Testimony Matters

UIKeyInputDownArrowThe Field is White 9.2.18

As we drove to Corpus Christi on Friday, we saw something we had never seen before—cotton fields! The fields were mostly harvested, but around the edges of bare sticks some full plants remain. The ground, for acres and acres, is white. It looks like drifted snow, but in this heat we know it is cotton, fallen away from the healthy, gathered plant. It reminds me that though the bolls are all meant to be harvested, some fall by the wayside, never to serve their full purpose. As missionaries, we are broken-hearted for those who fall by the wayside. We have been asked to pray for ALL of Heavenly Father’s children, and we do.

(Do you think it is questionable that the Robstown High School mascot is the Cotton Pickers??)

Last Thursday we wondered what Institute would be like with college starting across the state and nation, but the room was almost full of faithful young adults. A young woman walked into the class and sat on the front row. She participated through the lesson with a little prompting, and at the end introduced herself. She told us that she had been inactive for five years. She had become involved in college and life and let her church attendance slip away. She comes from a family who pioneered the Church in Laredo, and she explained that an uncle is a general authority. I asked her what brought her back to Institute that night, and she gave a few reasons. I would say that the main point was the Spirit spoke to her heart and mind to bring her back. She had seen a notice on Facebook—reminding us what a powerful tool social media can be for missionary work! She said that she put all her thoughts and actions into getting to the class, so that she would not forget. She knew that no one would be calling her to remind or beg her to come. The young adults of Laredo are the strength of the Church!

What a blessing it is to be teaching the Doctrine & Covenants! One of the lessons we gave this week was concerning our responsibility to testify once we receive the witness of truth. I really wanted to bear my testimony of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, this morning, but we were attending a ward in Corpus Christi which had people lined up to testify. It was a very large stake center, filled to the brim with the faithful congregation of Saints and the spirit of God. I knew that I could share my testimony to you in this blog. As we taught this last week, I gained a new appreciation for young Joseph, who made so many mistakes and ended up repenting and repenting as he tried to learn and do God’s will. To understand Joseph’s place in the Restoration, we have to understand the historical context—the times and seasons of his life and work. For three years he went to Cumorah, hoping to receive the plates and begin the work he knew he was called to do. For three years he was called to repent and be humble. When he finally did receive the plates, he was attacked and beaten before he could get them home. Then he had to return the plates to Moroni when, against Heavenly Father’s counsel, he let Martin Harris take the 116 pages of manuscript and lose them. Joseph thought he had lost his soul. He had to continually repent, but nothing can stop the work from progressing, and he was able to finish the translation with the help of God, good people who were sent to assist him, and the tools that had been buried anciently with the plates. It is such a great lesson for us. We struggle along, too, giving the best we can and continually repenting and trying to correct ourselves. Joseph was the best God had for the Restoration and the translation of the Book of Mormon, yet he had to learn as he went along as a youth and young adult, letting God correct him and sustain him. I know that he was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true!

I left out one inspiring story from Institute this week. Miriam is a beautiful young single adult in our class. She was baptized a couple of months ago. During one part of our lesson--knowing spiritual things in our hearts and in our minds--Jim asked Miriam how she had known the gospel was true. She had joined the Church two weeks after meeting the missionaries! She said that as she began to read, gradually she began to understand. Then as she began to understand, she had strong feelings that it was truth. When she knew these things, she went to her family and shared with them (testified). One of the important ways to teach is to get our young people to testify to each other of the spiritual truths they know. This new convert was the perfect example of how testifying brings the spirit to yourself and others! D&C 5:3

EARLY Friday morning on our way to the church to teach seminary, we saw a strange sight. Our headlights were at such an angle that we were able to see, walking along our road, a man who was dressed all in black, including a black ski mask. At his side was something that looked like a rifle. At 5:30 in the morning it is still VERY hot in Laredo, Texas, making this more than a little bit disconcerting. Jim asked if I wanted to go back and check it out, but I was scared to confront anyone appearing like that. We decided to call the police, who are used to unusual people, and we reported what we had seen and gave the location. They sent an officer. I do not know the rest of the story—he was walking, thankfully, away from the direction of the high school and church. You never know what you will see on the “streets of Laredo!”

We were blessed to meet with the senior missionaries, Margo and Monte Thompson, who are teaching 4 classes of Institute here in Corpus Christi, including some for adults. We found that they lived near our home in West Valley for sixteen years—in the neighboring stake. They know the Goates, and probably many others of you! We spent some wonderful hours with them yesterday at lunch and sharing stories. It is really good to meet with other missionary couples!

Today is our 46th anniversary. We are grateful to be spending this mission in the Texas McAllen Mission. We are grateful for the love that we share for each other and for our family. We are truly blessed. We love you all very much. We love the Lord and Heavenly Father. We are grateful for the Holy Ghost and for our testimonies. We pray for all of you every day. Please pray for us in the Lord’s work.