Somebody's Counting on You

Here's a letter I received from a missionary who is a recent convert himself. He's been on his mission almost a year, and has been a member for almost 2 years. He shared his conversion story at a missionary fireside Sunday. He has a powerful testimony and is a living, walking example of how the restored gospel of Jesus Christ can change and bless lives. His work here is helping to change the lives of families all around him, and from this email-hopefully the family he cares most about, his own:

"I saw a miracle today. A member of my parent's bishopric emailed me and said that my parents, since talking to me on Christmas have thought about taking the lessons. That's so awesome!!!"

That makes my heart so happy. We have so many missionaries that are here blessing other people's families. They work so hard. They are so obedient. They understand that obedience is the way to stay close to the Lord and that's how they can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost to assist them as they teach others. They know their own personal obedience has a direct effect on how they can bring knowledge of the restored gospel to others. They understand those people are counting on them. And I know, that as they diligently take care of others for these 2 years, the Lord will take care of their families in ways they can't. It may not always be obvious and led directly to the temple, but one day they will understand and see what a difference it really did make.
_____
*January 19th
I received news from the missionary that his sister wants to attend BYU-I

I Feel My faith Growing

Dear President and Sister Bassett,
I have been so blessed to recognize miracles that we have been experiencing in the work in these past weeks.  I feel my faith growing in that the Lord is preparing people to receive the restored gospel, and that I can live worthily so that the Spirit can teach and invite people through me.  Zone conference is coming soon for us, and we are so very excited and anxious for what we will learn there.  I wanted to share with you one of the many miracles that we saw this week, and especially because it has to do with what we will be training on during the conference.  Two days ago, we were driving to contact a referral, and I felt prompted to stop the car (I'm getting better at stopping the car).  In the area we stopped, there were a couple of potential investigators and referrals, and I thought that I was being prompted to visit a particular family, so we started heading in that direction.  On our way across the street, however, I saw a man standing outside the home of yet another referral, and went to speak with him.  It turned out to be the son of a man that we had talked with who was, let's say a little less interested.  We talked with the young man and eventually his father came outside, too.  I tried to focus on teaching and testifying of the Restoration, and they invited us into their home, "just for a little while," they said.  What then happened was incredible, because we tried to apply what we are going to be training, and tried to understand their religious background and their expectations for our visit.  We then gave a brief overview of what we were going to teach (the Restoration) and bore testimony that what we were going to share would help them, addressing specifically the doubts and questions they expressed.  The lesson was simple and powerful, and felt so happy as I felt the Spirit.  The father's attitude and questions changed, and we could feel a great difference in the atmosphere of that humble home.  All I could say after we left their house following a kneeling prayer with their son was "wow."

Thank you for all that you do.  I pray for you and for your family.  I know that you will be blessed for your tireless and selfless service.  I love you.
-Elder R

Sister Bassett,
We had another miracle just last night. We went out with our ward mission leader to go teach Manuel and Stephanie. They have a baptism date for the 16th, but they aren't married. So we went over, and we were going to teach them about the plan of salvation, with a focus on eternal marriage. When we asked him if he would get married he just kind of sat there not saying anything. Because he is only 18 years old, he is a little worried about it, he is pretty nervous about making a desicion so big. So we just started to try to explain it, which sometimes can be hard, because I never have been married, but I was able to use the example of my parents, and the testimony that I have through their example, and some where along the course of our discussion, something changed. He said yes to getting married, but he was also excited about it. He had questions about how it was going to be, or who would do it. It was so amazing to see the change within just a few minutes.  And what made the diffrence, I don't think that it was anything specific that we said, but it was just pure testimony that was able to help him feel comfortable about the desicion of being married, and also baptized. It was really interesting to see how the spirit can work on some one in such little time. It will be really exciting to have that baptism on the 16th.

Elder Gleaves

The Power of Prayer

Dear Sister Bassett,
I recorded this in my journal on Saturday, the 21 November: "The miracle for me today...was the lesson we had with a woman named Patricia.  We met Patricia through a member that the Elders (Benson and Derochie) had met in a dinner appointment and then had referred to us.  That lesson was one of the most powerful, spiritual lessons I feel that I have had in my mission.  She was just so...prepared, I suppose I would say.  She hungered after the message of the restoration and even told us Joseph Smith's story back to us (without invitation) after we had explained it.  We invited her to pray, and even though she was nervous and anxious to do it, she did and toward the end of her prayer, began to speak with a great deal of emotion.  With tears in her eyes as she closed the prayer, she said after we asked what she was feeling: 'I feel...this peace.  I feel...beautiful.'  She looked at us with a piercing gaze and, with The Book of Mormon outstretched toward us in her hands, said "I need this peace.  I need these things.  My children need to feel these things.  I want to be a good mother. I want to be a good wife to my husband.  I want to be a good person.'"
 We left and said a prayer in the car in thanks for the miracles that God has been pouring out upon us, for that miracle is only one of thousands more that we have seen in these few short days.  I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve again with a dear friend and fellowservant in the work, and for the time that we have to do something about the miracles that God is sending to us.  I know that they are not for our benefit alone, but for us to bless the lives of others.
 Elder R


*To receive your own copy of The Book of Mormon" visit mormon.org