Norma's Baptism

All Things What Ye Should Do

Eduardo Colon and I. I love that man!

Dear Family,

This has been a wonderful week! Thank you for praying for Norma to be baptized. I told la familia Ortega about my email home last week and explained that I was so grateful that they prayed for my family. It was a tender moment as they expressed their love and gratitude towards you all. They are planning a trip to Arizona next summer. I told them they could stay at our house in the basement. They can't wait to meet y'all.

Since Monday, we kept on teaching Norma and she just wanted to be baptized. She spoke with her mom about it numerous times and her mom said no even though at one point Norma broke down in tears. On Wednesday we taught her about fasting and invited her to fast with us on Friday that her mom would give her permission. We began the fast and then on Friday while I was at Zone Conference and Norma was at school, my companions stopped by. We figured that it wasn't enough to just fast and that the Lord would require us to act. They had a pleasant visit explained that Norma was ready and had passed her baptismal interview and that we wouldn't baptized her if she wasn't ready. Her mom gave them written permission that moment. When we told Norma later that day, she was amazed. There was a hitch though. We still needed her mom's signature on the baptismal record. We left that with Norma on Friday night and gave her the challenge to get the signature. When we showed up Saturday afternoon she told us that she felt that God had slapped her for lack of faith. She said that she was so nervous to ask her mom and that she almost didn't ask for fear of being yelled at. But she said that she asked her mom and that she immediately said she would sign it. Norma was overcome by the experience and the fact that God would be so merciful and that faith was so powerful. 

I had the privilege of baptizing Norma on Saturday night and it was so special. What made it even better is that Eduardo Colon (our convert from last May) baptized another hermana in the same service. It was incredible to be able to see the fruits of our labors in that way. Him and I had a very spiritual and memorable moment afterwards as we felt the Spirit and talked about the truthfulness of the Gospel. 

As Norma came up out of the water she was crying. She told me later that she accidentally swallowed some water and that she was half crying because of that and really crying because she felt so clean. During the closing hymn, "Mas Cerca Dios de Ti", I looked at Norma as tears streamed down her face while she realized that she had just made a covenant with God to be closer to Him. The next day during the confirmation she just sobbed as well. When we asked her how she felt during the confirmation she said "worse than the baptism!" She then explained that she meant she was just so overcome with the Holy Ghost and God's love that she didn't know how to react other than crying. What a blessing to have the Gospel in our lives and help other people to find it. In three days she read all of 1 Nephi and wrote a one page summary that she turned in to us. Saturday around noon we gave her "For the Strength of Youth" and at her baptism she told us she had already finished reading it. We taught her about the temple last night and she cannot wait to enter. She now has an eternal vision.

Our other investigator, Darbelio, that we were trying to help get married and baptized last weekend is doing wonderful. We haven't been able to see him all week because he was working extra to be able to come to church. We taught him about the temple (during the lesson with Norma) and he just loved the idea of being able to be sealed to his family forever. After the lesson we asked how his reading in the Book of Mormon has been going and he opened it up and said, well I am right here. He opened to Mosiah 9! We were blown away. I really don't understand it. There people just read the Book of Mormon like crazy, they read every day and they read a lot and they understand, feel the Spirit, and are becoming converted. I have learned that those who read the Book of Mormon frequently become converted. It is as simple as that. In 1 Nephi 15:23-24 it says:

 23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the ^arod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?

 24 And I said unto them that it was the ^aword of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would ^bhold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the ^ctemptations and the fiery ^ddarts of the ^eadversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

Thus, if we hold fast to the word of God (study the Book of Mormon every day) and hearken (obey and apply what we learn) to it, we will never perish (gain Eternal Life). Studying the scriptures every day is just so important!

We are being so blessed and I am so grateful. Every day we see incredible miracles and feel the Spirit of the Lord. Last night we didn't have a set lesson and didn't quite know where to go but as we prayed and thought about it and hearkened to the feelings and promptings that came, we had an investigator named Amanda come to mind. A number of weeks ago during Mission Leadership Council, President Ashton reminded us that when we enter lessons we should ask people what blessings they have received since our last visit so that they begin to think of the mercy of God rather than all their problems when we ask how they are doing. During the meeting the Spirit whispered that that was something I needed to do so I wrote it down on my "Change" card and committed myself to begin doing it. We walked into Amanda's house and sat down and asked, "Since we saw you two weeks ago, how have you seen the hand of the Lord in your life?" That lead to her testifying of prayer and receiving and answer to prayer and then explaining that her husband and her had just separated. It changed the course of the lesson and brought the Spirit so strongly. 

That experience made me think about General Conference, the Ensign, and other opportunities that we have to listen to Priesthood leaders. Those who have Priesthood Keys have the right to receive revelation for us. D&C 84:19 says:

 19 And this greater ^apriesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the ^bkey of the ^cmysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the ^dknowledge of God. 

I just want to listen to Priesthood leaders, the Holy Ghost, and the scriptures and then obey and apply the direction that I receive because I know that it is what brings happiness and joy.

I know that this Gospel is true. It has to be. The Spirit witnesses every single day that Jesus Christ lives, that Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, that he saw the Father and the Son, that the Book of Mormon is true and that this is the way to salvation. I love you all and could not be happier. 

Love,

Elder Case

Testimonies of the Book of Mormon

Dear Family, Thank you for your faith and prayers this week. Darbelio (Pedro) did not end up getting baptized because he wants to wait for his "wife" to get divorced and do things right. He did not feel like moving out was the best option for the kids. But we found a divorce lawyer that is a member and it looks like it will be three months till they can get divorced, married, and he can get baptized. In the mean time, he is willing to live all the commandments and asked us to teach him about tithing so that he could begin to pay it. He is amazing. Norma Mejia is all lined up for her baptism this weekend. She is incredible. She keeps on asking us for more pamphlets and conference talks and is reading a lot in the Book of Mormon. Please pray that her mom and step dad will allow her to get baptized on Saturday. She wants to so badly. On Saturday, we called the Ortegas (they are practically our second family since we are there every single day) and asked them to go pick Norma up for a lesson (Hermana Ortega has also adopted Norma) even though we didn't have a lesson set. We showed up and they were all there waiting for us with a full table of food set. We had a lesson about studying the Book of Mormon every single day and asked each of the Ortegas to share their testimonies of reading the Book of Mormon. All of them read daily and Natalia (17 year old) is already in 3 Nephi! She was baptized a month and a half ago and is about to finish the Book of Mormon. It was amazing to hear their testimonies but even better to feel the strength and validity of them. What a great blessing. On Friday when we left the Ortegas, the neighbor across the street (Giselle) called us over and said that she wanted us to start teaching her 7 year old grandson. She said that he had some behavioral issues and we said we could help. Giselle is the wife of a former investigator named Geraldo who is the one that told us to knock on the Ortega's door in December. Giselle explained that she wanted her grandson Lance to go to church but that she was Baptist and hadn't gone to church in seven years and had no intentions of returning since she enjoyed communicating with God from her home. As we talked with her she said she would drop him off at church, drive around for the duration and then come and pick him up. She explained that he has ADHD and then asked, "Do you think it would be good if I came and sat with him at least during the first hour before he goes with the kids?" That was music to our ears. We had a lesson the next night and then played soccer and Lance loved it. He woke up Sunday morning sick and Giselle said they weren't going to go to church and he begged to be able to go. They all came (including her 13 year old granddaughter named Madison that lives next door) and loved it. Giselle stayed all three hours and Lance after church pleaded to go back the next week. I still do not fathom how God does it, I just know he does. Madison told Sandy (the Ortega's granddaughter) that she wants to get baptized. Now we just need to get her parents on board. Please pray for la familia Del Castillo. They are struggling. I had a really neat thought this week. Though I honestly try and pray for y'all, I just find my thoughts consumed by my investigators and their needs. I want to remember to pray for each of you and what you need but I often just don't think about anything other than the people here. Yesterday and Saturday in I think every appointment, the members, investigators, and recent converts prayed for you. In each pray they asked Heavenly Father to bless the missionaries and the families of the missionaries. They pray that you will be healthy, that you will prosper, and that you will be protected. It was a tender mercy for me to recognize that the Lord really does take care of us and our families even if it is in a different way than we would think. So each time you pray for me or my investigators, please know that those prayers are returned plentifully and faithfully. We have Zone Conferences every day for the rest of the week. Should be fun. We don't really have to do much which is nice. We are studying repentance as a mission for the month of February. It has been wonderful. I am learning much. Please continue to pray for Rodolfo so that he can quit smoking. We made a plan with him this week and he has cut back from 10 to 8 cigarettes a day. The night before we made the plan, he told us that he thought it was impossible to quit smoking and that he had tried many times. I looked him in the eyes and with all the faith I could muster testified that we represented the Savior Jesus Christ and that we had been commissioned and given authority to help people repent. The next day during the lesson we asked if he thought it was possible to quit and he said, "well, you represent Jesus and are the only ones that have the power to help me quit". I am grateful that the Spirit testified to him of the sacred calling that we have as missionaries. I love you, Elder Case

The Gospel Blesses Families

Dear Family, At the beginning of my mission, I didn't really understand why people would sometimes get so emotional about the Gospel. Of course there were times when I had felt the Spirit in a very overwhelming way that brought me to tears but I just didn't understand how that would happen so often to people. I am beginning to understand. In almost every lesson I have to fight back tears. These tears don't come because I am overcome with the power of the Spirit but rather they come because I am filled with gratitude and overcome by how blessed I am to have the Gospel in my life. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness. I know that foundation of apostles and prophets is here again on the earth and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is built above that foundation. I am beginning to understand the Holy Ghost. He is is guide, my teacher and my friend. I cannot imagine trying to do this work without His influence. One of the things that I have learned this week that has helped me a lot is that I realized that one of the reasons that we are so blessed and so happy and filled with the Spirit as missionaries is that we pray all the time. We pray every time before we knock on a door and then we pray after even if no one answered. We pray to begin and end studies. We pray to begin and end lessons. We pray to express gratitude. We pray when we don't know where to go. We pray when we do know where to go. We just pray and God listens and blesses us. Elder Johnson and I had an office day this past Thursday and it was just terrible. When we left after a number of hours at the office, I just didn't feel happy. I thought about it and realized that during the whole time I was at the office I had never said a prayer because I thought I was capable of fulfilling all my assignments without praying. I learned that when I come home, I can never stop praying because it assumes that we are capable when we really are not. King Benjamin teaches that we are less than the dust of the earth and Nephi in his concluding remarks teaches us in 2 Nephi 32:9 9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must apray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall bpray unto the Father in the cname of Christ, that he will dconsecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the ewelfare of thy soul. We found three new families this week and they are all wonderful. We are so excited to have them learn about, progress in, and become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been so blessed I just can't believe it. Norma (the 17 year old for El Salvador) is doing great! We didn't see her for a while and then we felt we should stop by and she was outside with some of her family. We taught her and her twin brother and her uncle the Restoration. At the beginning of the lesson we asked Norma if she had received her answer about the Book of Mormon and she said she had. She told us that as she read she was filled with a wonderful feeling and that God had told her it was true and that she had been surprised to find herself defending the Book of Mormon to her family and friends. Her uncle had a pretty skewed idea of Mormons but after the lesson walked into the house (we were teaching outside in the dark) where the rest of the family was gathered and then spent an hour telling them what we had taught and how Mormons were not that weird and that he felt so good as we taught him. The whole family wants to learn now and we taught the mom last night. Norma came to church (the Ortegas brought her) and just loved it. She said that the moment she entered the chapel, she felt the Spirit. After church she came up to us and said, "So far you have visited me a few times and given me a few pamphlets (Restoration and Gospel of Jesus Christ), do you have any more that I could study and learn from?" We gave her the Plan of Salvation and then stopped by Sunday night and she had read the whole pamphlet and loved it. She told us that she was excited for her baptism on February 15th and that she loves how she feels. Her sister Karen, while defending us to her parents, called us "los verdaderos". Pedro, the son-in-law of the Ortegas wants to be baptized so badly this coming Sunday. His "wife" Carla needs to get divorced and then they need to get married this week so that can happen. There is a Plan B but we think the marriage would be best. Please pray that we can talk to the people and find the way that Carla can get divorced according to God's will. We have a lesson with them on Wednesday and Pedro is going to teach us how to grill fajitas. We are pretty excited about that. Rodolfo (Mirna's husband) quit his job and now can come to church. He loved it yesterday. We are having a FHE tonight with their family at the home of la familia Perez. Please continue to pray for Mirna and Rodolfo that we can find the way for them to get married so they can be baptized. There are so many miracles that I wish I could share them all but I just can't. This Gospel is true. It brings happiness. Heavenly Father wants to bless us far more than we want to be blessed. His love is infinite and perfect. I feel of that love each and every day. Thank you for your prayers and your love. I hope you are all well and that you too might enjoy of the blessings of this Gospel. I love you. Love, Elder Case

The Peaceful Reassurances

Dear Family, I love this work! Thank you for your continued prayers and faith on my behalf and for our investigators. They make the difference. On Saturday, we had the privilege of baptizing Erika, Kathryn, and Karla Del Castillo. The daughters of Mijail and Maria Del Castillo who were baptized two weeks ago. It was incredible. Hermano Melgar (an investigator of about 20 years and the only non-member in his family) was also baptized by the other elders. There were no less than 80 people at the service, which we did in the chapel, and the Spirit was so strong. During the opening hymn the Holy Ghost washed over me and then never left during the service. Once again, in the ordinances thereof, the power of Godliness is manifest. How true that is. In Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, the Del Castillo girls were confirmed along with Hermano Melgar and Julie! Thank you for praying that she would make it to church and be confirmed. When we walked into the chapel Sunday morning, la familia Ortega was there on the 5th row. They took up the entire row and as usual were the only ones in the chapel. There was someone new sitting with them that we had never met. It was Karla's huband, Pedro. Karla is the mom of the three girls that were baptized in December. We stopped by and visited them Sunday evening and asked how Pedro liked church. He said he loved it and felt really good. He told us that he really wanted to stay for the other classes but his two little boys were throwing a fit and he had to leave (next week we are going to go to Primary with them because they promised us that they would stay at church if we went with them). Pedro then told us that no one had invited him to church (we didn't even know he lived there since he works all the time) but that he just felt the desire to ask for work off and to go. We taught him the Restoration and after reciting the First Vision Elder Larson asked him how he felt. He said, "I feel just like I felt at church. Really good and peaceful." We testified that it was the Holy Ghost and that he already knew that what we shared is true. Elder Nielsen then invited him to be baptized and he said yes. Then Elder Nielsen invited him to be baptized on February 8th and he thought about it and said, "I will have my answer on Wednesday." What a miracle. He has already asked for a change in schedule so that he doesn't have to work on Sundays and can come to church every week with his family. He prayed at the end of the lesson and it was so sincere. On Friday we stopped by to try a media referral that we had received and realized that it was the same house as a lady that we had talked to outside the week prior. We knocked on the door and were immediately asked to come in. Only Karen (22) and Norma (17) were there. They are sisters and came here from El Salvador about two years ago. We taught them the Restoration and did the same procedure. Before the opening prayer we testify that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and that we were sent by a loving Heavenly Father to share the most special message in the whole world and that they will feel the Holy Ghost. We promise them that they will feel something very unique in their hearts and then we teach. When we asked them how they felt after listening to the First Vision, they said, "Strange and good". We invited them to explain how they felt. They said that they felt as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders and they felt peace. We invited them to be baptized and they also accepted. They are preparing to be baptized on February 15th. On that same day, we taught Mirna and Julie. Mirna still hasn't resolved her marriage situation and thus cannot be baptized but as we taught about it and how "the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins" (Moroni 8:25), she expressed her earnest desire to be baptized. After that lesson we taught the Padilla children. Eva (15) and Ramon (11) practically begged us to be baptized. We taught with their dad and he still said no. Please continue to pray that Tony Padilla's heart will be softened. It is so hard to teach them and see their desire to follow the Savior and listen to their testimonies of the Restored Gospel and then have their hopes squandered by the pride of their father. It has been incredible to have so many people want to be baptized. We finally understand that we invite when we feel the Spirit. Dad has told me many times that Stephen started having a lot of success on his mission when we would just invite people to be baptized every time he felt the Spirit. That is what we do and the response is always yes. The Holy Ghost is so amazing. Two more stories, on Sunday night, we had enough time for one more appointment and Elder Larson felt that we needed to go visit la familia Del Castillo. I was hesitant because we hadn't called them to set an appointment but we knocked and they were thrilled to see us. As we walked in (it was only Mijail and Maria) it felt different than it had in the past. They were in the middle of an intense argument and both immediately said that God had sent us to them in that moment. They spent about 15 minutes accusing each other and going back and forth with faults and complaints and we finally stopped them and said a prayer. The whole atmosphere changed and the Spirit came but was short lived as they went back to arguing. They were asking us for help and marriage advice and we finally had the chance to explain that we would set up an appointment with Bishop and that we didn't know anything about being married and that we were just young men but that we represented the Savior and we knew the Gospel would help them more than anything. We explained that we wanted to read in the Book of Mormon with them and we opened to Mosiah 3 and read from verse 5-19. The peaceful reassurance came. The Spirit of love, peace, harmony, unity, and forgiveness entered and all the negative feelings left. We finished with verse 19 and read: 19 For the anatural bman is an cenemy to God, and has been from the dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he eyields to the enticings of the fHoly Spirit, and gputteth off the hnatural man and becometh a isaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a jchild, ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. Mijail then repeated the words submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things and looked at us and said thank you. This is what I needed. We had to leave to get home on time but committed them to kneel down as a couple and have Maria pray first and then Mijail. We texted them that night and they said that they prayed and then continued to read the Book of Mormon together and the next morning Mijail texted and said that he had read the Book of Mormon before going to work. They now know that it is a source of strength and that it contains peace and brings answers and understanding to our lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. The Lord answers my constant prayers about its truthfulness nearly every single day. One last story. We stopped by la familia Martinez (the less-actives that I love with my whole soul) after the baptism Saturday night. We watched the Mormon Message "None Were with Him" by Elder Holland and then asked them to share their feelings about the Savior. We had the most powerful and tender lesson on the Atonement that I have ever participated in during the which they explained that they don't have a single friend that loves them for who they are, Raul and Rosa, but that everyone only talks to them when they need help and want something. At the end of the last lesson with them we read 2 Nephi 2:30 where Lehi after teaching very powerful doctrine that condemns the wicked says, "I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls". In this lesson though we read with them in 1 Nephi 21:15-16 15 For can a awoman forget her sucking child, that she should not have bcompassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may cforget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the apalms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. We then looked them in the eyes and said that the Savior of the world has not forgotten them. We testified that He walked "such a long, lonely path utterly alone, [so that] we do not have to do so" (Elder Holland "None Were with Him"). We testified that our Heavenly Father loves them and that He sent His representatives to them that night to manifest His love for Raul and Rosa and that He didn't expect anything in return. It was a sweet moment as the love of God abounded and tears were shed. I testify that this work is true. God loves us. We are His greatest creation. The Gospel has been restored to the earth and there is no greater joy than helping others to receive of blessings of the Atonement. I know that the peaceful assurances come each day so that we know that God loves us and is aware of us and will help us. What a glorious message. Love, Elder Case

Whether the Book of Mormon is True

Dear Family, Thank you so much for your prayers and your faith. I continue to feel them and see the needed blessings come to the lives of our investigators here. The Maria and Mijail Del Castillo were confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday in Sacrament Meeting! It was a wonderful experience. We taught them Friday morning and followed up with them about the Word of Wisdom and some other commandments and they were completely ready to go. It was interesting though because Mijail said that throughout the week he had been tempted a lot and that he felt that Satan was trying extra hard to get him to sin. He said that when that happened he prayed and asked for strength and that he could feel of our prayers. I know that he felt of your prayers as well. Thank you. Mijail didn't want to baptize his daughters despite our explaining to him that in a few years it will be the most special memory but the good news is that his three youngest daughters (Erika, Kathryn, and Karla) will all be baptized this coming Saturday. Please pray for each of them by name that they will be ready and have the desire to be baptized. Mijail and Maria want them to be baptized so badly. It is wonderful to see the Gospel being lived by a family in their home and to see all the blessings that have come as a result of it. Julie Tovar was baptized on Saturday! She came out of the bathroom in her white jumpsuit and said she felt like a big fat marshmallow. I told her it wasn't that bad but that it was embarrassing to be wearing white after Labor Day. She said I need to be more original and not steal jokes from a 10 year-old. Pretty funny girl. She and her mom slept in yesterday and did not make it to church for the confirmation though, so please pray that they will be there this coming Sunday to be confirmed. We are still trying to work out the divorce for Mirna and Rodolfo so that Mirna can get baptized but haven't made much headway there. We have been teaching the Tzoc family. An older couple from Guatemala that I think I mentioned last week. We stopped by this week and finally taught them both together for the first time. We asked Cristina to read the paragraph in the pamphlet about Joseph Smith and she was about to start reading and then said, "Is this just going to explain how he was a young boy and didn't know what church to go to and went to all sorts of churches and then read in the Bible and went to ask God and then Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and called him to be a prophet? I have seen the video." We were shocked. She has been prepared by angels. She wants to be baptized but said that the 15th of February was too quick. We are going to help her prepare for that date though still. Quick funny story, we were eating with the Tzoc family last week and in one of the dishes there was chicken feet that had been soaked and boiled in vinegar. Elder Nielsen when I wasn't looking put one of them onto my plate and then made a big deal about how I wanted to eat it. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever put into my body. I had to break the bones and then pull the skin off the tendons. I wanted to throw up. Elder Nielsen and Elder Larson thought it was the funniest thing that has ever happened. Also, I used to write a lot about la familia Padilla. By a miracle we saw the kids outside their apartment on Saturday and invited them to the baptism because they are good friends with Julie. Eva and Ramon both want to be baptized as soon as they can and Tony wants to learn more first but there dad hasn't let them come to church or participate. They told us that if the Bishop invited their dad to the baptism that he would go. We talked to Obispo, and they all showed up. And what's more, Hermana Perez (WML's wife and my second mother) showed up at church with all the kids (the dad was working). They all loved it and one of the speakers talked about faith and bore his testimony that when we ask in faith that God answers our prayers. He said he had been praying for a long time with much faith that the Padilla's would come back to church and there they were. It was a special moment. On top of all that, we showed up at the investigator devotional last night and they were there walking inside. They felt the Spirit very strongly and afterwards Tony came up to me and said that he has never felt closed to making the decision to be baptized. He said he was almost convinced and that in just a little bit more time he will be ready. Please pray that the heart of el hermano will be softened and open to the blessings of the Restored Gospel. On Saturday we found a new family that are former investigators. They are ready to be baptized really soon and are really good people. We walked out of the house and asked who they knew that we could teach and they pointed at a lady in their front yard and said, "her". We talked to the lady, Juana Mendez, and found out that she was baptized in 2000. She has been less-active for a number of years but is completely ready to come back. She came to the investigator devotional with us on Sunday night and when we walked in she was sitting with one of her old friends that she knew when she was baptized. What a tender mercy of the Lord. Also, after the devotional, I was talking to Eduardo and Kimberly Colon and we set a temple date for their sealing! They will be sealed on May 17th! They are really excited and feel prepared. They are about to begin taking the temple prep classes. We are being richly blessed and are able to see and recognize the hand of the Lord each day. The Spirit guides us so much. We are told where to go, what to do, who to talk to and then what to say and when to say it. This is God's work. It has to be. A few weeks ago we found a man named Juan Cruz. We have tried getting in to teach him dozens of times because he is on our Ward List but they always tell us that they want to take their names off the records of the church. We talked with him and he explained that they were baptized about 17 years ago. They were extremely active for seven years and sealed in the temple but then Juan found a quote in Doctrine of Salvation that he disagreed with. He studied more got involved in anti material and eventually he and his wife walked into the Bishop's office and turned in their temple recommends. They haven't heard from or spoken about it with anyone for ten years. We finally taught them last night and it was quite the experience. He had lame doubts and strange questions that multiplied every time we answered one of his questions. He eventually told us that in his study he came to a point where their was two paths he could choose from, the Book of Mormon or the Bible. He said he chose the Bible. At that point, Elder Nielsen explained that all his doctrinal disagreements would be resolved if he knew that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. They tried to testify that Joseph Smith was not a Prophet of God. At that point I explained that the only thing we do as missionaries is invite all to come unto Christ and to pray and ask God and then believe the answer they receive. Then the inspiration came. The thought came to my mind to think about the baptismal interview and temple recommend questions, both of which ask if you believe Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I then testified to them that I had a sure knowledge that even if they didn't currently believe that Joseph was a Prophet that at least in two instances in their lives they had said and testified that they did. They were confounded. The hermana tried to lie and say that she couldn't ever remember saying that but the hermano was honest and said, "No, he is right. We both said that. We both testified of that." At that point we had to go but they said they would let us back. It was a powerful experience and made me think of two things. The first is the quote from President Benson in Preach My Gospel: “We are to use the Book of Mormon in handling objections to the Church. … “… All objections, whether they be on abortion, plural marriage, seventh-day worship, etc., basically hinge on whether Joseph Smith and his successors were and are prophets of God receiving divine revelation. … “… The only problem the objector has to resolve for himself is whether the Book of Mormon is true. For if the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was his prophet, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and it is being led today by a prophet receiving revelation. “Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand” (A Witness and a Warning, 4–5). And the second is D&C 135:3 which says, 3 Joseph Smith, the aProphet and bSeer of the Lord, has done more, csave Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the dfulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own eblood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not fseparated! As we left that lesson last night, I read D&C 135:3 out loud to my companions and the Holy Ghost witnessed to me so strongly that it is true. That Joseph was a Prophet, that he saw the Father and the Son, that They did in reality speak to him, that They through Joseph restored the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth in these last days and that Joseph Smith held all of the Priesthood Keys that have ever been given to man. I remember when I gained my first real testimony of Joseph Smith in the MTC. I wrote in my journal that I would waste and wear out my life testifying to the world that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that he saw God. I have done so and I will continue to do so because I know that it is true. I love you, Elder Case

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

Dear Family,

It is so good to hear that Gabe is doing better. Sounds like you all are now participants in the miracles and witnesses of God's power on a daily basis too.

Saturday night we went to the adult session of Stake Conference and listened to Elder Russel M. Nelson and Elder Hansen (of the Seventy). It was amazing. President and Sister Ashton spoke as well. The Spirit was so strong and the members of our ward brought our investigators! Everyone loved it. Then Sunday morning we had the general session. That was one of the most spiritual meetings I have ever gone to. About half an hour in we left to go rescue the Del Castillo's who had gotten lost but got back just in time for them to listen to Elder Hansen (he used to be the Texas Houston Mission President a few years ago) and of course, Elder Nelson. Elder Nelson stayed after both meetings long enough for everyone to line up and personally meet him. Watching it happen reminded me of the Savior amongst the Nephites. He was different for every person. For some, he held their hands, others just looked into his eyes, one lady kissed him on the cheek. Just another witness to me that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He spoke of missionary work during the adult session and set some high expectations for the members. During the general session he spoke of the Plan of Salvation and repentance. He said that it was his mandate from God to declare repentance to all people. He quoted the Bible Dictionary about repentance ("The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world.") and then said it also implies a change in the way we breathe because each breath is full of gratitude and knowledge that we only can do so because of the breath we are lended. He asked all of the Primary children to stand and sing, "I Am a Child of God". That brought the Spirit. It was in the middle of his talk and pretty cute. At the very end of his talk however, he looked at his translator and said in Spanish, "I don't know how long it has been since these good people have seen an apostle. I want this experience to be memorable for them. So I am going to need your prayers as I now speak to you in a language that is not my own." He then bore a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel that penetrated the soul. I can feel the Holy Ghost just thinking about the Spirit that was manifested through that great servant of the Lord. I know that God has called Prophets and Apostles again in our day, that they do in reality speak with our Heavenly Father face to face and that they hold every Priesthood Key on the earth. I know that his church is the church of Jesus Christ upon the earth and that through the saving ordinance of the Priesthood, we can return to live with our loving Father in Heaven. This work is true!

We finished teaching the Del Castillo's everything that they needed on Friday morning. Mijail, the dad, expressed to us that he had voices telling him to not be baptized. The miracle is that during studies that morning, as we thought about him and his wife, the Spirit revealed to us that that was happening and then taught us exactly what he needed to read in the Book of Mormon to overcome the temptations of the devil. We read those verses with him and he felt the Spirit and they were baptized. It was a miracle though. As we were filling out their baptismal records with them on Saturday (the baptism was Sunday after Stake Conference), Maria couldn't remember their marriage date. She knew the date they moved in together but not the date they got married. We told them that they needed the certificate in order to get baptized. When we saw them at conference Sunday morning we asked if they had found it yet and they still hadn't. We committed them to do everything possible to find it. We called a few hours later and still no luck. Then as we were leaving the apartment to go fill the font, we knelt down and pleaded with the Lord that they would find the certificate. In the exact moment that we said "amen", the phone was ringing and it was Maria telling us that they had found the certificate. I know that God loves His children and that He hears and answers our prayers. It was almost as if God was just letting us know once again that we are completely incapable of performing this work on our own and that we have to really fully on Him and on His merits and grace.

Another miracle was that as we waited in line with the Del Castillo's to meet Elder Nelson (how cool is it that they met an apostle on the day of their baptism?!) multiple people came up to Mijail that he knew from work but had no idea that they were Mormon. It strengthened him greatly and one of his best friends from a different ward came to his baptism. They were all so happy. In the picture that I sent of their baptism, all the girls but the one in blue are the Del Castillo's daughters. They are going to be baptized on January 25th and we spoke with the Bishop last night and he is going to interview Mijail so that he can baptize his daughters! I loving seeing the Gospel being lived. It makes people so happy. It makes me so happy.

This coming Saturday, Julie (the 10 year-old daughter of Mirna) will be baptized. We spoke with Mirna and asked if she wanted to wait to baptize Julie until Mirna and Rodolfo were married so that Mirna and Julie could be baptized together. She responded and said that Julie would cry if she had to wait any longer to be baptized. That girl is the best. Last night when I walked in to the Relief Society room in all white she looked at me and said, "Don't you know that it is after Labor Day?" (I think that Mary and Lizzy will appreciate that the most).

Another miracle that happened this week is that we tried a former that Elder Nielsen was teaching a year ago when he was in this area and la hermana (Cristina) let us right in. We taught the Restoration and that there was going to be an Apostle here this weekend. She loved it. All her daughters are members, sealed in the temple, and active. At the end of the lesson she brought out three copies of the Book of Mormon, two in Spanish and one in Quiche (spelling), which is a dialect in Guatemala where she is from. She also had her own Teachings of the Prophets book and showed us the plan for baptism that her daughter had made for her. We came back two days later and brought an hermana from Guatemala with us. They were the best of friends and kept on saying that they felt like they had known each other in a prior life. That family brought Cristina to conference Satuday night and she loved it!

The Lord is so kind. He is full of mercy and grace and truth. He wants to bless us more than we can imagine. My whole object is to be an instrument in His hands so that He can work through me to bring about His purposes. I feel the Holy Ghost every day testifying of the truthfulness of this work. There is nothing better than serving the Lord full time and feeling the Holy Ghost constantly throughout each day. It is what brings joy.

I love you. Please pray for Mirna and Rodolfo so that they can get married and please pray that the Del Castillos will continue to progress and have the strength to overcome the adversary this week especially as they wait to be confirmed on Sunday.

Love,

Elder Case