17 April 2017--My Testimony of the Atonement

Interesting Conversation

"How many wives you got?" some whacko asks me as I walk along the street."

I reply, "I'm not married." "No, you've got what, 8, 7 wives, right?" was his response.

"Nope. I'm not married, and we only have one wife."

"No, but poligamy isn't bad. It was practiced before!" he retorts.

"Yes, Abraham, jacob, and other prophets of God practiced it, but we don't practice it anymore," I reply.

"But I really feel like Poligamy should be put in practice again!" He states, "Just look at this. with all these men runnin around cheatin on their wives anyway, they might as well all just get married!"

**Side Commentary (and totally sarcastic): THERE WE GO!! We can't keep anyone commited to any one person anymore. Might as well just commit them to EVERYONE!!! BRILLIANT! ;)

"I met Samuel the Lamanite too," he says, proudly, "He's legit man! runnin around preaching the word of God and shootin people with his magic bow. You know, Elder Brown, you actually look quite like moroni. You could be siblings." He went on to tell us that we needed to remember to keep the Spirit of Joseph Smith close by to expel demons. By far, the strangest conversation I've had with someone.

We'll Bring the World His Truth

On A More Spiritual Note...

We were on our way to the ward mutual activity on tuesday, when we learned that N*, a 12-yr-old girl had passed away of cancer and the mutual became her funeral. I looked in the casket.

This was part of my journal entry:
I'll never forget that: a hole. A shell. It's like watching a movie without the sound. Just completely empty. It's like going up stairs in the night n going for what you think is the last step, but it just doesn't exist. Thin air. Life is that fragile. That close to just not being.

Poor parents. All their hopes, dreams, and plans, gone. Vanished, dissolved. No first date. No Prom. No high school graduation. No wedding. No grandkids. The dad. What did he say? What do you say? when she took his hand and asked, "Dad, what's going on?" "Am I gonna be ok?" "What's gonna happen?" What did he say? He'll remember those words for the rest of his life. They may haunt him.

This is why we prepare for and keep temple covenants. This is why we treasure the temple.

He may have said, "Sweety, you'll be mine forever," but only if he believed it, if he truly believes it.

So much pain, suffering. 20 pounds of cancer removed from an innocent, 12-yr-old girl in two weeks. And for what? the parents, watching the flame of life falter, revive, and vanish from the eyes of their daughter, their own life for the past 13 years. Witnessing the deep agony of a cancer-stricken child while writhing in their own agony of helplessness. Entrusted with the care and comfort of this heaven-sent gift, and completely incapable, utterly helpless.

This is the Atonement. Everything Christ has done for us. Everything he would give us, if we would jsut accept him and his Father. He can move the Universe, but is equally helpless in aliviating OUR pain, OUR suffering, without our consent. watching BILLIONS of children already redeemed writhe in self-induced agony, unwilling to accept it. and him, in the same defeating agony of utter helplessness. This is the Atonement. a complete, intimate, personal, perfect understanding. Sometimes an aliviation, sometimes an extra load or two. Always there, just a prayer away.  This is the Atonement. A promise, an eternal spring, an eternal blooming, Resurrection. I know that the Atonement is real. Heavenly Father loves us infinitely. Christ understands us perfectly, and is waiting ever so anxiously to help us. watching our every move to assist us in every effort to come closer to him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

April 10, 2017--Funny Telephone Conversation

reading Alma 32 the other day. same ol' same ol'. one difference though: I realized that later on in the chapter, it talks about nurturing the plant until it "takes root". I realized that many times, I dedicate myself to a goal and once I gain the testimony, I move onto another topic, but I haven't taken the time to let the plant "take root". Sometimes, in our excitement to progress, we end up running in circles if we don't practice a bit of patience, letting the testimonies and habits "take root", or become a natural part of our personality.

I learned the secret to a satisfactory missionary day: Knocking doors and street contacting. You can work your tail off all day and come back exhausted, but if you don't knock a couple of doors, you'll always feel unsatisfied... :)

ASK THE MISSIONARIES; THEY CAN HELP YOU

"Ring!! Ring!!" goes our brick of a cell phone.

"Hi! good afternoon, we're the missionaries." I answer the phone.

"Hi! I'm Brother ______." the caller says, "I'm trying to go to the temple with the ward, and I'm not sure who could give me a ride to the temple."

I then ask if he had talked to his neighbors, two of the most active families in the ward, to see if they could give him a ride.

"No," he said, "I'll go talk to 'em." 

He hangs up the phone.

A few minutes later...

"Ring, Ring" goes the unconventionally story starting cell phone.

"Hi! good afternoon, we're the missionaries." I answer the phone.

"Hi Elders! This is Brother ________ (same as last time). Just wondering if you could tell me your phone number," comes the reply.

I give him our number, enjoying the singularity of said experience. :D

BINOMIAL COUNTING

Developed a way of counting from 0 to 511 on two hands. Isn't that pretty fun?! :) give ya a hint: you do it binomially.

C* was confirmed. She bore her testimony. There's nothing more satisfactory as a missionary than hearing someone you've taught or influenced teach and bear testimony to others. it's something special. :)

Got my temple recommend renewed. It really is a special experience being able to have that inverview and tell a representative ot the Lord that yes, we're worthy of the blessings of His house. it's like a mini judgement day, where we can measure our commitment and dignity.

Love yall!!! It's been a great week!

—Elder Brown

April 3, 2017--Churros, Conference, and a Baptism

"You guys know Christ?" a rather authoritative voice interrupts my meal of churros as we walk down the sidewalk. Before I know it, there's a 40 yr old man standing toe-to-toe with my companion, arms folded, looking more than just sellf-assured, but willing to attack.

"Yes," is my companion's reply.

"You know Christ, or you just heard of him?" he challenges.

"Look," I say, perturbed at the disruption of my churro consumption, "you're lookin' to pick a fight. We're not down. Have a good day!"

"No, I'm not contending," he says, trying to get closer than he already is.

"Yes, you are," I say, "Have a great day." I walk away, eating my churros peacefully once again. :)

Conference!!!!! :D Super fun!! and President G*'s been called as an area 70!! That was exciting!

SURPRISE!!!! BAPTISM!!!! M* got baptized on Sunday! Gotcha!! :P Nobody saw that one coming!! She had a super special experience as she got baptized. She actually shared her testimony afterward: "I don't know how to explain how it is, how it feels, getting baptized. It's, being born again, it's resplendance. All of you have felt it in a different way. I'm very grateful that Sister N* (the sister she lives with) has received me in her house. When I came to her house, I came to the feet of my Heavenly Father. I'm very grateful for the missionaries; they didn't leave me. They visited me at work and in my house. They called me and helped me. They were always there. They're true angels." It was super neat being part of her conversion.