Ello Everyone,
I have had quite a week this week tracting and biking in the rain XD. There were some positive highlights though; one of them is that we set a baptismal date with one of our investigators for late January! Another is that we are helping another investigator to stop smoking. We taught a lesson about how sincere prayer can help ease burdens and strengthen us against temptaions. We commited him to praying every morning before he did anything else, that way his mindset would be turned away from that craving and focused on more uplifting substances. We taught another investigator about the true miracle of forgiveness and how if we truly repent and strive to do better, God will remember our sins no more. It is a truly uplifting principle that edifies and motivates one away from the pondering on and misery of past mistakes, to pressing onward, taking care of what needs to be taken care of and simply moving on. The Gospel truly is a beautiful creation.
My time in Goldsboro is up for now though. I'll be heading back to Cary for a couple of weeks and then heading back here for Christmas. We had a pretty sweet Christmas party here with a play and really nice food. A lot of people brought friends and I think it was a great experience for them to see that we do celebrate Christmas. Last night was a wonderful example of that. The First Presidency's Christmas Devotional was a great example of how Christmas should be: a holiday where the busyness of commercialism and impulsive compulsive spending give way to the simple, but profound spirit of service and love. I especially love the story of how the business man gave his ticket home to a young soldier who may have never seen his family again due to his being deployed to Vietnam shortly afterward. It is the random acts of kindness and charity that really make this season special.
I bear my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the light of the world, the Messiah testified of in the Old Testament and the Son of God. He was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth and after 3 years of healing, teaching and selfless service accomplished the Atonement: the single most important act of love without which the world would be in its lost and fallen state forever. He was then illegally tried, convicted and crucified unto death, but rose again on the 3rd day. It is my testimony that He lives, He lives and guides this Church through a modern day Prophet, even Thomas S Monson. He lives so that we might come unto Him, walk the path that He has shown and partake of blessings beyond our comprehension. I know that He lives, I know that He knows and loves each and everyone of us, regardless of our backgrounds, our race, our mistakes, our imperfections and philosophies. This is the testimony I give, in His name, even Jesus Christ...
Amen,
Elder Roberts
