Elder Beckett: The Cumorah Cake Strikes Again!

God is so good! He lives and loves us all. This is His work, and I am so thankful to be a part of it! This week has been tough. Super tough. Not only in our area either; we felt like the adversary has been making a serious attack on the whole zone. Of course he's always attacking, but it was like he doubled up his efforts this week. There was lots of discouragement from different things, and it seemed like lots of investigators dropped us. It's kind of weird how you notice the waves of spiritual attacks he seems to wage more than ever before.

Hey, quick question, I was looking at a paper I had in my scriptures and it says I was baptized on May 1 and confirmed May 2. Is that right? Maybe it's just been too long, but if I remember correctly it all happened on the same day? I don't know. Also my other question that maybe you could shed more light on - what exactly is the process by which new Apostles and Seventys are called? And the new President of the Church? We seem to have been asked that a lot recently, and I tell what I know, but I want to make sure that what I'm saying is actually true lol. We don't really have a whole lot to go off of (that I'm aware of) in the missionary library, other than what it says in Acts about Matthias being called.

Anyway, back to Satan attacking... of course after we fall and feel down and start to wonder what is going on the Lord always lifts His children and reveals His arm in their behalf! I have this quote on the back of my planner from an Ensign article on Joseph in Liberty Jail - "In the cold, lonely hours, Joseph says let us do all we can and do it cheerfully. And then we can justifiably turn to the Lord, wait upon His mercy, and see His arm revealed in our behalf." That is true. Even though the week seemed in somewhat of a downward spiral the Lord pulled us right out of it and worked some miracles!

[Super condensed version]: Friday we decided to make a Cumorah cake for the Ps. We went over to drop it off, and told them not to open it and cut it until everyone could be there. Lisa was super thankful and excited, and we left. We had an appointment with them yesterday, and something had just clicked for them! I know I use that phrase a lot, but I don't really know how else to describe it. Obviously it was the Spirit that facilitated this growth and understanding! It was so cool though, they had this great desire to read the Book of Mormon and had been reading the rest of the week! We were planning on teaching the Restoration, and we started asking them some questions and then E just started telling us how it all made sense now. He comprehended the apostasy and restoration like it takes most members of the church years to be able to explain! I haven't ever seen anything like it. He pretty much taught and testified the whole lesson of what we were going to teach :). The Holy Ghost is the true teacher, and that was probably the most extreme example I've seen yet of someone being taught the doctrines of the Restoration. It was incredible. Then they told us some of the "behind the scenes" miracles that had happened along with the cake. Friday afternoon we had an appointment with a potential. The appointment fell through, and we were disappointed, but we just decided to drop the cake off at that time instead. So we went over, and apparently right before then Lisa had been on the phone with a friend who wasn't being the best influence and she was about to make a wrong choice. Well, we showed up and she just knew that Heavenly Father was aware of her, and wanted what was best, and was encouraging her to make a good choice. The timing couldn't have been more plain to her. That night as they were gathered as a family for pizza and family game night, she told Eric about it and he wasn't too amazed or anything; probably just coincidence right? Well, for some reason right when he got home from work that night he felt like he should read the Book of Mormon. So he went straight to his room and read for a bit before changing and coming out. They cut the Cumorah Cake and find the mini Book of Mormon that we wrote the scriptures on, and Dean (8) excitedly shares that he realizes it was just like Joseph Smith and the plates! That was impressive, 8 years old? The Spirit is teaching him too. Reminds me of Alma 32:23 (I think that's the reference... maybe 25? About little children). Anyway they read the scriptures and it "just happens" to be something that Eric had just read! And he was like, "No way!" And then he knew exactly what was going on, and explained things about it to his family, and it was just incredible. They can't deny that these things are true =]

Wow, ok, so that is just one of the miracles we have been blessed to see this week. The amazing S family has also been seeing miracles! They are uniting, and B is being such a great example and father to the family. The Spirit has touched his heart too, as well as the rest of the family! They came to church yesterday (B was sick, and M had work I think), and they just loved it. We met with B, K, and B last night and it was wonderful. We went over the Sabbath day and the baptismal interview questions and they were down with it all! They just happily accepted everything and said we will do it! As we finished the baptismal q's, the last line says, "Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?" B shouted out, "I am SO ready!" I love this family so much. K and B will be baptized this Sunday, and B and M should follow soon enough. What a miracle to see a man, who his whole life was atheist, to find faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ! And to see him find that faith through experiencing the blessings that come from it is beautiful. I know that He truly is the healer of our souls, and our families. I love Him.

These really are the best days of my life. I am so happy right now. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. God is our loving Heavenly Father. Think of it! What a precious truth. I am so thankful to know that, and to understand what that means. I know that as we keep the commandments of God and make covenants with Him, we can receive more fully in our lives the blessings of the Atonement! He is hoping and waiting to bless us, we just need to do what He asks. I love you all so much, and know that we will be an eternal family =] Thank you for who you are, I look up to each of you more than you know! I love you!

love,

Elder Beckett

p.s. Unfortunately A dropped us. We have him down though, so he will come around at some point in the future :) They say it usually takes about 7 times coming in contact with the church before someone receives conversion.

p.p.s. Wow, hmm sorry about that whole deferment issue! Man, I can't even believe that. I want to say that I did defer, but seeing as to how there is no evidence of that I must not have. Or at least must not have done it correctly. Thank you so much for taking care of that, and yes, please let me know what and when I need to take care of scholarship essays or choosing classes or whatever it may be. I believe I can get permission from President to write those on a P-day if I need to, or to get on to work out schedules or whatever. If you have any recommendations for classes or a schedule or anything like that please let me know. One I do want to take (aside from all the awesome religious classes... can't wait) is I think they have like a math refresher that covers Calc 1 & 2, specifically for RM's? I think so. They did when I was there. That's one I'd like to get into, I'm possibly thinking of doing something with math. Who knows =) Also, Jared McBride would be a great roomate! I'm down :)

p.p.p.s. Dad, I didn't have the Gps model w/ me, I thought Mom said she found it? That's ok, I'll check and let you know. Thanks for your emails and letters, I love them!