Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot to report on this week. We had a church tour scheduled with William on Wednesday, and he texted us like 10 minutes before saying that he got called into work and had to cancel. We set up a different appointment with him that he also cancelled later. We called, texted, and stopped by his house all week long with basically no luck. It's not that he's not interested anymore, I think it's just that he's super busy and when he's not at work he is sleeping. It's definitely frustrating when you are unable to get in contact with the person who you are most excited about and who has the greatest desire to learn. Keep William in your prayers. We need to get in touch soon so we can help him receive the blessings of the gospel in his life.
We did meet one awesome guy this week named Rick. We met him while tracting in the rain this week. Not very fun, but is was about the only thing we had to do at that point. He's going to school right now for computer science, and he doesn't really seem to have a home church, which is awesome for us. His sister lives in town, and he has been going to her Methodist church lately, but I don't think he's really a "member." We talked to him for about 15 minutes about the Book of Mormon and about the Church, and he was super excited to learn more about it and to read it. We made an appointment with him for Tuesday this week, and are hopeful that he will continue to be open to learning.
We were able to meet one more time this week with Mason, the lady that the Sisters are teaching. It was a fun conversation, but to tell you the truth, it was almost useless. We kind of got stuck at an "agree to disagree" spot about several topics. Mason is basically too smart for her own good. She claims that she doesn't know everything, and claims that there may be some things that she believes which are wrong, yet acts as if she already has all the answers and is not open to new truth that we share. She had continued questions about eternal marriage, temples and freemasonry, the fallibility (or infallibility) of the Bible, the nature of the Godhead/Trinity, the eternal nature of agency, and the laws that God operates under. There were lots of things discussed. Perhaps the one useful thing we did do was just when we put to rest many misconceptions and misunderstandings that she (and that most people) have about the Church. There were several topics that we were able to clarify for her, which was good. However, the main bulk of the conversation was just us all coming to the realization that we "interpret" or understand the scriptures differently, and are each unwilling to change our views. The issue there is that our "interpretation" or understanding comes from living prophets, whose prerogative it is to help us understand the teachings in the scriptures, while her understanding comes from her own study and own speculation. It all comes down to this one question: Is the Book of Mormon true? If the answer is yes (which it is) then Joseph Smith was a prophet, and Russell M. Nelson is a prophet, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and its teachings are true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Anyone who reads it with an open heart and a desire to be taught by the Spirit will come to know of that truth for themselves. If we read it with the "this book is false, prove me wrong" mindset (like Mason) then we will never come to knowledge of the truth. The witness comes after the trial of our faith, not before. God isn't going to change our mind if we have already made it up. Be open. Have faith. Believe. Paul said, "prove all things; hold fast to that which is good." When we do, the truth will come.
If there is one thing I've learned on my mission, it's that everything that the Church teaches finds its basis in the scriptures. What the scriptures teach, we teach. I have a strong testimony of that. The scriptures have been expounded upon by living prophets, but that doesn't change what they say. It simply helps us to understand them.
We are continuing to work hard here in Tuscaloosa. So far, the fruit of our labors has seemed small, but I know that the Lord is blessing us for our efforts. This is His work, and he's laboring with us. I know that people are out there ready to receive us, and receive Him.
Again, it was great to talk to much of my family yesterday. Keep being awesome. I look forward to the end of July, but I'll try not to dwell on it until it gets here. It will soon enough! Love y'all!
Elder Beach
#RollTide
PS - We had Zone Conference this week, and I thought I'd share a quote of the week from President Sainsbury. He was paraphrasing Elder Uchtdorf, who talked about how the Church is not a showroom where members can show off, but rather like a hospital where people can come to get better. President was joking about how some people tend not to realize that sometimes, and he said, "This hospital sucks, there's a sick person next to me." Haha it was so funny. Just remember to not be like that. Everyone is trying to get better. Let's help each other out, not tear each other down.
Tracting in the rain.
Bessemer Zone Conference.
Missionaries in Tuscaloosa with Elder Peter Johnson who was recently called to be a Seventy. He is from the Tuscaloosa ward, but will soon be moving to Salt Lake City for his new calling.
Elder Erickson ran over a nail.
Talking to my parents on Mother's Day.
Only in Alabama...
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