Hey Everyone,
So it has been a very interesting week. I've had so many
experiences where I didn't know how to get us out of a situation or help
someone really understand and sat back and let the spirit work it's
truth. Seriously, the spirit will not fail us and no one can argue with a
testimony!
Leslie came to the Elder Ballard Fireside and was all excited for
us to come over to teach her more and to bring her a book of Mormon. We
were so so excited! We started calling her a couple times a day and no
responses. Luckily, Thursday was super busy! We taught 6 lessons and we
happened to have a 30 minute break between appointments so we made a few
calls. I decided to call leslie and to my surprise she answered. At
first it was small talk and then she said, "well, I have your number,
let me call you." So at that point I knew if the conversation ended like
that we would stalk her a few times and then she would just be another
former investigator. So the thought came to my mind, "ask her if she
prayed about what elder Ballard taught." So I asked her and she said yes
but that she was really confused. Then she went on to explain that she
had gone to a prayer group/meeting of all women and the
speaker/evangelist was really well known. She said the lady prayed over
her and "anointed" her and that she really felt the spirit of the Lord.
She told the lady that she had just listened to an apostle and then her
response was that she was really confused and should pray about it. she
also told her to read psalms and proverbs and to see if any of that
applied to her.
Wow, I really didn't know what to say to that but of course I love
to try and then I felt this need to help her understand what that was
and yet do it simply...I wanted to FORCE it to make sense and then I
knew that I had to humble myself and trust in the Lord. I calmed down
and just let the words in my heart come out of my mouth. The Spirit did
all the talking and I remember telling her that she should keep reading
proverbs and psalms. I told her that if she prays she will get an answer
and that God wants her to know the truth. I then explained that it
wouldn't be clear until she understood more about what she was asking.
Then I explained that our purpose is to help others have that
understanding and truth so that they can reason with the lord and he
will speak to their mind and their heart. Then I explained that the Holy
Ghost witnesses of truth, so you can feel it anywhere that truth is
being taught, even a portion of the truth. And that God's truth is hard.
So had that people have always tried to change it to fit what is
comfortable or more appealing. It keeps changing until God won't have
anything to do with it and he withdraws from them. I explained that
Satan will make us content w/ half truths but that there is a fulness
here and we want to teach her of that and make it easier for her to get a
clear undeniable answer from the Lord. Then I asked if we could call
her on Thursday or Friday (it was Thursday but i forgot) to see how
she's feeling and maybe have a lesson. She said, "oh, Friday I have
something but Thursday might be good. Yeah, how about Thursday in the
evening?" So I said, "that's today, how about 5?" She agreed! I hung up
the phone and then covered my face and said a prayer of thanksgiving.
I've never experienced anything quite like that. It was one of the
greatest teaching experiences I've ever had. I loved it and felt so
supported by the Lord.
Then, a member came to a less active lesson w/ us and then she
offered to come w/ us to Leslie's last-minute appointment! Money! It was
perfect! :) Then we met w/ her again on Saturday and taught her about
the Book of Mormon. She's pretty excited. Too bad all of her friends
around here are the ones that converted her to Christianity...it's gonna
be a tough fight...or maybe we could teach them too!? :) Possibilities
are endless w/ the spirit. I bare my witness that the spirit will not
fail you. Trust in the Lord!
I love you all!!!! Thanks for your many
prayers and all your love!
No comments:
Post a Comment