Saturday, June 11, 2005
The best thing that has happened since I last wrote is that Juhn Mardo got interviewed for baptism on Thursday. When he came out of the interview he looked so happy. I’m excited for him and for his baptism on the 18th of this month. Also good news is that we were able to spend some time this week and organize the branch president’s office at the church. Tomorrow we’ll teach him how it is organized and how to keep it that way. Also, tomorrow we have a branch fireside about leadership. We, along with the elder’s quorum president, have sort of planned and orchestrated the whole thing. Hopefully it will motivate as well as provide useful information for the leadership.
We had an interesting experience this morning. As we were getting ready to start out companionship study, at about 9:30 am, some people knocked on the door. It turns out they were Jehovah’s Witnesses. When they realized it was us that lived there they called in their 3 main leaders to talk to us. They talked to us for almost an hour about all subjects that were totally irrelevant to any point that I could see. I wanted to just rip into them but was mostly able to refrain myself. They told us that the way to see if a book is of God is to use “cannon laws.” He asked us to show him one prophecy that is in the Book of Mormon that has been fulfilled. Well, I read him 2 Nephi 29:3-4 that talks about people rejecting the Book of Mormon by saying all they needed was the bible. It hit him in the fast first but still he wouldn’t accept it. Anyway, I’m sure the reason that they came was to try to “enlighten” us. Well, what they did only served to increase my gratitude for my knowledge of the truth. I want to help even more if that is how confused people are about religion. I did find it funny, however, that three grown, trained, men could be so afraid of two young white boys that they would literally shake. It really is interesting how the Lord lets us strengthen our testimonies. I’m so grateful for the priesthood that has been entrusted to me and for my knowledge of God’s plan for me.