K and D's Family Blog: Work, Blessings, Work, Blessings, etc.

This past week was sensational. Br. Matson, the less active brother who feels he was healed through a priesthood blessing, threw the door open for us as we came up the walk. He was very happy to see us. His life is beginning to turn around. We read some from the Book of Mormon, gave a lesson from the Gospel Principles manual and shared a talk on grace, "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. It is a talk we have frequently used. It explains how the grace of God works to enable us, explains His desire for us to succeed and His constant and perfect help for our return to Father in Heaven. Br. Matson was very touched and the Spirit was extremely strong and witnessed to all present. He has a long way to go but he has a lot of help and encouragement.

Br. Klingman, who lives in the same small town, was also touched by the Brad Wilcox talk. (We had left it with him the previous week.) He read it once and commented that he needed to read it again to grasp all the concepts. He is working on "forgiving" and "guilt" caused, he says, by a marriage gone wrong which resulted with his life and children both going off the path. We shared Pres. Eyring's talk from the last conference "Mountains to Climb". (This talk was identified to us as one that really helped Erik Baker the member who is in prison) We have challenged him to re-read the B of M. He frequently comments that he is grateful for our visits. He marvels that we would be willing to leave home and family to come out to serve for a couple of years. We explained about the multiple blessings we are receiving and that, even so, we are still in the Lord's debt and will ever be. He suggested that he and the aforementioned Br. Matson should ride to church together. He's getting close. Both he and Br. Matson gave the closing prayers at the conclusion of our visits.

Bob Peters, our investigator of 30 years, continues to show some interest. Reading Alma 8 together with him allowed us to have a good gospel discussion. We talked about some of the witnesses the Lord sends to counteract the temptations of Satan. (I believe the Lord sends us many witnesses of the restoration of his true church. None replace the need for faith. Witnesses do, however, give a convincing counterpoint to the temptations Satan is allowed to use.) Actually it was more explanation and less discussion. He understands but doesn't seem to be emotionally engaged. He's a good man who needs the church but doesn't yet get the difference between salvation and exaltation. We will keep working. We have faith that, if it is the Lord's will, a way will be provided for him to know based on the Lord's time of course. We tried to explain that salvation is like a Hersey's Kiss, good but not the best. Exaltation, on the other hand, is like Godiva chocolate much, much more desirable; and is available just for the asking. In fact the Lord expects us to ask: John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. We had he and his daughter over for dinner yesterday on Father' Day. It was a pleasant time together.

We spent time this week inviting members to various July activities sponsored by the branch. We give them a flyer prepared by Sister Johnson. We have had a pretty good response, now if we can get the leaders to just follow through with a few phone reminders, our results will be even better.

Iron Mountain LDS Branch

July 2012 Activities

Saturday, July 7^th (10 am – 5 pm)

Branch Potluck Picnic (Hot Dogs Provided)

@ Cowboy Lake for entire family