I'm not sure what to write about this week. No one is really progressing, though S came to church and his mom, M still said that she wants her family to join the church even if it's only a couple at a time. She's for sure getting baptized, but it looks like it might not be until December. She's still working on getting work off on Sundays.
Yesterday there were two baptisms at our building, one of which was for the other elders in our branch. That's three baptisms in three months for this little branch, a lot more than they've had in a long, long time. I also got to see a man named J get baptized in the singles' ward. J contacted Elder Neave and I in Walmart a couple weeks ago. He asked if we were latter-day saints. We said yes, and gave him the address of the church and our number. He called a couple days later and asked if he could meet with us. We gave him the zone leaders' numbers and he then took them out to Ihop. Apparently, he worked with some returned missionaries on a fishing boat in Alaska. He mocked their values at the time, but when he got back he was affected by their good examples. He said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to lead him to the missionaries if that was the way He wanted him to go. Shortly after, he saw us at Walmart! I'm sure those members have no idea the effect they had on Joe. So always be an example of the believers!
As I continued my studies I came across D&C 43:33: "And the wicked shall go away into unquenchable fire, and their end no man knoweth on earth, nor ever shall know, until they come before me in judgment." As I read that, I understood that the reason that no man knows their end is because no one can comprehend or imagine the pain, heartache, despair, and regret that one would feel knowing that there are no more chances, that they are cast off forever. Suddenly, I felt like Ammon. "Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair? Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought." And I began to understand him and his brothers who "could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble. And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them."
How blessed we are to know that all is not lost! Jesus Christ suffered for us so that we would not have to suffer an endless torment of regret. I can hardly imagine being in that position and I imagining anyone of my brothers or sisters feeling the same makes me begin to feel like the sons of Mosiah. With that thought, it doesn't seem to matter how many people come to church or listen to our message or who are baptized. As long as someone does, anyone! We want to help as many as we can, but even one is a great victory. Contemplating eternal misery vs. eternal happiness is what I think God means when he talks about letting "the solemnities of eternity rest upon [our] minds."
I am so grateful for the privilege I have to be a missionary and even just to be a member of this church. Heavenly Father is so loving and merciful. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for His patience and everything He gives me. I can never repay Him, but I will do what I can.
I love you all so much! Keep pushing on!
Love,
Elder Lofthouse
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