June 6, 2016

Elder Farnes and Elder Bush



Elder Bush and Elder Menlo (from MTC)



New companion in Loveland, Elder Domnikov

The Pizza Ranch.  Timelapse video below!                    After helping with a 5K

Loveland is about 40 minutes away from my last area- but the Loveland zone and the Longmont zone border each other. Hopefully I will still be close enough to go to Ron's baptism. I have to get permission from President Brown though, and he probably won't let us unless we know the time and have an investigator from our area come with us, and we would probably have to get a ride as well. He gave E. Domnikov permission to go to a baptism in Estes this Saturday, so hopefully I can get permission. 

Anyways, this week, there have been a TON of miracles! 

First off, when we went first got in the area, the first person we talked to in the area was a lady named Amanda. She was bringing her trash in, and we asked if we could help her because she had 3 trash cans. We ended up talking to her and talked about the Book of Mormon, about how God loves us, and how we can come closer to Him. She seemed pretty interested, and told us that we could come back the very next day, so we did. We talked with her about some of her reading answered some of her questions. Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of time, so we came back the very next day- 3 days in a row! And taught her the full first lesson, and answered all of her questions. Right then we set her on date to be baptized for the 25th of this month! (It might conflict with Ron's baptism, but hopefully not) She is so prepared, and she has been reading the Book of Mormon and everything. She also came to church this week and brought her husband, who is also pretty interested. He asked us for a copy of the Book of Mormon so they could read together. It was so cool! They are very prepared, and they were also very touched by the testimonies yesterday. They also got to meet lots of friendly people, and they started to really open up and enjoy themselves after sacrament meeting as well. It was awesome! 

Also, there was a young man who had never been baptized but just came to church with his sister who is a less active member. He expressed an interest in meeting with us as well, so we will be meeting with him on Thursday.

One of the biggest miracles this week began even before I got here! A nonmember named Keith called the missionaries and asked if we could come dedicate their home, so they set up a time on Friday to do that. We went over there and learned that his wife is less active, he has never taken the discussions, but he is interested. I mean, he called US, so that was pretty cool. We got to know them a little bit better, and they wanted us to dedicate their home because they had been having a lot of contention because he has been struggling with prostate cancer for a long time, and he is only 40. We dedicated their home, and I got to do that, which was pretty cool- I've never done that before. Then we gave him a blessing, and he started crying, he felt the Spirit so strongly!  He later told us that he felt all the stress and pain leave him during the blessing, and he hadn't been free of the pain from his cancer in 3 years! He told us he hadn't felt any pain since we gave him that blessing! It was a very cool experience. When we met with him last night, he told us that he definitely wanted to get baptized, he could definitely notice the Spirit in their home. He also read the whole introduction to the Book of Mormon and all of the testimonies. We invited him to read in Alma 32 and 33, and it was awesome, because he is very excited about learning about the church. This area is awesome. It's going to be a good transfer. So far, we will have 3 baptisms in the next month or so, and possibly two more next month or even the end of this month! We are so excited to see the work of the Lord progressing and moving forward in this area. 

Elder Domnikov is pretty awesome. He is a convert to the church of 4 years, from El Segundo, CA. He has been on his mission for almost a year now. Of course, I miss elder farnes and my last area a lot, but I am still excited to move forward and help the people in the lakeside ward. We are already seeing so much good happen.

I think that is a very true insight. I believe it was president Hinckley who said that we invite everyone to bring all the good they have, and we will see if we can add to it. Which, of course we can. Also, I think to what Christ said on the subject, when John asked him what they should do about people who were going about casting out Devils but not by the authority of the priesthood. 

In the scriptures, it says: 

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

So I think that definitely speaks that those who are true followers of Christ will always accept the truths of the restored gospel, and they will have things that the Spirit has taught them, which will be true. That way we can all learn from each other. I do think, however, that those who speak evil of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are not included in that group. When people speak badly against us, they either don't understand, (which is usually the case) or they are definitely not on our side. But I think that is so true- everyone has the light of Christ, and we all can learn from each other and follow Him. I agree as well, as long as it uplifts us, it is good. It is also good for us to remember though, that there are only two churches: The church of Christ and the church of Satan. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference, but if something invites us to follow Jesus Christ, Jehovah, The Son of the Living, Eternal God, who has a body of flesh and bones, then it is good. Many churches invite people to follow Christ, but it is not the Christ we know. It is some formless shapeless being. We know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have bodies, that they love us, and that they live. If something helps us to follow them, then I am all for it as well. I think it is cool that you learned that this week.

One thing I learned this week

I learned the truth of this scripture: 

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

This Sunday, as we had seven investigators come to church, I was overcome with joy. I couldn't stop smiling. It was an amazing feeling. Something else that brought me that feeling was Keith last night said "I'm ready to do this. I'm ready to make the changes in my life that I need to."  It is so awesome to be able to call people to repentance and see the joy that it brings them! Keith's life has already been changed, permanently. I believe that if it is the Lords will, that cancer is gone from his body. If the Lord wants for his cancer to be gone completely, I know that it will be gone when he goes to the doctor this week. I've also seen the changes come into the lives of Amanda and her husband Spencer.  After church, they were smiling and laughing a lot more than I've seen them before. Of course, we've only know her for about a week, but you could tell the difference. The church and the gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely changes lives. I know that, and I am so privileged to be able to help these people find the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Pizza Ranch Timelapse.  Prepare to be grossed out.

Elder Domnikov was knocked down by a huge dog...