Elder Low's report:
This week I was studying a lot about Aaron as he taught king Lamoni's father in Alma 22 after he and his brethren are released by Ammon. I've always loved the plea to the father that the king says after he is taught, it shows true humility and really emphasizes the characteristics of someone who is truly repentant and is ready for the converting power of the Lord.
This week we spent a lot of time on finding. We tried to think of every place that we had felt prompted to go to in the past, praying that we would find the elect, and knocking until we found them. In particular we tried a huge trailer park that I had never so much as entered in my two transfers here. We had been driving past it and my companion asked what was in there. I confessed I didn't know, and we began to knock. After a bit we came to a door and a young man invited us in. He said he was a musician and gratefully accepted the prayer hoping that it would give him guidance and comfort. After the prayer, before we could ask how he felt, he whispered "I felt that." We stated that God had called us there to call him to be baptized. He whispered excitedly, "baptized." several times over and then said he wanted to. Having seen the problem of people saying they'd been baptized before, we said, "even if you've been baptized before-" but the man cut us off excitedly before we could even finish, saying, "Oh I've been baptized before, but I'm pretty sure I need to be baptized again."
I know that as we exemplify the Savior's teachings those who are honestly seeking for Christ will feel the spirit, know the message is of God, and follow, not doubting, but trusting the witness they have received unto belief action and conversion, even as the father of king Lamoni did, stating: "yea, I believe that [God] created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words."
Elder Low.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
March 17, 2014
Elder Low's report:
This week I've gone back to reading in Alma particularly about the mission of Ammon. I am always so impressed by not only the courage, and faithfulness of Ammon, but also his patience and love towards the people he had come to teach. When captured by the Lamanite king, he states that he shall be his servant. He then goes about serving the king in such simple and small ways that eventually the king becomes converted, Ammon having demonstrated by his actions that he truly is a representative of Jesus Christ.
This week we spent a lot of time finding. We knocked door after door after door knowing that we as a companionship had been sent to this place to teach those certain elect people who would be touched by our testimonies, and as such would not stop looking until we found them. This continued until Saturday when we had so many follow -up appointments that it was 7 o'clock and we still had not harvested for the hour we knew we needed to and at 8:45, on the last door, we knocked into a lady we did not recognize the accent of. We asked her where she was from and she said France. I told her that I was from Canada. More interesting than us finding a French woman in a nearly all Cuban area was that she seemed excited in the fact that I was from Canada. She asked what my full name was. I replied, "Dallin Low” and she looked even more curious. "What’s your father's name?" she asked. "Granger Low," I replied. She laughed and explained that on my birthday my father had ordered a pastry platter for his son who was a missionary from Canada, and said that she was both the person who had spoken with my father and performed the order. She was quite interested that we were here and gratefully accepted the prayer and expressed interest in seeing us again.
Through the small and simple acts of kindness, politeness, love, simplicity, and boldness it is wondrous to see how the Lord softens the hearts of men. There is real power in the simple examples of those who represent Christ's church on the earth, such as watching the king's flock, or ordering a pastry platter for a son on a mission, that cause people to come closer unto Christ. This must be at least partially what the Lord was talking about when he stated, "I shall send the simple to confound the rulers of the earth."
Elder Low
This week I've gone back to reading in Alma particularly about the mission of Ammon. I am always so impressed by not only the courage, and faithfulness of Ammon, but also his patience and love towards the people he had come to teach. When captured by the Lamanite king, he states that he shall be his servant. He then goes about serving the king in such simple and small ways that eventually the king becomes converted, Ammon having demonstrated by his actions that he truly is a representative of Jesus Christ.
This week we spent a lot of time finding. We knocked door after door after door knowing that we as a companionship had been sent to this place to teach those certain elect people who would be touched by our testimonies, and as such would not stop looking until we found them. This continued until Saturday when we had so many follow -up appointments that it was 7 o'clock and we still had not harvested for the hour we knew we needed to and at 8:45, on the last door, we knocked into a lady we did not recognize the accent of. We asked her where she was from and she said France. I told her that I was from Canada. More interesting than us finding a French woman in a nearly all Cuban area was that she seemed excited in the fact that I was from Canada. She asked what my full name was. I replied, "Dallin Low” and she looked even more curious. "What’s your father's name?" she asked. "Granger Low," I replied. She laughed and explained that on my birthday my father had ordered a pastry platter for his son who was a missionary from Canada, and said that she was both the person who had spoken with my father and performed the order. She was quite interested that we were here and gratefully accepted the prayer and expressed interest in seeing us again.
Through the small and simple acts of kindness, politeness, love, simplicity, and boldness it is wondrous to see how the Lord softens the hearts of men. There is real power in the simple examples of those who represent Christ's church on the earth, such as watching the king's flock, or ordering a pastry platter for a son on a mission, that cause people to come closer unto Christ. This must be at least partially what the Lord was talking about when he stated, "I shall send the simple to confound the rulers of the earth."
Elder Low
March 10, 2014
Elder low's report:
This week I've been reading quite a bit in 2 Nephi, and had the opportunity to think about one of my favorite chapters, chapter 29, in which the Lord teaches us about the love he has for all people, that he speaks to all, and that this divine truth is central to the plan of happiness that he has set up for his children.
This Sunday we had 6 people committed to church but unfortunately none of them came. At first we were a little sad, but we had felt these people's desire to come to church and we weren't ready to give up on them yet. So right after church we started a post round-up. In the midst of the post round-up we came to a house of 4 investigators, 3 of which said they would come. The other one I felt was not progressing and therefore we shouldn't focus on, but when we got there that one investigator began to talk to us very sincerely about her desire to be forgiven of her sins and find God's truths. We testified of the forgiveness of God, the reality of Jesus Christ's mission on earth and that through the Book of Mormon we could know these things as well as God's true doctrine. We told her that through prayer she could even receive an answer from God about these things. The spirit was there and even though she had shown only a little desire to listen, something about the idea that she was valued in the eyes of God, and he would speak to her softened her heart. We invited her to read the Book of Mormon. With almost embarrassment she said she had a difficult time reading text written in older English. We promised her that if she put forth her effort God would help her and her eyes lit up.
I know that God does speak. The Book of Mormon is the proof. He will answer our prayers as he did even to the prophets of old.
Elder Low.
This week I've been reading quite a bit in 2 Nephi, and had the opportunity to think about one of my favorite chapters, chapter 29, in which the Lord teaches us about the love he has for all people, that he speaks to all, and that this divine truth is central to the plan of happiness that he has set up for his children.
This Sunday we had 6 people committed to church but unfortunately none of them came. At first we were a little sad, but we had felt these people's desire to come to church and we weren't ready to give up on them yet. So right after church we started a post round-up. In the midst of the post round-up we came to a house of 4 investigators, 3 of which said they would come. The other one I felt was not progressing and therefore we shouldn't focus on, but when we got there that one investigator began to talk to us very sincerely about her desire to be forgiven of her sins and find God's truths. We testified of the forgiveness of God, the reality of Jesus Christ's mission on earth and that through the Book of Mormon we could know these things as well as God's true doctrine. We told her that through prayer she could even receive an answer from God about these things. The spirit was there and even though she had shown only a little desire to listen, something about the idea that she was valued in the eyes of God, and he would speak to her softened her heart. We invited her to read the Book of Mormon. With almost embarrassment she said she had a difficult time reading text written in older English. We promised her that if she put forth her effort God would help her and her eyes lit up.
I know that God does speak. The Book of Mormon is the proof. He will answer our prayers as he did even to the prophets of old.
Elder Low.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
March 4, 2014
Elder Low's report:
This week I've been reading quite a bit in Alma especially about Ammon after he converted the Anti Nephi- Lehites. I love how he shows throughout the chapters following those about the conversion of King Lamoni how his greatest joy comes as those he has helped receive the truth put forth their faith and act in righteousness. This is an underlining truth that the Lord reveals in the Doctrine and Covenants when he said
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
This week I had the honour of baptizing our most recent convert Sean. He truly was an elect soul, his family having been taught by missionaries many years before. When we found him both we and he knew that we had been sent to that door by God. He accepted the gospel with open arms and though he knew very little about the details and doctrines of God's restored church he could not deny the spirit that he felt as we testified of the Lord's plan for him. It truly was an incredible experience to take this man, older and much more mature than me, to see him humble himself before the Lord and be baptized. The day after the baptism was his last day in Key West. We asked him if he wanted to go on a mission, he said he was giving it some serious thought.
I know that this is God's church. I have never felt anything more rewarding, or done anything so worthwhile than I have here as I've laboured in the Lord's vineyard. Truly there shall be no greater joy then to stand worthy before the Lord at the last day, and see those you have helped, loved and taught stand there as well.
Elder Low
This week I've been reading quite a bit in Alma especially about Ammon after he converted the Anti Nephi- Lehites. I love how he shows throughout the chapters following those about the conversion of King Lamoni how his greatest joy comes as those he has helped receive the truth put forth their faith and act in righteousness. This is an underlining truth that the Lord reveals in the Doctrine and Covenants when he said
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
This week I had the honour of baptizing our most recent convert Sean. He truly was an elect soul, his family having been taught by missionaries many years before. When we found him both we and he knew that we had been sent to that door by God. He accepted the gospel with open arms and though he knew very little about the details and doctrines of God's restored church he could not deny the spirit that he felt as we testified of the Lord's plan for him. It truly was an incredible experience to take this man, older and much more mature than me, to see him humble himself before the Lord and be baptized. The day after the baptism was his last day in Key West. We asked him if he wanted to go on a mission, he said he was giving it some serious thought.
I know that this is God's church. I have never felt anything more rewarding, or done anything so worthwhile than I have here as I've laboured in the Lord's vineyard. Truly there shall be no greater joy then to stand worthy before the Lord at the last day, and see those you have helped, loved and taught stand there as well.
Elder Low
February 24, 2014
Elder Low's report:
This week I've been reading a bit about the end of 2 Nephi, and the testimony stated by Nephi in chapter 33 was brought to my attention. In it he states, "These words are true, but if ye shall not believe in these words believe in Christ, and if ye shall believe in Christ then ye shall believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and they exhort all men that they should do good." I really have come to love how Nephi puts it really simply, that those who truly believe in Christ shall believe in the Book of Mormon, and therefore the work that it attests, because truly it is his words, and it is his work.
This past little bit we lost contact with one of our most solid investigators. When we knocked his door he immediately accepted baptism and accepted the commandments and doctrines so readily that truly he had been prepared by the Lord. Then about two weeks ago he dropped off the face of the planet, no texts, no calls, and would never answer the door. It crossed our mind he might no longer be interested but he had been so solid in the past we refused to give up on him until we heard it from his own lips. Finally Thursday night while Elder M was on exchange in my area, we decided to go knock his door at 8 o'clock at night. I felt a little scared to as I didn't know what we would say even if he did open but we went up anyway. He opened the door and let us in. We read Alma 7 and invited him to be baptized. He said he'd been praying for weeks whether or not this was where the Lord wanted him. We asked him to pray right there. He did so but still didn't feel like he received his answer. He also told us he was moving the following Saturday to Missouri. I told him that if he would pray and read in the Book of Mormon every night, and then come to church this Sunday, and ask specifically about the 26th as his baptismal day, there he would receive his answer, and I said I promised that as a representative of Jesus Christ. That Sunday morning at 10:05, 5 minutes into the service we ran to his house and asked him to come to church. He had thought it was Saturday but agreed to come, and at the end of the second block, he said he now knew he needed to be baptized that Wednesday, the twenty sixth, stating it is as if the Lord is pulling me to the font.
I know that this work is the work of Jesus Christ.
Elder Low
This week I've been reading a bit about the end of 2 Nephi, and the testimony stated by Nephi in chapter 33 was brought to my attention. In it he states, "These words are true, but if ye shall not believe in these words believe in Christ, and if ye shall believe in Christ then ye shall believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and they exhort all men that they should do good." I really have come to love how Nephi puts it really simply, that those who truly believe in Christ shall believe in the Book of Mormon, and therefore the work that it attests, because truly it is his words, and it is his work.
This past little bit we lost contact with one of our most solid investigators. When we knocked his door he immediately accepted baptism and accepted the commandments and doctrines so readily that truly he had been prepared by the Lord. Then about two weeks ago he dropped off the face of the planet, no texts, no calls, and would never answer the door. It crossed our mind he might no longer be interested but he had been so solid in the past we refused to give up on him until we heard it from his own lips. Finally Thursday night while Elder M was on exchange in my area, we decided to go knock his door at 8 o'clock at night. I felt a little scared to as I didn't know what we would say even if he did open but we went up anyway. He opened the door and let us in. We read Alma 7 and invited him to be baptized. He said he'd been praying for weeks whether or not this was where the Lord wanted him. We asked him to pray right there. He did so but still didn't feel like he received his answer. He also told us he was moving the following Saturday to Missouri. I told him that if he would pray and read in the Book of Mormon every night, and then come to church this Sunday, and ask specifically about the 26th as his baptismal day, there he would receive his answer, and I said I promised that as a representative of Jesus Christ. That Sunday morning at 10:05, 5 minutes into the service we ran to his house and asked him to come to church. He had thought it was Saturday but agreed to come, and at the end of the second block, he said he now knew he needed to be baptized that Wednesday, the twenty sixth, stating it is as if the Lord is pulling me to the font.
I know that this work is the work of Jesus Christ.
Elder Low
February 18, 2014
Elder Low's report:
This week I've been reading quite in Alma, particularly about when Ammon and his brothers were on their missions among the Lamanites. I love the stories of these missionaries as they showed incredible courage, love and diligence when before such powerful and aggressive people. Their boldness and simplicity as they taught the basics of the gospel, and their eventual ability to testify that the truthfulness of such things, could be only taught through a witness from God to answer the burning questions both King Lamoni and his father had. These answers and witness of the Spirit caused nearly an entire nation of people to turn to God and receive of the joy that comes from him.
This week we were super excited about Elder Kipiscke's technique that he demonstrated about showing the investigator the power of revelation in connection with church services and we were super excited to help our investigators understand it. We tried to talk to a lot of our progressing investigators to do that, but for some reason we were having a very difficult time meeting with them. Finally Saturday rolled around and we were searching very hard to try to get people to church. As a result we ended up teaching a pretty old investigator named Mario, who has been investigating for nearly a year, and in that time has only come about 3 times. We invited him over to the church for a lesson Saturday night, and brought a different member than we usually did. He came and told us of all these questions he had about God and his relationship to him. We testified of the answers but somehow he still couldn't accept them. Finally we told him that a witness of such answers comes only as we put forth our faith and commitment to God in coming to church, bringing our question with us, and pondering and praying about it during the service. We then promised him that if he did that, he would receive an answer. He agreed but didn't seem very solid about the answer and we were pretty worried. But we called him in the morning and hoped for the best. While we were driving to the church, he calls us and asks where we are. He then stated that he was in the parking lot. We drove over and showed him into the church and his new member friend invited him to sit by him. In the past Mario has told us he doesn't like church, but he smiled all the way through that service.
I know that as we testify of the power of God, and of his love he will not let us down.
Elder Low
This week I've been reading quite in Alma, particularly about when Ammon and his brothers were on their missions among the Lamanites. I love the stories of these missionaries as they showed incredible courage, love and diligence when before such powerful and aggressive people. Their boldness and simplicity as they taught the basics of the gospel, and their eventual ability to testify that the truthfulness of such things, could be only taught through a witness from God to answer the burning questions both King Lamoni and his father had. These answers and witness of the Spirit caused nearly an entire nation of people to turn to God and receive of the joy that comes from him.
This week we were super excited about Elder Kipiscke's technique that he demonstrated about showing the investigator the power of revelation in connection with church services and we were super excited to help our investigators understand it. We tried to talk to a lot of our progressing investigators to do that, but for some reason we were having a very difficult time meeting with them. Finally Saturday rolled around and we were searching very hard to try to get people to church. As a result we ended up teaching a pretty old investigator named Mario, who has been investigating for nearly a year, and in that time has only come about 3 times. We invited him over to the church for a lesson Saturday night, and brought a different member than we usually did. He came and told us of all these questions he had about God and his relationship to him. We testified of the answers but somehow he still couldn't accept them. Finally we told him that a witness of such answers comes only as we put forth our faith and commitment to God in coming to church, bringing our question with us, and pondering and praying about it during the service. We then promised him that if he did that, he would receive an answer. He agreed but didn't seem very solid about the answer and we were pretty worried. But we called him in the morning and hoped for the best. While we were driving to the church, he calls us and asks where we are. He then stated that he was in the parking lot. We drove over and showed him into the church and his new member friend invited him to sit by him. In the past Mario has told us he doesn't like church, but he smiled all the way through that service.
I know that as we testify of the power of God, and of his love he will not let us down.
Elder Low
February 10, 2014
Elder Low's report:
This week I've studied in 2 Nephi quite a bit, and being prompted by a conference talk, studied specifically in 2 Nephi 33, which is Nephi’s testimony of the truthfulness of the words he has written, stating that those who believe in Christ shall believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, for they invite all men to do good, and those who will not believe in these words, shall come to the knowledge that they are the words of Christ, at the last day.
This week on Sunday we confirmed our recent convert George a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who was baptized the week previous. When I first came into this area, and met George who the previous missionary companionship had begun teaching, we were quite disappointed with his progress and lack of enthusiasm towards the gospel. Though he had accepted all the doctrines to be true very near to the beginning of the teaching process, he seemed to us to lack the desire to act upon that witness he had gained, and for nearly two months, we felt that he would never get baptized. However when we finally diagnosed and treated the doubts he had and when he walked through the doors of the church for the first time, George became a changed man. We felt his enthusiasm and desire to continue to learn, and he felt the Spirit there at the chapel testifying that the church was true. Because he also felt the Spirit and because the Spirit, as Nephi says, invites all men to do good, he was ready to be baptized and decided to be baptized the following week. In past times in my mission I have been asked by many people to prove that the Book of Mormon is the word of Christ, but truly, there is no proof that I could give them would ever convert, no Bible cross reference to make them understand, only the Spirit of God. What ensued because of that one experience of George feeling the power of the Spirit, was him allowing the ward to be at his baptism, him loving his baptism even though the water was only up to his knees and he had to lay down just to get under, and him standing and walking to the front of the congregation to be confirmed, all while having extreme anxiety.
Truly these are the words of Christ. Not only do the words in the Book of Mormon invite men to do good, but they invite to men change and become good, and through the power of the Holy Ghost we can learn the truth of all things.
Elder Low
This week I've studied in 2 Nephi quite a bit, and being prompted by a conference talk, studied specifically in 2 Nephi 33, which is Nephi’s testimony of the truthfulness of the words he has written, stating that those who believe in Christ shall believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, for they invite all men to do good, and those who will not believe in these words, shall come to the knowledge that they are the words of Christ, at the last day.
This week on Sunday we confirmed our recent convert George a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who was baptized the week previous. When I first came into this area, and met George who the previous missionary companionship had begun teaching, we were quite disappointed with his progress and lack of enthusiasm towards the gospel. Though he had accepted all the doctrines to be true very near to the beginning of the teaching process, he seemed to us to lack the desire to act upon that witness he had gained, and for nearly two months, we felt that he would never get baptized. However when we finally diagnosed and treated the doubts he had and when he walked through the doors of the church for the first time, George became a changed man. We felt his enthusiasm and desire to continue to learn, and he felt the Spirit there at the chapel testifying that the church was true. Because he also felt the Spirit and because the Spirit, as Nephi says, invites all men to do good, he was ready to be baptized and decided to be baptized the following week. In past times in my mission I have been asked by many people to prove that the Book of Mormon is the word of Christ, but truly, there is no proof that I could give them would ever convert, no Bible cross reference to make them understand, only the Spirit of God. What ensued because of that one experience of George feeling the power of the Spirit, was him allowing the ward to be at his baptism, him loving his baptism even though the water was only up to his knees and he had to lay down just to get under, and him standing and walking to the front of the congregation to be confirmed, all while having extreme anxiety.
Truly these are the words of Christ. Not only do the words in the Book of Mormon invite men to do good, but they invite to men change and become good, and through the power of the Holy Ghost we can learn the truth of all things.
Elder Low
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