I haven't felt like I would be the best trainer and that
other people would be better, but experience has taught me that
everything happens for a reason. I am thankful for the trust the Lord
has in me. :) I have a new trainers meeting on Wednesday.
I'm excited for Saturday! Elder Tad R
Callister of the 70 is coming to speak to our entire mission. This
means not only to I get to listen to a member of the 70, but I also
get to see all my friends in the mission. Oh it's going to be a good
day! :D I can hardly wait!!
I know this church is true and that the
church helps us more fully live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love
the Book of Mormon more than any other book. I can't read books
multiple times, but I can read the Book of Mormon over and over again
and I always learn something new. :) Because of my testimony of the
Book of Mormon, I have a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet
and restored Christ's chruch back to the earth. Because the Book of
Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was called of God I know this church
is true. I love this talk by Elder Callister from the October 2011
conference titled "The
Book of Mormon – a Book from God" Elder Callister said,
Years ago my
great-great-grandfather picked up a copy of the Book of Mormon for
the first time. He opened it to the center and read a few pages. He
then declared, “That book was either written by God or the devil,
and I am going to find out who wrote it.” He read it through twice
in the next 10 days and then declared, “The devil could not have
written it—it must be from God.”
Likewise, we must
make a simple choice with the Book of Mormon: it is either of God or
the devil. There is no other option. For a moment I invite you to
take a test that will help you determine the true nature of this
book. Ask yourself if the following scriptures from the Book of
Mormon draw you closer to God or to the devil:
“Feast upon the
words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all
things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:3).
Or these words of
a loving father to his sons: “And now, my sons, remember, remember
that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of
God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:12).
Or these words of
a prophet: “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni
10:32).
Could these
statements from the Book of Mormon have possibly been authored by the
evil one? After the Savior cast out certain devils, the Pharisees
claimed that He did so “by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.”
The Savior responded that such a conclusion was nonsensical: “Every
kingdom,” He said, “divided against itself is brought to
desolation; and every … house divided against itself shall not
stand.” And then His compelling climax: “And if Satan cast out
Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom
stand?” (Matthew 12:24–26; emphasis added).
If the foregoing
scriptures from the Book of Mormon teach us to worship and love and
serve the Savior (which they do), how can they be from the devil? If
so, he would be divided against himself and thus be destroying his
own kingdom, the very condition the Savior said could not exist. An
honest, unbiased reading of the Book of Mormon will bring someone to
the same conclusion as my great-great-grandfather, namely: “The
devil could not have written it—it must be from God.”
The only way to know if the church is
true and if the Book of Mormon really is the word of God is to test
it out. So, if you haven't tested it out, I strongly encourage you to
do so. If you already have, I would encourage you to reread the Book
of Mormon to strengthen your own testimony of this great work. :) I
would not still be on a mission if this wasn't the work of the Lord.
I love y'all! Thanks for all of your
support and love! I know I wouldn't be able to do any of this without
your prayers.
Love, Sister Record
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