WEEK 44: One By One

STARKE, FL

COMPANION:  ELDER COLLETT

Lake City Zone

So much to say! So much to do. So much to love! So much is true.

One exciting way to read the Book of Mormon is to look for key phrases. Arise. Awake. Name. Why. Question marks. Exclamation points. Amen. Blood. One by One.

I have been in Starke, Florida, for four months now. I was sent here on the errand of the Master by His senior Apostle. I came here for one person. Elder Bednar's teachings on the subject are fascinating, and have been a source of comfort to me. I am not sure who that person is, but if I had to guess, I would say his name is Larry.

We found Larry by walking the streets, talking to everyone we saw. He declared himself a life-long Southern Baptist, and proclaimed that he was not interested in our Watchtower magazine. We explained, for about the billionth time that day, that we are NOT Jehovah's Witnesses, but missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We let him know we had new scripture, Apostles on the earth, temples where families can be sealed together for eternity, and we were there to invite him to pray about it.

Larry's ride was bumpy. He knows the Bible VERY well and had some very specific doctrinal objections. Don't know the Bible? Serve in the South! I could quote Revelation 22:18-19 by heart in my first five minutes in Starke. Anyway, Larry also knows Wikipedia very well and had some unsavory writings on the Prophet Joseph and other Church leaders presented to him by that and other internet sources. He took us on a roller-coaster ride of emotion several times and waiting outside the hour+ baptismal interview he had with a member of the mission presidency (the longest one either of us had ever even heard of was 30 minutes) was absolutely agonizing. But then it was over. Larry was baptized on Saturday, June 14th, and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday, June 15th. He is now a powerful, active, rapidly progressing member of the ward. He is inviting his family and his friends to hear the gospel, and is anxious to continue to learn and to grow.

I now know a couple of things. I know that missionary work works. I know that people can change. Larry is unrecognizable. I know that the Holy Ghost converts converts. I know that the joy promised to those who bring others unto Christ is real. That promise is true, that joy is unique and incredible. To have labored my whole life for just Larry would have been worth it. I am still full, and I am satisfied.

Not many words are necessary for my multitudinous thoughts and emotions revolving around Larry and his miraculous conversion. I have spoken of my exceeding joy, and that which I have written sufficeth me.

One revelation I particularly enjoyed this week came while studying the scriptures. In the Book of 3 Nephi, chapter 17, Jesus Christ has come to the Nephites. In these sacred pages we read:

9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.
 10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.
It is, as Lucy Mack one said, "difficult to take the measure of such things". Jesus Christ did not snap his fingers and make these people whole. He allowed them each to approach him individually, and have a personal experience with His grace. He healed them all, giving no respect to the nature of their malady. And they loved Him for it.

I wrote a letter a while ago wholly devoted to what Jesus Christ has done for me. I will not repeat myself much here, but I will say that I have been sick, afflicted, lame, blind, and dumb, and Jesus Christ has made me whole. There are not sounds to be made or characters to be scratched that can adequately communicate to another my love for my Redeemer. Here I will record the attempts of the prophets:

Lehi: 15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.

 Nephi: 6 I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

Enos: 27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

Alma: 27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.

Ammon: 35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

Moroni:  39 And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plainhumility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things;

Abinadi:  7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. 8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. 9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

I love Jesus Christ. I know that He is real. I cannot list all that He has done for me. I cannot worship Him sufficently. But, if given the chance, I would crawl across the masses and throw myself into the dust for the chance to brush but one of my tears of devotion and love across his calloused, scarred feet.

He lives. Of all that that testifies I bear witness in His Holy name, Amen.

~Elder Jorgensen