Miracles

Hello Friends and Family!                           

About a week or so ago, Elder Sorensen and I received a Free Bible Request (from mormon.org) from the small town just north of us in Hogansville. The woman’s name was Gloria, and as we found her house, and knocked on her door, a woman answered. When  we asked if Gloria was home, she laughed and said that she lived in the house next door. Quickly discovering that we had gotten the wrong house, we saw this as a golden missionary opportunity, however! As we began talking with this lady, she introduced herself as Kimberly, and we were able to give her a Bible and a Book of Mormon, which she said that she was interested in. As we were about to walk off  her porch, she said, “Now this is crazy…” We asked what she meant, and Kimberly told us how just two hours ago she had been looking for her Bible (they had recently moved into that house) and couldn’t find it at all!  She said, “I couldn’t find my Bible anywhere, and then less than two hours later you both show up and offer me a free Bible and a Book of Mormon!  God must have sent you.” We were able to get a return appointment with her, and she said that she would be very interested in learning more. We then headed over to Gloria’s home (what we had driven out there for) and what would you expect? She wasn’t even home. What makes this miracle even more incredible to me is that while we were in LaGrange (when we received the Free Bible Request) we prayed to know if we should drive to Hogansville and give it to her, or if we should wait until the next time we would be there (which would be in about a week). After Elder Sorensen and I prayed, we both felt strongly that we should take the thirty minute drive there, as soon as possible. Looking back, Kimberly, and ourselves included, were amazed how Heavenly Father put her in our path, all because we thought that we had the right house, when really we had made a mistake and knocked on a different door. This miracle just showed me how Heavenly Father truly does work in mysterious and wonderful ways, and that He will lead us to His children wherever they may be.  Just a few days ago, we were able to sit down with Kimberly, and her father Robert (who lives at the home, and seemed very interested as well) and discuss the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Spirit was so strong in that lesson, and they were amazed at how the Book of Mormon had come about, and how the Prophet Joseph Smith was able to translate over 500 pages in less than 80 days with a third grade education. The Spirit was especially strong as we were both able to share our strong testimonies with them about why a Prophet it so necessary on the Earth today, and how, with a Prophet, we are better prepared to live in these last days. The Spirit was able to prompt Elder Sorensen to ask them WHEN they are able to read the Book of Mormon, and WHEN they receive an answer from Heavenly Father (through prayer) that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, if they would be baptized? They both agreed quickly, and said how they would follow whatever Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wanted them to do.  The whole experience this week with Kimberly and Robert have been such a miracle, and we just pray that they will continue to remember the miracle that occurred, and continue to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.

There was another really awesome experience that happened this week, that I knew I had to

share with you all. Elder Sorensen and I received another Free Bible Request (yes, I really am in the Bible Belt) from a trailer in a trailer park just outside of town. We were able to find the individual who requested the Bible, give it to them, and then we prayed and felt like we should try visiting with other individuals in this trailer park. As we were going door-to-door knocking on these trailers, we were having little success. Then, we heard a man a little ways off yell, “ARE Y’ALL THE MORMONS?” Typically, with my experience so far in the South, a man walking quickly towards you asking (more yelling it as a statement) if you’re Mormon usually indicates one of two things: 1) they are going to keep yelling at you until you leave or 2) their In-Laws are Mormon so they dislike us even more than usual, and can’t wait to tell us about it (true story) haha!  Anyways, we both got nervous and waited until the man fully approached us. We indicated quickly that we were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that yes, many people do refer to us as ‘The Mormons’. There was a silence for a few awkward seconds, and then he just got THE BIGGEST smile on his face, put out his hand, and said, “Hi! I’m Will! I heard y’all were knocking on doors, and I got so excited to talk to y’all I figured I should just come and find you instead of waiting for y’all to come to me! I want to know about your Church.” As you could probably guess, Elder Sorensen and I were both STUNNED. For the next hour, we were able to sit in front of his little trailer, in the middle of the woods, and discuss the Restoration of the Gospel, and listen to him describe his beliefs in Jesus Christ. It was such an incredible experience, and the Spirit was so strong there as well. Will said that he was a strong Pentecostal, but said, “He knew there could be more truth out there.” He stated how he was so excited to be visiting with us, and HE MADE SURE, that we would come back next time, and that he wanted nothing more than to hear about our Church, Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon. We were able to leave our testimonies with him as well, and just explain how we have never been happier in our whole lives because of the Book of Mormon, and because of the additional knowledge it gives us about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What an awesome experience, and we have been able to meet with him on a few other times since then, and every time he has just been so open to hearing our message(s).  I love being a missionary! Heavenly Father is so caring, loving, and enduring to allow us missionaries the ability to teach His Children. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

The last experience I wanted to share was of Allen. You may remember that Allen was an investigator we had not too long ago, who had an issue with the Word of Wisdom.  One night this week Elder Sorensen and I were praying about who we should visit, and I felt strongly that we should go visit Allen. When we knocked, he answered and invited us in. As we talked with him, he said how he had the coolest experience with the Book of Mormon!  When we asked what happened, he explained how last time we left, he had been thinking for some reason about the Tower of Babel. Right after we left our last appointment with him, he said that he opened up the Book of Mormon to a random page and it fell open to Ether Chapter 1. Which, as you might remember, that chapter is all about the Jaredites, and the confounding at the Tower of Babel. What a miracle!  He said that he was able read more about it, understand it, and looks forward to reading more of the Book of Mormon!  Allen saw this experience as an answer to his prayers, and Heavenly Father’s way of showing His love and care for Him, as one of His Son’s.  The Spirit, again, was so strong in that lesson, and seeing an individual begin to realize that this is the Restored Gospel is the best sight in the World.

Overall, another blessed week from our Loving Heavenly Father. I have been blessed to witness countless number of miracles, and have felt the love and power of Heavenly Father in my life. Being a missionary in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the greatest honor, and greatest blessing, I have ever received in my life.  I know in whom I have trusted. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, and that he is my Redeemer.  I have more fully realized on my mission how deeply our Heavenly Father loves, watches over, and desires to aid each and every one of His children. I have never been more sure in my life that Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, and that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet on the Earth today. I would hope that we would never undervalue or question the power of the Book of Mormon in each of our daily lives - because it is truly the evidence of our Faith, of our convictions, and of our hope. It is the most true, and the most essential, of all of the witnesses to Jesus Christ life.  I know that it is through the Book of Mormon, and with the Holy Bible, that we can understand who our Savior is and what His divine role is as the Prince of Peace.

"I declare unto you in all candor, and in all earnestness of soul, that I believe with all my heart in the divine mission of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, that I am convinced in every fiber of my being that God raised him up to restore to the earth the gospel of Christ, which is indeed the power of God unto salvation. I testify to you that Joseph Smith was instrumental in the hand of the Lord in restoring God’s truth to the world, and also the holy Priesthood, which is his authority delegated unto man. I know this is true, and I testify of it to you. To me it is all-in-all; it is my life, it is my light; it is my hope, and my joy; it gives me the only assurance that I have for exaltation, for my resurrection from death, with those whom I have loved and cherished in this life, and with whom my lot has been cast in this world—honorable men, pure, humble men, who were obedient unto God and his commands, who were not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, nor of their convictions or knowledge of the truth of the gospel; men who were made of the stuff of which martyrs are made, and who were willing at any moment to lay down their lives for Christ’s sake, and for the gospel, if need be, which they had received with the testimony of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. I want to be reunited with these men when I shall have finished my course here. When my mission is done here, I hope to go beyond into the spirit world where they dwell, and be reunited with them. It is this gospel of the Son of God that gives me the hope that I have of this consummation, and the realization of my desire in this direction. I have staked all on this gospel, and I have not done it in vain. I know in whom I trust. I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he shall stand upon the earth in the latter days." (Joseph F. Smith)

I love you all so much, and can never begin to express how much you all mean to me. Until next week -

Elder Robb