Monday June 18, 2012

 Well I hope that your Father's day was better than my Father's day. We spent the day doing a whole lot of planning for our Zone Conference tomorrow. And I bet the primary number in our ward was a lot better than the one here in Erie; though we have a big primary, the kids didn't know the song at all! I felt bad for the chorister because I've been in her shoes... I miss our primary kids. I think the best thing about yesterday was that I got a free candy bar from the Young Men who were giving them to the Fathers! Now I know what you're thinking, “they just had extras they gave to you,” they specifically gave me and Elder Swensen candy bars even though we're not fathers! It makes me feel old, but the caramel chocolate overrides that inkling. Hooray for future fatherhood!

This week has been a week of miracles. And coincidentally, our topic for Zone Conference is about having the faith to find. Hebrews 11 continually reminds me that it is truly by our faith that miracles come to pass, for “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death...for before his translation he had this testimony...By faith Noah... moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house... and became an heir of righteousness...By faith Moses...refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season... By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down... And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; and of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, [and] escaped the edge of the sword.”

The whole idea revolves around our conviction of whether we actually believe that the field is white and ready to harvest. Just this week, we were led by a member to a former investigator who in the two lessons we've already had with her is ready to accept a baptismal date. Amazingly enough, she expressed that before she started her investigation in Philadelphia, she had a dream that Joseph Smith came to her. Not knowing who he was or anything about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she woke up confused but ready to act on that revelation. Two days later, missionaries knocked on her door.

We were also referred to another family but someone in the Erie 2nd Ward. They live out in the outskirts of our area (which we don't usually get to because there's so much happening in Erie) in a little town called McKean. The member told us they were worried about their son who was becoming overwhelmed by “dabbling” with the other side. His curiosity that originated with a quest for religion somehow got skewed over the past couple years into darker and darker territory. After physical contact with these spirits and haunting voices that God could never forgive him, he finally reached out for help. We were able to go over on Tuesday and talk with him and his family. We expressed the love God and Jesus Christ had for him, a child of our Heavenly Father. We also told him of the cleansing power of the Atonement that could literally heal us of any infirmity or any distress. We told him that faith could even cast out the devil. We offered a Priesthood blessing and he accepted. My companion commanded the evil spirit to leave him and it was so. Before the blessing, he was bogged down by depression, giving us the impression that he was so distant and lost that he hardly communicated with us audibly; and he would literally jump at any sudden movements or touches. But after a long pause after the blessing, I asked him how he felt, not knowing what the outcome would be (and obviously that's a sign of MY lack of faith) and he said he felt like crying. Before the end of the appointment, I was also able to go into his room and cast out any lingering spirits there, dedicating their house and an edifice of the Holy Spirit. They've wanted us to come over every other day since then. His mother and sister are also extremely sensitive to the Holy Ghost and are amazed at the clarity we present in the Plan of Salvation.

I know that the Lord lives and loves all of his children. The Lord can do all things and it's funny that all he asks us to initiate those miracles is to exercise an inkling of faith - to act and believe.

Elder Low