The Bigger Plan

Hello Friends and Family!

This week has been another great one. My new companion is Elder Jacklin from Lindon, Utah.  I have been transferred to a little small resort town named Richmond Hill. It is less than an hour away from Tybee Island, and is a neighboring area of Savannah. I have really enjoyed it here, and especially love the added wind on my face as I am now in a bike area!  Richmond Hill is quite the summer resort town (it was founded by Henry Ford) and because it is also near Fort Stewart, there are many young military families. It is like a missionary's dream area!  I did wanted to briefly share one experience with you from this last week. 

I received a phone call on Saturday morning from the Elders currently serving in Macon,

and they informed me that Sister Linnie Roest had past away at 9 AM.  As a reminder, Elder Swanson and I (last November) had the chance to see her get baptized and confirmed as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had been a practicing Buddhist for nearly 50 years, and after reading the Book of Mormon, she received a powerful witness of the truthfulness and reality of the Living Christ, as well as the Church. I was shocked by her sudden passing, but felt such a deep sense of peace knowing the Plan of Salvation. I want to bear my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that this Gospel brings us the greatest sense of peace during our greatest trials or tribulations, and I also know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all will rise again in the Resurrection.

From the very beginning, our Heavenly Father had a great Plan for us. He not only wanted us to learn, grow, and improve, but come to a place where we could experience life in a mortal frame. From this life, we could chose to either follow the Savior Jesus Christ and His teachings, or follow after the manner of man and experience hardships without the aid of the Holy Ghost. I know that it is through the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, as well as understanding the purpose for God's Plan, that any individual may find comfort in this life. As I got of the phone with the Macon Elders, I felt as though I should turn to the scriptures to find peace and comfort with the passing of Sister Roest. The Spirit whispered two scriptures to me. The first I turned to was 2 Nephi 9:13, which says, in part, "O how great the plan of our God!" As I read this first scripture, I couldn't help but feel such an overwhelming appreciation for the chance I had to meet Sister Roest in this life, and see the Spirit teach her the simple Restored truths that we each take for granted so often. The second scripture is found in Alma 46:41, which reads, "But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him...". 

Until Next Week-

Elder Robb