Duluth week 23

So first off, the K family all passed their baptismal interviews!!!! The father and two kids will all be baptized this Saturday! Elder Roose did the father's baptismal interview and he told me that Brother K is the most solid person he has ever interviewed. 

We had a cool lesson with a LA, GL, this week. He joined the church like ten years ago. We were asking him about his testimony and he told us he didnt believe in God until he met the missionaries. When they got him to pray and read the BoM he said that he felt something he had never before felt in his life. His faith was thus born.

We had a wonderful lesson with the R family. They came to church for the second week in a row! They hadnt been to church before that in a year. Sunday night we went and set a baptismal date with the 9 year old daughter for the end of April. The father wants to baptize his daughter but he feels like he cant be ready. We boldly testified that if he acts in faith and gets his act together that he will be able to. IT was powerful.

Last Thursday was cloudy with a chance of hellfire. There were also a few reports of brimstone falling from the sky. We taught like 4 lessons on repentance and we also had a district meeting on using Preach My Gospel (which everyone in the district had stopped using regularly). So much repentance was preached. Gotta love it! 

We had a great lesson with a LA, PB, who also came to church for a second week in a row and the second time in the last year. He really wants to quit smoking and we taught repentance (it was definitely a Thursday lesson). He asked us if he had been forgiven of his smoking and we read Hel. 5:10-11 and told him complete repentance could be his when he quit. Then we hardcore testified to rely upon Christ to quit. He is our Savior and we can do all things through him. Why try to do it alone? IT is really cool because i have been seeing this LA for the last 6 months and for the first time i see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Isnt the gospel cool?

We had a hilarious dinner appointment where a member announced that In'n'out was probably the most abominable burger joint on the planet. Elder Zerkle had a facial expression similar to someone who just saw their dog get hit by a car. So they jawed at each other for a few minutes and i calmed things down (all in good fun, of course). Then Elder Zerkle gave a spiritual thought on opposition in all things. The member smiled and told us he agreed completely. Then he said, "for example, if a boy grows up out west eating at sub-par burger joints his whole life he may be fooled into thinking the burgers are actually quality. He needs to leave Eden, or the west, to come to minnesota to experience what real burgers are like." ha ha ha man so good. so flippin good.

I went on an exchange with Elder Foggin this last week!!! This is the first time i have ever gone on exchange with a previous companion. Elder Foggin is also the first companion i have ever served around after we were companions. cool stuff :D

Yesterday was Zone training, which is why P-Day is today. President taught us about the Because He Lives Initiative. CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO THIS SATURDAY!!!!

So for my spiritual thought I want to do something a titch bit different. 

 

https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-is-tried-by-caiaphas-peter-denies-knowing-him?lang=eng 

Here is the video of Peter denying knowing Christ. Peter, who just hours before, had professed that he would do anything, even die, for the Savior succumbed to fear and made mistakes. I am sure he was wracked with guilt and torment because he never really got a chance to talk to the Savior before he was killed. There was no restitution. 

 But Peter was able to overcome his weaknesses, repent, and become one of the mightiest men to ever walk this planet!

https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/peter-and-john-are-judged?lang=eng 

Look at the difference in Peter in these two videos. In one he is full of fear and isnt acting in faith. In the other he is a bold man of God! He teaches with power and authority! He tells the people that killed Christ that Christ is the Messiah straight to their faces!

Just like Peter we can all overcome our weaknesses to become effective and powerful tools in the Lords hand through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement!

I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Damron

Our district

Lake Superior!