SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 - WEEK #30

ANSWER TO AUTUMN'S PRAYERS!

September 25, 2018

We've been trying to work more with the youth recently here in Yucaipa, and that has been interesting. One of the things that we've been doing is going to Early Morning Seminary. Basically, the High School aged youth can attend this early morning class that covers the Book of Mormon, The New Testament, the Old Testament, and then the Doctrine and Covenants (which contains many revelations received by Joseph Smith from God), one for each year. It's really cool, and my seminary experiences are something that I've drawn upon a number of times throughout my mission

It's been absolutely fantastic for getting to know the youth of the church, but it is absolutely awful waking up at 5:15am to be ready for that! And I was thinking that 6:30am was early!

Also, these kids are so funny! The class was studying about the Godhead (the Doctrine that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, but are One in purpose), and split up into partnerships to role play teaching this old man named Ben, who didn't understand the principle. So, firstly, almost every group shared the same scripture, but then they just start Roasting this poor old man Ben! He just had a question, and all of these kids just kept telling this imaginary man how wrong he was! It was so funny, Elder Equatore and I couldn't stop smiling in the back. They'll get it someday!

By the way, I'm writing this on Tuesday because on my normal P-day, which is Monday, some help was needed at the Temple, and we volunteered to help out, with the promise that we could make up for lost time on Tuesday. I love being in the Temple, because it is such a special place where we can put normal stress away and feel the Spirit! 

I think that one of the biggest miracles from the week would have to be last night. We were just walking through Walgreens, and one of our members, Sister Nichols, was there! We start talking with her,  and she asked if we had a dinner appointment that night.  We didn't,  so she invited us over for soup. Sweet,  right? 

It gets better.

We're getting ready to go,  and she tells us that she invited her friend,  Autumn, and Autumn's daughter, Macie, over for dinner as well! We were so excited! We had talked to Autumn a little bit before, and she seemed super interested in learning more about the gospel! But we hadn't really been able to get in contact with her for a while, so we couldn't wait to get over there! 

When we did, we had some super good pizza and soup! We finished eating, and then Autumn started talking what she knew about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It turned out that she had been thinking about the Church a lot more than we thought. She had cornered one of Sister Nichol's sons one evening and told him to tell her more about the Book of Mormon. He, being a Return Missionary, was super excited and shared a lot with her! She kept saying, "With all of what I've learned about the Church so far, it just makes sense," or, "It just sounds right!" 

We shared the scripture Moroni 10:5, which says that "By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." We told her that that was the Holy Ghost telling her that what she had learned was true, and then asked what her biggest Question at that moment was. She thought about it, and decided that it was whether or not she should keep meeting with us. We invited her to pray right then about it, and she accepted! 

We went to the living room and kneeled down, and Autumn gave the most Genuine, Heartfelt prayer I think I've ever heard. She asked her question, and the Spirit just filled the room! I know that God answered her question right then! We asked what she would do now that she had gotten an answer, and she, without our input, started listing off all of the things that she wanted to do, like reading the scriptures more, reading the introduction to the Book of Mormon, and so on! 

We are so excited for Autumn to meet with her assigned missionaries, because she has been searching for a long time for God's true church, and I know that she has found it! 

I know that this is the Lord's work! It is the work of bringing all of our Heavenly Father's children, that's all of us, home again! I know it, and I love the opportunity to be a part of it!

Elder Richardson

A NOTE FROM BEN TO HIS MOM:

Hey Mom! This is your son, Elder Benjamin Richardson, emailing you to let you know that I love you! You are the best mom that I know, and I've met quite a few moms out here, so that's saying something! 

I love you so much!

Elder Richardson

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020