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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Elder Cook Week Seventy-One

It was incredible to baptize L.  It was an amazing experience and I know that everyone has to be baptized by the authority of God.  It has to be done like that.  That´s how He established it and that´s how He recognizes if it´s valid or not, and it´s SO important that everyone is baptized or they can´t enter into the kingdom of God (Juan 3:5)!  I felt so privileged to help one of God´s daughters have the chance to enter into the kingdom of God.  That´s one step closer. The mission´s the best!



And then R. !!!!!  Ah man me encanta la historia de ese hombre. Remember he contacted US and said he´d come to church.  He has been coming ever since!  He read the Book of Mormon and believed it was the word of God.  He was the most amazing investigator ever!  But then we hit a few bumps.  We tried to put a fecha [baptism date] with him, but he firmly said no.  He would put his own fecha when God told him to and it would be a surprise for us.  We talked a little to President about it, and he advised us to be more clear and direct.  So we had another lesson with him, and it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission. We were direct. More direct than I thought possible without getting a punch to the face or a door to the nose.  But the Spirit was so Strong!!  It was amazing.  Everything we said was so powerful because the Spirit testified of our words and touched R.´s heart. He said he understood what we said and needed to talk with God. As we went a little hesitantly to talk about baptism he said, "Yupp. I have my fecha for this Saturday. I know this church is true. I know that what you guys share is true. I can feel it. God has told me. What do I need to wear to be baptized?"  We sat there shocked, then started planning the interview and the baptism.  Heavenly Father works miracles! It´s amazing how little missionaries actually do. We bust our rear ends, walk up hills, get sunburned, get made fun of, get doors slammed on us, talk to people, teach the best we can, study hard, pray a lot, but we don´t do much. We can´t convince people. I´ve tried and it doesn´t work.  We can´t change people´s lives and purpose and their opinions and beliefs. But God can and He does through His Spirit. I love getting to be here and watch it happen.




I know this church is true. There are so many people that try to persuade us that we don´t know what we´re talking about. But Heavenly Father does and He´s made it known to me that what we´re doing is right. I´ve felt it, I´ve seen it, and I´ve experienced way too many things to be able to deny it. Jesus Christ is our Savior. I´ve studied the Atonement a lot lately and I have never felt closer to Him in my life.  I love this mission so much.  I don´t think I´ll ever stop sharing the gospel. Everyone needs to know about it! God is real, He still loves His children and still reveals His word to them, there is a living prophet on the earth today, God´s revealed more of His word through another book of scripture, the Book of Mormon, that testifies of His Son, the same church that Jesus himself established is on the earth again, temples have been built to worship and come even closer to God, the priesthood has been restored and through it sacred ordinances are done with the authority of God. That is what Jesus taught! That´s what He wants in a church!  

I had an incredible experience the other day too. I´ve always known the Book of Mormon is true and felt the spirit about it's truthfulness. It was never some big experience like everyone tells. I prayed the other morning to know again, but this time with the intent to help others. I waited for my answer and a scripture popped into my head and I could see it.  I hadn´t really read it before but I could see the page, where it was on the page and that it was in the book of Ether. I went and opened my Book of Mormon and found it fast, because I could still see it in my head. It was Ether 4:11. It was an answer to my prayers. Some people might think it was just a coincidence, but I know God answered my prayer. Like the scripture says, Heavenly Father has visited me with His Spirit and the Spirit has testified to me.  I have known it and given testimony of it countless times, and it has persuaded me to do good.  That´s why I´m here.  Anyone can have their own testimony of these things! Pray with faith, read the scriptures with intent, and go to church to take the sacrament and receive an answer. God will let you know because He loves you. With that faith, and the works that follow because of the faith, you will be able to enter into His kingdom. He wants you there.


Love you


This is another kid that I baptized. He was part of a family that the Hermanas were baptizing, and they asked as the went to the font, so who do you want to baptize you? Pres Fortuna was there to baptize the mom, and the Bishop was baptizing the dad because they had taught the family with the Hermanas, and I was baptizing L. I´d never even seen the kid before and he yells ¨him!¨ and points at me. The Hermanas were dying laughing along with everyone else that was there

The hermanas in the ward helped fix her hair after her baptism
CTR Rings


Elder Cook mentioned two scriptures John 3:5 and Ether 4:11. 

John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Ether 4:11
But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good.