Tuesday, Oct 9, 2012
Friends and Familia,
Sorry in advance---Veeeeeeeeerrrrrrry short time today!
Here's an experience we had at General Conference.
We went and talked to some 16 and 17 year old boys about
Conference in the North Visitor's Center.
We talked about the new age limit for boys to serve (missions)and if
they are getting ready and preparing. As we were talking about it and getting
them ready and pumped up about it, a man dressed in a suit came and started
talking with us. At first, he seemed really nice and had some good comments,
but it slowly started to turn into an argument and his criticism of the Book of
Mormon and strange views on doctrine, which Sister L and I had to refute.
Normally, when we talk to someone who's only objective is to argue with us
about our beliefs and to change our minds and enter doubts of tiny unimportant
misinterpretations, we just leave, but both Sister L and I felt
strongly that we could NOT leave these boys (who were standing there with us). We could not have this man who's
only objective was to destroy their faith. So we continued to talk with him and
I eventually felt inspired to ask him straight up, "Why are we having this
conversation?" Which he said he didn't know why. We all politely said that
we were done discussing with him, and so he left after he finished by saying that
our beliefs were wrong and that we were wrong, and he straightway left the
Visitor's Center and went out of the Square. It was interesting because during
the discussion, I didn't really recognize that he was an Anti and his purpose,
but I knew how I felt. I knew that as I talked with him I wanted to argue with
him, to prove him wrong, to throw scriptures at him, and to refute his biased
statements. At one point , I was so fired up inside (of course I was calm and
cool on the outside) that I had to get a drink of water. Once I left the situation, I
realized that it wasn't going anywhere and that both parties couldn't feel
love or the Spirit any longer in the conversation. It was not a presentation of
beliefs and mutual respect, but instead there were rebuttles etc. I noticed that the
teenage boys with us totally avoided the conversation, except for one brave boy who tried to
stand up to him and share his testimony, but was cut off many times by the man.
After the man left, we talked with the boys and asked them
how they felt. They told us that they did not feel love, that they were angry
and frusterated and contentious. I then testified to them that that was because
the Spirit had left and that we were all left to our own minds. I told them
that I knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is the
word of God, that we might not know everything right now and that there might
be a few things we don't know, but that we know enough and that God speaks to
us through revelation and that the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost testifies to
us of truth and cannot be present when there is contention.
It was a powerful contrasting experience, because as I bore
witness and testified, I felt the Spirit so strong, I felt burning inside of me
and tingles up and down my body. I knew that each of those boys felt the Spirit
so strong, BECAUSE of the contrast of how they felt minutes before. I told them
to remember how they felt, and that that Spirit is what would guide them
through life and on their missions and would testify that the messages shared
in the Priesthood Session that night were true.
It was a neat experience.
I also spoke to thousands of people outside of the
Conference Center during "announcing"... when (sister missionaries speaking each of the 20 of the languages on Temple
Square all speak in a microphone and share basic beliefs and an invitation for
people to learn more. I was really anxious at first but I felt comfort and peace
and no matter how many times I messed up in the practice, I said it nearly
perfect the 6 times for real.
P.S. My new comp is Sister D from AUSTRALIA ( I
can't get rid of the Aussies!!! haah) and we have a special assignment half of
the time in the office in guest services, scheduling and planning tours etc.
I'm excited! It'll be a new adventure.
I believe in miracles, for I have seen them.
EXCITING TIME TO BE ALIVE and
to be a MEMBER OF THE CHURCH!
Love always,
Sister Fisher
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