Lucky for me, the mission nurse was right across the street.
Some peroxide, funny in-pain faces and bandages later I was just fine. This
picture was taken the night of the mishap:
And one week later:
I’m glad it healed quick! It can always get worse! For
example, and I think the universe is having too much fun giving me angst, we
could be this deer we almost hit the other night. Unfortunately the deer was
struck by two other vehicles and it’s life was ended.
How crazy can it get, right? Lucky for us, the rest of the
week was quite tranquil. Elder Bischoff and I brought Amie to a mission
president’s devotional. Ian had the opportunity to bear his testimony. That was
something wonderful. Ian bore his testimony in the same manner as members of
the church that have grown in this church longer than I’ve been alive. It was
fantastic.
At the mission president’s devotional a recently converted
woman told a story. Before she was baptized, she met with the missionaries and
had a dream about the painting ‘Jesus Christ visits the Americas’ by John
Scott. This woman dreamt herself in the scene of the painting, though Christ
was no where to be found. All of the people around her were in much confusion
as they argued. She knew Christ was the answer to the conflict and began to
search for him. After spotting a figure in white on the horizon, she ran to the
man and found the figure belonged to Jesus Christ. She pleaded with Christ to
teach the people. Christ took her by the hand and led her back to the scene of
the painting, taking His place and teaching the people the truthfulness of His
gospel. When this woman awoke, she pursued the missionaries to learn more about
the message they shared that so inspired this vision. Shortly after, she was
baptized.
This week I had the opportunity to be interviewed by
President McCuistion. Much of our conversation included how best we can use the
recently bestowed technology to bless the lives of those we are teaching and
how this will move the work of the Lord forward. We talked much of seers. Seer
stones like the Urim and Thummim, and living seers such as the prophet and the
apostles of Christ’s church. As President Uchtdorf has said:
“Not long ago, the Church published photos and background
information on seer stones. People have asked me, “Do you really believe that
Joseph Smith translated with seer stones? How would something like this be
possible?” And I answer, “Yes! That is exactly what I believe.” This was done
as Joseph said: by the gift and power of God.
In reality, most of us use a kind of “seer stone” every day.
My mobile phone is like a “seer stone.” I can get the collected knowledge of
the world through a few little inputs. I can take a photo or a video with my
phone and share it with family on the other side of our planet. I can even
translate anything into or from many different languages!
If I can do this with my phone, if human beings can do this
with their phones or other devices, who are we to say that God could not help
Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration, with his translation work? If it
is possible for me to access the knowledge of the world through my phone, who
can question that seer stones are impossible for God?
Many religions have objects, places, and events that are
sacred to them. We respect the sacred beliefs of other religions and hope to be
respected for our own beliefs and what is sacred to us. We should never be
arrogant, but rather polite and humble. We still should have a natural
confidence, because this is the Church of Jesus Christ.”
Before my interview with President, Sister McCuistion asked
me, “What surprised you most about Kansas?” I took some time to think, but it
came to me! I am shook because all of the brick roads I’ve seen in Kansas are
RED! I don’t want to come across as bitter, but I must confess my
disappointment.
Wichita sights featuring Ian
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