Smythe, Jackson PT

Satan works hard on everyone, but especially those who are about to make a big choice, the right choice, in life. I mentioned a while back about a member who was living with some of the people that we are teaching. Denis, his little brother, and Armando, his friend, had been working towards being baptized on February 25. Armando, especially, was really excited. Denis was too, but he definitely had some hiccups and some doubts leading up to it, mainly the night before. They both dealt with family issues and car problems in the hours and minutes leading up to their baptism, but watching them both make the decision to enter into the covenant with the Lord is something that I will never forget.  Sunday morning, Brayan received the Aaronic Priesthood, and we are going to go to the Kansas City Temple on Friday.  The Lord always prevails Love you  Elder Smythe

Moses returned from his Celestial experience on Mount Sinai, only to see his people arguing, having already been corrupted. Jesus returned from the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John to see the rest of his apostles fighting about who would be the best in heaven. The greatest, and most spiritual, people all had to come down from their spiritual moments and face the adversities and challenges of daily life.  Paul writes about this, calling us to "remember the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions."  The spiritual high of Brayan's baptism last week, and the return to regular life felt similar to these moments. Whether it was with our investigators, members of the branch, or anyone in general, it felt like we couldn't catch a break. Paul's counsel is something I hold very dear to me. The word 'Remember' is used some 220 times in the Book of Mormon, making it one of the most commonly used wor...

I have now been in Branson for 5 months. The first person that I really taught was a 19 year old kid who plays college soccer named Brayan. Something always felt different. I haven't seen many people who have had a desire like him to do good.    Last Sunday, he asked that I be the one to baptize him. Yesterday, I had that special and sacred privilege. The spirit that was there was unlike anything I had ever felt. He definitely was nervous, and it took 5 months, but the image of seeing him come out of the water will forever be in my mind. He told me "Man, I just feel light. There was a weight that was there that I didn't know existed."  It is taught and talked about that Jesus and Heavenly Father care about where we are going, and our desire, rather than where we have been. With an eye single to the glory of Christ, he always invites us with open arms, no matter what situations in life we are in. Elder Holland says " Attack me, [if you wish,] I do this myself, but...

Joseph Smith said that there are people "who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." People spend their lifetime looking for the truth, trying to find their purpose and meaning.  Our friend David is the perfect example of this. Having given him the Book of Mormon 3 weeks ago and not really sure what happened, we went back and visited. He told us he believed in the truth of it, and he had been reading almost every day. He said his wife had always brought light and positivity into his life, but he said she notices something different in him. He said "for the first time, I am bringing light to other people, and to my family." Every day he "can feel a burden being lifted off of [him], and a hole in [his] life being filled that [he] didn't know [he] had." David took the action and began reading, and he and his family are reaping the rewards and blessings right now. This is exactly what the gospel, and the Book of Mormon, does t...