Monday, February 15, 2016

I Screamed Inside

So this week was pretty crazy! Did not spend too much time in our area but it was really good!
First part of the week we were able to meet with Justin! Man! He is doing so good! Wants to make a huge change in his life and we are just helping him anyway that we can! We have been able to meet with him at a members home and the members there just give solid testimonies that just add the power of the atonement! He is just so good though! He has been absorbing a lot of what we have to say is on board with a lot of it! We even taught the word of wisdom, and he was a little iffy on it but he wants to change really badly!

We were also able to meet with this guy named Bill and he is so prepared to hear about the plan of salvation! He grew up not even believing in God until his wife just recently passed away! Really humble old guy...

Coolest miracle this past week though...we were out knocking doors and I remembered seeing new people moving into this place. Elder Westerguard and I went there a lot but no one ever answered...that is until this past week! We just bore a quick powerful testimony of how God loves us so much and how we know where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going after this life...Rob then said "Cool, can we meet on Sunday?" Well, I kind of screamed inside and he is so ready to hear about the gospel! He is wanting to make a change, not only for him but for his kids! So we were down for that! We taught him on Sunday and he just listened super intently and asked where and when church was! Said he could not come this Sunday but he is so ready! So that was the coolest miracle ever!

Other than that, God has just been so good! We had an awesome Zone meeting this past week. Literally writing down notes to the point that my hand just hurt like crazy. Best part though was at the end when one of the zone leaders came up and asked two people to bear their testimonies...well, I guess since I am talking about it, you already know one of them was me...Well, I whipped out one of my favorite verses that has grown on me more and more...and Dad you may recognize it...

26 And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave,having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.
27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

I bear solemn witness of the power of this scripture. It rings truth to all those who have shared the gospel. This indeed is something we should share, and something that we "can rejoice in" "above that of the world". For as we share it, we are helping others come to know that there Father in Heaven loves them, that "in Him they shall rest" and that as they come to know that it is true, our friends will come to know that he is declaring this unto all "Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father." The power of this truth beckons us all to recall upon one of the most sacred pieces of doctrine that was restored fully about 200 years ago, and that is that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He knows us, loves us, and entices us to reach out to Him. As we do so, we will have a mighty change of heart and will receive answers to our prayers. I testify of the power that this simple but mighty truth brings, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love

Elder McCown