Gateway to Heaven

       This week has been so great! We have been able to see Gods hand in everything we do. We have been able to help people progress towards wanting to be baptized. The first, is the man that my very first blog was about. He is getting baptized this week. He has gotten more and more excited about it and as we planned his baptism he had it all set up and ready to go. He is growing in the knowledge that our Savior loves him and wants him to improve, and keep growing his relationship with him. He is excited to follow his Lord and Redeemer into the waters of baptism, so he can enjoy the full blessings that God will give him.
       We have also been able to help others grow in their knowledge and how they feel about God. One friend asked us how to focus on the things that matter most, and not get distracted by the little things that the world tells us matters but doesn't really matter. We talked for a while and told them a few things that have helped us, however as we continued to talk and read scriptures we came to the conclusion that it is through reading the scriptures daily, praying daily that we are able to decide what matters most.

       We then read scriptures to reaffirm what we talked about. We read one about prayer and that we should pray in "our fields" and "in our houses" and "in our closets and our secret places." We learned we should pray in our heart everywhere, and in everything we do. We read a scripture about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it said "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." As this verse in Isaiah says he was wounded for us a bruised for us. He knows our pains and our short comings and because of this we are healed. This person then, as we closed, had a great experience that backed everything we taught. This person gave the closing prayer, as they did the spirit filled us all and they prayed for the things that were important to them and close to their heart. After the close of the prayer we sat in silence and the spirit testified to all of us that the Lord truly knew this friends heart and trouble and as they continued to read the scriptures and say prayers everyday that the Lord would help our friend with the challenges of life and help them progress toward the promise people make at baptism.
       I know that the Lord knows "his sheep"(which is us). He wants us all to come and build a relationship with him by being baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority. The blessings of baptism are endless! I love our Savior, Jesus Christ and know he is guiding his people!