Dear Family and Friends,
This week I finished reading the New Testament. Overall it was very interesting and insightful. Mostly though, I was impressed by how many latter-day teachings are hinted at, but not fully expressed. Through modern revelation, we now know much about the organization of the church, eternal marriage, and our own personal potential. The former day apostles knew these things too, but since they were writing to people who were already members of Christ's church, they only addressed their needs. But they DO mention some deep doctrine. Romans 8: 15-17 speaks of our potential to become like Heavenly Father. 1 Corinthians 15:29 mentions baptisms for the dead. 1 Peter 3: 1-7 explains how an eternal marriage relationship should be. The Acts alludes to how the true church of Jesus Christ must run: baptism and the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, setting apart people for certain callings (Acts 13: 2-3), ordination, power in the Priesthood (8: 14-22), and direct revelation (10: 9-16). The church is true. There needed to be a Restoration, and the apostles knew that. (Acts 3: 19-21, 2 Thes. 2: 1-3, Eph. 1: 10)
G. is doing very well. I was impressed at his faith this week. He has been moving to disconnect himself from [his church], because he knows our message is true. He is a chairperson, who helped to build up some programs there. Last weekend, G. had to confront the elders of his church and explain to them why he wanted to leave--- again. He had already left when he was preparing to be baptized previously, and had to explain to them that he wanted back after he lost contact with the missionaries. They said everything they could to dissuade him, "We're all worshipping one God, what makes them different? They don't even use the Bible, they have their own book." But G. stood strong and bore his testimony about the Book of Mormon and our message. That night some other members of his church, fellow chairs, came to his home and tried further to change his mind, saying, "These small boys are trying to lead you away, you helped build up these programs, you can't leave now!" G. replied, "That will not stop me from following the truth." He told us that they just didn't understand. But he has recently been pondering where he will go after this life and what he will receive. I was really impressed. I can see that there is something stirring deep within him, compelling him to act, to change, to follow the truth. He is acting alone, while almost everyone around him gives their disapproval. He says he is praying for strength and guidance, and that he knows the Lord will provide a way.
C. is doing well also. Recently we've been sharing prophecies about the Book of Mormon that are found in the Bible. He LOVES it. We've shown him the prophecy of two sticks in Ezekiel 37, with the scripture in 1 Nephi 6:1, to show that the Nephites are descendants of Joseph. We showed him the "marvelous work and a wonder" prophecy in Isaiah 29:13-14, referencing the restoration. We buttressed it with Isa 29:4 and corresponding Moroni 10:27, saying, "thy speech shall whisper out of the dust". He told us he is now convinced of the divinity of the BOM.
We also shared with him 1 Nephi 13: 13-17, where Nephi is shown that "many plain and precious parts of the gospel" are taken out of the Bible. We then proceeded to show where, in his Bible, Matthew 18:11 is missing [Jehovah Witnesses Bibles have many verses taken out]. C. was super taken aback. "For the son of man is come to save that which is lost." We asked him, "Why did they take that out? Is it important?" He said, "Oh, this is serious! I didn't know!"
While we were waiting to have PEC the other night, the Family History specialist came into church, and invited us to look up our own history online, so we did. (Mom, it's interesting that you just mentioned family history to me), I looked back to Ephraim Hanks, then decided to see how far back my line goes. Going back I found King Henry III of England! That's intense. So, I'm a descendant of him; no big deal, right? I continued to trace his royal line, going back through the Kings of the Franks, finally ending at a name with the birth date 157 AD. That's about 57 years after John the Beloved wrote the Revelation! Family history work is sweet. I don't know who did all of that, but they did well.
Right after our meetings at the church we were walking through town and we passed by a store blasting Kiss. Ha ha! we stopped and 'talked' there for about 10 minutes. It's been too long since I've heard the sweet melodies of 80s hair metal. :)
This week I finished reading the New Testament. Overall it was very interesting and insightful. Mostly though, I was impressed by how many latter-day teachings are hinted at, but not fully expressed. Through modern revelation, we now know much about the organization of the church, eternal marriage, and our own personal potential. The former day apostles knew these things too, but since they were writing to people who were already members of Christ's church, they only addressed their needs. But they DO mention some deep doctrine. Romans 8: 15-17 speaks of our potential to become like Heavenly Father. 1 Corinthians 15:29 mentions baptisms for the dead. 1 Peter 3: 1-7 explains how an eternal marriage relationship should be. The Acts alludes to how the true church of Jesus Christ must run: baptism and the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, setting apart people for certain callings (Acts 13: 2-3), ordination, power in the Priesthood (8: 14-22), and direct revelation (10: 9-16). The church is true. There needed to be a Restoration, and the apostles knew that. (Acts 3: 19-21, 2 Thes. 2: 1-3, Eph. 1: 10)
G. is doing very well. I was impressed at his faith this week. He has been moving to disconnect himself from [his church], because he knows our message is true. He is a chairperson, who helped to build up some programs there. Last weekend, G. had to confront the elders of his church and explain to them why he wanted to leave--- again. He had already left when he was preparing to be baptized previously, and had to explain to them that he wanted back after he lost contact with the missionaries. They said everything they could to dissuade him, "We're all worshipping one God, what makes them different? They don't even use the Bible, they have their own book." But G. stood strong and bore his testimony about the Book of Mormon and our message. That night some other members of his church, fellow chairs, came to his home and tried further to change his mind, saying, "These small boys are trying to lead you away, you helped build up these programs, you can't leave now!" G. replied, "That will not stop me from following the truth." He told us that they just didn't understand. But he has recently been pondering where he will go after this life and what he will receive. I was really impressed. I can see that there is something stirring deep within him, compelling him to act, to change, to follow the truth. He is acting alone, while almost everyone around him gives their disapproval. He says he is praying for strength and guidance, and that he knows the Lord will provide a way.
C. is doing well also. Recently we've been sharing prophecies about the Book of Mormon that are found in the Bible. He LOVES it. We've shown him the prophecy of two sticks in Ezekiel 37, with the scripture in 1 Nephi 6:1, to show that the Nephites are descendants of Joseph. We showed him the "marvelous work and a wonder" prophecy in Isaiah 29:13-14, referencing the restoration. We buttressed it with Isa 29:4 and corresponding Moroni 10:27, saying, "thy speech shall whisper out of the dust". He told us he is now convinced of the divinity of the BOM.
We also shared with him 1 Nephi 13: 13-17, where Nephi is shown that "many plain and precious parts of the gospel" are taken out of the Bible. We then proceeded to show where, in his Bible, Matthew 18:11 is missing [Jehovah Witnesses Bibles have many verses taken out]. C. was super taken aback. "For the son of man is come to save that which is lost." We asked him, "Why did they take that out? Is it important?" He said, "Oh, this is serious! I didn't know!"
While we were waiting to have PEC the other night, the Family History specialist came into church, and invited us to look up our own history online, so we did. (Mom, it's interesting that you just mentioned family history to me), I looked back to Ephraim Hanks, then decided to see how far back my line goes. Going back I found King Henry III of England! That's intense. So, I'm a descendant of him; no big deal, right? I continued to trace his royal line, going back through the Kings of the Franks, finally ending at a name with the birth date 157 AD. That's about 57 years after John the Beloved wrote the Revelation! Family history work is sweet. I don't know who did all of that, but they did well.
Right after our meetings at the church we were walking through town and we passed by a store blasting Kiss. Ha ha! we stopped and 'talked' there for about 10 minutes. It's been too long since I've heard the sweet melodies of 80s hair metal. :)
Love,
Elder Doggett III
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