5.3.16

Sarah didn't make it to church again. Which is kinda frustrating. She
has the desire and we were able to have a really good lesson with her
about how much the gospel can bless her family in such an incredible
way. Her and her family just need the blessings of the gospel so much,
but she doesn't seem to want it enough to act. If we can't help her
keep more of the smaller commitments we are going to have to drop her.

Saturday was a wonderful day for us. Morning from 10-12 is usually a
hard time to find things to do, except for Saturday. Saturday's are
usually pretty good all day because so many people are home. And this
last Saturday morning was exceptional. We weren't able to set any
appointments for Saturday morning so we just had 4 people to stop by
and we would add more as we needed them. Miracle was, three out of the
four people we stopped by we were actually able to talk to us! It was
awesome! And the one who still didn't answer we were able to talk to a
person at his neighbors house who doesn't live around here, but we
were able to teach him! Then we sent his info over to the missionaries
where he does live. So miracles are there and the Lord will guide us.
That is for sure.

So this week I started the story of Ammon starting with Alma 17 and I
am learning a lot. Something that I have been thinking about is how
incredible of a miracle that really was. Do you realize what happened
in six days? Ammon got there and was bound and carried before the
king. He becomes a servant and starts watching the kings flocks. We are
gonna say this is Monday. Three days he has been serving the king so
now it is Wednesday. The flocks get scattered, Ammon plays with his
sling and sword next thing you know the king still has sheep and Ammon
has killed 7 Lamanites and cut the arms off of "a certain number" of
them. Later that day Ammon comes to the king, teaches him the plan of
salvation and the King faints from being overcome by the spirit. Now
it is 2 days later, so it is Friday. The Queen asks Ammon if her
husband is dead, Ammon says "No, he is gonna wake up tomorrow
morning." She takes his word for it and now they are waiting for
Saturday morning. On Saturday morning the King wakes up, he glorifies
God and then him and his wife both faint again, and then Ammon and the
rest of the Kings servants except one of them. The lady who is left
goes and tells everyone the miraculous things that are happening and
gathers a multitude to the Kings place. One of them tries to kill
Ammon and is struck down. Then the Queen wakes up and the king and
then everyone else and the king teaches the multitude and it says "as
many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord.
But there were many among them who would not hear his words; therefore
they went their way." So whoever decided to hear what the King had to
say was converted. It sounds like the rest of Saturday was a busy day.
Next it talks about getting all these new converts baptized "and as
many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people,
and they did establish a church among them." And for all we know it
was still Saturday! Do you know what that means? It means for Ammon's
first Sunday in the land of Ishmael  he had a whole Ward to have
church with and for the rest of the meeting just did all the
confirmations! That's awesome! So all of this does have a reason. It was
an incredible thing that happened and the scriptures tell us why it
happened. After all of this has happened it says in Alma 19:36 "And
thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the
Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his
arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his
name." So really what r miracle was is at the Spirit of the Lord was
poured out upon the Lamanites. But guess what it says Ammon fasted for
at least the Sunday before that and who knows how many times before
that? Alma 17:9 He and his brothers had been praying and fasting that
the Lord would grant them His Spirit so that they could help it get it
poured out over the Lamanites. Goes to show the power of prayer and
fasting eh? I thought it was pretty cool.
Anyways have a great week!

Elder Dane Olsen