Eggnog

That's awesome that you had a great week. Elder Garner and I too had a great week! We found 3 new people to teach. Brad is from Washington, he and his family moved in about a week ago, and he is not a member, but his wife is. He’s been coming to church with her for who knows how long, and he's such a nice guy. I don't know if he's really taken the lessons either! So he's pretty prepared in my estimation!

Another is a girl named Jessica. She had met with missionaries in the past and loved it and said we could come back. We'll see how that goes.

And the last was Samuel. He and his family of SEVEN KIDS are from Liberia, and Samuel's uncle was a stake president out there. Sam has met with missionaries before, but the mother got turned off from the whole idea once they learned that they would have to be baptized again. That was the same concern he expressed to us when we were teaching him on Saturday, but at the end of the lesson he sighed, and said, "See, I just don't know how to explain this to my family... If I had a better knowledge of the Book of Mormon, maybe I could." He already believes that it is true. He is the definition of a humble follower of Christ. So next week we want to read 3 Nephi 11 with him. That has got to be my favorite chapter for talking about baptism. The other night when I was reading from it, the Lord "opened the eyes of my understanding" and I knew exactly what the Savior was saying in verses 21-41. This is what I understood.

1. He gave the AUTHORITY to baptize.
2. He set forth the mode of baptism (immersion and the prayer.)
3. He did not want anyone to dispute the true mode of baptism, since he just explained it plain and simple. ("Why do I have to be baptized again? I've already been baptized")
4. Believe and be baptized, and be saved. If not, then you'll be damned.
5. The Holy Ghost, God the Father and Christ all testify of this doctrine.
6. Become as a child and be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. Be baptized, become as a little child, and receive the kingdom of God (reference Mosiah 3:19)
7. Anything more or less than this is evil. Build upon the doctrine of Christ, the rock.
8. Tell it to the whole world.

That's everything I understood in a nutshell. It was just one of those "a-ha" moments for me anyhow.

 

Elder Garner and I tracted this street the other week and this guy told us he was sorry that we weren't going to heaven and we sat and talked with him for a minute, and he just wanted to bash, so we left. We ended up stopping by a potential that we had, and decided to tract around that person’s house. As we walked up to the next house, we paused, recognizing it as that man's house. We looked at each other, and started to turn around, and we heard him come out and say, "So you came back, huh?" Haha it was a little embarrassing, but we just got out of there, and had a good laugh about it afterwards!

 

Wow though. Seriously wow. I'm really glad that you were able to keep your job dad. The Lord is looking out for us, I'm truly grateful for that. Romans 8:28

 

I've seen so many people walking around without the Gospel and I'm just grateful that I'm able to be a part of it. How fortunate that I am to have been born into a family that lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Hmm... Not sure what else to say... Oh, one family here, the Oborn’s, they're awesome! They are a younger couple from Utah/Idaho, sister Oborn said that she wants to set me up on a date with her sister when I get home, haha! I wasn't sure how to react-- a good sign, because I'm definitely a missionary. I still don't know how to react! Just funny, at least I thought so, so I'd share it.

 

Well, I'm going to buy some more eggnog and try to stay away from too many Holiday treats, though that probably won’t happen!

 

And did you call Sister Howell, mom?

 

Love,

ELDER BROOKS