July 29, 2013
So I was transferred to.. Moundbuilders Ward
in....Newark Ohio! -_-. haha
I literally am the next area over, and share
the same building as the ward I was in last area. I went realllyyy far for this
transfer haha. In transfer meeting when that was announced, I literally
exclaimed "WHAT?!" haha. Oops. :)
Moundbuilders ward has not been a very
successful ward baptism-wise recently. We got in here with the other set of
Elders in the ward, Elder G and Elder B, who had no investigators they were
teaching. So basically Elder Ferney and I are starting from scratch. Elder
Ferney is my trainee, fresh off the plane from the MTC. He's from Portland
Oregon, and just turned 19. He's a really quiet guy, but really chill. We'll
change that fast! We've definitely had a few awkward, quiet moments on
doorsteps as we wait for him to share the gospel. :)
But after only 4 days, he has grown so much
already, and you can tell that he will make a great missionary, especially as
he grows older and more experienced. He has an incredible testimony, and is
absolutely out here for the right reasons.
It's been great for me too. I've had to make
up the difference in lessons and speaking, so I've continued to open up more as
well!
Many of the members here are pretty legit! We
went to dinner with the Williams family yesterday, and they are solid! Brother
WIlliams used to be Bishop, so he's all excited for missionary work and will be
coming out with us to a lesson tomorrow night, with the first new investigator
found here!
It's been a short week, and I don't have a ton
of time to email today, so I'll end with my testimony that I know this church
is the same as the primitive church that Jesus Christ himself established 2000
years ago. There is a prophet and apostles on the earth today, called by God,
to lead us to becoming more like Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the Word
of God, testifies that Jesus is the Christ, and is literal evidence that Joseph
Smith was a prophet of the Lord, called to restore the truths that were lost
over the centuries.
One last thought that I've been considering
the past couple weeks. We know in the bible where it speaks of false prophets,
that "Ye shall know them by their fruits... Even so every good tree
bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good
tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit....Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (
Matthew 7: 15-20). The Book of Mormon is one of those fruits, brought forth by
Joseph Smith. It is either good, or it is either evil. Of God to bring about
the salvation of men, or of the Devil, to lead away the hearts of men to their
destruction. This whole Church, the gospel it preaches, and
the testimony of martyrs and millions rests on if the Book of Mormon is
good, or evil. I have read the Book of Mormon, and anyone who has read it
sincerely knows that it is not a fruit of evil. It testifies that Jesus Christ
is our Savior, the Son of God, risen and alive today in eternal glory. The
Spirit within is a testimony of its truthfulness, as well as the fact that no
man, could have written or translated the book, without the power and gift of
God. I know this in a way that extends beyond the 5 senses that can only be
attributed to the power of God, in direct answer to my fervent and sincere
prayers. I testify of this as a representative of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
and will do so for all my years. I love my Savior, and all he has done to bring
forth his Gospel today, and for allowing me the opportunity to serve him and
his children. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Aaron Toombs
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