I Could See The Joy

Hello!

I loved conference. I loved it so much. But the most amazing part for me this weekend weren't just the word that were said but that I could see that the things they were saying, the ideas they were attempting to get across, I was living it.

Saturday session, we were in a members home about to watch it and there were 30 minutes until it started. It had that little countdown and the choir singing. We looked at one another, and said a little prayer, and left determined to find some chosen in less than 30 minutes. Wahoo. We hit the streets and stopped a women and we at with her for a few minutes and answered her questions and shared the message of the restoration. We left her with a prayer and a promised follow up visit. We ran back just in time for the opening prayer! Boom! I will always remember that. I hope that I always watch general conference like I watched it this last weekend. You can do amazing amazing things in less that 30 minutes. The Lord blessed us.

We also visited many different homes to help make sure that they watched conference. I was watching the last session from Saturday in the home of some less active members, and it was the most powerful thing testifying of the need for their temple sealing right after the word of the Prophet. I could feel the intensity and necessity of it all.

As well, rewind to last week, I went to Manresa, to do an intercambio with the muchachos there. It was a great intercambio, full of finding, but at the end of the night, we met with a member who was struggling. He shared his personal struggles and, frankly, his desires to stop his church attendance. I in all honesty, felt for him. He was a returned missionary, in a small branch, and he simply felt out of place. He couldn't see what church could offer him. We testified and spoke briefly about how we go to church not for what we can get out of it, but to help others in their discipleship journey. He seemed almost convinced and we left him with a prayer and our testimonies. I love him.

Fast forward to today at our zone activity. We had invited a less active with whom we have worked for a long long time, she is wonderful, but its been really hard for her. And guess who else came with the elderes on Manresa, yes my little ex-missionary. The most beautiful moment, the most glorious thing, in a moment of rest I sat and watched as this once "cast-away" missionary spoke with this friend of ours and convinced her to begin scripture study once more. I could see the JOY, JOY, of this work enter once more into the live of my X-missionary. I love this. I, even as I write can feel the spirit testify of the divinity of this work. The kingdom of God, the purpose of my Father. That is beautiful.

Elder Gardner