Ouch!

You know that you are happy when your face hurts. There comes a point in one´s conversion to the preaching of the Lord´s Gospel that you just can´t stop smiling, and you get tired of it pretty quick, though the Spirit is great. As Alma says, it begins to become delicious to us. Goodness, how I love to sit and ponder on what the Lord has in mind for each of us in the eternities! How simply complex is His great Plan of Happiness! Well, we got contacted by JW´s while I was writing a letter to some friends back home, and it was a real treat to talk with them. Many other faiths seem to attack upon meeting with us, but these two elderly ladies seemed to just want to share what they had for us. We exchanged dialogue, and even exchanged websites, though we are forbidden as missionaries to visit anything other than the Churches approved websites and email system in this time whilst preaching the good news. I think that they left with a few doubts, though with a solid friendship and professional understanding. Well, no one came to church this last Sunday, and we were kind of bummed, but we organized spilts with about ten priesthood holders this week and will be teaching with the members like mad. Claudia Galitari, the single mother with four kids who wants to share the gospel with everything that moves, is just pounding it. She expressed to us such desires as are found in Mosiah 28:3, to teach to every living soul, but that she didn´t know how to do it well. We gave her a few suggestions and pray constantly for her success. After a while, she is really going to be a spiritual giant and a great help to the ward as well as her family. We have a few people who get married really soon, and have to review a few things before they get baptized. The mission has raised the standard from one baptism a month to one family a month, and in order for the whole mission to complete with this goal we will all have to be worthy, consecrated and dedicated to the work. We are getting there, though no one is perfect other than Elder Bethers. Isn´t it great to be part of such a marvelous work and a wonder? The other day, as I sat thinking about my mission, I began to feel the sorrow that Alma, Mormon and Moroni express in regards to the iniquity of the people. I literally began to just cry for a few seconds for the pain of seeing so many people so close to the truth but rejecting the glorious offer. It gave me stronger desires to improve my way of sharing this message and I fell into much prayer and fasting. This morning, I read Chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel, and it became apparent to me that the most important question in the whole world goes as follows: is the Book of Mormon the Word of God? All other questions answer themselves in this great truth. Yes, this book is the Lord´s word, it answers the questions of the soul and brings great peace to the reader. There is so much doctrine packed into the book that one could study it for the entirety of the Millenium and still find new things on a daily basis. I agree with what Elder Gene Cook says, that we really don´t always appreciate the greatness of the scriptures. They are the literal teachings of our only way to happiness, and we will be judged according to the precepts taught therein. They testify of Christ and reveal to us why we do what we do. What a gift! The work goes on, as usual. Let´s put our shoulders to the wheel and get this show on the road! Be Good! Elder Lindsey P.S. Congrats Ian, Jordan and Skyler on completing with the Lord´s commandment to serve a worthy full time mission! Don´t get married too fast! Hang in there, Heather!