Skip to main content

"The Spirit of God like a Fire Is Burning"

My previous post was about the missionary work I started with my neighbor. Today she and her son went to church with us. She had met a couple other people in the ward previously at my house too, and we sat with one of them.

I explained to her about the sacrament and told her she was welcome to bear her testimony if she felt impressed to do so. When testimony meeting started, I was nervous. I knew I was going to go up, but I didn't know when and I had no idea what I wanted to say. I usually only go up because I have something specific to share. After a few people went, my neighbor whispered to me, "I'm going up!" I told her I would too. I went first and bore my testimony of the Church, Book of Mormon, keeping the commandments, and President Monson. She then followed, asking me to stay up with her. She shared the story I shared with you about our conversations and how she has seen God in her life. She ended pleading with the members to open their mouths and share the gospel. I was very impressed with her courage (and a little embarrassed to be up there while she was talking about me in front of the whole ward!). More people shared their testimonies, one of which particularly touched her. It was such a powerful testimony meeting. I have felt the Spirit before in testimony meetings, but not so intensely and collectively as today. It was in the whole room, not just in my heart. I felt the value of and connection between each testimony. As the hymn proclaims, "The Spirit of God like a fire [was] burning."

At the end of the meeting, many people welcomed her and thanked her for her testimony, and she talked to the sister who moved her. When she realized she had more time than she thought, she decided to stay for Sunday School. I asked the other ward member she knew to stay with her while I took her son to Primary and got some stuff. Another brother suggested she go to Gospel Essentials, and that is where I met up with her and our friend. The teacher, a recently returned missionary, taught about repentance. My neighbor was attentive and took notes and even asked for a copy of the Gospel Principles book.

They could not stay for the last hour, but she said she would like to return, especially since the time allows for her to make the first two meetings before her church begins. I did ask her to come all three hours just one Sunday in the future so her son could be with me in Primary Sharing/Singing Time and she could go to the women's meeting. I hope she eventually will want to stay the whole time at our church every week! Pray for all of us!

 Challenge: As my neighbor asked, open your mouth and share the gospel!
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
It's a pretty big step to come, even on a day you are attending another church. I know she will be impressed by the spirit to return. We have the full knowledge of the gospel and I'm sure she will see and feel that! Good missionary work!
June 2, 2013 at 6:58 PM
DAD said…
you are so terrific and you make a great witness for her
June 10, 2013 at 1:04 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pray Always

Last week I shared powerful scriptures to remember when faced with temptation. However, the devil is very powerful as well. We need a lot more tools than just a scripture to defeat him. The most powerful tool available to us is prayer. Brigham Young said, “Prayer keeps a man from sin. Sin keeps a man from prayer.” Prayer keeps a man from sin The Lord admonishes throughout the scriptures to pray always to avoid sin: “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38) “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work” (D&C 10:5) “Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation” (D&C 20:33) “Pray always, lest ye enter into temptation and lose your reward” (D&C 31:12) “Pray always that you enter not into temptation, that you may abide the day of his coming, whether in lif...
3 comments
Read more

See No Evil

I love watching movies! At home on the couch, at the theater, with friends, with family, in sickness or in health--it's all fun! But risky as well. Risky, that is, to my spirituality if I am not careful with what I choose to view. During high school, I used my best friend and a newspaper column as movie screeners. Then a former seminary teacher introduced me to a great Web site and a friend showed me another one. Both are free with a list of movies from about 15 years ago to current releases. [Click on the name for the link to the site.] Screenit : This Web site gives a short and full summary of the movie plot and the content, divided into categories. I like this site because it is very explicit: I know what language is in the movie and how many times it occurs. Note: In order to review movies before the release date, you must become a member. Kids in Mind : This site is similar to screenit, but somewhat less extensive (especially in the movie summary and language departmen...
2 comments
Read more

The Power of Service

I received this story from my father, who got it from his bishop. It has been edited for usage and clarity. Names have been changed for privacy: This is an amazing story, a miracle really, that happened right here in the loving Lake Elsinore Ward. There was a very less-active man married to a very active woman: the Smith family. They lived in Horse Thief and had three little children. Sister Smith held callings and juggled her kids and was as active and faithful as could be. What an example she was. Brother Smith was a good guy, but just didn't care much for the Church.  They asked us to help them move out when Brother Smith found his dream job across the country on the E ast Coast . As always, our sweet priesthood brethren and our Relief Society sisters jumped in without hesitation to assist in the move.  The Lord works in mysterious ways! Here's the rest of the story as written in a Facebook message from Brother...
1 comment
Read more