Do You Know What an Angel Is?!

Well, it was a good week, especially with zone conference.  Zone Conference was a blast.  I love President Kretly.  I wish I could convey what happens here, but I don't have the words.  Basically, he is asking us for another miracle again and I think he has given us more than enough tools to do it. I mean, with the Lord on your side, how is it not possible? The skits for zone conference were interesting and it was so hot in the church because the AC was broken again, but that didn't stop us at all from laughing. Our skit was a chappa (bus).  I was the annoying lady that always gets on with a baby and complains about everything from the seats to the way the driver puts his hands on the wheel.  The kapalana that I am holding was this lady's baby that accidentally got ejected from the chappa when they hit a ginormous pot hole in the road (not kidding, they have the ability to take out fillings and teeth).  This happened when Elder Peckham was riding with his Jr. companion Elder Thomas (the Elder rejecting the kapalana).  After the accident I asked him where the baby went and he says he doesn't know and then I ask him what church he is from and he pulls out a Muslim cap and puts it on.  My explanation does absolutely no justice, but it was hilarious.

That's not even the half of my week.  On the way to zone conference I tried to jump over this lake in front of the chapel here to get to the door and I slipped and fell flat on my back. No harm done, but my pants and jacket were destroyed with mud and sand and President Kretly was five minutes away in his car. Obviously, he understood my situation but everyone had a good laugh.  Then, later on Saturday night we were doing contacts and I saw these two men who looked like they wanted to be talked to or at least baptized (ha ha!).  So we start talking to them and they seem pretty interested and asking good questions, but as the time goes on I start to feel like it's too good to be true and it turns out that it was. These two gentlemen were from my least favorite church in the world (which explains their actions) and I had figured it out before the words left their mouths.  Instantly, my companion left me to go do more contacts (while staying in sight because he knew I would be there for a while).  The questions got off the topic of the restoration and some how got to angels and then this man asked me if I had ever seen an angel.  Kind of an odd question, but I told him that I have seen angels.  He looked at me surprised and his friend said, "Wait, do you know what an angel is?"  I said, "Yes, a messenger from God."  Part of the only reason why I had known that or said that I had seen that was because of zone conference.  President Kretly was talking about miracles and reading out of the last part of Moroni about if miracles have ceased it is because of the unbelief of men.  In that part of scripture, if I am not mistaken, it says "Have angels ceased to visit the earth?"  These were all really cool things, but the fact remained that I know I have seen angels, whether they be in the form other people answering prayers or celestial beings revealing the gospel.  If these things have ceased, "Then wo be unto men."  So after our understanding had been made clear he asked me again. "Have you seen an angel?????"  I said to him again, "YES", then he said, "Well, my friend", (in a laughing voice) "then your church is true." Then I said, "Great!  Then why don't you come and join our church or at least visit it to see what it's like?"  He then proceeded to find another excuse of why I had not seen an angel or angels in my life.  I almost wanted to say, "Excuse me, have you not met my mother??" and yes, I am bragging.  That was such a huge testimony builder for me. Really kinda funny, but I know that if you speak His words you will not be confounded.  After that, and other things, I got their contacts (which they denied to give me at the start, but had since forgotten).  It was a testimony builder and that was big for me.

So, I was thinking of what you were saying in your letter and I think Alma 37:38 -47 might go along with it.  It talks about the likeness of the Liahona and other things.  There is a story about a merchant who searched out a pearl of great price and when he found it, he sold all he had to obtain it (that's a parable by the Savior).  Elder Cook gave a continuation of it saying, "Then he proceeded to then search out a box to display it and had it engraved with fine gold and workmanship.  He had the pearl placed inside and set it on display so the world could see his pearl of great price.  But instead of the people noticing the greatness of the pearl, they instead marveled at the box and it's design and facets.  Moral of the story, sometimes that's how people see the Gospel.  They don't really know what they have.  The fact is, it takes faith and hard work.  Like a kid picking up a soccer ball for the first time.  A pair of shoes, hard work and a ball are all you need to unlock the inner champion in him.  Much like the scriptures and hard work with the spirit are what you need to do to unlock the inner son or daughter of God in you.  Eternal perspective only comes when you do those things that your father in heaven asks of you.  Eternal happiness only comes by putting off the natural man and becoming a son or daughter of God through his Son.  The atonement is such a wonderful thing.  Not only does it rescue and save, but it strengthens, lifts and enables you to do those things that you yourself can not do.  We are like super heroes in a normal and dull world.  Why shouldn't we use this to help others and do good continually?  It would be a shame if we didn't.  Cherish this gospel, share this gospel (the world could use a few more super heroes).Have a good week,

Lots of love,

Elder Proksch