Tatted Heart and an Out of Place Steeple

 We spent some time this week in the Dickinson County Fair, mostly just as ambassadors for the church. What follows is a pic of Dawnine's Second Place entry, a red tatted heart.

 We met and greeted people as they ambled by. We did encounter many people who gave us a “thumbs up” gesture when they recognized we are members of Mitt Romney’s church. We just wished one or two would have stopped long enough for us to testify we are, in addition, Christ’s true church. There was a good deal of member support at the fair with some of them having good, polite missionary discussions. I sometimes feel we look too imposing in our white shirt, tie and, in Sister Johnson’s case, skirt. We did have one father, who, after walking back and forth in front of the booth several times, usually to take a young child to the restroom, finally approached and with a hesitant voice wanted to know if he could ask a question. We said, “sure” preparing for the worst. Then in a quieter voice he asked, “Why does the steeple to your building sit on the ground next to it? Is there some religious reason?” We assured him that the nearby airport had requested the steeple not be placed on the building because of a combination of height and proximity to the runway. (If the building is ever expanded, we do have permission to install the steeple on the building further back from the road.)

So, what would be your best made up reason why the Mormons
placed their church's steeple on the ground and not on their building?

 A couple of weeks ago we had the clear impression to get our less active members and investigator (re)involved in reading the Book of Mormon. This week we committed all three of them to do so. We shared the revelation of Joseph Smith when he said, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts than any other book." Each of these people has expressed a sincere desire to "get nearer to God" and were excited to start. A clear indication of the validity of the spiritual prompting. One brother who has some vision problems asked the Elder's Quorum President to see if there was a large print edition of the Book of Mormon in the church library. We heard about it and were able to drop off a copy we had previously ordered from Salt Lake. After we left he is reported to have asked his father, "can we start reading right now." Sister Johnson made it easier for each of them by sharing check-off sheets to help them mark their reading progress.

Reading this book and praying to see if it is God's revealed word will
change your life for the better. We testify that God will reveal the truth of it to you!

 In testimony meeting yesterday, the branch’s newest member Brittney Stevens bore her testimony for the very first time. Her testimony, along with others, brought a very special spirit into the entire meeting, one we have felt but few other times in our lives. Practically each testimony bearer spoke of their feelings of being lost with questions no one could answer, and then being found by the missionaries and obtaining the accompanying witness as to the truth of the restoration. Somehow, the challenges these members face, day in and day out, strengthen and refine them to a remarkable degree.  Any missionary who was present could not help but feel a renewed sense of urgency to work hard to find those the Lord is preparing, His lost sheep will recognize His voice. We happily keep looking!

His grateful under shepherds,

Elder and Sister Johnson