Hey, whats up?
So... this week has been crazy. Crazy awesome! I'll start from the beginning.
Tuesday, we were trying to decide where to go tracting for our 5-7. We'd already tracted all of Tillicum twice (I live in Tillicum), so we decided to go tract the new area we inherited when the Wards split. We got in the car, got on the freeway, and headed to the area. As I was driving, the impression came to me that we needed to tract Union street in Tillicum. I listened to the prompting, but thought to myself, "we've already tracted that street twice." Again, the prompting came, "go tract Union Street." So, I did. I exited the freeway, flipped around, and headed back to Tillicum.
During that 5-7, we gave out 5 Book of Mormons, and found a very sweet Mexican family. The mom and the daughter took Book of Mormons, and said they would read them. I was happy we found them, but didn't think too much of it because we regularly give out at least two Book of Mormons every day, and we usually never hear from anyone.
Two days later, we were following up with people we had given Book of Mormons too, and Elder Bowser said he felt like we should go back to the Mexican family. We went to their house, and they invited us in. The mom said she had been reading the book, and that she was at the part where Nephi just got the plates back from Laban, and Lehi was reading them to his family. I was shocked. Elder Bowser was like, "can we read another chapter with you?" The family said yes, and we taught them the Restoration using 1 Nephi chapters 1 and 2.
The mom told us how she has been stressed out because her ex-husband, who just got out of jail, has been banging on their door in the middle of the night harassing them. She said she couldn't sleep; she has been so afraid. But, when she started reading the Book of Mormon, it brought her peace. She said she didn't want to put it down. She read it until she fell asleep.
I taught her about the fruits of the Spirit — that the Spirit brings us peace when we are doing the things that are acceptable to the Lord. She said she knew the Book of Mormon was true, and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, because of the feeling of peace the Book of Mormon gave her.
So cool. She told her kids the stories she was reading, and her kids loved them. They all wanted Book of Mormons also. We asked the family if they wanted to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding God's priesthood authority. They all said YES. The youngest, Paul, said he wanted to get baptized again, this time by the priesthood. He is nine. We had one problem though, the family was moving to California the next day, to escape the crazy ex-husband, and to help their ill grandma. The family wanted to be baptized before they left. We prayed about this, and asked Heavenly Father what he wanted us to do. He said, "Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe." -Alma 32:16- He brought this scripture to the forefront of my mind, and along with it, the feeling of peace you get when you know something is right. I called President Weaver, and he said, "Baptize them, and font-side, confirm them." So, that's what we did. Yesterday, we baptized the Delgado family. Probably the sweetest family I have ever met. Then, we gave them the Holy Ghost. It was a missionary baptism, Sister Miranda, a dear friend to the missionaries was the only member from the Ward who attended. Our whole zone was there, and though it was a small gathering, the Spirit was really strong, and the family was beaming. They were so happy.
That was my miracle this week, a true testimony to me, that Heavenly Father directs this work, and that when we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and when we boldly share His gospel, He will lead us to those of His children who have been prepared to hear the gospel and are willing to accept it. It was awesome.
I love you guys,
Elder Thornton
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