I Know You From Somewhere!

From Jonah Bench

Teaching in New York, USA

Karen is an excommunicated member who recently got re-baptized! She was a drug addict, an alcoholic, a smoker, coffee drinker, and had three of her four kids out of wedlock with two different men. She's broken most of the commandments and, as a result, ended up in a really dark place. But one night she prayed for help and the missionaries stopped by the next day. She let them in and started taking the lessons. 

This was about the time I got transferred here and the first thing she said to me when I walked into her house was "I know you from somewhere!" There's no way I have met her on earth. But I very firmly believe that we were very close friends before this earth. She quit smoking, read the entire book of Mormon, quit coffee, kicked the people out of her life that were a bad influence, and completely changed to become ready for baptism. We went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead last Saturday and also went to the sacred grove. It was awesome! 

There may only be one person that you will find on your mission who you are able to see change. "But if ye should labor all your days and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with them in the kingdom of my Father." It's true! Keep going!! 

A Mission Has Changed Me Forever

From Mason Blettenberg

Teaching in Ireland

Dear Friends and Family, 

It has been a whole year since I have left the blessed land of Burley, Idaho. But I am still in a land of the spuds! Good old Ireland!

This past week we saw a mighty miracle. A man named Jerry’s heart was softened.  We had this man on tract for baptism for this Saturday, but he texted us Wednesday night and told us he did not want to get baptized. He talked with his friends and they turned him off of the idea of our church. We were DEVASTATED. There is nothing that will break a heart of a missionary so fast than someone who they love dearly falls away from God.

We asked in mighty prayer to soften this man’s heart.  We woke up Saturday all ready for the day, trying to do our best to smile.  We had a blitz in our area on Friday so we were white-boarding. All of a sudden, in the middle of the day, we saw Jerry walking with his head down. We rushed over to him and asked him to help us find with the white board. On the board was written: What makes you happy? He wrote, “The Holy Spirit”. 

Then the sisters came over and asked him why he did not want to be baptized.  He said he changed his mind! And he wanted to be baptized that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So me and my comp did everything in our power to make it happen that day and …  we made it happen! He was baptized and confirmed.

Being out for this long, serving my Father in Heaven and representing His Son, has made me understand a scripture that I read every single morning… Matthew 16:21-28: for whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall FIND IT.

I want to testify from the bottle of my heart that I have found it. And because I have found my life, I will continue - for a full year - to lose my life for others and for His sake who died so me and you can live.

I am a standing living witness of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  My mission has truly brought the good out of me so many times. I have almost been so close to going home cuz I thought I needed rest from my trials I have had on my mission. But every time that happened, the power of Christ’s Atonement came to the rescue. He is the best example we could ever dream of asking for. 

A mission has changed me forever. I want everyone to know, if you have the smallest doubt of serving a mission throw  it out the window and serve God.  Every worthy Latter-day Saint has the strength to serve a full time mission. Please serve a mission. If  you have not already, you will find your life and help others do the same.

I love my Father in Heaven . I know with all my being that, when in times of a storm,I can turn for peace in the spirit of prayer and show Him how I feel. He will heed to my needs and do what is right for me and others.  He is our all mighty father who loves me. I know my Father above would and will take the time to sit with me on a fence and just let me let it all out and truly heed to my needs the way I need. He has shown me and has given me one person to look up to and that is my Savior,  Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is a man that is and always will be my light to follow in darkness of a storm. If any of us are trapped in sin or trial or sickness or anything that brings you down, there is always a way out of our storms. That is in and through the most sacred name of the one who literally bled from every pore drops of blood so you and I could stand in holy places and be not moved.

I love this gospel and I will be devoted to it for the rest of my life and my life after that. The words of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the words that bring you and me lasting happiness for this life and the one to come. And that is all thanks to the Restoration of His Church.  Joseph smith was the man for the job. Without him, who knows where truth would have been found. For this I am grateful. I bear testimony of repentance and the sweetness of it. Whenever we hear that word “repent” we run, but though study I have understood it is a sweet word due to the fact we cannot repent without Jesus Christ and proper priesthood authority. Repentance is real and it works. In the name of who I represent for the next year, even Jesus the Christ,  Amen.  

Miracles do happen, repentance does work, and He lives and can do wonders for me and you!

Love,  Elder Blettenberg

The Holy Ghost Will Answer Your Prayer In A Way You Will Understand

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand 

Sister Rung this last week came into a lesson and was telling us how she was just having a really hard time. She was telling us about how her mother wasn’t accepting of her and this and that. It was really hard to listen to because she deserves better. She was just crying and I had a thought. I grabbed a few hymn books and told her that we would sing two songs. I knew that singing would help us say things that are hard to say. We sang, Let the Holy Spirit Guide and then I Need Thee Every Hour. The spirit was so strong! You could feel it so powerfully! After we sang and said a prayer she said that she was felt so much better! 3 days later we met with her again and ended up singing a song before we ended the lesson by singing The Spirit of God. It was just like the other day, so powerful! I challenge you that if you are stuck with a investigator to sing a song with them. It has really helped us and our investigators a lot! 

Brother Tong had still not prayed about Joseph Smith. He said he didn’t know how Heavenly Father would answer him. We have told him so many times that the Holy Ghost would answer your prayer in a way that you'll understand. In the middle of the lesson he asked," Can I pray and ask right now?" Well yes of course you can. He prayed right then and after about 2 minutes of silence he got his answer that Joseph Smith was true. He's getting baptized on June 12th! 

 

Today I called one of my [recent converts], she said, “Elder Hinckley my mom is interested!" That makes me so happy!