August 13, 2007

  • From a letter dated August 6, 2007

    Dear friends, family, and random strangers,

    AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

    What can I say more.

    A different note:

    On Saturday we found the most awesome family of 5 to teach ever. They are active Pentecostals, but they were completely prepared by the Lord to receive us. We found them tracting a street that we had been lead to by the Spirit. When we knocked on the door, the father answered and said, "So you guys are the Mormons? or what else are you called, oh yeah, Latter-day Saints. Well, I guess this is a good time for you to come in and share your message."

    He then sat us down on the couch and introduced each of his children. Then he turned to his family and said, "These men have brought us the word of God, please listen to them." Then he turned and looked at us!

    Ernest (the father) knew a little bit about us from the media. He and his family are from Nigeria, and the Church recently built a beautiful temple there in Aba, and Apostles and others from the Church have recently received a lot of press there from their visits to the country. He also knew a little bit about polygamy. He did not know much about Joseph Smith or the start of the Church or its doctrine.

    As we taught the family the eight principles of the first lesson (the restoration), they accepted everything. They asked profound questions that indicated that they understood and agreed with our message. He would occationally say things like "The people in Nigeria would accept this message," and "Our family has no problem believing that."

    We talked in great detail about the Book of Mormon. He accepted with great excitement the notion that Jesus Christ had appeared to a group of ancient Americans. In the closing prayer, which he offered, he thanked God for letting us know about Jesus' first visit to the Americas.

    One of the concerns he did have was over polygamy. He had no problem with the notion that polygamy had been revealed as a commandment in the early days of the Church. His problem was that it had been removed from the Church at what he felt like was pressure from the government. As I explained the concept of revelation and that both the start and the end of plural marriage was revelation, he asked if God had changed His mind. He couldn't understand what God's intention was with starting something if he was just going to stop it later. I told the story of Abraham and the command to sacrifice Isaac. Ernest replyed, "So it all boils down to obedience. It's about following the prophets of God."

    When we asked if they believed God would tell them that this is true, he said he would expect it. He believes that God speaks to man, and that prior to Christ's second coming more and more people will be lead to and find the truth and the gifts of the Spirit. I am telling you, he has been prepared to receive this message. He goes to Nigeria frequently on business, and we have the address of the Temple there so he can go and visit it. I am just stoked about the whole thing.

    I love you all so much. I can't wait to see you all.

    Sincerely,

    Elder Embree