Amazing Witnesses of Christ

So for the past two days there has been quite the debate on facebook that I have found myself embroiled into...About the legitimacy of the Book of Mormon.  It started when a friend of mine from high school posted a link to a video about Bill Maher talking about how people have 'finally' pulled the 'Mormon card' on Mitt Romney.  Only for almost the entire video, he's not talking about that; he was bashing the LDS Church.  I felt like I needed to stand up for what I believe in...and then came the ongoing debate.

However, today I really felt an amazing witness about the Book of Mormon and how the Holy Ghost will give us the words we need to say when we need them.  I won't go into detail about what was said, but I really felt like a missionary talking to a difficult 'investigator'.  Then I remembered a scripture and looked it up...

Really the whole section spoke to me in a really powerful way (it's Doctrine and Covenants section 11) but here is the kick in the gut, awesome reference:

21 Seek not to declare‍ my word, but first seek to obtain‍ my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit‍ and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing‍ of men.

So amazing! :D Something else that I have noticed...is that in the past week or so I have really tried to study my scriptures and the Preach My Gospel manual every day.  What really astounds me...is the knowledge you gain when you have faith.  You can see things that those without faith can't...It's not about 'proof', it's about faith.  It reminds me of another scripture...This time from 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 14:

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It really does make me sad...it hurts to think that there are those out there who don't have the faith to understand.  They nitpick at the little details of things to try and say it isn't true...when it is so simple...all you have to do it pray about it to know if it's true, and BAM!  You get your answer; no more wondering, no more angry, heated debate.  It's as plain as the nose on your face.  But just like so many of the ancient Israelites and the brass snake, it's much too simple to work.  How many could be saved if they merely looked up?  How many in our day could be saved if they merely prayed to know? 

While it is emotionally exhausting trying to 'defend' my beliefs against those who obviously have already made up their mind to the contrary, I know that it is just a taste of what it will be like on my mission. It reminds me of part of my partiarchal blessing that says "God has answered many of your prayers.  If you ponder them, you will recognize what they are, and they will help to reaffirm your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Do not let anyone hinder, or hurt, or destroy that testimony." While it hurt a little to see people trying to rip apart a book I have come to love with all my heart, it did nothing but strengthen my testimony that it is true.  Nothing that any supposed 'expert' could say would make me believe otherwise.  I also know that while my mission going to be one of the hardest things I will ever do, and I will have to sacrifice a lot to get there, I know that even if I only help one person find their way out of the darkness, it will be worth every effort made to do so. 

A good friend of mine sent me this picture...it is the mission goals of Elder Bruce R. McConkie...it really spoke to me, so I thought I would share:

I will post again soon with more awesome missionary moments, but for now, this will have to do. 

Always remember who you are:  A beloved Son or Daughter of Heavenly Father, and as such you were born with inheirant power over Satan and his minions.  Look Satan in the eye and say with power, like Sarah in the movie Labyrinth, "You have no power over me."