A week of rain

On Wednesday I had a really spiritual experience when we did exchanges and I went to Vucetich with Elder Arce, my district leader. We were visiting with a couple less-active members and it was great, a nice fun lesson. Then their mother, who had recently lost a son, arrived and a whole bunch of other family members who were all crying as they came in and embraced each other. The environment in the room changed drastically, and then all the members of the family (there were probably 12 or so) all turned to Elder Arce and I expecting us to share something to console them. It was quite a responsability that I felt upon my shoulders. We opened with a prayer and then shared some scriptures in Alma 40 about the spirit world and the resurrection. You know you are teaching by the Spirit when you are learning in the lesson as well. I was able to testify that God knows us better than we can possibly imagine, and that we've all been sent here with a mission. When we've accomplished what we were sent to do, our Father takes us home. With all the people who passed on without having the chance to hear the Gospel, He needs many, many missionaries on the other side. However, that doesn't mean that our loved ones are as far away as we might think. The veil really is very thin, I can testify that this is true. My grandfather Bruce Garrett was a hero to me, and his death is something I have always held very close to my heart. There have been many times in my life when I have felt his presence and his comfort. He's not gone. I know it. It was a really incredible spiritual experience, and I was really grateful to have done exchanges that day.

Beto is doing super great, at this point we're just waiting and planning his baptism for this Saturday. He's very prepared and excited. He told us the other day that he whipped out his Gospel Principles book and was studying it with his family, so that's really cool. It has been truly miraculous to see the change the gospel has made in his life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes people. The Atonement is real.

General Conference

General Conference was fantastic, I feel like I get a lot more out of Conference in the mission. I loved the talks by Elder Holland, Elder Bednar, President Uchtdorf and President Monson most I think. We will all have to defend our faith one day, and we will need to have courage and courtesy. It is our load that helps us to press forward and progress in this life. Instead of being grateful for things, we should all be grateful in our circumstances. What this world really needs is love. These men truly are inspired and called of God. I pray that we can all study and delve into these talks to learn and comprehend even more what our Father wants us to know in this time. I know that the same God who called them has called me to be a representative of His Son. I know He lives. 

Elder John William Garrett