This week has been amazing! Yesterday was incredible!!! We
had 11 less-actives at church!!!! A couple were families but still it was
amazing! I was crying during the sacrament because I was so happy! A couple we
never expected to come any time soon just walked in the door.
We found some really good investigators and had an interesting
experience with another guy. He was trying to get us to explain and give proof
as to what we believed. At one point I asked him if he were given physical
proof that the Book of Mormon was true would he believe it? He said no. That
he'd need some more proof. Just before he had been talking about faith and how
he has faith. So after he said no I asked, "Then where is your
faith?" he paused for a moment. The only time during our hour or so
conversation that he paused to think. Then he went off again with something
else. Our whole time with him was basically him talking and us reading a
scripture or two but basically testifying and telling him to open his heart and
pray. With every question he posed, every point he tried to make the answer was
always having faith and ask God. It really does all come down to that. Have
faith, be humble and ask your Heavenly Father. The answer to any question is
found in prayer. And I love it!
Yesterday we taught the second two hours of church. Gospel
Principles was a surprise but Relief Society wasn't. It was so cool to teach
together and testify together. We do it every day but it was a little
different. I learned a lot about observing the Sabbath Day. Something Sister Thomas
came across in our preparation was a quote by an apostle from the 70's. It’s in
the May Ensign issue of 1975 entitled something like Our Observance of the Sabbath
Day. But basically the quote, or at least what we understood is the following.
"Our observance of the Sabbath Day is a reflection of our love for the
atonement of Jesus Christ." Makes you think huh? a little while ago
president bunker said that Sunday isn't really a day of rest, it’s a day of
spiritual work. We work on our spirits and relationships. Interesting thought.
[Elder Mark E. Peterson:
In the time of Moses, the Lord impressively declared that
the manner in which we spend the Sabbath is a sign of our inner attitude toward
him. It is a measure of the sincerity of our faith. “It is a sign between me
and the children of Israel for ever,” God declared (Ex. 31:17), and added: “Ye
shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.” (Ex. 31:14. Italics
added.)
President David O. McKay:
We can readily see that observance of the Sabbath is an
indication of the depth of our conversion. Our observance or nonobservance of
the Sabbath is an unerring measure of our attitude toward the Lord personally
and toward his suffering in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and his
resurrection from the dead. It is a sign of whether we are Christians in very
deed, or whether our conversion is so shallow that commemoration of his atoning
sacrifice means little or nothing to us.]
I feel as if there's so much more to tell you, but I can’t
think of much else. Well we had interviews with President Alba. He did mine
completely in Spanish. It was neat to be able to do. I was able to express
myself and understand him. Cool!
Yesterday Sister Thomas and I got blessings from our branch
president and one of his counselors. We had come in contact with some evil
influences and just needed some assurance and added strength/help. Within my
blessing it spoke about having converts here. Along with other things, but it
was powerful and just what I needed. At different times random people and at
random times people have told me, you are here for a purpose. I know that. I
have no doubt. Now for what purpose? Only the Lord knows, maybe in part to help
the Spanish people, but also to help others. This area is just waiting to burst
with growth! We are so excited! Every day is filled with miracles! And we love
it! At first we couldn’t see them but as soon as we looked for them and wrote
them down together we saw more. Now every moment is another miracle. We live
life! And we live the gospel!! I know the message we share is true and blesses people’s
lives. It changes their lives into something they could have never imagined! Look
for the miracles and they will appear in every moment.
I LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND DAD!!!!!! You’re the best parents on
the earth! No doubt about it. :)
Love,
Hermana Stephenson
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