Andover week 22

Well we had quite the interesting week. We met with Brother F again. He asked us if we were ready to "open our minds up to the truth." I told him yes so he began to show us empirical evidence on why the Book of Mormon was wrong. Well as you can probably guess that didn't go anywhere so we started probing what his beliefs were. He said God doesn't need prophets anymore because Christ came and we can be clean now. Before He came the people were all sinners so they couldn't talk to God, which is why we needed prophets. We pointed out that prophets sinned too and he was like, "well...yes, but they were more righteous." He also told us that if we have the Holy Spirit then we don't need religion because we will know for ourselves what is true. We asked why there were so many churches who professed to have the Holy Spirit and why they all conflicted. He told us that they don't have the Spirit, they just think they do. Basically he alluded to the fact that he has the Spirit and just about no one else. Then he asked Elder Hawkes how he knows this church is true. Elder Hawkes bore a remarkably spirit filled testimony on how he has looked at the fruits of our church and also how is brother, who strayed from the path in a VERY bad way, was able to read the BoM and feel peace. Then he allowed Christ to heal his soul. Then Brother F pulled out the scripture about bragging about alms to discredit E. Hawkes testimony on the fruits of our church (such as the humanitarian work we do) and he said that because his brother felt peace when he read the BoM it was false because when Christ preached the Word to people in the bible they got angry at him. That was pretty ridiculous. Then Brother F's friend piped up and said it sounded like we were saying we had to choose either the Book of Mormon or Jesus Christ. I looked him dead in the eye and said that that was quite literally the exact opposite of what we were saying. Anyway, that went on for awhile then Bro F got mad at us because he said we didn't actually open up our minds to the truth and we closed up when he started to talk. I pointed out that he was doing the same (I pulled out my plan of salvation puzzle to answer a question and he wouldn't even look at it because he didn't want it to "pollute his mind") and he brushed the question off a little. We came to a mutual decision that our meetings would yield no fruit and we will not be going back.

Later that night we were in Ham Lake, which is about 20 minutes from where we live. We had an appointment in 35 minutes and so we had 15 minutes to knock on some doors. The first door we knocked on we got absolutely ripped by this woman demanding to see our permit. We explained we did not need one and she told us that we must immediately vacate her property. There have been robberies in the area recently and we are creeping her out so she demanded we leave. I thought she was going to call the cops. We almost got in our car and left but I am trying to be more persistent in my finding so we knocked on the next door. Brother D came out! He was super open and asked to hear our message. He took our Book of Mormon and wants to learn some more. The best blessings come after the biggest trials.

We also taught Brother L a few times this week. He read Alma 42 and was blown away by the simplicity of its teachings on Justice and Mercy. He told us he is worried that the law of Justice has more claim upon him and he needs to make some changes to allow mercy to help him more. A member invited him to be baptized last week so we followed up on that and asked what he needs to do to have more mercy applied to him and to be baptized. He told us he needs to live the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom. We asked what he wanted to work on first (he feels overwhelmed by all the commandments and we explained God does not demand immediate perfection, but immediate progress) and he told us that he needs to dumb his girlfriend and live the law of chastity! Then he asked us if he could pay tithing because he wants those blessings right now. It was a pretty unreal lesson. No one ever asks us to pay tithing.

We went joint teaching with President Toronto this week! This is usually the highlight of my transfer :) We saw some less actives and he committed Brother S to come to church more regularly so that he could meet with him in a few months to get a temple recommend and be sealed to his wife. Brother S said he would try. President Toronto then quoted Yoda (in the Toda voice) and said, "do or do not- there is no try". so fantastic, ha ha. Then he recommitted him to church. Then we visited Brother EM who is married to a nonmember and they go to his wife's parents every weekend in Wisconsin. So he doesn't come to church. President Toronto asked Brother EM if he envisions himself in the temple with his wife and he said no. Then President Toronto asked him what he needs to do to get there. About 45 seconds of pure silence followed. I LOVE these moments of pure, unadulterated silence. They are so powerful. I had a big grin on my face. Then Brother EM broke down a bit on he didn't know what to do. President Toronto committed him to a few things and told him he would follow up by email. So great.

ON Saturday we had some extra miles so we went up and visited Sister M, a less active who lives 25 miles away. I got us stuck in the mud trying to flip a U-turn. So that was fun... luckily we got stuck right in front of some guy's house (we are out in the boonies so the houses were spread out) and he came out with his truck to pull us out. A woman drove by us and turned into the long driveway right next to where we got stuck and she was laughing as she waived at me. Good job elder damron.

We also have a new bishop! I am sad because I LOVE Bishop Macfarlane, but I know the new Bishop has been called of God. The spirit bore that witness to everyone in the room on sunday. He is a remarkable man and I am looking forward to getting to know him better.

Sunday night we went to the oratorio Lamb of God that the Minnesota Mormon Chorale put on. I played this oratorio in high school and the composer is from Mesa so it was flipping sweet to see. I miss playing the cello!

2 Nephi 9: 50-51

 50 Come, my brethren, every one that ^athirsteth, come ye to the^bwaters; and he that hath no ^cmoney, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
 51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your ^alabor for that which cannot ^bsatisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and ^cfeast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

I love the part that says don't labor for that which cannot satisfy. Sin does not satisfy our souls. If we live a sinful life we will always be unsatisfied and looking for something else in our life to fill some gap in our lives. Do we have labors that cause us to be unsatisfied, that lead us away from the free bread and water of everlasting life? Repent!
I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Elder Damron