July 22

Good Morning Elder Williams,

 

I've been thinking a lot about the young man you baptized and hope that he will be able to feel the hope of the gospel message and accept it deep in his heart. What an exciting time to be part of the growing church. This young man is part of an emerging wave of righteousnes that will fill the earth and bring about Zion.
 

I've been thinking about relationships and how we are interconnected. It's like a web...and when we make a choice it can be felt in the outer regions of the web just like how a spider can feel the slightest movement reverberating back to the center. For example, my relationship with my Grandpa Wilson is still felt by me even though he's been gone for several years now. Time and space isn't a barrier because I have my memories. Another example is how the young man you baptized has touched my life. I don't know him, but I care about him, pray for him and love him. I hope my love can resonate to the people you are teaching and that they can feel the spirit. Your mission has influenced so many people including your family. We talk about you and pray for you daily. Thank you for your example of service.
 

We will be celebrating the 24th and our pioneer ancestors. I'm glad we can pay tribute to their courage, faith, and perserverance. What strong and valiant people they were. What a great heritage we have from their examples and we can still feel their spirit today.

 

 

Tell me how the Facebook experience is going with your contacts. How is the guy in Mexico doing? I'm glad you can stay in touch with him.

 

I love you and send you my hugs.

Mom

 

 

 

Dear Mom,

Thank you for thinking and praying for Lethan. I know that it helps. He could especially use prayers right now. He was supposed to be confirmed in sacrament meeting yesterday, but that didn't happen. I'll tell you the story.

Elder Bliss and I got out of our meeting with the priesthood leaders in the ward, and we called Lethan's house. His brother Kyle answered the phone and said that he wasn't there. He was at his aunt's house across town. So, we called his aunt's phone and Lethan answered. He told us that he wouldn't be coming to church because his aunt died and he had to take care of his uncle, who is really frail. We called our mission president and he said that Lethan could be confirmed next week, so that'll all work out. After church we went over to his aunt's house and gave him a blessing and talked with him for a while.

I'm grateful for this experience, even though it threw us for a loop for a while. I feel like Lethan is going to be okay because he is building his foundation on the gospel and he has a strong ward family that will take care of him.

I like what you said about the web. I never met Lethan's aunt, but she was influence on him and her passing does ripple throughout the web. When Lethan joined the church he connected himself to more people, so they will be able to help him. Those connections will help him be strong in this time of trial.

Facebook is going well. It has been a wonderful tool to connect with contacts. Even if they aren't interested in talking with us, we can still be a positive influence on them on Facebook. I've already heard about some stories about people softening because of a video or picture and choosing to investigate the church because of that.

Unfortunately Chris hasn't contacted us on Facebook yet. I don't know how much access he has to it in Mexico. We're praying that he contacts us.

I had an experience this week that strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon. We were biking along and we contacted this man at his house. It turned out that he was from Russia and was a professor. As our conversation progressed, he began to attack us with arguments designed to undermine our faith. We simply bore testimony and left. The next day in my personal study I read Alma 30. As I read the dialogue between Korihor and Alma I saw that the arguments that the professor used were the same that Korihor used. Verse 17 says that it is by our own strength and knowledge that we prosper, and that there is no crime. Survival of the fittest. In verse 13 he said that man cannot know of things to come.

I love Alma's reply. Verse 44 talks about how the prophets, the scriptures, and all things in heaven and earth denote that there is a God. I know that is true. The Spirit has testified to me of all those things. God is our Father and Jesus is His Son. That's the core of my testimony.

I love you Mom. Thank you for being a pioneer for me and making it possible for me to learn and serve out here.

Love,

Elder Williams