Oct 15, 2012
Guess what? Prayers are answered!! This week has been a week of answered prayers- it has been really neat!

One prayer that was answered was a member's. We went over to dinner at a young couple's home. They both served missions, and both are eager to introduce others to the gospel. The husband was saying he has been praying for a missionary opportunity, but none have presented themselves. We talked about that a bit, then decided that we would all pray for him specifically to have a missionary opportunity. Then next day we were tracting, and knocked on a door of someone who was excited to see us! (that is so rare that Sister Tok and I were completely caught off guard and took a few seconds to compose ourselves :) She immediately said that she knew God sent us to her, because she was just thinking about the campaign and decided she needed to look up what Mormons believed because of Romney. She had just begun when we came to the door! She asked us some questions, and then we asked her about her beliefs and her family. The kids were on a soccer team, and we told her we know a lot of people that play soccer from our congregation. Then it came out that the soccer coach of her kids team was this husband we had dinner with the night before! She said she was happy with her church, but would love to come to church to find out more about what we believe. We were able to call up the husband, and he was very excited be involved in missionary work with this family. It was so neat! The prayer was answered so quickly!

The other prayer that was answered was my own. There has been a lot of questions coming our way about the lack of historical evidence, or contradictory evidence, for the Book of Mormon. It has been like an avalanche. There has been a lot of questions fired at us, that we have had to truthfully answer, "I don't know," sometimes throughout the entire lesson! We have been teaching about the need for faith, and the need to pray for answers, but the concerns have been very entrenched and not easily dismissed. We have been going through this for about 8 weeks now, and no answer we have seems to be good enough. It came to the point that last week, I was really tired of all the questions that are unanswerable. Why is there so much information and 'factual evidence' going against the Book of Mormon? I know it is true. I know it has helped my relationship with the Savior and I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore His church. So what was going on here?! It turns out the answer was in a place I have read over and over again- the Book of Mormon introduction! We had our district meeting, and the sixth paragraph (the one talking about how the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on Earth and people can grow closer to God by abiding to its precepts) came up for our roleplay. Then it came up again during personal study, and then again later in another roleplay with the young women during mutual. When we went to go see our investigator that night, he brought up his concerns again. They are the same concerns he has always had, but I thought of something I had never thought of before.

We are not mortal beings having a spiritual experience. On the contrary, we are spiritual bodies having a mortal experience.
We are here on Earth to learn and progress. Progressing requires faith.

Isn't there some serious wisdom in having a book that can be read and confirmed spiritually, yet not historically/physically? I am sure Heavenly Father could 'prove it' historically if He really wanted to, but where is the growth and progression from that? The Book of Mormon is designed so that in order to come to know that it is true, people have to come closer to God (just like it says in the introduction.) They have to read His word, pray, receive and recognize revelation.

It is a simple answer I think I already logically 'knew' in a sense, but I have never had to explain it to someone clearly and simply. As I was teaching it, it was reconfirmed to me that what I was teaching was true. Even though he didn't think too much about what I had said, Heavenly Father had led me to find the answer for myself. It was so neat! His concerns don't bother me as much. Heavenly Father knows what He is doing. It is so nice to know that we have someone who is completely perfect to rely on!

Another thing I have noticed- it really is a choice to be happy. We have gone into so many different homes in completely different circumstances and situations, and there is no real predictor of happiness. If it is a really fancy home with a nice car out front, or a trailer. A big family or small. If the people are overweight or skinny. Busy or not much going on. It really doesn't matter. Happiness is a choice. There are people in this world who have the worst luck, and definitely what you would term a 'hard life,' but they are so happy! It is really neat to see.

Missions. Are. Awesome.

Love you all!

Sister Mahrt

P.S. This picture was taken during companion study. The ear muffs were on because she was 'on air' for Music and the Spoken Word. Quote: "The dews from the drops of heaven let me know that I am His child" She is pretty poetic