October
20, 2014
Hellooooooo!
I loveeeeeee
missionary work! The joy that comes from proclaiming the Gospel to others.. I
can't even describe to you! It's marvelous.
Alissa is
still excited to be baptized on November 1st! Things are going well and she is
steadily progressing.
One of the
new investigators we found last week, Brad, is doing super well too! He's met
with missionaries in the past, but nothing ever really sparked his interest.
That has completely changed now though! He is full of questions. We had a great
lesson on "opening the door for Christ" to come into our lives. He
completely agreed that opening that door is something he wants to do. He has
been reading the Book of Mormon with his wife (an active member), praying, and
he came to church with us yesterday for all 3 hours! At the end of our first
lesson, before we had a chance to set up a return appointment, Brad said
anxiously, "When are you guys come back??"... haha I love it!! I am
so excited for him. It's amazing what the Lord can do for us, when we are
willing to let him in.
So you
remember Patrick? The guy I was telling you about last week, who got baptized a
year ago (along with his 3 boys), and just got sealed to his wife a few weeks
ago. He is freakin’ awesome!! He wants to share the Gospel with EVERYONE! Because it's helped him Because he knows the happiness that comes from
living it. The other night we had an appointment to come visit him and his
family, and when we showed up.. he had his non-member 13 year old little
brother there for us to teach!! So now we're steadily teaching him! His name is
Jordan and he is a super sharp kid! Came
to church with us yesterday. This work is so great!!
Patrick and his family!
The other day
I had the opportunity to ask a potential baptismal candidate during her
baptismal interview, why she wanted to be baptized. She responded, "I want
to be happy."... That's what this life is all about people!! "..Men
are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25) That's what this Gospel has
to offer--Everlasting happiness. I can testify that the happiest people I know,
are the ones who learn and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it's teachings.
Can I just
say... the Book of Mormon is TRUE! It's so true! It's so real. I can't express
my excitement about it over this email... It's truly the word of God. My
testimony echo's that of Joseph Smiths:
"The
Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of
our religion, and a man will get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts,
than by any other book.”
If we put
some effort into actually reading this divine book that has been given to us
for our benefit, we can find so much happiness. It is by reading the Book of
Mormon that we can know individually, for ourselves, that the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's true and living church.
If you have 15
minutes, please use it to watch this powerful talk by Elder Holland on the Book
of Mormon:
I know that
"no wicked man could write such a book [as the Book of Mormon]; and no
good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do
so.”
"But he
that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the
manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of
my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do
good. And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good
is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth
men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I
am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me.
For behold, I am the Father, I am the light,and the life, and the truth of the
world." (Ether 4:11-12)
I know that
any honest seeker of truth can know for a surety of the divinity by simply
reading it, and asking God if it is his word. The Book of Mormon only persuades
men to do good. To follow Christ.
"And we
talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ,we prophesy of
Christ, and we write according to our prophecies,that our children may know to
what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)
Some people
in the world say the Book of Mormon is not the word of God. Some say it's
inspired by the devil.. Well, Christ once counseled the Pharisees:
"Every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or
house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he
is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" (Matthew
12:25-26)
How can the
Book of Mormon be of the devil if the whole dang book's purpose is to convince
people that Jesus is the Christ!? It can't. It's of God and inspired by God.
Nephi bears a
powerful testimony of which I give my 2nd witness:
"
Hearken unto these words (of the Book of Mormon) and believe in Christ; and if
ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in
Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he
hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. And
if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you,
with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day" (2
Nephi 33:10-11)
I know these
words are true and will defend them forever.
Love you all!
Keep up the good work, stay close to Him, and the Lord will bless you!
Love,
Elder Carroll
Proselyting in Tooele County
Doing service in Erda!
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