Tags
Full-Time Missionary Work, Kingsland Ga, LDS, Missionaries, Missionary Work, Mormon, Restored Gospel, Team Laws, TeamLaws, The Gospel in Action
Today I had the great pleasure of splitting off (term used to describe member partnering with full-time missionaries) with one set (of 3) of the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who are assigned to the Kingsland Georgia Ward (a “Ward” is a congregation of ~500 Church members). We went to see several individuals the Elders (so called because of the Priesthood Office of Elder which they hold) had tracted (term used to describe the process of door-to-door proselyting) out in a particular neighborhood. The first individual we saw was unable to take the time to meet with us. The second, a lady named Judy was sitting in a lawn chair in front of her very modest home and seemed happy to see us. The sun was setting beyond the trees at the end of the street She had only one other chair available but we quickly noticed numerous 5 gallon buckets nearby (most of which held shallow pools of standing water on their inverted bottoms). I was able to locate 3 that were dry and we were seated on them a few feet from Judy. After a brief prayer by Elder Kemper, Elder Manwaring commenced to teach Judy the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ as promulgated since 1830 by the Church. The Elders took turns sharing concepts about the nature of our Heavenly Father and our relationship with him, the necessity of prophets on the earth, authority, and the apostasy (or falling away from the truth anciently and the necessity for a restoration). Then came my favorite part: the account of the restoration of the truth to the boy Joseph Smith, the Lord’s prophet in this last dispensation of time. Both Elders testified of the simple truths surrounding the most awesome of all epiphanies. The spirit of the Holy Ghost descended on our little gathering and I rejoiced. I recalled the years from 1983 to 1985 when I served a full time mission myself in the Great South Dakota Rapid City Mission. I mused that I was a full time missionary well before either of these fine disciples of the Lord Jesus were even born. I marveled at their certitude concerning the principles and doctrines they taught. I felt intense feelings of love an appreciation for the Lord and His eternal plan and for valiant servants like these two young missionaries. The sun by now had slipped completely beyond the trees and the gathering twilight framed our little group. I added my witness and testimony to theirs emphasizing to Judy the transformative power of the Savior’s Gospel message. A testimony to her from my tongue and an ascending prayer to HIM from my heart (filled with joy and gratitude). He paved the way and allowed me to see this “mature fruit”. For that I will be eternally grateful!