A Spiritual Scorecard

Landon wrote a particularly moving letter last week, and I have returned to read it over and over, and have been touched by the spiritual maturity and insight he has developed. He told about some families that had been baptized that are now being exposed to anti-Mormon sentiment, and he has been worried about them. He wrote:

"For Zone Leader Council this week, we all went and did a session in the temple together, and I had all of this weighing on my mind as we went there. A great deal of the anti that we have had to deal with recently concerns the temple, which is a particularly potent attack, because investigators and converts have never been to the temple, which opens more room for false ideas and mis-conceptions to be accepted. Feeling the special spirit of the temple while there definitely strengthened my determination to press forward and overcome those particular difficulties. Afterwards we were able to meet in one of the sealing rooms together and ask questions and receive counsel concerning the temple and missionary work to a member of the temple presidency and our mission president. One thing that President Cutler said later in the day really struck me. He talked about how frustrating our work is to the plans of the devil and the havoc we wreak on his designs. It was strangely comforting, because I had been feeling so much the opposite, that [Satan] was the one messing up everything we were trying to accomplish and digging up all of the spiritual seeds we have been planting, so it was somewhat vindicating to realize the trouble and preoccupation we are causing him. That has kind of been my personal rallying cry this week. Every time we have taught someone how to pray for the first time, had them dump out their alcohol, given them a Book of Mormon, or borne to them our testimony of the Savior, I have made a mental check mark on the spiritual scoreboard recording the great battle between good and evil (In case you are wondering, we are winning.) I am grateful for tender mercies like those that serve as inspiring motivators and empowering reminders of the importance and urgency of the Lord's work."


Elder Gwilliam and Elder Jones


Service Project Painting for a Family


Twin brothers and future missionaries


Elder Gwilliam getting a feel for what it's like to be a Mission President.