The Three Amigos in Paradise

This is my first trio that I've served in (not including the week that we dropped another missionary off at the mission office for most of the day). We've had a lot of fun. Elder A will be finishing his mission on Thursday, and when he saw how awesome this area is, he kept saying he wished it wasn't his last area that he'd only be in for a week. I love this area so much.

L was baptized this week! His dad baptized and confirmed him. The Spirit was very strong there! Our ward mission leader unfortunately wasn't able to make it to the baptism, and the member of the bishopric who was supposed to conduct was running late, so I ended up conducting the baptismal service.

G was at the baptism with his daughters! Then he came to church the next day! That's three times in a row now! We met with him this week, and we committed him to get back to the temple. He is going to meet with the bishop to discuss what it will take for him to get back to the temple. There isn't really anything now that would be holding him back, that we know of. He has no problem with tithing, and he keeps the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity.

Then we met with G and her family. They are a new investigator family that we started meeting with last week. She explained her journey, and it was almost identical to Joseph Smith's! We asked her what she believes about the Book of Mormon, and she believes it is the Word of God, and that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. She wasn't quite ready to accept a baptismal date, but she knows what she needs to do, and I have no doubt she soon will.

I was asked to teach the Gospel Principles class this week, and at the end we opened it up for questions. A new person there asked the question, "Is God's love unconditional, or do we need to do certain things to earn His love?" This is a question that a lot of people have in this world. I want to testify to all of you that God loves us no matter what. There is nothing we can do to have Him stop loving us. Jesus Christ loves us unconditionally. He suffered for every sin we'd ever make, regardless of whether or not we would repent. THAT is love. God loves us because we are His children. Nothing can change that, and nothing can change His love. And that is one of the many reasons why I have faith in Him. As it says in 1 John 4:19, "We love him, because he first loved us." I testify that God is love, that He will never leave us. I know He is real. I know Jesus Christ lives, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next time, make your momma proud!

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

L's Baptism!