A Southern Miracle

Hello Friends and Family!

What an absolutely incredible two weeks it has been. I have the strongest testimony of this Gospel, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church I have the opportunity to represent each day, is literally the Lord's Kingdom once again established on the earth.  There is not a doubt in my mind that serving in the Georgia Macon Mission has been one of the greatest blessings of my life, and I know that this is where my Heavenly Father needed me to be at this time.  Two weeks ago, Elder Swanson and I were able to see five individuals enter the sacred waters of baptism to start on their covenant path back to their Heavenly Father.  This week, Elder Ledwaba and I were able to see another individual get baptized who has been prepared for so long. It is amazing to see how, in two weeks, the Lord has begun to pour down His rich and abundant blessings about those in Macon and Auburn Areas, and nothing has filled me with greater joy than seeing the Joy of the Gospel fill the souls of those who faithfully pursue the pathway back to their Eternal Father. 

I wanted to briefly share some of their stories now.  I hope that as I do so you may feel of the Spirit, and know how great our Heavenly Father cares for each and everyone of us.

Where to even begin? 

*****

Nearly five transfers ago Elder McPherson and I were out finding individuals when we

stumbled into a man, sitting on his porch, drinking a large beer. We attempted to talk to him about the Restoration of the Gospel, but almost with complete failure. We left him with a Book of Mormon, and he said, "Y'all can come back if you can catch me at home." Weeks went by, and Elder McPherson and I never thought about this man again. One day, some of our appointments cancelled, and we happened to be driving back through the same area where we had met this man.  Elder McPherson said, "Elder Robb, I think we should go try that drunk man again." Because of my lack of faith, I almost reluctantly agreed that we could take two minutes and go see if he was home. When we turned the corner, we saw him sitting on his porch, again, with a similar beer can in his right hand. When he saw us get out of the car, he laughed and said, "Well, I've been waiting for y'all to come back!" We laughed, and as we approached him he said, "You know I read part of that chapter you gave me. It's pretty interesting." We asked questions about the chapter, and he responded with answers that seemed to indicate that he actually had read some of it! We smiled when he said, "But, now is a bad time to talk while I have a beer in my hand. Come try me again another day."  Another week or so went by, and, again, our appointments seemed to all cancel. We were, again, driving back through the area and we both felt to go give him another try.  When we turned the corner, unlike last time, he was not sitting on his porch.  We knocked on the door and he answered.  He smiled, and said, "Okay, now lets talk, I have some questions."  We started to teach him, on his porch, about the Restoration of the Gospel, and what the Book of Mormon is. He paid very close attention, then said, "When is y'all's church?" We told him the address and start time, and he replied, "I'll be there on Sunday with my family." Sunday came, and right as Sacrament Meeting was about to start, the whole family walked in. To say I was shocked is an understatement.  I realized that my faith had been so weak towards them and that they would actually come to church! Elder McPherson and I, then eventually Elder Swanson and I, continued to teach them over the course of five transfers (about thirty weeks). During that whole time, they only missed church three times. They started to participate in Ward Activities, get involved in service projects, and hold weekly Family Home Evening. It wasn't long before they had been taught everything, and were keeping all the commitments.  However, they would not accept a baptismal date. I will never forget, however, the Sunday that changed it all. It was a fifth Sunday lesson about (drumroll please): how to use the LDS Tools App.  Yep.  That was literally the last lesson we needed for the individuals that were coming to Church to know. It was, I would dare say, one of the most boring fifth Sunday lessons I have ever had. No one commented, the lesson went short, and everyone in the building left about ten minutes early. As Elder Swanson and I were about to leave the building, we noticed that this family was still there. The father approached us, this same man that was once holding the beer can in his right hand, and said, "Elders, we are ready to be baptized. The Spirit touched me in there today, and I cannot deny it.  This is the truth."  Two weeks ago, on Saturday, the Clemons Family entered into the Waters of Baptism. Horace (the father), Debra (the mother), and their sweet nine year-old son Deshawn, were baptized that day, and the Spirit of the Lord couldn't have been any stronger. On the Sunday after their baptism, when those three were confirmed, it was also the Primary Program. It was incredible to see their son, this nine year-old boy, as well as their other child (who is 6 years old) participate in the whole Program.

Deshawn had a part in the primary program as well (keep in mind they had been coming since May). He had a big paragraph to read, and you could tell how nervous his mom and dad were in the congregation. Why were they nervous? Deshawn has always suffered with severe stuttering throughout his life. And now, with Deshawn coming to the stand to read his part, even Elder Swanson and I were nervous.  What if he couldn't stop stuttering? What if he got embarrassed because he couldn't speak as well as the other kids?  As he took the microphone, he spoke his whole two minute part in the program without a single stutter. All of the primary kids, as well as his teacher, rallied around him because of how excited they were. I will never forget the smile he had as he looked at his recently baptized parents in the congregation. I will also never forget the tears rolling down my face, and everyone else's face, as we realized the sweet miracle that had just taken place.

The Clemons Family will forever have the deepest place in my heart. Horace, the father, will be receiving the Aaronic Priesthood next week. 

*****

This past March, a woman entered the waters of baptism in Oregon. Determined to share the gospel with her family, she reached out to the missionaries to contact her mother Linnie, in Macon, Georgia. The missionaries went and visited with her mother, but she didn't seem too interested. However, only a few weeks after I arrived in Macon, with Elder McPherson, we received another phone call from this amazing recent-convert in Oregon. She said, "Elders, will you please go visit my mother again? She is desperately sick. Could you give her a blessing?" We went to a rehabilitation home, where she is staying, and saw this woman who was so sick, we gave her the blessing even though she wasn’t conscience.  However, just before we left the room,  she opened her eyes and gently took our hands. She had acknowledged that we had come and blessed her. 

Jump forward four transfers, and we received another call from Linnie's daughter. She said, "Elders, will you go visit with my mother again? When I talked with her she requested that you come and visit with her." We went back to the rehabilitation center, and met her mother, again. When we arrived, Linnie was already waiting for us.  She said, "Tell me what you believe." We explained the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and when we got to the part of Joseph Smith's First Vision, you could see something change in her.  She stopped us, and asked us to repeat the First Vision experience. I have never, on my whole mission, seen someone pay so close to every word we said.  We repeated these words to her again: 

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. … When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

She stopped us AGAIN.  She said, "Elders, I need you to say it again but slower."  We, for a third time, repeated the First Vision. Tears began to flow down her cheeks. She said, "Elders, do you know what my religious background is? I have been a staunch Buddhist for over 49 years. Do you know what sect of Buddhism I practiced?" We replied that we didn't know, and asked her to explain. She said, "Elders, in my sect of Buddhism this is exactly what I have grown up to believe for 49 years: that a young 14 year-old Gautam Buddha entered a grove of trees in ancient Japan, seeking enlightenment.  He was concerned about the sorrow of the World, and the confusion around him. While in the grove of trees, Buddha said he wouldn't leave until he found enlightenment. However, a demon came from the underworld and tried to eat him. However, he stayed strong until he received Enlightenment. Is there more to the first vision that might be similar to this?" Our jaws had dropped. It was one of the most sacred experiences of my mission. We explained the whole background of the First Vision, about Joseph Smith being tempted, but staying, as well as the trials he faced before the actual First Vision. As we explained these things, the Spirit couldn't have been any stronger in that tiny room - in that small rehabilitation center. It was silent for a while, once we finished explaining ourselves, then she said, "Elders, where do we go from here?" 

Linnie was baptized on that same Saturday with the Clemons family. She had never read the

Bible before, let alone the Book of Mormon. When we asked about her Book of Mormon reading she said, "I really don't understand anything of what I read, but I feel something good. I know this is the enlightenment that I have searched to receive for 49 years. There are no words to describe it." Linnie began to physically improve drastically as she accepted more of the Gospel. She came to Church each Sunday, and kept every commitment. As we carried her in a chair into the font (because she is wheelchair bound), she exclaimed, "I'm Ready!" As she was baptized, and came out of the water, she yelled loudly for everyone to hear, "I'VE BEEN BAPTIZED. I'VE BEEN BAPTIZED!" 

After she was done changing, and came back to the baptismal service, the Clemons family circled her and hugged her. It was amazing to see both of these amazing convert families love each other so much. After the service, she grabbed my hand and said, "Elder Robb, I have to tell you one last thing." Tears poured from her face, and mine. I wasn't quite sure why I was crying, but I felt something deep within me burning. I knew it was the Spirit.  She said, "Elder Robb when I was in the bathroom changing, there was a moment when it was completely silent. The women that were helping me change [from the Relief Society] had to grab some more towels, and it was just me in the bathroom alone. Elder Robb, I heard the voice of Jesus. I heard him, for the first time in my life.  He said: Linnie, I am so proud of you." 

As I shared this sacred moment with Linnie, I will never forget my heart burning, the smile that wouldn't seem to leave my face, and the tears that flowed freely between the two of us.  There is nearly nothing I had ever loved more than my sweet Sister Linnie.

*****  

As Joseph was in his junior year and sat in his AP United States History Class, he had a question. His teacher had just started talking about "The Mormon Movement West", and he wondered why his mom was baptized a Mormon, but had since stopped practicing. When he came home from school that day, he asked his mom about the Church, and what it was like. He asked his mom if they could go on Sunday to the 'Mormon' Church, and she said they could.  Nothing would ever be the same.  Joseph met missionaries there, and agreed to start taking the lessons. However, due to other circumstances, Joseph couldn't be baptized until he was 18 years old. So for almost a year, the Macon Elders visited with them until the time was right. When I arrived in Macon almost five transfers ago, Joseph was learning faster than anyone I had ever seen. He was working on getting his Eagle Scout Award, and being the leader of his High School Drum line. As the time approach, Joseph couldn't have been more ready. He was baptized a member of the Church on the same Saturday, two weeks ago, with Linnie and the Clemons family. 

Before I left Macon, he showed me his Eagle Scout papers. There was a question that said something to the extent of, "What are your future plans?" I read what he wrote, and it said, simply, "To serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

*****

I share these stories because each one of these people are members of my family now. They have become apart of who I am, and have helped me to develop a stronger testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I was reflecting on these individuals, whom I love more than I could ever write or explain, I couldn't help but think of the lyrics of the closing song that was sung at the baptismal service, 

Families Can Be Together Forever:

 

I have a family here on earth.

They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

Famlies can be together forever

Through Heavnly Father’s plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

I want to close with my firm testimony of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He died so we might Live Again. I know that President Nelson is a Prophet of God whom I will follow, and sustain. I know that there is nothing more joyful, sweet, or beautiful, than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am exceedingly grateful for each and everyone of you, and for the love you show towards me each and everyday, including the countless prayers you say in my behalf. 

"...but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God..." (Alma 26:11)

Until Next Week-

Elder Robb

My new companion, Elder Ledwaba