April 2, 2012

Dear Everyone,

Conference was awesome!  Mom, in the other countries outside of the states, they have translators that speak over the speakers and translate everything they say. Just like on the world news. It comes in by satellite to the Stake Center and so all the members come and watch it (unless they are rich and have a computer and internet which enables them to stay home). We spent all week talking up the conference with our investigators, especially with Agustin and his family, the Casanova family. It is very excited to daily teach a message about modern day prophets and then actually have the opportunity to invite those you teach to come and listen. It would be like in Book of Mormon times, wander around and rally up the non-believers to come pitch their tent in front of the temple and listen to King Benjamin talk from his tower. I watched in English with the other American missionaries in another room though. The transmission came in both languages on separate channels.

My favorite talks were those of Elder Holland, Elder Uchtdorf, and Elder Anderson. Elder Holland and Elder Uchtdorf talked about very key things. I like what Elder Holland said, "Be kind. And be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live." And then Elder Uchtdorf talked about being merciful because "ALL of us depend on the mercy of God." And then Elder Anderson's testimony of the reality and divinity of Christ's mission was VERY powerful so I liked that. But frankly, I liked all the messages and took pages and pages of notes. (I missed the Prophet twice because they messed up when recording the Priesthood Session and it cut off and then Sunday morning, there was a storm and the transmission cut off right in the middle of his talk).

The entire Casanova family came, though!! The daughter, Jennifer, got really involved with all the youth in the Branch (because there are tons of youth) and so she was there for both sessions both days. She is 16. Agustin forgot Saturday, felt super bad, and was there all day on Sunday. And their parents came, dressed in their Sunday best, for the final session on Sunday. They sat with the Branch President and his wife and loved it! The whole family is getting baptized this Sunday. They are set on it. Jennifer saw a lady get baptized on Saturday (an investigator of some missionaries of my zone) and that night when we passed by the family, she explained to all of them how is worked and said, "So we're all getting baptized next Sunday on the 8th!"

The Lord has really blessed my companion and me with such a miracle, an entire family who has converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is excited to see the changes that have taken place in their attitudes, their family relationships, and their desires to do good things and see good results. They feel the Spirit, even if at times they may not realize it, and know that this is true. It has helped me see the fruits of living the gospel.

I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. It has a prophet and twelve apostles, divinely ordained of God with His Priesthood authority.  They receive revelation for the entire world like the prophets and apostles of old. They ARE witnesses of Christ. We live in a world of changing values and more than ever, there is a need for a prophet of God to guide us and teach us the will of our Father in Heaven. Think about it, a man with the same calling as Moses walks this earth and has direct communication with Heaven. Even if a person were to not believe that, how could they ignore it and not, at the very least, want to find out for themselves?

I know it's true.

Thank you for your letters and support! Pray for the Casanova family so they can be baptized this Sunday and be happy! I love you all.

Elder Ryan Garrison