The Gospel Changes Lives!

So this has been one of the best weeks we have had so far! We were able to teach so many people. So we have been teaching someone named Zach for the last few weeks. His mom is a member of the church but when he was little he never liked going and so he fell away. His life has been very hard and he has struggled with some serious addictions. He realized how bad life was and wanted to make a change. That was right before we stopped by. The Lord put us in his path at the perfect timing in his life for him to hear the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. He has been taking the lessons with us and I have seen the change the Savior's atonement has made in his life. He is so much happier and has been able to overcome his addictions by relying on the Savior. So last Tuesday we invited him to be baptized and now he has set a date for May 28th. I am so excited and happy for him. It has been amazing seeing him progress these last few weeks as he has relied on our Savior Jesus Christ. This has been such an awesome experience to see someone partake of the happiness that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings. As I have been able to partake of the happiness in my life and the joy that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ and his Gospel I want to share it with others so much. I know it has changed my life and I know it can change everyone's life if they let it. This experience has made me think of such an amazing poem my sister Darci sent me yesterday.

"After All We Can Do

I’d been in that hole for a very long time –

In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.

The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear,

But there’s no way I ever could reach it from here.

Nor could I remember the world way up there,

So I lost all my hope and gave into despair.

I knew nothing but darkness, the floors, and the walls,

When from off in the distance I heard someone call, 

“Get up! Get ready! There’s nothing the matter!

Take rocks and take sticks and build up a fine ladder.”

This had never occurred to me, had not crossed my mind,

So I started to stack all the stones I could find.

When I ran out of stones, the old sticks were my goal,

For some way or another I’d get out of that hole.

So I soon had a ladder that was really quite tall,

And I thought, “I’ll soon leave this place once and for all!”

Then I climbed up my ladder, it was no easy chore –

For from lifting those boulders my shoulders were sore.

So I worked and I climbed and at last had to stop,

For my ladder stopped short – some ten feet from the top.

I climbed back down the ladder and felt all around,

But there were no more boulders nor sticks to be found.

I went back to my ladder and started to cry.

I’d done all I could do; I gave my best try.

But in spite of my work, in this hole I must die,

And all I could do was to sit and think, “Why?”

Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much too deep?

Then from way up on high came a voice: “Do not weep.”

And then hope, love, and faith entered my chest,

As the voice said to me that I’d done my best.

He said, “Nothing’s the matter.  There’s reason to hope.

Just climb up your ladder; I’ll throw down my rope.

You have worked very hard, and your labor’s been rough,

But the ladder you’ve built is at last tall enough.”

I climbed up the ladder, then climbed up the cord.

When I stood at the top, there stood the Lord.

I’ve never been happier; my struggle was done.

I blinked in the brightness that came from the Son.

I fell to the ground; his feet did I kiss.

I cried, “What can I do to repay thee for this?”

He looked all around Him – there were holes in the ground.

They had people inside, and were seen all around.

There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark, and deep.

Then the Lord turned to me and He said, “Feed my sheep.”

Then He went on His way to help other lost souls.

And I got right to work, calling down to the holes,

“Get up!  Get ready! There’s nothing the matter! 

Take rocks and take sticks and build up a find ladder!”

It now was my turn to spread the good word.

The most glorious message that man ever heard.

That there’s One who is willing to save one and all,

And we’ve got to be ready when He gives the call.

He’ll pull us all out of the hole that we’re in,

And save all our souls from death and from sin.

So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope:

Just build up your ladder; He’ll throw down His rope.

By Elder Robbie Pierce,  2000"

Another amazing experience we had this past week was on Wednesday night. We have been teaching this couple Emily and Charles and their two kids Manny and Benjamin, for the last two weeks. On Wednesday we were able to take them on a temple tour. It was such a spiritual experience. The temple is a special place and the spirit was so strong there and we walked them around and explained what happens in the temple and how they can be sealed there for time and all eternity. We were able to take them inside to the waiting room and they kept commenting on how peaceful and happy it felt there. We were able to explain that that was the Holy Ghost testifying to them of holiness of Gods house. I love seeing the words on the front of every temple. "Holiness to the Lord. The house of the Lord" I know that the temple is truly the House of the Lord and it felt wonderful to be able to show someone else that as well. 
So yesterday was mothers day and I just want to say how much I love my mother. She is such an amazing woman that has been such an example to me my whole life. She is so loving and kind. Words cannot describe the impact she has had in my life. I would not be on my mission if it wasn't for her. I had the special opportunity to Skype home to my family and my mother. I love them all so much.
God is our loving Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. This is His Church. We are doing His work. The Book of Mormon is His word. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and they restored the Gospel through him. 

Love, Elder Hallmark