Dear Family and Loved Ones,
Well, our vacation from 5:00 a.m. mornings is over – tomorrow we begin early morning seminary. Ben and Mari are very good sports about waking up so early, they had a great experience last year and are looking forward to another good year.
Ted is half-way through interviews, by the end of the week he will have completed 140 interviews. He really looks forward to meeting with each missionary.
This is our last week of this transfer (it went so fast). We start all of our departure traditions Tuesday with a session at the Newport Beach temple, Sunday will be our departure fireside and a week from Monday our five departing missionaries will have their final interviews, departure dinner and testimony meeting. Our departing missionaries this month are from four different countries: Mexico, Peru, Tonga and USA. They will be a great strength to their wards and stakes. Two of our international missionaries, one who recently returned to Spain and the other to Chile, have already been called to serve as the Young Mens Presidents in their wards.
We had a visit from Shalane and Cody (our niece and nephew) who were here for a big football game. Since they are Utah fans they were disappointed with the outcome of the USC vs. Utah game. They did enjoy seeing in stadium that seats 100,000 and was nearly full. Another highlight was eating at Cody’s former missionary companion’s taco stand in LA. They said the food was very authentic and delicious. The taco stand is really a portable grill and tables which were set up on a concrete ledge with a view of the LA skyline (which is very beautiful at night). We loved having them join us for our Sunday meetings. They commented on what a great ward we have – which is very true! Our lesson in Sunday School was particularly enjoyable and Cody was even called on to write some key points on the whiteboard. He impressed everyone by effortlessly spelling “intellectualism”. We only got half-way through the lesson so we all agreed that he needs to return next week to be our class scribe.
Towards the end of our Sunday School lesson one of the brothers in the class was asked by the teacher what he has been studying recently. This brother is very scholarly and often has great insights about religious and cultural history. His comments often enhance the lesson but today he held up a large book and said, “I’m reading this anti-Mormon biography about the Prophet Joseph Smith.” He went on to explain that as an attorney he finds it entertaining to read what those who criticize the Church and its leaders have to say because he knows that 90% of it wouldn’t be admissible in court of law and the other 10% he can explain. The class time was nearly over, it seemed like a shame to end on such a sour note, especially after an otherwise great lesson. A sister raised her hand and said, “I don’t need to worry about what is in that book or about what any of the critics of the Church have to say. I have read the Book of Mormon, I know how I feel when I read it so I know Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Church is true”. Her testimony brought the Spirit back to the room, we all marveled at how a simple testimony could turn things around so quickly. Something that made the moment even more remarkable is that this sister is just returning to activity after many years of being away from the Church.
Elder Wirthlin said concerning the Book of Mormon, “Conversion to it is conversion to Christ, because this book contains the words of Christ. The very title page of the Book of Mormon proclaims its purpose: ‘To the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ’.”
“Additionally, conversion to this inspired book is conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, because it contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord told Joseph Smith in the Doctrine and Covenants, “And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fullness of the gospel.” (D&C 42:12)
“Finally, conversion to the Book of Mormon is conversion to the divine, prophetic calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is the divine evidence of the truthfulness of Joseph Smith’s calling. Either this is all true, or it is not.”
What a simple but beautiful principle, by reading the Book of Mormon one can gain their own testimony which will allow them to withstand the attacks of the skeptics and critics.
We love you all,
The Long Beach Buberts
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