Tuesday
started it all out. This is one of those few times I'm really serious
about things because of how big it is. We had gone to the temple to pick
up the other elders in our district and on the way to lunch we got a
text from President Orgill telling my companion Elder Brown to call his
dad, which if you're a missionary is never a text you want to see. After
a 15 minute phone call, Elder Brown hung up and told us that his mom
had passed away in her sleep. It was pretty unexpected so it was hard
for his family as something like that would be. But at the same time we
all felt so much for Elder Brown and his family, when we got out of the
car Elder Summers and I both just hugged him and we all cried for a
second. Even with this news Brown has continued to work hard and it has
just gone to strengthen his testimony of the Plan of Salvation. It is
truly amazing that the Lord has provided us with this knowledge that
makes it a lot less scary and sad when something like this happens.
On Thursday
we had the opportunity to go to the Gladys Knight and SUV choir
devotional with Brock and his mother. The music was super awesome but
way different then regular church music which was pretty fun. Brocks mom
who comes from a lot of the same background as Gladys Knight seemed to
really enjoy the whole things so hopefully it will lead into an even
better avenue of teaching her, especially since Brock is going to be
baptized in just a couple of weeks. After the performance we had to help
clean up which was much less fun. We didn't end up getting home until
about 2:00 AM so we were dead tired all day long on Friday.
And to make things crazier Elder Brown went back to Utah for the
funeral so we have had the other Elder Brown and Elder Rubon living with
us all weekend since we can't drive so its been pretty fun but it will
be nice to be back to normal this coming week.
Saturday and Sunday
were of course awesome with Ryland's baptism and confirmation and all.
The service was amazing, she had all sorts of family members there and
it turns out that one of her grandma's and one of her aunts and one of
her cousins are less active and then other family members there weren't
even members. Ryland is so excited to finally be baptized and now she is
going to already start being a missionary by trying to get her family
to come to church as well so we will see how that goes. Its always so
cool to be a part of confirming somebody and helping them receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost, it truly is one of the best gifts that our
Heavenly Father has given us and to be able to share that with people
and give them that opportunity to have his companionship in their life
is awesome.
One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of
Mormon has taken on a whole new meaning this week, its in the book of
Jarom in verse 2 and says "And as these plates are small, and as these
things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the
Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little;but I shall
not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation?
I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me." As we have tried our best
to comfort and help Elder Brown through this trial it has led me to
think a lot on the Plan of Salvation as well and this scripture,
although simple and not that long, really is rather profound. In this
life the Plan of Salvation truly provides hope and peace through any
trial we might have and central to that plan is the Atonement of our
Savior Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and the ultimate source of hope
in this life. Like Jarom I can agree that no matter what we teach people
or what we do, if we help them understand the Plan of Salvation and if
we come to know it ourselves we will be so much better off and when the
hard times come, because they do, we will be ready and will be able to
stay firm on the rock of Christ. I love this gospel so much!
Love
Elder Cheever
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