Ms. Rice & The Book of Mormon

Hello Friends and Family! 

This week was so amazing. There is no better work on this Earth then missionary work, and bringing others to the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Truly, I love this Gospel, I love its teachings, and am beginning to realize more fully how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Jesus Christ's Restored Church here on the Earth today. 

Where to begin? This is seriously one of the hardest parts of my week: trying to describe all the miracles I saw, and all the wonderful people Elder Sorensen and I had the chance to meet. I'll begin with the conversion story of a man named Bennie. While at District meeting last Tuesday, I had the chance to be able to meet with and hear from Bennie, who is the Lennett Area Ward Mission Leader (the Ward nearest our Branch). Bennie began by saying how he was converted 39 years ago, and that the two Elders who showed up at his doorstep talked about the Book of Mormon, and said they would bring him one next week. Bennie said he thought they would never come back. The room went silent as he began to cry as he explained to all of us (those at District Meeting) how exactly a week later, the Elders showed up again, and not long after he was converted because of the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong as he spoke, and the Spirit also testified to me of how important it is that we use the Book of Mormon in our conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That in fact, it is because of the Book of Mormon that we realize that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the Lord's Church established on the Earth today. That although, as Mormons, we study and read from the Bible everyday, we value the Book of Mormon because it is truly the keystone to our religion. That the Book of Mormon is what shapes us, as Latter-day Saints, and is what can soften the hearts of all those we come in contact with. That in fact, as a missionary, if we can find someone who can read, study, ponder, and pray to our Heavenly Father of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, there is little else that may stand in their way to full conversion. Not just conversion to a Church, but a conversion to having a deeper love, a deeper understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I had the chance to be able to see an individual participate in part of this conversion process this week. This is the next individual I would love to talk about: Ms. Rice. We ran into Ms. Rice while knocking on doors in the outskirts of LaGrange on Tuesday. When we knocked on her door, she answered and just smiled at us. When we stated who we were, and that we were spreading a message about Jesus Christ, she quickly let us into her home to hear our message. Soon afterwards, we found out that she is 93 years old, half blind, half deaf, and lives alone. She was quiet to begin with, but as she started to hear our message, the Spirit touched her enough to be able to open up. As you could imagine, she stated how she had just felt so lonely since her husband passed away three years ago, and how she had felt like God was keeping her alive for some purpose or reason. Elder Sorensen and I were able to just bear our strongest testimonies about he Plan of Salvation; that through the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ we can truly find our purpose and way in life. The Spirit was not only so strong in this lesson, and in her home, but more importantly, the Spirit was able to touch her heart. As we bore these testimonies to her, and began to close our lesson, we asked her if she would like to pray. With tears down her face, she confessed how (after 93 years), she had never felt like God had ever listened to a single one of her prayers. Elder Sorensen and I were able to teach her the basics of prayer, and comfort her as to how she can receive an answer to every prayer she gives through the power of personal revelation. Ms. Rice finally got the courage, bowed her head, and said one the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard. With simplicity, and keeping it short, she just cried to her Heavenly Father asking if what we were saying is true, and how she truly did hope it was true. Elder Sorensen and I were quickly both in tears as well, as the Spirit in that home had been the strongest I had felt it on my entire mission. We know, and she knew, that she could feel the Spirit as well. Before we left, we were able to give her the Book of Mormon CD's (because she is too blind to be able to read), and she said that she would continue to pray, and listen to them every single day. A few days went by, and Elder Sorensen and I returned to her small little lonely house to follow up. As she welcomed us in, we asked how the listening had been going? She stated that she was ALREADY IN THE BOOK OF JACOB! Elder Sorensen and I were so beyond excited, then she said, "I feel this is the word of God, but I've always been Baptist, and tend to die Baptist." There was silence. I was shocked. How was it that an individual could feel of the Spirit so strong, but yet deny it and continue being confused? I looked at Elder Sorensen, he looked at me, and we asked if we could please just give her one last lesson. She agreed quickly, and said how she loved how she felt when we taught, but she was just confused about the Book of Mormon. I felt the Spirit so strongly, and Elder Sorensen gave a mighty testimony about how we must take the Book of Mormon slow, soak it in, and ponder it. I, too, then gave my firm and everlasting testimony of the power and conversion possibility that is held within the bounds of The Book of Mormon. She then said, "While, I know that this is the truth. I feel it. I just don't know if this is what God wants for me." As we continued with testimony after testimony, and teaching parts of the Restoration, she began to open up to us once again. We asked if we could listen to 3 Nephi 11 with her. Looking back, not only was this inspiration from the Holy Ghost to listen to this chapter with her, but truly it was divine intervention. As we sat and listened to the whole chapter with her, I don't think I have ever prayed so hard in my life. I prayed that she could continue to feel of the Spirit, and continue to desire the full-truth contained in The Book of Mormon. Once the chapter was finished, we sat in silence. Did I mention we brought Bennie with us? While he was there. And Bennie said this (yes, I'll never forget what he said), "Ms. Rice, 39 years ago two boys in white shirts and ties showed up on my porch. They gave a confusing lesson about a prophet and a book, and I thought they were crazy. But I took their book, read some of it, and prayed. Because of this, and because I prayed, and did whatever I could to follow Jesus Christ, is the reason why I'm sitting here today." With tears again running down Ms. Rice's face, along with all of ours (including Bennie's), he said these words I'll never forget, "Because of the Book of Mormon, I know I am a member Christ's church re-established on the Earth today. And because of the Book of Mormon, I know I can live with my Heavenly Father again someday." Silence. The Spirit was so strong you could almost see it. Those two lessons, and especially our last one with her, was one of the strongest times I've ever felt the Holy Ghost testify to me of the truthfulness of this Gospel.

The last story I would like to share is about a mother named Keisha and her daughter Kayla. Although this story is brief, when I still think back on my experience with them I feel such joy! We ran into Keisha and Kayla while contacting one night. Again, they were one of the last doors we knocked on before heading home for the night (it's so funny - NEVER SKIP KNOCKING THE LAST DOOR). Anyways, we set a return appointment, and after a few failed attempts to meet with them again and again, we finally found a night to actually be able to sit down with both of them. So there we were, on their porch, beginning to teach them the Restoration. Before we even began the lesson, we knew immediately that they were looking for something. The Spirit was strong, and prompted Elder Sorensen to ask about their family situation. It is interesting how true it is that the real teacher is the Spirit, and as missionaries, we are simply just the mouth pieces to this Gospel. Keisha (the mom) began to get a little emotional as she recounted how they had lost almost 7 close family members (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and siblings) in just under two years. As we listened to her, and waited for the Spirit to guide us, Kayla (the  eleven year-old daughter) spoke up. She said, "But I read your pamphlet you gave us last time, and we can see them again right?" WHAT? This eleven year-old girl is the first person I've met that has actually read a pamphlet we've given someone! Honestly, I was shocked. We asked her again, "Wait, your read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet?" She responds, "While, didn't you want me too?" I WAS SO HAPPY. We were able to teach her, and her mom, all about the Plan of Salvation (or I guess 'review' it with Kayla) and how we can live with our families together forever if we live according to Heavenly Father's commandments. The Spirit was so strong there, and as we left, I just couldn't get the expression of Keisha and Kayla's face out of my head when we told them we could all see our families again someday. 

Again, thank you so much for always supporting me, giving me motivation to be a better person, and for all your awesome letters and emails. I pray for you all every night, and love this Gospel so much. In closing, I just want to leave my testimony, for this week, with you all. I know that all things we experience in life, if it be hardships, joys, confusion, sadness, etc. are all given to us so that we can progress closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Trials are supposed to be opportunities. I know that as we rely on our Savior, and respect His Will, and the Will of the Father, all our trials may not seem as hard to pass through. I am beyond happy here in Georgia, and even happier to be a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Until next week -

Elder Robb