Today church was so uplifting and awesome. It was all because of two sisters. The first is Sister Erycia Davis. Sister Davis gave a talk today on the subject of being worthy to attend the temple. NOTE: In our Sacrament Meetings we hear prepared talks from the members. When they are given an assignment to speak, they are told what topic to use. It can be scary, but it is the best learning experience as far as speaking in front of people and being able to express yourself. It was one of the most heartfelt talks I have ever heard. She is not a scriptorian, nor has she been through the temple, so she instead told us her story and how very much she would like someday to have that opportunity. Sister Davis has been a member for years but has had many years of inactivity. Prior and during her years of inactivity she lead a pretty hard life. She does not make excuses for her choices in life but instead uses them as a learning experience. She wants to always be true to her feelings. She explained that she was raised in a generation that was given the wrong guidance and this guidance has been handed down for years. She asked for our prayers in her endeavor to try to bring the truth back to her family. She told us that one of the reasons she went in inactive was because at one time she was quite ill and lived only two blocks from the church and no one offered to help or assist her. The church is perfect but we as a congregation are learning and part of that learning is to be aware of our new converts. Since that time she has realized that she cannot base her testimony on the people, but on the teachings. She has come a long way and we could have listened to her for an hour. It will be interesting to see her progress.
Sister Erycia Davis
I also met an investigator by the name of Brittany Woods and her fiancée. She is so excited about the church. She said that it is giving her answers that she had been asking for a long time. She has two little boys and she feels that now she can talk with them about what this life is about and why. Another sister in the class brought up a good point. She said that her parents raised her in the Presbyterian church. She joined the LDS church when she was older. Even though the LDS church gave her more answers, she will be forever grateful for the basic background and moral values and family life that her religion gave her. I appreciate that.
In our Sunday School lesson, Sister Saunders gave the lesson. It was on faith. She asked questions of the members and she also gave us good answers. She was so prepared and so willing to do what the Lord has asked her to do. She joined the church when she was 20 years old. All of her friends were not members and couldn’t figure out why at this point in her young life she would give up all of her ‘freedom’ to join a religion. What they didn’t understand is that we have our agency to do what we want while we are here on earth – it is what we do with it. We are all born with the light of Christ and He wants us to be happy, but in order to be truly happy there are guidelines that we need to follow. Happiness is not money, fame, parties, etc. Happiness is peace of mind and not trying to fill a void in your life with things that can harm you or make you question your morals and values.
Sister Saunders
All three women said that the reason they either joined or were considering joining our church was because we had the answers. Other religions that they had been attending, are good and honest religions but they don’t have all of the complete answers to the questions that are being asked. Because I have been raised in the church and it is a way of life for me I understand it and have never really questioned. But there comes a time in everyone’s life when you have to have your own testimony of the truth of the Gospel. Reading and serving in the church have helped me, but, honestly being on this mission has given me an even stronger understanding of what this church is all about. I am very grateful that Elder Boehrer and I chose to raise our family in the church and give them the teachings and values that have made them into the wonderful people that they are. Ok, ok, I’m prejudiced, but it’s true. And I will be eternally grateful for that.
It’s all predicated on our FAITH:
‘And now as I said concerning faith – faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true’. Alma 32:21
We are going to a“Special Fireside on the Brotherhood of Man” this evening at the stake center. It starts at 6:30. We have not driven in Baltimore in the evening yet – it might prove interesting.
