We had a friend we were teaching.. And she knew that her
parents were not going to approve of joining the mormon faith.. She
talked to her mom and her mom was very appauled at her meeting with us.
And although our friend had recieved a spiritual witness that it was
true.. She chose to stop meeting with us. And thats tough.. When she
called us and told us this, in a way it was like her life flashed before
my eyes.. I thought about her future eternal family, and all the
amazing things that would be in store for her if she would just join the
Church. I thought about her kids being raised in the Gospel, and
serving missions, and I thought about how eternal life was literally
hanging in the balance.. And once again i realized why this gospel is so
important. I prayed real hard for her and I know that down the road
she'll have another shot to accept the gospel. So thats good to know.
A huge hit among the young families today is these temporary,
non-denominational, christian churches.. People can go there, drop their
kids off in the basement, buy a cup of coffee, and listen to a
Christian Rock concert on Sunday morning from 11-12 and call it good for
the week. It never ceases to amaze me how someone's idea of "worship"
can be so different that what we're taught from the bible. People say
all you gotta do is believe, and your saved. Nothing else is required.
And then they come to us and say " You mormons are trying to earn your
way into Heaven..!" And everytime it happens I try to explain that we
don't.. But they don't listen. Haha.
The more and more that I study the Plan of Salvation the more I
love the Church of Jesus Christ.. It teaches us that the atonement was
not just some huge favor that Christ did for us, but rather it was an
huge investment that Christ made in us. We are saved by Grace
absolutely.. But has the Grace which he's FREELY given us changed us? Ha
I don't know why i'm typing this right now.. But at night sometimes my
mind just goes to town thinking about this stuff.. So now you guys know
what I do with my free time. Haha..
We are teaching this girl named Sam and she's great! Its so cool to
see her grow in the gospel. She understands it, and she applies it, and
therefore she knows its true. Its so cool. Haha every lesson is so
spiritual and she's going to be baptized on Aug 18th! She's way excited
and so are we!
Anyways I love you guys.. Its been a good week.. This week I get to go to Des Moines IA because our area is getting a new car.
Dad! Happy Birthday on Aug 2nd!! Woot woot! 62 years old.. Haha..
Also that day marks 18 months on my mission! AHHHH!!! Scary. Haha goes
so fast..
Looks like the family reunion was a blast.. Haha I LOVED those pictures. SO funny!
Mom thanks for your email.. I couldn't help but laugh as you
described all the crazy stuff that was going on around the house with
the kids and the dog there.. Pretty funny! I LOVE YOU ALL! Thanks for
everything!
LOVE ELDER RUSSELL
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