Hey Family and Friends!!!!
How are you guys doing? I really miss all of your bright smiley faces and love to read your emails and letters that I receive. I want to thank you all for those and the personal prayers and thoughts that you have sent my way. Thank you so much for that. I can feel your prayers and know that you are helping me.
So...this week has been the biggest emotional roller coaster of my life. The family that we were going to have the baptism for this Friday (all passed the baptism interviews), we are not really sure what is going to happen next. The father has been tricked and fooled by the adversary and has made him and twist things that we have said. It is so sad to see a wonderful family be damaged by the adversary. The father is trying everything in his power to stop this family from being baptized. He even told the Mom that he would take her out to dinner on Fri. night so she could not even go to her own baptism. Wow. It is so sad. Now we just got a text from the Mom saying that the Father is looking to get a divorce. I tell ya...the adversary is doing everything in his power to stop this family from entering the waters of baptism. When i heard this, I was pondering to myself why? Why? WHY????? From this question, I went to the scriptures for help; it is because the adversary knows that this gospel is true. He wants every single person to be as miserable as he is. When I see this family, i see how the gospel has changed their lives. It is amazing to see the progress that they have made. I love this family so much and I plead and beg for out Eternal Father in Heaven to help this family. I know that He can. I have heard from many missionaries and families that the week before they are baptized is the hardest week of their life; and i can see that right now. From these experiences I have learned what it means to plead with Heavenly Father; what it means to humble yourself, and beg for other people. I am reminded of the story of Enos in the Book of Mormon. He said he "wrestled with the Lord..." I have done this in my prayers for this family. I see them as my family and I love them so much. So if you can please pray for them, and help them with your thoughts.
Our other investigator who is 12 is doing very good. He just got back from Sahuarita and wants to talk to the missionaries again. Man that's so weird to call myself the missionary. His mom is seeing the blessings that this gospel is doing for their family. I love to see how this gospel does it. The Lord does bless his people, and want the best for them. We might have to move his baptism date back a week or two because he learns at a little slower pace then some. But it is okay.
I have learned and seen how God himself views his children. As literal children. How amazing is that. Our loving Heavenly Father sees us as children, and he wants us to become like them. I love that so much. We are so blessed to have a Father in Heaven like that. I am so amazed at how personally he knows every single one of us. He knows us by name, our weaknesses, our problems, and so much more. What great knowledge that is. You are able to personally talk to someone that knows who we are, actually knows us better than ourselves, and what we are going through. Its like in Alma 7:11-13. He really did suffer all of those things for us; and I know that by myself. No one influenced me to believe in this gospel but the spirit himself; not my parents, friends, or religious leaders. I read it for myself to come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ. Our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer and through him and only him, we can then return to live with our Father in Heaven again.
For the first time on my mission I read the Book of Mormon all the way through. What an experience ! To read the very Book that I am bearing witness to each day. My testimony of this Book has deepened so much that no one or anything can shake my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know this to be true. Joseph Smith was called of God to restore this Gospel, the same Gospel that Jesus Christ himself had when he was here on the earth. I have prayed about it. I have questioned it. I have sought guidance from our Father in Heaven if this is true. I received my answer and that is why I am here in Tucson Arizona. This work as a missionary is the most exhausting work I have ever done in my life. But there is no other place I would rather be then right here. I love you all so much, but I am needed here more than I am needed anywhere else at this moment in time. I challenge members and all non-members that read this email...read and pray from the Book of Mormon. Get out of your comfort zone, and put faith in God. What do you have to lose if you read and pray about it. God will not lie to you because he cannot lie. If you take Moroni's challenge in Moroni 10:3-5 you will receive your answer. When you do pray, do not seek the truth with an agenda of proving something. Seek for the truth with an open heart and an open mind. Because if you do this "...ye may know the truth of all things."
I know this gospel is true. I know that it is God's kingdom here on the earth again. I love this church with all of my being. It is because of this church that I am who I am. I love you all so very much and I pray for all of you. I love you all so much.
With all of my love,
Elder Mortimer
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