I know I was sent here for specific people and my companion. I'm thankful to be here.

July 16, 2018  Another day another dawn. It was a pretty good week this week. We had another crazy hot week. But it was good. We were able to stay inside more as we were teaching and had zone conference on Wednesday. It was a really fun and spiritual conference. A lot was reflecting and reminding us why we are here. Another big focus was the Book or Mormon and how we need to utilize this powerful tool, as it is another testament of Jesus Christ. I love being able to see how the Bible and Book or Mormon go so hand in hand. A great example is in Matthew 3 when it is talking about Jesus Christ being baptized. It says in verse "15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.". It would be amazing to know how we can fulfill all righteousness wouldn't it? Well it actually does in the Book if Mormon in 2 Nephi 31:5-9 it reads "5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.". This is a great example of how the Bible and Book of Mormon work hand in hand. It makes so much sense to have more scripture then just the Bible as God loves all of his children and will bless all with his gospel. Just as John 10:16 says "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.". Our Father in heaven truly did give us these prophets in the Americas in the past to record about three people and about how they strived to come closer to Christ just as they did in the Bible. Of course the crowning moments of the Book or Mormon are when Christ came and visited the Americas which is recorded in 3 Nephi! I know the spirit has testified to me that the Book or Mormon is the word of God as well as the Bible. How amazing is it to have a loving Heavenly Father that continues to give us revelation through the Book of Mormon and our current day prophet Russell M. Nelson. Its comforting that God doesn't change as it says in Hebrews 13 "8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.". He will never leave us with no one to help lead and guide us, if we will be receptive and follow the spirit we can know of the truths of God. I was able to study about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the church more in depth this week. There's one thing that really popped out to me in a Book called "Our search for happiness" by Russell M. Ballard. It said (talking about Joseph Smith) "This was an extraordinary young man raised in an extraordinary family during extraordinary times. His motives were honest and his heart was pure.". I know this is so true, he gave up his life for this. No one would eternally damn themselves and die for a book if they didn't know with a surety that what they were doing was what the lord wanted them to do. We are blessed to have extraordinary people and this extraordinary Book of scripture, that along with the Bible, truly helps us strive more to like our Savior Jesus Christ. We had the opportunity to help our ward out this week and build some storage stuff in the attic of the church and it was a blast. It's a good time out here. I know I am able to make a change in others lives as well as mine. It's been an amazing growing experience to be here in St. Thomas and I know I was sent here for specific people and my companion. I'm thankful to be here. We are starting to see some really great success and progress from our efforts and am so excited to see what the future holds for this area. Hope everyone's summers are going great!!! Its a hot one holy! Love u all keep being great