Date
May 11, 2015
Area
Reconquista, Argentina
Companion
For Grandma
Hi grandma!!!!!
It was soooo great being able to talk to you for a second yesterday! I love you so much and I miss you tons. I am praying for you a ton as well.
Mom was telling me that you were thinking about committing the family to read the Book of Mormon! DO it do it do it! That is just the best thing in the whole world and our family really really really really really needs it! I love the book of mormon so much and I know what it can to do people. We need the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about change. The book of mormon contains the fullness of the gospel and I KNOW and I hAVE SEEN HOW IT changes people!
Did i ever tell you about C. in Quitilipi? C. was probably one of the greatest changes I have seen in my mission. She is the daughter of hna. G., who my companion and I were visiting frequently when I arrived to Quitilipi. Hna. G. was just starting to become active again and was starting to read the book of mormon again as well. That was the time that I met C.. It was clear that she wasnt happy. At all. She had four children - each with a different father - and things were always hectic in the house. She didn't care at all about her appearance, and she was always arguing with her mom and other family members. She never wanted to listen to us when we came to visit her mom, and when she was there she would almost start arguing with us about doctrine and would even sometimes whip out books and materials that were anti-god and almost anti-mormon. At one point, my companion and I were able to sit down with her and have a discussion. She told us that she would NEVER be able to change and that she just didn't have faith in God or in herself. We told her that the book of mormon would be able to help her make the changes. She didn't listen.
About 2 transfers later we began visiting her again. We had an amazing lesson where we promised her that if she would read the book of mormon constantly and accept the commitments that we were going to give her, that she would change...and overall, develop`faith in herself and in God. I honestly don't know what had changed, but she agreed. Little by little we began teaching her the missionary lessons from the beginning, always leaving her chapters to read from the book of mormon - especially about faith such as alma 32 and ether 12. She started to read. And she started to change. Honestly, at first, I thought something was wrong...I felt like it was too easy. She began to change and I felt like we hadn't done anything as missionaries - but then I realized that it was because she was reading. She began to come to church all on her own. She began to wear nicer clothes and take care of her appearance. She started trying to share the teachings of the bom with her kids. She was just more calm and had found more peace in her life. Her nature changed.
Seeing this happen was probably one of the greatest blessings of my life. Seeing it and writing about it are two different things. I am not saying that she became a perfect person. Nor am I saying that all her problems dissolved. They didn't. However, I know with all my heart that the Book of Mormon changes lives...and more than that, it changes people. I saw the change in C's life, and I have seen the change in my life. Juan 17:3 says, "And this is life eternal , that they might know thee the only true God , and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Eternal life is getting to know God and our Savior Jesus Christ. I know with all my heart that there is no better way to get to know our Heavenly Father and our Savior than through the Book of Mormon. It is His word. I love being a missionary, an official representative of Jesus Christ, and being able to help other people come to a knowledge of their savior, through which we get to know God.
President Benson [President Marion G Romney] said, "I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity--the pure love of Christ--will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness”
I have come to really see that. Something that I really learned on my mission is that our salvation truly depends on our testimony of this book. We can't get back to our Heavenly Father without understanding the doctrines and principles contained in this book. Another thing that I have learned, is that it is sometimes hard for us to share this book with others.....WE MUST OVERCOME THAT FEAR! IF we truly have a testimony of that book, then we will share it.
I promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that miracles will happen in our family IF they read this book. I invite you to urge the family to do this. I am behind you 100 percent. I love you so much and I am praying for you for this!
Elder C