November 18th, 2008 (Email)

Good morning!
It's been another great week. Elder Rodriguez and I are still being fed like kings. I know that this luxury will not last forever so... I'm going to milk it. One sister from our ward (Buena Park Ward which I find funny considering that my hometown ward is just Park Ward) named Sister Riley took us to Black Angus one night. Yeah. I'm not starving.
David and Mixy DID come to church this week! Awesome! We had EIGHT investigators come to church this week! Elder Rodriguez and I teach the Gospel Principles class to the investigators. This week we taught about obedience. I thought it would be a good idea at the end of the lesson to give the example from 1Neph 3 & 4 about Nephi and his bros going to get the plates from Laban. But David didn't really dig the whole Nephi having to kill Laban thing... so I've learned something: don't bring up that detail with new investigators. It'll be okay though. We're visiting David and Mixy tomorrow so we'll talk about it.
We have three people getting baptized this weekend!!! First is Nicholas. He's getting baptized Saturday. Elder Rodriguez and his old companion had been teaching him for a while. He's nine. Also David Ramos, the awesome 18-year-old who is digging the gospel probably more than any of our other investigators. He's getting baptized on Sunday. Then right after him is Sam. She's my age and she's been receiving lots of opposition from her mom still about the whole wanting to be mormon deal. But her testimony's strong and she's met with the bishop a couple times now and it looks like we're shooting for Sunday with her too! BIG weekend.
Our bishop is Bishop Redding and he's the youngest bishop I've ever met. He's awesome. He's probably Bro. Westinskow's age and very bald. I'd be very comfortable getting interviewed by him. David Ramos' newly activated friend Omar, who sits in with us whenever we go to teach David, has been going to interviews with Bishop Redding cuz he's trying to get back on track. Sounds like the bishop's told him he can serve a mission!!!
So it's definitely been looking like the latter days in these parts of California. A couple days ago the sun was darkened by smoke and the moon turned to blood and all that fun stuff. It was difficult to breathe when the ashes from the fires started falling all over Buena Park and the entire Long Beach mission I'm sure. We had to go inside. Several missionaries got a little sick from the ash cuz of respiratory problems. I really feel like God's sending his wrath down on California for protesting and desecrating outside the temples. I recall that the ONLY time Jesus actually became MAD in the Bible was when he saw the merchants desecrating the temple with their worldly endeavors.So. People trying to destroy the family. People protesting outside the temple. The worst fire California's probably ever had to deal with. Coincidence? I THINK NOT!!!
I just had my first zone conference this week. Man I had no idea how long those take. I thought it was just some hour-2 hour long meeting but no. It was as long as a school-day. It was great though. President Sexton most positively is a spiritual giant. He receives revelation. All the missionaries here can attest to that. They all tell me about how he has turned this mission around and enhanced it into a sacred mission. This week he told each companionship to find five new investigators. It's harder than you'd expect. We pulled it off though.
I've found that the Book of Mormon really does contain truths that can guide you and uplift you if you read it each and every day. I can't see me depriving myself of that wisdom from God anyday in the future. I know that the Book of Mormon is absolutely postively true. I've basically relied on my spiritual witness of that for a long time now. Elder Rodriguez and I have been listening in the car to a talk about the Dead Sea Scrolls and other many other archealogical finds in the Eastern and Western world. Apparently there's a lot of evidence that attests to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon in that field as well. But all in all, despite all the evidence, what matters is your own spiritual witness. Remember that witness, rely on that witness, and refresh that witness daily. You'll be guided and strengthened and the windows of heaven will open and enlighten your mind and your life. Es la verdad.
Well I've gotta write my letter to the Pres now. I love you!!!
-Elder Tyler Lewis