October 16, 2012
So this last week was interesting. We finishing teaching B. (17)
all the things he needs to know in order to pass his baptismal
interview. I don't know if I've talked about him before. The Spanish
elders found him tracting and then passed him on straight to us. He's a
teenager with a love for fantasy and sci-fi. Of course I
told him about Orson Scott card. When we talked to him during our first
appointment we were impressed not to teach him the first lesson (the
restoration) but to teach him the Plan of Salvation. We had found out
that in the week since the Spanish elders had come by and our
appointment that he had read all the way to page 131 in the book of
Mormon. Say what???? yeah. The kid is a reading machine. As we finished
the plan of Salvation we asked him how he felt about it all, and he said
"scared actually." We asked why, and he said that he had "five balls on a
chain of sin and misdeeds that were weighing him down." Instantly we
taught him about the priesthood and baptism and committed him to a
baptismal day of October 20th. Yeah, baptismal date on the first lesson.
It was awesome!
We later found out that he wasn't comprehending anything of what he
was reading, and we read 3 Nephi 11 with him in one appointment. After
that he said that he wanted to restart from the beginning and actually
get depth out of it. We didn't even prompt him to say that....
When he watched conference, he told us that he needed to tell us a
truth. Instantly Elder Belo and I got a little afraid but
confident that we could overcome any challenge that he put in front of
us. B. then began to tell us about his girlfriend and how she had been in the hospital two years ago and told
him that she loved him and that she wanted him to keep praying about the
church. She died a few days later and ever since then,
missionaries have been knocking on his door every other Monday for two
years. Finally he let them in when the Spanish elders came around about a
month ago. I knew at that time that we had been truly inspired to teach
the Plan of Salvation first and not the restoration.
I can literally see the difference in B. He's standing up
straighter, quick with a smile, and is already teaching people about the
law of chastity and telling people that he's a Mormon even though he
has yet to be baptized this Saturday. I love this kid. I can't wait to
take him and a less active to the temple visitors center this Friday.
I can testify that this gospel changes peoples lives. It makes them
happy, confident, and proud. It makes them bold, and friendly, and
brave. Why? Because this gospel radiates of eternal happiness. It's not
called the Plan of Happiness for nothing. There is a connection with our
Father above that cannot come through any other means. The Priesthood
has been restored to the earth and God gave us the Book of Mormon
through the prophet Joseph Smith to prove it. Ask Him, and he'll let you
know the same way that he let me know. In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
PS It rained on Friday and yesterday.
After biking for 3 1/2 hours I was so soaked I stopped caring. I'm just
getting used to being wet. And when there's rain there's wind, and the
wind makes the water go up hill in sheets.
PPS. I got to see the coast yesterday in the rain. I took some
really cool pictures that I'll have to send to you some other time.
I
love you all.
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