Bringing the Gospel to Brazil: General Conference Baby

The Church is True

This week was great because we got to hear the Prophet and his apostles speak. It was amazing watching conference for the first time in a different language. It was also exciting seeing our investigators bring questions to conference and have their questions be answered. Before I talk about conference, I want to tell a story. Probably my first week in the field, Elder Muller and I found this 50-60 year old woman to teach. Our lessons with her were alright, but we didn’t see enough progress to continue teaching her. About a month later, we returned to her house and found her daughter, son in law, and granddaughter. We taught them, and it was awesome. They were so engaged in the lesson. So we kept teaching them... but there is always a problem with families. No one is ever married civilly (including this family). We were then pretty discouraged, but we kept teaching. Last Monday night as we were teaching the commandments, their 12 year-old daughter exclaimed that she had to be baptized! It was crazy. She might be the most perfect investigator ever. She doesn’t drink coffee or tea, doesn’t eat meat, has high standards when it comes to modesty, loves to read the Book of Mormon, and is always helping out the family. She came to conference this week and loved it. Miracles are real people, and we are baptizing her at the end of this transfer! But conference was amazing, some of my favorite parts include. Elder Craig C. Christensen’s remark on how we should read the Book of Mormon like Joseph Smith was translating it for the first time. I never thought about how cool this is and want to apply it to my personal study. Elder Neil L. Andersen’s building the puzzle of God... All of us need to be missionaries... and the more people who are serving the faster the kingdom or puzzle of God will be built. Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita’s talk had a powerful impact on me. Don´t complain while serving the Lord... It is the greatest blessing we have. Always improve. Elder Peter F. Meurs’ 5 steps and reflection of how we can improve our partaking of the sacrament. Pres. Henry B. Eyring’s discourse on how the Sabbath day is a day of gratitude and love. Elder David A. Bednar… How can we know Christ (faith, follow, serve, believe). Elder Dale G. Renlund’s advice on how an unimaginable happiness comes through real repentance. Redeemer want to forgive us. Overall, every talk was outstanding... Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see priesthood session cause it starts at 9 out here. But I can’t wait to read it in a month or two. I know we have a prophet in this dispensation, and I am so grateful for him. He receives revelation for us, and through following his teachings, we better prepare ourselves for this life and the life after this. Thank you for your love and prayers.

Elder Bodine