Dearest family,
GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!
Wasn't it the best?? I've really enjoyed general conference in the past
but it is something really special as a missionary. I think it's because
my whole life is devoted to the things of God. I pray and read my
scriptures daily (like all day every day kinda daily). I am talking
about God and to God constantly. My testimony is stronger than it has
ever been, so I think I am more responsive to the things of the spirit.
It was a very revelatory experience for me.
Confession:
I sometimes have doubts and questions about the restored gospel and I
feel guilty for having them. I feel like it means my testimony isn't
strong, but someone in a Saturday
session said that it is okay to have doubts and questions. Joseph Smith
did. He said when we do have doubts, we need to take the time to study
it out and pray to the Lord. I have discovered that instead of making my
testimony weak, doubts--and the insuing search for answers-- have
strengthened it. Some of my most spiritual, testimony-building
experiences have come during a quest to find the answers to the
questions I have. I have learned that the Lord doesn't condemn the
honest seeker of truth. He never did. I think that some of the strongest
disciples the Lord has is not those who have lived with an absense of
doubts, but those who had them, sought earnestly to overcome them, and
came out more sure and steadfast of the gospel than ever before. It is
because of my earnest, sincere desire to know for myself that I have a
testimony of the restored gospel. I know that Joseph Smith was called by
God and Jesus Christ to bring back the fulness of the gospel. I know
it, because I have prayed earnestly to know it. I know God answers our
prayers and wants to guide us in our lives. I know that the prophets and
apostles that spoke to us yesterday were called of God and receive
revelation directly from Him.
Y'all asked about our investigators so here is a quick summary of the main ones:
Danie:
Southern Baptist who has a Mormon friend and who is trying very hard to
be open to another way of thinking than the one she was raised with
Kay:
a 28 year-old Bulgarian who speaks English, German, and Bulgarian.
She's pretty much the coolest person ever. There was a long period in
her life (ten years) that she turned away from God because of the trials
that she has gone through, but has--within the last year--made a
complete turn around and wants us to help her come even closer
Scott
and Dee: very faithful Lutherans who have enough questions to keep us
busy during studies looking for the answers; they are a really wonderful
couple though who have a good Spirit about them and who are very
receptive to the Spirit we bring too
James and Jaqua: a
middle-aged couple who just moved here from Maryland; very open to the
message about Joseph Smith because they "don't want to put God in a box"
(reminded me a little bit about Ceira urging us to think "outside the
box" and gave me a good chuckle :))
I love you all so much!
Sis D
P.S. I can't send pictures on these computers so I will have to send them through snail mail. Sorry!
No comments:
Post a Comment