A Lost Bible and a Wrecked Car

Hello Friends and Family!

What an incredible last few weeks! Elder Taylor and I are staying in Auburn for another six weeks together (which we couldn't be more excited about) and hope that we can lead a few individuals into the waters of baptism. We have had so many special experiences, it is hard to be able to pick one or two to share. I felt like sharing two particular stories from this last week would be a good start. 

Elder Taylor and I received a Free Bible Request that someone had submitted through an advertisement on Facebook. We had no information about this individual when we received this referral, and when we called her to set up a time to visit she explained to us that her home and property had been completely destroyed in the recent tornado that came through our area. She was slightly embarrassed but asked if we could come to a hotel where she was temporarily staying to deliver that to her. We were able to bring one of our recent converts with us to deliver this Bible, as she was a single female woman. As we sat down with this woman in her humble hotel room, and gave her the Bible and Book of Mormon, the Spirit came right into the room. This woman explained how she had searched for years and years for a suitable church and could never find one for her and her family. As we explained the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his search for a Church, she immediately began to light up. She said, "Where was this 20 years ago?" I was humbled by her complete positive attitude that she had, even in the midst of losing everything in her life. She said to us, "When I went and looked around my property after the tornado had come through [luckily she wasn't in the home at the time], the first thing I wanted to find was my Bible. I looked everywhere and couldn't find it.  I went on Facebook and BAM, there was an advertisement from comeuntochrist.org saying that I could order a Free Bible! It was amazing. God answered my prayer through your Church." As we explained the unprecedented value of the Book of Mormon, she put the Bible aside and said, "Sounds like I need to read this one first!" She was such a sweet woman, and it touched my heart seeing the foreknowledge of our Heavenly Father in action. That Heavenly Father knew that by losing her Bible, she would have the opportunity to accept or reject the fullness of the everlasting Gospel.  As we were leaving the lesson, she said, "I guess this is what happens when God takes your old Bible, because He knows you need a new one!" We are excited to be able to work with this sweet woman, and many others, and introduce them to the value of the Book of Mormon. 

The last story I wanted to share was a really neat experience that Elder Taylor and I had at

the end of this last week. We had about fifteen minutes before an appointment we were going too (somehow we hit every green light on our way there? interesting....) so we decided it would be time well spent to do some quick finding. We prayed, and a street immediately came to our minds. We went there, and as we started walking down the road we felt that we should knock a particular door. We knocked, and a little girl answered. The mom was sitting on her couch in the living room, and right as the door opened a car pulled into the driveway. The woman said, "That's my husband pulling in, go talk to him!" We turned around, and shook this man's hand as he got out of the vehicle. He immediately recognized us and said, "Oh, my Aunt is a member of your Church!" He proceeded by telling us, that his family wasn't religious by choice because every church they have ever known is corrupt and based around pastors/money. He then said, "But I guess you can give me your phone number and if we change our minds in a few years we will give you a call. If there's one thing I do know about your Church, it's that you're good people." We wrote down our phone number, and left, without thinking too much about this short encounter. 

On Saturday night Elder Taylor and I got a voicemail from this individual. He said, "Hey, I was the guy you talked to out in the front of my house a few nights ago. Well, I totaled my car and almost killed my youngest son. I have been laying here all day and I knew I needed to call y'all.  My family needs a church, we want to meet twice a week, and turn our lives back over to God. Call us back if that's something y'all might be able to help us with."  Wow! How incredible. We were so happy that they were safe, and as we went over to their home for our first visit, the whole family seemed to just light up with excitement. We were able to bring them the new Come, Follow Me-for Individuals and Families booklet, as well as additional copies of the Book of Mormon. They seemed so excited, and Elder Taylor and I know that Heavenly Father was able to protect this family, while still reaching out to them in love by reminding them what our purpose of this Life is. 

In closing, I want to leave my testimony of this Gospel and the Restored Church. I know that many changes are coming that will greatly affect missionary work, just as we have had changes in the past.  I know that this is a Church of Revelation, and I hope we function differently in 30 years than we do today! Because God loves us, He reveals new ways to run His Kingdom.  However, the doctrines that surround these changes will never deviate "from the right [or] to the left" (Alma 7:20). I know that President Russell M. Nelson is a Prophet of God, and am excited to follow him, as he follows our Savior, to guide us in these the last days.

Until Next Week-

Elder Robb