Things are going wonderfully! We had a slower week with the baptism last week, but this week is starting off on a great foot! And last week was incredible! Selene's baptism was so wonderful! It was perfect. There were a few flaws... but even they were perfect because they gave us things to laugh about. Selene was so happy! After she was baptized she came out and we all wept together. It was beautiful. The joy we felt was great, because we knew after her long journey, Selene had finally found the truth and was baptized into the God's church upon the Earth, she has entered into the gate and is on the path that leads back to Eternal Life. She is truly is precious. Precious to God, and precious to me and Sister Atkin.
It's amazing to see how people are prepared to hear and accept the Gospel. The Savior said that His sheep hear his voice and know him. I'm witnessing the reality of this statement on my mission. I wanted to share some stories from the other sisters experiences.
Sister Minall and Sister Sawyer and teaching a young man named Sean. He is amazing! He is 19 years old. We've met him a few times as he came into the VC. The other day Sister Atkin and I were talking with him about his experience in finding the church- his story is beautiful. He said he started off being willing to take the discussions and read the Book of Mormon, but he wasn't really sure what he thought about it all. But as he continued to pray and 'experiement upon the word' (Alma 32) he felt his 'soul enlarge.'
Sean is the perfect example of the promise given to us by Alma in chapter 32. Basically, because Sean was willing to try it out- read the Book of Mormon and learn from the missionaries, he showed God that he was willing to act in Faith. Meaning, Sean had a hope that by doing these things he would find truth, or not find truth. He didn't know what would happen, but because he acted upon this hope and read the Book of Mormon, he showed God faith. Because he showed God that he was willing to act in faith, the Lord was able to answer him. For Brandon, his answer that the Book of Mormon is the word of God didn't come all at once, but slowly, like a sunrise. He said evertime he opened the Book of Mormon and read from it, he felt good inside. He said, when I met with the missionaries, I felt good inside. He said, I prayed and prayed to know if it was true, and as I continued to read and feel good about meeting with the missionaries, I eventually came to know that this was what God wanted for me. That this church is true. He now is thinking about serving a mission. He hasn't been baptized yet, but is thinking about a day in April. Talking with him was so fun, because he was full of so much light and happiness and enthusiasm for the gospel. He told us how excited he was to be baptized so that he could receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Just talking with him filled me with so much joy because he has found the truth. He has had faith enough to experiment upon the word of God, to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it's true; and by so doing he has received the promise God offers: to know the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know this will happen for all those who sincerely seek after truth, and sincerely seek to know the will of God.
I echo the words of the prophet Joseph Smith. We don't ask anyone to give up any good they already have, only to come and get more. There is nothing to fear by reading the Book of Mormon and asking God if it's true. We should not fear the will of God, but rather rejoice in following after His counsels. I challenge everyone to examine their life and see the Lords hand in it, and ask if it was not all done in mercy? Even in our extremeties, the Lord supports us and teaches us from them. Even his rebukings and chastenings are offered out of love, out of a desire to help us to better. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. How could we not trust a God who gave His life for us? He is a merciful God if we will but turn to Him.
Another individual the sisters are teaching is named Bill. Bill is an older man probably in his 60's- and the manliest looking man I've ever seen. He's got a pony tail and a long beard. He's even missing a few teeth, and he's large! On the inside, however, he's a teddy bear. He met the sisters and found the truth. He too was willing to read the Book of Mormon, take the missionarie discussions and pray to know the truth. God answered him because He knew Bill would act on what God told him. On of the keys to receiving an answer from God is real intent. Because God is merciful, if we won't act on what he reveals to us, he often will withold. Because he knows that to reveal truth to an individual who will not act on it would only condemn that person. If we ask God will a sincere heart and real intent (meaning we will do what God tells us) He will answer. If people ask God about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, with the intent to join the church and follow it's teachings if it's true, then God will answer! I know this is true!!! Bill calls Sister Wright and Sister Vickers his angels. When he began talking about his baptismal date he burst into tears. He is so grateful to have found the truth. Bill is so sincere. A few weeks ago, he wanted to show up to church in his very best, so he went out and bought dark jeans and a red button-up shirt. This warms my heart :)
We were doing service for someone yesterday and she shared with us her conversion story as well. She said that she went to church and when she saw two little boys rolling around on the lawn outside and fighting she said to herself, "oh these people are normal afterall" hahah. When the missionaries approached her at church she agreed to let them come over. She collected wine and so she debated back and forth for a while if she wanted to hide her wine collection before the missionaries came over... hahah. She originally planned to leave it out and then 10 minutes before they showed up she said she chickened out and went and hid it all! Hahah. So cute. Anyways, when the missionaries told her the story of Joseph Smith she said she just looked at them and said..."You guys actually believe that?? It sounds like something from a movie!?" But she said that as she continued to think on it and pray about it she eventually received an answer. She said one night she prayed about it and the spirit over-took her and she knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Joseph Smith did see God the Father and His son Jesus Christ, that he was a prophet of God. Because God is the same yesterday today and forever. She said she knew the Book of Mormon was indeed another book of scripture from God. She told us she wept all night long, and she has never been able to deny the church since, because she knows it's true.
Everyone's answers come in different ways, some slowly, some quickly; but either way the end result is the same the spirit of the Lord illuminated their hearts and their minds as the acted in faith, were sincere in their asking, and patient as they waited for the Lord to answer. All of these people, Selene, Sean, Bill, and the woman I just told you about, sincerely wanted to follow the Lords will- so when the asked, He answered.
I know this is God's church! I know that it brings great joy and unparalleled peace into our lives. I know God loves us, that He is the same yesterday today and forever (Hebrews 8:13) and He leads and directs his church the same way he did in the Bible- through a prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is an other Testament of Jesus Christ. It's so weird to me to think people don't believe God would give us another book of scripture. Why wouldn't he? Why would he only speak to the Jews?? He loves all of His children, of course he would teach all people of His Son, Jesus Christ. That's all the Book of Mormon is, another record of God teaching his children about the Savior, Jesus Christ. The spirit has taught me these things are true, and he has taught me because I have excercised faith (hope and action), had sincere intent (willingness to do whatever God directs), and patiently (for the most part ;)) waited for Him to reveal the truth to me. This can happen for all men. I bear my witness of that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
I love you!
Sister Lewis
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