A Good Sunday At Church

This past Sunday we had the newly baptized member attend for the first time since her accident back in January. She swerved to miss a deer and rolled her car and had been in a hospital and then a nursing home recovering ever since. We had a young couple who are investigating the Church attend with their two primary age children. We also had another newly baptized member along with her husband attend. They all stayed for the full three hours which was a first, so that was pretty special. I believe we had a record number attend Gospel Principles class. It seems at times we go along and wonder if we are making a difference, and then all of a sudden there will be a week like last Sunday, and I think the gospel is changing lives. At times people don’t make those changes as fast as we think they should. But then, I suppose the Lord is thinking the same thing about us at times, as he observes our slow progress. It’s line upon line and precept upon precept for most of us, most of the time.

Another Friend Surprises Us And Comes To Church

Not too long after we first arrived out on the mission, President Dokos, our Branch President, gave us the name of an acquaintance that he thought might be open for a visit from us. I called him on the phone and introduced myself and told him we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and would like to come by and visit with him.  I could tell he was a little hesitant but then said, "all I know is I am supposed to be reading the Bible."

He then said, "I am currently having bible study at my house."

As we continued to talk, I learned he was having Bible Study with the Jehovahs Witnesses. I asked him if he allowed others to come to his bible study. He said that we were welcome to come. I asked him if his Jehovah Witness friends would be offended. He said, that it was his house and he could invite whoever and he thought it would be okay.

So we went to his home and I wanted to be very careful that the discussion did not turn into a contentious discussion that would drive away the Spirit. We arrived at his house and introductions were made and then the two Jehovahs Witnesses lead the discussion. They were using a manual along with bible verses in an effort to make points consistent with what they teach. We made comments through the course of the evenings, which I could tell at times made them a little uncomfortable; however everyone was very polite and cordial.  Most of their points of discussion were all directed at our new friend, which made him very uncomfortable. He was hoping to have a more give and take discussion with all in attendance. He later shared with me, that he felt he was being put on the spot. It was during that time he decided to stop meeting with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. We continued meeting with him off and on when we could schedule meetings with him. He, at times, would get jobs out of town and so it was difficult to meet with him. One time I had invited him to church, and he said he would come.  However, I was concerned that he would show up dressed very casual which is a common practice in other churches, and that he might then feel out of place in our church.  So I told him that most of the men wear white shirts, he then said, why don’t you just come over for our planned visit, I don’t think I will go to Church. I was concerned that by telling him we dress up, we scared him off.

There were times he couldn’t come to Church because he was going to a neighboring city to attend another Church with his son.  After attending there a number of times he told me that they play a lot of loud rock type music and he wasn’t too fond of that.  Over the past nine months, we have had many conversations with him. Several months ago I gave him a white shirt and a pair of socks to wear to church. We were then confident, that he would come to church, but he didn’t. We would always invite him, but conflicts would arise. Two weeks ago when we invited him, he was pretty frank and said, “I am not coming; I am just being honest with you, I am not coming.”

So, last week we were visiting with him on Saturday afternoon and as we were leaving, I said you know you are always welcome at Church. Almost before I finished the sentence he said, "I will be there in the morning!"

Sister Anderson did a double take and said, “What did you just say?”

He said, "I will be there in the morning, it’s 10:00 to 1:00 right?"

 That’s right. Well, he came and stayed all three hours. 

Our Friend Comes To Church And To “Meet the Mormons” Movie Night

Our friend who is trying to quit smoking, did surprise us by exercising enough faith to come to Church two weeks ago. We were very pleased and encouraged to see her there with her two children a girl age 9 and a boy age 5. The mom only stayed for sacrament meeting, however her children stayed for the remaining meetings. It was kind of funny, the children were not comfortable in primary so they came into my gospel principles class. It turns out they are getting pretty comfortable with Sister Anderson and me. So as I was trying to begin class, the children were both up front standing next to me. When I said we should open with prayer, these children both wanted to pray.  So I let each of them pray, they prayed for their mother, and everyone in the class was very touched by those prayers. (Out of the Mouth of Babes. Psalms 8:2 & Matthew 21:16)

Then they also came to our Branch Social Movie night where they showed “Meet the Mormons.” I'm guessing the mom wasn't planning on coming, but we had told the children about it, and they pestered the mom all day about coming to the event. In retrospect we should have cleared it with the mother first, but she was pretty good about the whole thing.