I am still trying to figure out a way to write a weekly or bi-weekly update to you all. Dad and I want to share with you our experiences.I hate to shut this site down so I guess I will use it because it is easy to post photos and etc.
Yesterday was such a busy Sabbath Day. It isn't really a restful day; but it is a spiritually uplifting day.
Dad and I attended two Sacrament meetings, one of them separated and the other one together. He bore his testimony in two of the meetings and I bore mine in the one meeting that he didn't attend. We have been asked to bare our testimonies in the wards each month. This is a sweet challenge. Thus far the spirit has been there and we feel prompted to bare our testimonies. It is amazing to us both how the words just come and are usually for someone in the audience that we are working with.
We have found that he spirit is the teacher in the lessons and the moments that we testify. We do some divide and conquer with alternate meetings through the day. We usually attend at least one or two Sunday School classes and one or two RS/Priesthood meeting. I am learning so many things because no two meetings are alike. We are enjoying getting to know the members in the three wards we serve in. Remembering names is a challenge.
In between all of it; Dad does some driving back and forth to get the Elders to the buildings they are going too. We have two new MLS couples in our stake; so we now each have one building of three wards to work in. We are amazed at all the work there is to do. Just yesterday I was telling Dad that we could use another MLS couple in just our building.
Last week was super busy. We made 15 visits and were excited that one family came out to church yesterday. We were able to get into two homes that we have been trying to get into to teach. One of the families that we are team teaching with the Elders are coming along good. There are three children that are on date for baptism; but still need their Mother's permission. We will be fasting and praying that her heart will be softened.
I will share just one of the many miracles that we have had. We have been meeting with a couple who have a three year old. He is a return missionary of about 10 years. Apparently, he slowly went inactive. He has had several relationships but has commitment problems. They have only been married for about 3 months although they have been living together for about 4 years. She is a member but hasn't been active since she was baptized. She doesn't know much about the church.
She teaches 1st grade and he has a good job in the medical field. She is hesitant to be taught because she doesn't want any pressure to come back. The ward has been visiting them off and on for about 3 years. We have visited them four times. We have a standing appointment with them each week. She has only participated in one of the meetings. She is a real sweet young woman; but I think a little resistant. We have gone prepared to teach part of the first discussion but when she hasn't been there; the subject has changed. The spirit has guided us to know exactly what to talk with him about. We feel that maybe he needs to be strengthened first before we can influence her. It has been a very sweet spiritual experiences.
He came to church week before last by himself. He is super nervous about going to the Bishop to confess his previous life style. I think he is afraid of getting excommunicated since he has been endowed. Since they got married this may not be as big of an issue. Anyway, this last visit she did come home during it. She had parent teacher conferences so she couldn't be there. She was tired but did talk with us for a while. After she took her little boy upstairs to get him ready for bed; we had a great discussion with him on faith. He told us he really does want to come back to church. We asked if he had an Patriarchal blessing. He left the room and bought out his dusty scriptures and inside he found his blessing. It was about three pages long. He kind of looked through it for a minute or two and you could tell he was spiritually touched. He committed to come with his wife and little boy on Sunday and he did. It really is a wonderful miracle. We are praying that she will start to attend our meetings so that we can teach her the discussions.
We are finding that there are so many tender mercies in this work. We have another Sister we team teach with the Elders and she is now going to be getting ready to go to the temple. She has been in active for many years. Her husband died about three years ago. She really wants to go to the temple and have his work done and be sealed to her.
This week we are taking another couple we are working with down to the Provo City Center Temple open house. This is a couple that we meet with weekly. They come to Sacrament meeting every week and want to go to the temple. They are struggling with Word of Wisdom problem of drinking Coffee and they need to pay tithing. We are trying to address these concerns. Last week he said both the opening and closing prayer. He cried during the closing prayer and we did too. He is a really humble sweet man and she also wants to go to the temple. We found out that she has MS; so we are wondering if the tithing struggle is due to expensive medications. We will look into that.Hopefully, we can get them to set a date and follow through with the changes that they need to make.
I am amazed at how much my testimony is growing. I especially love the moments when I have prayed to know what to say and the thoughts have come. I know that they have come from the spirit of the Holy Ghost. This work is true and I know that Heavenly Father loves all his children and wants them to know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are promised that everyone that has ever lived on this earth will have an opportunity to accept or reject the gospel. We are hastening the work because the coming of the Savior is near, very near. Satan will work overtime to prevent this great work from progressing but he will fail. I have no doubt of that.
We pray for you all and encourage you to always have family prayer, scripture reading; particularly the Book of Mormon and Family Home Evening, plus attend the temple as often as possible.The promise is that your families will be blessed. There are great blessings when we follow the prophet. I pray you all well!
We really know that the Book of Mormon is true and we know that it is the greatest missionary conversion tool. We only ask that those who are seeking truth to read from it's pages and sincerely pray about it and they will receive a testimony of that great book.
When you can please email, message or call and tell us how you are all doing. We miss you!
Love you all with all our hearts; you are all such a huge blessing in our lives.
Dad and Mom (Grandpa and Grandma)
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