What a wonderful week. There has been so much work being done here that I can hardly believe that we have time for it all. We are preparing various families for baptism. Insurgentes is getting it done!
I would like to share an experience that was really special for us this week. We have been teaching a family for a few weeks named the Pichardo Family. They have felt the Spirit answer their deepest questions as we have read the Book of Mormon and they are progressing towards their baptism. We were teaching them in the nighttime when we asked their oldest daughter if she had a question about something we had taught them. She paused and after a moment or two asked us why it is so difficult to believe in God? We asked her what she thought about that. She commented that she had been taught that He exists but she could not say that she really knew it for a fact. We then proceeded to read from 3 Nephi 14 about him who asketh, receiveth. We invited her to ask God. Ask Him specifically and he will respond to you specifically. We told her to ask Him, ¨God, do you exist?¨ We had expected that she would pray when we had left but about 30 second later as we were speaking to her parents, she asked with all faith ¨God, do you exist?¨ In this moment we turned to her a bit surprised. In this instant the Spirit flooded the room. She began to move in her chair and she told us, ¨I feel something different.¨ Her name is Diana. ¨Diana, this is the Holy Spirit, it speaks the truth.¨ We then told her, ¨well, you now know. God lives and answers the prayers of His children.¨ We were truly on sacred ground that night.
My dear family, God lives. He guides His Church through revelation to his prophets. Today there is revelation or communication between heaven and earth. There are prophets or men who hold the Priesthood or authority of God to act in His name. It is true. Joseph Smith was the prophet who was called to bring the Church of Jesus Christ once again upon the earth. Like every true prophet, he had a good fruit. This fruit is the Book of Mormon which you can read, analyze, and pray to know if Joseph Smith truly was God´s Prophet in these last days. The Holy Ghost will bring feelings of peace, joy, and love into your heart. You will know for yourself of these things. For those who know it, take this challenge once again. For those who do not know, do it and when you know it, get baptized. Its really simple.
The Book of Mormon is true. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt of it. I invite all to read, ponder, and pray to know for themselves. You will find what you are looking for. Believe in God. Believe that He has created all things and that He knows how to guide His children. It is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Elder Russell
