Satan's Got a Prison Riot on his Hands!!!

We spent every evening this week until Friday with a third missionary. We dropped him off at the airport at 5 AM on Friday. Luckily the airport is just 5-10 minutes away from our apartment.

So last week I didn't have a good chance to explain my new area. Let me tell you about a few people here:

I already mentioned T, our golden investigator, and S, who we saw at church this week! We did find out that T drinks a cup of coffee every day, but when we told him that he can't be baptized if he's drinking coffee, he quit immediately. Apparently he didn't realize that was part of the Word of Wisdom.

Then there's E. She is an investigator who is looking for a church that holds all the correct doctrines and practices what it teaches. She currently is not convinced that this is the right one, but she is very open to finding out for sure, which is all we ask, anyway.

Secondly, we've got K, a recent convert. He is pretty awesome, and we are working on helping him receive the Aaronic Priesthood right now. He will be moving pretty soon, though.

Let me tell you about D, a less-active member of our ward. He has always had a testimony of the Church, though he hasn't always followed the commandments. We wants more than anything to be sealed to his wife, who he introduced to the Gospel (she was baptized almost 2 years ago). The biggest obstacle he needs to overcome is smoking. We missionaries have a Stop Smoking Program that will make you a non-smoker in only 7 days, guaranteed, provided you follow all 15 steps every day for seven days to the tee. Sounds crazy? Well it works. We told him about this, and he told us he'd think about it. He called us a few days later and said he wants to do the program. We set up an appointment for Wednesday. He asked us at church to drop by that night. Right after the opening prayer at his house, he walked out of the room, then came back with his pack of cigarettes and his lighters, and handed them to us. We then gave him a priesthood blessing of healing and strength. This morning we went shopping with him for the materials the program needs, then we presented the program to him right after. He said that after the priesthood blessing, the NEED has started to go away, and any cigarettes he's had since then have been out of habit. We pulled out the pack he gave us, and put it in his hand. Then we asked him to crush the pack. This he did without hesitation. He is fully committed to this program. In about 8 days, he will be an official non-smoker. Take that, SATAN!! Looks like somebody just lost another prisoner. You know how we do, busting people out of the jail of sin like it's a hobby. Elder P and I feel like we are on top of the world right now! We are going to start freeing people from smoking left and right! Nothing can stop us now! We are on a roll!

Let me tell you something about yourself that you may not understand or fully comprehend yet. It is a truth written across the universe, and it is one of my favorite doctrines. You are a child of God. Now we've heard that many times before, but let me elaborate. YOU are child of an Eternal God. That means you will one day be one yourself, if you allow it. You have dormant within you the spark of divinity. Who decides if it is ignited? YOU! In 8 days, our less-active member will have put Satan in his place. Dwayne will show that he is an eternal being, not just in the sense that he is immortal, but that he is eternal, as in eternal life. NOTHING can stop us, nothing, but ourselves. I cannot stress this enough. You are stronger than whatever is out there. Satan would have us believe that we are powerless, but let me remind you that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Brothers and sisters, it's time to take the chains off and let He who holds the keys of death and hell to unlock our cage. Funny thing is He (Jesus Christ) already has... All we have to do is stop believing Satan's lies and walk out of prison. Jesus Christ is there to pull us out. I know that through the power of Christ, we can overcome all. He is the Great Savior and Redeemer of the World, the Author of our salvation. And I say that in His Holy Name, the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, unlock the divinity within.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

The cigarettes and lighters D gave us.

Elder P and I holding the chains of iniquity.

The crushed addiction in a bag (sorry I don't have a better picture. I just took this in the library, so I thought it might not be best to have cigarettes out in full view, being the Lords' anointed and whatnot). I mean crushed literally.

The new companion!

Fountain of Blessings

I have had an incredible first week here in Fountain. I am in the 18th Ward, and we've seen a lot of blessing coming. I wish I could spend some more time on this e-mail, but our time is limited today.

First, let me talk about S (one of the S's we are working with). She is a less-active member who called the bishop recently and asked to meet with the missionaries. Elder P and I prayed about a date for her to be ready to go to the temple, and we decided on July 23rd. We told her our desire, and she said it took her breath away. She has been thinking about that date for a while, and she had no clue why, until now. She accepted the commitment to be worthy to hold a temple recommend and go to the temple by that date!

Then we have T, our golden investigator. We have no more commitments to leave him, except maybe to read Jesus the Christ. The only reason he has not been baptized yet is because he is on parole, but will soon be getting off. He is already an active member, he just hasn't been baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yet.

We've barely had a spare moment this entire week, and it feels absolutely incredible.

Right now we are in a trio with another missionary who will be going home this week on Friday, but he is working at the mission office for most of the day until it closes, and then going to our evening appointments with us. We'll be dropping him off at the airport at 5 AM on Friday, so that should be fun.

Sometimes you wonder why the Lord puts you in a specific situation. You might think that you were growing in such incredible ways, and contributing so much, and now you are being plucked out of that situation and placed in another. I testify that our Heavenly Father has a PERFECT plan for each of us, and He knows EXACTLY what we need. When we learn to accept that and say, as Nephi in 1 Nephi 11:17, " I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.", then we are one step closer to realizing our divine potential, and becoming truly consecrated disciples of Jesus Christ. I know that God is in control, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, remember: All the water in the world, no matter how it tries, can never sink the smallest ship unless it gets inside. And all the evil in the world, even the darkest kind of sin, can never hurt or harm you, unless you let it in. (I'm writing this in the middle of a torrential downpour outside.)

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Come to the Fountain

Well, it looks like I'm getting transferred again. I am leaving Castle Rock and heading to Fountain tomorrow. I will be in the Colorado Springs 18th Ward. My new address will be 4270 Sanders View, Apt. #303, Colorado Springs, CO 80916.

Unfortunately all of our current investigators were out of town this week, so we didn't get to see them, though we kept in contact through text. We had two meetings this week, and I felt spiritually uplifted after them.

Also, we got to go to the temple this week and do baptisms for the dead! It is always incredible to feel the power of the temple as you step through those hallowed doors. I felt the Spirit very strongly there.

Sorry there isn't that much this week to report on. Don't worry, I'll have plenty to report next week in my new area.

Brothers and Sisters, today is the anniversary of D-Day. It is a part of human history that will never be forgotten. Many, many lives were lost that day. President Dwight D. Eisenhower said that "we will accept nothing less than full victory", when speaking of the operation. The battle was hard, and long, and gruesome, but still the Allied Forces accomplished their goal, though the death toll was much higher than anyone expected. The complications and obstacles that were placed in front of them made the task seem almost insurmountable. Nevertheless, they knew what they were fighting for, and they didn't stop until they had won. We wage a similar war against Satan everyday. He wishes for us to be dragged down to the gulf of endless misery and woe like him. In this day, we cannot afford to be fence-sitters. We cannot give up. We cannot surrender. We have a reason for fighting. We must defend our homes and our very souls. There is too much at stake to give up. I promise that if you persevere and hold fast to the truths you know, an eternal reward awaits you in the world to come. Not only that, you can start reaping the rewards right now. Just don't give up. I know all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us, and I say these things in His name, amen.

Until next week, stick to your task 'til it sticks to you.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

The Denver Temple

The Plum Creek Ward Priests Quorum

Here is a picture of my zone, which is now the size of a large district. :)

Goodbye, Parker South...

It has been a crazy week. It has also been a busy week. All of this will be explained shortly.

First off, we had three separate exchanges this week, so I haven't seen too much of my companion this week. It's been a lot of fun with the other missionaries, but it's good to be back in the flow with the person I am usually with 24/7. We were able to teach N on exchanges, and we learned a lot about what his REAL concerns are.

Second off, we had a zone conference this week. It was an uplifting and enlightening experience. I really felt the Spirit. One thing I learned is how much of the Lord's investigators we really are. He sets goals with us, He shows His vision for us, and He follows up frequently.

Every zone conference, all of the missionaries who will be gone before the next zone conference get to bear their testimonies. Because I will be going home slightly before the transfer date to get back before college starts, I will be missing the next zone conference by a day. None of the other missionaries that bore their testimonies remembered or knew that, so they were looking at each other, prodding each other to bear their testimonies next. Then I got up last after them all and surprised them. It is strange, because I've seen that my whole mission, and I never thought I'd get to that point.

Now, for the craziest thing. After zone conference, President Rehm asked all the missionaries in Parker South Stake to attend a meeting that Saturday. I am in Castle Rock, but Parker South takes up the other half of the zone. The night before that meeting, Elder LaRose and I got confirmation of what we had heard rumors of that week: Parker South Stake is getting absorbed into the Denver North Mission. All the missionaries there were told at the meeting that they would all be getting emergency transferred out of Parker South and dispersed into trios throughout the mission until the next transfer day, next week. It has been a crazy few days after that. We had the chance to talk to all of them on Monday and say goodbye as they are dispersed, almost all of them which I will probably never see again on the mission. Our zone is now cut in half, making it a rather small zone.

I now want to talk about watches. Look at your watch, if you are wearing one, then look at the watch of somebody nearby, or at least remember a watch you have seen. They all look different, but they all serve the same purpose, keeping time. However, many of the watches will tell a slightly different time than the other. Why? Obviously, because many of them are manually set. When Jesus Christ came in the Meridian of Time, He gave us the correct "time", so to speak, the correct doctrine. We knew it was correct, because it came from the Author of the Universe, Heavenly Father, Who has a perfect knowledge of all things. We can trust certain watches because they automatically sync with a satellite. Some people ask questions to the wrong person, and so they get the wrong answer. We need to ask the right Person. I testify that God knows everything, and will give us the correct answer, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, stay strong.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Baptisms Are Good for Investigators

This is a shorter email because we helped a member move today this morning, so we don't have as much time.

We moved out of our member home and into a new one this week, so my new address is 4358 Sawmill Ct, Castle Rock, CO 80109.

We had a lesson with N this week. We had a recently returned missionary there with us at the lesson, and we helped N understand how the Book of Mormon can answer questions of the soul. He came to a convert baptism that Saturday. This is the second  baptismal service he's been to now, so statistically he should be getting baptized this week. He is an awesome guy, and we love meeting with him. He has said several times that he feels the Spirit at our meetings, and likes the way we do things.

Sometime you might feel like there are some things that you've done, some sins you've committed, that they leave a permanent scar on your soul. You think that even after you've repented, that scar will still be there. I testify that there is no soul too lost, no wound too deep, that cannot be healed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There are two parts of the Atonement: first, the Resurrection, in which all will be resurrected, receiving perfected bodies without physical blemish or scarring. The second is the triumph over physical death. Our spirits can be completely healed, the "scars" of our past can be wiped away, and we can be new creatures in Christ. If we allow Christ to heal us, we don't have to walk around broken inside. I know that he is the Redeemer and Savior of the World. I know that His Atonement is real, and that it is the most incredible gift ever, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, fear not, little flock.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

 "So it is with life, and seeing by the lens of faith. If we are to see things more clearly, we too must lift ourselves above the secular smog." - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Mormon Power!!

We have been volunteering at a thrift store in the area we are in as part of JustServe. For those of you who don't know what JustServe is, it is a program the Church has come out with and is slowly rolling out across the USA. It has a website that different service opportunities posted on it to give people an opportunity and the knowledge to reach out in their community. Well, all the volunteers at this thrift store were invited to a luncheon at a community church. There were a total of 8 missionaries amongst the many, many volunteers. I had the opportunity to talk to the pastor and thank him for hosting the luncheon and for the prayer he offered. As the missionaries were getting up to leave (we all had appointments, so we had to leave a few minutes early), while they were handing out prizes, they directed everybody's attention to us, then they thanked us for the service that we give. They call us their "Mormon Power". Have a group of Mormon missionaries recognized at another church for their contributions, check.

On the topic of service, we finally finished assembling a play set for a less-active part-member family. It looks incredible, but that is of course because it was done by missionaries. The family is going to start taking the lessons soon (they just had schedule conflicts during most of the school year).

Elder LR and I met with D, a less-active member. He grew up in Utah, but went into the Army and fell away from the Church. He decided that he needs to give the Church another shot. We invited him to church, and he came! We sat with him near the back, but the great thing about this ward is that they seem to be very mindful of those sitting in the back. Several members came up after Sacrament Meeting and introduced themselves. There was also a family with a deaf mother and daughter that is planning on moving into the ward soon, and they came for the first time today. Several of our youth know sign language, and immediately started talking with them. They had an interpreter, so several other members had a chance to talk to them as well! That is the kind of ward missionaries absolutely love!

For those of you who have received your patriarchal blessing, your lineage in a tribe of Israel has been revealed to you. many of us skim over that part and move onto the "good stuff". The reason it's called a patriarchal blessing is that it involves the blessings given to the Patriarchs, as in Adam, and Abraham, etc.  Your lineage is a very powerful thing. You have been given a high and holy task from the Lord, and that is found within your lineage. For us Ephraimites, we sometimes think, "My whole neighborhood is probably of Ephraim, I'm not special." Those of the lineage of Ephraim are foreordained to be the leaders of this Church and this generation. That is extremely powerful. I'm not a patriarch, and I don't know all the blessings and responsibilities that each tribe holds, but remember the stewardship God has given to you. Do all you can to honor your tribe, and to honor your Father in Heaven. As you seek to follow his will, you will be blessed beyond measure, and you will find peace as you fulfill your purpose in life. I know that this is the true Church, and that Israel is being gathered for the final time in preparation for the Second Coming of Messiah. I know He lives, and I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, do not dishonor your involvement.

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Our awesome accomplishment of a play set. By the way, we did that all in white shirts and ties. MORMON POWER!!!!

BAPTISM!!!!! AND THE FAMILY!!!!!

WE HAD A BAPTISM THIS WEEK!!!!! Now let me explain. We have been working with somebody who removed her records from the Church. We had the opportunity to re-baptize her this week! Elder LR baptized her and I confirmed her! The Spirit was very strong at the baptismal program. An investigator from the Spanish Group in the area was touring the church, and he was having a lot of spiritual experiences. Then Elder LR walked out of the bathroom in white clothes, and the Group Leader who was with them asked if they could sit in on the baptism. The Spirit of the Lord was very powerful as the ordinances of baptism and confirmation were administered. I gave a talk in between the baptism and confirmation about the restoration of the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Later that night, the Spanish elders gave me a call and thanked me for my talk. They said that my talk really touched his heart, and that he now has a spiritual witness that Peter, James, and John really did restore the Melchizedek Priesthood through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

We also got to witness the baptism of somebody else in our zone! I am so excited for all the success that this zone is starting to have!

And last but definitely not least, I GOT TO TALK TO MY FAMILY!!! It was so wonderful to see their faces and to just talk with them. It gives me a greater resolve to be the best missionary that I can be for the rest of my mission. I want to live worthy of my family name, and of the name of Jesus Christ.

Something that our mission president told us recently was these three questions: "Do missionaries know who they are?", "Do they know what's expected of them?", and "Are they willing to do it?"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "You are no ordinary beings.... you are glorious and eternal. No matter your circumstances and trials in life, I urge you to remember who you are, where you came from, and where you are going, for the answers to those questions will truly provide confidence and direction for your life."

Please, remember who you are. You are a son or daughter of the King of Heaven. You have a divine purpose and destiny. You are "glorious sons and daughters of Almighty God." Please, don't forget that. Hold on to that. I love you all, and I leave my testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Us and K the next day after her baptism.