Reply Heather Larsen to me show details Jun 23 (1 day ago)
Yesterday, we had an amazing experience. It was actually a horrible day, which I suppose is what made what happened that much better. We can't know the sweet without first tasting the bitter, right? I guess I shouldn't exaggerate, though. The day actually started out pretty well. We had a good lesson with one of our new investigators. After that, though, things just went downhill. The other appointment that we had fell through, and no one else would open their doors for us. Finally, we arrived at the hour to go do some service. It's one of my favorite parts of the week. It made me feel a lot better, until the end. We were getting ready to go to a great appointment that we had set up with one of our investigators in the house of a member. We had a great lesson planned that was focused specifically on helping our investigator receive an answer about whether or not Joseph Smith was a prophet. That's the only thing that is keeping him from being baptized. He already wants to be baptized, but we won't let him until he has that testimony. Well, we received a call from him just before we left service saying that he wouldn't be able to come to the appointment. He couldn't meet with us last week either because he was grounded. Apparently, the punishment was extended. We were SO disappointed. We still went to the member's house to eat dinner, though.
We ate dinner, which was delicious, but I think I had made myself sick to my stomach from worrying about how we were going to help our investigator progress. So I couldn't eat much. We all know that I was taught never to leave food on my plate, but I couldn't even finish the first serving that he gave me. I think he thought that I didn't like the food, even though I explained that I wasn't feeling well. Anyway...we finished the meal and I was still so sad that I didn't even want to think about trying to give a lesson. Luckily, earlier that day we had invited Oliver (the member) to prepare to share his testimony with our investigator about how he came to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. We were about to start into a different lesson when he asked if he could still share his testimony with us. We were happy to agree and he pulled out 4 pages of thoughts that he had written down that day. He explained to us that he had written a letter to his future children to prepare for the time when they would ask him about how he knew. He then shared one of the most powerful testimonies about the restoration that I have ever heard. When he finished, we all just sat there in silence for about 15 seconds. I couldn't even talk because I was trying to hold back the tears that were starting to well up in my eyes.
After his testimony, we watched Elder Holland's talk, "Safety for the Soul" and Sister Henderson and I shared our testimonies as well. It was such a powerful lesson. I thought about it all night before I fell asleep and then was thinking about it again when I woke up this morning. So in personal studies, I decided to write down my testimony as well. I realized that I don't do that enough. It is so wonderful to be able to ponder on the life of Joseph Smith and the Restoration and organize all of your thoughts. I have never received so much revelation in my life as I did this morning. The spirit filled my heart with happiness as I thought of how much God loves us. He has given us a book that has all of the answers that we will ever need and has given us a living prophet who guides us every day.
I know that Joseph Smith was called by God to restore the gospel in its fullness on this earth. I know that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. I know that if we read the Book of Mormon every day, we will never wonder what we need to do and we will ALWAYS have the strength to face our trials. This church is true and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I know that all of you can come to that same knowledge, but we have to work for it. I'm grateful for the examples that I have here in the mission that teach me so much and that we have the spirit to testify to us and guide us always. I love the gospel!
Hermana Larsen