Hey everyone! I'm just going to jump in to some experiences this week. First is our awesome progressing investigator. Next is an experience and subsequent pondering from Friday talking to a pastor of another church. Lastly, is something I learned from General Conference about remembering who you are and leaving a righteous legacy.
I am super pumped for Saturday! One of our investigators is SUPER pumped to be baptized. As I have mentioned in previous emails about him, it was definitely not because of my awesome teaching skills or anything like that. He was prepared. Every subsequent meeting with him - there have been 5 now - has continued to prove it to be true. He is ready. He has lived an adventure of a life up to this point, because of which he has felt unworthy to be even inside of a church building. He told us he feels like he could be smited on the spot upon walking inside! However, he is prepared to change and is doing it at an amazing rate! We taught him the law of chastity and word of wisdom the other day. Literally the next day he was offered 3 beers for dinner and an x-gf sought to persuade him to break the law of chastity! But he held strong. He also immediately stopped drinking coffee in the morning after learning that we shouldn't drink it. WOW. I am so humbled by this guy - he even introduces himself as a Mormon when people ask him about his religious beliefs!
It is such a blessing to be a part of his journey to the faith. I'll probably send pictures of the baptism next week, we are meeting up tonight to finish teaching the commandments and coordinating the program. Definitely not counting my chickens before they hatch, but it is sure promising for this weekend! He is so excited to be baptized and washed clean starting a new life in Christ. Also, he attended all the 8 general sessions of General Conference live with us at the stake center out here. He is pumped and learned so much more about what we taught him by watching the prophet and apostles and other church leaders teach about it.
Speaking of General Conference, it was awesome. I wish I could remember off the top of my head all the great things from it. So many talks. I have never watched all 5 sessions (10 hours) live before! Elder Holland's talk - the first talk in conference - was the one I was looking for. I had experienced something similar just the day before! He said to with compassion and courtesy defend the faith! Jesus Christ was rejected to such an extent that he was crucified. Fortunately it is essentially a 0% chance that can/will happen to any missionary today - particularly in Wyoming/Colorado! He talked about the comfort of the Gospel proclaimed by most Christian ministers whereas Christ's Gospel was never about comfort. Christ said if your right hand is sinning, cut it off! Or your eye, pluck it out! That isn't comfortable!! He talks about houses being divided because of faith/belief in Him. Christ didn't beat around the bush!
Getting back to my experience, on Friday I was at the Wyoming Union tabling and inviting people to come to the table asking them what they know about Mormons and the Book of Mormon. A man stopped by after being invited; later I found out that he was a pastor of an on campus Christian group of the Assemblies of God denomination. We talked about how we are saved, grace v. works, where the Book of Mormon came from, and more. We had a nearly half hour discussion that was pretty friendly and cordial I would say. I was impressed how much we both sought to understanding each other seeing that he felt a moral obligation to tell me that I have been deceived. But ya, it was truly a great experience (I say that sincerely). The reason it was such a great experience was the fruits that bore later that night. After pondering about the experience and what is true, I had one of the strongest faith building experiences of my life. I think I now understand what "I know that God lives" means when people say it. That God is not the God of the dead, but the living. That He cares about us TODAY. He wants to be in relationship with us TODAY. And He truly speaks to us TODAY. He is not a God who was only around in the past in the Old Testament or time of Jesus. He is here TODAY and speaks to His people on the Earth TODAY (like during General Conference this last weekend). I believe that to be true for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
But ya, it was amazing to have that experience. I can DEFINITELY testify how awesome it is (at least after the fact) to have your faith tried. There is an awesome scripture that I hopefully have not quoted before, but if I did, here it is again! It is found in the Ether 12 in the Book of Mormon - one of the best chapters in the Book of Mormon in my opinion. It is verse 6: "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Fortunately or unfortunately, we have our faith tried ALL THE TIME! On a regular basis it is tried as we try to set goals, make plans, and teach people. One of my MTC teacher told me recently to "be refined in the refiners fire." That it is! But I testify that diamonds are only formed after IMMENSE pressure! So I am grateful God sees fit to allow me to be tried in my faith! It is like working out for muscle building - the muscle has to be broken down to be built back up stronger than before.
Lastly, one of the things that I took away from General Conference and preparing for it was the vast importance of remembering who you are and where you are going. This morning I read my patriarchal blessing - a blessing I believe is essentially God telling me (through a man set apart as a Patriarch) who He knows me to be. It is so helpful to me to remember why I'm doing what I am doing and what blessings are in store for me by being true to the faith. It helps me remember to make good decisions in the present knowing that it doesn't just affect me, but my future family and generations in the future. Two of the general authority - President Henry Eyring and Elder William Walker both talked about their great grandfather who left an inspiring righteous heritage. Both of those great grandfathers have left a numerous righteous posterity on the Earth. I heard once from a man named Oliver DeMille that we should all have the goal of being amazing grandparents, illustrating the importance of a long term vision! Remembering that my decisions today have ramifications is very helpful!
That's everything for this week! I hope you have an amazing one!
Sincerely,
Elder Campbell
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