{Letter #38} "ERNESTLY" Seeking for Truth

Hello family and friends!

This week has been very busy! Being in the Portland and Beaverton area gives us a lot to do around here. The main highlight from this week was teaching our friend Ernest!

We have taught him a few times throughout the week, the most recent lesson being yesterday. After our previous lesson he had prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet and if The Book of Mormon is true. He had received a yes both times he prayed!

He was super excited to tell us about it when we first arrived yesterday. He wanted to know what he has to do to act on this knowledge and understanding that he has gained. We taught him about what Christ taught when He was on earth, being faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

After talking about baptism Ernest brought up that he had been baptized before. We talked a little bit about priesthood authority, but he said that he didn't understand. So we turned to the scriptures! They always teach more effectively and more simply than we can. We turned to where Christ gave the authority to baptize in His name in 3 Nephi 11:19-28 in The Book of Mormon.

After reading this Ernest was so excited to be baptized, but by proper authority this time! He was so excited that he actually set the date and time himself! The Spirit was very strong in that lesson!

When diligently seek for answers in the scriptures and through prayer, God will reveal them to us through the power of the Holy Ghost!

The prophet Nephi taught:

"For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round."(1 Nephi 10:19)

God will reveal His mysteries to us if we put forth the effort to find them!

Other than this, things are going really well here! Portland is a very beautiful city, despite what many people may say. The city has all types of people and things going on that make it a new experience every time we go down there!