July 26, 2005

• ". . . Now, I unfold unto you a mystery . . . there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know . . . there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know. . ." (Alma 40:3,9).
  

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  I am in awe at the mercy, power, goodness, and plan of our God.

  Yesterday I had a great conversation with a woman at the pool. We had previously and in brief talked about me being Mormon. Yesterday, out of the blue, she asked about the differences between Mormons and Protestants. She was so excited about what I said. Our conversation soon became about what it is to be a Christian in this area. One of the things she asked me about was what I thought would happen to the Jews since they are God's chosen people. We also talked about whether or not those who do not accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ are immediately damned and what happens between death and resurrection. I explained the LDS concept of the spirit world- of paradise (as explained in Alma 40:6-13) as a period after death when those who have not known or accepted Jesus Christ will be taught about Him and given an opportunity to choose His Gospel.

  Our conversation went so well that when I got home I got a Book of Mormon to give her complete with something that would answer the questions she had about the Jews, the time after death, etc. I prayed so hard that I would be able to see her today to give it to her. When I got to work at three it had been so cloudy all day that not a single person had come to the pool. I assumed that today just wouldn't be the day, after all, who would want to go to the pool with an approaching storm. At three fifteen she pulled into the parking lot. I was shocked.

  With tears in her eyes, she explained to me that yesterday her boyfriend's mother had died- at the same time we had had our conversation. She said that our conversation helped her and her boyfriend get through it because of what I had said about the spirit paradise considering his mom had not necessarily been in the best of spiritual situations. I was so taken a back and touched by her sincerity I didn't know what to say. I presented her with the Book of Mormon and she said that she was very interested in it. We had another great conversation alone in the rain at the pool. She was the only person to come to the pool today, considering as she left it became quite the rainstorm.

  I am amazed at the way God works in our lives. My prayer was answered, but much more importantly peoples lives were touched during hard times. God is good.
  

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  "Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." (Alma 40:11).

  • 9:45 pm
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