Greater Strength.

This is me and Sister Salisbury

We had an opportunity to team teach with the Elders on Saturday. It was awesome. Elder Monnet and Elder Forman are both fantastic Elders. The spirit was so strong. It was a fantastic lesson. Our investigator is ready for the Gospel. He has noticed the effects of the Apostasy from watching the history channel. He says that it makes him not want to believe in God. The spirit was so strong. He talked about really needing stability in his life and not being able to find it anywhere else. He needs someone to look up to, someone other than his dad. The elders have another appt. with him on Friday. He will be going to the singles ward so the Elders will be teaching him. He feels like what we shared was true (because it is). If there is anything that will provide stability in this life and the next it is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It provides a peace, a strength, and a foundation that you will not find anywhere else.

We’ve been trying to follow up with a guy who said he’d like us to come back ever since Sister Bruner left. He is never home, but a lot of the time we go over his roommate is.Whenever he’s not home we offer to teach his roommate. He always politely declines and we’ve actually have a little bit of a friendship develop because of it. This time was different though. We stopped by around 8 like we usually do and He, as ususl, wasn’t home. His roommate was though. He explained that he hadn’t seen him in like 2 weeks. He has a girlfriend in the valley and I guess is over there a lot. We again, offered to teach and to talk with him about the message about Jesus Christ we have to share. He paused and thought. He then said, "well, yeah do you have time right now that you could come in and talk?" We explained that we can’t teach single men alone but that we could go get someone to come teach with us. He said that that made sense and set up an appt. for Thursday. It was awesome. He mentioned that he just wanted to talk, not convert, as we left. As I walked away I felt something in my heart say, “that is entirely up to him”. Missionaries don’t convert anyone. The truth does, and those who are humble enough to recognize it when it’s standing on their doorstep are blessed.

We met and taught a woman this past week for the first time. She is 69 years old. We offered her service but when we went over there there was nothing for us to do. All she wanted to do was talk. So we shared the message of the restoration with her. We’re seeing her again tomorrow and hoping we can get her a good friend in the ward so that she feels more comfortable. She recognized the peace she felt as we told her of the first vision. We tried to explain that it was the holy ghost. She doesn’t get out much and we’re praying to be able to get her to church.

I bore my testimony to the Liberty Lake ward on Sunday. Actually, when I started the day, I was having a really hard time. I didn’t feel like I was doing a bit of good. I was feeling depressed and out of sorts. I was feeling, again, the sorrow I felt my first transfer in Nauvoo; that Nauvoo is doing more for me than I could ever do for it. Liberty Lake is doing more for me that I could ever do and am doing for it. I cannot keep up. I was feeling weak. I needed more strength to get through the day. More strength than I had at my disposal. I was contemplating everything. My efforts here, going back to Nauvoo, and how little time was left. I was feeling a crunch and a crush. I came fasting for strength and fasting for new people to teach. My spirits were lifted, as they always are, when I was greeted by a beaming Eric Sande. His smile and his light is usually one of the better parts of my Sunday. I spent the first sacrament meeting in deep contemplation of all these things and the Savior. I thought about getting a priesthood blessing. But, the Lord had other plans. As Liberty Lake Sacrament meeting commenced and Sister Salisbury attended relief society for Mica Peak, my thoughts of the Savior continued. The meeting was so strong. The spirit so thick. It was in the Mica peak ward too, but not like this. I felt a weight on my shoulders as I prayed for strength. Almost a push up to the pulpit. But I had nothing to say. I had no strength. The pressure and pushing continued, increased even. I felt as though I might implode if I did not heed this warning. So I prayed. I told Heavenly Father that I needed His help. That I would go up, but that I had nothing to say, nothing at all. I couldn’t speak. I told Him that I would go up if He would fill my mouth and my heart. And so I took the long walk to the stairs, down the rows of people I know and love. The Bishop gave me a look as a took my seat to wait my turn as if he had been the one pushing me forward. Angels moved my feet for me. I know it. I could feel it. When It was my turn I stood in front of the mic for a minute for two until something, anything, came to my mind. I looked into the faces of all the people I have served around for so long and grappled for my testimony. I bore my testimony on testimonies. My mouth and my heart were filled. I sat down and felt more peaceful than before. I sat and listened for the rest of the meeting with out the pressure I felt before. With the peace came stability. A sturdier foundation and a better foot hold, a greater strength.

We had a member talk with us about a friend of his from work he wanted us to teach. After realizing that his friend also does not live in our area he made a joke about our ward having the reputation of doing all the missionary work for the other wards. We kind of laughed about it and then he said something that struck me. He said, “Do you think God minds?” I had to teach myself a lesson as the words, “Not at all” tumbled out of my mouth. We may not be teaching in our own area but we are teaching! And great things are happening because of it. Glory be to the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. When I see all those in heaven whom I have met and testified to, my joy will still be just as great. I love them. I always will. These thoughts were only reinforced by being able to see Kellie again today with the Elders (Elder Snyder and Elder Freckleton). She remembered all we taught her. We exchanged addresses so that I can write her when I leave. She is meeting with the Elders on Tuesday (tomorrow). She is fantastic. She prays all the time now.

I know this gospel is true. Joseph Smith restored the truth, the whole truth, in these latter days. The Book of Mormon is the word of God in it’s purest form and has been untouched by ulterior motives or hands and minds that seek for gain. A man I met the other day had few positive things to say about the church but he did say this, “If I know anything for sure about the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints it’s that it's members live the way God wants them to”. This is true and it is true because there is a prophet on the earth to guide us through our time. Christ is the head of this Church. It is His church. Families are meant to be forever. And God loves His children!

I love this work, I love this Gospel. I love all of you. God be with you.

Sister Bailey.