Letter excerpts from June 27th

Hello everyone!

The mission is going along just great. Sister Lyles and I ran the Tacoma Narrows bridge this morning and then got healthy smoothies and studied at the park. What a great way to start a P day-resting and rejuvenating ourselves. There is a fine line between thrusting in your sickle with all your might and not running faster than you have strength but when you find the right side of the line--its so rewarding!

This week has been pretty good for us. We only found one new person to teach but it was a miracle and we were happy for that. We got some good counsel and direction for those we are working with. It is hard to get depressed out here, even when you don't see the fruits that you would like, we always know that it is Heavenly Father who is doing the real work here (preparing the hearts) and so we just do our part to exercise our faith and provide a means for him to work his miracles.

We talked to a guy named Wyatt*. He came on a tour and felt a desire to be baptized. When we were just talking about the sacrament he volunteered! "I've never been baptized" -yep and that's usually something we have to ask about! So that was neat. And then when we taught the restoration to him it was powerful as always and he wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon.

This kind of scenario happens a lot here. Miracles happen and we end up taking people on a church tour, teaching them about the restored gospel, and they are moved!! The spirit lights upon their spirit and they are excited to learn more. But lately a lot of those miracle people have just been fading away. SO! I have been guided to become a better teacher by leaving better questions and really helping people understand the Book of Mormon. (I remember when I first read the Book of Mormon....I was doing it purely because they all said it was great. But I didn't really understand much of it.) 3 Nephi 11 is such a great prototype for what we must do to come to a motivating knowledge. It puts Moroni 10:3-5 in story format! hehehe.

OH MAN!!! Did I tell you guys about Todd*!?? He is awesome. Sister Fields (not mayfield) but a sister from Australia, were on a shifty and knocking on doors. Elder Willis had challenged me to do the stanky leg while tracting and so when we knocked on Todd's* door he opened it to me doing the stanky leg. bahaha. he was a little thrown off. The conversation that followed was nothing less than inspired as he confessed his mistrust of religion but his desire to know the truth. (in not so plain and exact words, but we could tell what was going on!!!)

We set up a church tour for almost a week out. Usually when that happens it means the person just can't say no to you right then and are trying to delay (kicking against the bricks!) It was so sketchy that we even set up another tour on top of his-for the same time. we called that day and confirmed and about 10 minutes before, he called and tried to cancel, saying things like I can't because my girl friend cant come and I'm not comfortable coming to another church by myself. I asked if we could come over and show him the web site (Mormon.org) on his computer....he agreed. And then! 5 min later he called back and said that his Internet wasn't working and so he would just come down to the church. !!!! :)

Sister Smith came to help. She was perfect fellowship. I think Todd* is Eskimo? or Hispanic? but Sister Smith was great and made him feel comfortable. We taught him the restoration after the church tour and he was very humble about everything. He mentioned that he has a co worker that is Mormon. He was skeptical...but openly so. He was willing to learn! We assigned him to read 3 Nephi 11. The next time we met with him we showed him how the Book of Mormon was supported by the bible by reading from Ezekiel 37 and 1 Nephi 13 or 2 Nephi 29..something like that! And that totally made sense to him! Inspiration lead us again and we assigned 2 Nephi 2 and 31. We met again and he learned about baptism, repentance, faith and everything else!!!! he  came with belief in the Book of Mormon!

That night he called us, worried and asking for our help to teach his girl friend Marissa*. She is very christian and anti LDS. She keeps bringing up things she has heard and Todd* says it is hard for him to teach her. He was getting ready to show her the Restoration video, and he was nervous. He said he doesn't know what she is going to do, she might kick him out...but whatever happens he just wants to get closer to God. He knows this is true and whatever happens will be for the best. WHOA!! FAITH!!! he just had a son Ralph* about 5 months ago and he STILL is willing to give up his current good situation to stand up for the truth he knows.
*names changed for privacy

It is so cool to see him get such a firm hold of the truth! When investigators/Recent converts have an abiding respect and love for Joseph Smith-that is when I truly know that they have been taught by the spirit, not just me. It is then that I can see they are committed to this church. Only the Spirit can support such a bold thing-to go "against" all christen sense and revere a man!? That's amazing!

I think I learned about Joseph Smith in a relaxed, after the fact sort of way. I knew what had happened and I took it as a fact of life. Of course, without the chicken we wouldn't have the egg! But my love of what he did, what Christ was able to accomplish through his obedience-is a shining pattern that I wish to apply in my own life. I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

All the prophets from the beginning of time have testified of the same thing; that redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah for he is full of grace and truth: behold he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin to answer the ends of the law unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. When Gods children heed this message they are blessed and when we don't, we loose blessings.

Christ lived a mortal life on earth and with Godly grace fulfilled his earthly ministry. He partook of the bitter cup and finished his preparations for the children of men showing us his love unto the end. He left us with a church, prophets apostles and teachers for the perfecting of the saints till we all come in the unity of the faith and unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.  We can gain that fullness when we fully submit ourselves to the Lord and  witness it unto him by going down into the waters of baptism.

But the drown of the crowds go pushing on. Truth was blurred. Clear understanding purpose was no longer leading those teachers who were left to guard the flock. the priesthood, or the power of heaven, cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness and so it was taken from the unworthy. Separation from God came to the earth as was never known before. The world functioned as an amputee. One leg, the line of personal communication, continued to hobble along but full movement was impossible.

This was destined to be. For a small moment  have I forsaken thee but with everlasting mercy will I gather thee, and all they children shall be taught from the Lord. The time was right for this prophecy to be fulfilled. A young boy name Joseph Smith was troubled. Amidst a war of words and tumult of opinion, his mind was caught up to serious reflection and great uneasiness. How could the Lord be the author of so much doubt? Which church should he join, which church was right, and how was he to know it?

We all know the familiar verse in James, "If any of ye lack wisdom let him ask of God which giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him." Never had any scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at that time to the young boy. He reflected on it again and again knowing that if anyone needed wisdom from God, he did. For how to act he did not know and unless he got more wisdom than he then had, he would never know. At length he came to the conclusion that he must either do as James directs that is ask of God. And knowing that God would not upbraid, he ventured out.

It was spring time. He went to a place where he could be alone and quiet. He began to pray vocally and recounts he experience thus: "I saw a pillar of light. Exactly over my head. Above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me, I saw two personages. Whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me calling me by name and said pointing to the other, This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

The heavens spoke! And the boy listened. He was instructed from deity himself. The true nature of God was revealed. Intimacy and love were made manifest. He walked away from the vision overcome. He walked away in faith, the boy prophet of this dispensation. Here we stand today, in living legacy of that greatness. The power each of us can possess is nothing short of limitless. We are called upon to read the Book of Mormon. A living miracle of Gods kindness and love for his Children.

Read this book! It brings us nearer to God! Nearer to perfection, and more worthy for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Dearest family I know this message is true. It burns in my heart every time I share it! Please value what you have. Next to this message you are the most important thing in my life!!! I love you so much. Hearken and be blessed!

Sister Clendening