I'm in Palmetto Now!

Elder Harper and Elder Griffiths. Elder Harper has been in
Florida for twelve weeks and just finished his training.

Just a quick update, I'm in Palmetto now! It's a great place with lots of people! My new companion is Elder Harper and he's a sharp missionary. 

Something I saw an example of this week was how you can wave the truth in its purest form right in front of someone, but they won't accept it if they don't want to. We met a lady who wouldn't say a prayer with us but wanted to learn about what it is we believe. We talked to her about the Plan of Salvation and she asked us if we could show her where in the Bible it talks about these things we believe. We did. We showed her every single scripture we possibly could, but she still said she didn't think what we were saying was truly from the Bible. We re-read some of the scriptures with her but she still chose to reject it. 

It just goes to show that in order to receive the gospel a person needs to have a humble heart and real intent. Everyone has the right to choose, but it makes us sad when someone chooses to flat out reject what we say. All we can do is continue working hard and searching for people who are prepared to hear the gospel.

The Palmetto area is bordered by the ocean.

Palmetto is also a bird sanctuary and is home to the Felts Audubon Preserve.

Faith to Overcome Extreme Opposition

Elder Walton and Elder Griffiths with
a new member at her baptism.

This last week we were teaching someone who was progressing toward baptism. In fact, her baptism was actually this last Saturday. We knew that Satan would try to do something to derail that, but we weren't sure what. 

One day she asked us about some show she'd watched (I won't say the name of the show, but this particular show was not the most reliable source of information) and it had talked about Mormons. We addressed her concerns and it didn't cause her to stumble at all. We laughed and jokingly said, "Is that all you've got, Satan?" It certainly wasn't. 

Within the next few days we were stressed out of our minds and at one point we weren't sure if this woman's baptism was going to happen. Satan has power and he doesn't want people to become members of God's church. Every time there is a baptism into Christ's church, there is some extreme opposition that tries to stop it. Sometimes it works. Most of the time it doesn't. This opposition was a testimony to me that this truly is Christ's restored church on the earth.

Playing Incredibly Beautiful Music

Business in the front, party in the back.

This last week we met a man named Jim. Jim told us about the love he had for the gospel and the richly blessed life he has led. I could definitely see the passion he had for the word of God. He is a good man who has definitely lived a good life. However, I couldn't help but feel a little sad for him. I'll explain why.

There's an analogy we use when we teach people about what happened after the death of the Apostles. We talk about how when they were alive, people had all the keys of the piano and they could play incredibly beautiful music. Once the Apostles were killed some of the keys were lost from the piano. For a long time, people had some of the keys (pieces of truth) and could play a few notes of music. While each of these keys does produce a musical note, the limited number of keys restricts the music that can be played.

When the Restoration happened, all the "piano keys" were restored to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This man, Jim, loved the music he could make with the keys that he had. He just wasn't aware that there were more out there.

That's why missionary work is so important. People need to know that there are greater songs to be played, but they don't know that there are more piano keys to help with that. "For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12).

Totally Worth It

Doesn't look like Florida? That's because it's not. This photo was taken
about a month before Elder Griffiths officially became another gator.

Why is living the gospel worth it? Because there is an EXTREME difference between how people feel and act when they live the gospel, and when they don't. Also, when we live the gospel, and it's true, what do we gain? Everything our Heavenly Father has in store for us. When we live the gospel, and it's false, what do we gain? Satisfaction in knowing that we were a good person and we helped people.

Luckily, I know that the gospel is true and that this life isn't some pointless existence. I thought the other day about how sad that would be. Yesterday, I watched a woman cry because she learned her family could be eternal through the power of the priesthood. How could living the gospel not be worth that?