This
first one was pretty nerve-wracking at first, but looking back on it
now, I just laugh. An older man called us and let us know that he had a
friend that wanted to meet with us, and he gave us the friend's address.
We drove to the address, pulled into the driveway, and got out.
Immediately an older gentleman ran out of the house and started yelling.
"Who are you? What are you doing on my property? Get out or I'm going
to shoot you!" I was starting to freak out, but I asked if this
gentleman knew the man who had called us earlier that day. He stopped
yelling and said "oh, are you guys Mormons?" After responding
affirmatively, his tone changed. "My Brothers! Welcome!" He gave us big
bear hugs and we've been meeting with him and eating lunches with him
ever since. Gives you a little taste of the awesome people we meet in
Idaho haha.
A new LDS temple was just finished
in Meridian, Idaho, so we've been inviting people to attend the public
tours and have been able to hear some awesome stories about the temple.
Here's one of my favorites: The baptismal font in this temple is larger
than any baptismal font previously built inside a temple. So it was
obviously quite a difficult construction project, and the project
manager was having a tough time figuring out how to complete it. On his
way home one day, a name popped into his head that he didn't recognize.
He looked it up when he got home, and found out it was an 80-year-old,
retired concrete worker in a small town nearby. The project manager
traveled to this older man's home and asked him if he would be
interested in helping with the project. The older gentleman, who was not
a member of the church, agreed. He had been suffering through some
health issues previously, but as soon as he began working on the
baptismal font, his health recovered and he was given strength he said
he hadn't felt in the last 40 years. after a few weeks, he ended up
completing the font perfectly. However, once the project was completed,
the man's health issues returned and he passed away 2 weeks later.
On his death bed, he made his wife promise him to meet with the
missionaries, be baptized, and then be sealed to him in the Meridian
temple. Because of his service and example, the First Presidency has
reserved his name to be the first baptism completed in the Meridian
Temple.
To see the Meridian temple check out :
I wish I could write more, but I'm
just about out of time. Keep praying, keep serving others, and keep
learning more of God's plan. This week's challenge is to study the
scriptures. Read the Bible and/or Book of Mormon. If you haven't read
either of them before, try it. If you already do read them, increase
your efforts. I've seen more and more peace come into my life as I've
sought direction in these two sacred books.
I love you all and pray for you! Chao!
Sincerely,
Elder Doyle
