February 11, 2013

AHHH another great week. Well, we had a zone meeting on Wednesday. We were instructed among other things, but the thing I liked the most is that they introduced to the whole zone, about survey tracting. When we go tracting instead of the usual, "hey, were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints, and we are sharing a message about . . . . . . . . .. "

 

We just ask them that we "are missionaries and we are in the neighborhood conducting a relgious survey, are you interested?" If they are we do the survey questions, then we ask them if we would be able to pray with them before we go. Ideally if we can we try to talk a little more in-depth about one or few of the questions. If we are able to do all of that, we can count it as an other lesson taught. We had good success on Wednesday when we did it, but Sunday we didn't have the greatest success.

 

Well, this transfer is about half over! This transfer is going to be 5 weeks instead of 6. I figured it would be just this transfer, but it could be permenant, which I doubt, that would mean I would come home 2 weeks earlier, which is already weird.

 

Well, I believe that is all I have to write. Things are going great for me. My birthday is on Friday, which will be pretty cool. Wow, 21, didn't think I would ever get to that age. Oh, well, it doesn't mean much, I guess I can finally get my license landscape orientation instead of portrait.

 

Well, in my Book of Mormon reading I'm in Alma 20. I believe I was somewhere in Mosiah last week. Alma is my favorite book in the Book of Mormon. I just love the awesome dynamic of Alma and Amulek in their missionary work. I love how consecrated Ammon was as a missionary. Also that of Aaron and Alma the younger and others. My favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon is Alma 5. It's a chapter where Alma rebukes anyone who is full of pride. He pretty much asks the people in that city  all these questions they need to consider. He also testifies to the people that he knows that these things are true, by him praying and fasting so that he is able to understand the truthfulness of this gospel.

 

Alma is such an incredible man of God. I'm so greatful for the other great examples of the book of Mormon that we have. I love the doctrinal chapters that are in Alma, and I wait to be able to read them again. The Book of Mormon truly is the Word of God. We tracted into a man who says that the Book of Mormon is "adding to the Book of Revelation" I for one, hate this arguement. It is such a cough out answer to someone who doesn't want to read and understand the divinity of the Book of Mormon. It doesn't add to the Book of Revelation, it adds to your own personal testimony that JESUS IS THE CHRIST! Who wouldn't want to have their faith in Christ strengthen?!?!?
It's beyond me, but it does happen. In the words of Elder Holland, "No Latter-day saint can come to the fullest measure of happiness in these are our times, unless he or she embraces the Book of Mormon, and the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom it testifies. And if they do, they must crawl over or under or around the Book of Mormon, to make their exit.

 

I know for myself that it is a divine book. It came from God, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know it is the true 2nd witness of Jesus Christ, in some day we will have the 3rd witness of the Book of Mormon, the lost tribes of Israel. These things I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma