Week 29: A Baptismal Date!

I was able to set my first baptismal date this week! It is more of a date to find out if this is all true by then, but it is a sign of M's progress! I'll explain it in a second.

First of all, we had zone conference, and President Rehm mentioned that the person in charge of missionary iPads might be meeting with him next month or May. That means we may be getting iPads within 6 months! President Rehm said, "You all think this is going to be a big help to the work, right?" We all nodded our heads, then he smiled and said, "Haha, maybe..."

 

One of the biggest insights I gained from zone conference was this, "If it's meant to be, it's up to me." Then the Spirit told me something really cool. Joseph Smith didn't change the world because of his calling, he changed the world because of his character. It was important that he was the Prophet of the Restoration, but that wouldn't matter if he didn't have the moral courage and virtue he had. Another cool thing: You may not be the Prophet of the Restoration, but to those you work with, you restore the Gospel to them.

 

So onto M. We have been taking the lessons slow with him because it's hard for him to absorb it all. He has some health issues that make him tired all the time. Last time when we explained the Spirit World, he asked if he'd be able to see his parents again when he goes to the Spirit World, and we excitedly told him he would. this time we finished the Plan of Salvation and talked about temples and family history work. I then told him, "M, you said last time that you wanted to see your parents again. What if I told you that not only would you be able to see them again, but you'd be able to be with them forever as a family?" He said that honestly he couldn't express how much he'd want that. We told him that that is possible in the Lord's Holy Temple, but in order to get there, you have to take the first step and ordinance, and that is baptism. He wasn't ready to commit to baptism, but we did set a date for him to find out by then if this was the Lord's True Church. M is going in for treatment on Wednesday that will hopefully resolve his health issues, and we are giving him a blessing today.

 

On Saturday the Church launched it's new website, Because He Lives. You can find it at HeLives.Mormon.org. The video there is very powerful, and it is a reminder that we are never alone. There is also a day-by-day view of what Christ did during his last week in mortality. This website will be constantly updating throughout the year until Christmas-time. I would like to share my testimony on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: I KNOW that He lives, that He loves each of us, and that he will never abandon us. Even when we are in the depths of despair, He is there for us. Because He lives, we will live again too. Those loved ones that we lost are not truly lost. We will see them again, and through the authority of the Priesthood of God, we can be with them forever. There is no greater joy than to know that death is not the end, and life doesn't have to be endured alone. I invite all of you to help those around you recognize that. The Messiah's entire life was devoted to love, and I want you to help those around you feel that love. It may be somebody that is eating alone. It may be somebody that you once regarded as an enemy, or that you still do regard as an enemy. The most powerful force in the universe is love. It can end wars, it can heal. It can do miracles.

 

Until next week, the Lord LOVES you, and so do I. In the words of Thomas S. Monson, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important that a person to be loved."

 

[PS, here's a picture of Little St George (Garden of the Gods) and my companion making an epic leap across the stones therein.]

 

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

 

Week 28: Things Are Looking Up

This week we were able to teach a lot more lessons. Our goal is to teach more lessons with the members to get the Spirit into their home and get them more missionary-minded.

There is a part of Indigo Ranch Ward that is called the new developments because it's basically just a giant "For Sale" place. They are constantly building new houses, and they've only finished "Village 1" out of about 10. There are a lot of people constantly moving in, which is a great chance for us to ask if they need help. There is a member over there with about 4 houses around her that are getting moved into, and she is going to give us a call as soon as she sees moving trucks.

 

We met with M again, and he is just absorbing all this information, though we have to take things slow because he has a few health issues, and so he is tired a lot and can't retain too much information. We taught him more about the Plan of Salvation, and when we talked about the Spirit World, he asked if he would be able to see his parents again. We told him excitedly that he would be able to see them again, and that God has provided a way for families to be sealed together forever in His Holy Temples. He is coming to church regularly, though because of his health issues he can usually only stay for one hour, usually Sunday School. He loves the teacher, and he is developing relationships with a lot of the ward members.

 

We were also able to meet with A, a less-active member. He has cancelled several times because of his work, but we were able to teach him this week. I forget just how awesome a member he really is, and how it really is just his work that keeps him from church. He has gotten a new job, and he should be coming to church regularly after General Conference. We invited him to read scriptures daily, and he told us he already is, and that he keeps his scriptures in the car for when he goes to work. I felt a little ashamed for not assuming he already did. Once, when Elder H, my last companion, tried to quote a prophet about reading the Book of Mormon, he said he didn't remember what prophet it was, and A told him it was President Benson. He is a really great guy.

 

These last few weeks were a little discouraging with all the cancellations, but I think things are starting to look up from here. Granted, my happiness shouldn't matter based on how each week goes, but I am grateful to Heavenly Father for helping us get the work moving along now.

 

This week, HeLives.Mormon.org launches, and it will be running until Christmas-time. As approach Easter, we should be continually thinking about the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yet the Atonement and Resurrection are not a week-end event. They are continuous and unchanging. That is why this website will be running until Christmas. It is because it doesn't matter what time of year it is, we need Jesus Christ in our lives. The Atonement is what makes it possible for us to return to our Eternal Father in Heaven. Never forget the sacrifice. Live worthy of it.

 

Until next week, fear God more than men.

 

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Week 27: When the Lessons Drop, You Schedule MORE!

So this week not too much happened. We had a lot of appointments scheduled last week, and all but about 4 of them cancelled and rescheduled for this week. So what do you do when your appointments cancel? Schedule MORE!! Now we have even MORE appointments this week! I want to be so busy I don't have time to eat lunch! I'm not trying to be a busy-body, but the more we teach, the more success we find. We are teaching a lot of active and less-active members so we can gain the trust of the ward and get more referrals. Teaching leads to finding.

On the flip side, we were able to teach a less-active family this Sunday who haven't been to church in over a year, and we committed them to come back to church!

 

Speaking of church, I just love being able to go to 2 Sacrament Meetings! We sang in the Oakwood ward choir, and might I say we were fantastic! My mission grandfather is Elder K, and he is a singing legend in the mission (I believe he's now a member of Vocal Point). Maybe I inherited some of his genes? :P

 

M didn't come to Sacrament Meeting, but he did come to Gospel Principles and part of Priesthood Meeting. He has some health issues, so he gets really tired, but he stayed longer than he did before, and he says he loves it!

 

So, we just found out this week about the new Cinderella movie from a member we had dinner with, and she gave us glass-slipper sugar cookies. You really get out of the loop when you are on your mission. Our only news feed comes from the members and people we talk with. Did you know that Disney announced a sequel to Frozen (we learned that the same night as Cinderella)?

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has created a new website at HeLives.mormon.org . It  will launch on March 28th, and it will be running until around Christmas time. It will constantly be updated with new content, in reminder of the eternal principle of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the Atonement and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the reason I'm out here on a mission, and He is the reason for my every thought and action. I could not imagine life without the Atonement. There would be no point to life if it wasn't for the Atonement. I want to extend a commitment to you. It's not a one-and-done deal. It requires work, and it requires sacrifice. The blessings that come from it, however, are more than you could possible ask for. I want you to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Show your gratitude for this unimaginable gift that has been given to you by devoting your life to the service of the Master. I think you'll find that in the end, it is the easiest route to take. It is the only way that makes sense. If you do that, I can promise you nothing less than eternal life.

 

I love all of you, and remember: Proclaim the gospel, Redeem the dead, and Perfect the saints.

 

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

Oh, and by the way, the mission just gave our area 400 more miles, so we have more miles left now this month than we started off with! Looks like it's time for a trip to the faraway land of Raton, New Mexico! JK, but we might be a little less conservative in our spending of miles this month... :)

 

 

Glass-slipper cookies

It looks like the Prairie Wind blew a bit too hard. :)

 

Week 26: Key Indicators and Conversion

So this week our zone leaders let us know that we were getting rid of our mission-specific key indicator, Ordinance Invitations, but that we were adding on 4 new key indicators for our mission, specifically designed to focus more on less-active members.

We met with an investigator who is part of a part-member family, S, who we've been having no progress with for a very long time. There was no progress when I first came in here, and it appears like it had been like that for a while. Well, last time we had met, I ended up being really bold with him. This time, we had a really deep discussion. We got to the root of his problems, and he admitted that he had actually learned something this time. His wife asked if we had fasted for this lesson. He showed up to church the next day with quite the smile on his face.

 

Unfortunately, M is sick and wasn't able to have a lesson with us, or make it to church. Sickness has hit the land, and unfortunately as missionaries we are always bound to get it. My email might be a little short today because of it.

 

We set up a lot of lessons for this week, and we are planning on setting up even more regular appointments this week. We gonna be teaching and preaching all day long.

 

Have you ever tried to imagine standing before God to be judged of your works? Have you ever wondered what He might say to you? Alma gave us a series of questions we can ask ourselves to determine just that. Read Alma 5, and figure out if there is anything that perhaps you need to work on to be prepared to meet God, and then go do it. I promise you that He will help you become prepared.

 

The Lord loves you and so do I. Never give up on yourselves. Until next week, improve the shining moments, don't let them pass you by.

 

--

The Lord's Soldier,

   Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Week 25: Quarters, Combinations, and Temples

This week has been so busy, and it's been fantastic! First of all, I've hit my six month mark, which means I'm a quarter of the way done! Time has gone by so fast. It makes me want to work harder before it's all over. I got a new CTR ring, since I lost my last two before getting out on my mission. Hopefully I won't lose this one, or at least not till the end of my mission.

Second of all, with my area being combined into one with Oakwood, we've seen a lot of people this week. Best part of being part of two wards? Five hours of non-stop church! And, bonus, you get to bear your testimony in sacrament meeting twice! The only downside was the fact that I had to call a lot of people and cancel dinners this week because of our dinner calendars being combined. We've worked out a system for the rest, but I hate calling people and telling them that we have to cancel, especially when they all are such good cooks! Elder C is a fantastic companion. It's funny, because during church, we had two people tell us that we look exactly alike. By the way, my new address is 7090 Quitman Court, Colorado Springs, CO 80923.

 

Lastly, we got to journey to the Mountain of the Lord in Denver, Colorado! We got up at 4:30 so we could be ready to make it to the 7 am session with R, a member who has returned to activity. We got the chance to do baptisms for the dead, and she brought her own names! Talk about a powerhouse spiritual recharge! Elder H came back to go to the temple with us. He said, "Temples are like an amusement park for missionaries." It's SO true! If you are serving in a mission without a temple, you crave for the chance to go to one. I felt incredible afterward. I was beaming from ear to ear the whole time I was inside.

 

I bore my testimony about the blessings of temples in both sacrament meetings. During Indigo Ranch, it was a very eloquent and powerful testimony, and the Spirit was there, but then R got up and bore her testimony. It was so simple, yet you could feel the Spirit ten times stronger than when I bore mine. There was no great eloquence or grandeur to what she said, but her joy and testimony of what she KNEW without a shadow of a doubt was true was so strong, that there was no possible way you could deny what she said. It just goes to show you that the power of a testimony resides not in the oratorical skills of the one who bears it, but the faith of that person. I have great faith, but this woman put me to shame with her's. If you ever think that you are inadequate to bear your testimony because you don't have great skill with words, think again. Every testimony is powerful, and if you have that faith, then you help many know the truth, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

Until we meet again, GET TO THE TEMPLE!

 

--

The Lord's Soldier,

   Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 

At the Denver, Colorado Temple

And a goofy picture of Jacob and his new companion.