Tuesday: We got a text from Jason Devlin (an investigator we were trying to teach, we taught him once on the 7th, but couldn't ever get a return appointment.) He texted us and said he would have to cancel due to a presentation he would have to give for a new job he applied for. So we rescheduled for Wednesday. Later in the day we taught Anaya Cox, we read some stories out of the Book of Mormon stories and asked her how they applied to her in her life. And she shared a personal experience that fit in perfectly with the parable in the stories!
Wednesday: After our companionship study in the morning
we decided to watch a video on "the District" (a video of good
missionaries teaching and telling their stories) and Elder Fitzgerald was like
why can't we be amazing like them! And as he finished saying that. Jason Devlin
texted us and said he had a crazy day and would have to reschedule for next
week. And Elder Fitzgerald was like NO!
You tell him we have to meet with him, and the longer he waits the more
Satan will have to work doubt into his life. So I texted him back and said we
needed to share a quick message with him, even if it was only for 5-10 minutes. He agreed to let us come over. So we went over and
started talking about the first vision with Jospeh Smith, but this time we
talked about the part where he was seized upon by some unseen being. And how he
went through this power struggle. And in his own words in Jospeh Smith History
verses 15-17 he stated.
15 After I had retired to the place where I had
previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I
kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had
scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which
entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind
my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it
seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to
deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the
very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to
destruction--not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being
from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt
in any being--just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light
exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually
until it fell upon me.
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered
from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two
Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me
in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to
the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"
I promised him that Satan tried everything he could to
prevent Jospeh Smith from praying, because he knew that he would restore the
church of Jesus Christ again on the earth. And I said "Jason I promise you
that the moment you step into the waters of baptism you will know undoubtedly
that this is what God wants you to be doing. And that this is all true in the
name of Jesus Christ amen." He replied with, "what do I need to do to
be baptized?" So we told him all the details to be baptized and he still
wanted to be baptized on December 24 (on the 7th we invited him to be baptized
on the 24th) so we knew we had to teach him all the lessons in a couple of days.
Thursday: We started our day by teaching Jason about some
of the commandments we've been given by prophets of old and modern day
prophets. And he said he would live and abide by them. It was a good thing our
ward mission leader was there to help us talk about the word of wisdom and the
reason behind it even if the person is already healthy and fit. Later in the
day, President Peters (Our mission Presidents assistant) interviewed Jason due
to a past experience, to see if he was ready to be baptized.
Friday: We taught Jason his final lesson and he is
prepared to be baptized. After our lesson we helped him set up all the painter
tape around the window seals and in other places in his basement and helped him
paint a little bit. Our District Leader Elder Rodriguez had to do the baptismal
interview with him at night and he passed and is all good to be baptized! We
taught the Marzban family English again and man is it fun to teach English to
them. We are learning some Farsi (or Persian) as well.
Saturday: Today was on of my favorite days of my mission
so far! We went over to the church building at 6:30 and started filling the
font for Jason's baptism at 10. (Yes it took that long) It was a great
baptismal service. I was asked to give a talk on baptism. I mainly focused on
how baptism is only the first step. How going to the temple and being sealed
with his family for time and eternity was the ultimate goal. Jason asked his
friend Chris Reese to baptize him and he is a smaller guy, and Jason is like
6'4 so that was very interesting and fun to watch. While Jason was changing,
Elder Fitzgerald started talking about our story with Jason and how it all went
down and how fast we taught him and his conversion story. After the service and
everyone left, he came up to us and was grateful for how bold we were with him,
and the spirit we brought into his home. We didn't plan very well, and realized
we didn't have a dinner appointment for Christmas Eve, so we went to Cafe Rio.
At night we went over to Thal Dixons home. Who has been one of my favorite
people on my mission so far. We did their family traditions and all the fun
stuff. He gave us a gift, the gift was one of his poem books he wrote while on
his mission. The Book won best in state for poetry. It's called "A Called
Servant" (he has 6 children books published so far)
Sunday: Merry Christmas! My first Christmas out on my
mission. We went to the special combined sacrament meeting with the crescent
ridge 5th and 6th Ward. Jason was confirmed. Bishop Davies from the 6th Ward
did the ordination. After sacrament we started shoveling snow around our car so
we could get out! It snowed like 9 inches last night! After we got the car out,
we went over to the Jones home. With all 8 of their kids (one is on a mission
so they have 9) we opened up our Christmas presents at their house with their
kids. I got a few ties, a sweater, some food, and a basketball. After that We
got to Skype home for an hour and it was an amazing experience to talk back
home with family.
One of my closest friends Steve Luther got to come over
for the last ten minutes and I got to talk to him. After the call, we played
games with all the Jones family. Great Christmas and good way to end the
miracle week. I hope everyone had a great Christmas.
Love,
Elder Ashby
Pictures of Jason's Baptism
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