This week was so great! We had Zone Conference! Seems like yesterday when we were having Zone Conference in May...but, time is flying here in Bothell. The topic for zone conference was the Book of Mormon. I learned some really interesting facts about it. First of all, I learned how quickly it was translated! Incredibly, the Book of Mormon was translated in about 70-ish days. That's about 10 pages/day. Modern translators using computers and modern technology translate about 1 page/day from one language into another. Furthermore, it would take even longer to actually compose a 500 page book teeming with literary and Semitic complexities... so the notion that Joseph Smith somehow wrote the Book of Mormon is an interesting one.... If the Book of Mormon wasn't translated by the gift and power of God, I don't know what was! Notwithstanding all of the miracles associated with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, people still have a really hard time believing that it's true. Yesterday, we watched a talk by Elder Holland called Safety for the Soul with one of our investigators. We were teaching him about the Book of Mormon and figured that Elder Holland could do it a little better than we can. I love this part of the talk:
I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pagesespecially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readersif that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit.
Not sure why the spacing is weird, but you get the point...The Book of Mormon is important. It gives us a better understanding of the mysteries of God. It testifies of Jesus Christ and it literally helps us in our lives when we read it every single day. I know that's true! I love the Book of Mormon with all my heart because I feel closer to my Savior Jesus Christ when I read it. I learn of Him. I learn to be like Him.
This week, we ate ribs for dinner from a member...ribs for lunch the next day (leftovers) and then steak for dinner that same day. After not eating much red meat for the last little while, my body felt a little weird, but it was so yummy! The men in the Bothell ward really know how to cook some great bbq.
Most exciting news! Our investigator is hopefully getting baptized this week! Her family has become so much closer to Jesus Christ and learned how they can become active in the church again. It's amazing to feel a bond with someone so strongly through the spirit of Christ. We heart-attacked them for the father's birthday, and a couple of days later they said thanks...we asked how they knew it was us and the reply was "because one of them said Jesus Christ on it." it's amazing to know that just a few months ago [her] and her parents didn't really know much about God or Christ. Now they are taking steps to become more like Him every day. I love this family!
Light and knowledge is given unto us by the Lord. If we lose that, it's our own fault. I challenge all of you to gather more light! He will give it to you.
Love,
Sister Jenne"
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