I Know He Lives!

Natalie Willes

Teaching in Arizona

I love Easter. It truly has become my favorite holiday. We have been blessed by the counsel and guidance of those who bore sure and true testimonies through the Atonement packet and through the scripture and the pageant. I'm certain that the Lord wanted me to come out on my mission at this time of year so that I could experience Easter in a new light. Last year I was confused and learning everything I thought I knew before over again as a new missionary. So I didn't really get too much out of Easter or the Easter pageant.  Even though I did gain some spiritual knowledge, it wasn't like this year. This year I wanted to get something out of Easter. I wanted to know the Atonement. I knew that my Savior is my best friend and that He loves me. Yes I knew that before, but not as I know now. I know that the Atonement is personal. I know my Savior lives, and that He died for me and all mankind. I know that I've found the most peace in my life through our Savior and his loving embrace. I'm so grateful for the things I've learned as a missionary. I'm eternally grateful.

This week was amazing because of the Easter pageant. I love it so much. One of my favorite observations about the pageant is the last two lines said in the ending acts. The last thing Jesus says when appears to his apostles and disciples, is "Peace be unto you." What a powerful last statement from our Savior. And the last thing uttered in testimony to all who are present, is "I know He lives." I just love it. It gave me chills every single time I heard it, but especially so the last night.

The True Measure of Success in Missionary Work

From Hyrum Fluckiger

Teaching in California

I've had an interesting experience being a missionary here in California! It's been amazing first of all, second it's been work, and third... I have absolutely loved it!  I have amazing opportunities to
meet and be apart of so many people's lives!

After my second transfer, leaving an area only seemingly slightly better than I found it, and feeling like my time there was for naught; I arrived to my new area and had only been there for a week or two when I received a letter from an active member we worked with. While keeping details confidential ,this member expressed to me that us missionaries had made such a difference in his life and that we played a key role in helping him stay on the gospel path. 

When he hit his low, he had actually made a plan to take his own life.  He said that one night he asked us for a blessing, of course we adjusted our schedule so we could do that. He told us that was the night he was going to kill himself and the blessing was meant to be a release from this life.  But the words of the blessing were so uplifting and what he needed to hear at the time that he was restrengthened and recommitted to live and strive to improve his life. He is now attending college and working toward a mission. He has trials and temptations just as all of us do, but thanks to our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, we were able to participate in helping him along his way, and I now truly know that no effort is wasted in helping others come to Christ.

It was such a powerful reminder and testimony builder to me of many things; the authenticity and reality of true priesthood power, the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and by dedicating our all to the service and work of God, we can not fail. Missionary work is not just with non members. It's all who need to be strengthen and brought closer to Christ. The measure of success in missionary work is not just baptisms. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary, to serve God, to hold the Priesthood. I know the church is true, it's good, and pure.

I LOVE Being a Missionary!

From Jaime Kloepfer

Teaching in Florida  

Missions are truly the best! I can't even describe the joy that comes when you share the gospel with Gods children! My companion and I have been able to experience wonderful miracles here in the tiny town of Palatka! Most people call it a redneck town! 

When arriving here to Palatka we identified some part member families and began working with them. For the past few weeks we have had the privilege of teaching two little girls the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each lesson we taught them was increasing their faith! The most beautiful part of it all is to see the family of these two little girls grow closer to the Savior and have an increased desire to keep Gods commandments. They are working to have family home evening each week and the children remember each night to read the Book of Mormon! Miracles do happen and people do change. It is all because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that this is made possible:). I love this gospel and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I LOVE being a missionary!

Softening Even the Hardest Heart

From Jonah Bench

Teaching in New York, USA

So we had a lesson with a guy last night named Billy Jack. He ran up to us while we were getting in the car to go home at around nine at night and asked us to teach him. Not many people more prepared than that! He wants to quit drinking and wants to fix up his life.  He has tattoos all over him and looks like he has had a rough past, but the Atonement of Christ will fix that. He wants to be clean, and to be free from addiction and from Satan. 

The greatest miracle I have seen on my mission is the softening of even the hardest heart to hear the word of the Lord and to change. Change is not easy for people! Billy Jack is super sincere! He accepted a baptismal date [during] the first lesson! So we have him down hesitantly for July 11th! He is a funny guy! But he said the closing prayer and it was super genuine! He is ready to change! He said after the prayer, "Yep,this is my church!" 

I Realized How Big the Atonement Is

From Jonah Bench

Teaching in New York, USA

Here's an experience from upstate New York​! We were at branch meeting and afterwards a sister in the branch came up to us and asked for a [Priesthood] blessing. Her husband recently passed away and she has been having a hard time with that. So we sat her down and gave her a blessing. In the blessing, she was told that she would live with her husband for all eternity and that he was waiting for her on the other side. She was blessed with a strong body, and the strength to bear the burdens she is, and will be, facing, and I can't remember the rest. But she was crying at the end and thanked us.

We were like, "Glad we could help!" and went about our way. 

A couple days later, we went to visit her with her home teacher and she told us how thankful she was for that blessing and how much it helped! She said, "My husband has been inactive for a long time and hasn't been living the gospel. He knew it was true, he had the priesthood, and yet he still went inactive. But he had a lot of mental problems, because of that I have been wondering for a long time if he was going to make it! I prayed all the time really hard to find out if he was, and I never got an answer! So I figured maybe I'll get it after he dies. But then he died and I still didn't get an answer! So I figured it was a, ‘No, he didn't make it!’ I was mad at God for a while because of that, but when I got that blessing that told me we would be together forever and that he was waiting for me and I realized how big the Atonement is!”

 That humbled me in a big way! To know that, through no [power] of my own, I was able to give her a blessing, to be an instrument and let God speak through me. Had I not been living right, had I maybe let a bad thought in, had I not been trying the best I could to work hard and be obedient, I would not have had the spirit with me to bring to my mind the things our loving Father in Heaven needed her to hear. I know that God loves us!