Scriptures

Hello everyone! This week was amazing! To start it off we had DDM which was pretty fun. We are doing a teaching role play this month called the 7 minute restoration which is really fun! We try and teach all the doctrine of the restoration lesson in 7 minutes. And I was role playing with Elder Rose but our whole district was laughing at me. Because I LOVE the scriptures. And I love to teach with them! But in seven minutes I don't have enough time to open to all the scriptures I want to. So I just explain what they say. And I was standing up and making gestures to go along with what I was saying and everyone told me I looked ridiculous but Elder Rose it made a lot of sense! So it was fun. 

Then I went up to Georgetown for exchanges with Elder Rose. While I was up there we got to teach a few lessons that were awesome. The first one was about the scriptures. One of their investigators was having a hard time understanding why he needed to study so much! So we got to explain that to him! The Lord has given us commandments and standards to live by in order to be happy. And it used to be, the prophets would tell you! And you would just listen to them. And they still do tell us! And we still listen to them! But we also have the scriptures, and in them are the commandments of the prophets from days of old. And we can turn to them whenever we have questions, doubts, concerns, or just need comfort. And when we turn the scriptures and to the Lord and he sees that we are trying to do all that we can, he will bless us! And that is a promise! If you don't believe me check in the scriptures! Right after a commandment is given, a blessing is promised. Every time. When we explained that, the investigator understood and lot better and said he wants to study his scriptures more! Because who wouldn't?

The only other lesson we had while I was there was with another investigator they were having trouble contacting. But we caught him at home and played some basketball with him in front of his house which was really fun. Then we went inside and he asked us what the message we had for him was. And we were very poorly prepared because we did t think he would be home! So we did t have anything ready! But then he said, "what can you tell me about repentance?" And we had an amazing lesson with him on repentance. We shared the story of Alma the younger's conversion. He was going around preaching and persuading people against the church. Then, while he was traveling, and an angel appeared to him and the sons of Mosiah!! (Mosiah 27 & Alma 36) This angel asked him why he was sinning and persecuting the saints. Alma felt the full weight and pain of his transgressions, he records is as "even unto death" and he felt sooooooo bad that for the things he had done. He said that he didn't want to ever see God he felt so guilty. But then, he felt his sins forgiven! He repented and the weight was lifted so he felt the pains thereof no more! And after he came out of his stupor, he became so converted that he just wanted to share his gospel with everyone! So he did to the best of his abilities. When he felt the pain of his sins, he was certain he couldn't be forgiven. But nevertheless, the Lord forgave him and Alma became an amazing missionary, and prophet. It was an awesome lesson and the investigator loved it. 

Then after the exchange it was back to Moncks Corner! Thursday we had an awesome lesson with a less active member! He is working on getting to the temple and has been attending temple prep class! We went over and taught him the restoration which was awesome, and he had so many questions! We answered them all the best we could and he said he is so grateful for us and that he is so excited to go to the temple! I envy him greatly and am so grateful to the opportunity to be working with him. 

Friday we had an awesome weekly planning session, but sadly all of our appointments fell through. Then Saturday was awesome! The rainy weather made it rough but we had an awesome member (Brother Dan) come out with us. And we were able to put one of our investigators on date for baptism!! She said she had been looking for a church where the people care and she feels at home and she thinks she has found it with us. We read Matthew chapter 3 her and asked her why she thinks Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized. She said she had never thought about it, but when we told her it was because he was the only one with the proper authority she said it makes sense! And she promptly agreed to he baptized by someone of the proper authority into Christ's church. Which was awesome! And I am so excited for her. 

Then Sunday was good! We had ward conference so there were a ton of stake leaders there which is always fun. And we got to sustain all the church leadership which I am so grateful for. I wholeheartedly sustain President Thomas S. Monson as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and his counselors Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf and also the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators for this church in these latter days. Me and Elder Anderson got snatched by the primary for all of church after sacrament meeting to be captain righteous and talk to the primary kids about choosing the right which was really fun! And I looked a little goofy but that's alright. It was totally worth it. That was pretty much all that happened this week! It was a pretty good one! I did watch a really awesome talk by Elder Holland like 5 times. It is from October 2012 and called "The First Great Commandment". If you get a chance this week please watch it! And if you can't watch it at least read it! But given the choice between the two I would watch it. Elder Holland speaks with such emotion and conviction. I love you all and miss you so much! Have an amazing week!

"When the going gets tough, the great ones party"

Elder Dowell (2)