A Four Way Crossroads

Hello Friends and Family!

What an incredible time to be involved in the Lord's Work! With some recent changes in Missionary Standards and Policies, it has been incredible to see the blessings that come as we adhere and strictly follow the commandments and revelations that come through God's authorized servants: The Prophets. I have a very strong conviction and testimony, through the Holy Ghost, that Prophets are called by Heavenly Father for the aid and workings and benefits for His children. As I have studied the Doctrine and Covenants recently, I found a scripture that stood out to me that I wanted to share. For context, this scripture is in regards to the Peace that comes from keeping the commandments and receiving divine revelations of God, "What greater witness can you have than from God?" (Doctrine and Covenants 6:23). Truly, 'Peace' is among the greatest witnesses of the Spirit! 

While Elder Taylor and I were out this week, we had a very sacred experience. We were in a particular area late at night when we both felt like that was not where the Lord would have us be. We reevaluated our plans, and determined to pray as to where the Lord wanted us to be (even our back-up plans didn't seem fitting). As we prayed, we both had a sacred moment where the Lord revealed to us exactly where we needed to be.  As we drove to this new area, which happened to be an apartment complex, a particular building was revealed to us to be the exact spot where Heavenly Father needed us to be.  Through further prayer, we felt strongly about a particular set of doors to try.  I haven't knocked doors in at least a year on my mission, so this was a strange feeling for me!  We knocked about three with very little success, and then reached the fourth door. We knocked and waited.  The door opened about 6 inches, and a young woman stuck her head out and asked what we wanted. We introduced ourselves as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, and told her that we had been called by a Prophet to spread the message of God's Church.  She looked at our name-tags and responded, "My grandfather just joined your church a few years ago.  But I'm not interested." As she was about to close the door, we asked why she wasn't interested.  She opened up a bit and explained that she belonged to another large Christian Denomination, and that was where she attends Church. As she spoke, you could see the Spirit work on her as she lost her words and then just said, "You know, I'm really not quite sure why I'm not interested." 

As the conversation ensued, she said, "I recently got this great job, it was even a promotion! However, I feel nothing. I have no purpose. I don't even have a family."  My amazing companion asked some inspired questions, and then she responded again that she simply wanted to know where we go when we die.  As we explained the Book of Mormon to her, and how it would answer her questions, she just started to laugh.  Slightly uncomfortable, we asked what she was laughing about.  Her response was this, "I just don't get it. This book [pointing to the Book of Mormon in our hands] keeps coming into my life. My grandfather tries to give me one every time I go over to his house, I saw an ad online, I read about it somewhere else, etc etc." She, in a somewhat sassy tone said, "Give me that book and I'll read it". We smiled, marked a place for her, and gave her the Book.  As she took it, she went on to tell us how she just felt like she was at this "four-way crossroads" in which she had to make a decision which paths to follow. She felt concerned she wouldn't follow God's Plan for her, and she wouldn't be able to please God ever. 

The Spirit was able to bear witness to her the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the Plan of Salvation, and what God's pattern and path is for her in life.  I have grown to love these little experiences regarding the power of the Book of Mormon to aid us in finding the answers to the questions of the soul and helping us find our true identity as sons and daughters of God. 

Before ending, I felt strongly prompted by the Spirit to bear my firm witness of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World".  I have witnessed firsthand, like most missionaries in the World do, the absolute destruction of the family unit in modern-day society.  I know and have a witness that Satan's whole goal, since the beginning of time, is to destroy the family, to be able to secure other's to be "miserable like unto himself".  I know with all of my heart that "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" is God's Revelation to His Prophets, and that for our spiritual safety we must abide by its standards of morality to obtain the Celestial Kingdom. From the words of a Prophet, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, "To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to take the Lord’s side on every issue. It is to vote as he would vote. It is to think what he thinks, to believe what he believes, to say what he would say and do what he would do in the same situation. It is to have the mind of Christ and be one with him as he is one with his Father." I would invite each of us to change any patterns, beliefs, or behaviors that would make it ever appear that you don't adhere to the Lord's values contained in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". Let us never forget the scripture which warns us to, "Abstain from all appearance of evil". 

Do others in your workplaces, schools, or social groups know your belief on the Family? They should. Why? Because we read from the words of Jesus Christ, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

From the Prophets we have the warning, "...We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."

Until Next Week-

Elder Robb