Yesterday was a
very special day indeed, with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. I thought there was
something special about this day be I couldn't remember. Thank you for that.
Also this week on the 17th was Constitution Day - something Sister Madsen and I
rejoiced about as I told her on the trip back down from Udornthani - she, also
being a former Poli-Sci major.
Which brings me to the remarkable
Zone conference this week up in the province of Udornthani (or Udorn) where I
got to see many of my best friends - I ran into the Lao Elders at 7-11 (the
only four Lao Elders who are pretty much as solid as you can get with the
exception of Elder Worthington's testimony and/or arm muscles compilation) Elder
Wright and I embraced and rejoiced in each others safety like Moroni and
Pahoran. Elder Wilamas had many similar experiences and he also gave me a great
treat (like the one you eat) and it was great to see him up there. I also got
to say "Happy Birthday: to him as the 18th of September was his 3-year
anniversary of his baptism. I told President, and he made a rather tender
mention of it too. I learned about conversion and miracles - and how through
Faith, the Atonement, and Faith IN the Atonement produces them.
During the lunch break, Elder
Christensen and I actually experienced a miracle with แก้ว Gaeo, the almost-wife of our
investigator เราะ
Rough (say the word ROCK but take away the K sound and you get the correct
sound of his name). We challenged her to pray for an answer if the Book of Mormon is true
that last Saturday and when we called her she told us that she had a dream. She
said as if we saw a man in a picture - that it was a man wearing a red robe
like the one in her Book of Mormon - and he came down and then sort of came into her and
her face became hers. She said that she dreamed this same thing three times
and she felt warm and good. "Sister - does this mean you have got an
answer that this is true?" There was a pause and she gave a quiet but
reassured "ค่ะ"
or "Yes."
But then I thought back on this
rather unique experience. At first I was surprised. Rough said he
was surprised too. "Yeah," he said to me over the phone a
few days later, "I wish I could see Jesus like Gaeo did... I've only just
FELT the Holy Ghost... She must be really good or something." He's so
funny... But anyway, I thought that this might be a little weird but then
remembered the words of Alma: "I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day...having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" (Alma 5:19) Well, I
think she is on the right track.
The only thing she and Rough lack is
getting married and working on Sunday. But to get married requires a
lot because she's Laotian. It costs money and time. We taught her the
Lord's law of Tithing and they agreed to pay it - and they did this Sunday at
church. But she's been growing in faith and reading the Book of Mormon I stole from the
office that I gave her. ("I did it! I placed my very first Lao Book of
Mormon!" - Kirby as Elder Calhoon, The Best Two Years, edited,
Gibbons)
They have so much faith. They
are so ready. It's just like another two investigators the Sisters are working
with - Mae (which means mom) Muay and her granddaughter Oui (oo-ee).
The only thing holding them back is their marriage situation (where the children
of their husband's first marriage don't want for them to get married because
they fear their inheritance is in jeopardy) and keeping the Sabbath Day
holy (because her husband is a really controlling man and if he says she's
working, she's working, and if she's going to church, he gives the OK). Through
the grace of God already, he has given her the go to be baptized and he's
talking with his other children.
If you ever feel like you need to
pray for me, I thank you, but I ask you to reconsider. If ever you get
together in your families and pray for the missionaries, I thank you for doing
that, but I ask you to reconsider. If ever you ever pray for anyone in the
mission field, I ask you to pray for their investigators. If you want to help
someone in the mission field, I ask you to pray for their investigators by
name. Miss your missionary? Want him to be happy and succeed? Everything
hinges on the success of these people's progression for your missionary.
I ask you as a friend, a cousin, a
brother, or a son to please pray for the welfare and success of these four
people. My investigators have been found, blessed, and in many cases
baptized due in large part to the prayers of my mother, whom I thank from all
the depth of my heart. She told me of a story that I will share with you, as
quoted by Elder Ballard:
Like great parents of all ages, Lucy turned to prayer for divine help to sustain her family. During the march from Ohio to Missouri known as Zion’s Camp, Joseph and Hyrum were seriously ill with cholera, and their lives were almost taken. At one point, “Hyrum sprang to his feet and exclaimed, ‘Joseph, we shall return to our families. I have had an open vision, in which I saw mother kneeling under an apple tree; and she is even now asking God, in tears, to spare our lives. … The Spirit testifies, that her prayers … will be answered.’” (Lucy Mack Smith, History, p. 229.)
Like great parents of all ages, Lucy turned to prayer for divine help to sustain her family. During the march from Ohio to Missouri known as Zion’s Camp, Joseph and Hyrum were seriously ill with cholera, and their lives were almost taken. At one point, “Hyrum sprang to his feet and exclaimed, ‘Joseph, we shall return to our families. I have had an open vision, in which I saw mother kneeling under an apple tree; and she is even now asking God, in tears, to spare our lives. … The Spirit testifies, that her prayers … will be answered.’” (Lucy Mack Smith, History, p. 229.)
I know that Joseph Smith was a
prophet. I know that he was a GREAT prophet because of his mother. I know that
my mother's prayers can get my investigators through this trial if God wills
it. I have been saved from serious injury and even death in Asian traffic
because of the prayers of my mother and father. Now, I ask you all, if you have
a minute or two in your day, to remember the Lao girl named Gaeo and her family
in their challenges of marriage, finance, and Sabbath Day observance.
To remember the woman the Sisters are trying to set free - from sin and from
the world's pressures - in a similar fashion.
I know God is a God of miracles
and miracles come when righteous people pray for righteous things. I
ask for your help and know this is true. I feel like the Stripling Warriors when they said that "they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them" (Alma 56:47).
