April 1, 2013 "Three More Miracles"

Early in the week we had a division with Elder Young, one of our zone leaders, and he invited five of our investigators to be baptized this last Saturday (March 30^th).  Four of the five accepted the invitation!  Three were, in fact, baptized on Saturday, and the fourth will be baptized on the 27^th of April.  And one didn’t like the invitation, and has stopped visiting with us. 

So, to explain the three that were baptized:  we’ve been teaching the first two, a mom and her 23 year old daughter, for a couple of weeks, so their acceptance to be baptized was not unexpected.  In fact, they showed their faith in accepting the need to be baptized during our very first lesson!  They’ve been trying hard to prepare, and be ready to act on their desires to follow Christ.  They are both so wonderful, and it has been a privilege teaching them.  They are inspiring.

Now, about the third baptism:  she is the young adult daughter of the investigator who is scheduled to be baptized on the 27th.  As we missionaries were walking out the door, Elder Young asked the investigator’s 22 year old daughter if she had faith in Christ.  She said yes.  He asked her if she’d been to church before (yes), read The Book of Mormon (yes), and thought they were true.  She said yes.  He asked her if he could talk to her to ask her a few more questions.  She said yes, and about thirty minutes later, the two of them returned with big smiles and a baptismal form in hand!  As we were leaving, Elder Young told me that she was “ready and wanting” to be baptized, and would be baptized in three days, to which I replied, “Elder, what’s her name?”  Uh-huh.  That’s right.  I’d never taught her before.  But the Spirit was strong, and confirmed she was ready and prepared.  She had some questions and concerns during the rest of the week, and we prayed hard for her.  It took her faith and our faith to overcome some adversity, but in the end, she had the faith to move forward.  It was like a complete miracle.  It is wonderful to me!

True faith is to keep going and doing your best until the last moment.  Then God takes it from there.

All three ladies were radiant on their baptismal day!  Baptism allowed each to receive a remission of their sins.  Wow, God is good.  And on Sunday it was wonderful being an instrument in God’s hands as each convert had the gift of the Holy Ghost bestowed upon her.  The gospel is true, folks, and so good. : ) 

One year and three days ago I opened my mission call.  Time’s going by fast?  Uh Huh…yep.

People, thank you for your prayers, I feel them. : ) 

And thank you to Uncle Mark, Elder Matthew Woodruff, Elder Andrew Woodruff and Maren Young for your letters!  : ) You’re the best.

Okay, I love you all. Until next week,

Love, Elder David Kirkwood Bean

P.S. Happy Birthday, Nick Walton  : )