MIRACLES AND A BAUSS LESSON
So Mom,
First things first, tell Dad that he needs to act like a mature adult. He can't be spraying people with water everywhere haha. Especially, WITHOUT ME!!! Man that sounds like fun. I would say I wish I could've
been there, but we have been doing such awesome work here in Stockton.
We have a teaching pool of about 17, 7 of them have a date for baptism
for August and September and we have a baptism this Saturday.
It's not exactly mine, but the Sisters asked me to talk to one of their
investigators, JP. He and I are pretty tight so they thought maybe I
could connect with him better. So, gladly I made an appointment with him
(last Sunday) and we had a little pep-talk. I didn't want to pressure
him because he already had enough of that from his family who are
members. I just wanted to go over what was holding him back. At first,
he told me he didn't really know what was holding him back. He went on
about how he knows this is a good thing and that getting baptized is
something that we wants to do, but there is still that doubt that he
had. Then I gave him a questionnaire, basically, and went down the list on
what he had doubts about. We arrived fairly quickly on that he just didn't
know if Joesph Smith was a true prophet (I thought to myself, "That
seems to be the silver bullet to everything nowadays!!). I then received
inspiration to look up Alma 32:21, explaining to him how faith is
believing in things that are not seen, which are true. Faith is a lot
like the wind. We can feel it and see things it affects around us, but
we can't see it. This is the way our Father in Heaven works with us. I
went further in that chapter how his faith is comparable to a seed. I
expounded on how you have already allowed the Restored Gospel of Jesus
Christ to be planted within you, and you also know that it is a good
seed. You are at the same stage as I am. I also do not "know" that
Joseph Smith is a true Prophet. I wasn't there in 1820 on the morning of
that first vision. I wasn't there to witness such a divine vision.
That's knowledge. I have not received that blessing, yet. I however,
have been steadily and surely strengthening my faith and it is slowly,
but surely becoming, and what I deem to be, knowledge. It takes great
patience, not to mention iron diligence. But through time that plantling
of faith will take root and spring forth into Everlasting life. I gotta
say Mom, there is nothing better than seeing the lights all click in
the eyes of someone that you're teaching, especially when the Spirit
descends so softly. I had to stop the lesson to tell him, "Hey JP, do
you feel that?" "...yeah I do." "That's the Spirit. It's testifying to
you right now, that this is true." Next question was, now the Lord
doesn't desire you to know that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet, only to
believe he is. Then came the invite, "Do you believe that Joseph Smith
is a true Prophet?" "........(10 minutes of silence).....Yes..yes I do."
"At this point the only one stopping you from being baptized is
yourself. With that said, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ
and be baptized by immersion by someone holding the proper priesthood
authority?" "Yes! (It feels SO GOOD to hear that)" "Will you be baptized
this Saturday?"
"Yes!" "I want you to promise yourself now and forever that you will
always 'Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith'. Will you do
that?" "Yes, I will." "Awesome. Well we got 6 days to prepare. Let's get
this shindig started!!!"
It was a pretty BAUSS! Lesson. I called the sisters and said, "Hey Sisters, got you both a baptism for Saturday!
No need to thank me, I know I am awesome haha!" I'm kidding. I was just
acting on inspiration at precisely the right time the Lord wanted me
to. I am very happy right now. We have a very supportive ward (which I
heard was not that great) and they have been coming with us non-stop on
lessons with our investigators and we have gotten to know the families
here so well. We are fed almost every night here and they treat me and
my companion like their kids. Stockton, ironically enough, is paradise
for missionary work right now, at least for our area haha. A lot of the
other areas are not doing so well. Humility is something we try to
remember. Also, that our success comes from the Lord. At times, it is
hard to be humble, though. Anyway, things are great, my companion is my
new best friend and it is just great to see so many miracles every day.
Mom, these next 6 months are going to be full of success and they will
go by quickly. I love you so much.
Elder Sierra
No comments:
Post a Comment