Hey Family!
Hope you all are having a great summer! Can you believe that we are already almost halfway through July?? Its going by so fast! Its honestly kind of scary!
Its been nice and hot here:) I'm seriously going to die my first winter back in Utah. I freeze in 70 degrees! We have been working hard and seeing so many miracles and we are teaching some of the coolest people on the planet! I want to tell you about them:)
So first off we are teaching a 15 year old girl. She is the daughter of a less active who hasn't been to church since she was a teenager. The young women in the ward reached out to our investigator and her cousin who is a member and they started coming to church and activities and seminary. And now she wants to get baptized! We were talking to her at our lesson last week about how she can be an example to her family (her mom and three younger brothers). We committed her to have family prayer every day even if she is the only one participating. Yesterday at church her mom came, her two younger brothers came, and her 12 year old brother asked us if he could be baptized too. I am so impressed by her and her diligent example and her faith. She is so incredible.
Then we are teaching the 15 year old brother of the returned missionary in our ward. He has been in Puerto Rico with his dad for a few weeks but we have Skype lessons with him almost every day. (Thank goodness for technology!) He is reading the Book of Mormon every day and saying his prayers. He even lets us call him in the mornings and wake him up for a lesson during his vacation! How many 15 year old boys do you know that would be okay with that?!? We asked him this past week to talk to his dad about taking him to church in Puerto Rico and he wasn't too sure about it. He didn't know how his dad would react. But he told us today that he got the courage to talk to his dad and his dad said that not only would he take him to church but he would attend with him!
We are also teaching a newly wed couple from Chile. He is a less-active member and speaks little English. She is not a member and speaks no English! She wants to get baptized and they have already made it a goal to be sealed in the temple. As we have gone through the teaching process with her she has had some pretty incredible manifestations that this is the truth and that it is the right path for her and her family. Even though she doesn't understand English she comes to church every Sunday because she likes the way she feels when she is there.
We have another investigator with a Catholic background. His entire family is Catholic. And joining our church would mean turning his back on his family's religion and traditions. He is having a hard time making that decision but he is diligently praying and seeking his answer from God.
I could go on and on sharing the incredible stories of courage and faith and the incredible people we are teaching! I love them so much! I am so grateful for the privilege that it is to serve here and to work with them. So many people have to sacrifice so much when they learn of the truth of this church, but they do it!
I just want to let all of you know that I know without any doubt that this is Christ's church. I know that it was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that we have prophets on the earth today to direct and guide us. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.
I was studying in Doctrine and Covenants section 135 this morning. It talks about how the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith seal the testimony of the Book of Mormon and the truths of the church. Its a pretty powerful section and I would definitely recommend that you take a look at it.
There is a part that says,
"... the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon... cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring [it] forth for the salvation of a ruined world..."
That sentence punched me in the face when I read it today! I was reminded of just how precious the Book of Mormon is. Our entire knowledge of the Gospel is so precious. And it didn't come free. Joseph Smith wasn't the only one that gave his life for our salvation. There were many prophets and disciples before him. Not to mention the infinite sacrifice of our Savior. We simply cannot take what we have for granted.
We cannot take the Book of Mormon and the truths it teaches for granted.
We have to appreciate it, and read it and live it! If you have not come to know for yourself that the Book of Mormon is true, now is the time. If you have one, read it. And every time after you read kneel and pray and ask God if it is true, then wait, and listen. And God will reveal it to you through the Holy Spirit. If you don't have one, let me know. I will get you one!
It will change your life!! I promise!!
I love you all so much:) Have a wonderful week, be happy, and stay cool!
Love always, Sister Rowland
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