The Reason Why I Was Spared

Hello Friends and Family!         

This week has been fantastic. I am continually humbled by the miracles, blessings, and people I have the chance to see every single day. I thoroughly believe that serving as a missionary is the best experience, and time, that any individual could ever have in their life. What I initially thought was a 'sacrifice' at the beginning of my mission, I now see as an opportunity to serve the Lord in His vineyard.

This past Tuesday, Elder Sieverts and I had the opportunity to go to Angelia's home again. She was the individual who said that she felt 'something was missing' from all the churches she attends.  We went there for our appointment, and as we sat down and began to talk to her, she seemed to have very positive thoughts and feelings about the reading in the Book of Mormon she had completed. We started the lesson, and the Spirit hit me so hard saying, "Ask her if she prayed about it." I stopped halfway through my sentence and said, "I'm so sorry, I forgot to ask you: were you able to pray about the Book of Mormon?" There was a pause, she smiled, and said, "Yes. When I prayed I just felt this really warm feeling right here [gesturing by her heart]. I think it's true." This was one of the best moments on my mission so far. The Spirit was so strong in that room, and I couldn't help but leave there with a smile on my face. She continues to remain very interested in learning more, and I just hope she endures to the end while focusing on that spiritual experience. I do know that the Spirit will confirm the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon if anyone but just reads, and asks, with a sincere heart and real intent.

Elder Sieverts and I were also able to meet with an individual by the name of Alvin. He had chatted with the missionaries online on mormon.org, and was very interested in learning more about the Savior Jesus Christ. We were able to meet him at the local library, and when we sat down, and talked with him, he really opened up about his past struggles, and how he really just wanted to know more about the Savior Jesus Christ and how to find faith in Him. We got to a point, as we were teaching him, where we were talking about baptism. When we asked him about being baptized on a certain date, he said, "Yes. I really want to do this to change my life, to change my family, and to find stability for them. I think this would do that for them." We were able to leave our testimonies of how the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ can truly bring many blessings to those who seek comfort, faith, and hope in our brother Jesus Christ. This was a really spiritual lesson, and I hope that he can also remember the Spirit that was felt there.

Last, but not least, Elder Sieverts and I had an extraordinary spiritual experience to top off

our week. We had received a referral of an individual who wanted to learn more about the Church and have us over to teach him. We called him, set up an appointment, and showed up for our visit. When we showed up for our appointment, we went to the door, and Tim answered (the man who was interested in meeting with us). He let us in, got his wife, and they both sat down with us. We began by asking what had got them interested in the Church, and Tim said, "While, we are actually both members of the Church. We want to come back." The Spirit filled the room, and Tim just began to cry. His wife, while holding his hand, said, "We have been through so much in the past month, and I guess it has just reshaped our priorities." They began by explaining their whole story. They had both been very active members of the Church when they were younger, and actually met in Church, and then as they dated, and eventually married outside the temple, they never went back. They said all of their kids were baptized, but they weren't active members of the Church.  Michelle (Tim's wife), said, "My grandkids are now hitting baptismal age, and Tim just had emergency open heart surgery a few weeks ago, and we have been struggling with many different things. We decided it was time to reshape our life, and come back to Church. Can y'all maybe help us with that?" Elder Sieverts and I couldn't help but just look back at them, and feel the Spirit that was so thick in the room. I felt very prompted in that moment to say, "Tim and Michelle, the Lord needs you on His side now. He needs you to go through the temple, and for your grandkids to be baptized. I know that."  They both cried, and then Tim said, "Right as I was going into my emergency heart surgery, and right before they put me under (with the possibility that I might not wake up), I felt a deep regret inside of me for not taking God seriously, and for never going to the Temple. I think that's why God spared me: is to go to the Temple with my family." As he said this, I shared with him my testimony about going through the temple with my own family and what that has meant to me.  As I shared my testimony of the temple with both of them, I couldn't help but show emotion as well because of the Spirit that existed in the room. There are few words to describe what a moment that was for me. We then spoke openly about the barriers and obstacles that exist in coming to church, and eventually to the temple, and made a plan with them to overcome all of these. Right before we left, Tim said, with tears still rolling down his face, "Elders, I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I feel that Spirit right now, and I want to feel it forever." I have rarely seen such sincere desire in someone (or, two individuals in this case) in wanting to repent. Truly, it is one of the first times in my life I have seen someone exhibit true Godly sorrow. A scripture came to my head as I drove away from their home, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

I have such a strong testimony that this Gospel, and Church, is for the sinner.  There is no such thing as a perfect life, family, home, or individual. However, there is the reality of the Savior Jesus Christ.  I testify that He lives, and that He allows for all men to come unto Him. I do know that He rejects none, and that He is always standing with open arms to receive us. Alyssa (the other less-active sister we found a few weeks ago) has continued to come to Church every Sunday, and continues to show great progress towards one day entering the Temple. She is so sweet, and I hope that Tim and Michelle may join Alyssa someday in entering the doors of the House of the Lord. I have been humbled to see how three members of the Church (Alyssa, Tim, and Michelle) have been found through the Spirit in just the past few weeks. I have a testimony that reactivation work (in bringing someone back into the Church) is just as important as reaching out to someone that has never heard of the Church before. I know that as we let the Spirit lead us to those who desire to return, that we will begin to see blessings flow into both the life of those that are found, and the ones that do the finding. I love this Church, and I do know that it is the only true Church on the Earth today.

There is one last simple, yet touching experience, that I felt I should share before I close. A few weeks ago, Elder Sieverts and I were returning back to the apartment for the night, when we began talking with one of our neighbors named Sanya. She is from Jordan, and grew up in the Middle East her whole life. She moved to the United States about 25 years ago, and still has an awesome, thick, Arabic accent. We asked her if she is very religious, and she said, "I love the Bible. I read it everyday. I love studying, reading, and finding out more about the Savior." I asked if she had ever read the Book of Mormon before, and she said, "I've never heard of that. What is it?" I was shocked. Here was someone in our apartment complex (the missionaries have used this apartment for over two years), and someone so close to us didn't know what the Book of Mormon was!) I explained, and asked if she wanted one. She said, "Could you get me one in Arabic?" I smiled and said of course. I was able to order one online for her about two weeks ago, and it finally came yesterday. We dropped it off at her apartment, and when we did, we actually had a really spiritual experience there. We gave the book to her, she read the front cover, and title page, out loud, in Arabic, and said, "Thank you. This means more to me than anything else in the whole world. How could I ever repay you for giving me the words of Jesus?" I knew that we had nothing to do with it as missionaries, but it is always the Spirit. As I walked away from her apartment, the Spirit just touched me of how important the Book of Mormon is.  I can say that I have never, on my whole mission, seen someone so grateful to receive a Book of Mormon. It touched me, and caused me to reflect and ask, "How grateful am I for the Book of Mormon?"

I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that it is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I know that He lives, loves, and reigns as Lord of Lords and the Prince of Peace. I am so grateful for all of you, and for all the support I continually get each week.

Until Next Week-

Elder Robb