Week 72: Why I Believe

Not much new to report from the mission this week. We did go to a great movie on $5 movie night. We saw McFarland USA. Great movie. Can't say enough  good things about it.

We decided that our blog theme this week would instead center around a "Why I Believe" Fireside that we went to tonight.  Photos are from fireside as well. These firesides are held periodically throughout the mission. Two or three Stakes combine to sponsor these firesides. Missionaries serving in those Stakes provide music. The highlight is hearing the testimonies of recent converts.

Tonight we attended one of these firesides here in Tacoma. We left feeling inspired, uplifted, and strengthened by the testimonies of six recent converts.  I wish I could adequately tell some of their stories. I'll just share a few specific things and make some general observations.

Elder & Sister Foulger,

One young many who joined the Church last October had experienced some pretty rough times. Prayer was a great source of strength to him as was his friendship with a member of the Church he'd met in the Navy. He also mentioned having a dream one night in which he say a great light. In the light, a hand reached out for him. He took that hand and felt a most indescribable feeling of love. Not long after that, he was attending an LDS testimony meeting and someone shared the story from Matthew 14:27-31 where Jesus was walking on water and Peter went to Him. When beginning to sink, Peter cried out and said, "Lord, save me.".. "and Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him."  Anyway this was another witness to this new investigator that God loves Him and Jesus is the Savior.

Another recent convert said that "Why I believe is because I have seen the benefits in my life in the four months I have been a member. I have also seen the benefits in other people's lives as well. Prayer was important to him as well. He said he can't imagine starting a day without prayer or not ending a day with prayer. He said, "As I have practiced the gospel, I have seen the proof of it's truth. We're all here to lift each other up and help each other.

An older man said he first got introduced to spiritual principles by attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Before being introduced to the Church he had a couple of spiritual experiences from reading the scriptures intensely and having a witness from the Holy Ghost that God loved him. He felt like he was building "spiritual momentum." He ignored some of these experiences and "lost the momentum." Then some sister missionaries approached him while he was eating lunch at a Teriyaki place (there are a gazillion of them around here). They invited him to listen to their message. He decided God was putting things in place for him again and chose not to ignore it this time. The rest is history.

The Craney's -- called to serve in Paraguay

A middle-aged woman spoke of here search for the true religion from an early age. She said many children have a teddy bear they hold and cuddle for comfort. She said, "I had a Bible." She could really related to Joseph Smith's story.  Anyway, she moved back to Washington recently and was having some repairs done on her home. An electrician gave her a pass-along card and asked if she'd be interested in having some sister missionaries come to her home. She said, "Yes!." Despite the "No Solicitors" sign on the door. The sisters approached. Before they could even knock, these woman opened the door and said, "I've been waiting for you." -- music to a missionary's ears. As obedient missionaries, they invited her to be baptized on their first visit. She said she'd like to wait but wanted to learn more. By their second visit, shed' read to Mosiah 18:10:  "Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord ..." She was ready to be baptized. She said, "I have never felt so much like home until the missionaries opened that door."

Shot of Mt Rainer while driving down street.

Well, those are just some highlights. It was a terrific fireside. If Elder Hadlock and I had to summarize what we learned and felt it is:

-- God is gathering the elect. People's hearts are being prepared.
-- Members make a difference. We can be good friends. We can share a pass along card with an invitation to visit with the missionaries.
-- God loves His children -- all of them. This gospel is one of inclusion, not exclusion.
-- The Holy Ghost witnesses of truth and the love of God.

We, too, Believe in Jesus Christ, that the gospel has been restored through Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ.  We believe because the gospel has changed our lives for the better. We have felt the love of God and witness of the Holy Ghost as well.