We Dont Have a Font in Melville

So, we drove with Brother Markle (Jack) to his baptism. When we got there, the font was maybe half full... Do you know how long it takes to fill those things!? man... So we started half an hour late, and it was still pretty shallow. It took 4 times to get him under. They really had to push him down hard. He looked so scared the whole time... But they got him.

Maybe we should have taken the time to explain why we were dunking him repeatedly... oh well!

WOULD YOU BELIEVE!?

The other day, Elder Mitton and I were laying in bed (not together...) and we heard this noise coming from upstairs. I thought it was the pipes, but Elder Mitton was certain it sounded exactly like someone walking around the Shop. (we live under a members printing business).

Luckily I was given a machete by a departing missionary as my inheritance. So grabbed it, and we went upstairs to kill the intruder. But we turned the lights on, and no one was there...

So it was the pipes right? But the thing is... when we went back down stairs.... the noise had stopped...

Coincidence....?

Believe it!

Listen To This

We all know that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Endure to the End. And we can find ALL of that in the book of Mormon.. But did you know that it is set up perfectly to teach us them.. and in order too!

This is the story. Sister Zebrowski was told she would be teaching about Moroni in gospel doctrine class in her ward some years ago. But it was FULL of very intelligent people who had been mission presidents and return missionaries and such. She wondered how she would teach them something NEW about this great prophet.. But she didn't know what to do. She prayed about it throughout the week, asking for help. Then, one day, she woke up a few minutes before her alarm. She saw what time it was and tried to go back to sleep, but she heard a voice tell her "Moroni is a perfect example of Enduring to the end".. She thought "That's perfect! That is how I will teach about Moroni. So she tried to go back to sleep. But the Lord wasn't done. "Nephi is a perfect example of Faith" "Alma is a perfect example of Repentance" And in third Nephi Christ teaches us the true way of Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

God Crafted the Book Of Mormon for us. The Stories included are not coicidence. The Church is true.

Our Apartment

I'm now in Melville and The George went to be DL in another part of the city. Whitewashed in, Whitewashed out. like a dirty crime. Did the deed and got out fast.

Our Apartment is a basement apartment. We live under the business of a member. Its got one bathroom, one bedroom, a Kitchen, one class room, one Chapel, a Clerks office... oh. yeah. thats right. I live in the church! Crazy huh?!

I dont even know how to describe it to you fully. But just picture this... When our bedroom door is open.. its our apartment.. when its closed.... THE CHURCH! Crazy. I guess we have some extra incentive to keep it clean..

Melvin Keith Jorgenson

Melvin Keith Jorgenson was baptised this Friday, and confirmed on Sunday. It was unforgettable!

The Service was nice. Because of the awkward time (5:30 on a friday), only the people on the program came, but Mel wanted it to be small anyway. His dear friend (and recent convert) sister Rossett gave a talk. she was so nervous, it was her first time. and Brother Schiess gave one as well. Mel was so nervous in the water. we could hear him talking from beyond the closed doors. Talking about how nervous he was. I thought the fount was filled pretty high... but it barely reached his waist. He is a BIG guy. He didn't want to bend backwards.. he was scared he wouldn't be able to get back up.. Turns out its was all OK though, cause he floats pretty good. They really had to shove him.. His foot came up the first time. He was devastated. He did NOT want to do it again.. I was almost positive he was gonna give up and say "No, that's it. That's enough. The Good Lord will understand.." But he didn't. He's a trooper. He went down the second time. As he came up out of the water, the first words he said were "Shoot! My D*mn foot came up!" HAHA! But it didn't break the surface. He was good.

While they changed I did a musical number, it was good. We had another Elder play a version of "come thou fount" as I sung the words to "Joseph Smith First Prayer" and timed it to fit as we had the audience watch a silent clip of the first vision from the Restoration movie. It was really really good. Refreshments afterwards.

That was it. The craziest baptism ever. I didn't expect anything less. So informal. So "Mel". Just prefect.

Being a missionary rocks!