Hello there! Get in, sit down, hold on, shut up! I have
transfer news! I am staying in Lawrence (no surprise here), but Elder Daly is
leaving me! The Lord has called him to Junction City and is sending an Elder
Heckel in his stead. Elder Wood has served with him and tells me good things.
I'm very excited. Elders Candland and Christensen are both staying close as
well and I'm happy for that.
It's been a loaded week! Interviews, zone conference, stake
conference, Topeka day trips, door slams, crazy people, placing copies of the
Book of Mormon, teaching Jesus, and all those lovely missionary things we do.
Zone Conference
Something the Lord is trying to teach me more about is the
character of Alma the Younger. His story came to my heart in so many ways!
President and I talked about Alma's true change of heart in interviews, for
starters. Stake conference right after that taught me Alma's conversion comes
not from the appearance of the angel but teaches us, "I have fasted and
prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And I do know of
myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by
his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me"
(Alma 5:46). Finally, we teach an Alma 36 lesson with the Cullimore's, the
sisters, and a few members to this special lady:
This is Nasrin (naz-reen). She is Persian! All the way from
Iran Nasrin began working with the Cullimore's, Elder Daly and I, then finally
the sisters. She's looking forward to being baptized this Saturday! I made her
show off her Book of Mormon that is written in Persian. It's amazing to see her
life change so much through studying that book, the very word of God!
Things with TJ are a little disheartening. TJ has many
things he needs to let go. Not as of yet has he seen with an eye of faith the
happiness from the gospel of Jesus Christ will outweigh things of the world.
Recently, TJ's girlfriend broke up with him after they were together only a few
days. Elder Heckel and I will be seeing Austin this week. I've brushed up my
knowledge of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. I'm ready to tackle some
serious questions with a LOT of prayer that the Spirit will be present.
Elder Daly and I met a most astounding individual. This
young man, Tai Claw, is a Navajo native to North-East Arizona. Tai has learned
from missionaries near Wichita and would like to continue to meet to learn
about the church. Elder Daly and I meet him at the institute building, cocked
and loaded to teach the plan of salvation. Gears switch very rapidly when we
begin to talk about forgiving those that have wronged you, a trial Tai is
experiencing in life now. From there we testify of the atonement of Christ, He
is the master of empathy! This leads to a challenge to baptism, promises of
being clean and worthy with no obstacle to stand in the stream of blessings. We
leave Tai with the thirteenth chapter of Alma to help him further understand
priesthood authority. Amazing lesson. Very, very encouraging.
In other news I saw a life-size statue of my hero, so I took
a picture.
Here is a picture of us goons. Notice each personality -
Daly: goofball
Candland: playing it cool
Christensen: thinking 'those fools'
LaMont: has become one with the computer
On the Cullimore porch right after a lovely dinner. Go Cullimore's!
Ladies and gentlemen, the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints is indeed the church of Jesus Christ. It has been restored
for the happiness of you and me! I'm not perfect, but I've never been happier
when I follow my Savior the best I can. Jesus Christ lives and He loves you and
me with a perfect love. If you have to lean on that testimony for two or three
or five days, do so. But I implore you 'with great anxiety even unto pain, that
ye would' receive your very own testimony of these things by asking God, the
Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if these things are true! Enter into His
rest. I love each and every one of you. Go live for Jesus!
